President Obama says vote reflects 'deep frustration' of Americans

[alp227]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Saying he understood the frustration that led to the strong electoral showing by Republicans, President Obama on Wednesday said he would work harder to build a political consensus that could deal with solving the country’s problems.

“Some election nights are more fun than others, some are exhilarating, some are humbling,” said Obama, who later described the results as a 'shellacking."

At his post-election news conference, Obama insisted his administration had made progress in dealing with economic problems, identified as the number one issue, but that improvement had come too slowly.

“Yesterday’s vote confirmed what I heard from folks all across America,” he said. “People are frustrated; they’re deeply frustrated by the pace of our recovery.

“Over the last two years, we have made progress, but clearly too many Americans haven’t felt that progress yet, and they told us that yesterday. As president, I take responsibility for that."


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-election-fallout-20101104,0,6235232.story

[socialshockwave]

1. Of course...

The compromising begins!

Mr. President, the Republicrats only won because they pushed a right-wing machine since 2008. You and your party did not try to respond to their senseless attacks, and now you've paid the price. Don't continue to pay it by being seen as a weak leader; building bridges didn't work - why not try burning them?

[katnapped]

2. "Political consensus" LOL

LALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALA!

[Mr. Sparkle]

3. and they voted to make themselves even more deeply frustrated. n/t

[Richard D]

4. I love Obama

I think he's the best person in the office of the President in a very long time.
But really, in this speech he reminded me of a puppy going belly up to a larger dog, Made me sad and mad to listen to it.

[Baclava]

9. yep - i think he might have left a puddle of pee too

concessions, concessions, concessions

I heard that too

[DJ13]

5. Compromise = Surrender

Compromising is what got us in this mess in the first place.

HCR, stimulus, unemployment extensions, its been one big compromise for two years, and it only gave the Republicans enough leverage to (rightfully) claim things werent improving.

For a "change", how about fighting for the principles your own party is supposed to stand for Mr. President.

[Fearless]

6. If he heard it from people before the election why did this happen?

It's only going to get harder now to pass meaningful legislation of any kind. We won't have anything like the chance we had these past years at least until 2012 but more likely 2020 and that's only if a republican is elected president after Obama.

[defendandprotect]

7. "Frustration" doesn't indicate any change in his pro-corporate direction .....

these are just words right now --

he's already promised Repug leadership more "cooperation" --

There seems to always be new excuses for DLC/New Dems to move party to the right ....

no matter the evidence to the contrary!!

[Lucky 13]

8. I'm not frustrated by the pace of our recovery.

I'm frustrated with Democrats that act like Republicans.

[Winterblues]

10. Oh by the way the bankers are about due for more Bonuses..

Good job Democrats....

[AC_Mem]

11. People are ungrateful

We live in America and have it better than so many in the world. President Obama has done so much in the past 2 years that people simply will not acknowledge because they are being fed so much crap from the right.

But okay - now the right has not only America, but the world's attention. They better fix ALL our problems and make it snappy. I want to see their magical plan that they have been keeping under wraps that will create jobs, fix the housing problem, and guarantee a happy and healthy future for all Americans.

Get going FoxGOP.

[NewJeffCT]

15. It's not just that people won't acknowledge what Obama has done

and, he has done a lot. It's that not a lot of people know what has been done - only 8% of Americans know they got a tax cut. Bill Maher explained it nicely - when Bush cut people's taxes, he gave it to them all in a big chunk. And, he sent a letter to everybody to announce that they would be getting the Bush tax cut in a few weeks. When Obama did it, there was no letter sent out and it was done so each person would have a few extra bucks in their paychecks, so it is not nearly as noticeable. Giving people an extra $5 or $10 per paycheck is better for everybody in the long-term, but not as glamorous as one big check for $250 or $500 that you can use to buy some fancy gadget to impress your friends & neighbors.

[No Elephants]

183. I appreciate that Obama did not use the U.S. Treasury like a personal checking account.

When Bush said he would, if elected, mail everyone a taz refund, he was practically promising to pay people for electing him--and with their own money, to boot. Talk about Rovian. Someone should have prosecuted candidate Dummya right then and there.


I fully agree Dems need to get better at messaging, but without that level of corruption.

[No Elephants]

185. People do not share your views only bc

they are not sharp enough to separate reality from "crap from the right?"



Your framework sure doesn't seem to fit critits like Jon Stewart, Ed Schultz, Michael Moore, etc., etc.

[paparush]

12. Vote reflects the effectiveness of the Right Wing Lie/Distortion/Fear Machine of Doom (tm)

[callous taoboy]

13. This teacher is frustrated that NCLB policies have been strengthened under Obama.

I held my nose and voted Dem., but I sent no money this time.

[Iowa]

14. This is exactly what I would expect of him...

More capitulation.

When we need strength, he shows weakness. When we need a fighter, he rolls over. When we need outrage, he extends a hand and a smile.

Pathetic. The wrong man at the wrong time.

We're screwed.

[gateley]

17. Would you rather he said "we'll shoot down everything the Republicans bring

to the table?"

Let's see what he DOES before you decide whether or not he rolled over.

If you think we're screwed, what are you going to do about it?

[Betty]

18. considering what they'll be bringing to the table,

yes, I'd like to see him say we'll reject every piece of shit "idea" they have. But he won't and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

[gateley]

20. I think he took the politically right approach in his statement. I think had he

come out all fired up and anti-Republican wouldn't have benefitted our goals, which is the important thing. WE would have loved it, but I think he was being wise. Just IMO. I'm hoping that's all it is, a political statement, and that he was thinking "no fucking way -- you assholes have had your chance with compromise". We'll see == not holding my breath, but hoping nonetheless.

[cstanleytech]

28. Agreed.

Now the ball is in the court of the GOP with their majority control of congress because they can no longer hide behind the skirt of being the minority party and if they really care about the country they will have to start working with Obama atleast a little bit rather than against him all the time as they have been doing.

[joeglow3]

188. Some idiots here want President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho

Really! They want him to come out and literally say "fuck all the pugs." Yeah, that will go real far....

[Iowa]

25. Oh please...

"Would you rather he said "we'll shoot down everything the Republicans bring to the table?"

Is that a trick question? Of course he should shoot down everything the Repugs want to do! Are you cheering for Republican "ideas" now?

"Let's see what he DOES before you decide whether or not he rolled over."

Where in the hell have you been? We have had two years of him rolling over. He wasn't elected yesterday. Jesus!

"If you think we're screwed, what are you going to do about it?"

I'm not going to do a god-damned thing about it, and neither are you. If I thought there was anything I could do about it, I wouldn't have said we were screwed. The plutocracy has won. Get used to it.

[saras]

27. Terrorist bombs

If all they are going to bring to the table is bombs, bioweapons, and hate speech -

ABSOLUTELY.

Is there any evidence that they have anything else to offer, or have since, say 1980?

[abq e streeter]

19. A sad and resigned +1

[MaineDem]

16. Only some of them

Some people are content and, sadly, didn't vote.

[crim son]

21. Obama is still making the same mistake that really, really smart people make.

He overestimates everybody else's intelligence and therefore understanding. By the time he figures out we are really that dumb, it'll be too late for us.

[MikeW]

31. oh god its another ....

"He's super super smart, I mean really like astronomically smart" ... post

Grow up will ya please this isnt grade school anymore.

:puke:

[crim son]

33. Laughing.

That was unexpected to the point of being amusing. I get it; we disagree when ranking his intelligence. I bow to the apparent genius of the person who uses a puke smiley to underscore his point. BTW, there's another psychological phenomenon called "envy." Look it up!

[24601]

22. No, Mr. President. They were voting out your friends but the real

target of the repugs is the guy in the White House. Ask not for whom the bell tolls....

[bemildred]

23. We are not frustrated with the "pace" of recovery, that's not it. nt

[zenprole]

24. Deflection Shot

Obama left out the important part: "People are frustrated with me."

[No Elephants]

179. Jon Stewart, a few weeks ago (pretending to speak as Obama): "I'm very disappointed in you. And

my biggest disappointment in you is your disappointment in me."


Or, as Rahm put it IRL: fucking liberal retards.

Or, as Gibbs put it IRL: liberal critics of President Barack Obama "ought to be drug tested."

[saras]

26. I thought this summed it up pretty well

From a small weekly paper in the Pacific Northwest (Bellingham, WA's Cascadia Weekly):

"The work of the 111th Congress - the most productive legislative body in United States history, passing scores of big, important (in some cases historic) policies while reducing the federal deficit in the midst of a raging recession - is ended by enraged voters."

Personally, I think the country just stuck its foot in its mouth right before shooting itself in the foot.

[RobinA]

32. Like I Said

on another thread, this was a vote to get government hands off Medicare. We're done.

[ProudDad]

29. They sure felt the recovery in the corporate board rooms of the polluters

and the banksters...

Damn, he still ain't got it!

[ProudDad]

30. Must reading!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4599173&mesg_id=4599550

[quakerboy]

34. The question remaining

is whether he will fight for changes to relieve that frustration, or whether he will try to make nice with the republican agenda.

[defendandprotect]

35. Obama signals compromise with GOP on tax cuts

Source: AP

Obama signals compromise with GOP on tax cuts


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101103/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama

[Bluebear]

36. Only LBN, please, not headlines from a year ago.

Kidding, kidding!

[defendandprotect]

42. Associated Press – 40 mins ago

Kidding?

Wish Obama was --

Last thing we need is more Obama pro-corporate compromise!!


Yikes!

[Barack_America]

48. "compromise" "GOP" "tax cuts"...

...could easily apply to the Stimulus, Health Care "Reform", and so on and so on...

[defendandprotect]

51. Exactly .....

We need a new liberal/progressive Dem candidate in 2012 --

and we have to begin to target these right wing corporate Dems in our own

party and replace them with Dems further to the LEFT!!

The nation is in pain and suffering --

and though Obama says he understands some of that, I don't see any real signs

that he does!!


Obama knew why there was frustration among Dem voters -- that it was

about his pro-corporate agenda and back room deals with Big Pharma and private

health care industry which sold out single-payer and the American public.


Read it here ....


Rahm .... crowing about preserving "private health care industry" ... business s/b grateful!

Thursday, August 12, 2010 10:03 A


”In a Thursday interview, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel argued that rather than recoiling against Obama, business leaders should be grateful for his support on at least a half-dozen counts: his advocacy of greater international trade and education reform open markets despite union skepticism; his rejection of calls from some quarters to nationalize banks during the financial meltdown; the rescue of the automobile industry; the fact that the overhaul of health care

preserved the private delivery system;

the fact that billions in the stimulus package benefited business with lucrative new contracts, and that financial regulation reform will take away the uncertainty that existed with a broken, pre-crash regulatory apparatus.

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=B2F85DDF-18...


If THAT doesn't make everyone here at DU sick to their stomachs, they can't read!!


Wow!

[chimpymustgo]

152. Extend tax cuts for the rich!!! NOW!

I'm starting to hate these fuckers.

[mzmolly]

81. Gee. Do you think Kucinich can take him out in the primary?

:eyes:

[Ken Burch]

92. It's not as if Dennis' vote represents the total "left" vote in the party.

Besides, I don't think Dennis will run again, given that people like you would mock him over trivialities if he did.

[mzmolly]

128. Some people here never stop campaigning for him.

I'm not mocking Dennis, but I find some of his supporters here, entertaining.

[kenfrequed]

148. Good thing you aren't mocking him

Because some people here never stop mocking him.

Buyers remorse I suppose.

[No Elephants]

172. I guess all of us here find someone's supporters...entertaining.

[defendandprotect]

134. Are you recommending Kucinich .... ?

Obviously, Kucinich can't attract the kind of corporate sponsorship that

people like Obama and Baucus can raise ....

but how much better off we'd be without candidates bought and pre-owned by

corporations!


That also means that the corporate press isn't much interested in him since they

want people loaded with corporate cash to buy TV ads -- they get 80% of that

campaign fund $$.


There are still a number of liberal/progressive Dems in Congress I'd consider --

Whitehouse, Boxer -- and certainly Jerry Brown who may be too busy for 2012 --

and others.

[Name removed]

168. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. 
[link:www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html|Click
here] to review the message board rules.

[docvet]

102. lol right the next day!

lol surprised? Obama deals, protects, enables and received $$$ from criminals. What does that make him then? Politically dense my butt!

[kenfrequed]

149. Yeah...

Maybe we could put on a better game face or hold to a stronger line with this.

I mean it isn't as if they are going to just stop with this. They will push for more tax breaks for billionaires whether we agree now or wait for later.

[spotbird]

37. Surprise, surprise.

We are so screwed.

Compromise? It will be capitulation.

[Stellar]

151. Did you see Olbermann's show today?

Richard Wolffe talked to Keith about it today. Take a look...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#39998358

[CaliforniaPeggy]

38. Oh yeah...more compromise.

Just what we need.

Shit.

[Alhena]

39. Will they be known as the "Bush-Obama tax cuts" now?

[BarbaRosa]

40. Makes you wonder when he will compromise

with the Dems on anything.

[onehandle]

41. Compromise to the GOP's demands is over. Surrender to the GOP's demands begins.

Wait... There's a difference?

[defendandprotect]

45. When Dems only had USHR .... were Repugs offering to "compromise" with us?????

[Beartracks]

132. I don't recall a period of GOP compromise. n/t

[Nite Owl]

43. That didn't take long.

I guess extend the tax cuts for the wealthy for a couple of years and not permanantly. Cut elsewhere, poor people don't need those food stamps anyways, eating is overrated.

[pattmarty]

79. The Dems haven't represented poor people for quite a while now............

......If you're poor or working class you don't have a political party to turn to. What is left of the middle class will be the next to be left behind by the Democratic party.

[Nite Owl]

122. So true, much of the former

middle class are now in poverty and most of us are headed there too.

[alanquatermass]

106. Ha! That's right! After all, who needs food, or a job, or self-respect even?!

Seriously, I guess I assumed when he first took office that Mr. Hope and Change would be raising the top marginal tax rate back to its pre-Kennedy high of (I believe) 80 percent, because THAT'S the only way out of this goddamn economic mess we're in. When you think about it, is there any reason anybody with, say, one billion dollars in personal wealth couldn't live very comfortably on a "mere" 200 million? I know I could.

I'm sorry, folks, but having a billion fuckin' dollars in the bank when your neighbor is fucking starving is obscene.

That is all.

[Nite Owl]

121. Even back to where they were

under dear leader Reagan would help the budget, and take out the loopholes especially the corporate ones so that they now end up paying nothing or getting money back. It's a joke to them.

[dragonlady]

44. He said specifically, MIDDLE-CLASS families

were who he wanted to get the tax cuts. A compromise with the GOP would be on the upper-income brackets. He didn't say anything about that and I took it as a purposeful omission.

[emulatorloo]

46. AP has a serious right-wing spin problem n/t

[defendandprotect]

54. Here's what he said ....

At a White House news conference, the president said that when Congress returns, "my goal is to make sure we don't have a huge spike in taxes for middle class families." He made no mention of his campaign-long insistence that tax cuts be permitted to expire on upper-income families, a position he said would avoid swelling the deficit but put him in conflict with Republicans.

and in a quote from another article ....

"I've been willing to compromise in the past, and I'll be willing to compromise going forward," the president said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101103/el_yblog_upshot/obama-on-democratic-losses-it-feels-bad



This was from a WH news conference this morning -- we'll have to get actual text on it --

and see if we get any further clarification on it.

[Jamastiene]

59. Translated for future reference:

Middle class, look out!

[BillH76]

100. Obama IS backing off.

In the story cited above, he said "my goal is to make sure we don't have a huge spike in taxes for middle class families." His goal used to be to (1) keep the tax cuts for the middle class and (2) ELIMINATE the tax cuts for the upper class. Part 2 has just vanished.

[No Elephants]

171. Since Republicons wanted (1), but not (2), how would giving up (2) be a "compromise?"

Capitulation, compromise, change--interchangeable terms because all are brought to you by the lettter "C."

I think I rememember something like that from Roget's Thesaurus.

Or was it Big Bird?

I forget.

[Barack_America]

47. Well, that about wraps it up folks.

And to think this guy is supposed to be carrying the Kennedy mantle?

[T Wolf]

49. He's about as much of a Kennedy as Vincent Kennedy McMahon - only less entertaining. nt

[electricray]

50. Not voting on them before the election was the compromise, and that is on congress n/t

[No Elephants]

170. Ah, yes. A Democratic POTUS, who is also head of the Democratic Party and in

control of the DNC. has no influence over the agenda of a Democratic Congress.

[handmade34]

52. Nooooooo!

no more tax giveaways! it has been proven beyond a doubt that letting wealthy folks get away without paying their taxes does not produce jobs nor make us a better country

[Lasher]

165. It actually makes us a worse country. Much worse.

For 30 years all our growth has flowed to the top 10 percent. Besides being morally reprehensible, this has created a dangerous attitude of 'us vs. them' among the affluent. We're not all in this together anymore. Along with enormous wealth comes unrestrained power to corrupt and mislead.

Results are plain to see. An entire generation has been willfully cheated of its share of prosperity and is insisting on more of the same for themselves and our descendants. No longer is it enough to give all our gains to the wealthy elite. We are now on the verge of killing the goose that laid the golden eggs, foolishly thinking if we embellish the neoliberal economic ideology that has led us to ruin, we will all somehow be blessed consequently.

[QC]

53. Leave off those last three words and we have an all-purpose headline

that would work with pretty much any story.

[2critical]

55. This is Lucy. This is a football...

This is you trying to kick the football. LOL! I already regret voting Dem last night.

[AlbertCat]

150. I already regret voting Dem last night.

So....voting Repug would have been smarter???? :shrug:

[No Elephants]

174. We'll find out during the next two years.

[2critical]

191. No, I should have voted

Working Families or Socialist

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lumberjack_jeff]

57. Well then, that's entirely different.

Didn't see that coming.

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sadbear]

60. Compomise? Right.

The public option was a compromise. Extending the middle class tax cuts and NOT the upper class tax cuts is a compromise. This is capitulation.

[dixiegrrrrl]

61. Before election it was "bi-partisanship" Now it is "compromise".

Since Dems have no control in Congress now, how do you ....compromise.

Great. Post election we get...Chamberlain.

[No Elephants]

175. Color me curious: Whom have we had since January 2009?

[ellie]

62. For fuck's sake.

[caraher]

63. That headline was rubbish

I read the whole AP article and it said no such thing. I was drafting my message to the White House and looking for the quote that suggested he was going to "compromise" and it just isn't in anything he said. There was just a sentence that noted he did NOT say anything about his stance on tax cuts for the top 2%

[BillH76]

104. Not rubbish.

He said "my goal is to make sure we don't have a huge spike in taxes for middle class families." His goal used to include a second part: to eliminate tax cuts for the rich. That part just disappeared.

[No Elephants]

176. That is one of a number of possibilities, so we should ALL wait and see what really happens.

Maybe there's some truth in the headline; maybe not. We'll see. Meanwhile, let the Wh know how you feel.

[Roland99]

64. yeah...sure is a LOT of pure conjecture in that article. What a piss-poor piece of "journalism"

[BillH76]

105. Not "piss poor."

He said "my goal is to make sure we don't have a huge spike in taxes for middle class families." His goal used to be twofold: keep the tax cuts for the middle class and eliminate them for the rich. The part about the rich is no longer part of his goal.

[Name removed]

65. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Donnachaidh]

70. I thought the line was *do what is possible, not what YOU promised"?

We're so screwed.

[dionysus]

87. Obamaniac? classsssy....

:eyes:

[abq e streeter]

66. "Obama signals compromise on..." fill in the blank with anything you can think of

:puke:

[jtuck004]

67. "A Shellacking"? How about "The American people deserve

as much respect and investment of taxpayer money as business and investment banks, and they just told us they want it. I got it. I am calling on the Congress to create an American jobs program which will employ 10 million people for 3 years in industries we will rebuild in this country. I would like it on my desk for a signature within 90 days. Areas to focus on include development programs for jobs in the silicones used for computers, in alternative energy, and I would like a plan to bring high speed rail to 25 American cities within the next 3 years, because those are the areas we are giving up to other countries. We cannot enjoy the same freedoms or security if we don't build ourselves up.

The quitters will say we can't. They aren't fired up, and maybe they don't believe it.

But if you believe we can, start calling your elected representatives. Including me. Thank you."

And make that the message till it happens.

[SammyWinstonJack]

118. HAHAHAHA!

:silly: Don't hold your breath hoping for that change. :evilgrin:

[jtuck004]

161. Well, yeah, there is that.

[pscot]

163. We're getting what we deserve

Good and hard.

[matt819]

68. Compromise?

What a load of crap. Sure, the multi-millionaires need to keep their tax cuts. Horse shit.

[matt819]

69. Yeah, how's that compromising work the first time around?

Sure, in a purely academic sense, you can't help but agree with the President. That's the way intelligent people do things. That's the way statesmen do things. It's not the way these street thugs do things. And we've been chumps because we've been bringing thought and reason to a fucking street fight.

[avaistheone1]

71. Oh swell. Another quitter.

Thanks for nothing Mr. President.

:wtf:

[2Design]

72. better let the rich tax cuts expire to balance the budget

[fascisthunter]

73. as if he would do anything else

I think he's less than honest.

[McCamy Taylor]

74. If Obama dumps Cap and Trade, GE (MSNBC) will dump him,

and Big Oil will still spend a gazillion dollars opposing him in the next election.

As for tax cuts to the rich, all that money will flow into SuperPacs.

[bc3000]

75. Grayson 2012

How much more compromise (surrender) from this president will we have to stand for before we can start talking about getting a candidate who might make a difference?

[harun]

89. +1

[AngryOldDem]

99. +2

Couldn't Obama wait a full 24 hours before "compromising"?

[NYMdaveNYI]

145. [phone]

[NYMdaveNYI]

146. GRAYSON WEINER 2012 nt

[KeyserSoze87]

76. Why Obama?

Why? WHY??? :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[pattmarty]

77. If what we saw in the last two years was the best the Dems have...........

........then we are truly fucked for the next two. What I am fearing now is the "catfood" commission. The Republicans will surely love the recommendations that will come out of it and this will give Obama "cover" to "reform" SS. Jesusfuckingchrist, we had 255 House seats and 60 Senate seats and the American people got a shitty INSURANCE bill and a giveaway to Wall St. If he would have been more bolder and forceful he wouldn't be staring at this fucking Republican tsunami. But, maybe he is just another corporate Dem and this was the plan all along.

[SammyWinstonJack]

120. I suspect that this was the plan all along.

:puke:

[humbled_opinion]

155. You nailed it...

With the mandates that were given him he elected compromise instead of taking up the mantle and explaining to the American people what the CHANGE means. He had one chance to be the great communicator for liberal ideas and now he has blown it because he is too busy triangulating. Why? because he did not stand on his principles he buckled early and often. I said many times that health care crap looked like it was written by and for Repukes all the insurance giveaways and mandates to purchase and no public option... Thats where he failed.

[No Elephants]

177. He's not a liberal; he's a New Democrat. Triangulating IS him standing on HIS principles.

He's made that clear ever since his election. And, after he got into the WH, he said "I am a New Democrat." So, whe have no right whatever anymore to expect him to be be "the great communicator for liberal ideas."

Triangulating IS him standing on HIS principles. Not liberal principles, maybe. Not my principles, maybe. Not your principles, maybe, but his principles.

I only wish he had made all that clear from the jump, instead of only after the general. But, now I know, as do we all. Well, all wo aren't sailing in a felucca.

[humbled_opinion]

190. WOW I must have missed something.,....

Did he actually say I am a "New Democrat" which speech was that I missed it. Its certainly explains alot..... What is the definition of New Democrat? Where do I fit, How do I know?

[quakerboy]

166. not 2. 6.

One way or the other.

And thats assuming that we are able to continue to hold the right to vote.

[No Elephants]

178. Puzzled Why are you expecting to be any less "fucked" after six years?

[quakerboy]

194. It might or might not be so

But there is the opportunity. If you accept the arguments and beliefs of the person I was responding to, that Obama is not going to push for things to get better by progressive standards of better, then technically, 6 years is the next really likely opportunity to push for change. In 2 years, as the person I responded to had originally indicated, the choice for president will be either Obama or a Republican. And if the assumption that things will be fucked under Obama, a rep will be at least as bad. So 6 years is the next presidential election the left has a real shot at, and its awful hard to push major change against a president opposed or indifferent to it.

[24601]

78. Thank God just in time. Now, if I win the lottery tonight or find some

other way to make $250,000 or more. There is always that Nigerian Prince who needs to move lots of money into the US - and he keeps emailing me....

[Name removed]

80. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[indy legend]

85. You mean he is not still playing 3D chess while everyone else is playing checkers?

[AllyCat]

82. Gee, because that has worked SO well for the last 2 years.

Jeez, Mr. President. At least try to make it look like these people are nuts.

[JDPriestly]

83. So, Obama couldn't even give us a day to lick our wounds.

What?

I cannot express my disgust. More compromise -- and with the party that ran on "We will never compromise."

Doesn't President Obama ever learn?

I could cry or scream when I read this. No. This is not the way to go.

[Doctor_J]

84. On his way to single term

I've almost tuned him out, just like I tuned out hate radio and Cabal News.

[indy legend]

94. I'm starting to think once he got into office he figured out early on

he wasn't up to the job. So the best way to save face without quiting is to make sure he looses in 2012. Congrats Mr. "president". You have guaranteed yourself one term and guaranteed that the country will suffer because of it. If you still want to compromise with these republifux just save yourself and us the pain and embarrassment of the next two years. Resign now. I will not think any less of you for it. That would not be possible. Tea baggers want their country back. I want the last 3 years of time, money and work I waisted on you back. You might want to, before the repukes repeal whats left of you "health care" bill, get around to a spine transplant while it's still covered. It appears to be a pre-existing condition. If you think I'm upset,disillusioned, and pissed off, you are right fucking spot on. The worst part of all this is it didn't have to be. We had an unprecedented majority in the house and senate and had the whitehouse. If a boot had been put on the throat of these right wing fucks they'd be a footnote in history now like the whigs instead of back in power. The only way to stop a bully( republican) is to punch the son-of-a-bitch in the mouth. But no. You gave them your lunch money and said please don't hit me anymore. Thanks for the fuckin change.

[Prana69]

137. +1000. Holy crap, that's a great post!

Nailed it.

P69

[kenfrequed]

156. I agree with the sentiment

But I think we have to consider that Evan-fucking-Beyh screwed us thirty days before Obama even took the oath with his stupid Blue Dog caucus in the Senate. He locked up a bunch of democratic votes and enabled and emboldened the republicans. If the Repukes thought that they would be standing alone against change and against trying to fix the economy and the country after Bush screwed it up then maybe we might have been able to corner them and break them.

Then in 2010 when he had fucked things rather thoroughly he waited until the day before registration to announce that he wasn't running again, thereby screwing over the party by not allowing us to endorse a successor.

Yes, Obama's leadership of the party was weak, but he had his knees cut out of him by Beyh, and that moron Rahm kept telling him to go bipartisan all the while he was calling the progressives retarded for trying to hold the blue dogs feet to the heat and support progressive legislation.

With nothing to call our own and no big program to run on save for a blizzard of tiny fixes and small bits of patchwork here and there the party was left holding a glop of gray undifferentiated clay and the Democrats in congress had to try to run on it.

[Doctor_J]

193. Excellent rant!

Damn fucking right. These malevolent bastards were going down for the third time, if we had just challenged them instead of giving in. The American people voted them the fuck out of power 2 years ago. Told them they were useless and unwanted. So why the fuck did we start giving into them on day 1?

Let me know when you're ready to fight, indy. I'll be right there next to you

[and-justice-for-all]

86. So no change then? nt

[xxqqqzme]

88. Compromise?

Did anyone tell him what happened just YESTERDAY? How can someone so smart be so politically dense?

[RetroLounge]

90. Big fucking surprise

Mr. One Term Prez.

:puke:

RL

[Name removed]

101. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Ken Burch]

113. It's not as if there could be an honorable compromise.

You know compromise would have to mean unconditional surrender.

[ozone_man]

91. On course to beat Clinton

as the best Republican president ever.

[No Elephants]

181. And here I thought Abe Lincoln had a lock on that title.

:shrug:

[Myrina]

93. Who the hell is this man & what did he do with the guy I voted for??

:wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

[ProudDad]

117. Maybe this will answer your question

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4599173&mesg_id=4599550

[bemildred]

95. Well, if he is serious, he is going to be a one term President. nt

[grahamhgreen]

96. Translation: Tax cuts for the rich! WeeeHeee!

[Liberty Belle]

97. Why talk about compromise when they're not in office yet?

Dems, hustle up to accomplish as much of your agenda as possible before the facists takeover.

[bergie321]

98. Yup

Time to go Nuclear on the filibuster.

[blueknight]

103. his fucking "compromise"

is what is responsible for last nights election! trying to compromise instead of being a FUCKING DEMOCRAT. some advice mr.president, DO WHAT THE FUCK WE ELECTED YOU TO DO, AND QUIT TRYING TO COMPROMISE! These republican cocksuckers dont GIVE A FUCK ABOUT THE COUNTRY, they are doing what they feel is best for their own corporate interest.

[Roy Rolling]

107. Flunked Math

I am beginning to think Obama flunked math. Does he really have a grip on finance in the U.S. or is he just relying on what his minions tell him? To use his analogy, not only do the Republicans have the keys to the car, but he just jumped in the back seat and let them both drive AND navigate. Here's a short math lesson: if Republicans make economic policy it will be to force law changes that give the ultra-wealthy an economic advantage because they are too weak to compete, and win, in the sham global economy they have been touting for three decades as the road to prosperity. So instead of gaining more wealth by winning competition globally in the "world economy", they hoard a larger share of the capital and wealth in the U.S. by cannibalizing other segments of society that are vulnerable.

[Trocadero]

108. for the love of God is he retarded?

[TBF]

142. I believe the word you're looking for is complicit. nt

[YankeeLeft7x]

109. Dems Criticized Bush's Tax Cuts and War in Iraq Simultaneously

To win favor with the people, Democrats endlessly criticized Bush's Tax Cuts and War in Iraq, Simultaneously.

Obama is a fraud if he allows the Bush tax cuts to continue and then goes on to end Social Security and mess around with Medicare.

The wealthy OWN AMERICA and the rabble get the leftover scraps and these days, homeless shelters and soup kitchens.

I am so tired of having to rationalize corporate power and it's elleged "virtues."

Everything about the "free market" ideology are man made concepts just as any religion (take your pick) is.

[samplegirl]

110. OH HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He can not cave to this!

[jmowreader]

111. Compromise? We don't need no steenking compromise!

To Republicans, "compromise" means "give us everything we want and we'll ask for more."

[laughingliberal]

112. My very favorite part:

<Obama also acknowledged that he must repair his relationship with private sector leaders who view him as anti-business, saying that the relationship is one that "has not been managed by me as well" as it should have been.>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101103/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama

Yay! More bidness friendly policies! :sarcasm:

[Swede Atlanta]

114. I like Obama the man but...........

He has sold progressives down the river.

As a gay man he has sold gays down the river by not pushing ENDA, terminating DADT and supporting DOMA

As a person with a pre-existing cancer condition he failed to push at all for single payer and compromised with the health care industry to give them opportunity for billions in additional income.

As someone opposed to the war in Iraq, extraordinary renditions, torture, GITMO and continued investment in Afghanistan without a dependable, trustworthy partner he has bungled all of this. He continues to support renditions and torture. His plan for GITMO will never happen, especially now. He has escalated the war in Afghanistan without a reliable partner. We all know that Karzai is a crook and a criminal.

He has let environmental legislation "stew" for 2 years and now it will never be passed

I could go on and on. I gave not a penny to any candidate or cause (including orgs like MoveOn) this election cycle. I made no calls. My only contribution was to vote for progressive candidates.

But in 2012 I plan no financial or other support until the progressives get some cajones and fight for what matters most. No more milktoast so we don't offend someone. Let's offend someone if that is what it takes to get what we want. The Republics have that as a core value - win at all cost.

[ProudDad]

115. Compromise is what got you here, idiot!

How Obama lost his voice, and how he can get it back

Barack Obama went from being a transformational leader in the campaign to a transactional one as president. It didn't work, and he must reverse course.

President Obama entered office wrapped in a mantle of moral leadership. His call for change was rooted in values that had long been eclipsed in our public life: a sense of mutual responsibility, commitment to equality and belief in inclusive diversity. Those values inspired a new generation of voters, restored faith to the cynical and created a national movement.

Now, 18 months and an "enthusiasm gap" later, the nation's major challenges remain largely unmet, and a discredited conservative movement has reinvented itself in a more virulent form.

This dramatic reversal is not ... a consequence of a president who is too liberal, too conservative or too centrist. And it is not the doing of an administration ignorant of Washington's ways. Nor can we honestly blame the system, the media or the public — the ground on which presidential politics is always played.

...

Abandoning the "transformational" model of his presidential campaign, Obama has tried to govern as a "transactional" leader. These terms were coined by political scientist James MacGregor Burns 30 years ago. "Transformational" leadership engages followers in the risky and often exhilarating work of changing the world, work that often changes the activists themselves. Its sources are shared values that become wellsprings of the courage, creativity and hope needed to open new pathways to success. "Transactional" leadership, on the other hand, is about horse-trading, operating within the routine, and it is practiced to maintain, rather than change, the status quo.

The nation was ready for transformation, but the president gave us transaction. And, as is the case with leadership failures, much of the public's anger, disappointment and frustration has been turned on a leader who failed to lead.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-1103-ganz-obama-20101103,0,486277.story

[ChiciB1]

116. From My Perspective, What I Find Completely Ironic Is This... Obama

was NEVER my first or second choice, neither was Hillary, still I was so uplifted that we got through the haze of either electing a female or a black as POTUS. Actually, having supported another "white" male I thought it was so monumental that this country actually did elect a black person, even above a white woman. White women have been making progress in Congress and higher offices in Government, but blacks simply haven't made as much progress. I've ALWAYS found that unacceptable. Even today when mixed marriages have become common, in part due to a younger group of Americans, the black people still have not been as accepted as much as Asians, Latinos or other ethnic groups. THEY were brought here because of white men who used them as slaves and thought no better of them than the horses they owned.

So as a white female, who actually didn't support him for "my" personal reasons, I felt it was ABOUT time we did elect a black person as our leader. I was proud of THAT fact and I felt it reflected well on our country.

Having said all of the above and still being GLAD that we broke through a barrier we never had done before, I find that Obama has blown a GREAT opportunity. Some call it his intellectual demeanor, some say it's his cool, calm approach, but there comes a time when reality sets in. For me, Obama is wearing some very intense ROSE COLORED glasses. To me, he just DOESN'T GET IT. Either that, or he's been willing to let those around him dictate policies and agendas for their own good, or ones that don't include "we the people" as a whole. I DO realize that Congress has played a role in all of this... but a COMPETENT LEADER would have decided by now who their enemies are and stood up and said "I will no longer be fooled!"

Compromising is a GOOD thing when BOTH sides are willing to come together and find a REAL solution. But when compromising makes you look weak, and when the other side realizes you can be "rolled" I think it's time to show THEM that you will no longer be fooled by their LIES!

Not to understand how much they want to ruin you and to look the other way WHEN they actually say it, is a sure way of showing WEAKNESS to me.

I am but one, but I know many who agree with me. THIS insanity must stop... this is also my country too, and I'm sick of what I'm seeing. I want to know that my TEAM LEADER can actually lead! We will follow and support and do what is necessary when we see the LEADER showing that kind of strength and fortitude.

I have NOT seen it thus far, and to say you will STILL compromise makes me feel not only sad, but VERY uncomfortable. I don't want it all, I just would like to know that I can trust "my team" and I don't!

[Name removed]

119. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Javaman]

123. Yayyy! I love the look of tread marks on my face!! Yayyy! nt

[L0oniX]

124. I'm a professional progressive lefty ...ask me if I give a shit. The lesson is...

when you bend over you get f*cked in the a*s.

[Thor_MN]

125. The sunset IS GOP policy. Extending the tax cuts for 95% of the people IS compromise.

My opinion, echo the already announced GOP policy of "The time for compromise is over." by telling them to fuck off and let the Bush policy stand (let the cuts expire.) Have to get out in front of it and explain that we are going to let the GOP have exactly what they wanted and let them explain why they are flip-flopping 180 degrees now.

[dionysus]

126. +1

[demi moore]

127. if alan greyson

led a leftist version of the tea party... i wonder if it would be popular enough to get on the news.
go france on them. :popcorn:

[hay rick]

129. Leftist version of the Tea Party.

If such a party attracted 10 times as many supporters as the "tea parties" the American media still wouldn't give it 10% of the coverage it bestowed on the astroturfers.

[demi moore]

131. that's because

it had its own news network and corporate funding. hmm... who could do it... hmmmmmm
what would you call it? not something with sexual undertones.

i think the rally on washington just passed had a lot of the people there who would support it. just sayin

[kenfrequed]

157. Hmmm

So we will need a hundred times as many supporters.

[No Elephants]

182. No. Besides, Koch Bros. would never fund a leftist version of anything, even though Joe Stalin

was the reason the family first made money.

[Divernan]

130. He didn't even wait for Boehner to make any demands!

I picture a hound dog rolling on his back, waving his legs in the air, in classic submission to the leader of the pack.

[JJW]

133. Okay, I give up

We'll send twice the amount to Wall Street and privatize all of social security. Wink, wink!

[MissDeeds]

135. Oh goody!

Not!

This is beyond disgusting.

:thumbsdown:

[dflprincess]

136. He never learns, does he?

We are doomed.

[niceypoo]

141. Apparently not

This is just sad

[lonestarnot]

138. What bullshit. He signalled no such thing.

[Catherina]

139. We were had from the beginning. n/t

[RedCloud]

140. IOW How to piss away your landslide mandate.

[pepperbear]

143. excuse me......"suffered deep Senate losses in midterm elections."

uhm, er....didn't we keep the senate?

[humbled_opinion]

144. I watched the news conference intently...

Obama has pivoted right, what he is failing to realize is that by capitulating to the Right instead of defending his own stated liberal principles, policies and ideas is going to hurt the entire Democratic party. This "country is center right", notion comes from this very type of reaction of the "Most Liberal President Ever".... , the illusion that the rightwingers painted was that Obama was a far left radical, socialist, some even said Marxist and it stuck. Obama in truth was a centrist bipartisan that was already a little further right then I prefered but I had hope.

I had much hope that Obama would be and could be the one to communicate the truth of liberal positions effectively much like Raygun had communicated the conservative positions effectively for his base.

This country is not center right it is center common sense, it is center what works, it is center leave people alone in the privacy of their homes and lives and decisions, it is center respect all human beings and it is center take care of the planet.

Now we have to go back to the drawing board.

[Ozymanithrax]

147. He should not compromise. They should simly go away.

Nobody gets a tax cut.

More fiscally sound.

[EndElectoral]

153. So the rich win again? Why am I not surprised?

[Marnie]

154. He's already folded and they don't even get

sworn in till next year.

He's doesn't even try to stand up for his own positions.

And he caves before Americans and Dim have a chance to try to do that part of his job for him.

And where the hell was his support for Grayson, a man who sure has hell stood up for him.

The Oscar Meyer Winnie Mobile needs a permanent parking spot on the the WH front lawn.

[Lost4words]

187. LOL Funny and true

"The Oscar Meyer Winnie Mobile needs a permanent parking spot on the the WH front lawn."

[marasinghe]

158. well, hell. we'd have been better off with al sharpton as president.

he's more of a brawler than this entire bunch of wussies in the democratic party.

[markmyword]

159. What Part of NO Compromising Didn't You Understand?

Hey Obama, we just had a blood bath yesterday, a referendum on
your administration. What part of No compromising didn't you
understand?

In case, you didn't know it, YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT and you
don't have to compromise with BULLIES,LIARS, AND opponents,
who are absolutely ruthless. In fact, these guys are trying to
destroy you and your presidency(does one term presidency, or
impeachment ring a bell?)

If you were dealing with real politicians(statesmen),and
reasonable men and women, then compromising is what normal
people do, BUT you're NOT dealing with normal people. The
Republicans today, are mean spirited, greedy,
UNPATRIOTIC(anti-American by outsourcing jobs, at the expense
of American workers).
Their only purpose is to take you and your administration
down.

People like that, you DON'T COMPROMISE with. You have to stand
up to them, get a back-bone(surround yourself with fighters,
like Alan Grayson) and stand up for the American people and
our Constitution.  


You're in for the fight of your life. No more Mr. Nice Guy,
you have to stand up for US (your base, what's left of it). 

Repeat after me "No Compromising, no compromising, no
compromising...."

[SpankMe]

160. I thought he already did compromise?

He agreed to let the tax cuts expire on something like 97% of all people, restoring the older tax rates for only the top few percent of very rich. What the hell's left to compromise on?

[Riverman]

162. FUCK COMPROMISE! I WANT TWO YEARS OF HELL!

Mr President! I Love you as a person, hate your strategy! Give it up. Lead or get the hell out of the way. After one term go back to Chicago U and teach your negotiations course to upper class elites "Getting to Yes" "Getting to Peace" Fischer and Ury will be proud.

[Name removed]

169. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lutherj]

164. OK, this is starting to look pathological. He loses a midterm and his

response is to run to the republicans and dump more compromises on the table like a big bucket of fish and hope maybe now they will like him. . . . Oh well, maybe it will work this time, maybe the republicans will throw him a bone. You never know. It could happen. Really.

[seafan]

167. Look out for the return of the CatFood Commission and that little matter of the pocket veto.

Not even 24 hours after losing control of the US House of Representatives:


Obama Says He Is Open to Compromise With Victorious Republicans

Bloomberg
November 3, 2010

U.S. President Barack Obama said voters gave him a “shellacking” in yesterday’s elections because they want both parties to work together, as victorious Republicans called on Democrats to “pivot in a different direction.”

House Minority Leader John Boehner, a Republican who will likely become speaker in January, and Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell said at a news conference today they hope Obama and congressional Democrats will heed voters’ desire that they change course and find bipartisan solutions to growing government debt and persistent high unemployment.

.....

Obama signals compromise with GOP on tax cuts and energy policy

Yahoo News
November 3, 2010

WASHINGTON – A chastened President Barack Obama signaled a willingness to compromise with Republicans on tax cuts and energy policy Wednesday, one day after his party lost control of the House and suffered deep Senate losses in midterm elections.

Obama ruefully called the Republican victories "a shellacking" and acknowledged that his own connection with the public had frayed.

At a White House news conference, the president said that when Congress returns, "my goal is to make sure we don't have a huge spike in taxes for middle class families." He made no mention of his campaign-long insistence that tax cuts be permitted to expire on upper-income families, a position he said would avoid swelling the deficit but put him in conflict with Republicans.

He also virtually abandoned his legislation — hopelessly stalled in the Senate — featuring economic incentives to reduce carbon emissions from power plants, vehicles and other sources.

.....

Asked to reflect on the returns, he said, "I feel bad," adding that many Democrats who went down to defeat had done so knowing they risked their careers to support his agenda of economic stimulus legislation and a landmark health care bill. He blamed himself, in part.
"The relationship that I've had with the American people is one that built slowly, peaked at this incredible high, and then during the course of the last two years, as we've together gone through some very difficult times, has gotten rockier and tougher," Obama said.

Criticized at times for appearing detached and aloof, Obama spoke about the challenges he's faced in engaging the American people from the often insular White House.
"When I'm out of this place, that's not an issue," Obama said. "When you're in this place, it is hard not to seem removed."

Obama also acknowledged that he must repair his relationship with private sector leaders who view him as anti-business, saying that the relationship is one that "has not been managed by me as well" as it should have been.

The president said he was eager to sit down with the leaders of both political parties "and figure out how we can move forward together."

.....

CatFood Commission


Pocket Veto

“I’m exhausted of defending you, defending your administration, defending the mantle of change that I voted for,” said the first questioner, an African-American woman who identified herself as a chief financial officer, a mother and a military veteran. “I’ve been told that I voted for a man who was going to change things in a meaningful way for the middle class and I’m waiting sir, I’m waiting. I still don’t feel it yet.” ---- Velma Hart, CFO of a veterans' organization, in a townhall meeting, September 20, 2010

Tragically for the people of this country, this presidency is finished.

[No Elephants]

173. Before forming an opinion about this, I'm going to wait to see what actually happens.

Remember the "embarrassment of riches" primary?

Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Kucinich, Obama.

I chose my candidate, Obama, based on who I thought was likeliest to win the general because I did not want another Republican administration. I was right about Obama being likeliest to win the general; and I was so elated when he did.

Welcome to reality.

Another reality: Presidents who are challenged in a primary lose the general.

Meanwhile, Democrats are likely to take away from this midterm that the only way to get elected is to go still further right.

Six ways to Sunday, folks, six ways to Sunday.

[panzerfaust]

180. Yes: Frustrated by promise of CHANGE

Which was not delivered.

Wake Up!

[Bluebear]

184. 'he would work harder to build a political consensus' - wonderful. nt

[No Elephants]

186. Michael Moore, in August, on compromise---

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/08/michael-moore-dear-biggest-obama-supporters-suck-give-money/

[conspirator]

189. He keeps talking about recovery. There is NO RECOVERY. PERIOD

And Obama is behaving like a corporate tool of disinformation

[yurbud]

192. Obama is part of our frustration. we gave him White House and commanding majorities

And he immediately decided to load up his biggest policy proposals with conservative ideas that voters had just repudiated. Likewise, in health care reform and Wall Street reform, he refused to acknowledge that part of what the public wanted was JUSTICE, to see that the wealthy could b held accountable for their actions and deprived of the means to do more harm. Instead, he bent over backwards to consult them, going as far as to appoint the Wall Street excrement who caused the collapse to his economic team,and listening almost exclusively to insurance and pharma lobbyists on healthcare reform and working to protect their ability to profit from the reform even though it would cost us more and cover fewer people. Finance reform was watered down in hopes of getting hedge fund managers campaign donations when it should have prompted them to jump off buildings or sit in their garage with the car running and the door closed until they were as dead as our economy and the people around the world whose lives we destroyed.

Obama acts like we elected him to be a referee between ideas of the right and left and give us equal portions of both, but when he does that, he castrates our democracy. If we vote for Republicans, we get 100% republican policy proposals and they use every means fair and foul to implement them. When we vote for Democrats, particularly DLCers like Obama, we get 50% Republican policy and 50% Democratic, but then they refuse to use even all the fair means at their disposal to implement the Democratic policies, and give away half or more of the Demcratic 50% to the right.

On issues like K-12 education, there is no daylight between Obama & the GOP. Both want to privatize our schools so a handful of rich people can do to public education what they did to the dream of home ownership and blue collar jobs that could support a family: use it for the speculative masturbation, then once they have destroyed all real value and usefulness, discard it like a dirty condom.

We need a party and president that unapologetically defends the middle class from the depravity of the super-wealthy, not one that differs from the GOP only in that they lube up before they screw us.

[Lorien]

195. YOU take responsibility for that?? What about the idiot who ran the Country for eight years????

and, while you're at it, alert your mouthpieces on this board that you've "taken responsibility for that." :eyes: