Joe Scar: "Why is it Bush got EVERYTHING he wanted - even from the Dems, and Obama can't?

[chimpymustgo]

Even Republicans are noticing and asking the very obvious question. WHY???

[NewJeffCT]

1. They didn't care about compromise

they fear-mongered & demagogued their issues to death until some wimpy Democrats decided to vote with them.

[emulatorloo]

2. The Republicans are marching lockstep now. Just as they did under Bush

And there are a handful of Dems who are willling to help out.

It is disgusting to me how much power Liebermann, Nelson, etc have.

[sendero]

22. They have the power..

... because the leadership lets them have it.

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. Cats

[Lasher]

19. Well they said it couldn't be done.

Pictures don't lie, ya know.

[katandmoon]

4. There are a lot more Dems like Repugs, then Repugs like Dems

[Ganja Ninja]

5. That's because the Democrats have a nice big roomy tent ...

filled with Republicans.:hangover:

[no_hypocrisy]

6. Tape recordings?

[bertman]

57. Audio AND video.

[liberal N proud]

7. Combination of..

fear mongering, faux patriotism (your either with us or against us shit) and political blackmail.

[snot]

8. K&R'd

[ima_sinnic]

9. how do we know, really, that Obama isn't getting everything he wants?

I mean, what did he expect when he outlined some vague "reform" of health care, with nothing specific, really, then went on vacation while Max Baucus had nice cozy closed-door "hearings" with insurance co. fatcats?

Only 9 days ago Obama met with Democratic senators regarding health care--to do what? Apparently a "public option" was not even mentioned, or was minimized, certainly was not "fought for" the way LBJ fought for passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1963.

Obama is "getting what he wants," it's just not what We The People want.

[chimpymustgo]

11. ima_sinnic - yes you are! But you might be right as rain.

As upset as I was when he announced more troops for Afghanistan, his "60 Minutes" gambit on Sunday completely pulled back the curtain for me. The phony outrage burned through. I knew with clarity, then, what I had long suspected, that this - the campaign for hope and change - was a charade.

We have been punk'd.

[ima_sinnic]

18. now I don't even want to hear or see him speak, the same way I felt about *

I did trash my boobtube, but if I had one, I'd be changing the channel or unplugging it if he came on. I just very much doubt his sincerity.

[chimpymustgo]

21. That's exactly what I felt yesterday and posted. No more of your speeches, pal.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7221819

Obama lashes out at FAT CATS? He is SHOVELING FOOD into their mouths!

Watching him on "60 Minutes", I really didn't think he was going to be able to keep a straight face. It all seemed like an ACT - feigned outrage, very similar to what we heard before, when he promised to give those banksters a "good talking to." Looks as though another stern letter is on its way to them (as the banksters enjoy another visit to the White House today).

Leslie Stahl is talking about this on "Morning Joe" now - explaining that Obama is trying to be feisty, and human, and "warmed up" - show us how much he really does care about the "little guy".

Attack Matt Taibbi all you want - for getting one minor fact/name wrong. But getting it oh, so right that Obama has surrounded himself with the FAT CATS that brought this country - and much of the world - to its financial knees. HOW MUCH DID YOUR 401K LOSE? Do YOU have a job, or know somebody without one? How's your health care?

This administration has shoveled billions to the banks and LITTLE TO NOTHING for regular folks who can't get a job, a loan, a doctor's appointment.

The charade of "health care reform" is sickening to watch - especially knowing that Obama came into office with a MANDATE for this. He could have passed a POPULAR, MUCH-NEED reform measure - but chose to d*ck around and kiss Republican asses - and now a year has passed and NADA. And what's being discussed is a disgusting giveaway to insurance companies.

More troops to Afghanistan - to protect America from threats. WHAT FUCKING THREATS???

I am sick of the pretty speeches, the soaring rhetoric. Watching Michelle and Barack and Bo in the White House with Oprah last night was at the same time charming and sickening. Do you REMEMBER what is felt like a year ago? Our long national nightmare was OVER. We were going to RESTORE this country.

I cannot believe what has happened with this Presidency. WHAT HAPPENED?? Yes, Obama inherited a mess, but he ASKED FOR THE JOB TO CLEAN IT UP. Yes, it's been just under a year. But look at the CHOICES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE so far, and who they have benefited. Look at the continuation of horrible B*sh policies (rendition, domestic spying, state secrets). Yes, Congress is bought and paid for. But the POWER OF THE PRESIDENCY and a POPULAR MANDATE really could have brought about CHANGE.

So. Obama wants us to know he's REALLY STEAMED at the FAT CATS.

Well, Mr. President. I don't want to see another "charming" interview. Or hear another "rapturous" speech. It's time to stop complaining about the mess you inherited and START FIXING IT. REIN IN THE FAT CATS. Break up the banks. Get money flowing to small businesses and people who want to re-finance their mortgages. Get a JOBS PROGRAM going. Whatever happened to green jobs? A light rail system?

Not another word, Mr. President. Bring us health care and jobs and peace. 'Cause a whole lot of people who supported you are starting to think they are getting PLAYED.

[ima_sinnic]

23. ++++1 I do remember reading that

and noticed the usual dissenting and pearl-clutching posts about "whining." (I also did make a little contribution of my own early this a.m.)

afaic, you're spot-on.

[bertman]

58. "pearl-clutching posts"

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Beautiful!!

P.S. I'ma startin' to be a sinnic too.

[Enthusiast]

25. I hate to say it, but,

I get the same impression.

[bdamomma]

42. ................

:thumbsup:

[AndrewP]

56. Very well stated

[Kalun D]

66. Played

""'Cause a whole lot of people who supported you are starting to think they are getting PLAYED.""

I didn't think, I KNEW we were getting played just 2 months in. When he put all the corrupt bankers in charge of the Treasury and left Gates at defense.

[Vinnie From Indy]

28. BINGO!

When one looks at the trajectory of the HCR issue, it is hard to believe the whole thing hasn't been a con game from the start.

[chimpymustgo]

32. I have asked imma_sinnic to post an OP: "A brief history of how this shit-sandwich was concocted and

served to the American People."

It's clearly a case a taking an electoral MANDATE and turning into a worthless muddle NO ONE will heartily support. Before our very eyes, they have grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory.

It's almost as if they planned it this way...

[jgraz]

44. Beat me to it.

The other choice is that Obama is deeply stupid. And we know that's not the case.

[ima_sinnic]

47. we've been played like a cheap violin (nt)

[laughingliberal]

49. Every day I believe this more nt

[dionysus]

53. paranoi strikes deeeeep

[leftstreet]

59. +1

[Jamastiene]

10. I've been asking the same question.

The only answer I have is that we allow far too many right wingers in our party to constantly demoralize, backstab, and weaken us, whereas the Republicans do not allow left wingers in their midst.

Let's face it. The "Big Tent" idea really means we openly allow those who are openly against us inside the party. It fucks us up every single time and still, we haven't learned.

The LEAST we could do is not let Lieberman and the other hard right wing politicians caucus with us any more.

That's the LEAST we could do.

Otherwise, if we keep doing the same thing over and over again, we'll always get the same results: Traitors to the principles of the party who are openly against us at Every.Single.Turn. It's not working.

Something has gotta give.

[BR_Parkway]

12. Because Bush wanted the same things the corporations wanted

very little real resistance when you ignore We, the People.

Obama is seeking things that the People want - and the corporations are fighting back

[bertman]

60. The people wanted universal health care. Obama sure as hell didn't want that.

[Number23]

68. Fantastic point.

[SoCalDem]

13. Because dems always go along to get along, and repubs never do

they always take the contrarian position, band together and stay together, and then RUN on that fact..

[jasi2006]

14. Ummmmm.... I give you one REAL guess. nt

[IdaBriggs]

15. Have to say I think Joe got this one right.

Dems seem to lose, even when they win. I think the last time we had an effective Democratic president was 1993 - before Clinton lost control of the house. After that, the rest of his term was spent trying to staunch the bleeding, with the best thing about him being that he wasn't a Republican, which meant the corruption from the previous 12 years wasn't allowed to continue. Then Junior got into office, and we went back in time.

Obama is doing some things right - but again, he doesn't seem very effective.

I expected better of a graduate from Chicago politics. I am disappointed. :(

[vi5]

16. Because we're supposed to play nice....

...and our gutless leaders fall for it every time. And I'm tired of people on here saying how nice it is that we're so much better than the republicans and how we don't run roughshod over the opposition and instead try to work with them.

Yeah, look how far that's gotten us.

It's sad to see average people like those on DU advocating the polite DC cocktail party mentality. I can see why those ensconced in that life would want more to play nice and have polite little gatherings with their friends with no uncomfortability. But what does that get us.

If this country is truly going to be in a pendulum cycle of all or nothing, then goddamnit when we have it all (white house, senate, congress) then we should ask for it all because if we don't we'll lose power and if we do we'll lose power. So if it's going to happen either way we might as well get something out of it.

[Tansy_Gold]

41. Yes. Playing nice works soooooo well. Just ask

Joe Lieberman.






:sarcasm: just in case



TG

[Lasher]

17. One important reason is Republicans use reconciliation to get bills past the Senate.

They used it to pass the 2001 & 2003 tax cuts. They used it in 2005/2006 to cut Medicare, Medicaid, and student loan spending. They used it in 2005/2006 to prevent sunsetting of dividend & capital gain tax cuts, and to extent AMT reduction.

Democrats won't use reconciliation to pass HCR.

[KharmaTrain]

20. Intimidation...

The GOOPs being the thugs that they are used a lot of intimidation to get their way. People were called into meetings or shown "evidence" and then the pressure was put on. Either vote "for the country" or face endless teevee commercials and talking heads calling them out and turning public opinion on them. I call it the "Cleland factor"...many "moderate" Democrats are more fearful of faux noise and the right wing hate machine than they are of their own constituents...or their own shadow.

[Enthusiast]

26. They can only

accomplish their aims because they have near complete control of the media. One only need watch the Sunday Morning political round table discussions to see how horribly one sided it is.

[KharmaTrain]

27. It's An Echo Chamber...

I don't watch the Sunday shows and haven't for ages...and few others I know do. The ones who do are the beltway politicians and the political junkies...who have sealed themselves off into their own world and derive their opinons of the rest of it from inside that bubble. Yes, I've long railed that the media is dominated by "conservatives" as they are corporate entities long removed from any public accountability an solely out for their own profit and gain.

Cheers...

[Vinca]

24. That's what I've been muttering for days.

I think Obama will sign just about any health care bill, but the Dems in Congress are the ones who are crafting it. Removing the Medicare Buy In means I will be enduring 5 years of chronic pain until I'm eligible for regular Medicare . . . assuming no life-threatening illness hits me in the interim and I die. I'm currently deciding whether or not to hobble over to the Town Clerk's office and change my party affiliation to Independent. I've really had it.

[dysfunctional press]

29. apparently the elected dems think that everyone likes taking it up the ass...

as much as they do.

[eilen]

30. Let's see:

Lack of fortitude, guts, backbone, the fighting spirit. Lack of solidarity. Everyone is out for themselves and the almighty dollar. Passive surrender. Apparently the power of "Hope" and "Change" fizzled.

Notice no one has taken to the streets against the banksters, for single payor healthcare, for fair housing, for food safety, for jobs. We have all been quietly made homeless and starving. Has Asshole Joe L. had any dead stinky fish delivered to his office? Everyone is afraid.

And why not? Has the great agent for hope and change done away with free speech zones, domestic spying, and are we not concerned that the Homeland Security Act will be used against its own citizens?

But those teabaggers.... They don't even think about it. They bring guns to their rallies, to town halls the President appears at. They either suffer from monumental stupidity or we suffer from monumental cowardice. How many of them were put in jail? None.

My opinion is that we are just too comfortable. Most realize that for all the taking to the streets, nothing will change anyway. We know what side of the bread is buttered.

We are holding on the the last amount of civilization we have left, waiting for the next shoe to drop and the illusion of "the American Way of Life" to melt away.

[Freddie Stubbs]

31. Bush didn't get everything he wanted

He didn't get privatized Social Security, he didn't get permanent tax cuts, and he didn't get Harriet Meyers on the Supreme Court.

[Kaleva]

34. And drilling for oil in the ANWR is still prohibited.

[chimpymustgo]

35. Obama has NOT repealed the tax cuts OMG. Yes, privatizing SS failed - our biggest

legislative "victory" I recall of that period. Myers was a joke, and got the boot from the right. But he got his wars and tax cuts.

[Freddie Stubbs]

36. Bush wanted permanant tax cuts. These ones expire in 2010

[jgraz]

45. Oh wow, I feel better already

:eyes:

[Freddie Stubbs]

48. Would you prefer that they were permanant?

:shrug:

[jgraz]

54. I'd prefer we had Dem leaders with the courage to actually *do* something

Is that so much to ask?

[jgraz]

46. Truth is, the amount Bush didn't get done and what Obama *is* getting done

look roughly the same. And Bush spent half his presidency on vacation.

[Kaleva]

I didn't know that Bush was able to privatize Social Security

Unrecced for making a false statement.

[Kaleva]

33. I didn't know that Bush was able to privatize Social Security

Unrecced for making a false statement.

[GoCubsGo]

37. Unrecced for quoting Joke Scarborough

Yeeesh. Why does anyone care what that putz says?

[Tippy]

38. We got what we deserved....Remember

SCOTUS appointed him...

[Octafish]

39. Money

Guns.

Those with money buy muscle to pull triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to buy more muscle to pull more triggers to get more money to buy more muscle to pull more triggers until, finally, they own everything and everyone and We the People have no choice but to do what they say.

[blm]

40. I concur.

.

[chimpymustgo]

43. Oh shit.

[ima_sinnic]

52. 1 of the few times I've actually felt glad I'm older & won't have to deal with this

If I can take good care of myself (ha! with no health insurance--yet), I could go as long as another 30 years (I'm 63 now), so it could get hairy, but my heart goes out to the newest generations, who have a shit storm lying ahead.

[robinlynne]

50. damn good question.

[jtylerpittman]

51. The GOP in much more of one mind on issues and highly diciplined

the Democrats have a bunch of characters on there side who all do there own thing.

[Joe Chi Minh]

55. We can be nice.... and we can be ... not nice. And don't you touch those voting machines!

[ncteechur]

61. And Bush just wanted money to give to the rich or to fight wars. That enables reconciliation.

Health care does not allow reconciliation.

[Kablooie]

62. Republicans are powerful politicians. Democrats are pissy, diaper poopers.

God it's late. I need some sleep.

[FrenchieCat]

63. Democrats are pissy, diaper poopers? Like folks on this site?

[Kablooie]

64. Well -- me at least. I've got to get my mom to change me soon. I stink.

[Contrary1]

65. Maybe Obama is getting what he wants...

If anyone has a better answer, I'm open to it.

[earth mom]

67. Now there's the truth that many on DU don't want to face.

Instead they make all kinds of excuses for Obama, and live in denial, when it's as obvious as hell that Obama doesn't give a damn about the majority of people in this country.

The banksta gangstas, pharmsters, and insurance bastards love him though, because they got everything they wanted from him, didn't they? :puke:

[Dr Fate]

69. Joe may be off base. Maybe Obama really is getting what he wants.

I'm starting to think that Obama agrees with Blue Dogs & Lieberman more than not.

He's probably getting what he wants.

The only thing that stalled it is when they had to put on the dog & pony show once the base got riled up.

As far as Afghanistan goes, he is getting what he said he wants there too.

Joe seems to think that since mosty DEM voters are unhappy, Obama must not be getting what he wants- I'm not sure about that.