BREAKING MSNBC: Obama to Move Further LEFT in Response to MA Election

[berni_mccoy]

Will be more aggressive in dealing with Republicans and push further to the left on policy. Be more aggressive on that direction and in getting direct results. This is the WH Takeaway. That people are disappointed with too much effort on bipartisanship and working with the people that ruined the country.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

1. rec

[Divine Discontent]

212. K&R this everyone so we let them see that we EXPECT THIS from the Obama White House!

Rahm needs to go!

Kaine too.

[joeunderdog]

264. Well, he can't move any further right, can he?

Hope all these so-called Dems know that their jobs are on the line. Maybe they'll stop believing that the lobbyists are going to save them.

[Joe the Liberal]

295. Lol yup. n/t

[Maghetti]

380. This will be a blood bath

If Obama responds wrongly and goes to the right, and doesn't get tough on the bankers etc etc, this is going to be a complete slaughter in 2010 elections.

[Dinger]

400. If He Did, He'd Be A republican (nt)

[Inuca]

402. So cute! n/t

[dgibby]

428. He just did.

Pare down HCR so republicans will vote for it. Don't try to pass HCR until Brown is seated. The Dems are toast if they track any more to the right. If I wanted a republican admin, I'd vote for a republican candidate.

[roguevalley]

374. sweet Jesus, they have a clue. I may live through this shit. I turned

____ yesterday and I thought another year and FOR WHAT!?! Now I know. Maybe someone gets it. :0)

[happygoluckytoyou]

373. FAR F'ING OUT.... about time for SLOW-BAMA to awaken his big stick!!!

oh... go rent a sense of humor

[yourout]

2. One can hope.....I guess.

[treestar]

8. I knew it

He could even do it and the progressives will still complain.

[ampad]

39. Some will always complain

because for some it is not about ideology. Also watch for, "what took so long" Or " that is not good enough" Nothing will ever be good enough for some of them. I say for those people to stop complaining on a freaking message board and start working on their new party. That is what it is going to take before some of them will ever be happy. Lord knows the green party needs some work. I think their time would be better served there than complaining about a president they knew good and damn well was never going to be liberal enough for them.

[JDPriestly]

331. You are simply wrong. I for one for example was quite willing to

compromise my preference for single payer to support the House health insurance reform plan.

And yes if Obama doesn't begin sticking up more for the middle class and working people than he has been doing, I would, for the first time in my life, seriously consider a third party or better a challenge to his candidacy in 2012.

The attempt to achieve a bipartisan consensus has failed. That was evident very early on. It was well intended, but the Republicans unfortunately have to be brought to their senses before it can be successful.

Republicans, in my opinion, have the mental maturity of the terrible twos -- the firm belief in selfishness as a virtue, love of the sound and feel of the word "No," and a lack of willingness to abide by simple rules.

Terrible twos, that's what they are.

You can't reason with them yet. A couple of years of firm but patient showing them who is boss on the part of the Obama administration, and they will become more reasonable.

[Th1onein]

342. I absolutely agree with you.

I'm tired of seeing Obama selling out to rightwing assholes and corporations.

[Betty Karlson]

375. Praise the Lord realisation dawns over the WH!

And let us see, also, what remains of the filibuster rule.

[Enthusiast]

386. Do you believe

the voters voted for Obama and a majority in both houses of congress because they felt Democrats would move to the right? If you believe that......

[ima_sinnic]

56. what are you and your little parrot follower talking about?

"He could even do it" is a lot different from talking about it.

Why exactly would "progressives" (which you obviously are not) "complain" if Obama actually moved to the left?

It is apparent that you have no real concept of Democratic ideals and values. Instead of saying, yay, we really could make some progress, you take the opportunity to diss other posters who did in fact vote for the man. Your role in life seems to be to mock and ridicule. In other words, you are a hater and a divider.

[RaleighNCDUer]

78. Damn right we will - because he's going to have to move a hell of a way

to the left to just get back to the center.

I'm not holding my breath.

[dotymed]

392. The tee vee just said

that Obama told Congress to go back to the HC bill and make it more acceptable to repubs since we lost our "super majority"....lol he is digging their hole deeper...51 is all it takes. If they do this, we will lose a simple majority....dumbass. Fire Rahm and the wall streeters and hire Progressives to "advise"...or lose it all.

[laughingliberal]

98. Perhaps they are waiting to see it, first

I hope that is the takeaway. And, if he's smart (and I do think he's smart) that is precisely what he'll do. But you could not blame people for being skeptical at this point. But carry on. I'm becoming convinced that calling the disillusioned members of the party names and insulting them is really, really effective. :sarcasm:

[treestar]

110. Nothing is effective

The disillusioned are too easy to disappoint and not really willing to fight for what they want - they just want to judge others for not doing it for them hard enough.

If you really wanted these things, you'd be in there, not taking the luxury of "disappointment" in others.

Look in the mirror. You're the ones that give up already. Many a thread has shown how long it took to get many of the things in the past.

You'd have abandoned those causes early on. JFK or whoever wouldn't have been tough enough because he didn't get whatever fast enough.

[laughingliberal]

117. You know that just doesn't work for me

I was of the generation that did not give up. I was on the front lines of the civil rights wars. I endured arrests, police brutality, tear gas, and more to fight for what I believed in and I was far from alone. We did win some serious rights for people. Sadly, we have gotten to watch while our fellow Democrats have 'incrementally' pissed away a lot of the rights won in the 60's and 70's in the name of bipartisanship, pragmatism, and 'understanding the way things get done.'

JFK was plenty tough enough. It is not always just what is accomplished. It is seeing that the issues they fight for are in the best interests of the people. FDR did not always hit a home run on policy but he continued to let the people know he was on their side and opposed to the ruling class and he kept fighting and asked the people to stick with him. And they did. I don't see him having won reelection 3 times if he had said he would get to us as soon as he finished saving the banksters and Wall Street executives.

And, once again, I'm going to ask something I have yet to get an answer to, here. What, exactly, did President Obama mean when he said, "Make me do it?" I took it as an imperative to apply pressure to get the kinds of policies we favored.

edited grammar

[vssmith]

176. FDR was the one who said, "Make me do it."

[laughingliberal]

253. Yeah, President Obama said it too, quoting him and calling on us to make him do it nt

edited typo: to/too

[Sherman A1]

317. Yes, and that simply doesn't work for me

It comes down to he asked for the job and we collectively said yes to that request. I am really a DK guy, but I was promised change (Yes, I understand he was handed a big box of problems when he arrived) and haven't seen what I thought I was going to get (perhaps my expectations were wrong, perhaps things don't always work out as he or others wished, perhaps he was much more a centerist than expected). I guess we will see how this all works out, but right now I am not particularly pleased with the guy I hired to run the country.

[laughingliberal]

382. Oh, I agree with that but my point is to ask those who would stifle dissent

just what they think that meant when he said, "Make me do it." Cause I didn't take that to mean just be patient and trust the President to know what he's doing while he sells the progressive agenda down the river.

[dotymed]

395. Yes, he said

"make me" but he won't pay attention. We have been trying to make him, and his advisers (Rahm) tells him we are "the fringe" and to ignore us. If Obama was a Community Organizer, he knows what we really need and want. It seems that he has become a DC'er and has forgotten about the 95% of us he is supposed to represent. money money money, M O N E Y ! good song...

[bobbolink]

200. "Make me do it"?

Yeah, like we haven't been doing that?

Thanks for bringing this up, because I don't even have any more words for this....

Bashing our already bloody heads against a brick wall gets tiring after a while.

:wtf:

[laughingliberal]

Yeah, I just keep asking those who think the left should STFU and get on board with the 'centrist'

push what they think he meant by that. So far,

<crickets>

[TicketyBoo]

407. Oh,

I've been talking long and loud, but when you have your blinders on and your ears plugged, you're not likely to see or hear much.

The truth of the matter is, he's the one with the power. He's one cool character, and it's my belief that he hasn't even warmed up yet.

I'm just a little more patient than you are.

[Goldstein1984]

249. Careful, or you'll get the pity violin

There's a whole generation of Democrats, born after the Democratic Party ceased to be a significant agent of progress, who think activism is manning phone banks and watching their 401(k) accounts grow.

Obama's has a lot of supporters who did him the favor of being his critics. Now that it sounds like he might be taking the criticism seriously, we have the right to take a wait-and-see approach.

I wish Obama well in his journey back to Main Street. I have three--soon to be four--grandchildren with futures that depend on better decision-making than we've been seeing.

[laughingliberal]

262. "a whole generation of Democrats...who think activism is manning phone banks & watching thier 401k's

grow." That pretty well nails a couple of generations of Democrats right there.

Ain't that the truth? I can't help but laugh when they tell us 'the left' isn't willing to work for change. After watching Democrats who came after us piss all the progress away while running away and wetting their pants every time a Republican said 'boo' to them.

We all wish him well in his journey back. Have still seen nothing beyond this post to indicate he is moving left but I hope it's true. I do think he is, more so than most of the politicians, from Main Street and there is a chance he still remembers where it is.

[Goldstein1984]

280. Time will tell

[Political Heretic]

326. We need a second civil rights movement to finish the work

Before Dr. King was assassinated, his attention had turned to the issue of economic justice in America.

We need a civil civil rights movement, with real activism, people practicing civil disobedience, refusing to move, in the streets, marching and being heard. And this civil rights movement is for the cause of economic justic in the united states - requiring deep structural changes to our political system and our economic system.

[laughingliberal]

335. Yeah, we do

And was it an accident that he was killed as he turned his attention to economic justice. The fight has always been between the haves and have nots and as long as we fight amongst ourselves life remains lovely for the haves.

[Enthusiast]

388. You are so right, it was no accident. nt

[Enthusiast]

387. thank you, laughingliberal.

You said it right for the rest of us.

[TankLV]

430. Treestar doesn't know what the fuck she's spewing...

Your post describes me too.

Time to stop trying to court the elusive puke and start acting like DEMOCRATS!!!

[dflprincess]

137. Gave up already?

Some of us have been fighting these battles for 40 years. We've stuck with the party through thick and thin and worked for candidates we weren't all that thrilled with - all because we thought things would start moving in the right direction once the Democrats were in charge again.

I really, really hope that Obama has seen the light and will actually start working for those who elected him.

But, pardon me all to hell if some of us are fed up with being sold out and are going to wait to see some action rather than just swooning over pretty words again.

[sabrina 1]

147. Do you really think you are the only one who knows that it takes

time to get things done in DC? I think you really have bought into the DLC talking point and you actually believe people are stupid. Three elections, Virginia, NJ and now Mass seem to say otherwise. What they say is that people know when their interests are not being addressed.

Independents and the democrats who voted against their own party in Mass, have indicated they are not happy with this administration catering to banks, surrounding themselves with Goldman Sachs loyalists and the very same people who caused the problems we are in in the first place.

They also don't like Romneycare and since the current Healthcare bill is just a bigger version of Romneycare, Mass. voters see that what those who voted for change, are getting the same thing they would have gotten with McCain (like taxes on healthcare premiums and mandates and fines etc.).

It is BECAUSE things take time, when the people elected Democrats they expect them to start right from the beginning, ACTING like Democrats, not like Republicans. And they don't want Dems catering to the right. If they wanted that, they would have voted for it.

A year has been wasted since we're talking about 'time'. Momentum has been lost, which means for your information, that instead of having made some progress, even some baby steps towards a more progressive agenda that the people voted for, on the major issues by now, we haven't even begun.

And the disappointment isn't just here in the U.S. Other countries whose support for America after the election shot up to over 60%, hoping to see the Bush policies turned back, have now lost confidence in this administration.

It is the party loyalists, supporting every mistake and wrong-headed policy their party makes who give them the impression that they can do whatever they want and still expect to be supported.

Either learn something about politics, or move out of the way so that this party can be saved from itself before it's too late.

[Little Star]

161. .

[WorseBeforeBetter]

149. It's been a fucking year, one that includes...

Wall Street bailouts, war escalation, and insurance/pharma cartel giveaways. Obama is certainly capable of getting things done "fast enough," just the WRONG things.

[JDPriestly]

349. If he can't get things done, he should at least let us know that he really

wants to get things done and is trying. Haven't heard him mention card check in a long, long time.

The least he could do is unleash his Justice Department on the elitist criminals on Wall Street and in the Bush administration. That really takes only a little courage and a commitment to decrease the corruption in D.C. He would not need a majority much less 60 votes in the Senate to bring torturers and people who practiced rendition, illegal wiretapping and other similar crimes to justice. If they want to defend on the grounds that they had the authority to do those things, let the courts decide, but get the evidence about their crimes out to the American people.

[Ken Burch]

WE ARE IN THERE!

Nothing we've done equals giving up.

It would not have been "fighting for what we want" to fight for the Senate HCR. THAT would've been giving up.

We are in there every day.

[DesertDiamond]

236. Very true, we can't give up. However, I see dissent as the *opposite* of giving up.

Accepting things one believes are wrong and harmful, *that* is giving up. Remember, this country was founded on dissent.

[Mithreal]

254. No Excuse Left Behind

Sure are empowering the disillusioned with your recriminations

[AllyCat]

257. In no way have I sat and waited for him to do things for me.

I've been to my state legislature to testify. I've written letters. I talk to my friends and family (and sometimes even those on the *gasp!* opposing side). Put things on FB for discussion, educate others about the issues. I call my congress critters WEEKLY on issues and have met with my representative in her office TWICE.

While I've certainly not been getting arrested, I do things to get the message out. Many of us "lazy" lefties are trying to get our voices heard. I think your post is a slap to those of us working hard for the whole country and getting spat on by the corporate-owned politicians.

[JDPriestly]

338. How can we "get in there" when we are not wanted.

I have called and e-mailed and e-mailed. I demonstrated for the public option. I meet with my congressman (who co-sponsored single payer) as often as I am permitted. What more can a little person like me do?

You assume that those of us who post on DU do nothing else that is political, but you are 100% wrong in that respect.

Deciding to support a more progressive candidate is not giving up. It is fighting on for what we believe is right.

I would rather be able to support Obama. And, no, I do not demand everything I want. But there is a lot at stake right now, and I do expect Obama to do what is necessary to protect the interests of the middle class and working people -- and care for the poor.

I also expect Obama to get the corruption out of D.C. to the extent that he can.

That's not that much to ask.

[Marr]

102. Maybe it's not enough to Hope©?

Maybe Obama has earned a bit of skepticism, and people are waiting to see what he actual *does* before they cheer along with the teenage fan club.

[Tesha]

116. Talk is cheap. I'll wait to see some actions. (NT)

[MissDeeds]

175. That is exactly my take

I'll believe it when I see it. We've heard a lot of great and inspiring speeches from this president. I'm waiting to see words put into action.

[defendandprotect]

183. Right ... didn't see any mention of MEDICARE FOR ALL ---!!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

146. Way to toe the line.

[butterfly77]

159. That's because..

there are a lot of trolls on board.

[Ken Burch]

172. Not true...if it's true, we'll back him.

Why stir up shit when you know moving left is our only hope?

[liberation]

180. And I am sure when progressives do that

you will be right there with more imaginary headlines to further prove your imaginary points.

LOL

[Cherchez la Femme]

188. He hasn't done it though, has he?

Just one media outlet reporting he said he would.

And he's said he'd do a lot of things, too; things he's backtracked on, some outright denied
even when it's on tape.


So it's natural to doubt. How gullible do you think we are?


Jaysus this party gets crazier day by day... nuttier than squirrel shit.

[Kelvin Mace]

242. He has done nothing

Talk is cheap. When he DOES something, we'll talk.

[frylock]

252. he hasn't done jack fucking shit but flap his gums..

so you go ahead and hang your hat on everything he says. i'll continue to complain until i see action.

[peace frog]

401. Thank you!

You said it all for me.

[kenfrequed]

266. Feh

Or maybe we could just judge the specifics. Seriously most progressives are about these magical things called "issues." Perhaps if we see positions and bills put forth that highlight our issues and interests we will become happier. You have absolutely no idea how much we want to believe in a politician that actually stands up for the left just a smidge. Why the hell do you think "The West Wing" was so popular?

[jonathon]

270. No we won't.

We will be thrilled.

Given his track record, people have every right to be skeptical.

If Obama follows through and his ACTIONS (not words) show a real change in direction, I would be happy to support him and fight for his legislation. Overjoyed.

Prove our skepticism unwarranted, Obama. PLEASE!

[Name removed]

292. Deleted message

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

[ima_sinnic]

294. lol!

:spray:

:fistbump:

[rpannier]

362. I'm beginning to think he's Evan Bayh

Criticize the left, tell us to go away and then when we don't vote for his 'moderate' ideas and candidates it's our fault

[TicketyBoo]

413. I'm proud to call myself progressive,

but I evidently have more patience than you do (not to mention a better vocabulary).

[usregimechange]

323. He is talking about doing it, not doing it

[rpannier]

361. When he does it...Then I'll believe it n/t

[Enthusiast]

385. Why don't we just try it to find out?

We hunger for smallest of crumbs.

Just have a look at the Recommendations. Quite a number of recommendations considering all the unrecommendations that Stealth Republicans and corporate Democrats registered, wouldn't you say?

[Jester Messiah]

404. Talk is cheap.

I'm more inclined to defend Obama than to trash him, but I'm feeling a bit burned of late. He needs to take back the momentum; pretty words won't accomplish that.

[TankLV]

427. You and your fucking bullshit again!

GET THIS THRU YOUR THICK SKULL:

ONE: ALL the "compromising" has been from the LEFT giving up what we want.

Anti abortion clauses that go WAY beyond what YOU right wing assholes placed during bunkerboy's term.

No Public Option, let alone Single Payer - THAT was OFF THE TABLE from the get go - we had to BEG to be included in ANY meetings - to NO AVAIL - but you REPUKES were present!

And the ever wonderful MANDATES that we HAVE to buy crappy insurance or be SENT TO JAIL!

Then there's the maybe "caps" at - or not.
And no "pre-existing conditions" - but for an increases in PREMIUMS which will NOT BE CAPPED!

Not to mention the fucking REPUKE "Savings Accounts" crap!!! If we had the money for ANY "savings" we wouldn't be complaining in the first place - how about listening to all those MILLIONS who go BANKRUPT from medical expenses because they have to choose between FOOD or their THOUSAND DOLLAR A PILL PERSCRIPTION!!!

TWO:" This is just a fucking rumor - it is not even a remote FACT yet.

NAME ONE FUCKING THING THE RIGHT WING HAS GIVEN UP!!! JUST ONE!!!

[cali]

3. good. hope he follows through.

[ddeclue]

4. Please don't be screwing with us.. details?

I just flipped on MSNBC but nothing being said about it.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

20. I saw it as well

My only question is "what took you so long?"

[berni_mccoy]

32. No link, it was just a breaking news segment on MSNBC. I wouldn't make this up.

[Kolesar]

410. This sounds like advice to Obama I saw on other networks

Please keep us apprised :hi:

[TicketyBoo]

415. Maybe YOU wouldn't,

but someone may have. I wonder who the source was (but haven't read the entire thread at this point; maybe it is revealed down-thread).

[BeyondGeography]

5. If so, good

Life is too short to try to work things out with the Norquists.

[laughingliberal]

120. It's too short to work things out with the corporatists in our own party, too

I would assume a shift to the left will include a few less of them sitting in the West Wing dictating the economic policies of the nation.

[babylonsister]

6. This is really good to read, thanks. Wake-up call received?! nt

[uponit7771]

7. Unnn, I love Obama but I'll wait till I see it .... no doubt....pay forward rec

[tekisui]

9. Good. He can say he tried, but the repukes are unwillingly

to put forth any effort.

No more bipartisanship. No more blue-dogship, too!

[treestar]

10. Why does MSNBC have any reason to assert this?

He can certainly afford it now, since nothing is going to pass.

[merh]

28. I don't get that.

Why should nothing pass, dems still have the majority. Republicans controlled with a smaller majority.

Perhaps things will pass if they are not pieces of shit legislation.

[treestar]

31. Only budget reconciliation bills can pass

These have to have nothing extraneous to the budget in them.

Unless they really want to use the nuclear option (abolish the filibuster).

Risky, when Repukes are starting to come back into power.

[bigtree]

53. risky how?

The purpose of putting these folks in office wasn't to provide some safe seat from which they could compromise their promises away. They need to put their power to use NOW to fulfill their promises and manage the politics from those legislative successes at election time.

[MadHound]

58. Let's see, I guess that's why LBJ was never able to get anything done without a supermajority

Oh, wait, he did, he passed the Civil Rights Act, Medicare and other things. Why, because he and the Dems actually had a spine and knew how to fight, two qualities that today's Democratic leaders are sorely lacking.

Sorry, but "only" having a majority instead of a super majority is absolutely no excuse to not pass through good, progressive legislation.

[andym]

88. LBJ had a supermajority in 1965-7!!

68 Democratic Senators!
294-295 Reprsentatives!

Also, he had significant Republican support for his signature bills such as Medicare!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/89th_United_States_Congress

But he didn't even try for universal health care-- thought it too difficult.

[MadHound]

93. And the Civil Rights Act? Oh, yeah, no supermajority

In fact there was a 17 day filibuster, during which time LBJ played hardball behind the scenes and took to the bully pulpit to beat both the Dixiecrats and the 'Pugs about the head and shoulders.

[andym]

100. That was in 1964 before he was elected President AND he was temp. blocked by Dems!!!

That year he had only 63 Democratic senators, so no super majority. After the election (during most of his term he did have a super majority).

But having a Democratic super majority wasn't his problem, he was blocked by his own party (19 Senators refused to vote for cloture) and the Senate version of this bill:

But the reason he was able to proceed was because of BIPARTISAN support--> 27/33 Republicans voted for Cloture.


Cloture in the Senate:<10>

* Democratic Party: 44-23 (66%-34%)
* Republican Party: 27-6 (82%-18%)

The Senate version:<9>

* Democratic Party: 46-21 (69%-31%)
* Republican Party: 27-6 (82%-18%)


Eventually he did get a overwhelming support,
Senate: 77–19

* Democrats: 47–17 (73%-27%)
* Republicans: 30–2 (94%-6%)

House: 333–85

* Democrats: 221–61 (78%-22%)
* Republicans: 112–24 (82%-18%)

-------------------


So what was LBJ's lesson in 1964? Get Republican support!!
Do you think that is a good idea today? I don't. Anything they support today is watered down crap.

[Ken Burch]

205. And even then, it had taken the deaths of those three little girls in Birmingham AND that of JFK

To shame the Senate into finally doing what was right.

The Republicans waited until the last minute to commit to not backing the Dixiecrat filibuster, thus forfeiting forever the right to call themselves "The Party of Lincoln".

[Better Believe It]

111. 20 of those Democratic Senators were extreme right-wing "dixiecrats" who were to the right or todays

Democratic "centrists" and "blue dogs".

[andym]

114. Yup they had some true "conservadems" back then

But the point was he did have a super majority.

Both technically in his party, and effectively even more so, since many Republicans (who were more liberal than the 20 or so Southern Dems) supported his policies.

He didn't have to work any magic, just get Republican support when his Democratic buddies pulled a "Lieberman."

Of course, it is possible to get Republican support today, but only if you want really bad legislation.

[Better Believe It]

154. And they made opponents filibuster, unlike today.

[andym]

313. True. nt.

[JVS]

239. LBJ had the majority of support in both parties. The controversial aspect about that bill...

was that he had 80% of the Republican Senators, and only 66% of the Democratic Senators. The unusual aspect isn't that he was able to get it passed, it was that he was essentially triangulating against the base of the Southern portion of the party, with the consequence being that they bolted.

[andym]

330. All true. nt.

[merh]

94. Risky not to

Have to get laws passed as needed before they do get back in power. Perhaps if we actually pass necessary laws and not watered down pieces of shit that favor corporations, they won't get back in power.

[laughingliberal]

105. A whole hell of a lot of things that would help right now would affect the budget

Some restoration of the progressivity of the tax system would help. I believe the funds to create a jobs program could be done. The administration would have no problems shifting some to the TARP funds to homeowners to avert the coming 2nd and 3rd waves of foreclosures. We've seen handing the money to the financial institutions has not worked. Meanwhile, the 7 month inventory of homes on the market is stifling growth in jobs and it's about to get worse.

To keep on with the milquetoast efforts at progressive economic policy looks weak especially if we're holding back out of fear of when the Republicans come back into power. Now, who's the pissy pants wing wing of the party?

[defendandprotect]

189. Agree -- but they've been talking about a Jobs program run thru corporations-!!!

Trickle down jobs - enriching corporations -- ?

We need to knock out the Trade Agreements --

Nor did I see any mention there of MEDICARE FOR ALL -- !!

[mdmc]

204. risky how?

I am a fan of the filibuster.
But the GOP always threatens to get rid of it when in power, and the Dems never use it.
When the dems are in power, the GOP threaten to use it non-stop..
So while I don't want to get rid of the filibuster, we might as well because we are never gonna have elected officials that use it, except for the opposition..

[Political Heretic]

237. So how did Republicans pass so much legislation without 60 seats?

Hmm?

[liberalpragmatist]

369. Tax cuts qualify for budget reconciliation

They didn't get social security privatization through. And they failed to make the tax cuts permanent because they couldn't break a Democratic filibuster (that's why the sunset under reconciliation rules).

The Republican domestic agenda is mostly tax cuts.

[Enthusiast]

389. If you have your way

Repukes will come back into power.

[bigtree]

11. he'll have to

. . . if he wants his presidency defined by more than the highs and lows of republican politics.

[BP2]

12. I'll believe it when I see it. eom

[StarfarerBill]

18. Ditto.

[Dr.Phool]

26. Threeto!

[ddeclue]

29. Fourtoe?

:P

:rofl:

[Edweird]

148. Cheeto?

[Lilith Velkor]

165. Cameltoe?

[Edweird]

166. I like where this is going....

:evilgrin:

[ourbluenation]

185. mistletoe n/t

[tomm2thumbs]

225. tip toe

'...thru the Congress' - sing with me...

[Lautremont]

271. ---

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0316768/

[WildEyedLiberal]

339. This subthread is awesome

:rofl:

[Hatalles]

363. Tito.

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/4020817/Tito+Jackson+tito.jpg

[tomm2thumbs]

364. Otto

[Turborama]

366. Kyoto!

[tomm2thumbs]

368. VETO!

speaks for itself

[Jester Messiah]

405. Risotto! [nt]

[ChairmanAgnostic]

420. Kyoto?

oh no.

[tomm2thumbs]

431. Motto!

any motto will do

[Turborama]

365. Oops!

Wrong time and place, need to keep the flow.

[tango-tee]

377. Blotto.

Too much Hennessy to drown my sorrows. But hey, things are looking up now! Awesome.

[Enthusiast]

390. Mistletoe cameltoe? n/t

[conscious evolution]

193. 5 0

[myrna minx]

277. Don't you mean Five-0?

[martymar64]

336. Book em, Dano

[peace frog]

30. Yep.

Seeing is believing, and I've seen nothing like it yet.

[pleah]

63. Yep. n/t

[BP2]

75. SEE, this is where we are now. The Pukes, some of the Independents and PROGRESSIVES do not TRUST our

President anymore.

As a Progressive who voted for a Progressive president, I can't tell you how much it
sucks to be in such a position.

[calico1]

320. Me too. Not holding my breath..

[JVS]

13. I'd like to see some firings to seal the deal

[BP2]

21. +1 - rewarding the dumbasses who helped hand us this defeat is just more of the same.

[NightWatcher]

22. same here...dance with the ones who brung him....

do something for us Progressives and

F the D L C

[Little Star]

164. Some DLC types helped bring him to the dance.

I know that's unpopular here and I don't much care for the DLC myself. But if truth be told, I remember plenty of DLCers working their asses off for him to get elected POTUS. We are a big tent party, like it or not.

[NightWatcher]

169. ID the DLC'ers in this

I see "People" not Corporate interests

[Little Star]

263. R U saying no DLCers stumped all over this country for him?

None of them were all over the TV trying to get him elected. Try google or youtube if you don't remember.

[treestar]

33. so even if it's true, it's not going to be good enough unless there are

certain details to make you happy.

figures.

[BP2]

45. My friend, if the same loonies are running the asylum, do you expect things to be different or

the same?

Come on.

[defendandprotect]

192. Excellent point . .. we have to get rid of corporate DLC . .. Rahm should be fired--!!

Democratic Party -- the president -- Rahm -- had no idea that

the health care "deform" wasn't popular?

That it was despised?

THAT AMERICANS WANT MEDICARE FOR ALL BY 72% or more -- !!!

That jobs and the trade agreements have to go -- ??

That the entire corporate agenda adopted by the White House is obscene?

[BP2]

59. So, what do we expect? HEADS MUST ROLL, or REWARD THE MASTERS of yesterday's defeat? I vote for

Option A.

Which are you for?

If we're pushing into HIGH gear as MSNBC reports, we can't be slowed down by assholes
who have been holding us back for the last 12 months.

[defendandprotect]

195. Obama has to FIRE Rahm -- MA cries out for Howard Dean . . . !!!

DLC has run another won into the ground --

[ima_sinnic]

60. "certain details" matter. "certain details" are the difference between left and right

I get the feeling you're not too thrilled at the prospect of real change.
perhaps you're one of the have-mores who could actually be expected to pay some taxes for a change, or a bank or insurance exec who might face some regulation of your little racketeering scams.

whatever, why don't you take your debbie downer eeyore attitude somewhere else?
why not go to BOG and complain about how Obama might really go leftward--oh, the horror!!!1!

[laughingliberal]

122. I wonder, often, how many of the shut up and be patient crowd are of the class who

are benefiting from a lack of progressive policy. I wonder if they're really just pragmatists who think we should work 'incrementally' to bring progressive change or it they are people who think this rightward shift is working out just fine.

[ima_sinnic]

133. I'm really starting to get the idea they hate the whole notion of "moving leftward"

they have some personal interest in the rightward slide.
some seem noticeably threatened at the prospect of any real change--that's when they become even more derisive, shrill, and mocking.

[laughingliberal]

134. Noted.

Would love to see President Obama come out for funding a real jobs creation program, using the TARP funds to pay down principle on mortgage principle to stop the next wave of foreclosures, an increase in taxes on the upper 2%, a push for a real public option under reconciliation, and some iron clad regulation of the financial markets. Believe that would flush the corporatists out right quick.

[Edgewater_Joe]

68. In This Order: Emanuel, Sommers, Geithner.

My Dream Team replacements: Dean, Dean Baker, and Elizabeth Warren, respectively.

But it is just that, sadly. A dream ...

[laughingliberal]

123. That would be my list.

Add Rahm's brother to it, also.

[Truth2Tell]

337. Ummm, I don't think Obama

can fire Rahm's brother. But I like the fighting spirit!

[laughingliberal]

371. Okay, can we gag him? Only fair IMO. nt

[defendandprotect]

197. +1,000,000% on that one -- FIRE Emmanuel, Summers, Geither ...!!!

[Enthusiast]

391. Nice, Joe.

We could use a dream team.

[Leopolds Ghost]

70. Rahm in particular has a congenital inability to turn left.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7518445

[defendandprotect]

198. DLC is corporate control over Democratic Party . . . DLC and Rahm should go -

[Enthusiast]

394. DLC is! +1!

[LooseWilly]

370. Not an "ambi-turner"? No worries...

Not to worry. Derek Zoolander has shown him the answer: "To compensate, he will continuously turn right until he faces the correct direction. So, rather than making a 90° turn left, Zoolander will turn 270° right."



Rahm just needs to do a little night course work...
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PuZoLkvmBbc/SV5h1JvV_QI/AAAAAAAABnI/r4uAaHKklXs/s320/The+Derek+Zoolander+Center+For+Kids+Who+Can%27t+Read+Good+And+Who+Wanna.jpg

[cascadiance]

73. Yup, we've had enough talk so far. We need some actions now. Firings of DLCers would be a start!

[Hello_Kitty]

91. Yup. Start with Rahm, Timmy, and Larry. eom

[laughingliberal]

121. Yep. I've got a nice list of people who need more time with their families

And it starts with the angry, obnoxious dwarf. The economic team is next. Get those economic advisers he back benched as soon as he won the election back out front and start listening to them.

[defendandprotect]

190. Rahm EMMANUEL/Corporate-DLC have to go -- go -- go -- go --

[Cary]

14. Is that a function of the election?

Or is that a function of Republican obstructionism?

If our own continue to sow the seeds of discontent it won't matter. No leadership can be effective without good followers. If your followers undermine you you're screwed.

Who was it who said "leadership from above, support from below?" Was it Bismarck?

[RaleighNCDUer]

81. And you are quoting authoritarian proto-fascists exactly why? nt

[laughingliberal]

125. How about support from below for those things derserving of support

If you screw your followers, you undermine yourself.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

15. Hope n/t

[margotb822]

16. Should have been that way from the beginning, but

I hope it works now. I want to see some arm twisting and populist fury stuff...

[SammyWinstonJack]

17. .

:silly:

[S_E_Fudd]

19. I'll believe it when I see it....nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

118. +1000 When is the last time that was the message taken away from a loss like that?

[eShirl]

23. about freaking time

HELLO?! McFLY?!

[SlingBlade]

24. Dean: Bush would have had healthcare a long time ago

"Democrats need to be TOUGHER" !

High time to get down to Democratic Party Principles.
I'd rather see democrats loose the Congress and the White House by being to liberal, To Progressive
than being to far to the right.

We don't need to be republican lite, We need fighting democrats

They had better listen to Dr. Dean, He is spot on as to this parties problems

[treestar]

What does this tougher, arm twisting shit mean?

Only abolishing the filibuster would really work.

[Bluenorthwest]

66. Being tough is not the same as 'twisting arms' and it is not shit.

It is how one gets to one's objectives. Without being tough, you will fail, always. Twisting arms is not the same thing. Just is not. One who twists arms is not tough, but a bully. Learn the difference. For example, a bully redefines other people's words. A person who is tough has no need for such coy ploys.

[laughingliberal]

127. Seems we are seeing some pissy-pants behavior from the other side at the thought of the President

moving left. Interesting.

[RaleighNCDUer]

89. a lot fewer repubs managed to terrify a lot more dems into going

along with THEIR agenda. We only need two or three to break any filibuster. Nobody has a vulnerable seat? Nobody is getting a cushy bit of pork for their district, their state, that we can relieve them of?

Know who is vulnerable? This guy Brown - in a strongly liberal state he couldn't even say the work 'Republican' in his victory speech, kept referencing the independents. And there are more than a few like him. We have an 18 seat majority in the Senate, and are terrified of a filibuster; when the repukes had a 6 seat majority they said 'Damn the torpedoes - full speed ahead'.

How's that work again?

[BP2]

36. Well, of course Bushie would have. He would be in bed w Big Insurance & Big Pharma. Wait, so are we.

When you compromise your values, it's rather amazing how much you look like the enemy.

Shameful. Very shameful.

[SlingBlade]

43. Really, You call the current Bill being

bandied about Standing Up for Democratic Party Principles ??? Please.

It has proven to be a slap in the face to the progressive and liberal hopes
for true HCR, They have abandoned their base and stood with the likes of
Joe LIEberman, Ben Nelson and other democratic party DINO'S.

THIS IS NOT CHANGE, IT IS OUTRIGHT CAPITULATION TO CORPORATE WHOREDOM

[BP2]

52. No, the current HCR Bill does NOT uphold our principles. Sorry if my sarcasm was lost

in my keystrokes.

I've been yelling "Kill the Bill" for the last month because of the Corporate Whoredom the Senate slipped in.

I swear it seems like they hired Gingrich as a consultant to spackle that POS Bill together.

[defendandprotect]

201. Beautiful post -- K&R --

:)

[SammyWinstonJack]

55. +1

When you compromise your values, it's rather amazing how much you look like the enemy. :thumbsup:

[ProSense]

46. Yeah, just like he got Social Security privatization. n/t

[ima_sinnic]

62. FAIL. SS privatization was massively opposed by the public. Just the opposite of single payer or PO

but you knew that already, didn't you?

[defendandprotect]

203. Correct -- NYT - 72% and more of public support MEDICARE FOR ALL type program...

Long way from the corporate garbage Baucus and the White House gave us --

Not to mention Harry Reid personally destroying Sen. Byron Dorgan's efforts for

negotiation on drug prices via reimportation ---

And, White House meeting with Big Pharma and deals made there!!!


And still WARS, trade agreements and all the other right wing crap still circling

to destroy the Democratic Party and the nation!!

[laughingliberal]

129. He didn't get SS privatization. Would be nice if the current bunch would quit working on that, too.

Just WTF does anyone think Bernanke meant by "entitlement reform?" Here's a rule of thumb: when you hear the words 'entitlement reform' think, 'stealing the people's money to give to fat cats.'

[Selatius]

132. But he still got Medicare Part D. nt

[defendandprotect]

207. Exactly -- and Democrats should have been working to amend that--!!!

Not to mention the wars --

and trade agreements -- etal --

[laughingliberal]

293. Not to worry. Bernanke and the DLC crowd is hard at work on that now

We only thought we could relax on that front when Bush left.

[rudy23]

25. I really hope this is true. I hope this RW push was a failed experiment, and not the long con

that I've feared it was.

I'm still holding out hope. I know Obama has to have a Progressive side to be able to craft a message that resonated with us. I really hope this signals the end of some failed experiment that they honestly thought would win them seats.

[defendandprotect]

208. Right wing political violence here in America for decades ....

that's the only way they have come to power --

There will be no change until Rahm Emmanuel and the DLC are booted OUT of the

Democratic Party --

It's the corporate wing of the party dedicated to moving the party to the RIGHT--!!

[earth mom]

27. I'll believe it when I see it and won't hold my breath. nt

[amb123]

80. +1

:thumbsup:

[peace frog]

328. I'm flabbergasted that anyone would think

for one moment that Obama will lurch leftward in response to yesterday's Senate loss. He's already straining rightward, for gawd's sake! The MA upset will do nothing but shove him further to the right. Get fricking real.

[FarCenter]

34. It doesn't sound like what Axelrod and Gibbs said in the interview

[Overseas]

35. Move further away from the right wing GOP. No more groveling please.

It has been profoundly demoralizing to see Democrats groveling for votes from the party that ruined the country.

And apparently Republican Scott Brown didn't put his Republican party affiliation in his ads much. And I imagine the other Republican candidates in 2010 will all be trying to hide their Republican status so it will be up to the Democratic candidates that their opponents are Republicans, the party of GWB. The party of tax cuts for the super rich, no healthcare reform at all and continuous war profiteering.

[RainDog]

37. I HOPE the WH got that message loud and clear

that includes things that are more than just talk, like having Geithner and Mr. S.'s economic decisions.

that includes Rahm siding with blue dogs over progressives. get rid of Rahm.

The thing the WH needs to get MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE... is that this is not the 1990s.

The economy is killing the American people. Yes, the American people need to make changes in their lives. and for this they also need leadership.

but the disparity between the rich and everyone else is destroying this nation. that includes insurance cos, pharmas, bankers, and the idiot media that serves as their cheerleaders.

the American people want a president who will take steps to deal with the abuse of power by the rich.

[ellie]

38. Sure he will

Something tells me he won't and I am an Obot.

[rucky]

40. Which pundit speculated on that?

[Beetwasher]

41. Smart Move

Maybe we'll finally get to see some real hardball. I'm up for that.

[harun]

42. He better, or he might be sippin lemonade soon with Jimmy Carter talkin bout the good ole days.

[berni_mccoy]

49. Ok, that was just funny. Made me lol.

[defendandprotect]

209. Look how one term ruined Poppy Bush's life? Imagine Obama picking him to work on Haiti-!!!

[Tailormyst]

44. I hope that is the case.

If there had been a strong HCR bill with at the very LEAST a strong open public option, I think the results last night would have been very different.

[Enthusiast]

396. I think you are correct. nt

[Terra Alta]

47. it's about fucking time.

too bad it had to take losing Teddy's seat to get Obama to move to the left, though... :(

[Cherchez la Femme]

202. That is the worst sin

I can think of right now.

If Teddy had a grave, he'd be rolling in it.


Fire the Emmamuel's, Geithner, Gates, the Bushie USA's for a start; 'cause there's lots more.
Oh, he can't fire the USA's now can he, or he'd be doing what Bush did.
The moment he actually kept them, in fear of ridiculous know-nothing Conservative outcry, I knew he either had no spine or fatefully listened to some seriously BAD advice

...from hand-picked advisors, of course.
And the circle is complete.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

48. Gee, i wonder why? Meanwhile, aren't there a bunch of DUers who believe he's been on the right

(correct) tack? Will they now defend what they've been against the last year because the President is going to "become more Liberal"?

[laughingliberal]

131. Will be interesting to see what happens with them if he moves left

Many have claimed 'pragmatism,' and 'incrementalism,' and urged patience cause, 'these things take time.' I will be very interested in seeing how much of that was just trying to shut up the dissent from the left because they were, actually, in favor of this rightward march and how many really thought they just knew, 'how things get done.'

Course, if we don't really see a shift to the right, that point will be moot.

[MadHound]

50. Well hallelujah, somebody is actually using their head for something besides a hat rack

Now, let's hope that there's some follow through on this. It isn't too late to rescue this fall, but only if there is some follow through on this.

[Maru Kitteh]

51. Sure. He always consults with GEmsnbc first before he makes political decisions.

Jeezuz.

[Soylent Brice]

54. K&R for possibility of renewed HOPE.

[live love laugh]

57. What bullshit. They are making shit up as usual--just like the made up election story

we are now hearing.

[Orangepeel]

61. Is there a difference between BREAKING news and somebody's opinion?

With the "news" nowadays, probably not. :(

[defendandprotect]

210. White House may be floating a balloon of appeasement . . . let's see what actually happens!!!

[Octafish]

64. Good! Dems don't win acting like repukes.

I don't care if Axelrod takes credit for that one. I got it from Harry S Truman.

[blogslut]

65. Here's the thing about Leos

Disregard this if you're not one who cares for astrology

Leos are very, very patient...to a point. Once that point is crossed, they swat the offender away with a swift and mighty paw.

[goforit]

67. A Little late !

[alberg]

69. Called both my Senators and Congressman this morning

and told them that the message from Massachusetts is that Americans want real HealthCare reform, not mandated giveaways to the Insurance Companies, jobs, and a regulated Wall Street that prevents bankers from holding our economy hostage. That means moving to the "left", not the "right".

[BP2]

74. What was their response? Did they agree with you or were they still quaking in their boots?

[alberg]

87. Congressman's call taker agreed, Senators just took msg.

Part of my point is that we all should be making those calls today, to the White House as well.

[lame54]

71. Please,please,please

[bullwinkle428]

72. One of the MSNBC commentators was vaguely hinting at this last night...

just trying to recall which one. ANYWAY...best news I've heard in a while! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[defendandprotect]

214. REMEMBER ... with a little caution . ..

I recall after the Clinton win and the quite a few women won, the MSM

were moving the men's chairs out for a few hours and bringing in women --

The REVOLUTION was on!

But within a few hours, those women were being pushed to the background again --

It takes a little bit of time for corporations to reexert their influence --

Let's see what the "story" is tomorrow --

and keep Nixon in mind . . .

Believe what you SEE being done, not what they say they'll do --

[HughMoran]

76. I would do the same

Time to play for keeps - we tried and failed to work with these motherfucking trolls, now it's time to bury them.

[wowimthere]

77. I hope this is correct. Results are what matters

[TwilightGardener]

79. I hope he's learned to pay absolutely no attention to the other side of the aisle. None.

I know he worked and cooperated with them as a state and US Senator, but that time is over. He still has a majority in Congress--that's good enough. He needs to crush the opposition.

[Javaman]

82. Do you have a link? because I'm not seeing any "breaking news"

stating that.

[stevietheman]

83. It is indeed time for the Brass Knuckles. No question about that. n/t

n/t

[Peregrine Took]

84. It would be incredible if he did this but I doubt it would ever happen

as he's surrounded by "Democratic" DLC right wingers in the WH.

[closeupready]

85. Well I sincerely hope so. I don't expect him to follow through for very long, though, as

he is not much of a fighter, nor much of a progressive or liberal. He talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk.

Hoping to be pleasantly surprised, though.

[Blasphemer]

86. I pray this is true. It's time to get back to our roots. End the viscious cycle once and for all..nt

[BurtWorm]

90. I'll believe it when I see, hear, taste, smell and feel it.

I'm still waiting for change I can really believe in.

[defendandprotect]

215. EXACTLY . . .!!

:)

[Name removed]

92. Deleted message

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

[FourScore]

95. Let's hope that's true. They need to prove it...and fast!!! n/t

[freddie mertz]

96. Will that make him a "leftbagger who wants a pony" now?

Whither the BOG?

Is up down?

[freddie mertz]

109. WTF.

[defendandprotect]

216. Funny -- !!!

:)

[tomp]

424. brilliant. nt

[DisgustedInMN]

97. Actually..

.. Helen Ratner (think that's her name) (WH Radio News Service?) said yesterday that this is exactly what WH "insiders" were saying. I hope it's true. If Obama turns hard left, NOW, he may yet regain what he had a year ago. Giving the boot to Rahm and the rest of the Wall Street turds, would be a good start.

[rsmith6621]

99. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS....

So In other words if Coakley would have WON he would have stayed on the STATUS QUO track????

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS MR PRESIDENT..

[highplainsdem]

101. Good - if they follow through with it. Many DUers including myself have been saying that's what

they needed to do (and getting attacked as "purists" and "haters" for saying so). Some people here were predicting the WH would move right if Brown won. As I pointed out yesterday, they'd have to move left, in response to a Brown victory, if they knew how to read polls.

I just wish they'd been paying attention to the polls sooner. It's been clear for months that they'd bungled HCR and it was going to hurt Dems, and that the necessary change was to become more progressive instead of trying to pander to Republicans and conservative Democrats.

They've squandered a year, and a lot of political capital.

[bvar22]

140. How could he have moved any furhter to "The RIGHT"?

LEFT is the ONLY way he CAN move now.

:shrug:

[CoffeeCat]

103. This time he has to EARN my hope and trust!

I will not hope or trust anymore. I did that once, and I feel betrayed.

I'm on to other things in life. I don't think that politics is the answer
any more.

However, I will pay attention and if Obama keeps his promises, quits kow
towing to a crime syndicate and actually gives us back our democracy, I might
consider trusting a politician again.

[DisgustedInMN]

107. That is precisely how I feel.

Don't tell me, show me.

[mvd]

104. Hope it's true - what was MSNBC's source, though?

I think Obama IS a true progressive at heart; he just got bad advice on how to proceed.

[truebrit71]

106. About. Fucking.Time.

Fuck bi-partisanship. Smack the whiney gop fear-mongers in the mouth and remind them who is in the majority. Before it is too late.

[woo me with science]

108. What does that mean, exactly, with regard to health care?

Does it mean pushing this shit bill through despite Brown, or does it mean actually doing something constructive?

[defendandprotect]

219. Right ... didn't hear "UNCLE" on health care or MEDICARE FOR ALL . . .!!!

[woo me with science]

229. I have never believed the meme

that we have to settle for this bill or no reform can happen. I think people are hungry for real reform now. Someone needs to step up and be a leader.

[Waiting For Everyman]

112. K&R A late wakeup is better than none. n/t

[kjackson227]

113. It's about damned time. Gawd! What took so long for him...

to come to this realization??????????

[newspeak]

128. for well over twenty years

the people in this country have been led to the right through corporate owned MSM and public relations manipulation. There's a reason those fire breathing ignorant spewing blowhards are given primo time. If you think that the MSM is just putting on what the people want-I find it ingenious. They put on what benefits them and the profits of their corporate subsidiaries. If war is good for their pocketbook, then they will find ways to promote it. During Poppy's desert storm and *'s Iraq lie fest--PR firms were hired to promote war to the masses, even if it included lies. And the MSM was more than willing to spread the meme.

They are also complicit in choosing our candidates--those candidates that will obey the corporate status quo. With a little PR magic, * becomes a down home, with Texas twang, cowboy (who apparently is afraid of horses). Doncha y'all just want to have a drink with him-he's not like that stiff Kerry. Kerry goes windsurfing, then it's he's just showing off, not like that humble guy *. Never mind that * attempted to stop the schiff program-he was forced to implement it, then used it as a pro for his campaign. Hardly anything from MSM about his scrubbed driving record, his military records, his alleged insider trading, his business dealing, or his drug usage. Or as governor, the two appointments he made being under investigation for misuse of funds. Of course, after he was selected, that went away. Then, there was Dean is a screamer--y'all know you can only talk loud in a large crowd if you're a repuke. I mean he's screaming, he may have a temper problem. I remember well, how the MSM treated each candidate.

If you want to truly change, then there must be a change in our media. For well over twenty years, we have heard the media is liberal--repeatedly. The media is not liberal, the media follows it's own agenda--the media is as liberal as it's corporate masters want it to be; thus not very liberal. And, if you look at the CEO's of certain networks, you'll find them not to be liberal at all. As a matter of fact, I'd say they hold their own agenda more important than the health and well being of the people of this country. So, I see a media committed to their own business interests, and as such, will attempt to sway the masses to their corporate goals--any politician (democrat or republican--but mostly republican) is promoted to implement those goals. If we truly want change, media manipulation must be addressed. Or at least some form of balance.

[hileeopnyn8d]

285. I agree with every word you wrote.

I started a post of a similar nature earlier today, but never hit enter. The saddest part about it all, aside from the fact that I doubt it will ever change, is that the media ADMITS to doing this and we still let them get away with it. David Brock (mediamatters) admits to doing it for the right-wing and he tries his damnedest to undo their spin now, CNN publicly apologized for overplaying the Dean scream - others admitted they *may* have overdone it as well. 633 times in four days, and they say may have. News anchors sat around all apologetic about helping sell the Iraq war but ultimately let themselves off the hook in the end.

You sound more optimistic about the possibility of that changing, I wish I shared your optimism.

[Enthusiast]

398. +1, newspeak!

I also remember well, how the MSM treated each candidate. They also did a number on McGovern, Carter, Mondale, Dukakis, Perot and Gore.

I love this. "If we truly want change, media manipulation must be addressed. Or at least some form of balance."

Sunday Morning I watched Karen Hughes on NBC declare that President Obama has governed more to the left than the way he campaigned. Of course her declaration was only barely challenged. These Sunday morning programs are so one sided that I usually end up turning them off.

[Desertrose]

115. That'd be sweet.....hope his actions bear this out....

...not holding my breath but, damn, that would sure be a "good change".;)

[Hubert Flottz]

119. Is that another "change we can believe in" or...

is it the truth?

[shadowknows69]

124. Nothing like hindsight huh? Except it didn't have to be hindsight.

But us on the loony left should sit down and shut up. Well, they sat down in Mass. apparently.

[dajoki]

126. I hope its true...

but he should have done that from the start.

[jgraz]

130. Lemme guess: he said he's going to be a "fierce advocate" for progressive causes.

Tell me another one. :eyes:

[Jennicut]

135. He can get some better advisers on how to go about it too.

[AspenRose]

138. Yes. He's a smart man but he definitely needs better advisors

[Jennicut]

141. They need to push him left, not to the center.

[David Zephyr]

136. As long as he keeps his war and corporate crony cabinet, I won't happen.

.

[B Calm]

139. Good idea! Now repeal NAFTA!

[glinda]

142. I hope he does, can and continues to actually move towards what he was elected on.

[branders seine]

143. here's hoping.

their right-of-center, trickle-down, corporate crap hasn't worked too well...

[bvar22]

144. We WILL know if this is just "talk" in the next 48 hours.

It is NOT too late to save Health Care Reform with some strong LEADERSHIP from the White House.

KILL the Health Insurance Cartel Profit Enhancement Bill, and start working on REAL reform by simply expanding Medicare.

I FEAR that "moving to the Left" means ramming the current Republican Bill through.
(Mandates, No Public Option + Trillion Dollar Welfare to Big Corporation)

We WILL know shortly.

[spanone]

145. well sir, that is precisely why you were elected President of the United States

[Edweird]

150. Let's DO IT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbpccXp6Swo

[rd_kent]

151. I thought this was to be the approach from the start!!!? Well, I really hope they mean it this time.

[old mark]

152. After this year of bullshit, I will reserve judgement till I see some action.

Talk is cheap.

mark

[Toasterlad]

153. I'll Believe That From Mr. Fierce Advocate When I Fucking See It.

[Doctor_J]

155. This is a lie, or just made up to get the Palinoids riled up

Hate radio will now have a meme for tomorrow.

[Better Believe It]

156. So will President Obama's new bi-partisan commission on entitlements be announced today?

[nomorewhopper]

157. the health care bill is going to kill obama. he's going to lose the midterm election.

people are sick about the economy, government intervention and government spending.

i live in PA, where the sentiment towards democrats has eroded but is still okay. i spent lots of time in the red part of upstate new york and the deep red state of idaho recently. the hatred towards obama is palpable. there is uniform agreement that obama is doing a TERRIBLE job. if you say something good about him, people will look at you like you are joking around. i think that the average american is disgusted by the stimulus package and thinks that this is the wrong time to overhaul health care.

massachusetts already lives with mitt-care, and they don't like it. swing voters don't want health care reform - not now anyway.

the health care bill is a big loser, and obama is going to be voted out of office because of it. the independent voters wanted a peaceful resolution towards iraq and afghanistan and a new way of doing business. they DO NOT want government spending.

independents want liberal social policies, and business friendly economic policies.

[Mr. Sparkle]

158. I hope thats right, as i feel we have been screaming that from the hill tops these last few months.

There is still a part of me worried that he would take the Bill Clinton route.

[BlueDemKev]

160. Oh sure.....

....Obama will move left while the rest of the party goes RIGHT. That'll work really well!

[suede1]

162. I sure hope so!

[nadinbrzezinski]

163. When they do it I'll believe it

until then...

[gatorboy]

167. That should put him close to center now, eh?

[FLAprogressive]

168. i'll believe i when I see it

[Reader Rabbit]

170. I'll believe it when I see it.-n/t

[Ken Burch]

171. If it's true....I salute the President!

A fighting leader is the only one who can ever win.

Please let it be so...We need an LBJ(well, other than the war part, of course.)

[arthritisR_US]

173. I'll believe it when I see it. n/t

[KonaKane]

174. It's about damn time

It's also why I voted for the guy to begin with. I was getting uber fed up with his drifting right policies.

Now let's see if this pans out into action.

[MissDeeds]

177. About damn time n/t

[drm604]

178. Here's what I currently see on msnbc.com

Obama to Dems: Don't 'jam' health care bill

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama advised fellow Democrats against trying to jam a health care bill through Congress after taking a devastating hit from the loss of a Senate seat. He said Wednesday it's time to come together around a bill that can draw Republican support, too.

When Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown takes office he will hand the GOP power to block the Democratic agenda, including Obama's top domestic priority of extending health coverage to the uninsured.

"The people of Massachusetts spoke. He's got to be part of that process," Obama said.

Berni, I'm sincerely hoping that the source of your story is correct and that the source of my story is wrong.

[ChiciB1]

179. Sounds GREAT!! We Will See! n/t

[defendandprotect]

181. What we need to hear is that he's booted Rahm Emmanuel out of the White House--!!

Is this another promise for CHANGE we can believe in that will be tossed aside . . . ???

[Contrary1]

182. I wouldn't bet on it.

"A third option emerged Wednesday — a scaled-back bill that would keep centrist Democrats in line and perhaps attract the support of moderate Republicans."

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-politics/20100119/US.Health.Care.Overhaul/

[BlueDemKev]

184. You must be joking....

....Is that why he's telling Congress to slow down on health care today? (cbsnews.com).

[Don Draper]

186. I'm not getting my hopes up. There is something about power....

which tends to make people delusional and out of touch with reality.

I just read on the Huffington post that Obama isn't going to "ram through" healthcare. That doesn't sound like he is "moving to the left" and being aggressive to me.

If Bush was in office, he would have rammed his agenda down congresses throat (In this sense, I wish Obama was more like Bush & Cheney).

Also, look at the way Howard Dean has been treated over the past month or so. If that is any indication that this is the way the Democratic party is going, you can expect a blood bath in the polls later this year.

I am still in shock that our party had such a massive mandate and swept into office on change only to COMPLETELY blow their mandate and political capital in less than a year. What a bunch of idiots.

[defendandprotect]

227. Agree . . .

Activating old Howard Dean/DFA forum here at DU for liberals/progressives --

If you're interested . . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=244x2468

[Stumbler]

187. Boy, I hope so.

Too bad it took him a f**king year to figure this out. I'm really hoping this isn't just an MSNBC tease to temporarily placate us "whiny" liberals.

[ObamaKerryDem]

191. I sure hope so--this is what we need!

:kick:

[bobbolink]

194. Potential good news. Will believe it when I see it.

Its not like he didn't have enough people telling him that.

Being tone deaf has its penalities.

[me b zola]

196. I believe Obama foreshadowed this move in his recent speech

~delivered on King Day at the Vermont Ave Church. Not just his words, but his body language and entire demeanor:

"...There are those that argued that because I had spoke of a need for unity in this country that our nation was somehow entering into a period of post-partisanship. That didn't work out so well."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpMEf4wZcEM

[anonymous171]

199. I hope you are right. nt

[bridgit]

206. ^

:kick:

[Carni]

211. I certainly hope so!

I received an article earlier from Washington Post that said they were going to move right as a result of the election so this is good news.

Moving right would be a HUGE mistake IMO

[watajob]

213. Talk is cheap ...

... I'll believe it when I see it.

[Echo In Light]

230. +1 ... and even more so in regards to politics

[BlueJac]

217. Is this going to another false promise?

I think so.

[marlakay]

218. Like someone else said, believe it when I see it!

and also talk is cheap...

have zero trust for any politician now except maybe Alan Grayson and few others.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

220. He and his people knew you CANNOT work with the current Republicans

To have ever tried was foolish and damaging.

Modern Republicans are rabid and liars who rule by manipulating the emotions of the less thoughtful Americans. They spread hate rather than hope and their base gobble it up and beg for seconds and thirds.

You can't "work with" an organization like that. You can't beat them at their own game either. Too many of their voters are just to freakin' stupid for facts to come into play in their voting decisions.

What he should have been doing from the start was feeding the Democratic base and keeping communication open with the Democratic fringe on both ends. Instead only the far right fringe feel they've been getting everything they voted for. Hindsight is 20/20 though which makes it easy to comment on things now, knowing how it's all turned out. Let's hope they pull their game together before the buzzer sounds.

[kirby]

221. And he probably told FOX the the opposite n/t

[Smashcut]

222. And then there's this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4234264#4234282

[icee]

223. I'm from Missouri.

[texastoast]

278. Like pudding much?

Me too.

[SemperEadem]

224. so nice of him to show up to the party fashionably late

we've been saying this for a year now.

Get rid of Emmanuel and Kaine and put Dean back in charge. Go left and quit sucking on the fear tit of the rw media saying this country is a "center-right" country. That is a lie from the mouth of satan.

[Politicub]

226. This will fire up the base!

[fitonkpo]

228. Yeah, I'll believe it when I SEE it...EOM

[xynthee]

231. Yeah, right!

:eyes:

Even if Obama said it himself, I'll NEVER believe it. This is just another cruel ploy to get all of our hopes up, only to crush them YET AGAIN! :cry:

Fool me three million, nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine times, shame on you. Fool me four million times, shame on me!

[Luciferous]

232. I hope that it's true, but I'm still skeptical. The President is very good

at talking the talking, not so good at walking the walk.

[Blackhatjack]

233. Evidently President Obama Has Been Visited By The Ghost of A Second Term...

... and he showed President Obama that Tiny Tim ...er his Second Term... would not survive unless there were drastic changes made.

Let's hope that President Obama has seen his error of his ways trying to deal with Republicans in a bipartisan manner.

There is still time for President Obama to turn things around and change the future, but it must happen RIGHT NOW.

[h9socialist]

234. Where?

I just looked at the MSNBC website, and all I saw was that Obama was having lawmakers pare down the healthcare bill.

[Mithreal]

235. Words are on sale. Buy 2 get 1 free.

Believe.it.when.I.see.it.

[xultar]

238. +1 gillion brazillion million trillion billions - Because on Huff Po they have him saying not

to push HCR through.

Conflicting stories.

I'll believe that shit when I see that shit.

[xultar]

If you believe that I have a bridge over troubled water to sell yo ass.

[Norwood]

240. Would be great, excuse me if I have doubts though

[Kelvin Mace]

241. Which means more moving to the right and caving

Since Obama has spent the last year doing the complete opposite of what he promised.

Bitter? Why, yes I am.

[Jim__]

243. Right. Obama now seeks a pared down health bill.

Here.

[a la izquierda]

244. um, it's about flippin' time!

[salib]

245. Still no link. However, on MSNBC I saw nearly the opposite

Obama urges pared-back health care bill
Obama urges lawmakers not to try to jam a bill through Congress

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34953876/ns/politics-health_care_reform/

[MiamiVice]

246. THE NUDIST BROWN IS NOT EVEN REPUBLICAN, HE IS INDEPENDENT

i DON'T know what is all the stupidd hullabaloo of republicans with this guy, he a
campaigned as INDEPENDENT not republican, they are so stuppid, and
also he is an absolut PRo-Choice, and loves showing his stuff in girlie mags, what
a character!

[pundaint]

384. Oooooh a NUDIST, but is he a satan worshiping nudist or a space man nudist?

[Flying Dream Blues]

247. I'm surprised (putting it mildly) that it took this for them to

"take (this) away". Please.

[Turbineguy]

248. Sounds like a good plan.

No more Mister Nice-Guy.

These creeps aren't worth it.

[NorthCarolina]

250. Talk is cheap. Populist rhetoric from Obama during the Primaries is a perfect example of this. eom

[Geek_Girl]

251. If he fires Rahm I'll believe it.

Otherwise I think the bubble headed mentality of the political pundits will prevail and he'll move further to the right in hopes of getting more future votes.

[Upfront]

255. Watch and see.

Hope it is so but will wait to see what he trys to do. He has proven that talk is cheap.

[frog92969]

256. I get it, you're like The Yes Men.

:rofl:

[spinbaby]

258. 'bout damn time

Introduce good legislation that people want then make the Republicans filibuster or vote against it. Make them vote against Medicare for all and see how far that takes them.

[Uncle Joe]

259. That's good to hear, I hope it's true.

Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, berni.:thumbsup:

[secondwind]

260. will this alienate the majority of Independents? Anyone?

[blindpig]

261. Wow, scooped the Onion. n/t

[KonaKane]

265. Well, his first official move on this reinvigorated resolve....

and it's right into a submissive posture with an even more emasculated health care reform bill than before.

Vomitous.

[Fearless]

267. I'm waiting for single payer... but I won't hold my breath.

:eyes:

[subterranean]

268. Was this based on any statements from the WH? Or is it just an opinion?

[old mark]

269. Have seen nothing about this anywhere else - I guess it was just a rumor

or something someone made up to fill an extra moment of airtime.

I have heard nothing that sounds even remotly like moving to the left.


mark

[Quixote1818]

288. I just googled it and coulden't find anything but this DU thread. WTF? nt

[rudy23]

272. Is this what triangulation looks like in 2010? Tell the internet you're moving left

tell the mainstream press, you're moving to the right?

Does Obama's advisers know we have Google, youtube, and the Daily Show now, to put people's conflicting statements side by side now?

[wordpix]

273. FINALLY he gets it (I hope). The BASE worked for him, now work for the base, Obama!

[daleanime]

274. I like to see...

a more proactive ObamaO8)

[DCBob]

275. Obama and the Dems are going to move even further to the center.. as they should.

"WASHINGTON – Chastened by the Democratic Senate loss in Massachusetts, President Barack Obama and congressional allies signaled Wednesday they may try to scale back his sweeping health care overhaul in an effort to at least keep parts of it alive. A simpler, less ambitious bill emerged as an alternative only hours after the loss of the party's crucial 60th Senate seat forced the Democrats to slow their all-out drive to pass Obama's signature legislation despite fierce Republican opposition. The White House is still hoping the House can pass the Senate bill in a quick strike, but Democrats are now considering other options."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100120/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaul

[KonaKane]

284. Yup! SURRENDERRRR DOROTHY!

Great slogan for our side, thanks.

[MessiahRp]

291. That's about what I figured...

It's like they WANT to be kicked out of office. Idiots.

[Number23]

310. It's the only explanation that makes sense. When moderates and independents hand you your ass

folks tend to listen.

[L0oniX]

276. ...and it's raining bull shit too.

[Howler]

279. it would be really nice.....

To FINALLY see light at the end of this hellish political tunnel.
But..... I 'll believe it when I see it in policy not in rhetoric.

[blueknight]

282. to hell with lame duck obama

i thought i voted for a leftist candidate the first time. too late now. he proved in his first year he is a phony. now this just proves it even more

[Howler]

305. Nobody and I mean NOBODY....

That I know who voted for Obama is happy!!!!!
I have never been so disheartened in my political lifetime as I am feeling now!
Too make matters worse the administration and its "Cheerleaders" Calling names,telling us to leave,we are not REAL liberals or progressives, etc is just GALLING!

[DisgustedInMN]

312. For me...

... as disillusioned as I've felt by Obama has been magnified many times over by being treated so poorly by those who purported to share my ideals and goals, then tossed aside when I had the audacity to hope for some actual change in a direction that would help those of us that hardly ever get a break, AFTER they had gotten from me what they wanted.

[Howler]

324. Oh Yeah.!

I feel the same pain.It really just pisses me off more and I sense it is starting to boil over for other AWARE lefties too.

[ingac70]

281. Too bad we had to lose Teddy's seat....

for him to get his head out of his ass.

[scytherius]

283. And if my grandmother had wheels she'd be a wagon. n/t

nt

[RagAss]

286. To the Queen !....If she had balls she'd be the King !!!

[mstinamotorcity]

287. We said f--k that bipartisan s--t

after a month of them with their no,no,no, status.So do a Democratic everything and let the chips fall where they may.

[varelse]

289. That exit poll data must have been helpful

I'm glad those are being done, and published.

[Jefferson23]

290. There is a link to this breaking story? Perhaps I missed it.

[cap]

297. there's no link

so no real story.

I wish he had said that he would move left. But no link ... I can't believe it if he won't go on the record

[Jefferson23]

301. There is no reason to believe it, not yet anyway. Thank you for the response cap.

[Dinger]

296. I'll Believe That when I See It

Not a second before.

[Bette Noir]

298. I hope this is true.

[Barbara2423]

299. Obama spent too much time with this bipartisan nonsense

He made himself and the democratic party look weak.

[DebbieCDC]

300. I hope this is true

[Wizard777]

302. Kick 'em in the teeth! Then pass a dental plan for America.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

303. This would be a nice, "Change"

I've got some hope again

[Pab Sungenis]

304. Dream on.

He threw what was left of Health Insurance reform under the bus tonight.

[Quixote1818]

306. Yep. nt

[NC_Nurse]

307. Not gonna happen.

[disndat]

308. Great, no more Mr. Nice Guy

to the DLC!

[BrklynLiberal]

309. I will believe it when I see it.

[JAbuchan08]

311. I'll believe it when I see it.

I'd like to see it though.

[BlueIdaho]

314. Yeah, protecting the rights of the newly elected republican senator

sure sounds like a move to the left to me.

[Old Codger]

315. absolutely n/t

[totodeinhere]

316. I would need some substantiation to this claim.

After all, actions speak louder than words. Just repeating a rumor heard on MSNBC is not good enough.

[ProgressOnTheMove]

318. The gesture is nice but we can't really move anywhere with 59 seats...

Pass a medicare for all option through reconciliation we'll say no more about it. The people will gladly turn up in November.

[budkin]

319. Who said this?? Source?

[amandabeech]

321. Talk left then gut Social Security.

Yeah, that's the ticket.

[UpInArms]

322. got link or direct quote with link?

otherwise, just more smoke up my skirt.

[RoccoR5955]

325. I'll believe it when I see it... n/t

[Norwood]

327. Well so much for that (Link inside)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4234264

[JDPriestly]

329. I sure hope this is true because that would be a good decision.

[Doremus]

332. Says who? Pundits don't count.

[Nipper1959]

333. No Shit!

[YOY]

334. One statement I hope he does not fail on.

But we will see...

[progressoid]

340. Whole lot of people posting about HOPE on this thread.

That's kind of ironic.

[PSzymeczek]

341. I'll believe it

when I see it.

[Metta]

343. He's fairy tale-ing until he acts and then he's weak unless he persists.

Don't just talk about your wailing. Do your thing and let me see. 'Cause you might just be fairy tale-ing. So, do your thing and let me see.

[newspeak]

344. watching Rachel Maddow now

her guest from Newsweek was talking about how the democrats have just been caving in to the repukes. For instance, the head of TSA, DeMint kept him from being appointed, even after the Detroit undiepants bomber--now he's strutting around like a rooster because the guy stepped down. I agree with her guest, FDR carried himself with a smile and a stiletto behind his back. I want to see a spine, not a bunch of wimps continually stating "we must be bi-partisan-we must come to an agreement with the repukes". Even though what most of the repukes want is not in the best interest for the people of this country. Maybe their wealthy donors, or their corporate fat cats, but not for the majority of Americans. All I have to do is look what these repukes passed under *, and what the state of the nation is now. The reason we have such an insurance industry bill, is because they made so many concessions to repukes and blue dogs for their corporate masters--and did not think of the people.

What I'm seeing is some spineless Democrats or ones that are feeding on the same teats as the repukes. Hell yeah, I want a FDR with a smile on his face and a stiletto behind his back.

[proud patriot]

345. Good cause that's why I'm upset

:thumbsup:

[nightrain]

346. and then he agreed to create an indep commission to raid SS and Medicare. That's hardly left!

[GinaMaria]

347. K and R I hope this is true

[Bucky]

348. I would love for this to be true. Are we sure this isn't another TheOnion.com put on?

I've been burned before.

[newspeak]

354. ya know, I'm thinking if they really wanted to sink the repukes

if I was the democrats, I'd create the most progressive bills--have debate televised so all of the people could see the real party of "no." Bills for fast track job creation, a real health care reform. I'd do every bill that will help mainstreet, and watch while the repukes twist in the wind. Really show the people who's blocking progress. Let the people see who's really obstructing help for them. Don't compromise---do progressive bills for the people, and as they're voted down by the "party of no" and the blue dogs--the people will see who's for em and against em. When you water down a bill, where it winds up hurting those instead of helping them, it does more harm or is ineffectual. Anyway, that's what I'd do and screw bi-partisanship.

[NewJeffCT]

350. is there a link to this?

I hope it is true.

[TheCowsCameHome]

351. How many ponies will the WH have to order to appease everyone?

Could be a significant expenditure.....

[kestrel91316]

352. He shoulda said this SIX MONTHS AGO. Fuck the Repukes. Fuck bipartisanship.

[Better Believe It]

357. President Obama is now pushing a bi-partisan commission to cut government programs.

Guess which ones they'll zero in on?

[orbitalman]

353. I don't believe I'll See It. n/t

[Canuckistanian]

355. Riiight. And I'm the Queen of Prussia.

Is my tiara on straight?

[budkin]

356. LOL @ this thread... total bullshit

[t0dd]

358. Where is the evidence for this? nt

[napoleon_in_rags]

359. That's a change.

Every other news outlet has been opining about the move to the center. I hope it turns out to have substance.

[Blue Owl]

360. Two steps right, one step left.

Two steps right, one step left.

Two steps right, one step left.

Two steps right, one step left.

Not enough.

[DallasNE]

367. Viriginia And New Jersey Told Me This

So why was Obama's staff such slow learners? Also, replace Tim Keane with Howard Dean so we can get something done down in the trenches.

[krispos42]

372. Light dawns in the swamp, I see.

Liberals only get frantic about two things: far-right legislation and leftist legislation. This middle-of-the-road, lets-pretend-there's-an-interest-in-bipartisanship leaves us cold.

[Douglas Carpenter]

376. I certainly hope so. It should be crystal clear to all except the flat-out delusional that

Republican-lite strategy is not a winning formula and it is disastrous for the country, the world and the future of democracy

Ever since the terrible landslide defeat of George McGovern in 1972 - my God that was more than 37 years ago - the dominating conventional wisdom has been to keep moving farther and farther to the right, Simultaneously, the Republican Party has moved even farther and farther to the right - or as someone else put it, "the Democrats have moved to the right - while the Republicans have moved into the mental hospital."

People will unfortunately choose strong and wrong over weak and right. When there is no option for strong and right, strong and wrong will keep on winning and winning and winning.

If this report is true and they follow through, there might be a future for our democracy after all.


http://www.winograd4congress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1&lang=en

[tango-tee]

378. Big K&R

[Goldstein1984]

379. Fool me once, shame on you.

Fool me twice, shame on me.

Time will tell.

The proof is in the pudding.

Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the Bush/Cheney.

[Chulanowa]

381. If this pans out, then I will stand corrected

Luckily, I happen to like the taste of my own toes.

[pundaint]

383. And the crowd chanted as one "Bring us the head of Rahm Emmanual"

[TheKentuckian]

393. Alright! PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING K&R

Not smoke and mirrors but really get a leash on these criminals

[vw-fixer]

397. How much further Left . . .

can the man go before he hits the wall?

[Enthusiast]

399. What?

Name a thing he has done that is "left". Did he "take away your guns?" Did he "raise your taxes?"

Go fix a VW.

[Mixopterus]

406. What?

Are you fucking dense or something? Compare his actions to established patterns of textbook leftist behavior and the modern standards, look at them closely, and then hang your head in shame.

Obama as a far leftist, what an absurdity.

[vw-fixer]

423. Nope, . . .

just curious. It's safe to assume that there's no wall out there - just infinity. Besides, it's only been one year - right? Plenty of time to fix this mess Dubya got us into.

[newspeak]

418. oh, it must be a faux watcher

Tell me what has he done that deems him to be left. Please I'm waiting for your response. He kept some of *'s cronies, he helped implement *'s bailout, he has listened to big business over the people. He has maintained *'s war hard on, has not rescinded *'s wiretapping or parts of the most damaging of the Patriot Act. He has not cleaned house in the Justice Department or the CIA. You do remember when * got rid of veteran CIA agents who wouldn't do his little loyalty pact, don't you? Oh wait, they extended unemployment benefits, wow, he must be from the left.

The thing is, this country has been pulled so far to the right, bowing down to megacorporations over the people in this country, that if you pulled left, you'd actually get back to the center. When you pull so far to the right, I believe they call that fascism where "government and business go against the will of the people."

So, I'm waiting--tell me all those lefty things he's done. :eyes: Or did the talking heads at the faux network continue to repeat the meme," Obama is a socialist", "Obama is a liberal", that you're like a zombie, repeating baseless BS.

Because if Obama was a liberal, we'd have single payer, if he was a liberal, we'd have a robust job creation plan, if he was a liberal, they'd scrap NAFTA and go for a fair trade agreement, if he was a liberal, he'd get the war profiteers out of the military and allow the military to handle services, if he was a liberal, he'd adhere to the Constitution and eliminate some of the most damaging parts of the Patriot Act and rescind illegal wiretapping. See, that's if he was a liberal.

[vw-fixer]

426. Roger all that.

What the hell must I have been thinking! It must be the jet lag I'm suffering from - being 11 times zones away from home. My apologies.

[GOTV]

403. Without a link? ... I Call Bullshit

[swilton]

408. I'll Believe it When I see It

[Ganja Ninja]

409. Well don't strain your self taking on the GOP right away.

Why not start with something small, something that doesn't require any help from the GOP? Why not start with the republicans in your own party?

Here's a suggestion, you can prove your new found resolve by getting rid of someone that's been thorn in your party's side for the last 8 years. You want to lead? You want to get tough? Then get Joe Lieberman. Call up that worthless worm Harry Reid and tell him you want Joe kicked out of his chairmanships. Better yet get him off of every stinking committee in the house.

Do that and I might begin to believe in you again.

[anachro1]

411. I will believe this when I see it

All Barack has done so far is bend over for the Republicans.

Bipartisanship, my ass.

[Harry Monroe]

412. Let's hope he really means this!!

Fuck trying to work with the Republicans!! You lie down with dogs, you wake up with fleas!! We're a majority party, we should ACT like one!! I don't know why it took Obama a year to figure out that the Republicans are simply trying to obstruct and screw him. Hope it's not too late to get some real CHANGE effected, we've wasted a year already!!

[Bill McBlueState]

414. really?

A handful of vague, unattributed claims gets ~350 net recommends?

[HereSince1628]

416. Horse has left barn, please to close barn door.

The New Dems are now covered with a "we tried our best" excuse.

Now that so much less is possible the way for New Dems to look good is to camoflage themselves as progressives and take advantage of people's short memories. Next Oct. and in 2012 it will be Kabuki theater with the repub puppet saying watch out for the socialist dems and the new dem puppet saying we went too far left.

[SnowCritter]

417. I'll believe it when I see it!

Just my gut reaction.

[NorthCarolina]

419. Is the New EO creating commissions for entitlement reform evidence of this supposed leftward shift?

:freak:

[BREMPRO]

421. losing the 60th senate seat might turn out to be the best thing for us

the 60 super majority inspired unpalatable compromises with blue-dogs and new dems. perhaps now we can get some principled action and lobbying by Obama for a more progressive agenda. His interview with GS last night was revealing- admitted making a mistake of not communicating better what he was doing and why, leaving people with the impression he was working for corporations and wall street rather than for the people (he really is folks). MA was a wake up call and OBama and the Dems in congress need to now start arguing with principle, responding to the base, rather than making compromises with fringe conservative Dem senators. Should be interesting!

[Javaman]

422. I will ask again, do you have a link? nt

[TankLV]

425. When Pigs Fly he will!!!

He's NEVER "moved left" and NEVER WILL!!!

Keep your delusions...

[Romulox]

429. Seen it? Nope. Believe it? Nope. nt