Something very important to consider

[EnlightenedOne]

I've been a DU member since late 2000 or early 2001.

I do not have the time to post anymore or even comment, but I still try to check in to see How DU is every week and get a brief synopsis of the latest news, etc. With all the downsizing and belt-tightening, I generally have to work very long hours, and I spend a lot of my spare time mentoring poor disadvantaged children, gardening etc., which leaves me very little free time for my favorite past time of reading books - mostly on new information and mostly books of a mostly spiritual nature. Its just amazing what is out there.

Anyway, its hard not to notice the disappointment and gnashing of teeth regarding Obama and the Democrats. And something just occurred to me, seemingly out of the blue, and I thought perhaps many of you would find it helpful, and perhaps have your own "ah-ha" moment.

I am of the opinion that Obama is backed into the corner on most every issue, bu the T's, R's, money interests, Wall Street, Bankers, the Military-industrial complex, big oil, etc.

Let's face it, we all know Bush/Cheney not only wiped out the Treasury, but they also sold the country out and handed over the keys to the corporate/monied interests before they walked out the door. They purposely bankrupted and destroyed this country, well, let's just say, they did their very best, but we're not yet destroyed. Many of us are still standing and fighting.

Many of you may find this very hard to believe, but I am of the opinion (from various sources) that when America stood up and rallied behind Obama the last election, we sent out a load roar to the Universe that we were choosing peace and a more equitable government and the universe heeded that call. The election couldn't be stolen given the massive crowds, and the unpopularity of the R party. Bush pretty much had destroyed the R brand too along with everything else. They knew they didn't have a prayer of winning, so they devised every plan in the book for Obama and the country to fail. I hope we're smart enough to not let them win, and to not let them divide us.

I recalled that after 9/11 it was reported in various newspapers, that a Shadow Government was installed, without the knowledge or consent of Congress (surprise, surprise). Here's the link from the CBS report:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/03/01/attack/main502530.shtml

Also, I recently came across an old PBS documentary clip of Bill Moyers reporting on the shadow government in 1987. Here is the link to that:

http://www.wanttoknow.info/050423secretgovernment
http://personalgrowthcourses.net/video/secret_government


Then I remembered an article from The Daily Beast about the UN and Congress' authority for the Iraq War was expiring. However, in typical Bush fashion, he signed a SOFA Agreement that put the control of the war in the Iraqi Parliament's hands, without Congressional authority, and in fact he refused to let Congress see the agreement. Many of them had to try to find and read it in the Arab press. Here's the link for that:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2008/12/31/the-iraq-war-is-now-illegal.html

So, given all the above, I am convinced that Obama is up against some very dark forces. Anger isn't going to do him or any of us any good in the long run. Yes, certainly speak your mind and voice your wants and concerns, but it really could be in a more respectful way. Threatening to leave the party isn't going to accomplish anything. We have to work within the limited boundaries that we have been placed in. Certainly the R's have ABSOLUTELY ZERO to offer. I cannot think of one honorable republican who even pretends to want to do the right thing for the country. I'm not sure how many of you are aware of the absolute hatred out there from the RW against Obama. And they hate him, because their corporate masters know he's trying to chisel away at the huge gravy train that was bestowed on them during the 8 years Of Bush/Cheney. The trillions that were taken from us, our tax dollars out of our Treasury and given away, thrown away, etc., well, we were robbed. Those 8 years should have a name - The Great Heist, or whatever, that will go down in history, and wind up in the history books some day.

I can say this too, that in a way, we have no idea how lucky we were to escape in as good of shape overall as we did. Things were supposed to be much, much worse, but luckily, they failed.

So, I hope many of you will resonate with what I'm saying and try to keep the faith and try to stay united behind Obama, because I truly believe he can lead us out of this, but he can only do that with our assistance. We have to believe, and we have to keep the faith. Even if you don't think you can anymore, you must try to find a way, and I firmly believe it is going to work out and be all right. Evil can never triumph over good, at least for very long.

If this matters to you, or means anything to you, I would ask that you try to keep it kicked, maybe for the Tuesday crowd. Posting on a Holiday is probably the worst possible time, but I felt I needed to get this out there, and not wait another minute or one more day. I hope we truly can stand as one against evil and corruption, and send light to the man that I believe will walk us out of these dark days.

Thanks very much to all of you for your passion, compassion, and determination and strength to want to do what's right for every American and for being on the right side of history and not being consumed with selfish greed.

[madamesilverspurs]

1. Pleased to K & R.

[DonCoquixote]

2. I believe you, but

Yes, I fully believe the deck was stacked against Obama well before he won, Hell, I think they originally planned to stack the deck against Hillary, and only made a slight adjustment when Obama won. Yes, I get angry when the people who frankly, hated Obama from point A, come on here and make their cheap little digs. I also believe that Nader is GUILTY of being a tool to throw the election in 2000, as he knowingly took GOP money. I think Jane Hamsher is the same, as she takes pay from the GOP, and helped Grover Norquist gain national respectability.

So now that I have chased away half the readers, and established myself as not being pure enough for the far left, I need to say this, Obama needs to be able to FIGHT! He may think he is pouring oil over choppy waters, but truth be told, that is the wrong medicine for the moment. The GOP are so brazen, they are running as if they are TWO parties, far right and right, and the media is letting them get away with it. There is also the fact that he is isolating his base, and truth be told, those "independents" are NOT trustworthy, as they only worship results, results which the GOP can personally ensure Obama will not get. The Tea Party is willing to commit outright TREASON, to wreck this country, if it ensures a win.

Obama is the person I will vote for, no question. Even if an Al Gore were to replace him, the media would make sure it would be a loss, and the voter suppression laws around the country will seal the deal. They do not see anyone else but themselves as legitimate, period. It will take a bloody, nasty fight, one that, unlike Clinton, needs to be based on moving the country towards the LEFT. And Yes, we DO need to stand as one, because as long as we eat our own, the GOP will simply laugh, knowing we do half their work for them.

[EnlightenedOne]

5. Exactly.

And thank you. We can forget the media, thankfully with the internet, they've basically made themselves irrelevant, except for Rachel Maddow, Keith Olberman, Lawrence O'Donnel, Ed Schultz, Vurrent TV, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, to name a few off the top of my head. There is good out there, but the corporate media has proven how shallow and irrelevant they are with the meaningless nonsense they present as news. Well, they are corporately owned and that pretty much says it all. Ignore them.

The same with the R candidates. The ignorance of the Fox watching/Rush listening crowd is mind-blowing. It is as if we are already living in separate realities, and not to get too far out there, but that's the way it will be. The separating of the wheat from the shaft so to speak. The difference in the two sides is night and day. One wants equity, equality, fairness and justice for all, and the other side is solely for the interests of the wealthy elite. Its as obvious as the keyboards we type on. The hate, the selfishness, the greed..... but so it is and so it was supposed to be. They made us stronger, they made us better, they made us stand up for what is right.

You just can't worry about or focus on what is wrong, just put your energy into what is right. Do what you can, help who you can, and be greatful for the chance to fight and stand up because that's what you came here to do, that's what you wanted. So, I say, let's have at it and change the world.

[BlueCaliDem]

3. Thank you! An enthusiastic K & R!

I've always felt there was something beyond what we could see that changed Obama from the fiery progressive to the more centered politician after his inauguration. I couldn't believe that a man, who saw his mother fighting with insurance companies as she was laid up in the hospital, would not want a public option. In fact, I know he did since he even went out to campaign on it while the Democrats in Congress stayed back, not giving him any support.

I know trillions are at stake, and the Powers That Be don't want us to take their treasure away.

The fact that employers are holding back two trillion in money they could invest in jobs, is telling. They say it's because they're unsure about President Obama, blah, blah, blah, but I'm convinced they want to keep the unemployment numbers artificially high because they believe high unemployment numbers means dissatisfaction among the voters, translating into a one-term presidency for Obama so they can get their Republican serfs back into power to continue the downspiral of this country.

The fact that our corporate media is mum about the unprecedented obstructionism by the minority in the Senate and House toward this President, should be our Aha! moment. But they have ONE fear: the American people and our votes.

If we abandon President Obama now, we'll be playing straight into their hands, and we'll be helping them install their chosen corporate serfs in the WH and in Congress.

We can't let that happen.

[EnlightenedOne]

7. Again!

You are absolutely right! I'mso happy to see others get it. Yhe more of us that do "get it", the sooner we get the world we desire.

There are some very interesting videos on the Wanttoknow website, I hope you will be inclined to take a look. Especially the one - I think Dad of the year (something like that) - when you watch it, you will be moved to tears. That is the strength of our spirits, and to see it in action.... its everything that is good and right in the world. If we could all run this race like we mean it!!

Just hold on tight and let's ride the waves... the waves of love and what's right. And dance, don't forget to keep the joy, love, laugh, live. It's all a game, and winning this one will be a huge success for our planet.

[pnorman]

11. "....want a public option."

AFAIK, Public Option didn't make it out of Senate Committee. So it wasn't his to "grant".

[BlueCaliDem]

18. You're right. The Senate was fighting it tooth and nail as he

went around the country trying to gin up support for it. But the Senate Dems couldn't even get it out of committee.

[pnorman]

19. Oh, for a Unitary President!

We'd have had a Public Option by now! (Sigh!)

[EnlightenedOne]

4. Also.....

One true thing, whether you believe it or not - is what we think we create. Our thoughts create our reality. That is how the Universe is set up.

Believe it or not, we have already won.

Evil has not, and can not ever triumph in the end.

That was the game and the role some chose to play, but their time is up, and it is over for them.

Whether that makes any sense to you or not, we will all see and know soon enough.

[pnorman]

6. Establishing a "Shadow Government" as a fallback in a national emergency. Okay, but.....

Senate Majority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) told the Post he had not been informed by the White House about the role, location or even the existence of the shadow government that the administration began to deploy the morning of the Sept. 11 hijackings.

An aide to House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) said he was also unaware of the administration's move.

Among Congress's GOP leadership, aides to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (Ill.), second in line to succeed the president if he became incapacitated, and to Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott (Miss.) said they were not sure whether they knew.

Aides to Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W. Va.) said he had not been told. As Senate president pro tempore, he is in line to become president after the House speaker.

[EnlightenedOne]

8. Yes

And I believe the article states there were some citizens - G whatever. The point is, we don't know the particulars of what was established, and neither did Congress, so we don't know if it was ever disbanded either. It was a coup, plain and simple. Regardless, its clear that there are forces at work, and they are not working for our best interests.

[EFerrari]

9. It's really not my place to engage in faith based politics

or to support the administration when it promotes right wing policy.

[EnlightenedOne]

10. Is there an alternative?

If you really think about it..... no, unless you want a Rick Perry or Bachman/Palin, and then we're really talking about a RW theoocracy.

But I did not come here to argue. I don't have the time or the desire.

Each person has their own choice and decision to make. My goal was only to provide a little information and insight into the game.

I would not be surprised to see a Rick Perry/Bachman ticket. The Frankie & Annette Beach Blanket duo as puppets to their corporate masters. The dumbing down of America is nearly complete with the Fox crowd and they would certainly love it. And, they'd all be dumb enough to vote wholeheartedly for it.

[EFerrari]

20. Yes, the alternattive is not to support bad policy

and not to rely on magic for government reform.

[BeFree]

12. Indeed

There are many forces wanting Obama and the progressives to fail.

The shadow government has a great deal of power and they are using it to limit Obama.

I feel he has been told what he can do and anymore than that he is just asking to get them to really hurt him and the country. Hell, the banksters robbed us, the WMD lies are hardly challenged, the voting machines were installed in damn near every precinct and environmental damage is allowed to cruise along unabated.

They are out there and only the dumbest think they do not exist.

[silverweb]

13. K&R

"I hope we truly can stand as one against evil and corruption, and send light to the man that I believe will walk us out of these dark days."

Thank you for putting it all so well.

[tblue37]

14. Back on March 17 I wrote this OP, suggesting that Obama was perhaps

being as progressive as possible, considering the powerful (and dangerous) forces arrayed against him.

If he is too openly progresive, he won't be able to get anything at all done (because they will see what he is up to)--and they might Wellstone him. But he has accomplished quite a lot beneath the radar, and I think what he has accomplished would not have been possible if he were too open about being progressive.

I start the post with this comment: "I do wish Obama would lean harder and more obviously toward our side, but I actually suspect that he might be less effective if he did."

You might want to take a look at it:

"Is Obama a "stealth" progressive? (Could be.)"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x631285

[EnlightenedOne]

15. Sorry I missed it.

I think he is maneuvering as best he can and I hope we will soon find out how well he played the game.

[EnlightenedOne]

16. Its 3:30 am where I am

I must call it a day/night. Thank you all for your comments and encouragement. I hope we can continue to encourage each other and keep pushing on and moving forward. Despite the bickering at times, there's a lot of love and support on Du. I've always felt it.

[patrice]

17. K&R There are no bargains, no quid pro quo. We MUST keep the faith, as you say, even if

and even most especially if, President Obama can't lead us out of this.

I hope he does. It will be a blessing if he does. But we must be who we are anyway, TRUE TO OURSELVES AS a PEOPLE, no matter who is in the WH.

[BeFree]

21. Which begs the question

Who are we as a People?

Seems to me people in this country are after money #1.

[patrice]

22. That's something we must figure out. I propose that we begin by responding to #1.

For me, that means we have to address our definition of "Real Value". Money is NOT Real Value, therefore people should not be defined as money and anyone who agrees with that proposition should make it clear in all of their relationships.

We may have to deal with money, because things are the way that they are, but we CAN do that without making it intrinsic to who/what we are as a People. I think who we are as a People should be who we are to one another, literally and concretely what/how those relationships are manifested amongst us. That should take priority over other, more abstract/arbitrary, relationships like money.