Obama shows a breezy willingness to give away the Democratic Party’s tattered remnants of liberalism

[Better Believe It]

The Strange Politics of the U.S. 2012 Election
What Both Parties Are up to
by Jack A. Smith
September 10th, 2011


Obama, however, is a tough, exceptionally ambitious politician who knows what he wants and goes after it with cool precision. How else could have migrated to the U.S. Senate and the presidency of the United States in five years after an unremarkable dozen years in academia and the obscurity of the Illinois state senate? With virtually no record of accomplishments, he whipped the formidable Hillary Clinton electoral machine, then the McCain/Palin opposition, and then his own party’s left wing in the process.

It should be noted that the Obama White House routinely shifts to the right on issues that do not necessarily depend on House votes, undercutting the argument that the Republicans always tie the president’s hands. The administration’s dreadful environmental record, for instance, is largely independent of the antediluvian climate change deniers in Congress. The White House decision to abandon the Environmental Protection Agency’s tough new air pollution regulations Sept. 2 was a concession to big business, which could have lost some excess profits due to reduced emissions of smog-causing chemicals, not the result of a filibuster or lack of votes.

The Obama Administration evidences a breezy willingness to give away the Democratic Party’s tattered remnants of liberalism, to weaken some past attainments achieved after years of struggle, and forego fighting for new social programs. The result has been two or three steps to the right, by commission or omission, for every nebulous step to the “left,” such as the administration’s health care plan, which was based on the moderate Republican effort in Massachusetts.

Domestically, the White House seeks to strengthen the capitalist sector, reorganize the economy to confer even greater powers upon the corporations, banks, Wall St. and the wealthy; renegotiate downward the social contract with the working class and middle class by further limiting popular spending, entitlements, and government programs to help the people; and reduce union power even further while mumbling pro-labor sentiments. In addition, there has been an effort to reassert the unifying spirit of national chauvinism, militarism, and warrior worship.

Read the full article at:

http://dissidentvoice.org/2011/09/the-strange-politics-of-the-u-s-2012-election/

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. To Third Way Democrats like Obama principles are archaic novelties useful only as empty slogans. K&R

[vets74]

64. To Martin Luther King Way democrats such as Obama, it's about the long term.

It's a black thing. Never give up. Never forget the long game:

I owe everything in my life to the struggles led by Dr King and all those incredibly courageous people, young and old, who sacrificed so much to bring about monumental, though imperfect, changes in America and throughout the world. The poet, Haki Madhubuti (Don L. Lee) always talked about the difference between long distance runners and short distance runners as a metaphor for those who were ready to give up the struggle because they wanted instant success and those who were prepared to engage in a long struggle. Dr King was a long distance runner. He always knew that change was not going to be a quick sprint. For thirteen years, he carried on the struggle, winning some victories while loosing some, but never giving up. Today, we need the same long distance runners to continue his struggles.

In my humble opinion, I think President Obama is a long distance runner. What he needs are supporters who also believe that progress is never instant. Change requires persistence, patience, and dedication, especially in the face of hostile opponents.

As we honor Dr. King, Lets also honor the wisdom of this young man who was tapped by his community to lead a protracted struggle at the tender age of 26, but who, despite his age, lead one of the most impressive grass roots movement for justice, equality and humanity in America. Sometimes we forget how young Dr. King was-- just barely 39 years old-- when he was assassinated. I was 17 years old when Dr. King gave his famous "I have a Dream speech." And I was 22 years old when he was assassinated. Yet even at such a young age, I learned from Dr. King that the struggle for justice and equality would not be easy. He always insisted on letting people know that the struggle for justice, equality and human dignity required discipline, sacrifice, maturity and a willingness to believe in the goodness of all human beings.

I know that a great many of so called progressives have been attacking the President for trying his best to talk to Republicans who hate him so much. But I feel he is following the foot steps of Dr. King, who urged us to do our best to lovingly talk to everyone, including our enemies.

-- from nathkatun7 blogger

Obama also knows that the Republican Party of today is build on three main False Front voter-scams.

-- Anti-abortion rhetoric for the "Pro-Life" folks

-- The peculiarly American blend of paranoia and racism that ran out as the John Birch Society and the White Citizens Councils in the 1950s and 1960s -- now rebranded as this so-called "Tea Party"

-- Ron Paul's "Libertarian" wack-job collection of Far Left talking points -- anti-war, anti-imperialism, anti-Federal Reserve, anti-Wall Street, anti-Patriot Act -- combined with nationalism and the anti-abortion position and anti-Liberalism

Between the three, that's easily 80% of the Republican turnout on Election Day. And they are False Fronts as surely as news of Sarah Palin cudashagging a future NBA guy deserves a laugh.

[AverageJoe90]

69. If we lose hope, then it will be much easier to lose the election.........n/t

[Richardo]

2. "warrior worship"

Yeah, hyperbole is so credible.

:eyes:

[Better Believe It]

3. Don't forget about "our wounded warriors" and how they are fighting for our freedoms!

Isn't that how the politicians are now describing the soldiers, including President Obama?

[Larry Ogg]

59. It's a warning sign, when someone spews the rhetoric of nationalism...

And Obama spews it as well as any right wing conservative, and as well as any predator who wants or has political power.

It's all about the self centered personal gain for himself, and those who financed empowered his campaign.

And it was obvious to me, early in the Presidential primaries, that Obama was not on the side of Democratic voters, progressives or liberals.

[sad sally]

70. Started in the primaries with the "he's not wearing the flag pin,"

and viola, on comes the pin.

[Claudia Jones]

4. you don't agree?

Are you saying that there is not a "spirit of national chauvinism, militarism, and warrior worship" in the country?

[tblue]

19. "hero worship"

You gotta earn it. IMHO.

[leftstreet]

5. '...and then his own party’s left wing in the process'

Heck of a deal. A Prez who defeats his own party

K&R

[kenny blankenship]

10. And then runs like he's ashamed to be a Democrat "There are some in my own party blah blah blah"

Yeah, there are some in your own party who don't think Medicare should be cut, but think it needs to be expanded instead. They know private insurance racketeers aren't the answer to any question except this one: "What single factor makes US healthcare so outstandingly unaffordable, so relatively ineffective compared to that enjoyed by other nations, and largely inaccessible for tens of millions?" We call such people who want to preserve and expand the role of Medicare DEMOCRATS, Mr. President - what are YOU?

If only a reporter would ask him sometime, Why are YOU a Democrat, Mr. President? Why was it better to be one through history, and why should people join this party right now?

The deer in the headlights look would be priceless.

[area51]

22. +1

Great post. :thumbsup:

[inna]

24. exactly. he should run as a repub.

[Claudia Jones]

31. that would not work

It is much more effective to advance the conservative agenda under the cover of the Democratic party.

[Laelth]

40. Well said, kenny blankenship. +1 n/t

-Laelth

[bertman]

54. You nailed it, Kenny Blankenship. nt

[lark]

61. He would not be able to respond

after all, his hero, Ronnie Raygun, was a Repug and all his policies are Repug, so he could only properly defend that party.

[saras]

62. "The deer in the headlights look would be priceless." - as was that insight

[defendandprotect]

28. We need two strong anti-war candidates -- two candidates who support MEDICARE4ALL !!

Ending the wars and passing universal health care would be two huge

steps in the right direction for the nation --

a push-back against MIC and corporate/fascism --

and a chance to move on Global Warming -- if even only to begin to discuss

shutting down the nuclear reactors -- about two in every state.

Could make the difference between "a whimper or a bang" -- !!

[Claudia Jones]

30. that was always the goal

That was the goal long before the speech at the convention in '04, as Obama had been selected and groomed by the DLC for the role he is now playing. Bruce Dixon and Glen Ford were covering this as it unfolded, long before most people in the country had heard of Obama. There is a faction in the party that sees the left as the obstacle to winning. Some are "pragmatists" some are conservatives in Dem clothing. The thinking there is that the left animates and strengthens the extreme right, and that the adherence to principle interferes with actual progress.

[SidDithers]

6. Unrec...nt

Sid

[russspeakeasy]

25. SidDithers...you keep forgetting the decimal point...

:evilgrin:

[cui bono]

36. That just shows the Dem Party as a whole is not paying attention or has lost its way.

Doesn't negate the truth of the OP one bit.

Apparently you are proud of that.

[Laelth]

43. Perhaps DU isn't the "real" world.

But most of us here share "real" Democratic values, and that explains why Obama polls so poorly here.

"Given the choice between a Republican and a Democrat who acts like a Republican, the people will choose the real Republican every time." -Harry S. Truman

If Obama loses in 2012, that Truman quote will explain it perfectly.


-Laelth

[Bluenorthwest]

52. What's his approval among Canadians who can not vote in US

elections but like to meddle on an international basis? Will the name changes now make them the Royal Canadian Democrats?

[Autumn]

7. Rec n/t

[bvar22]

To The Point

"Obama, however, is a tough, exceptionally ambitious politician who knows what he wants and goes after it with cool precision. How else could have migrated to the U.S. Senate and the presidency of the United States in five years after an unremarkable dozen years in academia and the obscurity of the Illinois state senate? With virtually no record of accomplishments, he whipped the formidable Hillary Clinton electoral machine, then the McCain/Palin opposition, and then his own party’s left wing in the process.

<snip>

"The president does indeed fight for his convictions, much to the dismay of the liberals and progressives — a prominent sector of his own party constituency whom he mocked as the “professional left,” then rendered powerless by furling his brows. The problem isn’t the president’s “weakness” but his now only partially disguised moderate conservative convictions that allow him to pull his party to the right in the name of bipartisanship, even if it takes humiliating his most fervent supporters."

<snip>

"It wasn’t Obama’s fear and trembling but self-confident chutzpah during the deficit debates when he gratuitously consigned the greatest achievements of the New Deal and Great Society to the future chopping block, and in House Speaker John Boehner’s opinion gave the Republican leadership 98% of what it actually sought."

Thats the problem I have with Centrists.
They agree with Republicans on Policy.

An unhappy K&R
from the old FDR/LBJ Democrat


You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.

Solidarity!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[cui bono]

37. Except when in campaign mode. I couldn't believe him talking like he really cares

about workers now. Puhlease.

I fell for that last time around, but I won't fall for it again. I know he will just shift gears again if reelected.

[Hydra]

8. Depressing but truthful article

Imperial America doesn't want the Left in anything it does...except to pay for the bill.

[emilyg]

9. rec.

[Bobbie Jo]

11. Unrec

per usual...


Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt. Lather, Rinse, Repeat.....

[Overseas]

12. Sad K&R.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

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

[SidDithers]

14. +1...nt

Sid

[dionysus]

16. hey Sid, you got a candy heart i can borrow?

[SidDithers]

17. Why yes, yes I do...

:hi:

Sid

[dionysus]

18. thank you sir!

(unrec)

[russspeakeasy]

27. Sid, Sid, Sid

:rofl:

[defendandprotect]

29. Ignore, Ignore, Ignore --

[Bluebear]

41. Omg yes yes yes!!

[DeSwiss]

50. Agree, agree, agree. n/t

[ProSense]

15. What

<...>

There was also no compelling necessity for Obama to decide “you have to put everything on the table” for the budget cutters including Social Security as well as Medicare and Medicaid. That was the administration’s political preference, regardless of bitter howling from the 83-member Congressional Progressive Caucus, co-chaired by Reps. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN). The House Democratic Blue Dog coalition of fiscal conservatives has only 26 members but patently enjoys considerably more influence in the White House than the marginalized progressives. The GOP controls the House, but the hyperactive Tea Party Caucus, chaired by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), has 23 fewer members than the Progressive Caucus, and it has been far more effective because it has leadership support.

<...>

...utter nonsense. The blue dogs voted against the President's health care bill. Heath Shuler does not have more influence with the President. There is a difference between dealing with the reality of Congress' and spewing utterly ridiculous drivel.

Fairly certain the Progressive Caucus don't see themselves as "marginalized." Victimhood isn't attractive.

Congressional Black Caucus statement on the President's jobs proposal

Jobs Plan Unveiled By House Progressive Caucus

Congressional Progressive Caucus statement on the President's jobs proposal

Whether it's saving the auto industry, labor policies, environmental policies, helping low income communities and families and homeless Americans, establishing the CFPB, and other reforms, the things this President has done, will have a lasting impact on real families.

Even a staunch critic of a misstep by this President can acknowledge that he has move the progressive ball forward in significant ways.

[tblue]

20. "spewing utterly ridiculous drivel"

That's lovely. You just won me over.

[ProSense]

23. Good.

"That's lovely. You just won me over."

I wasn't trying.

[jeff47]

34. Yes, must throw away votes from those inconvenient liberals who won't follow orders.

So how's Obama gonna get re-elected without the left wing of his party when the march to the center has actually _reduced_ his approval rating among independents?

[girl gone mad]

35. You never try.

So why bother?

"Drivel, drivel, drivel" and bold blue links. Waste of time.

[fascisthunter]

47. you do more harm to Obama than you realize

[Claudia Jones]

71. yes

What we are seeing is the aggressive promotion of very conservative ideas masquerading as "supporting the president" and relentless attacks on any and all voices from the left masquerading as calls for party loyalty supposedly in order to beat the Republicans.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

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

[defendandprotect]

26. Obama/Third Way is suicidal for all of us -- we're too far down this destructive pathway ... !!

[blackspade]

67. The "Third Way" are the Democratic Party's teabaggers

[Fuddnik]

32. Kick and Rec!

[fascisthunter]

33. Obama and the Corporate Dems do not want us spoiling their corporate agenda

fuck everyone of them.

[hifiguy]

38. +1

:kick: and rec!!

[Laelth]

39. k&r for the truth, however depressing it may be. n/t

-Laelth

[JoePhilly]

42. An angry jealous girl friend with ADD and a crack addition sounds less needy

then the author of this nonsense.

[Hart2008]

44. How many such girl friends have you had, Joe? Do tell! NT

[JoePhilly]

45. Depending on how I count ... 3.

But that was a very long time ago.

Now, very happily married for over 20 years to a woman who lives in the world of reality.

BTW ... how's Gary doing ... he seems so dreamy!!!

Hope you guys really hit it off.

[Hart2008]

68. So, there could be more than three?

:wow:

Senator Hart has been busy blogging, and we can expect to hear more of what he has planned for our party soon:

http://www.mattersofprinciple.com/

[tcaudilllg]

46. I'm fortifying my friend/ignore lists

Would like to make a network of smart Democrats, who are of like mind and understand the changes facing the country. Am actively figuring out who the dopes are and putting them on ignore.

[Bluebear]

48. It will make your life more pleasant, truly

[Bobbie Jo]

49. Absolutely!

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

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

[bertman]

53. Can't get Safari to connect to the link. But what I read so far sounds dead right.

[blkmusclmachine]

55. Obama is a Reagan Republican:

How we got stuck with Obama as the DEM nominee in '08 says A LOT about how corrupt the DEM Party apparatus has become. The tent is TOO DAMN BIG!!!!!!!!!

[vets74]

65. Shill ???

What else ? The 2008 primaries had Edwards and Clinton up against Obama. Any democrat with a memory 3 years long knows we were lucky to come out where we did. All in all, Obama got a solid health care bill and about 50 other strong legislative actions. Republican "debt crisis" bullshit led directly to the worsening employment situation. But them's just the facts.

[webDude]

56. Keep false hope alive! Keep false hope alive!

[sfpcjock]

57. We forget that there is so much money in the game now...

with the promise of $ Billions in corporate socialist kick backs; that we have a multi-millionaire president who spends his time talking to millionaire senators, Congress people and millionaire journalists in MSM TV news. Remember what happened when the greed game got going with the deregulated banking system and sleeping SEC a few years ago? It became unstoppable.

[gulliver]

58. Ok, "breezy willingness?" and "tattered remnants?"

Seriously? Seriously?

Yes "Seriously?"

[Better Believe It]

60. Can one say with a straight face that authentic liberals control the national Democratic Party

I think not.

Seriously.

[mfcorey1]

63. I guess we Better Believe this crap

[blackspade]

66. Excellent article.