*Let me start this post by saying RIP Elizabeth Edwards, you went down with dignity. Breast cancer is a bitch!
Now let me get to my man O and these tax cuts he officially caved on today.
First, a few words for some folks like Bill Maher who are taking certain liberties with his O ness because of his race. Stop it! You can criticize his "wimpiness" without making reference to his black side. Like WTF? You never heard of wimpy black people? Just because he is black doesn't mean he has to fit into your stereotype of black people. That sh&^t is ignorant and backwards.
"Bill Maher expressed disappointment and frustration with President Obama on CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS" on Sunday. The president, he said, has been too timid in pursuing the Democratic agenda. "I thought, when we elected the first black president, as a comedian, I thought two years in, I'd be making jokes about what a gangsta he was, you know?" Maher said. Instead, Maher said we've got "President Wayne Brady."
Huh? Memo to Bill: just because you get some black loving every now and then, doesn't mean you get a black pass. Obama is an Ivy League educated lawyer who grew up in Hawaii you ignorant mother.....let me stop. -My sister told me to stop cursing so much on my blog- Did you expect him to get all gully like some dude from deep in the streets of North Philly?
And while I am on the subject; it's not only Bill Maher, some of you Negroes are doing the same thing. Who the hell is Laura Washington? This clown wrote an article titled: "Many prodding Obama to go black." Again, what does that even mean? Go black? How about just going smart? And yet another one of those not black enough headlines. This one from my friends over at the Maynard Institute (who, by the way, I love) and the subtle...well not so subtle imagery from that *cartoon above by the very white Mike Lukovich. And question for Courtland Milloy: why does he have to "throw some elbows"? (Pleeeese tell me that wasn't a reference to the Ludicrous song?) Is it just me or does it seem like the entire country is caught up in some fifties Tarzan movie?
So on and on it goes. The left is pissed at our bridge building president and rightfully so. You don't build bridges with people who don't want to cross it. They will wait until you are in the middle and then blow it up. But we need sensible commentary about the issues and the shortcomings of Obama the man. Not the black man.
I am not mad at folks like Glen Ford (although I don't necessarily agree with him. I will take the 50% of what O does right, over the 0% of what the wingnut in charge would be doing right any day) because he has been on Obama's case from day one. Or, the always refulgent Kristina vanden Heuvel, (this latest post was money) because she is always consistent with the issues and where she stands as a progressive in this country.
Still, you have to wonder; all these leftist and liberals jumping from the good ship O.--- Where are the Obamaholics when you need them?What happened to you bloggers O invited to the White House?----
Watch how you jump ship, folks. Unlike our boy, you can't walk on water.
133 comments:
Bill Maher is a negative force on politcal talk in this country. I really never want to hear him again.
And Obama can't "go black", cause he ain't black. He may have himself a Kenyan tan, but he's his momma's boy inside.
I just wanted to have a voice in the white house for the first time in many years. That's why I voted for Obama and I just can't hear myself speaking there.
~
Both Elizabeth Edwards and Hillary Clinton would have made a better POTUS, than POTUS Obama.
Yesterday, he punked all the way out.
He still has the time to borrow some balls from Hillary; cut this bitch-made shit out and save his Presidency.
`
Field,
That was very good what you said about Maher. I was thinking the same thing.
I say this with love, but you are more of a house negro, boss man!
How Ironic, white liberals voted for Obama because he is a white man's black man. In other words, they got to have it both ways, just like they are use to having it.
They voted for a Negro with out the baggage of a Black man. A Negro who would be more responsive to their needs as oppose to someone who had a Black agenda as part of his whole agenda. Meanwhile the Negro middle class voted for him, because white liberals liked him so much.
I wish James Baldwin was around to chronicle this insanity. We miss you James. I hope you're drinking a scotch.
Field, "You can criticize his "wimpiness" without making reference to his black side. Like WTF? You never heard of wimpy black people? Just because he is black doesn't mean he has to fit into your stereotype of black people. That sh&^t is ignorant and backwards."
Oh Field, don't be so sensitive about how bm are viewed in America. Hell, if there weren't so many bm running out on their families, saying ugly degrading crap in their rap songs and killing each other in the streets Bill Maher wouldn't have the general view of bm. Face it, there is a nationwide NEGATIVE VIEW of the bm. And, it is well deserved.
Obama is a wimp and 97% of the black race voted for him because he 'mirrored' what Blacks were about. BM have always been viewed as spineless powerless wimps. So why do you get so uptight when Bill Mahers speaks the truth? Maybe you should ask yourself if what Maher speaks 'indicative' of the majority of bm?
We are not a very courageous bunch. We have big mouths to criticize others with, but when it's time for 'do or die' action--a time to put our asses on the line, miraculously NOBODY can be found, esp the BIG MOUTHS!
Let's face it, most Black people voted for Obama because we wanted to see Michelle as First Lady. We weren't dumb enough to believe he was ever going to really fix what's really broke.
I feel sorry for the college kids who did the heavy lifting of organizing in 2008 and actually believed the hopey changey rhetoric was for real. Their new found cynicism is something I picked up decades ago and have never been allowed to shed during successive disastrous, supposedly liberal administrations.
Channeling my inner Michael Corleone:
"Mr. President, you're nothing to me now. You're not a brother, you're not a friend. I don't want to know you or what you do."
"They voted for a Negro with out the baggage of a Black man. A Negro who would be more responsive to their needs as oppose to someone who had a Black agenda as part of his whole agenda. Meanwhile the Negro middle class voted for him, because white liberals liked him so much."
Spook, has it ever occurred to you that middle class black folks voted for him for the same reasons that liberal white folks voted for him? In other words his agenda best suited their economic and social interests.
What are you saying? Black folks can't think for themselves?
Anon 9:00 PM, are you black?
"Let's face it, most Black people voted for Obama because we wanted to see Michelle as First Lady. We weren't dumb enough to believe he was ever going to really fix what's really broke."
Ernesto, that actually might be true.
"Both Elizabeth Edwards and Hillary Clinton would have made a better POTUS, than POTUS Obama."
Well we know that Elizabeth would not have made a better president because she is dead.(Who would have been her VP?) As for Hillary, I am not so sure. The back up Quarterback always looks better when the team is behind.
Field as one of those who has called Obama who and what he is from the beginning (you know I wrote some of those clear eyed pieces on Glen's Black Agenda Report) I have to say that when you do what you do, you get what you get.
I keep saying and said at the time that Obama was just another bourgeosie politicians his whole history said this clearly.
Yet, black folks and many progressives tried to make him what they wanted him to be. And black folks were worse, most don't care that he chose to up the ante in Afghanistan and kill more needless human beings (I tell you again if I am right and there is a just God, its going to be ugly at the end for all these folks who think this is somehow okay)
Black folks just like the fact that he was black. I hear it and heard it over and over, well at least the head man in charge of the most violent, parasitic and unequal and unjust society in the world is our color.
How foolish! And it ticks me off that you can barely discuss this in any relevant or meaningful way among supposedly educated black folks in any gathering. I've tried it and folks have acted like they wanted to fight because I told the truth about their president.
I could understand if he actually continued to at least speak up for justice and against inequities like the unequal education system or the "unjust" justice system, --just to pick some easy ones-- even if didn't plan on doing anything. In fact his statement on behalf of the Harvard professor Gates slowed down police brutality for a moment.
And so what simply happened is that Obama took advantage of all the misrepresentation of who he is and he took advantage of black pride while actually not seeming to have much himself. He just rode folks hopes based on just a little indication that he was really about change.
So if folks want to call him names, the truth Field is that while racists use the opening, he has earned it by serving as a fall guy for US imperialism.
(And yes the racists are still wrong for taking their cheap shots.) And Bill Maher is a liberal racist. He hides it well under black women's skirts. His interview a few years ago with Mos Def should have exposed him for all to see.
And no need to defend him or feel sorry for him, he is and will be well rewarded for the part he plays and will play for the BiG Boys (the ruling class).
Earnesto - ditto
Spook - I am feeling this as well:"I wish James Baldwin was around to chronicle this insanity. We miss you James. I hope you're drinking a scotch."
Sophia - this was profound and I feel ya but it was never to be. Hoping for and actually "being" are not the same thing.
"I just wanted to have a voice in the white house for the first time in many years. That's why I voted for Obama and I just can't hear myself speaking there."
Field Courtland got caught up in the false expectations as well but he sums it up well here:
"Now he wants a pay freeze for federal employees, announced just in time for Christmas - and only two months after proposing to give them a modest raise.
Did the Republican leadership pop him in the mouth, too?
Obama's decision will be a devastating blow to the Washington area's economy, not to mention a betrayal of some of his most loyal supporters and the nation's most dedicated public servants. After throwing nearly a trillion dollars to rescue banks and big business, he turns around and picks the pocket of everyday working people."
I don't care what Bill Maher has to say about anything. What I care is that the entire world now knows -- if it didn't know already -- that the American President is a spineless, don't-make-me-fight-or-I'll-cry wimp. The man held most of the high cards in this debate (after all, the tax cuts were all going to expire automatically in just a few weeks) but got spooked into rolling over on his side and spreading his ass cheeks for the GOP's most ardent economic fantasists. Would that liberals had looked beyond race and given their support to the far more seasoned, battle-ready and willing to fight Hillary Clinton. Obama was and is the wrong man for this job. I predict he does a modified Sarah Palin by declining to run for reelection.
Come and get one in the yarbles, If you have any yarbles....
The man has no taste for conflict with anyone other than the left.
Fascinating how he seems to enjoy insulting and antagonizing his base. And he's talking smack about he can't wait to fight in 2012. Right. I believe that...
And it ticks me off that you can barely discuss this in any relevant or meaningful way among supposedly educated black folks in any gathering. I've tried it and folks have acted like they wanted to fight because I told the truth about their president.
@Mell, this is so true. With some people it's either you accept everything that Obama does or proposes as perfect or you are a Tea Party supporter. It's really unfortunate that some folks can't have a reasoned intelligent debate about the good Obama has done ALONG WITH the bad.
Well Shady, that's why we are here. I suspect that folks on this blog who are both for and against his O ness aren't afraid to speak their minds.
SeniorSamples, yes, our boy blinked. But what would have been the alternative? (I am playing devil's advocate here)Wasn’t the tax cut for EVERBODY going to expire? And didn't the left get some things in the deal, such as college tuition credits and the earned income tax credits? Not to mention the extension of the unemployment benefits. Could this have been done without the republiclowns getting tax breaks for their rich friends?
Does Obama know no one that could arm twist 7 votes?
Defending Obama is a dereliction of a duty anymore for anyone who considers themselves a progressive. The man is a defender of the status quo and of Financial elite. He's essentially another Bill Clinton.
Perhaps this will wake up those seeking real change, because change is not going to come from the top down. Our society continues its march into massive inequality and no Democrat is going to stop it.
"Spook, has it ever occurred to you that middle class black folks voted for him for the same reasons that liberal white folks voted for him? In other words his agenda best suited their economic and social interests."
Your Royale House Negrotudeness;
If the Black middle class voted for the candidate that best suited their economic and social interests then they would have voted for John Edwards or Cynthia Mckinney if you really wanna be honest.
But why the Negro middle class voted for him is unfortunately well documented in Black Bourgeoise by Franklin Frazier or the Crisis of the Negro Intellectual, which unfortunately is all too relevant
See you at da church, or better yet, strut'n down the cake walk
John Edwards and Cynthia Mckinney were also the only candidates to discuss the Jim Crow prison system in this country.
"See you at da church, or better yet, strut'n down the cake walk"
Sorry oh one with the apropo name; I do not go to church. But tell the Rev. hi for me. ;) Maybe I will se you at the cake walk. Do they have Jamaican black cake?
John Edwards and Cynthia Mckinney were also the only candidates to discuss the Jim Crow prison system in this country."
Anon. let's wait a couple of days before we talk about Breck Boy. Your timing kind of sucks.
Spook,
You don't seem to understand the primary system. If every Black had voted for Edwards in the first few primaries, it still would not have gotten him on the ballot in other states.
Sorry I have been away so long.
I have to wonder, how many of these people that are still bitching about seeing him go gangsta on a m*therf*cker, how many are saying that from the warm comfort of a home. Mortgage up to date. Nice car in the garage. Or how many of them are ONE unemployment check away from losing their car. Or having the heat turned off. Or having to go begging to welfare for food.
It's really easy to sacrifice someone else. Isn't it.
Decisions like this wouldn't have to be made if some of you had voted last month. Oh you guys don't want me to get started on your asses do you?
Hathor, I don't think the Spook votes. Don't waste your time.
Hey Spook, it's SickupandFed on line one for you......
BTW, Never liked maher, never will. If I were to see him he would get the same reception pillboy or Kramer would get.
Still packing the seats with fools, huh Field. You keep serving them up, I'll help you knock 'em down.
Not lol
Yeah Sick.., some things never change.:)
You guys are too hard on the O-man. He had no choice but to make a deal. Our government is a representative democracy, and our representatives have to represent the interests of their constitutents, not dictate to them what they (or you) think is right. Elections have consequences, as well they should.
He still got a concession on the issue nearest and dearest to his heart: increasing the deficit. The Republicans gave in on extending unemployment benefits for another 13 months - this on top of the current 24 months. That means you can draw unemployment for over 3 years!
I want to help people in need, but this will add directly to the deficit, and that is a problem the government needs to be facing. The best thing they could do would be to get out of the way of job creation.
The extension of the current tax rates however, will pay for themselves by stimulating the economy, and putting some of those people back to work.
Once again, two (Republican) steps forward, one (Democrat) step back.
Field, "Anon 9:00 PM, are you black?"
Yes, Mr. Field, I AM BLACK, and I meant every word of what I said....I also agree with Mell,- EXCEPT that most bm are just as spineless as Obama. WE ARE NO BETTER OR COURAGEOUS THAN OBAMA.
So Blacks need to stop coming off so self-righteous when "WE" were the dummies who raved about Obama being a great President, AND Blacks now had representation and 'power' in the WH. Well, Obama has proven that BLACKS have no idea what power is, let alone how to use it. Field, you need to drop the term, "Field Negro" because it is has no real value or meaning to 'most' in the black community.
MOST Blacks showed a lack of emotional maturity when it came to Obama. Most have reacted like kids, defending every move he made even though he was effing Blacks. We acted like Obama was the Great Black Hope, some black savior. Blacks lack self-honesty, maturity and the emotional and psychological intelligence to DISCUSS "the truth" that had been staring them in the face about Obama-BEFORE- he even took office! Even at the beginning it was CLEAR WHO he was by WHO he selected for his administration.
Blacks have been 'childlike dreamers' who got ALL prophetic about Obama as though he was the Mesiah, and even 'justified' his neglect of Blacks as 'something he has to do as a black President.' That rationalization, said a lot about how Blacks naturally 'justify' and default to being 'last',-- even WITH a Black President in the WH. It is really an unconscious childlike defeatist mindset of powerlessness... where there is 'always' a reason why Blacks must come last.
And now some Blacks on FN are saying they voted for him 'only' because of Michelle. Or, some are claiming they knew all along and 'wasn't that dumb because Blacks are smarter than that...IMO, that is the biggest piece of bullshit I have ever heard. But being Black all of my life, I KNOW how the Black game is played after it's clear that most Blacks set themselves up to be played for fools. Now, All of a sudden there are NO FOOLS..it's as if none ever existed, even though 97% of Blacks voted for Obama..lol.. And FN blog was on fire with Posts AND Comments of adulations, justifications and rationalizations for the bullshit a 'moron' would know better.
FYI, Michelle hasn't done a damn thing either. So save that moronic bullshit for somebody else.
Field here's the thing - everyone's complaining that Obama blinked, when they should be pissed at Harry Reid for being unable to get his own caucus together. Like I said last night, Obama would either be the Sell Out House Negro who caved on tax cuts or Commie Negro who just raised our taxes during a recession. The man can't win for losing.
Am I letting Obama off the hook? No, because he could have used the bully pulpit a lot more. He could have pushed for a more progressive agenda. As you stated, many progressive bloggers have been consistent (but sometimes hyberbolic) in their critique and I agree with many things that are thrown against Obama.
However, if one does not realize that too many congressmen wearing a D behind their name are staunch right wingers or just utter cowards, comes off with the idea its just Obama being a punk. The reality is that the Democratic Caucus are mainly a bunch of cowards and ineffective lefty yakkers, who expect the President to do all the work.
Think of the 7 Democrats who went diving for the tall grass in the Senate last Saturday. For that matter, why the hell did Pelosi run the clock down on this instead of pushing this as an issue in the election? And where the hell does a DLC lightweight Oil lobbyist like Mary Landroue get off chasting the President when she's fought against almost every initiative he stood for?
The President and Congress know that Boehner holds all the cards. The GOP can just rundown the clock and hold off everything during the lame duck. Fighting to retire the high end tax cut would have made political theater - but it would have ended with the Democrats raising taxes. And even when it makes sense - the majority of Americans hate tax hikes on anyone or for anything. We're inherently self-absorbed. And the Left has all the political force of a paper fan against a tornado.
Thanks Field Negro for calling out Bill Maher. I hope he get the memo.
Rev Right, "He still got a concession on the issue nearest and dearest to his heart: increasing the deficit. The Republicans gave in on extending unemployment benefits for another 13 months - this on top of the current 24 months. That means you can draw unemployment for over 3 years!"
Wow. That's a pretty good deal. Three years, huh? Hell, I am not sure if I will be alive in 3 years, considering street pirates will probably be stepping up their killing game over the next few years.
Hathor said...
Does Obama know no one that could arm twist 7 votes?
Simply put, no. That's been a big problem since jump - even if Ralph Nader and Noam Chomsky were President and VP, they'd still have to drag along the moderate Democrats kicking and screaming - and even that it wouldn't work.
Anonymous said...
John Edwards and Cynthia Mckinney were also the only candidates to discuss the Jim Crow prison system in this country.
So, to scare Obama and worry the GOP, you run a guy got caught knocking up his secretary while his now deceased wife was dying of breast cancer and raving left wing egomaniac who slapped a cop because he asked her for ID? Field, I'm with you - putting up Edwards is just a complete giveaway to the GOP.
If a squeaky clean moderate like Obama can be turned into the socialist atheist muslim terrorist who sold his soul and vital organs to the Illuminati, the GOP noise machine would have those two lightweights for a mid-morning power snack.
LA,
No. Neither Mckinney or Edwards would have done it either. Change does not come from Washington in this country and it won't come from Obama or any other Democrat.
Putting up Obama hasn't been a complete giveaway to the GOP? Wake up man.
"He could have pushed for a more progressive agenda."
But he not a progressive. Never has been, never will be
LAC said...:"even if Ralph Nader and Noam Chomsky were President and VP, they'd still have to drag along the moderate Democrats kicking and screaming - and even that it wouldn't work."
Democracy sure does suck; dictatatorships are so much more efficient at getting things done. Take China, for example, now there's a well-run country.
You know what the best way to "address" the deficit. Get those rich folk that were supposed to create jobs with their tax cut to do it.
Let's cut the crap OK, they don't create bubkus. But they do invest in corporation that do control a lot of jobs. Jobs that have been outsourced. These so-called Captains of industry are now firmly in the sights of all of you that haven't been paying attention. If you had been maybe you would have shown up last month, but I digress.
The mantra was raising the tax rates on the wealthy would kill jobs. They had them and didn't create a thing. But OK He gives them two years. Some jobs had better materialize or buh bye tax cut. He can make a big deal out of it during the campaign. If the economy is better, he gets credit for making the deal. And all the while out of work folk don't get screwed out of house and home. And everybody that still has a job just got a payroll tax cut.
You all need to quit bitching and pay attention and quit sucking up the rwnj talking points. Like "we really need to address the deficit"
Question: What happened during the depression when FDR addressed the deficit?
Mell, "And it ticks me off that you can barely discuss this in any relevant or meaningful way among supposedly educated black folks in any gathering. I've tried it and folks have acted like they wanted to fight because I told the truth about their president."
@Mell, this is so true. With some people it's either you accept everything that Obama does or proposes as perfect or you are a Tea Party supporter. It's really unfortunate that some folks can't have a reasoned intelligent debate about the good Obama has done ALONG WITH the bad.
10:12 PM
__________________________________
anon11:54p- "MOST Blacks showed a lack of emotional maturity when it came to Obama. Most have reacted like kids, defending every move he made even though he was effing Blacks. We acted like Obama was the Great Black Hope, some black savior. Blacks lack self-honesty, maturity and the emotional and psychological intelligence to DISCUSS "the truth" that had been staring them in the face about Obama-BEFORE- he even took office! Even at the beginning it was CLEAR WHO he was by WHO he selected for his administration."
SickupandFed
I recognize you now, Fiddler! I show do wish Kunta Kinte would have listened to yo sage advice and stopped trying to run away! Then he wouldn't have been whipped or had his leg cut off. But could have( if he called his self Toby) lived like you! With an exta neck bone in his gruel and some corn liquor every year on Christmas!
Hathor, you might wanna reread my comment. I mean you do sound all edumacated and such, so maybe I might not understand primaries, but just to be sure, why don't you read what I wrote?
and I agree with "Anonymous said...
Field, "Anon 9:00 PM, are you black?""
And finally any one who thinks that the rich people are gonna take their millions in tax cuts and put it back into the economy are smoking that package called WMD that they slinging down on Fayette and Baltimore. Rich people just save, they act just like all the businesses that go Obama Money, they aint hiring no body. They just sit on it and collect the interests. Man, Harold Cruse was right about yalll!
So, Anon, do we just sit on our asses and do nothing? Complain that "Washington Changes Nothing" even though you can't change much in America without Washington? Where and what is the magical 'grassroots' that will rise up and overthrow our corporate oligarchs?
Its about 9:30 in LA now, so if they're anything like me, they're watching Rachel Maddow and raising their blood pressure or watching CSI or whatever else is on TV forget their problems. Or if they're like my closet friend in LA, they're at young adult bible study at their local church. Or they're tucking their kids in at night, much like co-workers.
In other words - Obama could have made a big spectacle and everyone would have shrugged. Most of us are tuned out to the real deal.
LA,
it's pretty clear people aren't going to wake up and get organized until things get much worse. Of course, since labor movements and progressive movements are mostly destroyed or moribund, it's going to take a rebuilding of the left from the ground. That will probably start at local levels.
Pelosi and Reid should have brought this issue up before the November election. By waiting until after the election, the Democrats gave the Republicans leverage needed to block all legislation. The Democrats tied President Obama's hands.
Let's face it, if unemployment benefits are your only source of income then you are happy about the deal. It's easy to criticize the deal if you have steady income, most so-called pundits and members of Congress have a steady paycheck.
"President Wayne Brady"? Hey, Wayne showed us he wouldn't hesitate to choke a bish, remember? Don't know about Obama, though. I thought by now he would have put his pimp hand down on some of these folks but....well....just look.
Type Z just might have a point. Being raised by a white mother has instilled this sort of concillatory "gracious compromising" attitude within him. Personally, I feel as though a black mother would have shown him where the boundaries are and how not to take shit from these folks. I guess that would be the "baggage" that Whites seem so adamant about. I thought Michelle would have balanced that "graciousness" of his with some, I dare say, "realness"...the ability to use the bully pulpit and to knock heads together when required.
"We are not a very courageous bunch. We have big mouths to criticize others with, but when it's time for 'do or die' action--a time to put our asses on the line, miraculously NOBODY can be found, esp the BIG MOUTHS!"
Scenes from the Civil Rights era say otherwise, but ever since then, Black folks seemed to be content to just coast along, thinking that the Powers That Be™ weren't working towards turning back the clock, "setting things right" before all those Coloreds got uppity and whatnot.
"Could this have been done without the republiclowns getting tax breaks for their rich friends?"
Yes, if he had put his foot down and showed he was gonna be as obstinate as any of those motherfuckers. And if he articulated his position to the American public in a way that would guarantee their support, so the Repubs couldn't put on the spin. And if the rest of the Democrat party was willing to stand behind him 110%.
"I want to help people in need, but this will add directly to the deficit, and that is a problem the government needs to be facing. The best thing they could do would be to get out of the way of job creation."
The only thing standing in the way of job creation is the willingness of corporations to create jobs in this country. And most people who are in economic dire straits are not concerned about something as abstract as the "deficit" -- unless you are willing to articulate how the deficit directly relates to their economic situation.
"MOST Blacks showed a lack of emotional maturity when it came to Obama. Most have reacted like kids, defending every move he made even though he was effing Blacks. We acted like Obama was the Great Black Hope, some black savior. Blacks lack self-honesty, maturity and the emotional and psychological intelligence to DISCUSS "the truth" that had been staring them in the face about Obama-BEFORE- he even took office! Even at the beginning it was CLEAR WHO he was by WHO he selected for his administration. "
Going for the "Blacks = Children" meme? We've all been down this road before. Obama was elected because Blacks believed he represented the best chance that the many problems facing this nation could be solved or mitigated somewhat. Instead, he's proven to be a complete and utter letdown. My only concern is how most Black folk seemed to be in absentia during the midterms. The elevation of Obama to "messiah" status was the work of mass media and Birkenstock liberals chanting "Yes We Can".
LAC: "if they're anything like me, they're watching Rachel Maddow and raising their blood pressure"
You shouldn't watch Mr. Maddow's show. Snark and high dudgeon will make you bust an aorta.
Whattup, Field. Loved the "jump ship" line at the end. I'm still on the boat, respectively. Sorry, Cool Progressive Kids, but being the most liberal president since LBJ counts for something in my book. And you can cram your "HCR sucked" nonsense up your collective utopian asses.
"Democracy sure does suck; dictatatorships are so much more efficient at getting things done."
Word. That line Obama spit about there not being an America without compromise really resonated with me. I've been screaming that same lament about the demonization of compromise for years.
Field you know I wasn't referring to your blog with my comments about the inability to discuss Obama rationally.
You are way ahead of the game when it comes to allowing folks to hash out different points of view.
And I got to say I thought you would like my Bill Maher comment about being a liberal racist who hides his true feelings under black women's skirts.
thought that my draw some flack but the truth may have hit home lol
Field, I like what you said about Elizabeth Edwards. I so admired her grace, strength and courage. Yes. breast cancer is a b__ch! As a twice survivor of the disease--I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
I, too, was disappointed with President Obama's press conference today. I'm always amazed that he can get upset and angry with progressives but is always conciliatory with the right. He validates their concerns but not ours. Again, when does compromise morph into capitulation. As my adult daughter stated..."how does one give enough --stopping right before giving in, giving away, giving up. The public, political and personal ramifications of this idea are staggering".
Thanks for this forum, Field although some of the comments can be vicious. I agree...let us talk about the behavior we don't like without denigrating the man. I've been on this earth for 6 decades and the two major topics that will clear out the living rooms and kitchens are politics and religion.
You hang tough though and I so admire that. In fact, couldn't get on line fast enough to see if you were going to comment about President Obama remarks today.
"Could this have been done without the republiclowns getting tax breaks for their rich friends?"
Mack Lyons-"Yes, if he had put his foot down and showed he was gonna be as obstinate as any of those motherfuckers. And if he articulated his position to the American public in a way that would guarantee their support, so the Repubs couldn't put on the spin. And if the rest of the Democrat party was willing to stand behind him 110%."
No Mack, it could not have been done. Had he not compromised, not only would the tax cuts expired but there would be no unemployment benefits. Where Obama and the Dems failed was to continue to make taxing the rich an issue when politically, it was a clear loser.
I am glad Obama saw this and did not think like you. That would surely have led to grid-lock in a fragile economy that cannot afford such. If Obama can continue his compromising dialogue with the GOP for 2011 he might be able to make a comeback with the American people. But he cannot afford to count on his far left progressive liberal Dems. They are losers.
"I, too, was disappointed with President Obama's press conference today. I'm always amazed that he can get upset and angry with progressives but is always conciliatory with the right."
Carolyn and Field, for the last time, Obama is not a far left progressive liberal. What does he have to do to convince you folks? Stop being so dense.
Anon 11:54 pm: "FYI, Michelle hasn't done a damn thing either. So save that moronic bullshit for somebody else."
Hey, thanks for totally missing the point. The point being that most people of color (or non-color for that matter) that have paid any attention to national politics for say, oh, five minutes, knows that Obama or any Dem/Rep presidential candidate is basically a figurehead/corporate water carrier. Therefore, the attitude was "shit won't change, but at least we can have a Black Girl in the White House".
The problem of course, is that there are way too many people who had not paid more than 5 minutes attention to national politics before and are genuinely disappointed now.
Anon 148 AM: "But he cannot afford to count on his far left progressive liberal Dems. They are losers."
Actually, they came out a lot better than the Blue Dogs in the mid-terms.
Actually, they came out a lot better than the Blue Dogs in the mid-terms.
Ernesto - that's true, but that had more to do with gerrymandering and incumbency. Basically, liberals come from stereotypically liberal areas. If you look at anonomlies like Fiengold and Grayson in Florida, they were just as, if not more endangered than their Blue Dog colleagues.
This is the blind side that many progressives have - until 2050, when over 1/3 of Americans will be Hispanic, White Middle America still hold a lot sway on politics. You can't simply ignore their politics or whine about why they don't agree with you. (Another complaint about Maher, good look Field. Bill Maher can be funny at times, but in general he's another typical snotty elitist who looks down on average people while at the same time lauding for some great social upheaval of common people, but that's another story.)
"If you look at anonomlies like Fiengold and Grayson in Florida, they were just as, if not more endangered than their Blue Dog colleagues."
Those two were targeted with millions in attack ads thanks to the Supreme Court calling corporations people.
"White Middle America still hold a lot sway on politics."
Do you think they decided that Obama was too much of a leftist? In that case, give me an example of his leftiness that would have turned them off in 2010.
brothr Field...working in medicine for the last 40 years, I have seen a great change/advance in cancer treatment since my start (DC General 1977). Encourage all to be proactive and have timely chec-up for the various maladies that cause disease. Now about Brother O. My quess is that there are just as many expectations as there are supporters. knowing about me(age and time period), I must tell you that he met my expectations the minute he was elected. Black men/women in politics must have a dedicated block in numbers for his policies to be accompliced.
Anonymous--You've missed the point.
The President doesn't identify himself as a conservative or that he leans to the right. However, the same grace that he shows towards the conservatives should be shown to those that he purports to agree with on most issues. It doesn't matter if he's a moderate, progressive, regressive or extremist. That's the point I was making. Field will take care of himself...I'm sure. I'm glad that you are stressing that the President is not a "far left progressive liberal" for the LAST Time!!! Thank you for that.....
Oh by the way, Field I'm glad you got the Troll up again!
O ye of little faith! Has anyone given any thought as to how all this came about, this supposed compromise, this giving away of the store that has everyone in a huff?
It all appears to be a bit orchestrated to me.
Think about it. President Obama is going to reach a back-room deal with Republicans, without first consulting with the people who are the only ones who can make it happen, who can make it a reality (who're now showing resistance to it), the Democrat leadership in both the House and the Senate.
I don't think so.
After their ignominious defeat in the mid-term elections, don't you think that the president and the party leadership got together to discuss their strategy for going forward?
And, too, wasn't it strange that Obama telegraphed early on his willingness to compromise? Not so strange when you realize that this may all be part of a larger strategy. Time is against them. Democrats have to make every minute count. Give the Republicans a taste of victory, and a dance, and a photo op, but don't let them have a real bite without first putting more on the table.
Now that Democrats have Republicans doing a victory lap, let the Republicans sweeten the deal, if they wish to pass the review stand in grand style.
Dems have many arrows in their quiver...presidential veto power, and, after December, still a sizable number in the Senate, where Republicans will have to compromise with Dems for a change to get anything done.
And that's only two. The president's popularity is still high, and should he resort to his bully pulpit he can still be a formidable force with which to contend.
Democrats know what's coming in January. It's not unreasonable to assume that they came together to strategize their response going forward, beginning now in this lame-duck congress.
Today, Obama was presidential. That's the way it was planned. He stepped up to the podium to make a case for his decision by voicing his concern that the American people were being held "hostage" by the Republican party, and that he acted, not out of political gamesmanship, or machinations, but to protect them all, Democrats and Republicans, as well as the economy.
That's a pretty strong argument. Yet, Obama knows that such an argument will weaken him with his base, who have seen him capitulate too many times, but it will strengthen his hand with Independents who thrive on bi-partisanship, and compromise, and admire a president that can speak his mind without being unduly swayed by his party. Hence, Obama's pretend scolding of those on the Left, who don't think he's done enough because of his willingness to compromise with the opposition.
Score one for the Independents.
Now this agreement may still become law, as it is, but not before those in congress hold out until the bitter end, hoping to extract more concessions from those on the Right.
This move puts Obama above the fray, showing him as deliberate, thoughtful, and reasonable...behavior we've come to expect from our presidents.
Either way things go for the Bush tax cuts, extended, or not, Democrats will still have the upper-hand in January...Obama will have done his presidential duty to preserve tax cuts for the middle class, and the Democrat leadership will be seen as fighting for its base.
And Republicans will be seen as the party who's only interested in giving tax breaks to the very rich, and giving a Bristol Palin middle finger to the middle class.
Not a bad place for Democrats to be in. Score one for the base.
It's been repeated that a person will be able to claim unemployment benefits for up to three years.
This is not true. The limit still remains 99 weeks. The deal would just fund people with less time than that out of the workplace for an additional 13 months.
Those Americans who have been out of work for longer than that now or will reach that limit in the future remain SOL.
Also a great portion of this proposed deal was things that Republicans wanted. Obama's negotiating skills aren't very good.
If you took him along to buy a car you'd wind up paying twice sticker price and have him tell you to stop complaining because it might have been three times sticker price.
As to what he should have done that is often the lament of someone who just got played or punked out. They get defensive and hostile. It's understandable. Just human nature.
What he and the Democrats should have done was to address this much earlier-like when he was first elected. Failing that it should have been pushed through via reconciliation in October. However that would have required that Obama actually take a stand and fight for something, an action to which he apparently is allergic.
Instead he caves and wants to talk tough about how he's looking forward to this fight in 2012. Does anyone really believe that?
He just got rolled on one of the issues most critical to his base.
The only tough talk he has is saved for his base.
Hopefully there are still some Democrats in Congress who will have the guts to kill this deal. But who knows, they may be afraid to cross Pelosi...
In fact, the only groups likely to face a tax increase are those near the bottom of the income scale -- individuals who make less than $20,000 and families with earnings below $40,000.
Although the $120 billion payroll tax reduction offers nearly twice the tax savings of the credit it replaces, it will nonetheless lead to higher tax bills for individuals with incomes below
$20,000 and families that make less than $40,000. That is because their payroll tax savings are less than the $400 or $800 they will lose from the Making Work Pay credit.
"It will come to a few dollars a week," said Roberton Williams, an analyst at the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, "but it is an increase."
Proposed Tax Changes
"Pelosi and Reid should have brought this issue up before the November election. By waiting until after the election, the Democrats gave the Republicans leverage needed to block all legislation. The Democrats tied President Obama's hands."
Sandra that is a good point.
La~Coincidental, as usual you have some great insights with the political reality on the ground.
Carolyn, congrats with your battle with the Big C. I have mad respect for you and folks like you who survive that monster. Keep fighting the good fight.
Broken record alert! Anon 11:54 PM, are you black? *scrolling through my blackberry for the drop squad's #*
Spook, I think you miss the whole point of this field Negro thing. It has nothing to do with your check book or how you are living, but your state of mind. Some of the poorest Negroes I know are still living in the house.
@ What Anon @1:48AM said. O does have to do a better job of communicating his message.
Adolph Reed was correct about about Obama as was Bruce Dixon of BAR, I said that Obama was 'Bill Clinton with a tan' and was not impressed with him expect the fact he had a smart good looking wife. Obama's agenda is 'neo-liberal' on foreign policy and center- right on domestic affairs. Obama is a total business shrill for the elite not a progressive MLK Democratic Socialist people make him out to be.
Too many liberals were fooled by Obama's oratorical gifts and did not look at the substance of his ideals. Reed, Dixon and Cynthia Mc Kinney warned us what Obama would do if he was elected and liberal Democrats ignored the fact that he was in Reed's words 'a vacuous opportunist' a good performer with an ear for how to make white liberals like him. I argued at the time that his fundamental political center of gravity, beneath an empty rhetoric of hope and change and new directions, is neoliberal.
NOW EVERYBODY KNOWS
http://www.progressive.org/mag_reed0508
Oh well BO, make the best of your next two years as a lame duck.
You are never going to get the righties behind you and now the lefties are pissed.
On top of that you have negroes like Mellanaous mad because you won't rock a dashiki and fist pump at press conferences.
I personally think you did a credible job in your first two years given the political calculus.
THERE IS NO WAY HE COULD DRAW DOWN ON TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN AT THIS TIME. THE CONGRESS (DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN) WOULD NOT SUPPORT IT AND HE'D BE TOAST POLITICALLY.
Stop being silly negroes.
Now he's dealing with an obstinate united Republican congressional majority and people are expecting him to go LEFT???????
Well we've had our black President and won't see another for a century.
Some knucklehead rightie will probably win in 2012. Romney or quite possibly Palin.
Hope you're happy.
ditto fn!
glen and tavis and i and many more have clairvoyantly and ACCURATELY called out hobama since 2007!
glen ford and bruce dixon are my heros!!!
hobama's antics and flaws are all about the color GREEN not black
hobama is a rabid elitist conspiring with his elitist peers...
no more
no less
green trumps black always!
the GREENEST goriest games have just begun!
ps:
hobama is no messiah
he is a mess
he cannot walk on water
but he will make sure millions try to live on water only...
"Spook, I think you miss the whole point of this field Negro thing. It has nothing to do with your check book or how you are living, but your state of mind. Some of the poorest Negroes I know are still living in the house."
Naw, sir, I aint missing no point. I just likes to poke my divining stick in the middle the hornets nest from time to time ;-)
re elizabeth edwards
may she rest in peace
ie
stress = dis-ease = cancer...
how much longer may she have won her war with cancer if her whore husband had won his war with his zipper???
LAC
"11:57 PM"
At least somebody's got some fucking sense about this around here.
" You can't simply ignore their politics or whine about why they don't agree with you. (Another complaint about Maher, good look Field. Bill Maher can be funny at times, but in general he's another typical snotty elitist who looks down on average people while at the same time lauding for some great social upheaval of common people, but that's another story.)"
OMG. LAC is starting to make sense. Mark this day on your calendar.
I knew you had it in you, young man.
Steve, thanks. I think others have valid points, the problem is mainly that focus on the Left can be just as politically unrealistic, naive and myopic in their POV as Right Wingers. Sometimes, we exceed conservatives in this regard.
So Bernie Sanders is going to secure enough votes to filibsuter the Obama/McConnell deal - but he, other liberals and Harry Reid couldn't get 7 other Senators to back their own bill.
Alicia, yes there's plenty of Kabuki dancing and professional wrestling style politics coming from all sides. But as usual, we're all focusing Obama playing the Baby Face getting taken by the Republican heels - or whatever.
lac:
???
please quote me defending ANY "side" of politicos in dc!
uptown steve said..:"Well we've had our black President and won't see another for a century.
Some knucklehead rightie will probably win in 2012. Romney or quite possibly Palin."
Au contraire, steve, Obama just improved his chances for re-election immensely.
Whether or not you think lower taxes are a good thing (I do), the very fact that employers now know what their tax rate will be offers stability. Further, with a Republican congress now in plce to check the excesses of the Obama administration, business owners don't have to worry about any more huge "change' initiatives.
All that capital they've been hoarding will now start to flow back into the market, and the economy will take off. Guess who is gonna look good? Just like Clinton got credit for waht the Gingrich congress did, Obama will benefit more than Boehner. The Republicans take the Senate in 2012, but Obama wins the presidency.
People prefer divided government. The democrats are today run by their far liberal wing, and went way overboard pushing an agenda that a majority didn't want. The electorate is still not fond of Republicans after their last chance at runnings things. Keeping things divided means each party keeps the other in check, making major chnges difficult, but lowering the chances for major scew ups.
And oh ya, Obama isn't "black."
hobama has been selected just as his cuz gwb was in 2004...
he will win in 2012 no matter what.
that is why he is no longer even bothering to pretend to care about what we poor mongrels think!
Good Points Alicia Banks.
I'm still waiting for Field to declare Obama as a House Negro. And stop cutting him any slack.
bm:
thanks!
that day bettamustsooncome...for the entire globe!
ie
i have rcvd hobama nazi hate mail from blood kin even!
countless apologies are owed!
The point being that most people of color (or non-color for that matter) that have paid any attention to national politics for say, oh, five minutes, knows that Obama or any Dem/Rep presidential candidate is basically a figurehead/corporate water carrier. Therefore, the attitude was "shit won't change, but at least we can have a Black Girl in the White House".
Exactly. Obama--and every Democrat since Clinton--is a servant of the financial and corporate elite. Meanwhile, Black America is being devastated.
It's time to move beyond Obama and the Democrats; change is not coming. What can be done now?
In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
anon:
amen!
hobama is a disgrace to mlk
just as clarence t is to thurgood m
only we will ever save us!
one person at a time in our own niches/hoods/orgs etc!
it is nation time and hobama has never been and will never be OUR king!!!
Rev Right.
"Whether or not you think lower taxes are a good thing (I do), the very fact that employers now know what their tax rate will be offers stability. Further, with a Republican congress now in plce to check the excesses of the Obama administration, business owners don't have to worry about any more huge "change' initiatives."
You know, the brazen ignorance and arrogance of people like you is absolutely amazing to behold.
First off, you pathetic extra from the set of "Deliverance", Obama already lowered taxes but did a pathetic job of promoting his own accomplishment.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/19/us/politics/19taxes.html
Second off, this Republican package that Obama caved in to is going to add 800 billion to the already out of control deficit. Where are tea party screechers now?
Thirdly, if the Republicans are such responsible stewards of the economy, can you explain why they fucked it up so completely when they had control of all 3 branches of the federal government from 2000 through 2006?????
More jobs were created in 2010 than in eight years of Bush at the helm.
http://newsjunkiepost.com/2010/10/08/its-official-more-private-sector-jobs-created-in-2010-than-during-entire-bush-years/
LAC said," I think others have valid points, the problem is mainly that focus on the Left can be just as politically unrealistic"
LAC come on you know better than this. Of course folks with progressive and revolutionary ideas, idealist if you will seem unrealistic. They always do!
The slave who said one day we will be free was, "politically unrealistic!"
The black folks pre 1947 who preached that black folks if they just kept fighting and believing and stand up for themselves would one day free themselves from the chains of Jim Crow, were politically unrealistic!"
The women suffragers who kept fighting and demanding the vote in the US,were told, 'it will never happen,' 'the time isn't right' and yes they were considered "politically unrealistic"!
The anti-apartheid fighters who got corporations to at least minimally divest from South Africa were told that they were being, "politically unrealistic!
In fact the ANC and others who choose to oppose Apartheid were told that there is no way Aparthied will end on any level and they were being "politically unrealistic!"
Martin King in demanding economic and social equality for all under the law and Malcolm X who thought all folks should enjoy equal rights were both "politically unrealistic."
When Patrick Henry yelled "give me liberty or give me death" and he Jefferson and Franklin and the crew demanded independence surely that was considered "politically unrealistic."
Its not about whether your ideas will win the day at present, its about putting forward the ideas that will eventually advance humankind.
Change comes from putting the ideas about what is right before the people and eventually they do catch on, even if they seem unrealistic at the time.
Its how change has always occurred.
amazing how late lies logos and slogans are still truly comforting to die hard hobama loving suicidal fools like uts!!!
shame!!!!!!!
To be clear, 15.1 million Americans were out of work last month, according to figures released in the Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly report. That figure includes an unacceptably high 8.9 percent of white workers. But for minority Americans, the figures are staggering and consistently out of whack with the rest of the population. The jobless rate in November for black Americans remained at a stagnant 16 percent over the previous month, highest among the major worker groups surveyed in the report. For Latinos, the rate edged up to 13.2 percent from 12.6 percent in October.
Sure, that’s all good news. But the bad news is, as CAP calculates, there will be 500,000 fewer jobs maintained or created because the president had to compromise on tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent of American taxpayers. Those uncreated 500,000 jobs would have happened through a larger payroll tax break for all Americans, as CAP suggested. For unemployed Americans, especially black and Latino Americans, this means fewer job opportunities.
It’s as if Americans accept extremely high unemployment rates among minorities. The 9.2 percent unemployment rate for white men is nothing to sneeze at in the severity of its disruption on the nation’s economy, but the double-digit rates among black and Latino men is an enduring epidemic in many hard-pressed black and Latino communities.
This is a national outrage, illustrating the inherent and structural inequality built into our economy. And it comes at a long-term cost to the quality of civic participation in our national life. How long can structural inequalities be tolerated without disrupting a shared sense of what it means to be an American across lines of race, class, and community? Could it be that political leaders just don’t care about the unfairness they exhibit to the neediest Americans when they craft tax cuts for rich folks but offer so little of specific design to help create jobs for unemployed and poor minority citizens? How else to explain it?
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/12/rab_120710.html
Mellaneous
What specifically did you want to see Obama do that he didn't?
Could you PLEASE explain how Obama could have gotten one boldly progressive piece of legislation through that weak spinded Congress?
He got universal healthcare passed and that's the biggest reason why the DEMS LOST CONGRESS IN THE LAST ELECTION!!!!
i wanted to see hobama NOT be a WORSE clone of gwb!!!
Zing, "And, too, wasn't it strange that Obama telegraphed early on his willingness to compromise? Not so strange when you realize that this may all be part of a larger strategy. Time is against them. Democrats have to make every minute count. Give the Republicans a taste of victory, and a dance, and a photo op, but don't let them have a real bite without first putting more on the table."
You are one of those black liberal Obamaholic "Dreamers", always fabricating and making up shit but unable to see the truth that is staring you in the face. Keep on dreaming...lol
After listening to Rhandi Rhodes last night online, she put why Obama cut a deal with Mitch and his cronies. Makes sense I guess. Since the Dems lost a majority in Congress he had to cut a deal in order for the middle class to get some some extras in tax cuts, like the EIC, College Tuition Credit and a couple of other things that other wise if we had let the cuts expire then revisited them in 112 congress that those extras would not have been included. I have to research but she made it make sense. So I'm going to fall back once again on Obama.
Alica. Shut. Up. Always talking and ain't saying nothing. Go sit down somewhere.
hobama nazi assnon:
sit down hard on this:
You know, with all the talk about who is mad at President Barack Obama and who stands to win or lose what election over this tax-cut deal, not as much attention has been paid to the practical beneficiaries of the deal. Well, over at The New York Times tonight, David Kocieniewski's got the hard numbers, and finds that the deal is actually a very good one, as long as one or more of the following terms describes you:
--"the highest earners"
--"the wealthiest 1 percent of the population"
--"the wealthiest Americans"
--"hedge fund managers and private equity investors"
--"an individual earning $110,000"
--"4 million taxpayers with income in the mid- to high six figures"
--"Estates over $5 million"
To those of you who fit the descriptions above, congratulations! Really, is anyone not making out like a bandit, with this tax-cut compromise?
In fact, the only groups likely to face a tax increase are those near the bottom of the income scale -- individuals who make less than $20,000 and families with earnings below $40,000.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/07/tax-cut-compromise-whose-taxes-rise_n_793572.html
uptownsteve grunted: "First off, you pathetic extra from the set of "Deliverance", Obama already lowered taxes but did a pathetic job of promoting his own accomplishment."
Thanks for lauding my performance in Deliverance; I loved your work in "Planet of the Apes". And of course you are wrong; a one-time tax credit is NOT lowering taxes.
upbutt: "Second off, this Republican package that Obama caved in to is going to add 800 billion to the already out of control deficit. Where are tea party screechers now?"
It will not add to the deficit, it will reduce it. Tax revenues will soar due to increased economic growth. Tax cuts reward productivity; redistributionist stimulus spending punishes productivity.
upsqueak: "Thirdly, if the Republicans are such responsible stewards of the economy, can you explain why they fucked it up so completely when they had control of all 3 branches of the federal government from 2000 through 2006?????"
First off, the repubs did a good job with the economy when they were in charge from 2001-2006. Bush inherited the Clinton recession and had to deal with 9/11, and still got the economy to grow. Things went south only after the dems took congress in 2006. Where Bush went wrong was trying to be liked by democrats. Compassionate conservatism equaled democrat lite. The republican party is now moving back to being republicans.
uptownsambo: "More jobs were created in 2010 than in eight years of Bush at the helm."
Absurd! You don't know the difference between net or gross, and you selectively compare different timespans. That might work with your mouth-breathing compatriots, but not with people who can read.
You are seriously the dumbest son of a bitch on the internet, bar none. Congratulations!
Rev. Right
"Thanks for lauding my performance in Deliverance; I loved your work in "Planet of the Apes".
Wasn't that a bunch of white actors in makeup?
"And of course you are wrong; a one-time tax credit is NOT lowering taxes."
Idiot, 40% of Obama's stimulus package was tax cuts.
90% of all taxpayers got a tax cut in 2009 and 100% of those in the $50,000 range.
http://coloradoindependent.com/50655/forbes-tea-partiers-confused-taxes-%E2%80%98lower-by-every-measure%E2%80%99-under-obama
"the repubs did a good job with the economy when they were in charge from 2001-2006"
LMAO!!!!!!!! What's that the said about a Bell Curve?
What Bush inherited from Clinto was a federal budget surplus of $236 billion from the Clinton Administration.
Bush launched us into his "War on Terror" and instead of raising taxes to pay for the war Bush chose to borrow money from foreign countries.
Bush and the righties felt holding down taxes on the wealthy and deregulating the financial industry would spur the economy and just the opposite happened.
IT TANKED.
"You are seriously the dumbest son of a bitch on the internet, bar none. Congratulations!"
Oh dear. Even after I embarassed your ass still AGAIN???
You are little more than a brainless, toothless inbred goober who can't take a dump without Glenn Beck handing you a roll and instructions.
"Thanks for lauding my performance in Deliverance; I loved your work in "Planet of the Apes". And of course you are wrong; a one-time tax credit is NOT lowering taxes."
So what exactly is it? Apparently it doesn't fit your criteria of lowered taxes in the way that the Bush tax cuts do...or is it because your own income happens to be over the $250k mark?
"It will not add to the deficit, it will reduce it. Tax revenues will soar due to increased economic growth. Tax cuts reward productivity; redistributionist stimulus spending punishes productivity."
Tax cuts reward those with a sizable amount of income, and those with that kind of income tend to reinvest in boosting their own wealth or purchase items and services that do little to stimulate the economy. I seriously doubt the tax cuts will help those who need help the most: middle class families.
Here's something for you to read over: Five myths about the Bush tax cuts.
Field--You can't reuse a syndicated newspaper cartoon without permission. Otherwise, you're violating copyright.
And this slam at the cartoonist is completely unjustified and not substantiated by you.
"and the subtle...well not so subtle imagery from that *cartoon above by the very white Mike Lukovich."
So what is "very white?" Have you had problems with Lukovich before this? And his cartoon is spot on--the Republicans want him to twist himself up to suit their needs and he's already compromised too much. Isn't that your point also?
mellaneous said...
LAC said," I think others have valid points, the problem is mainly that focus on the Left can be just as politically unrealistic"
LAC come on you know better than this. Of course folks with progressive and revolutionary ideas, idealist if you will seem unrealistic. They always do!
Mell, please, I'm not saying progressive are unrealistic in their ideals per se. I'm saying that they are naive in their understanding in political capital and how are government works.
The GOP knows that they can block anything and everything using arcane Senate rules. They also know that no moderate or liberal (except for the insanely stupid ones) are willing to directly harm poor people just to one up conservatives.
More importantly, they know that they scare white people into voting for Tea Party nuts and Corporate lackeys who rail against 'Big Banks' but try to derail or stay mute on Financial Reform.
Liberals and moderates have no such pull. Gore, Kerry and to a lesser extent Nader warned everyone about the enormous screw up GW Bush would be, but the left didn't listen and stayed home. And we don't have the ground game to convince middle America that progressive ideas are in their best interests.
And unless you don't have CSPAN, the Democratic plan failed in the Senate by 7 votes. The Senate ain't the House, and its not designed to be. Any Senator can hold up a bill via filibuster and the Senate majority leader has alot less sway on his Caucus than the House Speaker. Therefore, neither Obama or Reid can put the fear of God into those 4 Senators (including the liberal lion, Russ Feigngold) and Joe Lieberman who voted No. And they certainly couldn't get the 11 no shows from the Reps to grow a pair and stand against their own party.
Short of armed rebellion (which is not actually required, despite what many conspiratorial howlers think), there is little means to get around neo-con road blocks with the kind of haphazard strategies the so-called left uses.
alicia banks said...
lac:
???
please quote me defending ANY "side" of politicos in dc!
Alicia, not every comment is about you. I didn't say you were taking sides. My point is that while everyone's bitching how the President caved - they're letting the 5 weaselly Democrats and 11 punk ass Republicans off the hook. 16 members of the Senate decide to run and hide and level middle class families out to dry, even the liberal lion Russ Fiengold (I guess this was a finally 'F**K YOU!! to the President for not really backing him.) You want to see the anatomy of this deal, start there.
Steve you are 100 percent right, Obama would not have gotten any real progressive legislation passed even if he wanted to.
(And of course its my contention that he isn't interested in anything like that, but of course I noticed that many black folks have special access to Obama's inner soul and inner intentions, so though he has worked to save capitalism only, they say they have access to the inner Obama that wants to really do something progressive for working people. And of course this is in opposition with the real live historical Obama who has never pushed real live issues that effect most working people.)
Now keep in mind Uptown that I mellaneous am a radical I don't believe the SYSTEM of capitalism will ever willing rid itself of racism,sexism, poverty and voluntarily give working people their fair share of the pie that they help produce.
To be clear and fair like many other activists I fight for reforms and little victories here and there. But I do so clear eyed and clear headed.
Like Malcolm X said, "it is impossible for a chicken to produce a duck egg because if it did you would call it a revolutionary chicken". For the at least the umpteenth time my friend I am going to repeat where I am coming from and tell you that this political- social -economic system that we live under, will never produce a just society. (and for my detractors I did not say a panacea nor a Utopian society I agree that is not possible) As Malcolm's analogy points out it simply cannot go against its very nature. It would be against its own interests.
Which is why I am always advocating change and outside the box thinking. I am literally a real live political heir of Martin King, Kwame Toure, The original Black Panthers and Malcolm X in my understanding of the need for justice and equality and the ability of all humanity to be able to eat, drink water thats fit to drink, have shelter fit for human beings, and not die from treatable and preventable diseases (such as is going on in Haiti at present with the Cholera outbreak)and have access to adequate health care.
uptownsteve said.."Wasn't that a bunch of white actors in makeup?"
You didn't need any.
LAC fair enough but you know, because you know where I am coming from that I am not naive in no sense of the word.
I understand what you're saying which is why I reiterated to Steve where I am coming from.
And BTW Uptown ask LAC or anyone else Ernesto or Purple Cow if so-called Obama Care is the same as Universal Health Care.Come on Steve even the folks who put together the Obama thing --which makes sure that the private health care folks will continue to get paid --don't pretend its Universal Health Care.
Universal Health Care is what they have in Europe, Canada and even Cuba. Its a health care system where everyone pays in a little and everyone, that's right every human being who is ill, has the right to be treated by a doctor.
Now detractors will talk all they want about its deficiencies but workers in those countries are not clamoring to end it.
Mellaneous,
"Now keep in mind Uptown that I mellaneous am a radical I don't believe the SYSTEM of capitalism will ever willing rid itself of racism,sexism, poverty and voluntarily give working people their fair share of the pie that they help produce."
Can you show me where the communist or socialist systems have ridded their societies of racism, sexism, poverty, etc....?
For all it's faults, the capitalist system produces the highest standard of living for most of it's citizens on earth.
"I am literally a real live political heir of Martin King, Kwame Toure, The original Black Panthers and Malcolm X"
And what did all these folks have in common?
Not one of them was an elected official who was accountable to voters and citizens.
And I believe that MLK Jr. was the greatest American ever but were it not for LBJ's legislative mastery the CRA might never had gotten passed.
Steve, your wasting your time. Mel is a fraud. He claims to be a reverend, a journalist, a radical...never offers any proof of any of this. Truth is he's a narcissist conservative who is only slightly less unstable than AB.
lac:
it would really help if u just do not address me by name when you prefer that i do not respond...ok?
ie
YOU posted:
"Alicia, yes there's plenty of Kabuki dancing and professional wrestling style politics coming from all sides. But as usual, we're all focusing Obama playing the Baby Face getting taken by the Republican heels - or whatever."...
thanks in advance!
illiterate assnon:
what is unstable is a lying moron who is so cowardly as to be faceless as they post incessantly arrogant ignorance.
that would be you faceless fool!
"uptownsteve said.."Wasn't that a bunch of white actors in makeup?"
You didn't need any."
How precious.
Mellaneous is not a fraud, he's an idealist and I respect that.
However, being the Bronx-bred homey that I am at heart I tend to view reality for itself and deal from there.
As opposed to how things "should be" and "the better angels".
lac:
seeing the "the anatomy of the deal" begins with the cold hard realization that one is examining a SINGLE ELITIST PARTY masquerading as two...fyi
the rotting corpse of
american politics is way beyond
any autopsy/triage etc!!!
You didn't need any."
Neither does George Bush.
http://bushchimp.homestead.com/
lac:
see more x-rays of that sole brutal body in DC:
It was an ugly performance by “an unrepentant, unreconstructed, center-right, corporate operative,” as President Obama defended his “latest grand accommodation with the GOP.” But it is incorrect to say that Obama “caves” to Republicans. His m.o. is far more aggressive – against fellow Democrats, whom he has relentlessly pummeled since his first days in office. With Obama in the White House, who needs Republicans
The Great Recession, which by all historical rights should have sent the Republicans into eclipse for a generation, instead saw a miraculous GOP rebound that left the Democrats shattered and pitifully incoherent. That’s the real big picture of Obama’s brief presidency – a period of breathtaking dissolution of the Democratic Party as Obama facilitated the swallowing whole of the American state by Wall Street.
Obama doesn’t really want folks to take the long view of his time in office. His modus operandi after every debacle is to claim to have rescued bits and pieces of the Democratic agenda from GOP savaging: a health care bill that, in total, is worse than none at all, a financial “reform” unworthy of the name. He early in his term set in motion his infernal deficit reduction commission, knowing it would attack social spending across the board, so that he could later “rescue” selected programs from extinction and claim saviorhood. Obama will claim to have “saved” extension of unemployment benefits by this week’s “compromise” with the Republican minority in the lame duck Congress when, in reality, it is Obama’s center-right modalities of governance and back-channel dealings that have allowed the GOP minority to behave like a majority.
The overarching truth of the last two years Is that Obama has been at constant war with the New Deal and the left hemisphere of his party, acting as Wall Street’s Trojan Horse in the White House. Tuesday’s press conference starred an unrepentant, unreconstructed, center-right, corporate operative who sees his primary duty as destroying what remains of the Democrat’s progressive legacy. And the first term of the disaster is less than half over.
http://blackagendareport.com/?q=content/obama-republicans-reliable-interlocutor
Hey thanks Steve for the compliment:) You know that I don't feel any need to prove who I am an anon is probably a poser who really wants to know who what I really am so he can send his dogs my way.
AB as an avid reader of Black Agenda Report knows who I am.
I am as real as real can get, but he would have no way of knowing that cause us dreamers don't get that much press. He wants my name, so for fun I will give it to him so he can hate some more.
But for fun I thought I would post some of what I wrote for black agenda report on this fake morality displayed by the press around John Edwards infidelites. And Elizabeth seemed like a decent woman I hope she is at peace!
And I agree that Edwards platform was much more populist at bottom than Obama.
..."Is infidelity an indicator of how a politician will
perform in office? I think not. Judging from past presidents that were
philanderers it didn't seem to limit their effectiveness in office. While Bill
Clinton may have been the worst of the lot, in terms of sexual discretion, he
was still able to steer the US imperial ship and impose America's will on the
world. John Kennedy was rumored to have shared Marilyn Monroe with his brother
and was otherwise unfaithful to his wife, Jacqueline. It does appear that the
current president has been faithful to his wife - yet George Bush has committed
every transgression imaginable against the U.S. Constitution, and has behaved
faithlessly towards to the citizenry he is sworn to protect"
http://www.blackagendareport.com/?q=node/10747
ditto mell
BAR rules!!!
oops the title is, "John Edwards and Fake Morality"
And oh yeah Field is familiar with my writings he has used a little in days gone by. So there anon I can prove I'm legit.
con't
"...Salacious reporting about extramarital affairs and rumors of affairs is part of the pornification of the news. Most print and broadcast outlets do not give us actual news, but rather, their own prepackaged, prejudiced perspective on the world. And since the American public has been
trained to be entertained more than informed - titillated rather than intellectually stimulated - porn posing as news is right up our alley.
While FOX news is little more than an infomercial for right wing ideology - and the worst offender in this race to numb our minds – the other "news" organizations are not far behind. CNN, supposedly "the most trusted name in news," and MSNBC brought in their experts to kick the John Edwards scandal around, and CBS, NBC and ABC all used up precious airtime
dabbling in dirt.
Not that there is a dearth of real news. There are two big Bush wars that are barely covered beyond the airing of official press releases and Pentagon-inspired commentary. Why aren't the media scandalized by the General Accounting Office's discovery that $23 billion slated to be spent in Iraq is unaccounted for? Why does the Attorney General of the United States
think that folks should go Scott-free for unlawfully filling Justice Department
jobs? There are enough unanswered questions to busy any 24-hour news machine -
if explicating the world were actually the objective.
But the press chose to belabor Edwards' indiscretions.
Edwards is no longer running for office, though there were rumors that he was being considered as a vice presidential candidate.
I suspect that one of the other reasons the former presidential candidate was attacked with such ferocity was because he had the nerve to run a populist campaign in an age when the ruling class feels no need to throw a bone to working people. Whatever the reason, Edwards showed real
heart and compassion, touring poverty-stricken areas and speaking of the "two Americas." Like none of the other contenders, he put a spotlight on New Orleans. In some ruling circles, that's considered a crime.
If a politician came along who made sure that Johnny could read whether he lived in the Ozarks or the ghetto, kept affordable roofs over our heads, ensured that we all took home a fair and livable wage, were afforded universal health care and equal opportunity, few of us would care about the condition of his or her marriage.
Corporate media keep us focused on false morality - on the private affairs of luminaries - so that we won't confront the real forces that devalue the lives of the vast majority of us."
Ask for examples of his "radical" work. It's not idealistic to live in America and claim third parties are the answer --it's just stupid. He's far to young to have the Civil Rights-era cred that he claims. And the Black Agenda Report is a conservative rag. Anyone can bloviate--it doesn't make what you say true or your actions real. And don't flatter yourself--no one is coming after you, but all one has to do is google your sign-on and figure out who you are.
anon said - "Anyone can bloviate--it doesn't make what you say true or your actions real. And don't flatter yourself--no one is coming after you, but all one has to do is google your sign-on and figure out who you are."
Good point anon which is why I don't blow my own horn. I don't know how Black Agenda Report became conservative and saying third parties are stupid only reveals your ignorance.
And since you could find out for yourself that I am who I say I am why lie and imply that I'm a fraud when you are the one misleading folks.
ditto mell!
the black agenda report is ONLY "conserving" black political sanity!!!!
Only fools should feel sorry for Obama as he prepares for a Republican-led House and weakened Democratic control of the Senate. This is Obama’s “comfort zone,” where he can continue to woo Republicans to join his grand center-right coalition. The only people Obama has no tolerance for are liberalish Democrats, who will emerge relatively stronger in the new Congress thanks to the decimation of Obama’s Republican-Lite friends in conservative Democratic ranks. By freezing federal wages, Obama signals that he has no philosophical problems with the GOP’s general aims
http://blackagendareport.com/?q=content/obama-moves-effortlessly-right
shut up ya idgit coohole thunderkuntlickin moron! alicia buceta breaf banks hows ur job treatin ya coohole? golly for somebody employed u surely got a lot of time on ur hands to blog over here doncha?935AM to 515PM thus far its almost like being on the computer is ur job u pathetic piece of shit!
Barack needs to give Rev. Wright a call; kiss the rings, and go home to Chicago. No seriously, anytime "certain people" (read: white folks) are able to get a man to "compromise" on where he goes to church on Sunday morning. Is it any wonder that he caved on the Bush Tax Cuts to the Republicans?
alicia banks said...
lac:
it would really help if u just do not address me by name when you prefer that i do not respond...ok?
ie
YOU posted:
"Alicia, yes there's plenty of Kabuki dancing and professional wrestling style politics coming from all sides. But as usual, we're all focusing Obama playing the Baby Face getting taken by the Republican heels - or whatever."...
When learn the difference between the words we and you, then we'll be getting somewhere. You posted yourself about how this whole 'deal' feels like a staged WWF match and I responded. Get over yourself, please.
Am I the only one who can't wait for the Obama administration to come to an end just so these so-called patriots, birthers, et al can crawl back into their hole?
Rudy said...
Am I the only one who can't wait for the Obama administration to come to an end just so these so-called patriots, birthers, et al can crawl back into their hole?
Maybe Rudy, but more than likely these cranks and crazies would have 'developed a taste for blood' and demand a seat the table. What's going to be uglier than the war between the Democrats and the Tea Party crazies is going to be Tea Party eating their own within the GOP.
lac:
learn accuracy in expression and graciousness in defeat and we will fare well..
bon soir
ps lac:
there was nothing staged about my typically authentic slaying of your utopic political fantasies herein...
same easy slaying.
dif day.
I wouldn't consider the "Tea Party eating their own within the GOP" uglier. In fact, that would be a beautiful sight.
pa:
"staging"???
as in you conspiring in your own slaying herein???
who??? what??
staging is what the dems and repubs do daily in dc...fyi
unlike them, u and i are almost NEVER on the same team!
FDR's social safety net is being ripped apart and the deal Obama cut with the Reaganites is going to force the privatization of Social Security. This is the wet dream of the Wall Street crowd that actually runs our government.
And y'all are making excuses for the man. Please!
Rippa: "No seriously, anytime "certain people" (read: white folks) are able to get a man to "compromise" on where he goes to church on Sunday morning. Is it any wonder that he caved on the Bush Tax Cuts to the Republicans?"
THANK YOU!!
LAC: "The GOP knows that they can block anything and everything using arcane Senate rules."
And the Democratic leadership fails to hold them accountable for this, even when public opinion is strongly on their side as it is on this and other issues like the public option.
Why isn't Obama working the phones to get the votes from Democratic senators and political adversaries a la LBJ? Because he is too busy setting up Social Security to be taken over by his Wall Street buddies in the not too distant future.
"Field--You can't reuse a syndicated newspaper cartoon without permission. Otherwise, you're violating copyright.
And this slam at the cartoonist is completely unjustified and not substantiated by you."
Tell him to sue me.
Obama=Good nice negro colored guy...
The last line of this article is not as clever as you think it is, because Obama can't walk on water. You could have said something to play on the phrase "hope floats" instead.
@Spook
You are an idiot.
@Field
Teh Stupid is strong with a lot of folk. When did they stop teaching Civics in school? When did they stop teaching critical thinking? When did some of these negroes quit school? Because it's obvious that some of them quit a little too early.
You do have this habit of attracting trolls too. Any ass that would come to a blog obviously written by a Black that has a handle of Spook is only here to stir the pot. But this "spook" comes to a battle of wits unarmed.
This guy can't think his way out of a wet paper bag. Hey "spooky", You're an ass and so is your mammy. You really shouldn't talk to your elders like that. Shouldn't talk to me like that since I might be your real daddy. at least that what your mammy used to call me.
You are out of your league when it comes to mental acuity and in the level of insult ability. Wanna see?
I am THE Real SickupandFed and I approved this message.
rotflmbao
"The last line of this article is not as clever as you think it is, because Obama can't walk on water. You could have said something to play on the phrase "hope floats" instead."
Wrong!He CAN walk on water.Didn't you see the pictures? I think he learned how to do it when he was growing up in Hawaii.
Laura Washington is here in Chicago. Stop hatin'.
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