REC If You Are Sick and Damned Tired of Being Let Down By Our Democratic Leaders

[Techn0Girl]

Rec if you want this war STOPPED !

Rec if you want the "Patriot Act" revoked ! (and not renewed as is currently being done)

Rec if you want the CIA torture prisons closed!

Rec if you want a public option!

Rec if you are tired about trillions to Wall Street and no jobs for you!

Is it me or were all these promises I heard the Democratic Party make to me? Did I hear it wrong? Did it never happen?

Rec if you want your America back NOW !

[Xipe Totec]

1. And, you just went negative on the recs

Proud to say, mine was the breaker.

Have a GREAT day! :hi:

[DontTreadOnMe]

58. currently 108+ recs now

dissatisfaction with Obama seems to be strong here, and then there are those who will defend anything Obama.

It seems clear to me that Obama is not paying attention to the Progressive left in America.

I am ready for a third party Progressive candidate that supports my positions.
As a life-long voting Dem, the current Democratic Party is wearing thin in my household.

[tblue]

74. I heard Bernie Sanders call himself a Democratic Socialist.

If that became a party, I'd join it if the Dem leaders kept this up.

[glinda]

101. I have decided that is what I am.

[shireen]

115. me too. nt

[defendandprotect]

124. me, two --

[rhett o rick]

179. me six. nt

[shadowknows69]

131. +1

[PSzymeczek]

173. I am, too.

It's not a party, but join at www.dsausa.org

[AlbertCat]

107. America has been a Socialistic Democracy since the turn of the 19th century

Maybe before...

There's nothing to be afraid of about Socialism with Democracy mixed in.


But now I agree with Chomsky. America is a failed state. Its reps do not represent the people. The 2000 election made that clear. The current state of affairs is driving it home.

[Garam_Masala]

159. Why are Russian immigrants flockiing to US if

US is such a failed state? There are 10,000 times more Russian immigrants in US
than there are American expatriates in Russia.

I site Russia just as an example. It is the same one way flow from every country.
US is the most desired country the world wants to migrate to.

[Stumbler]

132. As Maddow says, forget the working with the (R)s

just create a real bill that Sanders will sign onto and then hit the media circuit while calling the bill "bipartisan."

[defendandprotect]

135. You have to be demented to entertain working "with" the GOP . . . and btw . . .

did I hear a story yesterday that Lieberman was going to lose his chairmanship --

and the Dems were going to give it to Snowe or Collins!!!!!

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat???

How that was a nasty rumor???

[rhett o rick]

180. I think the sad truth is that the Democrats in the Senate like that Lieberman is their fall guy.

They dont really want reform so they blame asshole Joe.

[defendandprotect]

191. How could you avoid seeing Lieberman as a problem . . . imagine he could have been VP!!!??

Agree on the game-playing, however --

But . . . did you hear the report I heard?

[Johnny Noshoes]

161. Check it out...

http://www.dsausa.org/dsa.html

[ShortnFiery]

175. +1

:thumbsup:

[Moostache]

130. Nice sentiment, but futile in the end....

Any third party (or fourth party if you consider the TEA baggers as a splintering of the Repukes) is doomed to failure for a lack of funding and a lack of sustained involvement by the public - not to mention that they would receive nothing but scorn from both the MSM (mainstream media) and the RWM (right wing media, aka Faux Noise) and face a spending orgy from the monied interests of the Powers That Be. I am embarrassed to admit that I am a big part of the problem - I thought Obama was on the level with "Change We Can Believe In" and I stopped being active after the Inauguration (about the same time he began sprinting away from the left); but in reality, once Geithner was appointed and the announcement was made that single-payer was off the table on HCR from the word go, I knew in my heart that the jig was up and that I had been had. There is no real change coming to America, second verse, same as the first....

Our existing government is bought and paid for by people determined to extend their lies (war against "terror"), fictions (the banking industry is sound) and stranglehold on wealth (by gutting the progressive taxation system for decades and enriching "capital" as they impoverished "labor" and starved government programs into ineffectness) as long as possible before imploding the entire thing and trying to skate off with their ill-gotten gains while some 300 million Americans are left behind in the ashes. I say the time for drastic action is rapidly approaching, but forming a Progressive splinter party to counter act the TEA-baggers on the right is not what I have in mind...

[elocs]

61. You posted this 2 minutes after the thread was started.

It seems to be doing really well now and is on the front page. Couldn't you have given it more than 2 minutes before pointing out that it had negative Recs? :shrug:

[truedelphi]

112. But why oh why does any topic have five 'unrecs' in less time

Than would be required to be read?
I think that is what prompts people to be exasperated after they took the time to write something out, and knowing that a certain number of perhaps automated trolls will 'unrec' before a human could even read...

[defendandprotect]

129. Read the second post . . .

and you have a view into the mentality of the "UN" . . .

Which is pretty much ZERO thought --

but relishing the power to "UN" --

[AllyCat]

63. Out of the rec/unrec war: what do you like about him?

This is a serious question. I'm having a hard time liking much of anything he has/is doing. Sell me on him. Please. Before I'm so angry I stand on the street corner and start screaming.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

81. Currently at +206 rec's

face it, you are outnumbered here.

[Techn0Girl]

83. It shouldn't be "us" against "them" ....

It should be all of us against the crap that's coming down on all of us .

I know that we'll never get rid of Teabagger mentalities - be they Republican or Democratic - but it would be nice to see a few come around - before we're all totally screwed.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

84. Dont count on it

The Obama defenders will defend him no matter what happens.

[The Wielding Truth]

102. I recommend your post! I agree that we have a bigger problem if we splinter.

[rhett o rick]

181. The teabaggers aint the problem. The problem is the corporatist Democrats. nt

[freddie mertz]

151. What a small, petty sentiment.

Typical from that end of the room.

[Xipe Totec]

192. You must be under the impression that I'm influenced by popular opinion

Bigger crowds that this have tried...

:rofl:

[smalll]

2. Again, they never promised to stop "this war" (meaning Afghanistan.)

Yes you heard it wrong; yes that never happened.

[Techn0Girl]

15. Sorry, but I am unwilling to accept "bait and switch" from our President ...

I hate it when they do it at Target so you can imagine my feelings when young American lives are involved.

We were told that our boys and girls were coming home.
We need them home.
We need to STOP the war machine.

[The Wielding Truth]

106. Iraq is being scaled down. It is a mess that we have to clean up.

I really know that Obama is doing his best with what he has and what he has promised.He was always hawkish on Afghanistan so don't be surprised by his actions now.

[jeanpalmer]

41. They never promised

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LsSppYxSHk&feature=player_embedded

[Techn0Girl]

78. Thank you ...

Reality like that can really bite you on the behind. Not that it makes any diff to our "Democratic Teabagger" contingent.

More reality.
Less Fantasy.

[Larry Ogg]

44. There is no need for politicians to make promises

Because, when they understand the psychology of deception and are masters at framing their wording with pretense, they can mesmerize their constituency with assumptions and thus deny making any such promises. Accordingly, “Change We Need” etc., was not a promise to change anything, but much of the constituency took it - hook line and sinker - as meaning Change was coming. And those who were able to understand the backwards language and see through the BS were shunned by the blind followers with censor and disdain; and guess what, it doesn’t mater how bad things get, there will always be someone to defend the illusion because they prefer faith over reality, instinct over intellect and ideology over common sense; so goes the paradigm of politics, so goes the blind followers…

[Vilis Veritas]

55. Well said, sir.

Very well said.

V V

[Milo_Bloom]

125. So?

Are we supposed to admire Obama's bush like devotion to this war?

[FrenchieCat]

3. You want your America back?

why want what was never there?

What kind of dope induced reality have you been living in?

[Techn0Girl]

5. Here is my reality ...

I remember a time when anyone who wanted a job - had one.

I remember a time when the thought of America torturing prisoners would be torn apart in the press rather than being supported.

I remember a time when we actually had a press. I remember investigative journalists who actually brought down a corrupt Presidency.

I remember a time when you could afford to take a trip half way across the country to see your relatives.

I remember a time (in California) when a college education was practically free.

I remember a time when people had jobs that paid real wages, gave sick time and holidays.

I remember a time when one person in a family could actually earn enough for that family.

That's not drug induced, Sparky. I was there and you know what? It wasn't that long ago.

[MrMickeysMom]

8. Don't worry about the posters with shitty outlooks...

They've given up and/or it's easier to bitch.

You keep asking and I'll keep asking for the world we deserve to work hard to bring around.

[FrenchieCat]

10. You must be quite old,

cause Reagan was called the equal opportunity President for a reason; everyone lost their jobs.

I remember when FDR interred the Japanese, and no one said Boo!

I remember when Ford pardoned Nixon, and I remember when Reagan repealed the Fairness Doctrine,and when Clinton signed the 1996 Telecommunications act.

I remember when folks lined up waiting to gas up in the 70s, and I remember the selling of Giant SUVs; the HUMMER was just retired this year.

I remember when Junior College in California was practically free, and in all reality, it still really is.

I remember when a house cost $1,000 and apples sold for a dime on the streets.

I personally know many employees who have never been paid for vacations, have never had benefits, and have always lived and made due being paid minimum wages.

and you're right, it hasn't been long ago...
it's been for practically ever.

[girl_interrupted]

18. It's too bad you don't remember all the good FDR did

and it's too bad when it comes to the unemployed in this country, Obama isn't following his lead. We still hold prisoners at GITMO without the benefit of trial. We still send prisoners to secret locations in different countries to be tortured. We have done nothing to help the people in the Sudan. Hell we have done nothing to help people who are in the midst of foreclosures. That "credit card" bill was the biggest insult of all...while we bail out banks with interest free loans from the taxpayers, we continue to allow them to loanshark their customers. Bernie Sanders had the perfect bill that would have immediately capped interest rates at reasonable rates instead of the 30% they are now charging. But did our democratic majority vote for it? Hell, no. And while right wing nuts are buying up every gun they can find, that bill gave them the right to carry concealed weapons in national parks. Obama is going to take their guns away? Hardly. But he sure took away the right of consumers to get on even playing field with banks. I would have loved it if Obama had said to the banks.."you failed,but we will still help you out with interst free loans, but you are also going to make some sacrifices by giving your customers a break, no more usury, no more loansharking, reasonable rates so money due you can be paid back"

Banks are still running the show. Why? FDR went after the banks. Democrats better wake up and look at the anger that is starting to fester in this country. When does the middle class get a break? For the 1st time since 1975 there will be no increase for those on Medicare. Yet the rates are going up for what they pay. The $13 that was suppose to be a "bonus", we now find out will be taxed. This is insane.


We are stuck with two wars that are draining our economy. It has to stop. Democrats can not use the excuse "Republicans are stopping us" It never stopped a Republicans Majority when they wanted to do something. I'm sick and tired of working to get these people elected and then they turn around, after promising you the world, then back off.


This isn't a situation where you can say...they need time, it's too soon...when you don't even like what they have already done.

I'm angry. And I'm not the only one. We finally get control of the Presidency, the House & the Senate and they still can't get anything done without caving in to republicans on just about everything.

The Democratic party use to stand for something..for women, for gays, for civil rights, for the middle class. now I don't know what the hell they stand for. I really don't.

[FrenchieCat]

21. A lot of what you are saying simply isn't true.....

and when you show me some real sources for some of the most egregious accusations you have made, then I'll post my refutiations. I just read a lot of heated hyperbole in your post, attached to enough emotions for effect. However there is a difference between actions taken that for you don't believe have done enough, and the shit you are talking about. Your rant is your rant, but it isn't the real truth. It all sounds really convincing though; to the uninformed.

[girl_interrupted]

24. Egregious Accusations?

List one, please! It's not true FDR went after banks and formed the CCC to help the unemployed in the first few months of his adminstration? I suggest you go to wiki and learn about FDR http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt

It's not true that Bernie Sanders presented a bill that would have put immediate caps on credit card rates? It's not true Democrats threw that aside to pass a bill with no caps and permitting concealed weapons in national parks? Effectively removing any chance of giving the consumer a level playing field with banks, but gun owners another feather in their pocket? "Senate Rejects Limit on Credit-Card Interest Rates" http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/senate-rejects-limit-on-credit-card-interest-rates/?src=twr

It's not true we still hold prisoners without trial? That we still secretly torture? "Obama Considers Detaining Terror Suspects Indefinitely" http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124223286506515765.html "Tortured in far-off Countries: Obama Resuming G. W. Bush's "Extraordinary Renditions" http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=15907


It's not true that Obama is not doing anymore in Darfur than the previous administration? "Tell President Obama: Impose Sanctions Now" http://www.ourpledge.org/


So where are the 'egregious accusations"?

Name one.

I await your reply.

[saracat]

27. .Wonderful response. I assume there will be no rebuttal.

[girl_interrupted]

29. TY saracat ....I'm still waiting for one

and I'm getting sleepy! I don't think she is going to reply.

[saracat]

30. I wouldn't wait up. but if you do get one it will only be a non specific talking point.

[FrenchieCat]

32. Guess I'm like Obama. I don't jump on command

as you would have ordered it.

I apologize for that. Next time, I'll maybe do a tap dance to entertain you
while you wait.

[girl_interrupted]

34. Jump on demand? How about providing some facts for your accusations?

You made them...now back them up.

[FrenchieCat]

35. I did already.....40 minutes ago.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=15872&mesg_id=16239

and show that most of what was said was a bunch of hyperbole, like I had stated initially.

[girl_interrupted]

40. scroll further down...i have replied there

[FrenchieCat]

31. Thanks for the back up, and here's my counter on your inititial post.....

"We still hold prisoners at GITMO without the benefit of trial."

Yeah.....its a work in progress, but it isn't what it was, and is moving in the righ direction.
or else we wouldn't have headlines like this:


Gitmo Detainees Intend to Plead Not Guilty in U.S. Court
November 23, 2009
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/11/gitmo-detainees-intend-to-plead-not-guilty-in-us-court.html

Although Congress denied him the funding to close Quatanamo, he is finding a way around it.

"We still send prisoners to secret locations in different countries to be tortured."

Barack Obama Campaign Promise No. 176:
End the use of extreme rendition
"From both a moral standpoint and a practical standpoint, torture is wrong. Barack Obama will end the use torture without exception. He also will eliminate the practice of extreme rendition, where we outsource our torture to other countries."

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/promise/176/end-the-use-of-extreme-rendition/

If Barack Obama is ordering extreme rendition of prisoners to other countries for torture, than you have the basis for his impeachment, but your source on this is quite shaky, at best.

"We have done nothing to help the people in the Sudan."



Sudan: Obama Team Launches 'Calibrated' Policy to Tackle Dual Conflicts
Reed Kramer
25 October 2009
Washington, DC — After protracted debate, the Obama administration last week rolled out a policy blueprint for Sudan, Africa's largest country in land area. The policy is designed to address the challenge of bringing peace to the oil-producing nation that has experienced both a long-running civil war between northern and southern areas and a humanitarian crisis in the western Darfur region, where the violence has been widely labeled as genocide.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200910260014.html




Sudan: Obama Sudan Strategy Hailed By Africa Policy Specialists
Jim Fisher-Thompson
9 November 2009

Diplomats and Africa policy specialists are hailing the Obama administration's new policy toward Sudan as a practical approach to stopping violence in Sudan's Darfur region while preserving a peace accord that ended the nation's 22-year civil war in 2005.

At the October 19 unveiling of the new strategy, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said, "It reflects the administration's seriousness, sense of urgency, and collective agreement about how best to address the complex challenges that have prevented resolution of the crisis in Darfur and full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement ."

Key elements of the CPA include sharing power at the national level between the predominantly Muslim North and Christian South Sudan for six years, an equal distribution of oil wealth and a referendum in the South in 2011 on the question of secession from Sudan.

The Obama plan calls for a greater dialogue among the United States, international partners and Sudan to end the Khartoum government's support of attacks in Darfur and spur implementation of the CPA while pressing the Sudanese to get tougher on terrorism. The Obama strategy includes potential sanctions if certain benchmarks to progress that remain classified are not met.

Terming the strategy "smart, tough and balanced," Susan Rice, U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations, said at an October 19 State Department briefing in Washington that she hoped the Khartoum government would appreciate the need for urgency because "for years, paths to peace have been littered with broken promises and unfulfilled commitments by the government of Sudan." (See "Clinton, Amb. Rice and Special Envoy Gration on Sudan Strategy.")

David Shinn, a U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia in the mid-1990s, also lauded the new strategy, telling America.gov it "properly recognizes several inescapable facts."

Steve Morrison, senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and Jennifer Cooke, director of the CSIS Africa Program, in a recent policy paper, captured the sentiment of many in the nongovernmental organization community who like the new strategy's focus on multilateralism.

This approach "places the United States in greater alignment with critical international partners concerned with Sudan -- the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, France and key African partners -- and opens the way for greater collaboration and consensus building with China and other key global powers," they wrote.

Morrison and Cooke say the collaboration, which fits with the Obama administration's emphasis on a "smarter" more multilateral-oriented diplomacy, "also has the benefit of strengthening the credibility and effectiveness of any pressures the United States might bring to bear... key Sudanese actors."
http://allafrica.com/stories/200911100066.html

"Hell we have done nothing to help people who are in the midst of foreclosures.

He's not the Messiah, and no, he doesn't walk on water!

Still....

Obama administration expands mortgage foreclosure help

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is throwing a new lifeline to homeowners facing foreclosure who are ineligible for its current aid programs. The enhancements announced Thursday include:
•Foreclosure alternatives. Homeowners unable to qualify for a modification to their mortgage will see a more streamlined process for pursuing short sales and deeds-in-lieu-of-foreclosures, which transfer a home back to the lender. The goal is to help homeowners avoid a foreclosure that could severely lower their credit score.

A short sale is when a home is sold for less than the balance of the mortgage, but lenders consider the debt paid off.

•Protections against falling home prices. New incentives will be offered to help spur loan modifications in areas where home prices have fallen the most and lenders fear that they'll keep falling. The incentives are designed to partly offset investor losses on the mortgages, and encourage loan modifications instead of foreclosures. A total of $10 billion in incentives could be paid to lenders, mortgage servicers and investors to modify loans.

Since the housing rescue plan started in March, the government has extended more than 55,000 loan modifications to qualifying borrowers.

The Obama administration has said it expects to help up to 9 million homeowners.

But the complexity of the program has made for a slow start and foreclosures have risen as moratoriums expired. The number of households facing foreclosure rose 32% in April from April last year, RealtyTrac says.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-05-14-administration-housing-mortgages_N.htm

-------------
Thu Oct 22, 2009
The government's other effort to stem foreclosures, the Home Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP, helps homeowners who are current on their mortgages but owe more than their homes are worth, get more affordable loans.

As of September 1, the watchdog report said, HAMP had helped arrange 1,711 permanent mortgage modifications, with an additional 362,348 borrowers in a three-month trial stage. HARP has closed 95,729 mortgage refinancings, it said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/gc03/idUSTRE59L5V120091022
--------------
Obama’s Program to Help Homeowners With Foreclosures is Progressing
Posted on November 12, 2009

The US economy is going through a turbulent phase. Unemployment is at its peak and as people lose jobs, they are faltering on mortgage payments. Hence, foreclosures have become common. The Federal government has come up with a $75 billion scheme to help homeowners. As a part of this program, homeowners would get assistance that would help them to modify loans.

For quite sometime, the homeowners had complained that the program has been riddled with bureaucratic bungles. There is confusion as lenders became swamped with calls from innumerable homeowners. However, the Obama administration is now confident that the program has at last gathered steam. It has put pressure on companies to move quickly so that more homeowners are helped.
Now 500,000 homeowners have had their loans modified as part of the program. Loan payments have now been lowered faster. Roughly 40 per cent of the total 1.2 million homeowners have received help so far.

It is an important development that so many families are getting assistance. This is driving down their housing cost. However, economists are not very sure if the program would stabilize the housing sector in the future.
http://www.governmentrepohomes.com/blog/foreclosure/obama%E2%80%99s-program-help-homeowners-with-foreclosures-progressing/

"That "credit card" bill was the biggest insult of all...while we bail out banks with interest free loans from the taxpayers, we continue to allow them to loanshark their customers."

Establish a credit card bill of rights
The credit card bill of rights would "ban unilateral changes ... apply interest rate increases only to future debt ... prohibit interest on fees ... prohibit 'universal defaults' (whereby a credit card raises its rates because the consumer was late paying a different creditor ... require prompt and fair crediting of cardholder payments."



The bill passed and Obama signed it on May 22, 2009, despite worries from the banking industry that it would reduce credit availability during the economic crisis. In large part, the law fulfills Obama's campaign pledge: It prevents creditors from imposing arbitrary rate increases on customers, it prohibits most rate increases meant to penalize consumers for late payments on unrelated accounts, and it requires companies to post credit agreements on the Internet, among other things.

The bill falls short when it comes to a prohibition of interest on the fees card companies charge consumers if they go over their credit limit or fail to pay their bills on time. But this omission is not considered significant by consumer advocates. They say the measure goes a long way in reforming the credit industry. For example, most people pay more than their minimum payment every month. That extra cash will now go toward paying down card balances associated with the line of credit, said Lauren Saunders who works for the National Consumer Law Center.

Another example: The new law prevents companies from raising interest rates on existing balances unless the bill goes unpaid for more than 60 days.

"That's a big win," said Ed Mierzwinski of U.S. Public Interest Research Groups. "It gets rid of any 'gotcha' tricks."

Obama promised voters a credit card bill of rights that prevents arbitrary rate hikes and makes contracts clear, and nearly every line of the new law matches Obama's pledge. Even though the law does not prohibit interest on fees, consumer advocates who have spent years lobbying on the issue say the bill represents a major step forward for consumers. As a result, we give Obama a Promise Kept.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/promise/33/establish-a-credit-card-bill-of-rights/

"We are stuck with two wars that are draining our economy. It has to stop.


On IRAQ:

Obama sets date for withdrawal of troops from Iraq
Updated: Friday, February 27th, 2009 | By Robert Farley

"Today, I have come to speak to you about how the war in Iraq will end," President Obama said in a formal announcement of a new Iraq strategy at Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base in North Carolina, on Feb. 27.

Under the new plan, Obama said, the United States will remove all combat troops by Aug. 31, 2010.

The plan came about, Obama said, after a comprehensive review of the U.S. strategy in Iraq by a national security team that included the defense secretary, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and commanders on the ground in Iraq. The plan to "transition to full Iraqi responsibility" begins, he said, with the "responsible removal of our combat brigades from Iraq."
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/promise/126/begin-removing-combat-brigades-from-iraq/


ON AFGHANISTAN:

Obama’s Afghan plan will include exit strategy
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4144666

and so, I disagree with the portrait you have painted of this President....
he never claimed he would get all that you demand as quickly as you have ordered it...
but he sure in the fuck is working on it. Folks like you act like he's not addressing concerns,
and I disagree with that assessment. He's not addressing them exactly to your specification,
but that is a far cry from your lament.

[girl_interrupted]

39. Well guess what?

We still torture. Sorry, thats not a "campaign promise" that he kept. He could be impeached? Hell bush got away with it for years, and if you haven't noticed, Obama is continuing many of his policies.

We still hold prisoners without benefit of trial...a "work in progress"? yeah, right. I'd like to see you arrested and have your lawyer tell you that.

People are still losing their homes every single day of the week...what "state" do you live in that, that isn't happening? Denial? Guess people aren't becoming unemployed in your "state" either.


The credit card bill: NO CAPS Concealed Weapons in National Parks. And that helps whom? Lets see...gee gun owners and banks..who get their loans interest FREE from guess who? OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS
How did Obama come to the defense of ordinary, everyday people who are literally getting raped by credit card companies? He didn't. But they sure were happy in S Carolina today when they had a tax free sale on guns! Think how many of them they can now take into National Parks? Whoopee! But the poor slob that works down the block just watched his interest rate, jump from 12% to 30% And he pays on time! Who helped him? Wasn't Obama.

Banks were given money and they spent it, without benefit of regulation. They were suppose to lend it out to consumers & small businesses..but they decide to invest it in other things. Their Penalty? NADA.


And while Obama is still making "plans" the Genocide in Darfur continues.

And while Obama is still making "plans" FDR already had enacted regulations on banks and formed the CCC to help the unemployed. And guess what? Thats was just his first year.

And excuse me...just what is Obama's policy for Afghanistan? No one seems to know, but you, I guess. You want to sit there and deny we are stuck in two wars that are draining our economy...and not for nothing...we haven't even EXITED Iraq yet. You understand, that still costs us money, don't you? Not to mention lives.

So Obama has an "exit strategy" for Afghanistan, does he? Lets hope its a better one than he currently has for Iraq. And as for him "exiting" Afghanistan...sending more troops there doesn't seem the way to "exit" .


And one more thing..."People like me" are voters. They have a right to expect results, after they work hard to get democrats elected. Do you know how frustrating it is to hear how we have to get these people into office, give them the majority, then watch them kowtow to republicans? If you don't..I'll tell you..it turns my stomach. I have watched for 8 years,while Republicans ran through every kind of legislation they wanted. It was always the democrats saying: "But we dont have the majority, we can't stop them!" Well they do now, trouble is, I hear the same damn excuse. And it's starting to wear mighty thin.

Of course I don't think he "walks on water" he isn't God, but I don't think I have to agree with every single thing that he does either. And I don't. To even compare Obama to FDR is ludicrous. In one year FDR did more...not "planned", for the American people, then any president I know.

How's that $13 dollars a week working for you? Hope you didn't run out and buy a yacht. Now here's the funny part...that $13 will now be taxed. Yup the help the middle class is receiving is just so overwhelming I don't have words to describe my gratitude.

And how about the elderly? For the 1st time since 1975 their SS benefits have not increased. But their payments to Medicare have. Do you think that encourages older people to vote for democrats? They pay more, get less, and as is often the case, they can't handle their medical bills, or home repairs, so they charge it with their credit cards, at 30% interest. Real Nice.

You know you put up a lot of pretty pictures of Obama with your links. Not that I mind...he's a good looking man, but it reminds me of a re-education camp. It isn't the links, or democrats patting each other on the back for what they think is "outstanding". It's real people, what's happening in their lives, how they are coping. Pretty pictures don't solve their problems. They have real ones, that need attention. How about giving them a few breaks instead of the banks?


You may want to hero worship the guy, that's your privilege. It's a free country. You are entitled to your opinion and so am I. I certainly don't hate the man, I voted for him. But that doesn't mean I have to constantly kiss his ass either. And I have no intention of doing that, I'll leave that job up to you. If I see the quality of my life and the others around me improve, he has my blessings, if I dont? He can hit the road with the rest of them...I'm tired of all the promises and bullshit.

[Bluenorthwest]

56. Well said!

I've certainly noticed that those who push the constant praise of the President always, always use photos and emoticons and wee animated icons in places where words should be. That is very telling. They also get very personal and say things like 'you must be really old' and use a lexicon that leans heavily on vulgarities. They have insults, wee cartoons, and the words 'shit' and 'fuck'. That is their quiver. Without those things they can not function.

[FrenchieCat]

70. Your rant is just a rant.....

Cause you appear to believe that everything should be fixed by now.

You are the type of individual that will never be pleased, no matter....
you'll keep moving the goalpost and finding new things to be unhappy about....
and ass kissing is the least of where you will ever get to....when it comes to him.

It ain't about hero worship, it's about you wanting to blame Obama for everything wrong
in this country, and wanting him to have it all as you order it by now,
with a bow on top.

You are unrealistic, demanding and quite mean.
But that's your business.

Have a great Thanksgiving, which I'm sure you will not, because folks are starving,
and people are dying, and you know.....that's not the way that it has always been...
just started happening when Obama was elected.....and so on, and so forth.

[humbled_opinion]

140. Well hang on a second.

I would share your point of view if it were Obama against a Congress that was controlled by Repukes but that simply is not the case. The entire Democratic leadership is on trial here not just Obama.

It shames me to think that with these kinds of majorities some of our Democratic leaders run from their contituents and KowTow to the right wingers... Why?

My single major point of contention is on this Healtcare Farce. Now I have to give Obama the benefit of the doubt he could still veto this mess and force the right change but have you noticed that Single Payer medicare reimbursement rate insurance was never even on the table to start? WHY? I just don't get it. From what I see in the Senate and the House versions they could easily have been drafted by some Right Wingers. If Bush had put forth legislation that told you, you will buy medical insurance from a corporate insurer whether you wanted to or not, I am sure you would have had choice words for him about the constitutionality of such a measure but here is our leadership trumpeting that mandate. I just don't get it.

It sickens me to say that the last Repuke President had the courage of his convictions, even though millions of Americans did not agree with him he held the line. I can't say the same for this President.

But I guess if the Pollyana approach works for you then so be it.

Peace !

[girl_interrupted]

185. Not a "rant" but a Voter expressing herself& that frightens you.

In my personal life I am a very happy person. I've been blessed with a great husband, family & friends. Today my husband & I will be volunteering at a soup kitchen, then home for family dinner. It might do you some good to get off the internet & do the same, deal with some real people who having real difficulties surviving. Like people whose homes have been foreclosed and are living on the streets, while you wave your poms poms about how magnificent Obama is and all the "good" things he has done.

I never and I mean never expected Obama to fix "everything" right away. But it sure didn't take him very long to chose the Banks over people who supported him. That he had no trouble doing whatsoever. Moved on it with excessive speed. I might have understood if Obama said to the banks.."You failed, and yes we will help you with taxpayer money..but here's the deal..you have to make some sacrifices, no more loan sharking, no more usury, caps will be set on what you charge the people who YOU are borrowing money from."

That I would I would have respected. I would have praised Obama to the high heavens. But instead what bill did he sign? One that allowed banks, who had failed on their own, to really screw their customers. And to add insult to injury, concealed weapons in National Parks? Come on!

I have a 96 yr old great grandmother. A lifelong Democrat. She lived through the days of FDR and the Great Depression & World War 2. FDR was her savior. She also remembers much later on, when she got high interest on her savings accounts. When you could deduct the interest you paid on your credit cards on your income tax. Those days are long gone. She was so excited to vote for Obama. The "Change". But don't ask her about Obama now. She lives on a fixed income, she's a proud, independent woman who worked, and raised her children. She was shocked that in these difficult economic times her Social Security will not be increased, and her Medicare costs have been increased. And she is not alone. While Bank CEO's are still raking in their high bonuses...why are these elderly people taking the cuts?

Something is really wrong here. Terribly wrong. How are democrats going to prove to voters that they care? That they are looking after their best interests? The actions they have taken so far sure don't support it. You allow banks to get away with no penalties and no regulations and you want the voters to believe you are on their side? No, you are on the side of business. And I'll tell you right now..You and the Democrats better wake up and wake up real fast, because if you don't, voters are going to look elsewhere or just get disgusted and not vote.

Since you think you know so much about me, let me return the favor and tell you what I think I know about you. You wouldn't know constructive criticism if you fell over it. People like you, do Obama no favors. If voters are unhappy...this party and this President better open their eyes and ears and find out why. Not ignore it, not excuse it. Obama is a grown man, not a 2 year old child, if he can't take criticism, he doesn't belong in office. How many times has he said he wanted to hear from people and what they think. People like you prevent that. If anyone is mean, its you. It's like you went to the George Bush School of "You are either with us or against us" philosphy. You are a "traitor" if you don't swear allegiance to Obama. In the meantime his approvals continue to drop and the same applies to his party. You better stop and ask yourself why and so should democrats. Why you dont want to acknowledge that there is real anger out there with voters and try to fix the situation, is beyond me.

You want to live in fairytale land? So be it. But don't expect others to follow in your footsteps. People are having real struggles out there. I'm holding my breath about what Obama is going to say about Afghanistan. Pelosi is now talking about a "War Tax" if we stay in Afghanistan. If you don't think that's going to go over like a ton of lead with voters who are already financially strapped AND anti-war....Lady, you're crazy.

Happy Thanksgiving to you too.

[Puglover]

196. I don't think of it so much as fairyland

as ObamaCandyLand.

Great post!

On edit:
Ironically, the over the top Obama worship doesn't serve him or the Democratic party. And aside from this attitude being annoying and vaguely pathetic, that is what frightens me the most.

[nashville_brook]

72. right on!

:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:
:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:
:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:
:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:
:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:

[Techn0Girl]

80. You are a wonderful writer !

Thanks :)

The America I want to be a part of DOES. NOT. TORTURE.

No excuses. Period.
If Obama can not at least end that then he is nothing to me.
I'm willing to give the man a little more time but the torture camps must end NOW.
All of them.
Everywhere.

Or we are lost as a nation.
The greedy bankers may or may not bring us down but torture most certainly will.
It did for the Nazis. It did for the Communists.
It will for us as well if we do not end this now.

[girl_interrupted]

186. Techn0Girl TY & Thank you for starting this thread

I think it took real courage to do it and you definitely have it. I'm getting a bit sick and tired of the George Bush School of Thought: "You are either with us or against us" mentality when people express displeasure with what going on with the President & our party. We worked to get them elected, we voted for them & we pay their salaries. Now they don't want to hear from us? Well too bad, they are going to. And if they aren't willing to listen to members of their own party who are dissatisfied, trust me, they will be hearing from voters from both parties, comes election time, if they screw this up.

Thanks again! Have a Very Happy Thanksgiving!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

90. What girl_interrupted said!

If the Republicans had this kind of total control of all branches of government we'd be at full-blown fascism by now. They wouldn't have made lame excuses about "political realities."

They've always gone for whatever they wanted.

They nearly privatized Social Security until the ONE TIME that the Dems stood united against it.

I suspected it during the election season, and I'm positive of it now: Obama and Hillary were promoted in the MSM as if they were the only candidates beginning early in 2007 precisely because they WOULDN'T change anything significant.

[Techn0Girl]

33. Excellent points !

But I think you are taking to the Democratic equivalent of a Teabagger. Nothing you say or show will change this person's mind.

It's like talking to a table-top.

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

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

[Hippo_Tron]

37. Unemployment was 25% in 1933, it's 10% now

Do you really expect there to be the same political will for the massive jobs programs that FDR created in 1933 when unemployment is less than half of what it was then. It's legitimate to argue that Obama's response has been inadequate and that he hasn't done enough for working families. But since we aren't in a second great depression it's unrealistic to expect a second New Deal.

[Techn0Girl]

38. It's actually 17% ....

when you take into account the things GWB changed in the figures - such as people who only have part time jobs (can't find full time work) and people who have been unemployed over a year. The 17% is also a government statistic but one that is usually not reported. GWB changed the way unemployment stats were counted during his administration to exclude these groups from the primary figures that are reported.

So we are a lot closer to that 25% figure that you mentioned the it would appear.

[Hippo_Tron]

117. The depression levels would be much higher by those standards as well

Officially, the Labor Department’s broad measure of unemployment goes back only to 1994. But early this year, with the help of economists at the department, The New York Times created a version that estimates it going back to 1970. If such a measure were available for the Depression, it probably would have exceeded 30 percent.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/business/economy/07econ.html?_r=4

[Scruffy1]

147. The great depression

We are not even close to the level of suffering of the great depression. Being the child of depression raised parents I think one story of my late mother's sums it up. She told me that she was the only child in one of her classes whose father had a job. This was in Iowa. My late father often had to take off from school to go hunting so the family could eat. There was no food stamps, public housing,
AFDC or social security. About 40% of inductees were unfit for military service largely because of malnutrition. Being a life long RED I voted for Obama as the best that was available. Yes, I am not happy with his slow pace on some issues but I also know first hand the ignorance of the American voter
and the crappy media. I also know that the US senate has always been the preserver of the status quo and worked hard for Al Franken. If you want change you have to change the senate. Even FDR never got one thing through the senate after 1937. To me the real problem is not the right wing like John Kyl
Coburn, Imfoff etc. but the fact that the voters of more progressive states like Maine keep reelecting assholes like Snow and Collins because they are "moderates". Thats like being a moderate NAZI in my book. Here in Minnesota We have Oberstar, McCollum, and Ellison as progressives-Tim Walz is a sometimes Democrat and Colin Peterson as the Rep from Big Farm and Insurance. So instead of crying and bitching I think we would be better served by going after Senate seats in Iowa-Schmuck Assly has never been challenged-Maine-these a holes hiding behind a moderate cloak are just corporate shills-and maybe in some of the border states like Kentucky.A party headed by a face lifted and rouged Drag Queen can't be that hard to beat in this state. But in order to win you need good progressive candidates. Paul Wellstone did it in Minnesota with no money because he stood up for real values not the Republican light crap. Any more Pauls and Bermies out there?

[saracat]

26. And of course what you say is the gospel The poster has a legitimate complaint and you just

respond with a rant of your own.Some people have concerns damn it, and yes they are angry and they are entitled to be.Funny how you allow yourself all the drama and hyperbole in the world and yet are the first to cast stone and level"egregious" accusations when you disagree with an opinion.I guess you can't refute the posters allegations.

It may have escaped your notice but the poster is not alone in their fears. Many on OUR side in DC have voiced similar ones. But of course, to you, they would be dismissed as "uninformed".

[Techn0Girl]

23. The Democratic party use to stand for something....

I SO hear you.
What does it stand for now? CIA torture camps? Land-mines? Banker bonuses? Mass Unemployment? Four more years of war ?

This isn't what we campaigned for is it?

[girl_interrupted]

25. I don't know anymore

Consumers and the middle class got thrown under the bus. What help has been offered to them? So far banks run the show. The cost of living is going up, so many people are unemployed. Sometimes I feel like yelling "It the Economy, stupid" and if something isn't done real soon, this party is going to pay for it 2010.

We are so intent on passing a health care bill..it's now okay to throw women under the bus too. After looking at that credit card bill, which sucks, unless you are a gun owner, I just have to stop and wonder. Yes, we want health care reform...but real reform...not some screwed up mess of a bill so congress can turn around and say "look we did something". They did "something" with credit card "reform"...and it still sucks.

I'm not even going to go where we have thrown gays under the bus. Suffice to say no matter what talents you have, you still will be discharged for your sexual orientation or have the right to marry just like the rest of us.


I use to love this party for what it stood for. They didn't settle, they fought for what was right. Civil rights, Voting rights, Womens Rights. Now it's we need bipartisanship ...we always seem to have to settle. Something is just not right here. You work hard to get these people elected. And I'm sorry, it's disappointing.

[LibDemAlways]

59. "The party is going to pay for it in 2010." Yep. Give the

American people a choice between a real Republican and a Democrat who acts like a Republican and they will choose the real guy everytime. At least then they know what they're getting. I expect big repuke gains in Congress.

I didn't vote for this kind of "change" either. Actually I voted for Obama only reluctantly. He always struck me as a glib speaker who wasn't really saying very much. I think people heard what they wanted to hear. And after Bush he seemed like a big improvement. He's been a terrible disappointment.

[AllTooEasy]

88. So you rather have McCain Palin

BTW, what is a real Republican? Repukes are the biggest fakes. W never delivered on what he promised.

[LibDemAlways]

100. Where did I say I'd rather have McCain/Palin?

A real Republican is one whose goal is to make sure the rich get richer and corporations get all the breaks. That sure seems to be the mission of both parties these days.

[pundaint]

141. They stand for re-election

And that's where we can get 'em. But corrupt politicians like cockroaches must be entirely eradicated or they bounce right back. We must fire ALL of them in '10, and to do that we should be identifying primary candidates right now. We'll probably only have to fire all of them once every 30 years or so to keep the memory of who the bosses are fresh.

[goclark]

60. I remember when Reagan released the Mental patients from hospitals in CA

and every thing that you remember as well.

I remember when Democrats, right here at DU typed and bitched about GW and most did nothing other than write some letters and complain.

I remember when two elections were stolen and Democrats basically did nothing about it.

Oh, some did, on the day that GW was sworn in, thousands of Democrats lined the streets in Washington to complain and MSM didn't show the photos or film footage. What happened to the Downing St. Memos?

No one complained about that either. Well they may have complained but NOTHING changed until Barack Obama came on the scene. Then -- finally millions of Americans were able to finally get a Democrat back in the White House ~ MILLIONS, not just those of us at DU.

Finally, SOME not all of my wishes came TRUE for what I believed to be important decisions that I THOUGHT could change this country and the WORLD for the better.

Notice that I said "I THOUGHT" ~ that is the key to this issue.

Now that he is in the WH ~ here WE go trying to make him our personal Howdy Dowdy - "STOP THE WAR NOW BARACK or I will vote for Dennis"
(who by the way, didn't get enough votes to capture the nomination.)

I say that because I love Dennis but he didn't have the magic to win the last election and put 3 more years on him and the new young voters will think he is from the stone ages.

As I think back, the times that I truly remember voices being heard in America were the times that the Civil Rights marches occurred - over and over and over again Blacks, Whites MARCHED in the streets and over bridges and were bitten by dogs and slammed into prison.

And that had to happen over and over and over again until America gave an inch.

Oh yes, let's talk about SLAVERY in America ~ the first time that my ancestors appeared in the Census was 1870.

Thanks for your post, it was excellent.

[saracat]

28. Funny. I remember that America too. I remember when there were possibilities and

when it was thought that each generation would be left better off than their parents. It is not so any longer and nothing seems to be being done to correct it. It is very sad. I remember a time when there was hope for the future.I no longer have that hope or trust. And yeah, I know I will be called a "doom and gloomer", "Debbie Downer" and be accused of having a "bad attitude" or being a "hater". But the truth is things aren't looking good and the Democrats are not behaving like Democrats. I used to be so proud of being a Democrat , but I just don't know what this party stands for anymore.
The Stupak Amendment, talk of removing the weak PO., aligning with Wall Street, and now refuasing to sign the land mine ban.Who are we anymore????????

[Lydia Leftcoast]

92. Yes, what I miss most about the 1960s is not the drugs or the sex

(living in my conservative environment as a teenager, I saw precious little of either), but the OPTIMISM--the feeling that things were steadily getting better.

We had seen the civil rights movement change a whole social system.

We had seen real incomes rise steadily.

We had fine infrastructure, and new things being built all the time.

We had confidence that we would eventually stop the Vietnam War and end poverty. We actually thought that ending poverty was something worth doing, imagine that!

We had public figures who called for peace and economic justice, and the MSM took them seriously.

Sure, there were problems, but we thought things would get better, we wanted them to get better, and we were willing to do what it took.

[NorthCarolina]

52. The Democratic Party that gave us things like Social Security, Medicare

Civil Rights legislation, etc. are LONG GONE...quietly and deliberately replaced by DLC and Blue Dog conservatives that have effectively erased any distinction between the two major political parties, and who the parties represent. Neither party operates as an advocate for the people. I remember being berated here on DU for even hinting that Obama was DLC back during the primaries. I wonder if all these same folks who were so condemning of such comments back then still hold to that same conviction now.

[ChiciB1]

54. I Guess What So Many Of Us So Called Democrats Of The Old Party Just Don't

understand is that WE WILL NOT ever be able to STOP the Rah's Rah's from having their cheer-leading section. I stopped trying quite some time ago. I know most of their names by heart and actually AVOID (for the most part) posting when I see their names down thread over and over!

Democrats DID some very good things, but as a BOOMER I think they feel we "just don't get it!" So just for the sake of saying it... I ACTUALLY DO think I GET IT!! I'm getting where it hurts, in my pocket book and up the WAZZOO! Obama may have changed "some" things... but on the the REALLY BIG issues... NOT SO MUCH, nor do I see him giving much of a rallying cry out to those of us who WANT to see him "have our backs!"

JMHO!!

[SandWalker1984]

68. I remember a time when 6 of my neighbors homes were not in foreclosure...

....because they trusted the banks when the lenders told them they could afford the mortgage payments.

Where is the re-regulation of the banking industry?

[proudohioan]

93. I second that!!!!!

[treestar]

110. Er

I remember a time when black people had to live under different rules and could be discriminated against with no penalty

I remember a time when gay people couldn't come out or faced incredible rejection of society

I remember a time there was this draft, and a war and the 19/20 year old kids were deemed best to serve/die in it

I remember a time when three major leaders were assassinated

I remember a time when women were expected to stay home with the kids

I remember a time when a girl who got pregnant and wasn't married was kicked out of school and forced to give the kid up for adoption

I remember there were poor people and people out of work in those times, too, but they weren't you, so they don't count.

[Techn0Girl]

116. I completely get the point you are making but....

I'd like to counter with a few things , OK ? :)

-- "I remember a time when black people had to live under different rules and could be discriminated against with no penalty"

Have you been to East L.A. recently? Have you ever been Black and tried renting an apartment in Beverly Hills? I had a Black boyfriend once. We went out together looking for apartments in a nice section of Las Vegas once. I had a COMPLETELY different experience than I ever had before.

-- "I remember a time when gay people couldn't come out or faced incredible rejection of society"

Ever been in the military? I have. Ever brought your gay lover to a company Christmas Party? I haven't - but from what I hear its usually not a pleasant experience - afterward. I understand they have problems giving a lover's peck on the cheek in mos places in this country as well.


-- "I remember a time there was this draft, and a war and the 19/20 year old kids were deemed best to serve/die in it"

Ever been young, poor, and out of work and still had to feed your family? Ever wonder how many enlisted people in the military are poor and jobless? Ever wonder how many Senator's children serve combat duty in Iraq? Or Banker's children? Or your Doctor's children? We don't have a forced draft anymore. But we DO have a forced economic draft, don't we?

Maybe if we HAD a forced draft - for EVERYONE (no exemptions) there would be less war?
'Ya think?


-- "I remember a time when three major leaders were assassinated"

Thank god you got me there!
Then again there is the guy who knew too much about Diebold election manipulations...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/25/the-intriguing-death-of-t_n_153518.html


-- "I remember a time when women were expected to stay home with the kids"

I remember a time when a woman COULD stay home with her kids , if she wanted to , rather then being forced to work two jobs just to survive.


-- "I remember a time when a girl who got pregnant and wasn't married was kicked out of school and forced to give the kid up for adoption"

I take it you don't live in Arkansas?
Or Mississippi?
Or Utah?
Or ... or...


-- "I remember there were poor people and people out of work in those times, too, but they weren't you, so they don't count."

I just remember a time when I made 3 times what I make now. That time was 1999. My profession was sold out to H1B visa workers - by Microsoft, by Hewlett-Packard and by Intel.
So they could make more profit.
Now my profession makes 30 - 50% of what it used to make.

[roguevalley]

19. you obviously aren't old enough. Also, not signing the landmine

ban is unconscionable.

[nashville_brook]

73. DemocracyNow did a wonderful piece on this this morning --> the US and Somalia are the only

non signatories.

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/11/25/ahead_of_key_global_conference_us

The Obama administration has decided not to sign an international convention banning land mines. In response to a question about an upcoming review conference on the Mine Ban Treaty, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said Tuesday that the administration recently completed a review and decided not to change the Bush-era policy.

This is the first time the Obama administration has publicly disclosed its decision on the treaty which bans the use, stockpiling, production or transfer of antipersonnel mines. 156 countries have ratified the treaty but 39 others including the United States, Russia, and China have not.

A report this month by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines found that mines remain planted in more than 70 countries and killed over 1200 people and wounded nearly 4000 last year.

For more on the US position on landmines and what to expect from the summit in Colombia next month I’m joined now from Washington, DC by Stephen Goose. He’s the director of Human Rights Watch’s arms division and a co-founder of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which received the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize.

[jefferson_dem]

43. "I want my 'merca back"

What an odd comment for a DUer to make.

[Peacetrain]

50. My first thought..

[Milo_Bloom]

126. This from the person who thinks the war in Afghanistan is about 9/11. LOL

[msongs]

4. oh technogirl, don't go wanting progressive/liberal policies from a center right government lol nt

[Laelth]

6. k&r n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[LittleBlue]

7. I'm so damned tired of a party with only 40 Senate seats setting our agenda for us

when we have the Presidency, 59 Senate seats, and complete control of the House. We can't even get the guy who owes his chairmanship (LIEberman) to vote with us.

What kind of weak ass garbage is this? We can't even beat a nearly extinct party full of backwards religious fanatics.

[Better Believe It]

12. The Democrats won control of Congress? When did that happen?

[jgraz]

13. They're not setting the agenda

A few dead white men are.

[waiting for hope]

14. +1

[LittleBlue]

17. Very true. It just feels this way because I've always associated Rethugs with that type of behavior

I guess I have to get used to the non-Kennedy wing of the Democratic Party. The people who would cut my throat for a dollar.

[Enthusiast]

48. One would think the

GOP won the damn elections of 2006 and 2008.

[tom_paine]

62. The Democrats are merely performing their function as the "Washington Generals"

Oh gosh darnit, another failure! (cue aligator tears)

We must realize that these "failures" are actually successes for the Aristocracy, whih includes both parties.

We are on a rocket-ship ride back to the Middle-Ages, but this time, they are going to do it RIGHT and make sure they don't have to give any concessions back, like in 1776 or 1933, to save their Global Aristocracy.

Psychology, advertising, and truckloads of psycho-active drugs will allow this to be so, as it vastly increase the threshold of the shit and injustice people will take.

I can't believe I am saying and believing this, becuase it sounds too much like wacky conspiracy theory, but ten years of detailed observation has lead me "logically" to this "illogical conclusion".

Essentially, very little has changed in the relationship between the Global Aristocracy and the 99.99999% of us that make up the Global Peasantry, in 1000 years.

Just a lot of snakeskins and new coat of paint and new, more sophisticated mechanisms which are simply lies to docilize us and so we can more easily make believe that "wacky conspiracy theories" are just that, rather than the truth and reality of virtually all of humanity.

[Daemonaquila]

118. Bravo!

The Dems have 60. 50 wins a vote. Yet out "leadership" is failing versus 40 Repukes. They're either hopelessly inept, or they ain't trying.

[Luciferous]

9. K&R nt

[donheld]

11. Yes I'll recommend. Seems like it's all been for Wall-street none for main street

[Gman]

16. Haven't seen a rec begging thread in a long time now so unrec

Unrec is obligatory to all DU'ers when rec begging threads appear.

[girl_interrupted]

20. Techn0Girl K&R

[BanzaiBonnie]

22. I'm really pissed off now

My husband came home from work and said he's depressed. I asked why. He said it's all the bad news today.

You idiot politicians had better get on it and start making things right or I'm gonna start kicking your sorry asses out of Congress.


What is up with Obama not wanting to get rid of land mines?

[Kaleva]

46. Let us know when you've succeded in kicking their sorry asses out of Congress.

[Life Long Dem]

42. I know the promise to the Democratic party wasn't selling out to special interest.

The certain Democrats selling out to the corporations like the insurance companies. What kind of Democratic principals are those when representatives from our own party sell out to the same group our founding fathers were protecting us from when they formed the Government in the first place? It's groups like the Blue Dogs who hold no such principals that I'm tired of.

[Vidar]

45. K&R.

[Kdillard]

47. I think you need to step away from politics because you are going to be disappointed a lot.

[asdjrocky]

49. Not our leaders.

I don't have a leader. I'm not in a parade. I have representatives. More people need to realize this.

[valerief]

51. And I want clean air, clean water, and non-GMO food, too! nt

[swilton]

53. Sold Out By the Democratic Party

MIA for the 2012 election - K&R:kick:

[lxlxlxl]

57. ITS CALLED CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM!

The answer is much simpler, but is probably the most 'unsexy' political thing there is. If people could figure out what Materialism is then this country would be much better off and focused...for a chang.e

[Auggie]

114. +1 (and reversal of Corporate Personhood)

[Hatchling]

64. First ever "REC if..." post I've ever recc'd. nt

[Techn0Girl]

76. LOL First Ever Rec Post that I made ...

And I HATE rec posts :(

But yesterday I saw the landmine thing ....
And last week I saw the bogus unemployment extension thing....
And the week before that the Public Option got pretty much sold down the river....

Then I heard that Bank of America paid something like 10% Federal taxes last year - and everyone there got major bonuses ...

What The Frickety Frack !!!

I am SO fed up.
So I posed a rec begging thread because I just wanted to know whether or not I was the only one out there who was sick - just truly SICK of the BS , the broken promises and the lies - not from Obama per se - but from the entire Democratic leadership.

And it looks like I'm not the only one .
Next question is what to do about it?

[axollot]

65. kick

[femrap]

66. k and r....nt

[Iggo]

67. Happily unrec'd. Yay!

[Techn0Girl]

82. Hey Man - it's not a war between us....

You and I are getting screwed over equally.
It's not you against me.

It's us against torture, war and poverty.

Or at least it should be.

[Iggo]

85. I agree. I ain't mad at ya.

I just automatically unrec every single "Rec this thread if..." thread I run across.

Equal opportuniy unrec.

[Techn0Girl]

89. That's totally cool ...

I don't care about the recs - I just want America back. I want my civil rights back. I want my job back.

[Iggo]

103. I still have my job, thank goodness.

Looks like I have a fight on my hands for the civil rights.

But it's okay...it's 'the good fight'.

[april]

69. sick of all the LIES..the LIES & BS promises

[raouldukelives]

71. K&R

[WatchWhatISay]

75. I'm just getting despondent

[Techn0Girl]

77. Get mad instead.

Then after we have our foot stomping session we need to think about how to change things for real this time.

[dotymed]

111. Really' it all pisses me off too

What we have to do "after our foot stomping session" is force campaign reform. Make elections publicly financed. Then the pols will be working for us again. If they don't we vote them out. We do not allow a single penny to be spent that does not come from taxpayers and we force the MSM to donate equal time for candidates. Maybe even pass a law that requires everyone to vote. Things would change in a hurry.

[Techn0Girl]

119. Frankly I think that's an excellent idea but....

How do we possibly get something like that passed by the very people who are indentured to the system that does this?

How do we vote them out? The Democratic Party does not support campaign finance reform as you are suggesting. I doubt they ever will support such a thing.

So what do we have to do before we are able to do as you would like? And how?

[dotymed]

189. Really, the only

way that I can think of is massive protests. I know, the apathy of Americans, and the cluelessness of many would make it really hard. As bad as things are they may have to get worse before public campaign financing becomes an issue that millions will demonstrate for. Unfortunately, people may go in a different direction entirely. I have never seen our country so divided and on the brink of a class war. They have "teabaggers" as pissed the progressives, with FOX "news" fanning the flames. I do not believe in any the "doomsday" prophecies, I have seen them come and go in my lifetime. But 2012 would seem like the limit for containing what is happening in our society. We really are in a pressure cooker and "our" people in D.C. seem to be ignorant of that fact. I feel like we are at a pivotal moment in history, unfortunately "our" government thinks that if they can restore the economy to pre-recession figures, then all will be fixed. It is past that. When you promise "real change", people expect it.

[Mad_Dem_X]

79. K&R!

[maxpower]

86. Kick

Sick and tired is putting it mildly. Words cannot begin to describe the anger.


Happy Thanksgiving peace and love to you all,

Max

[AllTooEasy]

87. K&R on everything, but....

If we abruptly leave Afghanistan, what happens to the powerless people living there? The non-Taliban, the women, folks who want freedom from theocratical oppression? You know the answer.

Listen, I HATE war and record deficits at the price of public healthcare as much as anyone. I REALLY HATE seeing women oppressed indescriminately, mass murders, and civil rights violation.

Every returning soldier I've talked to, and there have been dozens, have given me one of two comments on leaving Afghanistan:

From the Conservatives/Repukes: They will get slaughtered, but they are not Americans so fuck 'em. Let's leave.

From the caring liberal, Dems: They will get slaughtered, so we better stay.

Which side are you on?

[Techn0Girl]

97. What Happens....

"If we abruptly leave Afghanistan, what happens to the powerless people living there? The non-Taliban, the women, folks who want freedom from theocratical oppression? You know the answer."

Here is my answer:
We Are Not The World's Policeman.

There is injustice and slaughter going on in a great deal of the world. We trade heavily with China who has almost as many people in prison camps .... as we do. They even make our iPods for us (yes, they do).

We chose not to intervene in Somalian genocide (until it was too late).
We chose not to intervene in the Darfur genocide.

We let hundreds of thousands die.

We DID intervene in Iraq. And we killed hundreds of thousands - possibly millions - of civilians.

The "but people will die!" argument is a false argument.
The ONLY reason for our War in Iraq and our new war in Afghanistan is so G.E. and Boeing and the financial sector can make money. There is NO other reason for these "wars". Period.

We can generate change by trade agreements - by civil discourse - by economic embargos - by financial aid to the right places.

We Are Not The World's Policeman.

[AllTooEasy]

152. Yeah, we did those things...or didn't do anything, depending on how you look at it...

but was it right?!

I say "NO". What if that was you living/dying over there? Wouldn't you want help.

Have you seen Amanpour's award winning special on the plot of Afghan women, the one she made before 9/11? It's deep and horrific. I'm too much of a feminist to let any nation of women go through that again.

True, we shouldn't be the World's Policmen, but the world is filled with a bunch of self-centered cowards. You can't rely on them to help anyone. I said "help" not "rule over".

The Iraq intervention is another matter. We know what that was about!

The "but people will die!" argument is NOT a false argument. People WILL die! Just not your people...how very Republican of you.

[Techn0Girl]

165. OK... and how many American men and women are you willing to sacrafice....

to help the world. Tell me how many have to die before it's too many?
Ten thousand?
Twenty Thousand?
How many will be enough sacrifice - for you?

Your son or daughter?
Tell you what - I did seven years military service - in peacetime - but with a LOT of people who served in Vietnam.

Talk to me after YOU served a tour in Afghanistan, OK?
Tell me about it then.

[seabeckind]

99. I'm on the side of leaving NOW!

The point isn't that the innocents will be slaughtered if we leave, the point is that they will be slaughtered WHEN we leave.

This week, this year, next year, 10 years from now -- it doesn't matter. The result will be the same. The only difference is that our debt won't be as great if we leave sooner.

The mission in Afganitnam has changed as often as the one in Iraq. But at the end of the day we must resign ourselves to the idea that it is their country and they will make it the way they want -- not the way we want.

As far as Iraq: how much is Jan 09 plus 16 months? And the next question becomes how many contractors will remain on our nickel?

[Hutzpa]

91. What?

:wow:

Here?? Unbelievable.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

94. Obama and Bill Clinton have the same tragic flaw:

They're both intelligent, skilled orators with pleasing personalities--who care more about having the rich and powerful like them than they do about taking care of what's good for the country.

[ccinamon]

105. +1

Lydia - I'm leaning that way more and more!

[IndianaGreen]

137. K&R

Obama is turning into another triangulating Bill Clinton.

[Deja Q]

174. It is starting to look that way.

Maybe we'll be lucky and the global economy will fail.

The rich usually don't care about ________ unless it happens to them personally. Oh, then it becomes important.

Unlike us, who don't need things to happen to us to think something should be done.

[varelse]

95. Recommended

I can't wait to get home so I can read more of the thread - many good replies here.

[nightwing1240]

96. Kicked!

I am so sick and tired of "Change You Can Believe In" becoming more and more of the same as the previous 8 years!! I supported Obama both with my vote as well as many donations to his campaign and this is how we are rewarded?? Wtf is going on!!

I too am mad as hell with this latest slap in the face by Obama and his administration!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL AND PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS IN THIS RECKLESS WAR CALLED AFGHANISTAN!

[PuraVidaDreamin]

98. Rec from me- but will anyone here really do anything about it?

Join me this spring

Peaceoftheaction.org

[Plucketeer]

109. I've been sending out about 20 postcards a week.

I'd kinda like to know if anyone else is sending handwritten cards or letters to various reps and senators. I don't know if it makes an impact or not. I'd like to THINK that taking the time to HAND WRITE a message (200 words max) would give my cards a better shot at at least being reviewed. I send the maximum size allowed - 6"X11" - even tho it's 44 cents for each one. I figure, what are the special interests spending?

Yeah, I'm not happy either. The futility of Hope. :banghead:

[defendandprotect]

133. That's a great idea . ..

Next time I'm at the post office, I'll buy some and try it -- !!

:)

[winyanstaz]

104. K & R.......

and rec if you are sick and tired of watching Obama and Congress sell us out to the corporations...

[seabeckind]

108. I think we have gone down a very bad path

in the last 30 years, tho the direction started long before that. The problem as I see it is the rampant corporatism and laissez faire government attitude. In this current so-called stimulus the direction was to lend so that business could create jobs. We jumped on those "shovel-ready" projects -- probably to benefit bidness.

In the other stimulus in 1933, the government determined the direction and indicated which jobs to create in terms of a societal benefit and then told business to go that way. The government (FDR) also insisted that those who had caused the mess pay for it in an extremely aggressive tax. They didn't do shovel-ready projects, the government decided which projects needed to be done, not some local clown who wanted the street widened in front of a strip mall cause he owned a shop there.

In this stimulus we give money to the guys who broke the system and don't reinstate the tax that helped to cause it. We also do not do anything to stop what has been happening. Where is the reinstatement of Glass-Steagal? Where is the windfall tax on wall street? Where is true credit card reform? Where is health reform -- true health reform? Where is the correction of Medicare Part D? Where is my broadband -- why isn't the cable coming to my house part of the infrastructure and I pay for its support thru a levy -- let that fuggin comcast compete at the hub?

Why have these things not been done? One thing FDR did was provide bold, dynamic leadership. I have yet to see that anywhere. Change, my ass. Only change I've seen is the name. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Example: why was single payer NOT at the table in the beginning? But the thieves were. Hel, we're asking the burglar what kind of lock to buy.

[defendandprotect]

134. And Baucus heading the hearings on health care! Should have been Howard Dean -- !!

[bigwillq]

113. K and R (nt)

[Raster]

120. Kick it!

We need a change in this country, and not just a change to believe in. I can believe in the Easter Bunny, but that doesn't make him real. We need change we can witness, change we can verify. And most importantly, change we can ALL participate in.
:kick:

[diane in sf]

121. All of the above and single payer

[defendandprotect]

122. Completely agree with every point -- as well as many other things which need to be reversed ...

[Greyhound]

123. OK

Even though I hate these "Rec if you..." threads.
:grr:

[Techn0Girl]

128. I'ts OK....

I hate those threads too.

But I am SO EFFING glad to see that I'm not alone here - that a whole lot of us are on the same page regarding this past year.

[Greyhound]

194. Not alone at all.

It's like some Orwellian-Through-the-Looking-Glass bizarro world. We are all supposed to pretend that things are just like they've always been, we were just too busy to notice.

These people are really scary and sad.

[JDPriestly]

127. I also want prosecutions for torture if investigations warrant them

and I personally think they will. Waterboarding is clearly torture that is illegal. It is not just enhanced interrogation. Let's don't forget indisputable facts here.

[Riverman]

136. Agree

[thereismore]

138. I'll rec this but the futility of it is depressing. nt

[Techn0Girl]

139. I understand what you mean ... but ....

maybe if we all together realize that we are not alone in the way that we feel... well maybe some of us will be more motivated to try to do something positive about it.

Strength in numbers.
And we obviously have the numbers.

Right now I know that I was becoming really disenchanted with the Democratic party (I actually quit OFA ) and was starting to feel likewise towards DU from all the cheer leading posts ( I started calling them Democratic Teabaggers lately ) in the midst of all the let-downs.

Now at least I know that, not only am I not alone but I am in the majority when it comes to how people have been feeling lately.

So in that sense it's been far from futile.
Maybe a lot more of us need to know we're not alone - that we all think we're getting a raw deal.

[lxlxlxl]

183. well your not alone, but i hope realize you still better off with dems than goppers

a sustained democratic majority is going to be a 'big tent' for some time. we've just eaten the horrors of reagan/bush and a bush. these were not 'normal' years.

i was reading about the financial crisis of 1907 yesterday, when that 'weakling' 'sellout' teddy roosevelt let JP morgan take over companies in order to save the country from massive wall st collapse. i think there are lessons there.

long story short -- we are in a deep hole. politics is not only about doing right immediately, but preserving that right course of action over time. we cant give up already.

[Geek_Girl]

142. K&R

nt

[Mari333]

143. knr

I am damned near at the point of complete apathy. I look at the 2 parties and see very little difference. am I reaching that point that is reached where I am finally lulled out of my fervent idealism? I think so.
I wont vote again, or Ill vote green. at this point, I feel like chucking politics altogether and let the chips fall where they may. The good old USA has to sink before it learns to swim, it seems, so let her sink. hopefully I will be long gone while she hits bottom.

[Serge A Storms]

144. honestly Im getting to the point where I dont care anymore

seems like none of them are worth a shit

time to find something else to care about

[Techn0Girl]

148. No - Now is the time to Care MORE !

Caring less is when things get even worse.

[hay rick]

145. With great sadness-

k&r

[BenjaminFranklin]

146. Hell yeah

Our leadership needs to grow a damn spine

[freddie mertz]

149. K& R. And it's a landslide.

How do we get word to our leaders on all this?

Are they even listening?

[Techn0Girl]

166. Your question made me think....

"How do we get word to our leaders on all this?"

See 3 or 4 posts down.

[Butch350]

150. YES I am! Also posts like yours TOO! They are a dime a dozen now!

[leftstreet]

153. K&R

[democracy1st]

154. K & R

[Techn0Girl]

155. HERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO ....

How about we take a snapshot of today's DU front page and send it to our Reps and the Whitehouse as a wake up call of what they can expect in 12 months if they don't shape up?

Here's the image :



and here's where we can email it:

For Congress and Senate:
http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html

The Whitehouse :
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

The Democratic National Committee"
http://my.democrats.org/page/s/contact

Harry Reid
http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Now most of these sites will make you fill out a form - you can't just send an email anymore.
Fine - take 10 minutes and fill out the forms.
Do Something.

And be sure to include in the form you fill out this link to what will be a things to come if we don;t start seeing some real change real soon!

htt p://podkayne.com/du_thingstocome.jpg

Remove the space character you see in the above link ("http" intsead of "htt p") after you cut and paste it.

[girl_interrupted]

188. Great Idea! Thanks!

[Triana]

156. I want a 40% (ie: NOT a measelly 17%) reduction in CO2 emissions promised by Obama at Copenhagen!

17% isn't crap. It's a plug nickel and it is NOT enough.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NEEDS TO LEAD on Climate Change - 17%?!


SEVENTEEN percent reduction by 2020? :wtf: is that? Bullshit.



ITS.


NOT.


ENOUGH!.

[colsohlibgal]

157. So Sick, So Tired

We keep getting had by candidates who say a lot of the right things to get our support then slide steeply to the right and must whisper the Hell with us once elected. LBJ, Bubba, now Obama, and it is so discouraging.

The media has made sure we don't get anyone truly progressive, they just marginalize them right out of the race if they do run. In other words it's a pretty closed system now and it will be very hard to break - and time is running out.

[Techn0Girl]

158. So Do Something....

Don't just sit around and cry about it.
Do something.
Write them .
Call them.
Vote them out.
See 2 posts above.

[rainy]

160. Rec. They need to grow a pair and fast....

[Just-plain-Kathy]

162. I want our America back NOW ! ...K&R

[Techn0Girl]

163. It's gonna take work ... see a ew posts above... start now :)

[FarLeftFist]

164. More Fantasy. Less Reality.

[vaberella]

167. I don't understand that last one. n/t

[David Zephyr]

168. The 400th rec was all mine. Great rant!

K&R.

[lib2DaBone]

169. Blue Dog... Blue Dog.. wahtcha gonna do when they come for you....

LIEberman and the Blue Dogs take note.... you can run but not hide... you creeps...

[earth mom]

170. Damn, I'm glad to see all these great threads on DU like this one right now!

:thumbsup:

This is the DU I signed up for almost 5 years ago!

[WillyT]

171. Yep... K & R !!!

:kick:

[Cash_thatswhatiwant]

172. REC.

[Joe Bacon]

176. Is it too much to ask for Pelosi and Reid to get some backbone?

I'm fucking tired of their wimping out.

[Political Heretic]

177. K&R

[earcandle]

178. oh yeah! I am intelligent, after all. I would want the best for me and my country and that

includes every single one of my fellow men and women and
children, etc... on down to the molecular level like the cell
salts. 


happy holidays you rugged individuals.


smiles,
davis

[onehandle]

182. Yawn. You sound like a teabagger.

Rec this threads are soooo boring.

[2tr4nqued]

193. Teabaggers want more troops in Afghanistan...just like Obama. n/t

[Starry Messenger]

184. I rec'd hours ago.

But here's a kick. :)

[girl_interrupted]

187. For anyone interested in doing something about Credit Cards & Usury, please read

Credit card usury bill coming soon in House
By Kevin Drawbaugh
Reuters
Wednesday, November 25, 2009; 6:13 PM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Several congressional Democrats said on Wednesday they plan to introduce legislation next week to cap credit card interest rates.

With unemployment and Wall Street bonuses incongruously rising together, the chairman of the House Rules Committee said she will offer a bill to cap rates at 16 percent, a proposal that could catch a wave of Populist sentiment in the House.

"Things were a lot better for the average person in this country when we had usury caps," Representative Louise Slaughter, head of the rules panel, said in a statement.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/25/AR2009112503628.html

Please contact Representative Louise Slaughter and tell her you support this and also, making it retroactive.
http://www.louise.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44&Itemid=64

It's also a good idea to contact your own congressmen and tell them the same.

Banks have taken taxpayer money for their bailouts, Interest Free. It's about time they also gave the consumers a break on what they are charging them after borrowing money from us.

Thank you!

[shadesofgray]

190. I missed the rec deadline, but ITA. I want Democrats in office who act like DEMOCRATS.

[TexasObserver]

195. K&R