What remains unchanged or has worsened under Obama?

[Fire Walk With Me]

Last edited Sun Aug 4, 2013, 09:21 AM - Edit history (4)

Alan Grayson TPP Secret Treaty “This Hands Sovereignty of Our Country Over to Corp Interests"
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/06/first-congress-member-allowed-to-read-secret-treaty-says-there-is-no-national-security-purpose-in-keeping-this-text-secret-this-agreement-hands-the-sovereignty-of-our-country-over-t.html

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023049340

-Citizens United = unlimited donations and campaign spending by corporations and rich businessmen. $2 billion spent upon this election cycle. Mussolini's definition of Fascism says it should be called corporatism, because it is a merger of state and corporate power.
-No wall street regulation or punishment, same with the banks
-A multiple hundred-fold disparity in income between CEOs and workers, which remains unchanged even a year after OWS
-Drones used for summary execution of foreigners and US citizens abroad suspected of terrorism or terrorist ties
-Hundreds of children killed by these drones in more than five countries
-The NDAA signed again for another year with its Section 1021, allowing the indefinite detention of US citizens without trial or representation
-The Bush-era FISA warrantless wireless wiretapping bill was just signed into five more years of activity.
-The TPP is a secretive corporate alliance creating international law.
-The ALEC is a secretive national corporate alliance creating US law, such as "stand your ground". (Mussolini: Fascism/Corporatism)
-7400+ Occupy members bloodied and arrested for peacefully protesting the above with nary a whisper from the White House. Silence is consent.
-Glass-Steagall remains removed, and the banks remain unregulated. Reinstate it now.
-There are 64 drone bases being built within the US as you read this. Did you vote for this? No. No citizen did.
-Drones will be used by increasingly militarized law enforcement, who are now tentacles of the illegal DHS. See Los Angeles iWatch and Special Order 1. All your information are belong to us. (Check your local PD for "iWatch" connections, meaning "serving DHS".)
-The DHS have membership who are blatantly anti-Occupy (Peter King) and have lied about spying upon Occupy from the beginning. "Trust your mechanic..."
-The FBI have been raiding Occupy activists' apartments for "literature", creating terrorists by offering bomb-making materiel to Americans, and spying upon Americans in general.
-Yes, militarized police and sheriffs. Have you seen the armored vehicles and weaponry being handed out by DHS, much less the hundreds of millions of hollow point munitions purchased by DHS (who will not discuss it)?
-Word of microphones being installed on buses to record citizen conversation. "Americans as terrorists" is making big money to arms and war tech dealers who are only interested in creating a new market...inside the US.
-Obama just signed life-long protection from protesters for himself and W Bush, via permanent Secret Service protection. HR347 makes it a Federal crime to protest where there are secret service present. He's protected a war criminal who desperately requires protesting! Life long protesting!
-The US government have known about "robosigning", the illegal foreclosure mill used by big banks, for over two years and have done nothing as citizens have their homes stolen. Yes, wall street are among the buyers at the quarterly bulk sales.
-Amber Lyon found and revealed that CNN take money from the Bahrain government to report that "everything is okay" while it IS NOT. Where is the government oversight upon this and truth-telling in mainstream media?
-Clarence Thomas (Supreme Court judge) was a lawyer for Monsanto, yet he will not recuse himself from Monsanto cases brought before him. There is now a Monsanto person in the FDA. WTF.
-Goldman Sachs. Enough said. Perhaps not. Did you know GS execs are in power in Greece, Italy, and other countries that are being savaged by "austerity", which is nothing more than socialized debt and theft? And power grabs?
-The multinational Trans-Canada Keystone XL pipeline and the horrifically toxic Tar Sands development. Stealing the environment and people's land with a nod from government.
-Private, for-profit prisons (taxpayer-funded) advertising a 90% occupancy rate. Thank you "war on drugs", with some 46% of inmates incarcerated on drug-related offences. Research the prison-industrial complex and those profiting (don't overlook Wells Fargo's massive investment in one of these companies).
-The military industrial complex and the now-endless war budget (continues on US soil under the concept of "Americans are terrorists&quot .
-The TSA, who have been testing out on buses. Don't need them everywhere, please!

An amazing visualization of income inequality in America:

Obama, corporate shill:

Corporate Profits Have Grown By 171 Percent Under Obama -- Highest Rate Since 1900
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/corporate-profits-have-grown-171-percent-under-obama-highest-rate-1900

"Average annual corporate profit growth under Obama is the highest since 1900, whereas profit growth declined during both Bush presidencies. As a share of the economy, corporate profits have never been higher.
Unfortunately, this profit deluge has not been shared by workers, whose wages as a percentage of the economy have fallen to all-time lows. Workers also got dinged by the recent increase in the payroll tax, which was large enough to wipe out a minimum wage increase in some states."

8 Huge Corporate Handouts in the Fiscal Cliff Bill
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/8-huge-corporate-handouts-fiscal-cliff-bill

"Throughout the months of November and December, a steady stream of corporate CEOs flowed in and out of the White House to discuss the impending fiscal cliff. Many of them, such as Lloyd Blankfein of Goldman Sachs, would then publicly come out and talk about how modest increases of tax rates on the wealthy were reasonable in order to deal with the deficit problem. What wasn’t mentioned is what these leaders wanted, which is what’s known as “tax extenders”, or roughly $205B of tax breaks for corporations. With such a banal name, and boring and difficult to read line items in the bill, few political operatives have bothered to pay attention to this part of the bill. But it is critical to understanding what is going on.

5) Subsidies for Goldman Sachs Headquarters – Sec. 328 extends 'tax exempt financing for York Liberty Zone,' which was a program to provide post-9/11 recovery funds. Rather than going to small businesses affected, however, this was, according to Bloomberg, 'little more than a subsidy for fancy Manhattan apartments and office towers for Goldman Sachs and Bank of America Corp.' Michael Bloomberg himself actually thought the program was excessive, so that’s saying something. According to David Cay Johnston’s The Fine Print, Goldman got $1.6 billion in tax free financing for its new massive headquarters through Liberty Bonds."

The Untouchables: How the Obama administration protected Wall Street from prosecutions
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/23/untouchables-wall-street-prosecutions-obama

Yes, Virginia, the Rich Continue to Get Richer: the Top 1% Got 121% of Income Gains Since 2009
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2013/02/yes-virginia-the-rich-continue-to-get-richer-the-1-got-121-of-income-gains-since-2009.html

U.S. banks in 2012 post highest profits since '06
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/26/us-usa-fdic-earnings-idUSBRE91P0N820130226?utm_source=Daily+Digest&utm_campaign=de8376aab3-DD_2_27_132_27_2013&utm_medium=email#.US5jjkXSlU8.twitter

This Year’s Subsidy to Wall Street = the Amount of This Year’s Sequester Cuts
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/02/this-years-subsidy-to-wall-street-the-amount-of-this-years-sequester-cuts.html#.US_yiFwwnHY.facebook

Don’t Blink, or You’ll Miss Another Bailout
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100466032

America faces more than a dozen deadlines, all caused by billionaires and wealth transfer
http://americablog.com/2013/02/america-faces-more-than-a-dozen-deadlines-all-caused-by-billionaires-and-wealth-transfer.html

Bank Bailout 2: Obama Lets Mortgage Abusers Off the Hook
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/02/09-5

Prison Labor Booms As Unemployment Remains High; Companies Reap Benefits
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/10/prison-labor_n_2272036.html

It’s Not a Housing Boom. It’s a Land Grab
http://colorlines.com/archives/2013/05/the_dangerous_new_housing_boom.html

The "fiscal cliff" scam involved making permanent some aspects of the Bush tax cuts to the rich.

-Retains the 10 percent, 15 percent, 25 percent, and 28 percent income tax brackets from the Bush tax cuts permanently
-Retains the 33 percent and 35 percent income tax brackets from the Bush tax cuts for taxable income under $400,000 (single), $425,000 (head of household), and $450,000 (joint filers). Imposes 39.6 percent tax rate on income above this level.

Details of the Fiscal Cliff Tax Deal
http://taxfoundation.org/blog/details-fiscal-cliff-tax-deal



Roll call for representatives with financial investment in the tarsands and TransCanada's KeystoneXL

"Hailing her longtime role as a 'trusted adviser,' President Barack Obama formally named U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice as his next national security adviser on Wednesday."
http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/05/18772869-obama-appoints-susan-rice-as-national-security-adviser?lite

"Potential Secretary of State candidate Susan Rice holds as much as $600,000 of shares in TransCanada, the company seeking State Department approval to build the Keystone XL pipeline."
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/84355.html

The SEC Mulls An Investigation Calls Grow For John Boehner To Resign
http://www.politicususa.com/2012/01/28/john-boehner-resign.html

Speaker Boehner owns shares in seven different Canadian tar sand companies
https://www.facebook.com/OMCorg/posts/184196495016974

Congressmembers Implicated in Insider Stock Trading on TransCanada, Keystone XL Pipeline
http://www.desmogblog.com/congressmembers-implicated-insider-stock-trading-transcanada-keystone-xl-pipeline

The GOP’s Senate Oil Whores Get $22.3 Million From Keystone XL Backers
http://www.politicususa.com/2012/02/02/senate-keystone-xl.html


Oh, there IS a difference between the two political parties. However, note that neither the RNC nor the DNC mentioned PFC Manning, then 2 years in solitary confinement for revealing the lies of Bush's war; the NDAA, NDRP, HR347, the military industrial complex taking 50+ percent of our tax dollars under an infinite war standing, student debt totaling over one trillion dollars because it's a bankster scam, getting back the 16 trillion given away by the Fed and others to wall street and banks for bonuses, 7000+ Occupiers arrested and brutalized over the last year for talking about these very things (mostly attacked by "democratic" mayors such as Quan, Villaraigosa, etc.)... There IS a difference, but it is =not= where it matters, where it will actually solve the problems destroying us. Income inequality is utterly out of control, unions are being destroyed, the middle class is vanishing under long-term attack...and they're pushing the TPP which is NAFTA (passed by Clinton) on steroids...who mentioned an immediate foreclosure moratorium, much less an investigation into the (known for 3+ years) illegal robosigning mills? Wells Fargo and BofA are two criminal organizations still stealing homes at record rates through provably fraudulent means, yet they are allowed to continue at will. Why? Because it's been found that Wall Street are buying up foreclosed properties in bulk. There are more empty homes in American than there are homeless people (and many of the homeless are Veterans). Was there any mention of immediate care for Veterans, who desperately need it? What about the terrible percentage of Veterans who are killing themselves?

Neither party will address these issues either at all or in any meaningful manner. They continue to have to shut down social services (such as former Goldman Sachs lackey Rahm Emmanuel shutting down several mental health care clinics recently in Chicago, and now with Chicago teachers at the edge of striking...) Infrastructure problems are the result of forced "austerity", which means the people have to fund the theft of those trillions of dollars, or at least feel the result. Because no one is doing a single thing to retrieve it. There is no difference between the parties there. Where it most matters. National parks are being sold to foreign investors because "there's no money". Some people are getting extremely rich this way, through selling off America, and neither party is saying a word to stop it. The DHS and TSA are quietly expanding their presence and power as part of a power grab and we are happily allowing ourselves to become normalized to it, because it is occurring in increments, not all at once. Drones! They are setting up drones in our skies and newly-announced "wraith" ground drones which can travel 65MPH and climb over obstacles...to stop what? I don't see any terrorists, just US citizens. But that doesn't matter because arms dealers, the same ones who paid representatives to vote yes for the NDAA, need a new market, and a new market requires a new enemy. WE are that new enemy. Protest is already defined in a DoD manual as "low-level terrorism". Now the FBI are raiding protesters' homes on suspicion, not fact...same tactics used against the civil rights movement. The 1st Amendment is very nearly gone, and they're starting on the 4th (TSA, etc.).

Note that Obama was going to do his DNC speech at Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium (it was moved). Bank of America stole my friends' home through "double-tracking" :

https://www.facebook.com/OccupyFortHernandez

And have previously attempted to kick this family out as well. In fact, when Occupy Fights Foreclosures arrived at their house, they WERE on the street with all of their property! Note they have a 27 year-old severely disabled daughter!

BofA still attempting to kick a widow and her disabled daughter out on the street!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002645488

They later were able later to get back their home but victims of double-tracking are usually not so lucky. Why is Obama allowing this?


Three years of mostly solitary confinement for PFC Manning before a hint of a trial.
Despite human rights organizations making complaints and demands. To the US, that is not torture.
Obama signed the NDAA section 1021 which provides for the indefinite detention of US citizens with neither trial nor representation.
So they can stuff Snowden in a box for the rest of his life and say it's perfectly legal, which by their legislation and interpretation, it is.
The US also said they wouldn't scramble fighters to get a 29-year-old hacker, then force down the plane of another country's president for 12 hours, hoping to find Snowden on board, creating an international incident. Obama said he'd protect whistle-blowers then arrested them all.
Obama said "violence against peaceful protesters is unacceptable" in regard to the early Egyptian uprising, then sends militarized police to beat and arrest 7400+ Occupiers who were trying to draw attention to terrible economic injustice. Obama has since continued bail-outs to wall street and the big corporations and the DOJ calls the banks too big to jail. Then Obama appoints billionaire worker's rights offender Penny Pritzker to a government post. And starts talking about Summers, a Wall Street de-regulator, to head the Fed (which printed trillions of dollars for banks which we'll never ever again see, all the while forcing "sequestration" upon the little people because there's no money).
Then Obama says he's just like Trayvon Martin the same week praises the unConstitutional racist Ray Kelly as being viable for secretary of DHS (where he'd bring "stop and frisk", which stops 85% black and brown people, everywhere). And Obama has done nothing to wind down or eliminate GEORGE BUSH'S surveillance state. On the contrary, he forced down a sovereign nation's president's plane looking for him, an international incident.
It was posited that Obama's promise to aid whistle-blowers was a straight-up honeypot intended to capture as many as possible in one fell swoop. Which would mean he came into office with such plans.
Obama said "transparency and the rule of law will the the touchstones of this administration."

Then:

Extra-judicial executions of US citizens suspected of terror or terrorist ties! Fuck the rule of law or telling people about his kill lists. Oops, kill lists, another reason to trust our executioner in chief.

When they say they won't torture him, they mean we're planning to torture him. They say the opposite of what they fully intend to do, like all politicians.

Obama Promises, Including Whistleblower Protections, Disappear From Website
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/26/obama-whistleblower-website_n_3658815.html

And Obama supporting the NSA...

What's not to love?

Infinite


Edit: Wall Street "financial advisors" :

"Looking back, it is still surprising to see how many of his initial appointments in the Treasury Department and other agencies and departments that deal with financial matters reflected this policy. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Director of the National Economic Council Larry Summers, SEC Chair Mary Schapiro, SEC Enforcement Head Rob Khuzami, CFTC Chair Gary Gensler, Attorney General Eric Holder, Criminal Division Head Lanny Breuer, and many more–all came to Washington from Wall Street."

To Police Banks, Obama Spins Revolving Door To Bring In More Of Wall Street's Own
http://www.forbes.com/sites/tedkaufman/2013/07/23/to-police-banks-obama-spins-revolving-door-to-bring-in-more-of-wall-streets-own/


Edit: The dying Constitution, Bill of Rights sections:

1: Domestic terrorism (as defined by the FBI and "patriot act&quot against US citizens for peacefully gathering to petition the government with grievance against the economic destruction wrought by banksters and corporations. SHUT UP AND WATCH TV is the message. March and meet hundreds of militarized police. SHUT UP AND GO HOME. 7400+ Occupiers arrested, two brought to within inches of death by militarized police. Force and threat of force against a civilian population for political purposes. And Obama continues to bail out Wall Street and the corps with our tax dollars to this day. Where is the outrage? Then the Supreme Court makes it illegal to protest on their grounds using words directly out of the 1st Amendment. Then Obama signs HR347 which makes it a Federal crime to protest where Secret Service are working (then he gives himself and George Bush lifetime SS protection...smell the trend?)
2: Shaky; under pressure
4: DHS can steal your personal electronics anywhere along the border and up to 100 miles inland =on a hunch=. So much for warrants, courts, reasonability. Zero right to privacy in the Bush/neocon surveillance state. Where is the outrage?
5: It was made legal recently to allow silence in court to be used against you in certain circumstances. Goodbye 5th Amendment.
6: The right to a speedy trial. Have you heard of Obama's NDAA section 1021 which provides for the indefinite detention of US citizens with neither trial nor representation?

PS: His hands aren't tied, it's not about who is or isn't backing him, it's not about nDimensional chess.

Edit: The surveillance state (which can oh so easily flip into being a police state) :

Spying is local too......look no further than the Los Angeles Police Department

Last edited Wed Jun 26, 2013, 09:05 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)
http://www.laactivist.com/2013/06/21/bringing-the-argument-home-about-domestic-spying

Besides the SARs and iWatch programs, the LAPD also has several cameras positioned around the city that use TrapWire technology, a predictive software that can allegedly detect suspicious behavior in connection with terrorism.

Another technology employed by the LAPD is a suitcase-sized device called StingRay. It mimics a cell phone tower, tricking every cell phone in a neighborhood into connecting to it. Once connected, police can grab information from everyone’s phone in the area, not just the suspects.

StingRay was purchased with Dept. of Homeland Security Funds. It was meant for counterterrorism, but according to documents obtained by LA Weekly, in 2012, the LAPD used StingRay 21 times within four-months in burglary, drug and murder investigations.

The LAPD has said their use of StingRay is legal. However, the department remains extremely secretive about it, declining to explain how the devices are used, how much money was spent on them or whether or not the department adequately explains the power of the technology to judges when seeking search warrants.

(Much more at the link.)

For more reading:

How LAPD are made into a tentacle of the DHS
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022154200


Remember how Custer Battles and other NGOs raked in taxpayer dollars under the opportunity in the Iraq invasion? It continues but this time within our own country:

Meet the Contractors Turning America's Police Into a Paramilitary Force
http://www.alternet.org/meet-contractors-turning-americas-police-paramilitary-force?paging=off

The national security state has an annual budget of around $1 trillion. Of that huge pile of money, large amounts go to private companies the federal government awards contracts to. Some, like Lockheed Martin or Boeing, are household names, but many of the contractors fly just under the public's radar. What follows are three companies you should know about (because some of them can learn a lot about you with their spy technologies).

[Scuba]

1. Wow, what a racist rant. I'll bet you date a pole dancer.

[Jesus Malverde]

22. Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system

ALERTER'S COMMENTS:

Racist rant? Calling the poster a racist? And suggesting he dates a pole dancer? Even with the new DU this needs to be hidden. Rude and over the top. Nothing but two insults.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Thu Aug 1, 2013, 07:54 PM, and the Jury voted 3-3 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: I'm pretty sure this is sarcasm. Someone called the pro-Snowden group racist and he formerly dated a pole dancer. You're just not getting the witty banter. It's getting old but not an attack.
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT and said: Hide, but for a different reason. Dearest Scuba is actually mocking Obama supporters on DU with this post. That seems to be what Democratic Underground is all about these days. Whoopee.
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Alerter needs to smoke some cannabis and chill out. It's obviously missing the satire thingy. Peace
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Sarcasm

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[Scuba]

23. You're welcome.

Guess I need to start inserting the sarcasm thingy.

[Hissyspit]

29. Dearest Scuba,

The great love and tenderness I have hitherto expressed for you
is false, and I now feel that my indifference towards you
increases proportionably every day, and the more I see you
the more I appear ridiculous, and an object of contempt, and
the more I feel disposed, inclined, and finally determined, to
hate you. Believe me I never had the least inclination to
offer you my hand and heart. Our last conversation has
I assure you, left a wretched insipidity, which has be no means
possessed me with the most exalted opinion of your character.
Yes, madam, and you will much oblige me by avoiding me.
And if ever we are united, I shall experience nothing but the
fearful hatred of my parents, added to an everlasting dis-
pleasure of living with you. Yes, madam, I think sincerely.
You need not put yourself to the smallest trouble or send or
write me an answer —— Adieu. And believe that I am
so averse to you that it is really impossible I should ever be,
Madam,
Your affectionate lover till death.
Hissyspit

P.S. I'll miss the whoopee.

Click here for the secret, Dearest Scuba: http://www.howaboutwe.com/date-report/571-how-to-write-a-victorian-love-letter/

[Scuba]

33. I feel exactly the same way.

[rhett o rick]

165. And that's all you have to say? nm

[Scuba]

169. Never use an overabundance of generously proportioned words ....

... when a much smaller sampling of dimunitive ones will suffice.

[rhett o rick]

171. Oh!

[NuclearDem]

30. ...

[raindaddy]

53. Thanks for posting this.

Obama is a well spoken shill for Wall Street, military contractors and global corporate interests. People need to wake up, Obama's not Justin Bieber and they're not 13 year old girls.

[brush]

142. It's called being the President of the United States

Unfortunately this is the country we have become. One man, or woman, isn't going to turn it around in 4+ years even if he/she wanted to.

Hell, if he/she tried too aggressively to change our corporate-fascism I would fear for their survival.

There are too many forces aligned in keeping the gravy train going for constant war which keeps supplier corporations like Halliburton milking the treasury and at the same time keeps the raw materials spigot of other countries' resources open for our oil, mining, and big agri, etc. interests.

[matthews]

166. So I'm curious about something...

"Hell, if he/she tried too aggressively to change our corporate-fascism I would fear for their survival. "

So we just have to look at it like oh well, doesn't matter? No farking body that we put in the White House is going to do the right thing? Stand up for the country? Do what the damn job description says to do? They going to be too busy spending all their time covering their own ass?

Huh??????????

[brush]

188. Not exactly

Someone might come along who is determined to go against what Ike warned us about years ago — the military-industrial complex — but nowadays it's even more complex. It's the security-military-industrial-obstructionist-off-shoring-one percenter-voter suppression complex that would have to be taken on.

Elizabeth Warren seems to be that someone who doesn't have the prior obligations and ties to corporatism that would put her in good stead to at least began trying to dismantle the huge behemoth that has a stranglehold on our country.

And as far as that, I don't think there's any denying that this combination of forces exists. It's a matter of courage however, because power doesn't give up power voluntarily. That is what President Obama misunderestimated (if I may use a Bush-ism) when he took office. And he has the racism aspect as well to deal with. He of course also has ties and obligations to those who helped him get elected so even though his heart is in the right place, he isn't able to get accomplished anywhere near what's needed. He as well as anybody knows we need single payer health care but it couldn't be accomplished in the first step towards that so we have the ACA — better than before but not there yet.

After 4+ years it's becoming clear, to me at least, that the President is a transitional figure who represents, by his very ethnicity, the changing demographic of the country, which has given rise to the tea baggers and others who have dug in their heels to resist the changes that are already here, with more coming.

The next president, and we better hope it's a Democrat from the democratic wing of the Democratic Party will be the one to take it farther. And, like I said, it will take courage because power doesn't give up
volun . . . anyway, you know the drill.

[matthews]

207. Well I agree with one thing you said...

"...and we better hope it's a Democrat from the democratic wing of the Democratic Party..."

That would be nice for a change. Last time that happened was Carter I believe.

[brush]

210. What's your take on Warren?

I like Elizabeth Warren and the progressive stances she's taken but she might be too progressive to get the nomination. The DLC and the bluedogs have entirely too much influence as this is not Carter's or even LBJ's dem party anymore.

But Hillary has many strengths and she's probably more electable than Warren. It remains to be seen though if she would have the courage to not toe the line as "President of the United States" who presides over our empire that seems to required constant war to feed the security-military-industrial-obstructionist-off-shoring . . . and you know the rest of this drill by now also.

If not see my earlier post.

[NYC_SKP]

2. I just Googled "Los Angeles iWatch and Special Order 11" and got a CREEPY reply:

About this page

Our systems have detected unusual traffic from your computer network. This page checks to see if it's really you sending the requests, and not a robot. Why did this happen?

This page appears when Google automatically detects requests coming from your computer network which appear to be in violation of the Terms of Service. The block will expire shortly after those requests stop. In the meantime, solving the above CAPTCHA will let you continue to use our services.

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Sometimes you may be asked to solve the CAPTCHA if you are using advanced terms that robots are known to use, or sending requests very quickly.

IP address: 77.777.777.77
Time: 2013-08-02T01:01:47Z
URL: http://www.google.com/search?q=Los+Angeles+iWatch+and+Special+Order+11&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US fficial&client=firefox-a

[Fire Walk With Me]

24. Damn! I've added a section to the end of the OP regarding the surveillance state and police...

You should check this out as well:

stoplapdspying.org

I got it wrong; it's special order 1. It used to be 11.

[KoKo]

3. K&R...That's quite a Litany...and Interesting to Bookmark...for sure! n/t

[woo me with science]

4. Superb post, and merely a partial list.

Education policy remains a wrecking ball, too.

[drokhole]

59. The fact that he's appointed a couple of good old boys from Monsanto for food and ag policy...

makes me ill. Great article here that has a small section on Michael Taylor (who had a position created for him at the FDA).

[Fire Walk With Me]

86. And all of those Wall Street "financial advisors" !!

"Looking back, it is still surprising to see how many of his initial appointments in the Treasury Department and other agencies and departments that deal with financial matters reflected this policy. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Director of the National Economic Council Larry Summers, SEC Chair Mary Schapiro, SEC Enforcement Head Rob Khuzami, CFTC Chair Gary Gensler, Attorney General Eric Holder, Criminal Division Head Lanny Breuer, and many more–all came to Washington from Wall Street."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/tedkaufman/2013/07/23/to-police-banks-obama-spins-revolving-door-to-bring-in-more-of-wall-streets-own/

[JDPriestly]

156. And nearly as many Republicans among his top appointees as Bush.

It's a much closer ratio of Democrats to Republicans than any Democratic president should ever admit to.

[forestpath]

5. K&R

[pscot]

6. K&R

[Historic NY]

7. Yup, its all Obama's fault.

[Wilms]

14. Agreed. A lot of it isn't.

But enough is such to be a bit disappointed with and "hold his feet to the fire". And Obama CAN use the bully pulpit to push the issues. AND it would resonate with enough Americans that the Democratic nominee would be a shoe-in in 2016.

And it's NOT about personalities or parties for that matter. It's about democracy...or what's left of it.

[Dragonfli]

15. No, It is a bipartisan fucking that will continue

The only break we get from what was once "the party of the people" and is now "the other corporate wealth party" are social policies that do not affect the bottom line of the money bag owners of both parties.

[uponit7771]

117. False equivalancy; it's 90% republicans fault

[Dragonfli]

121. .

[uponit7771]

122. ...and the professional left

[Dragonfli]

124. I forgot, the left is the enemy, the right is for seeking agreement with

The professional right in our party keep the bipartisan fucking going like clockwork, we need them for their conservative wisdom, fuck the left.

[caseymoz]

61. Okay, only half of it is his fault.

Such as, he doesn't have to give his total support to the NSA, he doesn't have to order drones to kill people . . . things like that.

But even if a quarter of it is his fault, name another President besides the worst one in history (Dubya of course) with that many . . . "errors."

[grahamhgreen]

180. No, it's your fault, too.

[leftstreet]

8. DURec

[The Straight Story]

9. If you and prosense had a baby together

It would be like dividing by zero

[Arctic Dave]

11. Now that's funny.

[ProSense]

36. My current list isn't as long.

It's going to take time to reverse a decades-old trend, and especially in the aftermath of an economic crisis that exploded the problems.

<...>

Perhaps the best prism through which to see the Democrats’ gains is inequality. In the 2008 campaign, Mr. Obama said that his top priority as president would be to “create bottom-up economic growth” and reduce inequality...In the 2009 stimulus, he insisted on making tax credits “fully refundable,” so that even people who did not make enough to pay much federal tax would benefit. The 2010 health care law overhaul was probably the biggest attack on inequality since it began rising in the 1970s, increasing taxes on businesses and the rich to pay for health insurance largely for the middle class.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/us/politics/for-obama-fiscal-deal-is-a-victory-that-also-holds-risks.html

Krugman: Obama and Redistribution
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022224304

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau gets busy
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023372682

Also as the health care becomes more accessible and affordable, and the effects will become even more noticeable.

The data presented here are from the Current Population Survey (CPS), 2012 Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC), the source of official poverty estimates. The CPS ASEC is a sample survey of approximately 100,000 household nationwide. These data reflect conditions in calendar year 2011.

• In 2011, the official poverty rate was 15.0 percent. There were 46.2 million people in poverty.
  
  
• After 3 consecutive years of increases, neither the official poverty rate nor the number of people in poverty were statisti¬cally different from the 2010 estimates1
  
  
• The 2011 poverty rates for most demographic groups examined were not statistically different from their 2010 rates. Poverty rates were lower in 2011 than in 2010 for six groups: Hispanics, males, the foreign-born, nonciti¬zens, people living in the South, and people living inside metropol¬itan statistical areas but outside principal cities. Poverty rates went up between 2010 and 2011 for naturalized citizens.
  
  
• For most groups, the number of people in poverty either decreased or did not show a statistically significant change. The number of people in poverty decreased for noncitizens, people living in the South, and people living inside metropolitan statistical areas but outside principal cities between 2010 and 2011. The number of naturalized citizens in poverty increased.
  
  
• The poverty rate in 2011 for chil¬dren under age 18 was 21.9 per-cent. The poverty rate for people aged 18 to 64 was 13.7 percent, while the rate for people aged 65 and older was 8.7 percent. None of the rates for these age groups were statistically different from their 2010 estimates.2

http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/about/overview/

Go to the "Publications" tab for more information.

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2011
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/income_wealth/cb12-172.html

Sex

• The poverty rate for males decreased between 2010 and 2011, from 14.0 percent to 13.6 percent, while the poverty rate for females was 16.3 percent, not statistically different from the 2010 estimate.

<...>

Health Insurance Coverage

• The number of people with health insurance increased to 260.2 million in 2011 from 256.6 million in 2010, as did the percentage of people with health insurance (84.3 percent in 2011, 83.7 percent in 2010).
  
  
• The percentage of people covered by private health insurance in 2011 was not statistically different from 2010, at 63.9 percent. This was the first time in the last 10 years that the rate of private health insurance coverage has not decreased. The percentage covered by employment-based health insurance in 2011 was not statistically different from 2010, at 55.1 percent.
  
  
• The percentage of people covered by government health insurance increased from 31.2 percent to 32.2 percent. The percentage covered by Medicaid increased from 15.8 percent in 2010 to 16.5 percent in 2011. The percentage covered by Medicare also rose over the period, from 14.6 percent to 15.2 percent. The percentage covered by Medicaid in 2011 was higher than the percentage covered by Medicare.
  
  
• In 2011, 9.7 percent of children under 19 (7.6 million) were without health insurance. Neither estimate is significantly different from the corresponding 2010 estimate. The uninsured rate also remained statistically unchanged for those age 26 to 34 and people age 45 to 64. It declined, however, for people age 19 to 25, age 35 to 44 and those age 65 and older.
  
  
• The uninsured rate for children in poverty (13.8 percent) was higher than the rate for all children (9.4 percent).
  
  
• In 2011, the uninsured rates decreased as household income increased from 25.4 percent for those in households with annual income less than $25,000 to 7.8 percent in households with income of $75,000 or more.
  
  <...>

- more -

http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/income_wealth/cb12-172.html

Dire information, but I would say a decrease in the poverty rate among most groups between 2010 and 2011 is big news, as is the information on health insurance coverage.

Single Payer movement in the era of Obamacare
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023372091

[The Straight Story]

38. As I was saying....

At any rate, do you feel better now that Kerry is talking about not having anymore drone strikes in Pakistan?

And did you support the ones we did before?

[sabrina 1]

55. It doesn't seem to matter what positions people had before, they are very flexible and can

change positions in an instant, if required to do so.

[MADem]

79. The ISI and Pakistani military sure supported them....

It's not like we were in there uninvited, bigfooting all over the place--the use of drones in Pakistan was carefully coordinated with Pakistani military and civilian leadership. We allowed them to paint us as Big Bad USA because it suited their political requirements, but they were onboard.

Things are not always as they seem.

WASHINGTON — Even as its civilian leaders publicly decried U.S. drone attacks as breaches of sovereignty and international law, Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency secretly worked for years with the CIA on strikes that killed Pakistani insurgent leaders and scores of suspected lower-level fighters, according to classified U.S. intelligence reports.

Dozens of civilians also reportedly died in the strikes in the semi-autonomous tribal region of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan that is a stronghold of al Qaida, Afghan militants, other foreign jihadists and a tangle of violent Pakistani Islamist groups.

Copies of top-secret U.S. intelligence reports reviewed by McClatchy provide the first official confirmation of joint operations involving drones between the U.S. spy agency and Pakistan’s powerful army-run Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, or ISI, as well as previously unknown details of that cooperation. The review takes on important significance as the administration reportedly is preparing to expand the use of drones in Afghanistan and North Africa amid a widespread debate over the legality of the strikes in Pakistan.

The documents show that while the ISI helped the CIA target al Qaida, the United States used drone strikes to aid the Pakistani military in its battle against the Taliban Movement of Pakistan, or TTP – assistance that the Obama and Bush administrations never explicitly acknowledged or legally justified. ....

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/04/09/188063/us-secret-cia-collaborated-with.html#.UftieZLVCSo#storylink=cpy

[bvar22]

131. You say that like you think its a GOOD THING ...

...to be on the same side as the Pakistani ISI.
Do you know anything about the Pakistani Secret Police?

[MADem]

135. Why do you so predictably feel a need to characterize what was an entirely FACTUAL post?

Look at yourself:

bvar22
131. You say that like you think its a GOOD THING ...

...to be on the same side as the Pakistani ISI.
Do you know anything about the Pakistani Secret Police?


I'm sick of the "You must be...." and "You must think..." bullshit that pervades this board. It is a cheap substitute for substantive discussion. Here's some "personal" observations for YOU--you're one of the very worst purveyors of that "personal" crap, and your post 131 is only the most recent example.

You plainly are unable to discuss this issue without being personally accusing. So you just have a nice, pompous day, then, why don't you? Go play the "You must...." game with someone who likes wasting time.

FWIW, I know a LOT about the ISI. They aren't boy scouts, in case you're not quite clear on that score.

[bvar22]

139. Anyone of reasonable intelligence would arrive at the same conclusion..

...after reading THIS:

"
The ISI and Pakistani military sure supported them....

It's not like we were in there uninvited, bigfooting all over the place--the use of drones in Pakistan was carefully coordinated with Pakistani military and civilian leadership. We allowed them to paint us as Big Bad USA because it suited their political requirements, but they were onboard.

---MADem in post 135.

Thats is FAR from an unbiased presentation of just the facts.
It is an opinionated piece written to discredit and influence.

[font size=3]"We ALLOWED them to paint us as Big Bad USA??!!![/font]
If YOU want to line up with the ISI and say that they are working with the US Intelligence Services with the knowledge and permission of our Political leadership,
Please Proceed!

[MADem]

141. You confuse facts--all of them supported by the article--with endorsement.

We WERE there by invitation.

We were NOT bigfooting all over the place.

The use of drones WAS carefully coordinated with Pakistani military and civilian leadership.

We allowed Pakistan to paint us as the bad guys to suit their political necessity.

ALL of that is substantiated in the article I provided, which you would see if you bothered to read the damn thing.



And you do this kind of "cheap shot retort" ALL THE TIME.


It is a skeevy substitute for a real discussion, you should be embarrassed for trying to pull it, and it makes DU suck.

Please proceed, indeed--on your merry way.

Good day.

[bvar22]

145. Glad to know you line up with the ISI.

That way, we'll never meet in person,
because I'm on the OTHER side of THAT line.

Cheers!

[MADem]

149. I want to memorialize your bad behavior, in case embarrassment moves you to delete such a

nasty, unsubstantiated, untruthful slur.

bvar22 (30,632 posts)
145. Glad to know you line up with the ISI.

That way, we'll never meet in person,
because I'm on the OTHER side of THAT line.

Cheers!

[bvar22]

158. Sorry, Mam,

but expressions like:
"We were NOT bigfooting all over the place"

.....do NOT appear in FACT BASED Policy Reports or Foreign Policy Position Papers.
And people who use this kind of terminology can NOT claim to be "Fact Based".

What kind of FACT is "Not Big Footing All Over the Place"?
Have you EVER heard that expression or anything LIKE that used by intelligent, professional people in a fact based discussion of Foreign Policy?

ONLY in the fantasy world of the internet can someone say something as absurd as that,
and then try to claim they are "Fact Based".


Trust Me on this.
I KNOW.

As far as your unsupported and baseless Ad Hominem attacks?
ANYBODY can do THAT with very little training, discipline, or intelligence.
These kinds of remarks belong in the Beavis & Butthead Chatroom at AoL,
and not in any intelligent Foreign Policy Discussion at DU.
It is clear that you have Reached your Level.


[font color=firebrick size=3][center]"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone[/font][/center]
[center][/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]

[font size=5 color=firebrick]Solidarity![/font]

[MADem]

159. Give it up. We were not bigfooting all over the place. Our charge in Pakistan was

with the knowledge and cooperation of civilian and military leadership.

It's painfully obvious just how much you "KNOW." That post took the proverbial cake.

Have a nice day.

[bvar22]

164. Still doesn't make the Drone Strikes OK.

You don't have enough Lipstick to cover THAT pig.

"Pakistan again protests over drone strikes as Kerry gets ready to visit"

"ISLAMABAD: As the US Secretary of State Senator John Kerry prepares to visit Islamabad and Rawalpindi to hold discussions with the civil and army leadership, Pakistan on Monday warned that the US drone strikes on Pakistan territory set ‘dangerous precedents in the inter-state relations’.

The spokesman at the Foreign Office strongly condemned the US drone strikes that took place in the Shawal area in North Waziristan on the night of 28 July 2013.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-24470-Pakistan-again-protests-over-drone-strikes-as-Kerry-gets-ready-to-visit

I know where YOU stand,
and you know where I stand.
Its that simple.

[MADem]

168. You are free to start a thread on the topic.

As for my views, since you've made up your closed mind, it matters not what I think. You haven't a scintilla of a hint of a clue as to my views on this topic.

I'm going to memorialize that nasty little post, too.

Nice day. Have one.

bvar22
164. Still doesn't make the Drone Strikes OK.
View profile
You don't have enough Lipstick to cover THAT pig.

"Pakistan again protests over drone strikes as Kerry gets ready to visit"
"ISLAMABAD: As the US Secretary of State Senator John Kerry prepares to visit Islamabad and Rawalpindi to hold discussions with the civil and army leadership, Pakistan on Monday warned that the US drone strikes on Pakistan territory set ‘dangerous precedents in the inter-state relations’.

The spokesman at the Foreign Office strongly condemned the US drone strikes that took place in the Shawal area in North Waziristan on the night of 28 July 2013.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-24470-Pakistan-again-protests-over-drone-strikes-as-Kerry-gets-ready-to-visit


I know where YOU stand,
and you know where I stand.
Its that simple.

[bvar22]

175. LOL. I'll take that as a compliment from YOU.

Go ahead and "memorialize" my posts,
but you really don't have to do that.
The NSA has already copied them.
Will you send me copies if I want to show them around?
Please?

And YOU are free to start a thread TOO.
You can you have a "Factual Proof Thread" that [font size=3]we are NOT "Bigfooting" Around Pakistan because the ISI is really HAPPY with the Killings & Maimings our Drones are doing,and If its OK with the Pakistani Secret Police (ISI),
its OK with MADem. [/font]

Now THAT might be worth "memorializing".


BTW: You never explained to us just exactly WHAT "Bigfooting Around" means
in your Factual Analysis.

[MADem]

177. You complain about the phrase "bigfooting around" and finally admit you don't know what it means.

Which suggests quite strongly to me that your purpose wasn't to converse at all about the topic.

You have a nice day, now, bvar. Go goad someone else.

There's nothing, really, worth memorializing in your comments.

[bvar22]

183. Wait a minute.

FIRST, you say you are going to all this extra effort to "memorialize" MY posts,
[font size=1]Aw shucks, <toe in the dirt> Its nothing really.[/font]

and NOW you say, [font color=firebrick] "There's nothing, really, worth memorializing in your comments"[/font]

Its Right ^ Up^ There^ for everybody to read.

I'm SO confused.
All this twisting and turning.
Can't you just pick one and stick with it?


That is the blessing that comes with a solid internal moral compass.
Right vs Wrong never changes,
no matter WHO is sitting in the Oval Office.
Consistency IS the hallmark of an Honest Broker of Information.



You will know them by their [font size=3]WORKS.[/font]

[MADem]

189. In your most recent comments.

Nothing worth memorializing in that post, either.

You're just looking for an internet fight.

Poor you.

[Dragonfli]

206. When she writes her "Factual Proof Thread" to explain that the ISI is in possession of the

authoritative world standard of moral compasses Regarding the killing, maiming and terrorizing of civilian populations and first responders (as well as funerals and wedding parties) via drone because it may in the process kill one or two on a list provided by a "disposition matrix" that guesses they may needs some killin', then we will know what drone policies we should follow based on their and approval.

I would like to gather like minded posters to petition to have it pinned permanently to the front page as a worthy "memorial". You in? how many can we get to petition with us?

Of course it goes without saying that Obama's adapted Bush policies will and should follow the ISI's impeccable advice on such matters, it doesn't matter that "Pakistan on Monday warned that the US drone strikes on Pakistan territory set ‘dangerous precedents in the inter-state relations’" or that "The spokesman at the Foreign Office strongly condemned the US drone strikes that took place in the Shawal area in North Waziristan on the night of 28 July 2013." as everyone knows secret police always hold the high ground.

[bvar22]

209. Oh, I'm IN.

A Political Strategy of Siding with the ISI because it seems convenient,
and saying,
"If it OK with the Pakistani Secret Police, who are WE to complain"?

....is something that merits MORE attention, "discussion",
and, yes, "Memorialization". (LOL)

I'm SURE that if Bush-the-Lesser were STILL sitting in the Oval Office,
the same crowd would be just as staunch, determined, and Self-Righteous hiding behind approval from the Pakistani Secret Police, like thats a GOOD thing.

So ,
this Rabbit Hole just keeps getting deeper and deeper.

This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember, all I'm offering is the truth – nothing more.

You will know them by their [font size=3]WORKS.[/font]

[disidoro01]

146. Correct

Pakistan is using us and our drones to keep their population in check. You take a simple view that the Pakistan military is using us to fight terrorist elements. You are only partially correct.
There will be no uprising in Pakistan because the Pakistan Gov't calls in Uncle Sam to kill families, children, village elders. No one is safe so shut up and stay inside.

[MADem]

148. I don't "take a simple view" of anything. Please have a look at the context of the

conversation, and in particular, the context of the post I made.

There's nothing in the McClatchy article that discusses any use of "drones to keep their population in check."

If you want to discuss that aspect, bring forward some information that speaks to that assertion in the form of a link, and add it to the discussion.

[disidoro01]

152. You

have got to be kidding me. The ISI and CIA are not just working to contain militants they both helped create. They have their own agenda and it isn't about eradicating terrorism...that both helped create and fund
Look up Taliban funding.
Look up Al-qaeda creation.
You are right, i do not expect to see where any report would explain that the hundreds of civilians were killed and they continue to be killed for control. I know why they are killed though. it is about fear and control.
You know what information I need to bring forth? CIA, that's it.
I don't get off on reading the stories about children killed by drones like some must, those vociferous supporters and defenders of these policies.

[MADem]

160. If you can't bother to read what I write, without overlaying your dire imaginings over

it, and falsely ascribing views to me that I do not hold, then I can't bother to continue to converse with you.

And no, on that score, I am not "kidding you." Stop trying to put words in people's mouths. People who do that are regarded as shit-stirrers and provocateurs, more interested in scoring points than having a genuine discussion.

I'll repeat what I said before:

If you want to discuss that aspect, bring forward some information that speaks to that assertion in the form of a link, and add it to the discussion.


And you haven't provided a link to your claim, and somehow, I am not surprised. I won't hold my breath.

[SomethingFishy]

242. I personally find it difficult.. in the extreme

to justify the "accidental" or "collateral damage" deaths of innocent women and children with the excuse "well we were invited there"...

Were we invited to Yemen?
http://occupyamerica.crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/yemeni-reporter-who-exposed-us-drone-s#sthash.ruB4iCjx.nJzfrnFX.dpbs

[hfojvt]

65. those New York Times people sure are not very good at math

the fiscal cliff deal "a victory that holds risks".

It goes wrong when it calls permanent tax cuts for the rich "substantial tax increases on the rich".

Here's a more accurate article

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=journals&uid=157743&year=2013&month=1

The first one shows that the betrayal (err, the "deal&quot was NOT a tax increase, it was a tax CUT

http://ctj.org/pdf/fiscalcliffdealrevenueimpacts.pdf

If all of the Bush tax cuts got extended that would have been a tax cut of $3.9 trillion.

Since only 85% of the Bush tax cuts were extended it means a tax cut of $3.3 trillion. Add to that the $369 billion in estate tax cuts which the White House is calling an increase in the estate tax. The total is $3.7 trillion in tax cuts.

Okay, fine, but how is the $3.7 trillion in tax CUTS divided up.

That is in the next report http://ctj.org/pdf/bidenmcconnelldistribution.pdf Read it and weep.

The bottom 60% gets just 19% of the tax cut.
The same amount as the richest 1% gets.
The top 20% gets 65% of the tax cut - $2.4 trillion over ten years.

Say hello to more income inequality. $2.4 trillion in tax cuts for the top 20%. $700 billion in tax cuts for the bottom 60%. Plus $124 billion in recovery act credit provisions. Is still only $800 billion for the bottom 60%


Taking tax cuts that would automatically expire and making most of them permanent is NOT a tax increase on anybody. It is what it is - a permanent tax cut compared to the old and better reality when the tax cuts were going to die. But some pusillanimous a$$holes would not let them.

And they've got morons and liars at the NY Times to paint that betrayal as a "victory".

[ProSense]

68. Again?

Really?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022224304#post5

You continue to push a nonsensical claim based on ignoring the tax code. The tax code is progressive and the facts are clear.

President Obama actually did something to address the inequality, raising taxes on the top one percent (higher than the Clinton rate with the health care tax included) and increasing capital gains to its highest level since the mid 90s. The total effect is significant.

Pre Bush tax cuts: lowest tax bracket 15 percent and top tax bracket 39.6 percent.
Bush tax cuts: lowest tax bracket 10 percent and top tax bracket 35 percent.
President Obama's tax deal, lowest rate 10 percent, top rate 39.6 percent.

Do the math and it will show that the gap between someone earning $50,000 and someone earning $500,000 closed to more than what it was in the 1990s. Add the health care law tax and the gap closes even more.

Do the math.

The last time I made this point, you dismissed the equation and dismissed the health care tax, and claimed that "$50,000 is not in the bottom quintile." Pick any amount in the "bottom quintile" and the top one percent, and then do the math.

The gap still closed.

[hfojvt]

71. you should really update that link

because the last time you demanded that I do the math,
I actually called your bluff and did the math

and it showed that I was right - inequality was increased

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3361542

It stands to reason, whatever tax cuts the $50,000 person gets, the $500,000 also gets on his/her/their first $50,000 in income PLUS they also get tax cuts on their income OVER $500,000. Making their tax cuts bigger than those for the lower income.

[jtuck004]

37. Sigh. Yet another keyboard..I have got to have my coffee elsewhere. n/t

[madrchsod]

203. some times you have to use a straw....

[jtuck004]

205. Nah, I drink it black and hot. I just need to put it down before I laugh (G) n/t

[disidoro01]

144. LOL

Awesome!!!

[madrchsod]

202. good one...but

i like prosence...

[duffyduff]

10. His ruinous education policies will be his lasting "legacy"

He's been a total failure on this issue most of all. It is a scandal.

[LWolf]

12. You forgot public education.

Arne Duncan.

RTTT.

[Fire Walk With Me]

32. You are very correct. Many places where schools are being closed are now funding multi-million

dollar sports arenas (Chicago, Philly, etc.) Chicago's massive school closings under Goldman Sachs lackey Rahm Emmanuel are mostly in poor districts, making me imagine that the private prison complex are at least partially behind this act. They need cheap labor and it's straight into prison for too many poor people and minor offenders. There's one story in the OP on corporations benefiting from private prison labor.

[JaneyVee]

13. Yawn. Most of your list is congressional duty.

[Dragonfli]

20. Must he sign and/or agree with all the corporate shit that hits his desk?

Do they have a gun to his head or have they taken away both his veto power and his bully pulpit?
Do his Republican appointees have no power to not pursue shitty repub policies they implement?
Is Arnie Duncan and his privatization schemes acting rogue and against his wishes by doubling down on no child left behind?

Also most of those things regarding military and spy policy rests squarely on his head, as do the decisions the DOJ make regarding not prosecuting any fraudulent bankers (too big to be charged IE above the law by decree), wall street criminals and torturers (also above the law by decree) that have admited their crimes while simultaneously pushing hard to make whistle blowers public enemy #1 with state legal medical marijuana dispensaries public enemy #2.

Your statement is complete hogwash and not even close to reality even if it makes you feel good. Even the things passed by congress require his collaboration and consent via signature to become law, but you don't appear to understand that.

[Fire Walk With Me]

28. Exactly. n/t

[JoePhilly]

101. You mean like ALEC laws which pass at the state level?

He signs those into law?

[Dragonfli]

105. No. Those he had nothing to do with and assume it only made the list because feds ignore the federal

fight against such klanish bigotry and violations of the civil rights of women and gay people, once the feds stepped in against discriminatory state laws against black students but no such federal help can be expected to protect our woman's civil liberties under this administration.

Too bad the patriot act was not a State issue, then only some of us would be screwed by it. I was referring to federal laws where good state legislators can not protect us from right wing policies, my current worry is his support of an old energy company employee that loves fracking which he placed in charge of Energy and who like Obama would like to see fracking expanded and continued. We are fighting it pretty hard at the state level in NY and hope the feds will respect our wishes, unlike the complete disregard shown for State laws passed legalizing sane medical marijuana use.

[Fire Walk With Me]

226. Very much so, very good points which I've missed. For me, it is about Obama doing nothing to

challenge and eliminate ALEC entirely, because Mussolini defined Fascism as a merger of state and corporate powers. It should be Obama's duty to ACT against them at any and all levels. Then note the globalized version, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Rep. Grayson described as handing over our sovereignty to corporate interests. The Fascists are rapidly expanding. What is Obama doing about it? Aside from passing corporate-friendly legislation and handing billions of our tax dollars to them, that is, as evidenced in the OP.

Also, regarding the racism of ALEC and their "Stand your ground" legislation:

Why would Obama say such things about Ray Kelly after saying such things about Trayvon Martin?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023316627

[JDPriestly]

157. Good point about the veto power.

If Obama used his veto more often, Republicans in the Senate would have a much bigger hurdle to jump over in order to get their provisions into our laws.

And Obama would look a lot stronger and more of a person of conviction in the eyes of the people. It would earn Obama a lot of respect. Send bills back to Congress and tell them that certain provisions are simply unacceptable.

And if people accuse Obama of being uncooperative, he can point out that, unlike some of his predecessors, he was elected by a clear majority of the people and that he is speaking for the people of the United States.

Obama is too fearful. He is afraid of the NSA -- quite clearly that is why he goes along with their excesses. That is my view.

He is fearful that the banks will explode on him -- and they could -- but if he used his authority to appoint a better attorney general, the banks would be fearful of him.

Someone mentioned education. Obama is utterly sold out on education. Did he ever attend a public school himself? Why does he think they are so bad? I don't think he ever set foot in one for more than a speech or a photo op although I could be wrong about that.

[chervilant]

196. + a gazillion

But, not holding my breath on this one...

[rhett o rick]

167. Do you ever post anything except "It's not Obama's fault."??? nm

[Fire Walk With Me]

230. Here is an example of what Obama did for a piece of legislation, versus "why doesn't he do similar

against the issues I've mentioned?"

You are familiar with the NDAA section 1021 providing for the indefinite detention of US citizens with neither trial nor representation? It sort of kills the 4th and 6th Amendments. But more importantly, Obama signed it twice and when Chris Hedges et al. took Obama to court over it, Obama sent lawyers to defend it and even to overturn the initial "unConstituional" ruling by a judge. Obama fought for the right to deprive US citizens of our right to trial and representation, to effectively Gitmo anyone who falls under the increasingly fuzzy legislation against us.

So why hasn't he paid such attention to ALEC, or the TPP, or or or or (see the OP) ?

Your autosignature says that you are anti-Fascist. Do you know Mussolini defined Fascism as a merger of state and corporate power? As in "citizens united", ALEC, and the TPP, mentioned at the top of my OP? Yet Obama does nothing to oppose them at any effective level. Except to continue handing our tax dollars to them at an incredible pace, and even to directly protect them. The links are in my OP.

Alan Grayson TPP Secret Treaty “This Hands Sovereignty of Our Country Over to Corp Interests"
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/06/first-congress-member-allowed-to-read-secret-treaty-says-there-is-no-national-security-purpose-in-keeping-this-text-secret-this-agreement-hands-the-sovereignty-of-our-country-over-t.html

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023049340

[bluestate10]

16. President Obama is a President, not a dictator.

FDR turned a blind eye to southern racism because he needed the votes of dixiecrats to enact his policies. Does that fact disqualify what FDR accomplished? The world is not black and white like many of your ilk innocently believe, there is plenty of gray, as a matter of fact, there is all gray. Progress never happens along a straight line, good ole boy from Texas can get more impactive civil rights legislation passed than any so-called liberal before him. Yet, "true" progressive, democrat, paragons of all good, god's agents on earth insist that only their way works, when mounds of evidence show that more moderate, but focused and persistent efforts have accomplished more in five short years than the "true" crowd accomplished in many decades. Post on, with many links, in the end it's only meaningful to the amen choir that pops up cheering such rather meaningless prose.

[Maedhros]

137. It is disingenuous to suggest that Obama can do nothing to hinder Congress.

He's not a dictator, but he does have the power of the veto.

How many times has he used it? (from here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_presidential_vetoes)

Regular Vetoes: 2
Pocket Vetoes: 0
Total Vetoes: 2
Vetoes Overridden: 0

Here are the two bills vetoed:

* December 30, 2009: Vetoed H.J.Res. 64, Making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2010, and for other purposes. Override attempt failed in House.[35]

* October 7, 2010: Vetoed H.R. 3808, the Interstate Recognition of Notarizations Act of 2010. Override attempt failed in House.[36]

By comparison Bill Clinton, who also faced a hostile Congress, vetoed 37 bills. George W. Bush, with a lapdog Congress, still vetoed 11 bills.

Laying blame for the bad legislation of the last 5 years solely on the shoulders of the Republican Congress just doesn't pass the sniff test.

[rhett o rick]

170. Of all the rationalizations for "It's not Obama's fault", that is one of best. Not a dictator.

He choose to appoint the same people to the intelligence agencies that worked for Bush. The same programs and the same people. His choice.

He choose to embrace the Patriot Act, domestic spying, and indefinite detention.

He choose to appoint the same people to economic positions that worked for Bush. The same programs, the same people, the same results.

He choose to appoint Penny Pritzker, the female version of Mit Romney. His choice.

He is negotiating the TPP which is likely to destroy this nations sovereignty. His responsibility.

He chooses to persecute medical marijuana users, some with cancer or other debilitating illnesses, in lieu of going after Wall Street crooks. His choice, his responsibility.

These choices plus many more were not the fault of Congress.

The President of the United States has a lot of power. To claim that he is not responsible is pathetic.

[grahamhgreen]

182. Sadly, he's not even a President, he's a corporate spokesperson for the ultra rich.

[KittyWampus]

17. My neighbors dog still keeps barking. THANKS, Obama!

[Just Saying]

31. I'm hearing that line in Stephanie Miller's voice

Thanks Obama!

[KittyWampus]

47. Shit, I forgot to put an apostrophe in "neighbor's". THANKS, Obama.

[AtomicKitten]

72. Trying to keep a grown man down.

[caseymoz]

64. Comparing massive surveillance to a dog barking?

Or banksters getting away, or drone assassinations, or indefinite detention?

But I guess "I've been hit by a car and I'm now a paraplegic. Thanks Obama." Just doesn't have that same comical ring.

[rhett o rick]

172. They dont want to discuss anything other than, "It's not Obama's fault." THat's all they got.

Well, maybe some ridicule, and ad hominem attacks, oh yes I almost forgot, their trade mark emoticon

You will never catch them in a thread discussing issues like fracking, TPP, XL pipeline, Glass-Steagall, Don Seigelman, etc. And even though they will tell you they like Sen Warren, I never see them in threads discussing her issues.

[PowerToThePeople]

18. Keep the pressure cooker on them. You are the bomb!!

Seriously though, I love the dept of your posts. You must have a vast bookmark library of things that have or have not occurred under this admin.

[rhett o rick]

178. Are you daring the FBI to visit? nm

[GlashFordan]

19. The defenders

Aren't going to like this.

[Dragonfli]

25. They think he has no power to choose appointments or policies under his executive purvue

He must appoint corporatists and Republicans to power when choosing them. They also think he has no power whatsoever to veto shitty laws or lobby for good laws using the now extinct (in their opinion) bully pulpit.

I assume they feel he is under duress (perhaps a gun to his head ) and must do what he is told, except for good policies, then he is a king and the one with the final power that brought us the goodness making only those things his successes alone by kingly decree .

The idiot defenders above appear to believe so, nothing is his fault anymore than if I spill a drink on myself. If what they say is true, the executive branch is a useless vestige such as the queen of England that is just a waste of our money to support.

[BrotherIvan]

111. ^^This!^^

That a cheerleader can read this post, about economic and social collapse at home and war crimes abroad and exclaim *YAWN* makes me fucking sick. If anyone is ok with any of this, they are no Democrat, period. I question their humanity. I cannot believe what a twisted web this cult of personality has become. It has totally explained Jonestown which I never understood before.

[Demeter]

21. My general mood and outlook on life

"I have no hope; I see no future"---DU's very own Hotler


That's quite a report card, isn't it? Or perhaps, a good place to start indictments....

[zeemike]

26. yes but gay marrige and the ACA

Will make all of that OK
Just as soon as they trickle out gay marriage to all the states and everyone has to buy insurance from the insurance industry the rest of those things will not matter at all.

[Hydra]

34. The funny thing is that his supporters can't claim the gay marriage thing

He was on the wrong side until the very end.

[ProSense]

39. .

Thanks, Obama >> updated, Edith Windsor reacts
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023101179

[uponit7771]

118. this is false

[Hydra]

125. Really? Cuz that's a strong and well developed defense there

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/06/22/250931/timeline-barack-obama-marriage-equality/

Double negative points for it being religiously based.

[uponit7771]

126. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023101179

[Hydra]

129. You seriously sent me a Prosense thread?

The President was late to the party for equal rights. I'm happy that he's had a change of heart, but he got in the way of a good part of the battle. I should know- I was there for it.

[uponit7771]

132. "The President was late to the party for equal rights"

So was Abe Lincoln and JFK and FDR (didn't too much care about making WW2 about saving jews)

Obama is in good company no?

tia

[rhett o rick]

174. Propaganda? Plez no. I have her on ignore for a reason. nm

[rhett o rick]

173. When you say, "this is false", does the "this" refer to your own post? If so, I agree. nm

[ProSense]

40. Civil rights and an expanded safety net for millions is not fodder for snark. n/t

[Billy Pilgrim]

43. Let's hear it for fighting for an expanded safety net.

And let's not forget he has offered to relinquish executive power. No tyrant would offer to do that.

[zeemike]

45. Why?

Because they are so much more serious a thing than the destruction of the bill of rights and the constitution?
If you are living in a fucking police state under total surveillance you have no civil rights and do not have a safety net....only the illusion of it at best.

[rwsanders]

27. For when the inevitable backlash comes, I'd like to offer you this thought...

I've been pondering those that vehemently defend Obama on every issue, even when the issue is discussed not the person, and I'll state that although he was never my preferred candidate, I think his presidency is historic and I really WANT to like him:
To give credit where credit is due, I think the ideas of "Lies My Teacher Taught Me" by James W. Loewen are finally incorporating themselves into my thought process. Because I have realized that even the best of presidents made huge mistakes (FDR and interment camps) and even the worst found something to do right (Shrub and the Pacific Marine Preserve).
So I would ask them to justify why they believe their guy (Obama) is above this rule. If they can't justify, then they are blindly following just as those on the right do, just as many have tried to point out to them.
If they are willing to accept the premise that mistakes have been made, then they should be able to generate their own list of mistakes.
If they can admit there are mistakes, then they can be directed back to the issue and asked to state why the things you list are not mistakes.
By then they will either have to give up or throw the "you want the republicans to win" lame card like its a trump.
Good work by the way.

[Fumesucker]

41. Well said, thanks for posting n/t

[theHandpuppet]

221. Good post.

[MrMickeysMom]

35. I sure I suck at Chess, but I know this...

I'm getting a lot of no change from consistently spelunking (Republican light was bad enough under Clinton)

When there is every reason to cease from all the caving that Barack Obama has done in the past, but continues to now, then forget it. We are also effectively draining the financial resources along with civil liberties. The middle class will have no other choice but to demand by getting out in the streets what many had hoped we could believe in when he won in 2008. I wanted that to happen.

It didn't... and we continue to spin down, not ever reform Wall Street, degrade public education and drain the ultimate resources of local governments, where I HAVE FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE. I'm seeing it, living in it, continue to try to do something about it...

We're all getting drained here, and I will not keep drinking Kool Aid here on DU.

[Billy Pilgrim]

42. Romney would have fixed all that stuff his first day in office.

No doubt about it.

[rhett o rick]

176. I think the, "It could have been worse" argument is the bottom of the barrel.

I assume you would welcome 20 lashes because it's so much better than 50.

[Billy Pilgrim]

240. My point is that it transcends partisanship,

as well as the power of Congress or any other institution.

[rhett o rick]

241. I guess I missed that all together. nm

[snooper2]

44. Why would you want to walk with fire

wouldn't that burn the fuck out of your ankles?

[HardTimes99]

49. Why would you want to be a 'snooper2'? Wouldn't that make

you seem to be a voyeuristic pervert or NSA spook-type, invading people's privacy constantly for no discernible reason?

[snooper2]

50. well, snooper 1 and snooper were both taken, it was a hard time

trying to pick the right username over a decade ago

[Fire Walk With Me]

87. Mostly because DU doesn't offer commas in usernames

and my username comes from David Lynch's "Twin Peaks":

Through the darkness of futures past, the magician longs to see. One chance out between two worlds: Fire, walk with me.

[brooklynite]

46. UNREC

I notice that your first item is a Supreme Court decision that the Obama Administration had no responsibility for.

[Billy Pilgrim]

51. The post says it happened under the Obama administration, not that the administration was to blame.

The summary is this:
Expectation: Our Democratic president should be this way.
Observation: He's not this way and here are a bunch of examples of corruption in the world.

This is an expression of disappointment with the way things are, and a justified expression of disappointment. It's not an attempt to assign blame.

That's how I read it.

Those who suggest exertion of veto power and the bully pulpit are the answers are supporting fascism.

[brooklynite]

60. "During" might cover that...

"Under" implies responsibility.

[Boom Sound 416]

67. It was david axlerod

Who said the campaign must take advantage of CU because everyone else is. Otherwise it's an missed opportunity and would hamper the campaign.

That is certainly in the realm of accessory after the fact.

[Fire Walk With Me]

84. Although my post is general, it IS to call Obama into direct question. Please to read:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023389720#post25
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023389720#post20

[caseymoz]

110. Okay, only half are Obama's doing.

Feel better?

A general question asked when considering presidents is "Are you better off than you were before he took office?" It's not the only question you should ask, but that's been accepted. So, what is the state of our civil liberties since Obama took office? Any way you look at it, they're worse.

Democrats control the Senate, Obama is the leader of the party, and the Republicans seem to be able to shut down Democratic legislation at will. Well, with a Senate majority, why has a lot of this oppression still been implemented? Why did he sign the NDAA? Why does he so emphatically defend the NSA?

[JoePhilly]

127. Obama is also responsible for the work of ALEC in red states ... apparently.

[Fire Walk With Me]

225. No, he is reponsible for not challenging and ending it. n/t

[JoePhilly]

234. How would he do that exactly??

Become Governor of those states and then veto their bills?

Please explain how he stops them.

[arely staircase]

48. Republicans nt

[Drunken Irishman]

52. So now we're blaming Obama for Citizens United? Hell, let's also blame him for the Iraq War...

...maybe even throw in 9/11 for good measure!

[bhikkhu]

54. And, of course, Dodd-Frank never happened

...or doesn't count, or something. That's about as far as I got into the brambles.

[Fire Walk With Me]

88. "Citizens United" falls under the "remains unchanged" (WHY!?) aspect of the thread title. n/t

[Drunken Irishman]

89. Why? Because the Supreme Court ruled.

Take a basic civics class. That's like saying traffic jams continue (WHY?!?) and thus Obama is to blame for it. Seriously dumb point.

[Fire Walk With Me]

212. "Citizens United" was given lip service at the DNC and AFAIK, absolutely nothing sice. Obama could

say something, anything at all, just like about gay marriage or Trayvon martin, and does not. And of course if you actually read some of the links I've provided, it should be very, very clear why he says nothing at all against it. Or far, far more importantly, DOES something at all against it.

Smell the litter box, it stinks.

[Drunken Irishman]

219. You lie.

Or you just happen to forget that Obama, during his 2010 State of the Union speech, publicly dressed down the Supreme Court over CU - right in front of em.

[Fire Walk With Me]

224. Don't attack me. I said AFAIK and I did not watch the SOTU address because I can't stand to look or

listen to Obama anymore.

Why in the world would you assume that everyone watches the SOTU? Much less when I've actually posted the state of the union in the OP. And a far, far better question is, =what is Obama actually doing about "citizens united" beyond words? Obama has many, many pretty words and does absolutely nothing beyond them in such critical areas.

Or maybe you've missed that Obama is a corporate shill, as evidenced by articles linked in the OP describing his handouts and open door to corporate interests. Billions of our taxpayer dollars given to banks and wall street and corporations who simply do not need it. That upsets me and I'd hope it would upset any taxpayer (even if pure, pure Obama is the one doing it to us).

Mussolini defined Fascism as a merger of state and corporate power. Check the articles in the OP. They detail that this is now a Fascist country. I'm not okay with that and would like others to join me in calling BULLSHIT.

[Drunken Irishman]

238. I'll attack you as I please when you make accusations without backing 'em up...

You made the claim, suggested there was some crazy motive behind it ... all the while without checking. That's on you. It could have been verified rather easily.

https://www.google.com/search?q=obama+speaks+out+against+citizens+united&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS457US457&oq=obama+speaks+out+against+citizens+united&aqs=chrome.0.69i57j69i62l3.4516j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

You'll see multiple times the President speaking out against Citizen United - including supporting an amendment to the constitution banning it.

[JoePhilly]

99. He's also responsible for ALEC getting states with Republican Govonors ...

and Republican state legislatures, to pass insane right wing laws at the state level.

My kid's bus was late and I had to drive him to school this morning ... Thanks Obama!!

The Tea Party makes about as much sense as this OP.

[Fire Walk With Me]

218. "The Tea Party makes about as much sense as this OP." They're also incapable of seeing that

they're being used for the purposes of the very rich.

The POINT is, what is Obama DOING about all of this bullshit? And you may have missed my many posts here in DU against the Koch brothers and their direct shill the "tea party".

[Politicub]

56. What a useless post

And a waste of time for you to write it. And a waste of my time to respond.

It just means the people who want to get things done must work extra hard to cancel out people like you.

[Fire Walk With Me]

82. All those facts, easily cross-checkable from "legit" sources, sway you not one whit?

Well, isn't that special. Some people have a real concern about the trashing of the founding documents of our country, loss of privacy, freedom, the economy, our tax dollars handed over to criminal banks and wall street (who nearly caused the second great depression in 2008)...the list is amazing.

As is the practiced ability to utterly ignore any and all of it.

[randome]

57. The critical thinking skills of DUers has definitely worsened!

Not sure if that's Obama's fault but...let's assume so!
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Don't ever underestimate the long-term effects of a good night's sleep.[/center][/font][hr]

[geek tragedy]

74. 10% of Democrats voted for Bush.

Apparently several dozen post at DU.

[Dragonfli]

75. The ones that applaud a Republican cabinet - blue dog third way Reagan Democrats that

No doubt fell for Bush's conservative economic policies and so likely voted for him.

Most other DU'ers hated Bush and Reagan and not only didn't fall for the scam like conservative DLC "Democrats" tend to (and want to implement under a banner of bipartisanship), but fought monkey boy tooth and nail and worked tirelessly to replace him with a Democrat, any Democrat In retrospect we foolishly in the quest for "any Democrat" chose a Republican/Social issue Democrat hybrid that Prefers working with Republican opponents rather than Democratic allies and hiring them into positions of power over more qualified but less corporate or hawkish Democrats for said positions.

You have been here long enough to know this, but choose to perhaps forget most of us are far more the enemy of Bush and the Republican party than our third way party leadership ever was, they first took control of the party in the late eighties as DLC and managed to pass free trade , bank deregulation that led to the crash and future crashes because the regulation has not been put back in place, and their favorite Reaganesque policy of punching the least among us with cruel welfare deform. These same Reagan "Democrat" ideologues continue to hold the top as "Third way" or "New" Democrats some of whom freely admit they are in fact policy wise 80's Republicans.

We were united for a very good reason against the sociopathic Republicans and Bush, we hated him/them (and still do) so much that went to extreme lengths to elect a Democrat, any Democrat however that any Democrat part was the mistake, we need to not accept half Republicans either or their economic agenda continues on the Reagan path, we need Democrats that are real enough to oppose corporate ass licking while punching the poor, Democrat enough that they will oppose outsourcing all the better than min wage jobs via more "free trade". Democrat enough to re-regulate wall street to the pre-80's level. Democrat enough to support rather than condemn whistle-blowers and condemn rather than support the erosion of our civil liberties. Democrat enough to offer expansion of our anemic safety nets as solutions rather than offering plans to "sensibly" cut them even further. Democrats enough if we are lucky to condemn the Bush fear and money sucking scheme that is a never ending war on a tactic (terra) against the entire world and now even our own population, maybe end other permanent wars against non enemies like drug users (another money sucking scheme).

We have to get all the Republicans out of office not only the heavies but also the lite 80's Republicans registered as Democrats as well, these sleepers help the Reagan/Bush agenda succeed just as surely as their Republican party counterparts that they only disagree with on social issues.

We have to fight those 10% of Reagan Democrats that voted for Bush as strongly as we fight the baggers and Boners, I agree with you on that.

[geek tragedy]

76. Unlike the OP and her ilk, I would vote for Obama over Bush.

The ODS has gotten so bad they've convinced themselves things weren't all that bad under Bush.

[Dragonfli]

77. The OP and her ilk vote AGAINST Republicans and Republican policies. read my post I know you didn't

take the time to bother.
The "Democrats" that voted for Bush and Reagan before him are among the right wing side of our party, the are the blue-dog, DLC third way, conservatives in our party. You should really know that, the polls at both times showed them to be Conservative "Democrats" as does common sense.

[geek tragedy]

78. Um, they prefer Bush to Obama. Nuff said. nt

[Dragonfli]

81. No, only in your mind, only an idiot would think someone who attacks Bush's policies and

their continuation prefers the author of said horrible policies. If you were a bit more thoughtful you'd know that a moran that would support Bush over Obama would praise rather that criticize in disgust his policies while attacking Obama for not being "Bush enough".

Your bullshit accusation is frankly (and forgive me for saying so) embarrassingly stupid on it's face as well as the layers one peels back while considering your baseless attack.

Use your mind please, you are smarter than that, you have written some intelligent OPs in your tenure, I appeal to your brain and hope you begin using that rather than emotion.

If you must have the last word do so, but I will not engage you again until you regain your senses and critical thinking skills.

[geek tragedy]

83. The OP continually pushes the line that Obama is worse than Bush.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023351370

They also push the Ted Nugent crowd conspiracy theories on Obama:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12526296

Most likely LaRouchies.

[Dragonfli]

85. .

[geek tragedy]

100. Sorry I don't share the delusion that Obama

is worse than Bush.

Also, the DHS ammo/MRAP stories were John Birch Society propaganda. Tell-tale sign of a Paulbot/LaRouchie/Glenn Beck type
.

[Dragonfli]

109. No one here does

You appear to have paranoid delusions that those that oppose Bush policies are "laRouche Paulbots" hiding under every bed.

A delusion that makes no sense whatsoever. Bush supporters do not hate Bush policies and would applaud their vindication and continuation, your delusions blind you to simple facts like that.

Perhaps medication can help you, I don't have the medical qualifications to help you shatter your bizarre delusions and will just stop feeding your trollish and rather stupid accusations and paranoia.

goodbye.

[rhett o rick]

179. I so agree. Some here have absolutely nothing to add but, "It's not Obama's fault." nm

[randome]

195. Obama isn't mentioned that often except by those who want to 'take him down a peg'.

Dispute the policy, I'll never fault anyone for that. But it has become quite a regular feeding frenzy to say that Obama is worse than Bush.

On the fact of it, in my opinion, that indicates a deep misunderstanding of reality.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[rhett o rick]

204. You and your friends never, ever discuss issues unless you are defending your lord and savior.

If you want to discuss issues, let me know, otherwise, go bother someone else.

[limpyhobbler]

58. I like this general attitude.

Why won't the President support these efforts to regulate private education loan debt?

Fairness For Struggling Students Act or the Private Student Loan Bankruptcy Fairness Act ?

Also he's the #1 cheerleader for fracking. People are organizing to protect local water, and to move off fossil fuels. We deserve an ally in the White House.

[Vanje]

62. I'm very afraid that we have passed the tipping point.

[Boom Sound 416]

69. Indeed

[SidDithers]

63. Hamburgers are smaller too...

Thanks, Obama.



Sid

[JoePhilly]

102. +100

[SunSeeker]

113. LOL. nt

[uponit7771]

119. +1

[bluestate10]

185. I can no longer buy my favorite hot dog bun. That darn Obama. nt

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

66. Damn! Black man can't buy a break. Trashing thread!

[Fire Walk With Me]

80. It Is Not About Race! It's about actions similar to Bush, extensions of the Bush agenda.

If you search DU you'll find a thread by pinboy3niner in which he, ellisonz, and myself marched in South Central LA for Trayvon Martin justice.

I voted for Obama, then he went way off the chart with exceedingly damaging actions. That's all.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

106. Yeah, uh-huh. Yeah! Obama is just like Bush. Got it. Trashed thread. No need to reply.

[Fire Walk With Me]

211. And obviously, no need to consider the facts at hand. Good luck with that position. n/t

[burnodo]

96. Isn't this post racist

Obama is black, therefore any criticism of him is racist?

[treestar]

192. Notice when a black man got into the Presidency

It became all powerful and expectations went way high. Wonder why that was.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

200. It's called The Black Tax. Amazing the same standards were never applied to Bill Clinton.

[Boom Sound 416]

70. It's threads like these

That make me a proud DU newbie. Honest and intelligent

[geek tragedy]

73. Yes, we know you prefer Bush to Obama.

We also know what that means about you.

[TheKentuckian]

90. We know you prefer Ronald Wilson Reagan to Franklin Delano Roosevelt

It is clear by which policy aims you consistently side with.

[geek tragedy]

92. No, I just recognize we're better off under Obama than under Bush.

The ODS crowd obviously disagrees.

[TheKentuckian]

150. That bar is so low as to be dangerously meaningless.

I'm not even sure "we're" actually better off than "we" were under Bush even though I will agree that Obama is a better President than Bush.

Under Bush there was hope of rescue, under Obama it seems we are to embrace a slightly kinder version of the same awful shit under more professional management, to shut up, and eat our peas.

We all knew we could aspire to better than fucking Bush, under Obama we are supposed to accept this state of affairs as the high water mark for a generation and should look for lesser leadership even from foreseeable Democrats.

[geek tragedy]

151. There is hope of rescue, but that will require the Teahadists not owning

the taxation and spending power in the House of Representatives.

It'll require immigration reform.

It'll require investment in infrastructure.

It'll require an economic policy built on creating the jobs of the future.

It'll require action on climate change.

Now, of course none of that is guaranteed the next time the Democrats control Congress. But there is absolutely zero hope of that while the House is controlled by a bunch of white nationalist psychopaths.

[Le Taz Hot]

91. Christalmighty

that's a stupid statement.

[geek tragedy]

93. No, what is stupid is talking about how much worse off the US is

under Obama than it was under Bush, which is what a certain crowd believes here. The diarist has posted multiple diaries to that effect.

Such people are not entitled to respect, ever.

[Le Taz Hot]

94. You're too stupid to stay on my screen.

Buh bye.

[geek tragedy]

95. Yeah, you Obama< Bush types are clearly

superior intellects.

[Dragonfli]

107. This one's strange "logic" has convinced him/her that anyone that opposes the continuation

and vindication of the Bush policies we all condemned pre-2009 equals 'racist Bush supporting Republican'.
How it recons opposing Bush makes one a Bush supporter is what makes it's intelligence and 'logic' so special.

I have decided to stop addressing the stupid and it's irrational hatred of Democrats for Democratic principles over Bush principles.

[bvar22]

134. A kinder, gentler Republicanism.

Whats not to like?

We're "better off" under Obama than under Bush!
Everybody should just SHUT UP and enjoy our freedoms!

WOO-HOO, Obama is NOT as bad as Bush!!!!
Lets have a parade.

[Broward]

97. Clearly, the OP is attacking Obama from the Left.

Any avid supporter of Obama and his policies at this point is a lot closer to Bush than the OP.

This was meant as a response to post 73.

[JoePhilly]

98. President Obama didn't stop ALEC from getting right wing laws passed

in states with Republican Governors and Republican state legislatures, so clearly he's a bad President.

And he's also bad, because he hasn't overturned Citizen's United yet.

These are some really good points.

You should add that he's a bad President because he didn't prevented it from raining on my recent golf trip.

Thanks Obama!!!

[BeyondGeography]

103. Emoprog puritopianism has gotten worse

[treestar]

193. Nailed it!

[randome]

198. Is that a 'thing' or did you just make that up?

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[Smarmie Doofus]

104. Education. Public education. What a fucking train wreck. n/t

[liberal_at_heart]

153. Race to the Top=No Child Left Behind.

[Puzzledtraveller]

108. k&r

[heaven05]

112. beside

sarcasm thing missing, I guess? Some of this is true. Right? Or are they just lies? I gots me some work to do this afternoon. I will get to the bottom of this rant.

[Fire Walk With Me]

233. All of it is true. Thank you for striving to find out for yourself instead of simply calling my OP

hate or lies or Alex Jones or "tea party" or whatever knee-jerk reaction suits some. It is critical thinking, research, and problem-solving which may yet save the country. Find out for yourself. Cross-reference. Dig deeper. Start a conversation on what you find be it in support of or against my OP.

Strong suggestions, if I may:

-Trans-Pacific Partnership (one link at the top of the OP)
-ALEC, not only "Stand your ground" but what Obama said in favor of the utter racist Ray Kelly
-Wall Street financial advisors
-Corporate bailouts
-Read the three Citigroup "Plutonomy" memos:
http://our99angrypercent.wordpress.com/2011/11/27/download-citigroup-plutonomy-memos/
-There is an OP in GD about the Koch brothers and big tobacco co-creating the "tea party". Check it out...

[heaven05]

235. thanks

Last edited Sun Aug 4, 2013, 03:43 PM - Edit history (1)

I am aware of TPP. I am aware of the stop and frisk king. That endorsement is very troubling. Wall street 'advisers', bush cronies, very disappointing. Bailout of banks, wow. Letting the prior administration's war criminals walk? Okay a long drawn out trial would have been a spectacle that would distract from the work he has done. Someone must have a gun to his head, threatened his wife and children. No, I wouldn't put it past the corporate money machine. Something! Well he has time remaining, maybe he'll find a way to keep more of his promises? In regard to your OP, the truth hurts some people, yet in this system having voted since "I am not a crook", I know what a president REALLY is and it ain't pretty. Keep up the good work.....Obama does not get a total pass, but as far as I'm concerned he has done some good within the corporate restrictions, rethuglican obstruction and racism he works under.

[Fire Walk With Me]

237. A very well-informed voter! I honor you!

And yes, I'd completely forgotten he let those monsters walk...and I do praise some of the work Obama has done, such as momentarily stabilizing the economy after the bankster bailout in 2008, but unfortunately it wasn't meant for the average Joe.

Please post more

[tblue]

114. Well if you're gonna be picky

[BobbyBoring]

115. Does this mean..........

That Obama is not a socialist, communist, Saul Alinsky following leftist liberal?

Someone has to tell Rush!

[Zoeisright]

116. Here you go:

http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/

[uponit7771]

120. no need for facts, just more Obama hate

[bluestate10]

186. Facts mean nothing to the OP and all of the amen chorus.

It is possible to be completely lost when one think they are robust intellectuals. I look at the uncontrolled screed the OP posted and see nothing but vapor and bull-dust.

[Number23]

194. This post was so bad that just the first two rows of the Amen chorus showed up to rec it

This type of foolishness usually gets more than twice the number of recs this spew got.

Perhaps the ODS has rotted some brains so much that they just can't find the thread?

[ProSense]

199. Obama is responsible for

Citizen United, ALEC, prison labor and Clarence Thomas.

At some point...

[Fire Walk With Me]

220. Some of it was cut-and-pasted from a list over a year old, which should alarm anyone

who wonders why none of what I've listed has since been removed from the list.

However, attacking the structure of the OP instead of actually considering any, ANY of the content is quite poor. Attack but do not consider. Lambaste and do not research. Protect Obama no matter what he does, no matter what.

The only amen chorus on DU of which I am aware are those who are incapable of even considering that anything, =anything= Obama does might possibly be anything but walk-on-water pure. And they'll attack anything which might counter their consensus reality using ad hominem, straw man, and other distractions without ever actually addressing the issues presented.

Facts. You can research them. Nothing from RWNJ sites at all.


Define: Liberal

Google:

lib·er·al
/ˈlibərəl/

Adjective
Open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values.

Noun
A person of liberal views.

Synonyms
generous - bounteous - lavish - bountiful - free

---

Wikipedia:

Liberalism (from the Latin liberalis) is a political philosophy or worldview founded on ideas of liberty and equality. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally they support ideas such as free and fair elections, civil rights, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, free trade, and private property.

Liberalism first became a distinct political movement during the Age of Enlightenment, when it became popular among philosophers and economists in the Western world. Liberalism rejected the notions, common at the time, of hereditary privilege, state religion, absolute monarchy, and the Divine Right of Kings. The 17th century philosopher John Locke is often credited with founding liberalism as a distinct philosophical tradition. Locke argued that each man has a natural right to life, liberty and property and according to the social contract, governments must not violate these rights. Liberals opposed traditional conservatism and sought to replace absolutism in government with democracy and/or republicanism and the rule of law.

The revolutionaries of the American Revolution, segments of the French Revolution, and other liberal revolutionaries from that time used liberal philosophy to justify the armed overthrow of what they saw as tyrannical rule. The nineteenth century saw liberal governments established in nations across Europe, Spanish America, and North America. In this period, the dominant ideological opponent of liberalism was classical conservatism.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism

[Skidmore]

223. Dude, that remark still doesn't absolve you

of the inanity and rancid hyperbole/tortured logic of the OP. You need to get into some serious reading on the separation of powers.

[Fire Walk With Me]

232. Look, I understand the separation of powers. My point is Obama does nothing about these serious

issues except to make them worse (please, please read the links regarding Wall Street, billionaires and bailouts). What is he doing, or going to do, about these crisis issues, at any effective level? Even public statements, which mean nothing (actions, not words).

Nothing. And these issues are unacceptable.

Now, consider the items directly linked to Obama such as secret kill lists, extra-judicial executions of Americans, oh bloody hell, it's all there and linked in the OP. Do some linking, do some research, and you'll see.

[Fire Walk With Me]

222. So absolutely nothing I've posted is factual? Only HATE?

I'll suppose that you've actually read at least one of the linked articles from sources such as:

-The Guardian
-Reuters
-CNBC
-NBC
-Forbes
-Politicususa

Sure, they're all liars and haters. I'm sure that you spend your time on DU and at home calling those sources liars and haters.

I note that the politicususa.com story about the GOP/KeystoneXL was written by RMuse. Isn't that a DUer? Is RMuse a liar, a hater?

Or only when they appear in an OP which challenges your world view?

Questioning the president is "hate"? Never question the president? Nothing Obama does should ever be questioned? Can you people actually hear yourselves? It's supposed to be the republican party attacking critical thought, but I guess it's in free form in the democratic party as well.

[cantbeserious]

123. Thank You For Sharing

eom

[Martin Eden]

128. Citizens United is at the top of your list

Obama publicly criticized the ruling and his SCOTUS appointee voted against it.

Since the theme of the OP is highly critical of the Obama administration, I just thopught I'd point that out.

Plenty of justified criticism to be sure, and a lot of good information here, thanks.

[Fire Walk With Me]

217. Thank you. And sorry to pick nits but due to the depth of its importance I wished to mention

that the Trans-Pacific Partnership is at the top of the list. =Please= check the story about this; it is extremely upsetting and I hear not a word out of the WH against it.

[Zorra]

130. Oh, Fire, why do you force me to waste my beautiful mind thinking about things

like that? I'm just a humble average citizen, and therefore I'm not smart enough to understand why those things are happening.

There must be a benevolent democratic reason for those things to be happening, otherwise our government wouldn't do them.

See what you did? Now I need to go to the mall and do some extreme shopping to make the bad thoughts go away!

[Fire Walk With Me]

216. :)

[darkangel218]

133. Kick! nt

[great white snark]

138. Uh,no.

Obama<Bush+brain-critical thinking=u

[dionysus]

161. .

[stonecutter357]

140. Shit I thought it was a Comrade Eddie thread.

More Obama hate.

[bluestate10]

187. Yep. Same old stuff, different day. nt

[Fire Walk With Me]

214. I see. Questioning the president and the state of the nation is "Obama hate". That means we should

never question, correct? Or only question republicans? Because Obama can never possibly do any wrong whatsoever?

Thank you for your acumen.

Wake up people, Obama is not democrat. If you actually looked at the list of facts in front of you. Especially the corporate-based government and economy.

You do realize that by Mussolini's definition of Fascism (the merger of state and corporate power) we currently live in a genuine Fascist state? Does that bother you? No, it must be "hate" or something.

Let's see: critical thinking = hate. Got it. Why shouldn't people flee the democratic party in droves, in fear, over such as this?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

143. Thank you.

[liberal_at_heart]

147. Seattle police wanted to experiment with using drones for surveillance. The people

said no!

These problems didn't start with Obama, but they sure as hell haven't gotten any better under his administration. The corruption in our government has been growing for decades and the little snowball rolling down the hill is turning into a glacier.

[StevieM]

154. The Republican Party (eom)

[JDPriestly]

155. Excellent post. Excellent resource. I am bookmarking this.

[Sivafae]

162. People interested in facts. Or in other words, Republicans. nt

[grahamhgreen]

181. I, for one, can not recommend enough.The fact that this is on the front page should

be fair warning to the powers that be.

Even their swarm of personas could not sink it.

Soon we will see half a dozen posts from the usual apologists telling us not to worry, nothing to see here, move along.

[eilen]

184. Thanks for this post.

I'll understand if you don't see this. I started to read the discussion/replies but eh, looks like the usual morass of bs.

[Fire Walk With Me]

215. You're welcome and thank you for the reply. Obviously, the enemies of critical thought are

impervious to any amount of facts presented. Is this truly the best the democratic party has to offer? Attacks on critical thinking?

[Throckmorton]

190. My Male Pattern Baldness

Obama has done nothing to help me.

[treestar]

191. Yes life in American is horrible

Everything sucks and we are all doomed. THANKS OBAMA!

[ProSense]

197. NYT editorial: Sentencing Reform Starts to Pay Off

NYT editorial: Sentencing Reform Starts to Pay Off
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023393947

Kerry Announces U.S. Will Treat Visa Applications From Same-Sex Spouses Equally
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023393565

[madrchsod]

201. that is why he was elected twice

both times by close to or more electoral college and popular votes than the democratic presidents in the last century.

[spanone]

208. wtf did Obama have to do with citizens united? eh?

trash this thread

[Fire Walk With Me]

213. If you read the thread title, "Citizens United" REMAINS UNCHANGED UNDER OBAMA.

The question is WHY isn't he doing anything about this fascist monstrosity?

(Hint: Italian dictator Mussolini is said to have defined Fascism as a merger of state and corporate power. And we now very clearly have that. I have a problem with such things and call bullshit against those doing NOTHING to change it, and who in other ways are making it far worse.)

[moobu2]

227. President Obama is not a dictator.

[Fire Walk With Me]

236. Seriously? This is the second time someone has attempted to promote the concept that Obama

is powerless and of absolutely no consequence in matters of state. I get that congress is republican but seriously, can anyone tell me exactly what is DOING (not talking) to change or end these critical issues? Anything?

And why did he sign (twice) the NDAA section 1021 which provides for the indefinite detention of US citizens with neither trial nor representation (ending the 4th and 6th Amendments, IIRC) and then send lawyers to reinstate it after Chris Hedges et al. sued him over it and a judge struck it down as unConstitutional? (Obama's lawyers managed to get it reinstated, BTW.)

Why hasn't he sent lawyers to attack these Fascist legislations and corporate legislators? What is he DOING to challenge and fight and stop them?

No one seems able to answer this question because apparently he isn't doing anything more than a word here and there (and his words are meaningless after calling the racist Ray Kelly a leader and well-qualified to head DHS and wall street deregulator Summers to head the Fed, among other things).

[geek tragedy]

231. You should really educate yourself on how our three

branches of government work.

The President doesn't get to overrule Supreme Court decisions.

[Th1onein]

228. Jeezus, what have we done?

You're right, Scuba. I'm just wondering what we can do about it.

[99Forever]

229. Ahhh...

... ya went and hurt the True Believers oh-so-sensitive feelings.

Truth and facts are not allowed in their world-view.

[woo me with science]

239. K&R