Matt Damon Blasts Obama: “One-Term President With Balls” Would Be Better

[boston bean]

Last edited Thu Dec 22, 2011, 08:19 PM - Edit history (1)

Matt Damon rips President Obama in Elle magazine, blasting his leadership qualities and saying he’d prefer “a one-term president with some balls who actually got stuff done.”

The actor, a longtime supporter of the Democratic Party and onetime Obama advocate, reveals frustration with the administration in his wide-ranging interview.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people who worked for Obama at the grassroots level,” says Damon. “One of them said to me, ‘Never again. I will never be fooled again by a politician.’”

Damon then gets even more direct with his own criticism.

“You know, a one-term president with some balls who actually got stuff done would have been, in the long run of this country, much better,” argues the We Bought a Zoo star.

http://www.gossipcop.com/matt-damon-obama-elle-magazine-one-term-president-balls/

Wow. This suprised me. I thought Matt Daman was a strong supporter of Obama.

Edited to readd article/link and my comment to the best of my memory.




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[bigtree]

1. he can afford to live through another republican president

. . . most of cannot.

What a pud. Glad the hide thread feature is back . . . anti-Obama folks can't hold everyone hostage with this kind of bullshit any more.

[boston bean]

2. How many are able to afford living through this democratic president.

i think that might be Matt's point.

[Kahuna]

3. Surviving a depression is not easy. But it is easier for some than others...

Matt has not had to worry about where his next meal is coming or where he will sleep. It's easy for him talk smack.

[boston bean]

7. If he couldn't afford it, would he still be able to "talk smack"?

or say what he believes is the truth?

[BzaDem]

154. I think the point is that if he couldn't afford it, he would recognize the obvious.

He would recognize that Obama has easily been the most progressive president in four decades, has past more progressive policy than any President since LBJ, and would be arguing for his re-election.

Of all the problems facing this country, he would not be focusing on the argument that having the most progressive president in four decades is somehow "not good enough."

[boston bean]

158. that's a hoot! nt

[BzaDem]

161. Sometimes, the truth makes people uncomfortable.

But that doesn't somehow make it not the truth.

If it was untrue, then someone here would point out the President in the last 40 years that passed more progressive legislation than Obama. But of course, we will hear crickets. Because that truth makes people feel uncomfortable.

[boston bean]

170. No, simply, sometimes, anothers post just makes me ROFLMAO.

[FedUp_Queer]

177. Nixon.

And would be too far to the left to win the nomination as a Democrat today. People hate Nixon for two reasons, one his paranoia, Watergate corruption, breaking the law, ect, and for the drug war because stoners think being able to smoke weed freely is the most paramount of all issues. But let's look at Nixon's track record:

-Created the EPA
-Instigated price and wage controls
-Proposed to congress mandating all full time employees have health insurance and have costs partially covered by federal subsidies. Literally had Nixon not been a paranoid asshole we might have a functioning national health care system right now.
-Opened relations with communist China
-Greatly increased as a percent of GDP spending on social welfare while decreasing military spending.
-Presented the only balanced budget between 1961-1998
-Took us fully off the gold standard and Brenton[sic] Woods system
-Signed Clean Air act
-Created OSHA
-Created the Supplemental Security Income(SSI)
-Established consumer product safety commission
-Signed federal water pollution control act
-Signed SALT 1 and the Anti ballistic missile treaty with the Soviet Union
-Instigated a cooperation between NASA and the Soviet space program
-Started the Philadelphia plan, the first major federal affirmative action program
-Signed Title IX
-Also Title X
-Supported the ERA
-Equal employment opportunity act

http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=420699

[sce56]

184. That is why some say he was politicaly assainated by Watergate and he initialy had nothing to do

with it. Read the book Family of secrets.

America's Invisible Government, and the Hidden History of the Last Fifty Years -- Exposing the Origins of Present-Day "Deep Politics" in the United States.

The Bush Dynasty, the powerful forces that put it in the White House, and what their influence continues to mean for America today.

The result of five years of research, hundreds of interviews and thousands of documents, Family of Secrets explodes the comfortable articles of conventional wisdom accepted by media and public alike.

A book by Russ Baker. Familyofsecrets.com

[Mimosa]

223. Russ Baker's Family of Secrets: a must read for anybody who wants to understand

The economic system we are living under will probably remain the same no matter whether a Democrat or a republican is in office.

How many bankster crooks have been prosecuted for illegal schemes?

The only differences between the Democrats and republicans seem to be on cultural 'wedge issues'.

[tblue]

282. I never thought of it that way, sce56

Whoa. You got me thinking. He was TOO liberal. Seriously, this is a fascinating theory that he'd be targeted for that.

[ooglymoogly]

297. Excellent.

[ooglymoogly]

351. We all need to read this book, even those blinded by the light. nt

[sce56]

380. I've had that book in my sigline for over a year now it exlains a lot!

JFK, Nixon, the Bush family is a Legalized La La Cosa Nostra!

[fascisthunter]

243. yup.... most right leaning Dems look like right wingers

[tblue]

283. xox...femrap

You rock!

[BzaDem]

276. In terms of the sheer number of bills that were signed, that is correct.

But when taking into account the magnitude of the redistribution and regulatory power of the laws between Obama and Nixon, Obama clearly wins.

The consumer protection bureau is probably the most powerful regulatory agency that can help the middle class passed since well before Nixon.

The healthcare bill redistributes about 200 billion per year to the currently uninsured -- half through a public program (Medicaid), and with 85% of the other half mandated to go to medical providers for medical services.

And federal spending as a percentage of GDP (even before the healthcare bill takes into effect) is at a several-decade high.

[FedUp_Queer]

369. The thing is...

That's not what you said. You said:

Sometimes the truth makes people uncomfortable.

But that doesn't somehow make it not the truth.

If it was untrue, then someone here would point out the President in the last 40 years that passed more progressive legislation than Obama. But of course, we will hear crickets. Because that truth makes people feel uncomfortable.

So, Nixon did "pass more liberal legislation." Looks like you just moved the goalposts.

[BzaDem]

372. I already said that looking only at sheer number of bills, you were correct.

I think that is an extremely literal interpretation of what I said, but if you ignore the content and magnitude of the legislation, you are correct. Congratulations

[FedUp_Queer]

375. Yeah, you're right.

How dare I look at your words. Geez. Newspeak much?

[Shoe Horn]

364. Lost me @ "...stoners think being able to smoke weed freely is the most paramount of all issues. "

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"U.S. government estimate that marijuana exports account for 60% of Mexican cartels' revenues. If California voters legalize marijuana, those exports would be unable to compete with cheaper, higher-quality marijuana grown and distributed legally in California."
http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2010/10/legalizing_pot_would_cut_mexic.php


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"We believe that legalizing marijuana in California would effectively eliminate Mexican DTOs’ (Drug Trafficking Organization) revenues from supplying Mexican-grown marijuana to the California market. As we elaborate in this chapter, even with taxes, legally produced marijuana would likely cost no more than would illegal marijuana from Mexico and would cost less than half as much per unit of THC (Kilmer, Caulkins, Pacula, et al., 2010). Thus, the needs of the California market would be supplied by the new legal industry. While, in theory, some DTO employees might choose to work in the legal marijuana industry, they would not be able to generate unusual profits, nor be able to draw on talents that are particular to a criminal organization."

http://justsaynow.firedoglake.com/2010/10/12/rand-study-marijuana-legalization-would-markedly-cut-mexican-drug-cartel-profits/

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[We_Have_A_Problem]

251. I cant afford it...

...and I recognize the obvious. The obvious is, Mr. Obama, for all his good intentions, doesn't get shit done except cause more damage.

[tavalon]

317. If what you just said is true and it could well be,

then we haven't had any liberal Presidents during my whole life. And it certainly makes it easy to see why this country is going to shit.

[dennis4868]

332. Great point!

Damon is probably like alot of DUers who just don't understand how bills become a law in divided government....A president is not a king. He also ignores the 24/7 repub obstruction and this --> www.whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com

[StarsInHerHair]

363. omyfuckinggod! robust Obama supporter

this was to BZA & others who are ALL ASSUMING how the bills Obama passed will affect the FUTURE!!! I want to be affected NOW. All they really have is vaporware! I'm thinking LiliLeadbetter act is also VAPORWARE! SHOE ME THE DIFFERENCES !

[Kahuna]

203. My point is, since the depression has not affected him personally, his

priorities, as with many of the "disappointed" left, may be different from those of us, whose priority is survival.

[booley]

220. My priority is survival AND I am disappointed

Really wish you would stop assuming you can speak for me.

[dana_b]

222. +1

I am very disappointed as well and am looking at potential homelessness for the first time in my life.

[Kahuna]

265. Since matt seems to have all the answers.. and you have

so much faith in him, maybe he will offer you some help.......No. He won't..... I guess that makes him pretty useless then.

[Kahuna]

264. I am speaking for myself. YOU may not appreciate what the president has

done, but I do because I know that never in my 57 years has unemployment been extended for 99 weeks, and the other social programs to help citizens keep afloat until the jobless condition improves. I actually had to collect all 99 weeks of those unemployment benefits. Did you?

[JDPriestly]

296. Instead of extending unemployment, Obama should have advocated for far more public works

jobs to get people working, not just trying to scrimp by on unemployment checks.

[Kahuna]

303. I get it. You don't get the news where you live or you would know

that is exactly what he did. See: American Jobs Act.

[JDPriestly]

362. If he had done that to a great enough extent, we would not have so many unemployed

people. The unemployment numbers are much higher than reported in my opinion -- just based on what I see around me -- so many homeless, so many people taking early retirement.

[We_Have_A_Problem]

377. Maybe you didnt notice

but that bill is not law. Hell, he can't even get a single sponsor to introduce it.

There's a reason for that....i'll let you figure out what it is.

[tblue]

285. "disappointed" left

Don't generalize. You'll just piss people off.

I know what you're trying to say, I think.

I am disappointed (though not entirely surprised) and I am definitely trying to survive. For instance, I hope there's Medicare when I come of age, etc. & so on.

[piratefish08]

19. he should just quiet down so he doesn't drown out the noise of the rest of us begging for scraps.

so rude of him.

[Quantess]

45. I actually laughed!

Thanks. Better to laugh than cry about it.

[Vanje]

46. + 1 ! nt

[Kahuna]

206. Yes. He should. If he can't do anything to help

he should stop criticizing the president who is at least trying to do something.

[frylock]

163. neither does obama..

set. for. life.

[Kahuna]

204. The president is trying his best to assist those of us who are suffering....

WTF is matt doing?

[frylock]

228. he's making movies..

he also worked hard in support of getting obama elected in 2008. what the fuck have YOU done?

[Kahuna]

263. I worked for the president and supported him with my money. I still support him.

What the fuck are you doing other than finding nits to pick?

[roguevalley]

342. so observing, speaking your opinion doesn't count if you have no money worries. THat is

too bad. I think he's got smarts and they, the white house worry enough about his opinion to try and get to him about his opinions.

Everyone has an opinion and the right to express it on any topic. Everyone else has the right to agree or disagree. His parents were
working class, educators. He's my brother because he's been there and like all the other rat fuckers that are standing on our necks
he hasn't forgotten what that feels like. Go, Matt Damon and thank you for speaking out.

[Tarheel_Dem]

389. "It's easy for him talk smack." May not be so easy after "We Bought A Zoo"!

I'm still not sure where it fell on it's opening weekend, but it wasn't good. Matt's pissing off loyals fans, and my family refused to see this movie because of him. I hate it for Scarlett Jo, but we avoided his latest project for this very reason. He may soon find himself an outcast aka "box office poison" if he keeps up his attacks.

[bigtree]

5. then he's an idiot

the struggling economy is about more than this president.

[julian09]

123. Why doesn't he complain about the obstruction that plagued the Obama presidency from day one.

He could bring a lot of attention to the low information voters, who only want to be entertained either by sports or comedy.
Easy to critisize, but in the real world, where the outcome isn't scripted, there are reasons why things don't get done.
They want to make "O" a one term president by obstructing any progress on jobs, financial reform, health care. Why doesn't he go after the Dinos. Instead of another critic , Obama can't do it alone, he needs people behind him. He has been out campaigning for months, for jobs and equality. His numbers are going up because people are just now starting to see that Obama is on their side.
In the real world you just don't write the script for the ending you want. Maybe in Matts mind he thinks he is Laurence Olivier or Barrymore but he is not, doesn't mean he shouldn't act. Obama has finally realized there is no compromise in Gop vocabulary.

[muriel_volestrangler]

146. Perhaps like this:

Damon, as has been previously reported, spoke at the Save Our Schools March, and afterward, ripped both a reporter who challenged the notion of motivated teachers and a cameraman who insisted 10% of teachers are bad at their jobs. He also took to task Republicans, the Tea Party and what he called the lack of shared sacrifice in both the economy and the just-passed debt ceiling bill.

"I'm so disgusted," he told a reporter about the protracted negotiations. "I mean, no, I don't know what you do in the face of that kind of intransigence. So, my heart does go out to the President. He is dealing with a lot."

Still, despite any sympathy, he was furious with the negotiations' outcome, as well as the greater thrust of American economic policy.

"The wealthy are paying less than they paid at any time else, certainly in my lifetime, and probably in the last century," Damon said. "I don't know what we were paying in the roaring 20's; it's criminal that so little is asked of people who are getting so much. I don't mind paying more. I really don't mind paying more taxes. I'd rather pay for taxes than cut 'Reading is Fundamental' or Head Start or some of these programs that are really helping kids. This is the greatest country in the world; is it really that much worse if you pay 6% more in taxes? Give me a break. Look at what you get for it: you get to be American."

http://vimeo.com/27132302

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/02/matt-damon-rips-debt-deal_n_916618.html

[tblue]

281. I love him madly.

Is he married? lol. Joking, sorta.

[leeroysphitz]

155. Because that is fiction. n/t

[russspeakeasy]

132. Yup ! Matt must be a fucking idiot.

Somebody, quick, send him "the list". That should straighten out his thinking. And be sure to add that Mr. O. has only had three years in office and has never, never had any support. And a P.S. "anyone else would be worse".

[leeroysphitz]

157. +1

[patrice]

172. Oversimplified mischaracterizations of other people's positions is the hallmark of:

a) Ignorance
b) the Oppressor
c) both

Speaking of the Oppressor:

Q. How do you feel when you are mischaracterized?
A. Frustrated/Angry/Violent.

Q. How do you feel when those you disagree with are mischaraccterised?
A. Happy/Pleased/*C*O*O*P*E*R*A*T*I*V*E*

Does it strike you as interesting at all, does it make you even slightly curious, that BOTH sides of this SHIT are angry, REALLY ANGRY, at BHO?

[Myrina]

202. +10

[Mimosa]

226. ^ ROTFL!! ^

Damon definitely comprehends what's going on in this country. "The Good Shepherd" is among his best movies. How about "Green Zone".

BTW, rich people can also lose percentages of their investments, just as anybody with a smallish 401K. The economy affects everybody.

[Beacool]

257. Thanks for the laugh.

[Phlem]

262. + a bajillion x infinity.

BTW there are several versions of that list, all written with blinders on!

-p

[Scuba]

30. +1

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

62. Damon can afford President Obama who will

be raising his precious taxes. He'll be just fine!

[FarLeftFist]

89. Matt is still mad at Obama dissing the Adjustment Bureau. Has Damon seen Obama's list of

Accomplishments? Pretty good for someone not even 3 yrs in.

[DCKit]

124. Yet Matt's fictional characters have accomplished sooooo much more! nt

[CakeGrrl]

145. THIS!

These bruised egos should think twice before getting in front of a mic.

[frylock]

230. bullshit

[Phlem]

216. Exactly.

he's speaking for us, not for himself.

-p

[The Wielding Truth]

237. Obama is who I thought he was. I voted for him because he was better than a Repcon and he still is!

He is better by miles. He is not my perfect candidate for President, but for what he has had to deal with he has done it masterfully. When I have criticized him it has been with respect and concern. He is human and yet he is the most powerful national leader on the planet.

If someone else put them selves up for the job who could do a better job then I would go with them. There is no one who has done that. He is the one and only person for this job who has the stuff and is willing to do the best he can. He has done his best to make everyone happy. We are disappointed and yet he has kept the wolves from ripping us apart. He will be stronger with our support. He needs progressives in congress to move him left. We must see that he gets them.

[kiranon]

378. Agree. n/t

[tblue]

278. What exactly did he say?

I'd love to hear it in context.

He must be as frustrated as some of us are, but I can't 100% tell with just the one-line quote.

I like Matt. And I wish president's only served one term so they could conduct that term without regard to building a campaign war chest from wealthy donors for re-election.

Best of all would be 100% public financing of elections. But probably won't have that in my lifetime.

[Smarmie Doofus]

310. Not me.

Obama wants to destroy NYC teachers' union via Race To The Top and other Heritage Foundation-inspired concepts.

Kool, $$$$$ - laden , W-coast guys like Gates think this is the way to go.

Vunderbah.



I can't afford Obama. Neither can most of the people I talk to.

I look to my party to offer me a choice.

[CakeGrrl]

143. +10000 - another armchair whiner to boot.

He's probably miffed that Clooney has WH access.

I'm sure we'll hear all about his grassroots efforts to put some "balls" in the WH.

[Bucky]

183. Not an armchair

Matt Damon is involved and active. I disagree with his point, but it's not like he's just sitting back and doing nothing.

[Logical]

324. LOL......you never cease to amaze me. n-t

[Maven]

197. I thought centrists liked the rich, er, job creators.

[JDPriestly]

232. I wish that Obama had acted more like a Democrat during his presidency.

I just hope we don't have a Republican as our next president.

Best thing would have been for Obama to fire a lot of his advisers -- especially in economics -- in 2010 when the Republicans took the House. Obama should have seen that as a vote of no confidence by the American people and changed course.

The Obama administration has done some wonderful things, but his approach to the foreclosure crisis has been to just sit back and flail his arms a bit. Although a number of the government's policies contributed to the economic disaster on both Wall Street and Main Street, his economic advisers acted like stunned bystanders with regard to the wreckage on Main Street. Although in a position to do so, they did not administer first aid but rather called 911 and then sat and waited.

Meanwhile across America the for sale signs which we all know are too often due to foreclosures remind every American of the misery awaiting us all.

In short, Obama had a few months in which to tackle the number one problem in our country: the extreme disparity in wealth, living standards and social awareness between the rich and poor, and he did not do it.

He still hasn't done nearly enough about jobs.

The Republican House is not an excuse. It is the effect of Obama's failure to deal immediately with those economic problems in the right way. Blaming things on the Republican House is like getting drunk on Saturday night and then blaming the headache you have on Sunday morning on the fact that you worked too hard during the week. It's dishonest. If you drink too much, you are likely to get a headache. If you pour enormous amounts of money into the banks managed by the rich, and expect it to trickle down on the folks on Main Street, you will increase the already unhealthy disparity in wealth.

Obama should have governed differently.

It's not too late for him to change his economic team and in so doing show Americans that he will go in a new, more aggressive, more positive direction if re-elected. I hope he does that.

I do not think that it is fair to criticize Matt Damon for expressing himself honestly and openly. The American people, and especially Democratic voters expressed themselves far more clearly at the polls in 2010. Has Obama paid any attention? Not so far.

Occupy Wall Street expressed discontent with Obama's administration in distinct terms from Anchorage, Alaska to Southern Florida. I recommend listening to some Dr. Cornell West's statements on these issues. Obama acknowledged the protests, but has done absolutely nothing to change his economic policies.

Matt Damon is just expressing feelings that a lot of Americans have.

And, yes, I will vote for Obama, and I will work to elect Democrats to Congress. Will other Americans vote for Obama? It looks that way now, but we should not be so sure.

In the end, in my view, it will depend on whether Obama signals that he will change his course on the economy if elected, and just how he will do it.

We voted for change. Where is it? That's the question that will dominate the discussion in the 2012 election.

[totodeinhere]

249. None of us can afford another Republican president Matt included.

A Republican president can do a lot of harm in a lot of areas that will adversely affect everybody regardless of their finances. But that doesn't mean that Matt shouldn't be able to express his frustrations with Obama.

[Logical]

323. LOL.....knew you would attack him first! Did not disappoint. Truth hurts doesn't it???

[mmonk]

4. He was. He bought heavily into the speeches and such from candidate Obama

thinking he might be more progressive or liberal.

[patrice]

139. "GUESSING he might be more progressive or liberal." FACT: People hear what they WANT to hear.

[tblue]

279. So true, Patrice!

And they also see what they want to hear, if that makes sense. They take and image and create an entire person in their head.

Ach! So much frustration. Hope you have a happy holiday & don't get to worked up over DU.

[Coyote_Bandit]

6. He WAS a strong Obama supporter

Like some others he now has buyer's remorse.

The new gadget didn't meet his expectations.

He's not alone in the assessment.

[stonecutter357]

118. He WAS a strong Obama supporter.

ME to.

[JDPriestly]

298. Obama has not delivered on his promises.

He promised to strengthen Social Security by raising the cap. He hasn't mentioned raising the cap and instead is lowering it -- to nothing. He has just destroyed Social Security and people on this website are rejoicing. That is foolish.

If you think the payroll tax cut is a good idea, I have a bridge I would like to show you . . . . quite a bargain.

[piratefish08]

8. Matt Damon - under the bus with you!

how dare you!

[Enrique]

9. "I will never again be fooled by a politician"

I hope this gets through to Obama, I imagine he wouldn't want his legacy to be the disillusionment of a huge number of young people.

[julian09]

128. Isn't that Matts job fooling people into thinking he is someone, he is not?

Now he is a critic, let him walk in Obamas shoes for while and see how easy it is. Does he really think he would be a better president than Obama? Well I'm glad Matt is a no term president. We don't need critics we need solutions, not stab in the back.

[frylock]

165. and that was your view during the bush era, right?

it's hard work. people should have to walk a mile in gwb's shoes before leveling criticism.

[Maven]

198. +1

[primavera]

130. It's a little late

I suspect that, for a lot of us who "dared to hope," often despite our cynical doubts about trusting politicians, Obama's 180 reversal from so many of his campaign promises has blasted our last few remaining shreds of confidence in our political system. Obama seemed so sincere; if his promises to be an advocate for progressive change were nothing more than an act calculated to tap the support of a disillusioned electorate, then even the most convincing apparent sincerity cannot be trusted.

[Enrique]

140. here he is telling students not to be too idealistic

much of what he says is true, but he's going after strawmen in a way that is very contradictory to his message in the 2008 election. He ran on "Yes we can", which if it means anything, it means that we are able to do things that we've been told were impossible. Now he's telling us, falsely, that making demands on him is demanding the impossible.

And students are the last people he should be talking like this to. They have plenty of time to lose their idealism.

This was in March, I believe. I hope all those kids are out at OWS, still "demanding they get everything they want" as Obama distorts it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CemfB_Z6elY#!

[FirstLight]

147. +100

I hate to say it, but your post s spot on IMO but we will vote for hope again, because there's nothing else to do

[dougolat]

238. That's why:

I've been responding to his funding requests with a card that says -

I bought a coffee-table book of Obama's campaign speeches
it makes me cry, not with joy like when I first heard them,
but with dismay and horror at the betrayal and capitulation.

on the other side it reads-

Just another servant of the too-big-to-JAIL

but of course voting against one of their rabid attack dogs, or if it's Romney, one of the too-big-to-jail themselves, will count just as much as a vote for our P.O.W. (prisoner of Washington)

unless there's a Rocky in the wings

[NorthCarolina]

327. I have heard this very same thing a few times myself now. nt

[xchrom]

10. Every body move over, matt's comin under the bus! Nt

[MNBrewer]

41. He can snuggle in next to me.

[quaker bill]

11. There is no evidence

that a "one term President with balls" would actually "get things done".

[Little Star]

13. And there no proof they wouldn't either.

[boston bean]

14. right because it just didn't happen. what a shame. nt

[stillwaiting]

20. Well, a one term president with balls" would have placed completely different individuals in cabinet

positions which would have resulted in completely different agendas being pursued by each of those departments with more positive and demonstrable results that could easily be appreciated by the vast majority of Americans.

Of course, THAT would have resulted in an easy re-election, and thus, at this point in America's history "a one term President with balls" would have indeed EASILY become a two term President with balls which is what our nation needed most desperately. Obama has a struggle on his hands now, and it's really his own fault.

[Laelth]

29. Agreed. n/t

-Laelth

[Scuba]

31. +1

[Little Star]

33. +1

[Bolo Boffin]

43. You've hit the nail on the head!

Like Hilda Solis for the Department of Labor, what qualifications did she ever have for that department?

Or Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, what a screaming mimi she turned out to be, right?

And Stephen Chu in the Department of Energy. God damn how I get to drinking when I think about someone with that much scientific ineptitude in that department.

And GODDAMN DON'T ERIC HOLDER SUCK AS ATTORNEY GENERAL???

Janet Napolitano is just fucking up the Homeland Security racket, and why anybody thought Eric Shinseki was qualified to run Veterans Affairs.

Lisa Jackson at EPA? What's she ever done?? Sebelius at HHS?? JACK FUCKING LEW IN THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET??

Goddam buncha posers every single goddam one.

/sarcasm

[newspeak]

70. I've always admired Matt Damon

and love the movie "good will hunting." I also agree with him. You forgot to mention arne duncan in education (Mr. privatize), geithner, and summers. Also, what's so good about holder? This country is in a financial crisis, and to get us out of this crisis, these are the best people one can think of? Of course, if you are going to maintain the status quo and defer to WS, then they are the perfect people.

We needed extraordinary action for extraordinary times, not more of the same shite that got us into this mess. The people were behind obama. At last our eight year nightmare was over. We had the house and senate (by small margins), but we still had the majority. Yeah, yeah, we got those dinos; however, little boots twisted the arms of his party and we needed to do the same thing.

When leading economists said that a massive stimulus was needed, obama should have appealed to the people. He has access to media-repeat it over and over again and have the people bug the shite out of their congresscritters.

It's interesting that you don't list those who were appointed that were advising about the economic condition of this country.

[suffragette]

231. "We needed extraordinary action for extraordinary times"

That's it in a nutshell.
And there was a large amount of people energized to work and push for this right after the election. All they needed was to see that was the direction being taken and to be encouraged to show their support. This was true especially of the young people who turned out in droves for Obama's campaign speeches and followed that up by voting for him and persuading their friends and friends of friends to do likewise.

But that call did not come and all that positive energy waiting to be unleashed in activism to support "extraordinary action" was left "on the bench," just as frustrated and puzzled as a good player not being put into play.

Now we can see much of that energy being put into OWS.

[Bolo Boffin]

250. I didn't mention those advising about current economic conditions because cabinets are always

a mixed bag.

To uniformly slam the President for every single choice is just rank rhetoric. There have been stellar choices and some not so great.

What's so good about Holder? Trying to close Gitmo by attempting to bring the 9/11 suspects to New York? Not defending DOMA anymore? Ending the idiotic suit against two Black Panthers on Election Day 2008 which even the Bush guys knew was stupid? Holding strong against Issa's Fast and Furious smears? Yeah, what's so great about Holder?

Sure, I get what you're saying about Duncan, Geithner, and Summers, but to pretend some outstanding choices have not been made to the Cabinet, as you continue to do, is just bullshit.

[stillwaiting]

76. Those you list have been GODDAMN GREAT for big business.

See, I can curse too, and it's deserved because most of these individuals have SORELY let down average Americans in favor of the multinationals and the elite's agenda. They are marginally better perhaps, and that's why Obama will get my vote.

I'm happy for you that you think that they are doing such a stellar job for the average American. You truly are blessed, and I mean that. It's not fun to believe that Obama missed a huge opportunity to change the direction we were headed. Unfortunately, he did not. His cabinet officials have accomplished (in many cases) things that Bush's Administration couldn't even accomplish for Big Business.

The fact is Obama has placed many individuals in his cabinet that simply should NOT have ever had the opportunity to pursue their historically transparent agendas.

A FEW that I approved of when selected have let me down as well, and a few still have my approval (which is why Obama's getting my vote).

In all likelihood the system simply must be changed before we see a reversal of the trend we've been on in this country for the past few decades, but I'll be DAMNED if I praise most of his Cabinet choices (and their actions) over the past few years. We could have had (and deserved) so much better.

I strongly believe most of these appointments are only marginal better for the average American. They surely are more competent and able to run their respective cabinets. But whose agenda are they ultimately and mostly serving?

P.S. You left out Geithner, Bernanke, Gates, Salazar, Panetta, Bill FUCKING Daley, Rahm, and Duncan. And YES, MOST of them are a bunch of goddamn posers.

[theaocp]

84. Well said. +1 n/t

[kenfrequed]

129. The spin meme at the time sold this to us as...

'A Team of Rivals" after the book on the Lincoln cabinet, though obviously the comparison didn't make it past the cover of the book.

Did you notice that the few, scant, and powerless hard core progressives that were in important positions were gradually wiped out?

[Bolo Boffin]

239. Hilda Solis has been great for big business?

Spin on.

[stillwaiting]

271. Hilda is my favorite Obama appointee.

Clearly we would never get her with a Republican President.

As I said in a previous post within your sub-thread, there are a "few" that I still support. Hilda is certainly one of those.

Listen, there is justifiable anger from many of us for the MANY big decisions that MANY of Obama's cabinet officials have pursued. Those decisions have ensured that we continue down the same path we've been down since Reagan. A neo-liberal path. They have done very little to change the conversation or course of action from the economic policies and procedures that continue to get implemented and have resulted in a downward spiral that we've been on for far too long. I remain bewildered with Obama's about face on "free trade". It's certainly not free for the many Americans who have suffered under these policies. However, it seems extraordinarily free for the multi-nationals and the capitalists that invest in them.

Big Business continues to win, and win big while the middle, working, and lower classes suffering and financial security worsens.

I fully realize that suffering would increase even more with a Republican President, but that doesn't change the fact that things have continued to get worse for the average American during the Obama Administration while things have gotten even rosier for the multi-nationals that run our government. Pretending otherwise by a large number of us will ensure this trend continues even longer, and this is simply unacceptable to me when considering Obama's Presidency.

I am not your enemy. Obama is not my enemy since I'm voting for him. I just wonder sometimes if I am the enemy of many of those within Obama's cabinet.

I am in to harm reduction at this time in our nation's history. I strongly feel it's all we can do at this time, and I hope that changes someday soon. Harm reduction compels me to vote for Obama because I believe fewer Americans will be harmed under his economic policies than under Republican policies. I hope I'm right if he wins a second term.

I think I made myself pretty crystal clear here. The floor's yours. I'm done here.

[Bolo Boffin]

273. It seems to me that things still getting worse despite acknowledged pushback from the Obama

Adminstration demonstrates the united force of the things we're fighting against.

Blaming Obama for the best choices he could make isn't helping anything. Working to give him a route to better choices would be a lot more productive. That's what Matt Damon's flip "balls" comment overlooks.

[ArcticFox]

315. Thank you -right on

Wish I had the time to have said the same.

[lunasun]

116. Tom Vilsack USDA- pls dont forget him and his franken food buddies and fighting farmers!!!

* Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack's support of genetically engineered pharmaceutical crops, especially pharmaceutical corn:
http://www.gene.ch/genet/2002/Oct/msg00057.html
http://www.organicconsumers.org/gefood/drugsincorn102302.cfm

* The biggest biotechnology industry group, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, named Vilsack Governor of the Year. He was also the founder and former chair of the Governor's Biotechnology Partnership.
http://www.bio.org/news/pressreleases/newsitem.asp?id=200...

* When Vilsack created the Iowa Values Fund, his first poster child of economic development potential was Trans Ova and their pursuit of cloning dairy cows.

* Vilsack was the origin of the seed pre-emption bill in 2005, which many people here in Iowa fought because it took away local government's possibility of ever having a regulation on seeds- where GE would be grown, having GE-free buffers, banning pharma corn locally, etc. Representative Sandy Greiner, the Republican sponsor of the bill, bragged on the House Floor that Vilsack put her up to it right after his state of the state address.

* Vilsack has a glowing reputation as being a schill for agribusiness biotech giants like Monsanto. Sustainable ag advocated across the country were spreading the word of Vilsack's history as he was attempting to appeal to voters in his presidential bid. An activist from the west coast even made this youtube animation about Vilsack

The airplane in this animation is a referral to the controversy that Vilsack often traveled in Monsanto's jet.

*Vilsack is an ardent support of corn and soy based biofuels, which use as much or more fossil energy to produce them as they generate, while driving up world food prices and literally starving the poor.

[russspeakeasy]

137. You and I may be the only two paying attention to this particular issue.

[Hardrada]

302. I am too since he was our governor here for, apparently, too long.

[stillwaiting]

151. A very important oversight that I failed to include in my post.

Being a vegetarian that tries my best to eat healthily and locally whenever possible Vilsack is no friend of mine.

[dana_b]

227. thank you for mentioning this

appointment. What a damn DISappointment.

[Bolo Boffin]

256. No cabinet is perfect. There are good and not so good

Holding President Obama to this kind of standard is absurd.

[frylock]

167. GODDAMN DON'T ERIC HOLDER SUCK AS ATTORNEY GENERAL???

yes, he does.

[patrice]

176. Agreed!

[Bolo Boffin]

258. This is just an evidence-less assertion. n/t

[frylock]

269. feel free to post a list of all the great things eric holder has accomplished

[Bolo Boffin]

272. I listed a few things in #250

Trying to close Gitmo by attempting to bring the 9/11 suspects to New York. Not defending DOMA anymore. Ending the idiotic suit against two Black Panthers on Election Day 2008 which even the Bush guys knew was stupid. Holding strong against Issa's Fast and Furious smears.

http://kaystreet.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/attorney-general-eric-holder-announces-91-arrests-in-300-million-medicare-fraud-sting/

http://blogs.usdoj.gov/blog/archives/1782 - Fraud Recoveries Top $5.6 Billion

http://www.justice.gov/defendingchildhood/ - The Defending Childhood Initiative, working to help children exposed to violence. "Children’s exposure to violence, whether as victims or witnesses, is often associated with long-term physical, psychological, and emotional harm. Children exposed to violence are also at a higher risk of engaging in criminal behavior later in life and becoming part of a cycle of violence."

http://www.justice.gov/healthcare/ Defending the Affordable Care Act

http://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/ag/speeches/2011/ag-speech-1112211.html - the Countrywide Financial Corporation Settlement for victims of Countrywide Fraud

More can be found here:

http://blogs.usdoj.gov/blog/

[Maven]

201. Eric Holder does suck as AG.

You also forgot:

Agribusiness shill Tom Vilsack
Establishment enforcer Rahhhhhhhmbo
Bankster alum Bill Daley
Gates/Panetta/Etc. at Defense
Goldman Sachs prostitutes Larry Summers/Timmeh/Ben Bernanke
Privatization Dweeb Arne Duncan at Education

Etc. etc. etc.

[Bolo Boffin]

254. Bullshit he does.

No cabinet is 100% good. No cabinet is 100% bad. Holding President Obama to an impossible standard is bullshit.

[RC]

66. Well said.

Too bad the Obama lover can't seem to understand. None of them can see past their 'either sainted Obama or else we get a republican' mind set.

[CANDO]

69. Once upon a time...

there was a President with such huge balls, he got himself elected to FOUR terms! All because he stood up for the creation of a vast, prosperous middle class. 4 terms are not possible, but having balls to stand up for the little people takes care of anyone's electability.

[bikebloke]

117. Hear, hear.

[treestar]

133. Who had a war to use as stimulus

And a real depression and a real set of Democrats in Congress.

[frylock]

168. and balls

[CANDO]

171. Even without the war

they were creative enough to have the CCC and WPA for stimulus. And let's not forget the massive taxes upon those who could afford to pay.

[Little Star]

340. +1

[paulk]

173. the current depression is "real" enough to those of us being hurt by it

and you are awfully close to the conservative meme with your war as stimulus remark. Seems I recall Newt using that one just a few days ago...

[treestar]

255. Even in boom times there are poor people

And left wingers have called the war a stimulus program. Right wingers would not, otherwise that would mean government spending might stimulate the economy, and they can't have that.

[paulk]

277. you've got to be kidding

what an absolutely shallow post. I would hope you would put a little more thought into it than "there are always poor people".

The argument that the Great Depression ended because of WW2 and not because of Roosevelt's liberal programs is strictly a right wing argument. I can only surmise that you misunderstood the reference or that you don't know what you're talking about.

[treestar]

379. I have seen it argued that the government spending of the war also was a stimulus

And it was huge, and it worked politically, since one can always get Americans to go for a war. But that does not mean the social programs did nothing. Those arguments are not mutually exclusive.

And the point about there always being poor people was meant to say that because the OP knows people who aren't doing well does not mean the overall economy is in a depression.

Try to pay attention and not make things into black and white either/or and you will not see things that are thoughtful as shallow. I thought liberals were known for having an open mind.

[paulk]

382. some economists would argue that what we are experiencing now is a "real" depression

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/12/opinion/krugman-depression-and-democracy.html

Of course the war spending was a stimulus, but the argument that that is what brought us out of the Great Depression is a false one. Using that reasoning one might argue that Iraq and Afghanistan were a stimulus for the economy. I don't see that as true and I doubt that you do either.

[Bohunk68]

200. War?

You do know don't you that the war didn't start until after Dec 7, 1941, that is to say, in FDR's 3rd term? And, he had to fight a lot of his own D's.

[Maven]

207. You know, I bet FDR would have supported the more conservative candidate in every Democratic primary

just like Obama did.

Oh wait - no, he absolutely fucking wouldn't have.

[dotymed]

218. Amen. WE need another FDR. n/t

[MissDeeds]

81. +1

Well said.

[hifiguy]

95. +1 nt

[stonecutter357]

119. K&R...

Agreed

[maddiemom]

122. Obama

just BEGAN to disillusion with his cabinet and staff choices. It was downhill from there.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

126. And the fact that he chose to populate his Cabinet with conservative Democrats

and even Republicans was the first indication that my instincts about him--that he wasn't actually a populist and was only playing one on TV--were correct.

[MuseRider]

162. Exactly stillwaiting

good points.

If nothing else, even if nothing could get done, the bully pulpit used FOR the people for the last 4 years would have started the dialog that OWS has just begun to raise. The dialog would have increased pressure on the Congress and even if nothing was accomplished through them they would all be looking for other jobs at this point because people would be demanding what they are now only beginning to understand. Obama could be sitting easy, not having to worry one bit about the clowns who may now be elected in his place and Congress would have had to either come around or now be scared pantsless about their re-election.

Wasted time mostly. Wasted opportunity for the people.

[Still Blue in PDX]

169. That's been my belief, too.

I'm not nearly as politically savvy as a lot of the people here, but what I've gleaned is that Obama was in a position early on in his presidency that he was trying so hard to show bipartisanship that he pretty much just rolled over and played submissive to the repugs.

I'm trying really, really hard to believe that it was bipartisanship and trusting his opposition, and that he was not showing his true colors as one of THEM.

[kurtzapril4]

181. You win 1 internets. n/t

[Doremus]

185. Correctamundo. nt

[fascisthunter]

244. so, so true

and therein is why many of us believe he had no intention of being a progressive as a president but talked like one to fool voters.

[quaker bill]

291. Every action has its equal and opposite reaction

There has been no shortage of conflict.

[quaker bill]

311. Cabinet appointees are confirmed by the Senate

As I recall it, the appointments made were quite difficult to get confirmed, largely because they were "too liberal".....

[stillwaiting]

319. Hogwash. The appointees that Obama got in 2008 were those the power brokers wanted.

Any "difficulty" was kabuki. Even Sotomayor and Kagan are very much centrists. Just because the media gave us a show where a large number of them screamed from the rafters that Sotomayor and Kagan are ultra-lefty, spooky commies doesn't make it true. Their objective is to shift the debate to the right. They know how to manipulate the public to do just that and in the process set-up diminished expectations for what is "possible" in the current political climate.

The White House has a lot of power behind the scenes to get what they want.

Obama didn't "compromise" when making his cabinet appointee decisions prior to inauguration.

As I recall it, his FIRST choices for many highly critical cabinet positions had histories that clearly showed whose interests they would represent. And Obama chose them. First.

[quaker bill]

384. Life is lived in context

if you think for a moment that the expected confirmation process did not play a role in the decisions made, you aren't thinking clearly.

[stillwaiting]

386. Sorry, my thinking is clear.

I believe Obama could have nominated individuals who were much, much better than those he did.

I believe we deserved (and could have had confirmed) individuals much better than Geithner, Bernanke, Summers, and many others that he selected to such extremely important economic positions within his Administration.

If you don't believe that's the case then that's fine, but to imply that I did not consider the confirmation process or that I'm not thinking clearly because I believe we could have received better representation is not fair nor accurate.

[Zalatix]

26. Nope, in fact if s/he tried to "get things done"

the Plutocrats would take their money, run, and drive the country into ruin.

Not that they'd have anywhere to run, of course...

[newspeak]

78. the plutocrats already have taken the money and run or are sitting on it

they love them some obscene tax cuts, then they send that money overseas, instead of investing in this country. Any old country will do as long as they can shite in the water, ground and have them some slave labor, labor with very little rights. There are still some good american companies, but most are global and even though some on the board are american, they could give a damn about this country or the people in it.

they have profited off these wars, we have paid dearly to protect their interests. And yet, while profiting, they can't seem to sacrifice as the rest of us have been doing all along. A bunch of corporate greedy vampires.

And if the government has to placate the greedy unamerican sociopaths, then it's not worth it for the rest of the people in this country. Someone on the board mentioned cooperatives; well, maybe what little money the plebes have, maybe it's time to invest in ourselves.

[Vanje]

49. A one term president with balls

might have headed a Justice department that was actually interested in JUSTICE!

[theaocp]

87. What are you smoking?

The Justice Dep't might need to pay you a visit, hippie! The whole enchilada seems to just lack a certain sense of ... empathy.

[stonecutter357]

125. get the money out of politics.

free don siegelman.

[julian09]

156. It wasn't time to tie up congress for years in investigations

A few people going to jail wouldn't create jobs, headed off a depression. Priorities priorities
You would think the repugs would appreciate that the dems didn't persue prosecution of the Bush administration, for war crimes.
Prosecute financial institutions while trying to save them at the same time. Save US auto industry. Housing bubble bursting.
Please note Eric Holder is in charge of Justice Dept.

[Vanje]

229. Eric Holder

is an Obama appointee. Duh.

Fortunately, there is nothing stopping Obama appointee, Eric Holder from his lazer-beam focus on that scourge which is medical marijuana use.
Priorities!

Yea. THat was sarcasm.

Obama's appointees are not working for people like me.

[julian09]

326. Obama does not tell Holder what to do in justice dept.

Holder is going after those who are breaking law in current administration. Holder is a disppointment I doubt that "O" would keep him for another term.

[treestar]

131. Hell if Obama had the "balls" they wanted

Nothing would have happened. Health care would not have happened, since he had to veto that bill for a public option. A default would have happened, and unemployment benefits would have ended and now the military would be unfunded.

Agree upthread that Matt Damon can survive all of that.

[julian09]

135. There is a reason for a one term president

He didn't do anything or did too much.

[Autumn]

12. Damn.

That's some straight talking there.

[mmonk]

18. This part:

“If the Democrats think that they didn’t have a mandate – people are literally without any focus or leadership, just wandering out into the streets to yell right now because they are so pissed off.”

“Imagine if they had a leader,” wonders Damon."


captures it pretty well.

[Bluenorthwest]

39. “Imagine if they had a leader,”

Yep.

[SammyWinstonJack]

58. No leader but we do have a voice thanks to OWS

[AverageJoe90]

15. How about a two-term president who kicks ass on his way out?

[Betty Karlson]

21. who's ass do you think will be kicked?

So far, the 1 % arses have been cushioned, not kicked, by Obama.

[TheKentuckian]

28. Optimistic. Obama spent his generational level majority on the absurd pursuit of bipartisanship

Maybe there will be another bite at the apple but it seems terribly unlikely and is all but totally out of the question in the next session because of the seats that are in play, you can't replace seats that aren't up (most) and Oklahoma and the like aren't too likely to send Democrats.

I also see no actual inclination, he seems to open conservative and then seeks to negotiate to somewhere between there and reactionary.

[newspeak]

102. yeah, all that bi-partisanship

and yet, when the repugs had the majority, they were not even willing to reach across the aisle. It's like being the wimpy kid having sand kicked in your face by a bunch of ruthless bullies.

And yet, the chickshithawks in congress after 9/11, all wearing those flag pins like they really cared about this country. Those flag pins before 9/11 were worn by those who served this country in the military. After 9/11, any chickenhawk could wear one. See? See how patriotic I am, I'm wearing a flag pin. And those who wore them before 9/11, were mostly democrats. So, who really served and cared about their country, instead of seeing only profit in war?

[Justice wanted]

16. He hit the nail on the head with this one.

[SidDithers]

17. Trash...nt

Sid

[Skittles]

284. yup, that's what Damon is referring to

[Jakes Progress]

286. You say "trash". Most say "gold"

Best just to ignore those that get your so inarticulately riled.

[Starry Messenger]

22. Matt has supported teachers. His mom is a teacher.

He's one of the few progressives and celebrities to come out against corporate education reform and privatization.

[Sabriel]

60. Yes, Damon understands what this admin has done to public ed

He's been very outspoken about the continued privatization and over-testing of public ed, courtesy of Arne Duncan and friends.

[Reader Rabbit]

182. Yup. Matt has seen what this Administration has done to public ed.

And he doesn't like it. Having been high on Obama myself at one point, I can totally understand the disillusionment and anger.

[KharmaTrain]

23. And This One Termer Would Be???

???????

President Bartlett?

Of course this "kick-ass" President won't have to deal with a messed up House or Senate. Just wave his/her hands and the seas will part.

[eomer]

35. This "kick-ass" President would know how to use the tools that are available.

The Democratic majority in 2009/2010 could have done some important things through the budget reconciliation process, which can't be filibustered. President Obama chose to waste this opportunity by putting the focus on bipartisanship. Any idiot knew that was going to fail and Obama is no idiot so he must have had some other motivation. The obvious explanation is that it was a ploy to use against those of us who are to his left and were demanding things his corporate sponsors did not want.

[SammyWinstonJack]

61. Those who defend Obama no matter what, won't admit what you wrote is the truth.

[MisterP]

309. technically, they would say that he HAS done everything possible

despite the repeated evidence

[Vanje]

55. ...and this one=term pres wouldnt have to deal with....

....Sumner , Salazar , Geithner .......


Oh. Wait.
Doh!

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/apr2009/pers-a06.shtml

[treestar]

134. Amen, the person is always imaginary

The imaginary President would have done the same thing rather than play chicken with the stability of our country.

[KharmaTrain]

160. The Critics of What I Posted...

...didn't mention who this great leader would be. That's what I was asking. Always seems there's someone/somewhere who has to be the progressive ideal, I'm just waiting to find out who it is and how he/she would do things different than the current President. Reality has a way of really messing up a good hissy fit.

Cheers...

[blueknight]

24. matt is exactly right,

and im one of the type he was referencing. worked, donated, and fooled. i wont fall for that shit again. liberal, my ass....

[russspeakeasy]

144. Myself and 4 of my foolish, elderly friends did the same. Phones,

posters, driving.....donations, ...not again.

[Itchinjim]

25. I nominate Matt Damon to primary Obama!

Come on Matt, show America your balls!
Testicles 2012!

[stonecutter357]

189. Seconded can we get a third?

Testicles 2012!

[Kahuna]

266. I third that. nt

[Sarah Ibarruri]

27. And Damon backed him when he ran for office. I agree with Damon. We need BALLS

not someone scared and willing to comply and bend to Repukes.

[RC]

71. Ahhh,,, Maybe something a little tougher?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

77. I love Bettty White! nt

[patrice]

142. Obama/White in 2012!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

72. +1, because the Blue Dog Democrats and Republicans

will fulfill ALL of Matt Damon's demands!!

/sarcasm

[Schema Thing]

32. Actor Al Franken, on the other hand

has leveled no such criticism at the President.

[Bluenorthwest]

56. Al Franken on the NDAA, which the President seems fine with:

"I think that denigrates the very foundations of this country. It denigrates the Bill of Rights. It denigrates what our Founders intended when they created a civilian, non-military justice system for trying and punishing people for crimes committed on U.S. soil. Our Founders were fearful of the military--and they purposely created a system of checks and balances to ensure we did not become a country under military rule. This bill undermines that core principle, which is why I could not support it."
So sure, the two are just peas in a pod, nearly twins!

[Schema Thing]

63. Al Franken, as I said

has leveled no such criticism at the President.

And your post title is a bald faced lie "the NDAA, which the President seems fine with".

[julian09]

179. Obama will add a signing statement when he signs the bill nt

[onenote]

34. Matt Damon's logic deprived stance

So, according to Matt Damon, he would have no problem with a president with the balls to do things that are so politically unpopular that he (and presumably the members of Congress that he persuaded to support those positions) out of office, replaced by crazies who will swiftly undo all of those things and more.

Uh, no thanks Matt.

[matmar]

65. Fail.

Damon's point was Obama should have used the revolutionary election of 2008 to push through a Progressive agenda. Instead Obama allowed the Republican Party to regroup while he dithered with faux bipartisanship jestures.

The fact that the Republican Party poses the threat they represent now is due to the fact that Obama threw away a once in a lifetime opportunity to make real progress.

"Change" is a meaningless slogan.

[onenote]

274. Wrong.

Damon's point was that Obama should have used the "revolutionary election of 2008" (your term, not mine) to push through a Progressive agenda even if it meant that, as a result,, he and those who supported that agenda were voted out of office in four years. The problem leaving the field clear for the regressives to roll back not only the "revolutionary" agenda but also to cause all sorts of other mischief.

[matmar]

337. So you're saying if Obama pushed through a Progressive agenda....

he would be voted out of office because.....people who benefit from say single payer health care, would be soo offended by that benefit they would vote Obama out?

Scotty, beam me up.

[onenote]

343. No, I'm saying that Damon is saying that.

Damon is the one that says that wish Obama had pushed through a more progressive agenda even if it meant he would be replaced by a repub after one term.

If that's what Damon thinks, he's being a fool.

[CANDO]

75. "politically unpopular"!!!

over 60 million people voted Obama and Democrats into office in 08, only to sit on their asses in 10 and watch Republicans take over the house with 44 million votes. Politically unpopular my ass! Medicare for all was never put on the table. That was the politically popular thing to do. When you don't do what the voters who put you in office want you to do, they sit on their asses the next election cycle.

[onenote]

275. Damon's premise is that the actions taken would result in the president not having the support

needed for reelection. In other words, Damon's premise is that Obama should have (and how he was supposed to do so isn't explained) push through an agenda that would result in those who opposed that agenda gaining control of the government four years later.

Explain how that would be a good result?

[ProSense]

36. Kick for

“a one-term president with some balls who actually got stuff done.”

....using the word "balls."

Obama 2012!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/100219885

http://www.democraticunderground.com/100233108

[The Doctor.]

37. Sorry Matt, but no... it wouldn't be better.

I assume having 'balls' means 'putting up a massive fight' over everything. Here in reality, things simply don't work that way, and here's why:

Has anyone ever noticed that the more you make an issue of something, the more people will set themselves against that issue regardless of reason? It's psychology. At a visceral level, many people are programmed to resist any intention immediately upon recognition that it is not something they themselves already 'want'. It doesn't matter that it might be reasonable or in their best interests, their instinct is to 'resist' the intentions of others because of the innate fear and insecurity that still pervades the human psyche.

So imagine that you insist to such a person that an idea is a good one. What do you usually get in return?

Well, if there are legitimate flaws in the idea and your audience has the intellectual rigor and honesty to research them, you wind up with a discussion of the points and usually some sort of resolution.

But, when starting with an adverse environment, even if the idea is perfectly reasonable and sound, and could perhaps even improve a community in some way, something fascinating happens.

People become irrational. This happens because of the the predisposition against another person. On DU, we have many examples of Obama supporters or critics being dismissed out of hand and without reason simply because they were perceived as 'the opposition'. Heck, here's a good example of the idea that we should not be dishonest with each-other about Obama on either side, but look at the irrational rejection, not of the idea but with the fact that it was put forward. Not one person could point to anything they disagreed about the idea without deliberately mischaracterizing it. They even made stuff up that wasn't there in order to argue about something they could try to attribute to the idea itself.

Think about that. Why do people behave this way?
[font color=white]Oh, I know... now come the irrational ones who want to be 'right' but can't reason their way out of a breeze.[/font]
They needed to fight the idea, not because there was anything wrong with it, but because it came from someone they decided was the 'opposition'. Once the fight ensues, the 'adversaries' seek out any and every excuse to attack the messenger because they cannot assail the message.


Now, let's look at national politics. If this phenomenon can happen here, then it's inexorable in national politics where the 'sides' have been so severely polarized.

Obama cannot 'put up a big fight' on anything. He has to do it carefully. If Obama stood up and said "I want universal health care for the US, and we're going to get it!", a half-billion dollars would flood the media and K-Street that very evening and the corporate media would have their marching orders on the spot. The likely hood that no bill would have passed at all would have bordered on 'certainty' at that point. Why? For the same reason that people will oppose what they see as 'being forced upon them'.
There is nothing Obama can do without opposition. 'Having balls' would make him and his agenda seem to be a bigger threat, and that is what people respond to viscerally.
Had Obama gone for the boldest possible moves, the opposition would have stopped him in his tracks. We've seen that many liberals and progressives are perfectly willing to throw him under the bus for 'not getting enough done', just imagine if he accomplished nothing in his first term.

It would also be his last, and we'd have nothing to show for it.

[ProSense]

44. Matt's

"Obama cannot 'put up a big fight' on anything. He has to do it carefully. If Obama stood up and said 'I want universal health care for the US, and we're going to get it!'"

...favorite President, Clinton, tried the "my way or the highway approach," with a plan that was less progressive than Obama's. You know how that ended.

[Jakes Progress]

299. Time and tide. Time and tide.

You know that a "my way or the highway" approach was not what Clinton took. He took the "let's get everybody together" approach. Obama did the same thing - with the same result. We still don't have universal health care. We still don't have a public option. Insurance profits are at an all time high. Medicaid and Medicare payments are dropping. We still have the least effective public health care system in the industrialized world.

Obama settled. Now we will never get any of those things. He should have known - an experienced man would - that what failed for Clinton would fail for him. (But he did try to keep Pharma off his back by promising them no effect on their profits. Of course, they lied and gave him hell any way. Who would have thought you couldn't trust big corporations?)

[Ship of Fools]

91. Thank you.

Obama's "Yes We Can" was all about getting us off our collective asses
and participating, imho. Then came dipshit Palin (all but inevitable,
imo, as America wasn't as growed up as some perceived, anyway. I'm not sure I'd
want to be the first African-American president -- seeing how some people would
rather see a bullet in between my eyes than work on solving the country's probs ...)

BUT THEN CAME OWS.

To me, that is the transformation. Thank you for all you do, Mr. President.

And thanks again for the post, Doctor.

[Union Scribe]

368. Has Matt seen the pledge? You should send him the pledge.

That'll probably settle this whole thing.

[The Doctor.]

371. So he can take a pledge to take criticism of Obama seriously? It seems he already does that.

Oh, right, I forgot... you didn't bother to read it before judging it.

Kinda' makes you look a little silly. But that's ok, I'm amused.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

38. I love Matt Damon but he is naive!

Apparently Matt knows absolutely nothing about how government and governance works! Nothing in his remarks points to Republucans and the unprecedented obstructionism. Matt plays right into their hands, getting him to blame the president, NOT the Republicans for anything!!

[Whisp]

50. Yah, I like Matt but he doesn't seem too bright in how government works, does he?

and that ball thing makes him sound really stupid, imo. Lets see how many or how big his would be against the McConnels, the Cantors and the Boners and a media that generally supports them by not calling them out as harshly as they bloody well should.

[Surya Gayatri]

98. Well said, Liberal...

Damon obviously has no clue and has given the Repukes a free walk. SG

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

108. He should listen to his friend and fellow

actor, George Clooney, who actually provided a very thoughtful analysis of the president's first term. Clooney didn't give Obama a pass; he did criticize him where the president deserved it. However, Clooney's analysis was much more about the innerpinnings of government and how it is much harder to govern than it is whining about change that we didn't get in three years. Change takes time, not less than 3 years! Change also requires that we do OUR job. As Barney Frank has been saying, the Anerican people--through their anger and impatience--allowed for Congress to be overwrought by Republicans and Corporatist/Blue Dog Democrats. We need to take some responsibility for that.

The fact that Matt Damon continues to push this false meme that the president had a majority tells me that he has absolutely no clue about who the Democratic party is: a much larger tent that included the likes of Blanche Lincoln, Kay Hagen, Joe Lieberman and Max Baucus. As for Joe who admitted that he would fight the public option simply because it would appease the liberals (namely Weiner and Grayson in the House), that is further proof that a public option would not happen. Matt either forgot this history or is being intellectually dishonest because he's angry at Obama. Either way, there's no excuse for it.

[Jakes Progress]

300. I love Matt Damon. He is a liberal stalwart.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

333. Not if he's championing Bill Clinton as his

favorite president rather than FDR, JFK, or LBJ!!!

He, then, is absolutely NOT a "liberal stalwart!!"

[Jakes Progress]

346. Please quote your source.

I think you'll not find it in Damon's words. But you knew that, didn't you?

He is a liberal stalwart when he doesn't champion the wimpy, New Democrat, appeaser in chief that is in office now. Liberal because he really supports liberal causes rather than being a fan member. Stalwart because he sticks up for what he believes and doesn't change what he believes because of what some idol says or does. Liberal is liberal. Liberal is not being against it when a republican does it but being for it when someone with a D beside their name does it.

[baldguy]

40. I'm thinking a “One-Term President With Balls” wouldn't be a one-term President.

Imagine where we'd be if Obama had really fought for single-payer heath insurance, and ended Bush's tax giveaway to billionaires, and pushed through a real stimulus package, and thrown some banksters in jail & reigned in Wall Street.

If he had done all that any Republican put up against him would be polling in the single digits.

[boston bean]

42. those are my thoughts.

but since that didn't happen, the reason for it not happening, becomes nefarious, imho.

[Whisp]

52. then you are imagining you live in a different country

with a different political system.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

114. I wish that this country was more liberal

than it is. I'm so lucky to live where I am because it's such a liberal bastion. However, as I travel across this country for work and encounter many different kinds of people, I am realizing just how much Americans have been brainwashed by 30, 40, 50 years of conservative propaganda.

Matt Damon IS naive. He has no clue about the political world outside of Boston!

[matmar]

67. Agreed. And I think that is what Damon was trying to say in his frustration.

[RC]

79. That is correct. This country would be so much better and farther along the road to recovery.

Our problem is not only Obama, but his adoring supporters. The can't seem to see how unprogressive Obama really is. He only seems progressive against the backdrop of rightwing loons.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

90. Are you sure that they are "adoring supporters"? They seem to spend very little time expressing ...

their adoration and more time telling informed and active Democrats to STFU.

[HangOnKids]

149. Big Kiss

This!^^^^^^^^

[progressoid]

236. +1

[eridani]

330. And even if he hadn't gotten those things done

--people appreciate a fighter.

[Bluenorthwest]

47. Matt is correct of course. He's a well informed Democrat who has a right to speak

his mind just like the rest of us do. I am always amused at how quickly 'our side' goes all 'shut up and sing' the minute an artist speaks some politics some do not care to hear. I take particular joy from those who are so intellectually absent that they post quick smirking insults toward him without so much as attempting to address the issues spoken of.
They try to make it about 'some actor' and not about the ideas. Ideas bad, bad! Too hard to deal with, this 'thinking' stuff. So Dixie Chicks it hurts...

[99Forever]

74. I was thinking the same thing myself.

Seems as if the first to point to a "celebrity endorsement" as proof of "their guy's" worthiness for office, are also the first to throw rotten tomatoes at those same "celebrities," should they dare speak their mind when they become disillusioned with the very same politician's failure to not only do what they promised, but to actually ignore the plight of the People who put them in office.

[Little Star]

82. Well said! n/t

[Maven]

209. And yet the very same people go gaga for conservatives like Andrew Sullivan

Tells you where their loyalties truly are.

[spanone]

48. all we need to do is look at what's going on in this congress right now

these fucks have blocked every piece of legislation this President has put forth.

[Bluenorthwest]

51. So was it wise for him to spend 3 years lecturing us that the GOP in Congress are our

partners, with great ideas? Was 'post partisan' politics a winner? Did it help to keep announcing that they are 'honest dealers' and all that?
I agree with you, it is sadly counter to the message the President sent out for so long. It is only the President who can now make the point you are making. He said the opposite for far too long in my opinion.
Anyone who tells me the GOP is honest gets my dander up. I do not agree.

[The Doctor.]

57. It was the 'appropriate' thing to say

in order to put the reality into stark contrast.

But sadly, he is up against dishonest dealers. I'm not too thrilled with him when it comes to some things, but the more I look, the more I realize how little he had by the way of effective choices that would not trigger greater opposition.

I'm glad to see he's finally getting around to thinking of perhaps planning to use the bully pulpit. I hope that's part of his plan in the year to come.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

85. Did the Rs block his appointment of Geithner, his signing of extending the Bush tax cuts, ...?

Of course, it's all the fault of the obstructionist Republicans. We gave Obama an overwhelming victory and he is just an innocent, powerless victim.

If they truly "blocked every piece of legislation this President has put forth," why not support that with a link or two to legislation that he put forth and they blocked. (Of course, some say that the President is merely a victim who can't put forth legislation because he's only the President and not a Congressman or Senator.)

If they truly "blocked every piece of legislation," it should be relatively easy to identify such legislation.

Claiming that they blocked his legislation is inconsistent with his actions. They didn't block his appointments. They didn't block his recent three free-trade agreements.

[emulatorloo]

104. There are charts out there showing the unprecedented Republican abuse of the fillibuster

since 2009. Rachel Maddow has posted it, Steve Benen has posted it, etc etc.

It is an unassailable fact.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

120. Unfortunately for that claim, C-SPAN broadcasts showed that there was not a single filibuster.

As John Adams said,
"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be
our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion,
they cannot alter the state of facts ..."

Some offer imaginative excuses as to why there were no actual filibusters. But imaginative excuses as to why there were no actual filibusters does not make up for the fact that there were no filibusters.

[emulatorloo]

194. The Modern Filibuster = Voting as a Block Against Cloture

The modern filibuster isn't like in the old movies. They don't do filibusters that way nowadays.

All they have to do nowadays is vote as a block against cloture. Which successfully kills the bill.

This is how the Republicans are killing bills.

This is where you run into problems with your analysis of what is going on in washington right now. You have at least one of your premises wrong. Voting as a block Against Cloture is how the filibuster is done in modern times.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

214. Actually, they don't do filibusters nowadays, "that way" or any other way.

The excuses are just excuses.

Not enough votes for a cloture? Not enough votes to cut off the Republicans from speaking?

At any time that he wanted, Reid could have ordered the business of the Senate to proceed. At any time that he wanted, he could have informed the Republicans something along the following lines: "We appear to not have enough votes for a cloture. So you can speak as long as you want. Go ahead. But as soon as you stop speaking, I am going to order the business of the Senate to resume."

Reid didn't say that or anything like that because he had a sufficient number of parrots MSM and elsewhere who would claim that the Repubicans were holding filibusers when, in fact, they weren't.

C-Span was there to broadcast the proceedings of the Senate. Who are you going to believe? The MSM parrots with the talking points or your lying eyes?

[emulatorloo]

233. Maybe somebody else can explain it to you better than I can.

ON EDIT: I see julian09 has done a really good job right below. Hope that helps.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

358. The Senate's explanation re Rule XXII is sufficient. Pundits, claiming to be "modern," are wrong.

http://rules.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=RuleXXII
http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?pid=%270E%2C%2APLW%3D%22P%20%20%0A

No filibusters have been held. Have you ever heard Senator Reid claim that. I never have, and I doubt that he ever did so. Others have said that.

You've said, "All they have to do nowadays is vote as a block against cloture." This is wrong because the Republicans never have to vote against cloture because no cloture votes are ever taken. Not a single Republican Senator has voted against cloture. Not one. Not one cloture vote has been taken.

[julian09]

196. They should have made them actually read the phone book " fillibuster "but

they didn't. They needed 60 votes for cloture to bring it to the floor to debate then vote.
The reading of phone book, bible or whatever never happened because it is assumed they would and for the sake of not wasting time they went to next thing.

How many bills went down with 50 votes and over a majority with VP breaking tie"
Why is 41 votes more than 59? because of Filibuster.

How many wins would Obama have if not for filibuster MATT?
Hey MATT why not tell the Blue Dogs to get some balls and vote with the president even it's for one term?

Obama would have had many victories had majority votes won out.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

356. Your explanation appears to be at odds with the text of Senate Rule XXII and the Senate's own ...

explanation.
http://rules.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=RuleXXII
http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?pid=%270E%2C%2APLW%3D%22P%20%20%0A

When you say, "They needed 60 votes for cloture to bring it to the floor to debate then vote," what does that mean? As the majority leader, Senator Reid when bills may be brought to the floor for debate. The Senate Rules do not condition the exercise of his power to do so according to whether there has been a cloture vote or not. When a bill is brought to the floor for a debate, an opposing Senator who is recognized can speak for as long as he or she wants. If an opposing Senator actually has the floor and actually speaks, that is a genuine filibuster. The majority party can choose to either (1) allow the Senator to speak until he or she has exhaused himself or herself (or simply gets tired of talking), or (2) take a vote to cut off the filibuster.

A cloture vote is not required to bring a bill to the floor. It never has been.

The problem is that an actual filibuster or two would interfere with the time that is required to be dedicated for campaign soliciting. No actual filibusters have been held. None. Nada. Zero. Zilch.

[great white snark]

53. Another purist who'd rather make a statement then get things done.

Even worse a celebrity purist. His consternation carries the same weight as Clooney's praise...which is zero.

[ProSense]

54. The

President could have wiped out homelessness if he had "balls."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/100249786

[Bluenorthwest]

68. Yeah, he should shut up and sing!

I am amused that in the President's 'support circle' people like me get called both 'purists' and also 'unclean' in that we don't get that Sanctity from the God in your mix and all. So we are too pure for politics, not pure enough to marry. Got to respect a mindset that comes up with that sort of conundrum. Should I seek to get more pure, so that I might get 'Sanctity' or should I try to get less pure, so that my political opinions don't get mocked from the center-right? Ah, me, such a choice to make!

[great white snark]

83. WTF? Who said he should shut up?

Who said he didn't have a right to an opinion?
You have issues, please don't take it out on me.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

121. Didn't you call him a "purist?"

[Bluenorthwest]

259. Shut Up And Sing is the title of a documentary on the right wing frothing when

the Dixie Chicks dare to criticize GW. Your post, which calls him names and suggests that his job disqualifies him from being taken as seriously as, say, a random poster on the internet, falls into the general area of 'sniping at famous people for saying political things'. Many people are aware of the Chicks, the film and the term 'Shut Up and Sing'. Others might think 'Matt Damon is not a singer, perhaps I'm missing something' and used the Google and thus, gotten the joke, such as it was. The snark it is not so sharp, it seems.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0811136/

[Bluenorthwest]

261. Shut Up And Sing is the title of a documentary on the right wing frothing when

the Dixie Chicks dare to criticize GW. Your post, which calls him names and suggests that his job disqualifies him from being taken as seriously as, say, a random poster on the internet, falls into the general area of 'sniping at famous people for saying political things'. Many people are aware of the Chicks, the film and the term 'Shut Up and Sing'. Others might think 'Matt Damon is not a singer, perhaps I'm missing something' and used the Google and thus, gotten the joke, such as it was. The snark it is not so sharp, it seems.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0811136/

[CakeGrrl]

150. No one is telling him to shut up - but his naïveté and ignorance is showing.

This is the difference that some need to learn.

If one says dumb shit and gets called out, it's just that.

If they want to keep talking, no one CAN stop them. He wouldn't have had this luxury when GWB was in office, o the irony.

So if he persists in taking this stance, he will be met with disagreement.

Democracy's great, isn't it?

[fascisthunter]

248. go eat your cake

real people who have real jobs working and struggling to make ends meet are talking about stuff that impacts them more than you. You are lucky, so sit back and watch.

[CakeGrrl]

293. You must have me confused with the multimillionaire soapbox critic.

My employment is just as sketchy as a lot of others.

If Mr. Damon knows what it takes to govern in today's political climate, by all means let him go forth with his millions and finance the campaign of a worthy successor.

[Jakes Progress]

304. You can't complain that Damon doesn't know how to govern

when you champion a man who, by actual evidence of performance, has no idea how to.

I would hope that Obama is unaware, naive, and inexperienced. It would be terrible if he knew how to make things happen and has failed so miserably.

[patrice]

164. Some VERY twisted logic here. #1 Mischaracterizations are the hallmark of a) ignorance or b) the

b) the oppressor.

Also: The basic rhetoric against Obama is that he is "the lesser of two evils", not pure enough, so your PURIST position that no one who supports him authentically recognizes what he is is THE GOD in YOUR midst.

Regarding choices: As long as it is always someone else, e.g. a president, it's ALL WAYS someone else.

In short: Pot kettle.

[Bluenorthwest]

245. Of course I did not say "the lesser of two evils", not pure enough. To claim some

'basic rhetoric' is what I said is utterly false and mendacious. I'd not say that. Do not put words into my mouth, I can and do speak for myself. The President says gay people lack 'Sanctity' which means we are unclean, not pure enough. That rhetoric is his own. I'm not of the opinion that anyone is pure or that there is any such thing as 'pure' it is not the sort of language I use at all.
So if you want to damn me with my words, patrice, you need to use my words, not some diatribe you wish to ascribe to me. Your post is extremely dishonest and disrespectful. You wrote a pile of words and then said that was my mindset-that which you wrote, none of which I said, nor did I say anything close to it. To claim to do that 'for Obama' is a great insult to him if you ask me. He's so much better than the crap you shout when someone says he's not perfect.

[HangOnKids]

360. Hell Yeah!

Fuck-Yeah Bluenorthwest!

[fascisthunter]

246. I love it when conserves call us purists

it shows how far to the right and how corrupt they are themselves.

[surfdog]

59. "Even more direct criticism"

I don't see any specific gripes ,just griping in general ,what's his specific issue ?

[global1]

64. I Say We Re-elect Pres Obama And Make Damon Eat.....

his words. Can he be so stupid to think one of these Repug candidates would be better?

[RC]

86. How about we Primary Obama with an actual progressive that had the "We the people..." mentioned

in the Constitution more in mind instead of bipartisanship that that seems to benefit the 1% over the 99% too much of the time?

[newspeak]

88. well, as obama indicated on TV, it's me or those other crazies (my words)

so, some of us will be holding our nose voting, instead of voting enthusiastically. Because, in this democratic republic, it seems we've got little choice. And, to me, that is quite depressing and very eye opening about the people's real choices.

And Damon is not a stupid man. In fact, he's quite intelligent. Hey, but I love the new slogan, basically it's "I don't suck as much as those other guys." Truly inspiring.

[Marrah_G]

73. He is absolutely right

I just watched " too big to fail" and I have to say this young man impresses me

[JoePhilly]

80. He said from the safety of a movie set.

[FrenchieCat]

94. That took some balls,

I'm sure.

[CakeGrrl]

153. No kidding. Great posturing performance. He probably has Harrison Ford in mind.

Once you see POTUS literally throw the bad guys off a plane, I guess real life is a letdown.

[fascisthunter]

247. don't worry, reality has a way of creeping up on you, then it's too late

enjoy

[CakeGrrl]

348. So where's Kucinich or Sanders to the rescue?

Surely they can mount a siren call to the danger, right?

[fascisthunter]

376. That's the problem with people who eat cake while others struggle

they play games with themselves and frame their arguments based on lies. Those two you mentioned are only two.... unfortunately your corporate sellouts sorta control everything so that you can continue to eat and bake cakes.

[CakeGrrl]

381. You have a bizarre obsession with cake-eating and who's doing it.

You're barking up the wronnnng tree.

Why don't you go attack some Republicans if cake-eating chaps your hide so much?

As to Mr. Damon, he can put HIS millions where his mouth is.

[CakeGrrl]

385. You're very ill-informed.

Lesson: The internet is not a place for deep character assessment. You really don't know what you're talking about.

[fascisthunter]

387. no. I'm honest

you are dishonest. Have a happy holidays and eat cake

[FrenchieCat]

92. I see your Damon,

and raise you a Clooney,
http://www.angryblacklady.com/2011/10/10/george-clooney-im-disillusioned-by-the-people-who-are-disillusioned-by-obama-w-video/

and a Longoria
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/28/eva-longoria-talks-obama-_n_984841.html

and I'll throw in a Gaga
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2011/09/lady-gaga-attends-obama-fundraising-event/

I'm sure there's more stars out there.....Since that's what sooo important!

Guess that's what saving lives entail....arguing about what the stars are saying!

Lookit all of the recs!
If feel like I'm in Junior High School round here.

[Whisp]

107. +1 golden.

I think we should have a celebrity cage match - I want GaGa up against Damon.

[patrice]

148. No, no, no! . . . We're talking BALLS here! Give me Vin Diesel!!!

[JoePhilly]

217. Yea!! .... I think George should go and kick Matt's ass!!

While Gaga stomps him with these shoes ...

[Number23]

325. But what does Ernest Borgnine think??!1

I won't SLEEP until I find out!!!1

[Enrique]

93. I've never liked the "balls" metaphor

I've always found it sexist, and I find it sexist even when Matt Damon says it.

[patrice]

96. Same OLD war mindset. Damon does not & hopefully never will have responsibility for the SAFETY

of this country.

Pissing contests may appeal to the supermarket tabloid set, but President Obama has a country to guide through danger fueled by a global economic slide triggered by Americans AND THEIR FOREIGN PARTNERS in OUR Derivative Crash of '08.

[patrice]

97. Guiding a country doesn't have a script Mr. Damon.

[FrenchieCat]

101. Nope And no stunt double with big gigantic balls

Someone tell Damon that the Supreme Court can fucking change the world
just like that. He may not be aware, as he postures like his balls are sooo big,
without evidence that this is the case.

[patrice]

109. Yeah! Director, "Cue the balls!!" Damon sits down. BIG Balls walks onto the set . . .

. . . NOT a pretty picture, but . . .

[raindaddy]

99. Good For Matt

Why continue to pretend? Obama's more interested in appeasing Wall Street and the global corporations than fighting for traditional democratic ideals.. Maybe Matt's more interested in what's good for the people of this country than to continue to stay silent while this president continues to capitulate the Democratic party farther to the right in his search for "compromise". If more people would stop idealizing this president he might have second thoughts about who he really represents.

[patrice]

100. No more Damon movies for me, but I don't suppose that matters much to Matt, he already has his so he

can afford bullshit mischaracterisations of what the job of being President is about.

[NorthCarolina]

329. Oh the pain, the pain...

[T S Justly]

103. Dear Mr. Damon. I would support your run for the Democratic nomination.

Would you like to run?

[Whisp]

110. run? he can't run on account of those

MASSIVE balls he apparently has.
would get blisters.

[Itchinjim]

105. Barack Obama: Got bin Laden.

Matt Damon: "Bought a Zoo"

[Whisp]

111. tee hee

[Dragonfli]

212. Wow! he went in with the seals and shot the guy? HE got him? BALLLLLLSS!!

I did not know he was training for and was deployed on that mission.

I mistakenly had honored those SEAL posers for their courage rather than Commando Obama as would have been correct.
Those damn SEALS being given credit for his brave kill is disgusting!

[Itchinjim]

260. Wow! I got almost the same email from my idiot freeper bil.

You guys been hanging out?

[qb]

106. A good public shaming is needed to balance the overwhelming corporatist influence on POTUS.

[patrice]

115. That's an extremely naive characterization of how it works. The President's ENEMIES know

The President's enemies know if he's losing votes and that makes them more obdurate which causes more defectors which causes them to be more obdurate. All they have to do is wait it out because people did not understand and therefore did not, and probably never will, commit.

This country is in a SAD fucking place when honest loyalty is considered a crime. Thanks for encouraging that Matt.

[dionysus]

210. i'm sure he's losing sleep...

[dionysus]

112. i like matt. i'll have to disagree with him on this one.

[txlibdem]

113. FDR saved Capitalism. Obama is saving Capitalism. No difference.

The methods are not the same but the outcome will be identical. The moneyed elite will still be running the government. We still get to vote and think we're in control. It's a win-win.

Sure a few tens of millions of people will have to suffer. No sweat. Prez. Obama is worth $10 Million. His vacation house in France (the one he's going to buy as soon as he gets out of office) is bigger than a family farm. He's all smiles.

His Corporate Masters will reward him with a consulting job or a seat on several boards of directors and he'll be rolling in dough for life.

[ProSense]

136. Here's

...an appropriate rebuttal

Re: Matt Damon, from Liberal comedian Rob Delaney
http://www.democraticunderground.com/100257272

[Tsiyu]

138. Telling Congress he isn't their marriage counselor

was kind of ballsy. And funny.

I understand the disappointment, but I don't think the POTUS could have done one term's worth of difference.

He has kept the nation from completely tanking.

He will be looked back upon with mostly favor, but he has a lot more work to do. Another term may see it done, and one would hope so, at this point in the game.

[Schema Thing]

193. ooh, I missed that. When did he say that?

[Tsiyu]

252. His spokesperson said it for him:

http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/washington/2011/12/white-house-says-prez-is-no-marriage-counselor-.html

[Schema Thing]

267. hah! thanks!

[BzaDem]

159. Just because Matt Damon doesn't like the "stuff" that "got" "done"

doesn't mean stuff hasn't gotten done.

Obama has passed more progressive legislation than any President in 40 years. Of course, he couldn't even dispute that if he wanted to. (Which President in the last 40 years is a counterexample?) He just doesn't think that is "good enough."

[Z_California]

166. Want President Obama to grow some balls?

Give him 218 real Democrats in the House and 60 real Democrats in the Senate. Then we would get to see those balls everyone's clamoring for.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

174. I like Damon as an actor

but if he thinks it's so easy (and if he has the "balls" for it), why doesn't he run? It's much easier to snipe at the President on the sidelines than it is to have to work everyday with an extremely hostile Congress, a large portion of which wants to see you fail. This isn't even to mention the fact that Obama accomplished a LOT during his first TWO years in office. Maybe it's not everything that everybody wanted or how they might have wanted it but c'est la vie! The public certainly didn't do anybody any favors in 2010 when approximately 60% of the public stayed home and allowed the majority of the other 40% to inflict the teabaggers on us in Washington DC and several state capitols.

[savalez]

314. +1 (except I don't like him as an actor)

Will Matt be affected adversely by any president at this point? I doubt it. Even if he thinks he's a ninety-niner his bank account probably says otherwise. So it's no wonder it's easy for him to say stuff like this. Because deep down it must not matter at all to him if that flip-flopping-take-no-position-lying-ass Romney becomes president. No skin off his back.... Eff you Matt.

[oberliner]

175. Why do we care what actors think?

Is it because they can afford big donations or is there some kind of identification with these people?

[stuntcat]

341. guess their careers have lined enough pockets that their opinions make it into our "news" magazines

Nothing against him personally, but it scares me that his opinions are so important to people

[jefferson_dem]

178. What a tool.

If only we could appoint Damon's very own "President Romney" so he would appreciate the reality that's right in front of his face.

[Bucky]

180. Politics is compromise. We have to settle for a one-balled president with two terms.

I hope to see a no-balls president in the near future. Elizabeth Warren comes to mind.

[MADem]

289. Ha ha! I can dig that! nt

[Cali_Democrat]

186. K&R

Love Matt Damon!

[Zorra]

187. The fact that so many progressives feel this way is telling.

If President Obama is re-elected, and afterward does not make a sincere effort to at least respond to the concerns of his disenchanted progressive base and satisfactorily explain his actions, he will cause enormous permanent damage to the Democratic party.

Progressive Democrats are uttering one gigantic collective

This should be a clear sign for the President that it is time to get clue.

Hopefully, during his 2nd term, without the necessity of re-election pending, he will perform in his office as Prez much more in line with the will of those who elected him to carry out their will as their representative.

[ProSense]

190. Right

"If President Obama is re-elected, and afterward does not make a sincere effort to at least respond to the concerns of his disenchanted progressive base and satisfactorily explain his actions, he will cause enormous permanent damage to the Democratic party."

Right, a few prominent and vocal people repeating their anti-Obama sentiments means the President "will cause enormous permanent damage to the Democratic party"

Reality:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/100236785

http://www.gallup.com/poll/15370/party-affiliation.aspx

[Maven]

213. Actually it seems more like a few prominent and vocal people saying shut up and get in line,

Obama can do no wrong, etc., with the rest of the party that actually cares about policy and not just politics starting to distance themselves from the status-quo bullshit.

Must be getting a little hard for you to cover for more and more people who once were true believers and now just want the truth.

[Zorra]

268. Well, I kind of hope that poll is accurate, and then again, I kind of don't.

The good news is that the President will be re-elected handily. The bad news is, it seems the more extreme liberal Democrats no longer have a voice, or place, in the Democratic Party.

The opinions of those who I would characterize as the more liberal Democrats at DU and at other Democratic/progressive websites seem to conflict with the data in poll, but this could easily mean that we are the liberal extreme in the Democratic party, and that extreme liberal Democrats are more likely to share information on the internet than less liberal, moderate, or conservative Democrats are.

And it is possible that majority of the Democrats that I associate with and speak with about this issue are part of the liberal extreme also. (And it is true that two of my closest Dem/lib old friends, lifetime Democrats, both told me within the last year that they believe that the President is doing a good job).

These 2 factors seem may be the reason that I am perceiving that progressive Dems generally are not satisfied with the President's performance thus far, and this may mean that our concerns are not even worth acknowledging due to the fact that we are so small a voting minority in the Democratic Party. The support we gave in 2008 above and beyond voting is not at all necessary for the President's reelection in 2012, and, anyway, it is a given that the majority of us will vote for Obama because we universally detest republicans.

So it seems, if the poll you posted is an accurate reflection of the Dem electorate, that the possibility of the President not getting the same support from Democrats in 2012 as he did in 2008 is minimal, and that it's just the extreme liberal Dem choir that is expressing dissatisfaction with the President's performance.

I'm actually kind of glad to know this, so, thanks, I guess. I don't believe that I can ever possibly tolerate another republican in the WH after Bush and not leave the country in disgust.

Still, this leaves an enormous future dilemma for those of us that wish to have a much more progressive, democratically oriented non-corporatist Democratic party and government, especially if the President continues to govern in what extreme liberal Dems perceive as too conservative a manner.

But this apparently does not present a problem for a Democratic party that has shifted much further to the right, and abandoned traditional liberals still here on the anti-corporatist extreme left.

Apparently, OWS is not the only group that has been forced out of their tent by the 1%.

I've been a liberal Democrat all of my life. It appears that I am now homeless.

Ouch.

[jefferson_dem]

192. "so many"

I do agree with you on the "2nd term" prediction, however.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

188. I love Matt Damon!

The comments ay the article are reactionary drivel, though.

[suston96]

191. Someone has already pointed out.....

There is only so much a President can do WITHOUT a Congress or with an opposing Congress.

Gee, when is the last time a President was in such a pickle where he cannot get diddly from an opposing Congress?

Matt Damon is a great artist but, as someone above has already indicated, he knows, uh - diddly - about how our government works.

And neither do most people who continue to blame a President, of whatever party, who accomplishes little during a term when opposed by Congress at every turn.

In the Constitution, the Congress comes first, then the Executive, then the Supreme Court. Responsibility for getting things done works in the same order.

Or - The President proposes - the Congress disposes - or NOT!

[CarmanK]

195. DAMON is a great actor and patriot, he has no idea about governance!

Obama is doing an extraordinary job cleaning up federal agencies against great odds. We have had some really bad economic times, and cures were met with great resistance but FDR and men of good will prevailed. OBAMA is facing severe economic times, radicals who would subvert democracy in favor of the TPARTY NATION of fascism, MURDOGS at FOX who hate him and of course all the money in the world behind the KOCHROACHES AND ALEC. He has done some great things against greater odds. DAVID AND GOLIATH IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. OBAMA is alone in the ring, while GOLIATH has corporate minions swinging swords and battle axes.

[thelordofhell]

199. Matt Damon!!

[ooglymoogly]

347. Juvenile...you just wasted two minutes of my time.

[thelordofhell]

388. It was supposed to waste 4 minutes

Sorry you didn't realize the nature of the video in less than 2 minutes

[relayerbob]

205. Matt who?

And we should care ... why?

[truebrit71]

208. "With Balls" being the operative phrase here...

...too bad there are none in the WH, nor on the D side of the aisle in Congress...

[The Wielding Truth]

240. Who's running on the progessive side this year?I am supporting Alan Grayson. Who else is running?

[SoapBox]

215. Damien...uh, Damon is and always has been a Reich Winger.

I've seen his spew and vomit before...he's a Tighty Righty.

Which makes me wonder on what other levels this HaterBagger goes to...is he also a Racist?

[Maven]

219. WTF are you talking about?

Damon is a lefty and has been for as long as he's been a public figure. Do you even know who we're talking about?

[MrScorpio]

221. Damon at least accepts the IDEA of Obama as president

However, there is a sizable amount of people who are waiting in the wings who will not accept him under any circumstances and a lot of these people vote. Most of them have voted against their own and the country's best interests many times in the last 30+ years. Not to mention others:

- There are those who don't understand how the government or the economy actually works, such as giving corporations tax breaks actually makes life harder for ordinary Americans.

- Or, the ones who live with underlying prejudices against ethnicities, religious beliefs or sexual orientations other than their own and take the idea of full equality in any form as some kind of UnAmerican plot against "ordinary" Americans.

- Or, so many who are willing to throw the baby out with the bathwater, with a pox on everyone's house, because their own individual agendas aren't being followed to the letter without compromise and cooperation. The No-Agenda-Is-Better-Than-Not-Having-My-Radical-Agenda folks.

Despite his fervor, it's clear that Damon's position is short-sighted and too narrowly focused on the White House itself.

No "President with Balls" would be able to come close to achieving any kind of desirable result with the Congress and courts that we have in place today, or a voting public that's resolved in keeping a faulty system in place that works the way that it does today. It's an exercise in futility to think that just one man in the White House can reverse everything.

Even after our hypothetical "One Termer" leaves office, what's to stop whatever gains that he or she had made from being summarily reversed by a successor, an untouched Congress, a compromised court system and a public that's too ill-informed to vote for a better way?

I understand his anger… I just wish that he placed his focus on the much bigger picture.

[one_voice]

224. +1000000...

what you said!

[FSogol]

225. You know, bluster is easier than accomplishing things.

Damon should start a DU account so he can bluster all day.

"If I was President, I'd end all wars, remove our dependence on oil, and then after lunch..."

[Hulk]

234. Disagree 100%

I'm giving him a second term to "get stuff done". And besides, saying he didn't get stuff done is absolute BS.

HAD HE dealt with immigration and a number of other tough issues, HE along with the entire Democratic Party would see a landslide for the gop that would make 2010 look like nothing.

Yeah....fooled me once....ah....what was that again? If you honestly believe you are going to get a politician who is going to be your puppet, you are setting yourself up to get screwed every time. I hate repeating all this shit, but he is NOT a dictator. He is working with obstructionists who are unyielding...and Damon is upset? Get over it, dip shit!

Maybe you should have voted for mcAncient and the idiot from Alaska. Then you would really have something to bitch about. God, what weak kneed Progressives!

[HipChick]

235. He's a 1%...he can afford to live through another Republican rule

[fascisthunter]

253. uh...no... he isn't part of the !%

he isn't wealthy, just rich, and he is on our side, not the side of the 1%. Weird effort on your part to try to disassociate us with him. What difference would it make if he were WEALTHY and part of the 1% financially? Did you really think we were that simplistic?

His statement alone makes him far from a person who works politically for the 1%. Obama does however since he has power to create law.

[tblue]

280. Yup. Matt isn't looking for tax breaks.

He is not a 1% in his attitude, even if he is a millionaire. I respect him.

[fascisthunter]

241. He was, and so were many of us

[Jefferson23]

242. Good for him for saying it. K&R

[AtomicKitten]

287. George Clooney supports Pres. O. No word yet from the rest of the 'Oceans' cast.

[CakeGrrl]

295. So does the other half of the "Good Will Hunting" writing team.

Shall we await word from the cast of "The Adjustment Bureau"?

[AtomicKitten]

365. Well, since you mentioned it ...

Emily Blunt Takes Action
Mar 2, 2011
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/03/02/adjustment-bureau-star-emily-blunt-on-movies-family-obama-acting.html



The Adjustment Bureau’s leading lady Emily Blunt talks to Marlow Stern about her recent flops, starting a family with The Office’s John Krasinski, and how Obama’s romanticism plays into her political opinions.

-- snip

“Obama’s a romantic!” gushes Blunt, who has grown wary of the political landscape stateside. “My problem with politics is everything seems so strategized these days, so I really like to hear about Obama doing something nice for Michelle, sneaking a cigarette… I think when something seems too manufactured, when it seems too pragmatic, that’s when I lose interest because I feel like I’m being played.”


Still waiting for Don Cheadle, Brad Pitt, and Casey Afflect from 'Oceans' to weigh in.

[Jim_Shorts]

288. Too many people here suffering from stockholm syndrome

I agree with David Green:

I have a question for you. Do you really think this bastard is going to become FDR in his second term? Do you really think he’s going to seriously slash military funding in order to save Medicare? Do you really think he’s going to rescind his deal with the insurance industry in order to provide genuine public health care access? Do you really think he’s going to replace Timothy Geithner with Paul Krugman or Joseph Stiglitz? I mean, this is a guy so beholden to Wall Street that he pretended not to have the courage to nominate Elizabeth Warren to the new consumer affairs position she invented.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is my song for Obama:

[ooglymoogly]

349. +1 Great thoughts, great song great video. Who is this. She is brilliant. nt

[savalez]

292. Apparently, DU bugs don't care what Matt thinks.

They even erased the post!

"The message body of this post was accidentally deleted due to an unexpected bug in our new software. The bug has been fixed, and most of the data was recovered. But unfortunately we were unable to recover the full text of this post. ."

[KamaAina]

294. Fine, Matt. You live with President Gingrich. Or Paul.

Oh, and your buddy Ben? I hate to break it to you, but it's a rug.

[savalez]

308. Must be easy to say when you've got movie bucks.

He'll do well no matter who the president is and no one can deny that.

I think that amnesia character he payed stuck.

[Is It Pointless]

334. You and others are making an ad hominem attack...

that's completely ridiculous. Because he's wealthy that precludes him from speaking his mind? From being disappointed? From having expectations? You should be MORE impressed with what he's saying, because despite his own security and wealth, he cares enough about the people who could've benefitted from a stronger advocate for the people. Have you forgotten how most of the 1% are? They could give a rat's ass about Obama, or the plight of regular people. And yet when one of them does show some concern or consideration, without having ANYTHING personally at stake in the outcome, you denigrate and marginalize and point fingers.

You cannot have it both ways...

[savalez]

338. Not so.

It is simply my opinion that that actor has nothing to lose or gain from his comments. He'll be fine either way. It must be easy to say stuff like that when you really do not have a dog in the race so to speak. That actor is ignoring the fact that, since the beginning, congressional republiCONS have been doing everything in their power to stop the President. In spite of that he still got important things done. Then things dramatically changed when Boner took the house because weak people were disillusioned and didn't show up to the polls. Only a fool does not factor that into the equation when they express their displeasure. He's angry at the wrong people. Balls. Sure, tough street talk. This ain't the streets of Boston. This is the real world. So no, I am not impressed.

[surfdog]

301. sorry..

I'll take brains over balls.

[killbotfactory]

306. Two Words: Supreme Court

Also ignores the unprecedented republican intransigence due to people like Damon, and many on DU, blaming every political set-back on Obama. The republicans gain nothing politically from working with Obama, and have staked their political futures on that fact. Having "balls", I assume meaning a president as pissed off as the people and as uncompromising as the republicans, would not change that fact.

[Politicub]

312. He's a 1 percenter who has nothing at stake should a republican get elected

I'm a Damon fan, but his comment is disappointing to me.

[EVDebs]

313. Matt Damon's 'Good Sheperd' film on James Jesus Angleton/CIA...

Matt Damon's 'Good Sheperd' film on James Jesus Angleton/CIA...wtf, this guy eulogizes a CIA nut job and then expects us to think someone other than Obama could have done the job better ??

BTW, Obama's own CIA connections

Obama’s CIA Pedigree
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/08/07/obama%E2%80%99s-cia-pedigree/

show us that he's exactly what the CIA will allow us to get as a chief executive.

Mitt Romney's not far from that same story if only someone (John Pilger ? Wayne Madsen ?) will look deeper, with the CIA's Mormon hiring preference.

Time Magazine, August 4, 1997, has an article titled "Kingdom Come" by David Van Biema (in fact, the entire magazine issue is about the Mormon Church, titled 'Mormons, Inc.: The secrets of America's most prosperous religion')

On page 52 I read, "The FBI and CIA, drawn by a seemingly incorruptible rectitude, have instituted Mormon-recruiting plans."

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,986794,00.html

No offense to the seemingly incorruptible Mormons but if you get into the CIA you can bet some of your covert ops (domestic and foreign) are going to be 'dirty work'.

Which begs the question re Mitt Romney's candidacy. Will Mitt keep that hiring preference ? What is the current status of this preference and how long has it been in effect ? Utah's 90% voting for the GOP in most elections highlights this, as does who really won the 'Cowboy vs Yankee' war that Carl Oglesby wrote about long ago.

Which leads to today's GHW Bush left-handed endorsement of Romney.

George H.W. Bush "unofficially" endorses Romney
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57347349-503544/george-h.w-bush-unofficially-endorses-romney/

The only guys the CIA is going to let run the country are guys they've vetted. We're only going to get 'economic hit-men', pardon me John Perkins.

If Matt Damon means that the new president will stand up to the CIA and its black ops guys etc (like a President with balls...JFK comes to mind), then maybe OWS could help give the new guy 'cover'. He could live w/o the secret service 'protection', which is really a praetorian guard for the M/I complex. I can dream, can't I ?

[tavalon]

316. He's famous so his words get read in Elle

I am not (thank god) but I have a very similar opinion. As a matter of fact, damn near identical. President Obama is the reason I now only look at a politicians past work and ethics history. I don't listen to a word any candidate says. I will vote for President Obama but only because there is nothing better. I hope he surprises me in a good way in his second term. He certainly surprised me in his first and not in a good way.

[suffragette]

318. More info from Damon’s interview in Elle, including his being a cofounder of water.org

Here are the paragraphs that immediately precede the quotes in the OP:

http://www.elle.com/Pop-Culture/Celebrity-Spotlight/Matt-Damon-Hollywood-s-Sexiest-Mr.-Nice-Guy/Matt-Damon-Hollywood-s-Sexiest-Mr.-Nice-Guy-Read-More-Celebrity-Interviews-on-ELLE.com

For the past few years, Damon seems to have found some measure of comfort with the scratchy mantle of fame by doing what most of us like to believe we’d do, given the platform and the funding afforded by celebrity: doing good. Using the same righteous-yet-reasonable tones he employs as the go-to narrator for current-events documentaries (Inside Job; American Teacher; PBS’s Women, War, and Peace), Damon has also pushed his agenda as the cofounder of Water.org, which offers microfinance loans to help families in Africa and India either drill wells or tap into existing water lines. We hear so much about celebrity causes these days that the immensity of this one takes a second to sink in—he’s attempting to get a handle on a crisis that touches a billion people. As Ben Stiller put it at an American Cinematheque dinner honoring Damon last year: “You don’t screw around. You went out and claimed water. I mean, that’s, like, an element!”

Damon’s unscripted moments have proven even more interesting: calling out Sarah Palin’s folksy inexperience and specious grasp of historical facts—like, say, the existence of dinosaurs—in 2008; suggesting the Bush twins should be shipped off to war; tarring conservative then New York Times columnist William Kristol as an “idiot.” While most Hollywood power-Dems continue to back their commander in chief—albeit with somewhat subdued ardor—Damon, one of Obama’s earliest and loudest public supporters, told Piers Morgan last year that the president “misinterpreted his mandate” by rolling over to banks and extending Bush-era tax cuts.


Looked up water.org and found this. Looks like a great project:
http://water.org/about/

ABOUT US
The water and sanitation problem in the developing world is far too big for charity alone. We are driving the water sector for new solutions, new financing models, greater transparency, and real partnerships to create lasting change. Our vision: the day when everyone in the world can take a safe drink of water.

Co-founded by Matt Damon and Gary White, Water.org is a nonprofit organization that has transformed hundreds of communities in Africa, South Asia, and Central America by providing access to safe water and sanitation.

Water.org traces its roots back to the founding of WaterPartners in 1990. In July 2009, WaterPartners merged with H2O Africa, resulting in the launch of Water.org. Water.org works with local partners to deliver innovative solutions for long-term success. Its microfinance-based WaterCredit Initiative is pioneering sustainable giving in the sector.

[maximusveritas]

320. That implies 4 years of a Republican President after the 1 term

Sorry Matt, but any gains made in that one term would immediately be reversed and then we'd have to suffer for 4-8 years like we did with Bush.

[valerief]

322. If dynasties are the problem, there are ways to rub out dynasties.

You know, instead of women and children in the Middle East.

[valerief]

321. Yo, Matt! nt

[slay]

328. I understand how Matt feels

cause i feel the same way.

[bertman]

335. Yo, Matt. Thank you thank you thank you. You speak for me.

And I ain't RICH, so I can say that you hit the nail on the head.

REC.

[SHRED]

336. I didn't realize Matt was so naive

[Jim_Shorts]

339. Good Will Hunting, one of my favorite scenes of all time

[Tiggeroshii]

344. So Obama isn't Franklin D. Frikkin Roosevelt! That doesn't make him a bad president...

I think a better way of looking at Obama is thinking about how the Republican(corporate) establishment really don't like him. That's true everywhere from our current Congress(who opposed the payroll tax OBAMA CREATED), the Supreme Court which will likely eliminate elements of the healthcare bill that will help the middle class even more, and Wall Street who are throwing as much fucking money at him as possible(despite his rhetoric) in order to mitigate the loss of control they will have if Obama's policies get through. Obama saved the car industry, passed the first major financial reform law we've seen since the great depression, ended a war in Iraq and is actually growing jobs(remember the millions we lost under W)? Please remember how bad the guy before us was, will you? The right wing is fighting really hard to reverse laws that have not completely taken place in order to benefit only the top 1%. If we let a psycho take the presidency, and don't work our damndest to keep it and Congress, all hope is lost.

Keep in mind Obama's policies have been actively helping people, and people are starting to see it. His health care law is saving lives:

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/06/opinion/la-oe-ward-in-praise-of-obamacare-20111206

[ooglymoogly]

345. Matt is a smart guy

I like the way he thinks...brilliant. One of the few who sees through the kabuki.

[quinnox]

350. Thank you Matt Damon for speaking the truth

I was a big fan before this, knew the guy was a progressive, but this just cements my good feelings about Damon. The guy should run for office, he is a real liberal.

I'm a liberal Democrat and totally agree with what he said here.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

359. x2

[hootinholler]

352. That's ok Obama will still get his vote.

For everyone who can't understand people who are critics of the President, please try to read this with an open mind.

[HDPaulG]

353. Run for Political office Mr. Damon

You will fail...Like turning down the lead role in Avatar...Your a 1%er. Enjoy you as an actor...As a political commenter...KISS MY 99% Ass

[glowing]

354. I believe his mom is a teacher.. If your mother is a teacher.

And I have a mother and sister who are... then the view of Obama is pretty bad. AND knowing that its our future that is being royally fucked over by both parties now, is a sad state of affairs. What will these kids know how to do when they need to problem solve, ask for their 4 a,b,c,d choices?

[laurieu]

355. so who would Matt prefer

President Perry, President Romney or President Gringrich? Because if he doesn't vote for Obama he'll be supporting one of them.

[1stlady]

357. What an ignorant fool Matt is

This type of arm chair criticism is just pathetic, he might as go endorse Mittens or Grinchwich. These celebs think their opinions matter so much more than ours, what a smug arrogant piece of shit Matt is. He is no better than Palin or Trump, his type of reaction is naive and full of willful ignorance. Obama, has accomplished more in his first two years in office than any president before him. What president in history has had to deal with a whole channel focused on failing his presidency, or a racist far right wing party that doesn't blink an eye when chants of assassinate Obama are cried out? What president has had to deal with 400% increase in death threats, bullets flying through the white house? Folks posting monkey family pictures, making fun of your race etc, most of these past white presidents would've shit their pants, if they had to deal with half the shit the president has to deal with. Talk about balls, it takes balls for a black man to even consider running for president, when 40+% of the country says blatantly that they refuse to vote for you because of your race. That takes balls Matt Damon, something your white elitist sense of entitlement arse knows nothing about.

[Liquorice]

361. I'm not that interested in what celebrities have to say about politics. They have a public platform

only because they are in movies, music, etc., and not because they happen to have any particular sense about politics. I do like Matt Damon, and I don't completely disagree with what he said, but to me he's just another guy with an opinion. His thoughts on the matter are no more important than those of the average person.

[Union Scribe]

366. This thread reminds me of when someone leaves Scientology

Then they become the enemy and have to be smeared into oblivion.

[RBInMaine]

367. Example of the insane thinking of the purists. First, Obama has passed the most PROGRESSIVE

legislation since LBJ. Bill after bill after bill of major PROGRESSIVE legislation. Second, he is a strong leader who got Bin Laden, ended the Iraq War, and just SMASHED the RePUKES over the payroll tax cut extension.

It is INSANE thinking to suggest it would be good to lose power. Damon like so many purists needs to go back and re-take his middle school civics lessons. We have three brranches of government, not just one. If purists aren't happy, then stop the INSANE SHIT about staying home at election time to "punish the Democrats" thus allowing more pukes to win and then bitching because Dems are now forced to try to work with them. It is an INSANE mode of thinking, plain and simple.

Ideological purists both on the right and the LEFT are not what our founders envisioned, and BOTH are outside reality.

[528 hz]

370. Matt Damon is officially my hero.

Although that crap about Obama having no balls doesn't wash for me. He's fulfilling his mission here. He came out of nowhere and ascended improbably to the White House and is doing the bidding of his overlords.

[tledford]

373. Don't forget that disappointed people are not allowed to voice an opinion. eom

[MjolnirTime]

374. Thanks, Agent Bourne. When does your next movie hit the theatres?

[AtomicKitten]

390. Loved Damon in "The Talented Mr. Ripley."

He's a good actor. He's also a citizen entitled to his opinion just like every other citizen. Saddling his opinion as a vehicle to berate Obama is opportunistic or as we call it here at DU Thursday.