I think the Obama Presidency is going to turn out to be very

[malaise]

significant. Yes the historic nature of the first African-American President is noteworthy but the fact that people now understand the gap between rich and poor, the racism that still exists and the exploitation of working class folks in all spheres means the scales are coming off the eyes. People are getting up off their computers and protesting all three - in more and more numbers across the country.

And don't forget he changed everything for LGBT folks and then there's Obamacare.

It's painfully slow but change is coming.

[daleanime]

1. It had better hurry.....

or we will not be here when it arrives.

[VanillaRhapsody]

3. come on....

that is over the top hyperbole.....You survived George W Bush....you will survive Barack Obama...

[noiretextatique]

5. for once, i agree with you

and i am loving the Obama i see now, fuck tryng to appease people who are irrational haters: do what is best for the country. i have no doubt he has always been sincere, however, i am glad he understands that the other side is not.

[daleanime]

6. Not Barack....

two years of a republican congress.....just when we desperately need to move forward on several issues, we're geared to go into high-speed reverse.

And President Obama likes the TPP which would damage us for years.

[VanillaRhapsody]

8. Yes....you will survive....

you have survived worse...

[daleanime]

14. Oh, my survival....

that's no problem, I'm over 50.


Now about our children....

[VanillaRhapsody]

17. Your children will survive too....

Yes Climate Change is horrible....but WE will survive...and Obama is not a Republican....

[TheKentuckian]

54. No worries about climate change, VanilaRhapsody has vouched for the safety of

every person in perpetuity from the fall out.

I mean it is still going to horrible they say but everybody really will be just swell.

Silly ninnies!

[VanillaRhapsody]

62. Did I say that?

No I didn't....

But someone was on the ledge....

President Obama is not going to cause the Apocalypse...

[TheKentuckian]

72. Yes you did. You said WE will survive, you told the poster they will live, and added that their

children will live.

Vanilla has got this! No worries. No fuss, no buss.

[VanillaRhapsody]

94. President Obama yes...

and YES humans will survive....we will populate another planet if necessary....but we will survive....we are like a virus...

[obxhead]

114. Its easier to fix this planet than to populate another.

We just need leadership to stand up for it.

Sadly, Obama is standing with the corporations.

[VanillaRhapsody]

118. And maybe we will..

But NO he isn't....and I can prove it...

Strongly Favors topic 1:
Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right
(+5 points on Social scale)

We can find common ground between pro-choice and pro-life: Opposes topic 1
Expand access to contraception; reduce unintended pregnancy: Favors topic 1
Stem cells hold promise to cure 70 major diseases: Favors topic 1
Trust women to make own decisions on partial-birth abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1
Extend presumption of good faith to abortion protesters: Favors topic 1
Pass the Stem Cell Research Bill: Favors topic 1
Protect a woman’s right to choose: Strongly Favors topic 1
Blocked IL law: Born Alive Infant Protection Act: Strongly Favors topic 1
Rated 100% by NARAL on pro-choice votes in 2005, 2006 & 2007: Strongly Favors topic 1
Voted against banning partial birth abortion: Favors topic 1
Supports Roe v. Wade: Strongly Favors topic 1
Sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women: Favors topic 1
Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance: Strongly Favors topic 1
Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors topic 1
NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1
NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP: Favors topic 1
YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives: Favors topic 1
NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions: Favors topic 1
YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Favors topic 1


Strongly Favors topic 2:
Legally require hiring women & minorities
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Supports Fair Pay Act: equal pay for equal work: Strongly Favors topic 2
Racial equality good for America as a whole: Favors topic 2
I benefited from affirmative action in my academic career: Strongly Favors topic 2
Keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day’s work: Strongly Favors topic 2
Past discrimination affects future generations: Strongly Favors topic 2
Fight job discrimination to give women equal footing at jobs: Strongly Favors topic 2
Include class-based affirmative action with race-based: Favors topic 2
Better enforce women’s pay equity via Equal Pay Act: Strongly Favors topic 2
Supports affirmative action in colleges and government: Strongly Favors topic 2
Opposes CA Prop. 8, one-man-one-woman marriage: Strongly Favors topic 2
America’s race and class problems are intertwined: Favors topic 2
Get minorities into home ownership & global marketplace: Favors topic 2
Ending racial profiling is part of fight for justice: Favors topic 2
Sponsored bill for a Rosa Parks commemorative postage stamp: Favors topic 2
Rated 100% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors topic 2
Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2
Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2
Reinforce anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements: Favors topic 2
Afghan law tolerating marital rape is abhorrent: Strongly Favors topic 2

Favors topic 3:
Comfortable with same-sex marriage
(+2 points on Social scale)

Same-sex couples should be allowed to marry: Strongly Favors topic 3
Same-sex couples should be allowed to marry: Strongly Favors topic 3
Decisions about marriage should be left to the states: Opposes topic 3
Homosexuality no more immoral than heterosexuality: Favors topic 3
We need strong civil unions, not just weak civil unions: Favors topic 3
Gay marriage is less important that equal gay rights: Opposes topic 3
Opposes gay marriage; supports civil union & gay equality: Favors topic 3
Marriage not a human right; non-discrimination is: Favors topic 3
Gays should not face discrimination but should not marry: Opposes topic 3
Include sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws: Favors topic 3
Increase funding for AIDS treatment & prevention: Favors topic 3
Rated 89% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 3
Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees: Strongly Favors topic 3
NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3

Favors topic 4:
Keep God in the public sphere
(-3 points on Social scale)

Cut poverty in half in 10 years, with faith-based help: Strongly Favors topic 4
Engages people of faith on all aspects of his public service: Favors topic 4
Listening to evangelicals bridges major political fault line: Favors topic 4
Black churches minister to social needs out of necessity: Favors topic 4
Reach out to faith community;faith has role in public square: Favors topic 4
Religious concerns ok, if translated into universal values: Opposes topic 4
Rated 100% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation: Strongly Opposes topic 4
NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Opposes topic 4

Strongly Favors topic 5:
Expand ObamaCare
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Ensure access to basic care: Favors topic 5
They called ObamaCare "Armageddon", but no asteroids fell: Strongly Favors topic 5
Repealing healthcare reform would cost $250B: Favors topic 5
Health care is a right: something’s fundamentally wrong now: Strongly Favors topic 5
Increase competition in the insurance and drug markets: Opposes topic 5
National Health Insurance Exchange for private coverage: Opposes topic 5
The market alone can’t solve our health-care woes: Favors topic 5
Believes health care is a right, not a privilege for the few: Favors topic 5
Will expand health coverage & allow meds to be re-imported: Favors topic 5
If we started from scratch, one-payer system would be best: Strongly Favors topic 5
Added 20,000 children to Illinois healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5
National insurance pool & catastrophic insurance: Strongly Favors topic 5
Crises happen in our lives and healthcare is necessary: Strongly Favors topic 5
More funding for Rx benefits, community health, CHIPs: Favors topic 5
Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn: Strongly Favors topic 5
NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: Favors topic 5
YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics: Favors topic 5
YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug: Strongly Favors topic 5
YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D: Favors topic 5
YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D: Favors topic 5

Strongly Opposes topic 6:
Privatize Social Security
(-5 points on Economic scale)

MyRA: new savings bond for retirement: Favors topic 6
What do we do with the losers of privatizing?: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Stop any efforts to privatize Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Privatization puts retirement at whim of stock market: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Stop any efforts to privatize Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6
No privatization; but consider earning cap over $97,500: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Stock market risk is ok, but not for Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6
$2000 tax credit for Working Families Savings Accounts: Opposes topic 6
NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Opposes topic 6

No opinion on topic 7:
Vouchers for school choice
(0 points on Economic scale)

Guarantee affordable life-long, top-notch education: Opposes topic 7
Race to the Top: reward innovation in public schools: Favors topic 7
Opposes D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Increase school choice & accountability within NCLB: Favors topic 7
I doubled charter schools in Illinois; but no vouchers: Favors topic 7
Vouchers don’t solve the problems of our schools: Opposes topic 7
Supports charter schools; it’s important to experiment: Favors topic 7
Supports charter schools and private investment in schools: Favors topic 7
YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies: Opposes topic 7

Strongly Opposes topic 8:
No 'rights' to clean air and water
(+5 points on Social scale)

Genesis teaches stewardship of earth: sacrifice for future: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Promote green technologies and fuel efficiency standards: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Conserve, develop alternative fuels, increase efficiencies: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Scored 60% on Humane Society Scorecard on animal protection: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting: Strongly Opposes topic 8

Opposes topic 9:
Stricter punishment reduces crime
(+2 points on Social scale)

Reduce recidivism by providing ex-offender supports: Opposes topic 9
Pushed Illinois bill to videotape all capital interrogations: Opposes topic 9
No extra penalty for gang association: Opposes topic 9
Some heinous crimes justify the ultimate punishment: Favors topic 9
Videotape all capital punishment interrogations: Opposes topic 9
Passed 150 laws to toughen penalties for violent crime: Favors topic 9
Death penalty should be enforced fairly and with caution: Favors topic 9
Death penalty should not discriminate by gang membership: Opposes topic 9
Battles legislatively against the death penalty: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Supports alternative sentencing and rehabilitation: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program: Opposes topic 9
Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance: Strongly Opposes topic 9
YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9

Opposes topic 10:
Absolute right to gun ownership
(-3 points on Economic scale)

Respect 2nd Amendment, but local gun bans ok: Opposes topic 10
Provide some common-sense enforcement on gun licensing: Opposes topic 10
2000: cosponsored bill to limit purchases to 1 gun per month: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Concealed carry OK for retired police officers: Favors topic 10
Keep guns out of inner cities--but also problem of morality: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Bush erred in failing to renew assault weapons ban: Strongly Favors topic 10
Ban semi-automatics, and more possession restrictions: Strongly Opposes topic 10
NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Opposes topic 10

Strongly Favors topic 11:
Higher taxes on the wealthy
(-5 points on Economic scale)

We need a tax code where everybody pays their fair share: Strongly Favors topic 11
Now business can write off the full cost of new investments: Opposes topic 11
Lower corporate tax rate; pay for it by closing loopholes: Opposes topic 11
Trickle-down economics has failed: Strongly Favors topic 11
Maintain the inheritance tax on wealthy: Strongly Favors topic 11
Tax cuts for the rich do not create jobs: Favors topic 11
No tax breaks for millionaires; GOP always wants tax cuts: Strongly Favors topic 11
Tax cut for 95% of all working families, not corporations: Strongly Favors topic 11
Trillion dollar giveaway: the Paris Hilton Tax Break: Strongly Favors topic 11
Bush tax cuts help corporations but not middle class: Strongly Favors topic 11
Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset: Favors topic 11
NO on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends: Strongly Favors topic 11
YES on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut: Favors topic 11
NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax: Strongly Favors topic 11

Strongly Favors topic 12:
Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens
(+5 points on Social scale)

Sent unmanned aircraft drones to monitor Mexican border: Opposes topic 12
Stop expelling talented undocumented workers: Strongly Favors topic 12
Send 1,200 National Guard troops to southern border: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants: Opposes topic 12
Deporting 12 million people is ridiculous and impractical: Strongly Favors topic 12
Immigrants are scapegoats for high unemployment rates: Strongly Favors topic 12
Illegals shouldn’t work; but should have path to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12
Support granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants: Favors topic 12
Reform must include more border security, and border wall: Opposes topic 12
Pathway to citizenship, but people have to earn it: Favors topic 12
Let’s be a nation of laws AND a nation of immigrants: Strongly Favors topic 12
Give immigrants who are here a rigorous path to citizenship: Favors topic 12
Still supports comprehensive reform and the DREAM Act: Favors topic 12
Extend welfare and Medicaid to immigrants: Favors topic 12
Support the DREAM Act for the children of illegal immigrants: Strongly Favors topic 12
Comprehensive immigration reform without amnesty: Strongly Favors topic 12
Provide funding for social services for noncitizens: Favors topic 12
Rated 8% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security: Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on establishing a Guest Worker program: Favors topic 12
YES on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Opposes topic 12
NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government: Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Favors topic 12

Favors topic 13:
Support & expand free trade
(+2 points on Economic scale)

Export more goods stamped "Made in the USA": Favors topic 13
Negotiate a Transatlantic and a Trans-Pacific Partnership: Strongly Favors topic 13
Double our exports by 2014; starting with South Korea: Strongly Favors topic 13
People don’t want cheaper T-shirts if it costs their job: Opposes topic 13
Fair trade should have tangible benefits for US: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Tax incentives to create jobs at home instead of offshore: Opposes topic 13
Trade agreements mean we sell "Made in America" to millions: Strongly Favors topic 13
Double US exports via deals with Panama, Colombia, & S.Korea: Strongly Favors topic 13
NAFTA protects corporate profits; should protect labor: Opposes topic 13
Stand firm against CAFTA for labor & environmental standards: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Amend NAFTA to add labor agreements: Opposes topic 13
NO on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13
YES on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Favors topic 13

Opposes topic 14:
Maintain US sovereignty from UN
(-3 points on Economic scale)

2005: The Plan: build credibility with travel abroad: Opposes topic 14
The UN has succeeded in avoiding a Third World War: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Human rights and national security are complementary: Favors topic 14
No “strategic ambiguity” on foreign policy issues: Favors topic 14
Meet with enemy leaders; it’s a disgrace that we have not: Strongly Opposes topic 14
In Berlin: proud citizen of US; fellow citizen of the world: Opposes topic 14
Cooperation among nations is not a choice; it’s the only way: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Engage with Iran; but combat Al Qaeda in Pakistan: Favors topic 14
Iran is more isolated and will face growing consequences: Opposes topic 14
Secure all world's nuclear materials by international treaty: Strongly Favors topic 14
Key to Iranian sanctions was world's involvement: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror: Opposes topic 14
YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees: Strongly Opposes topic 14
YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods: Strongly Opposes topic 14
NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Opposes topic 14

Opposes topic 15:
Expand the military
(+2 points on Social scale)

Don't give military money that they're not asking for: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Grow size of military to maintain rotation schedules: Favors topic 15
Give our soldiers the best equipment and training available: Favors topic 15
Sponsored bill for Iraq budget to be part of defense budget: Opposes topic 15
Improve mental health care benefits for returning veterans: Favors topic 15
YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months: Opposes topic 15

Strongly Favors topic 16:
More enforcement of the right to vote
(+5 points on Social scale)

Ended corporate jet travel subsidized by lobbyists: Favors topic 16
No lobbyist money; no PAC money; fund campaigns instead: Strongly Favors topic 16
Reduced cost TV ads for candidates; $85M presidential limit: Strongly Favors topic 16
Public campaign financing with free television & radio time: Strongly Favors topic 16
No “bundled” money from federal-registered lobbyists: Favors topic 16
People know his “bundlers” because he pushed disclosure law: Favors topic 16
First bill ever passed was campaign finance reform: Strongly Favors topic 16
Lobbyist influence comes from access, not money: Favors topic 16
Prohibit 'voter caging' which intimidates minority voting: Favors topic 16
YES on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity: Favors topic 16
NO on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress: Strongly Favors topic 16

Favors topic 17:
Stay out of Iran
(+2 points on Social scale)

US policy should promote democracy and human rights: Favors topic 17
End our longest war: out of Afghanistan in 2014: Favors topic 17
We've taken the fight to al Qaeda in Afghanistan, until July: Opposes topic 17
Evil does exist in the world; sometimes war is justified: Favors topic 17
We are playing to Osama’s plan for winning a war from a cave: Strongly Favors topic 17
Iraq: 100,000 troops have left; let's finish the job: Favors topic 17
$2.7 billion each week of Iraq spending is unsustainable: Favors topic 17
War in Iraq is “dumb” but troops still need equipment: Strongly Favors topic 17
NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007: Strongly Opposes topic 17
YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008: Strongly Favors topic 17

Favors topic 18:
Prioritize green energy
(-3 points on Economic scale)

Develop 100-year natural gas supply; it's beneath our feet: Opposes topic 18
GovWatch: Supports nuclear power if it’s clean & safe: Opposes topic 18
3-way win: economy, environment, & stop funding terror: Strongly Favors topic 18
Increase CAFE to 40 mpg: Strongly Favors topic 18
Sponsored legislations that improve energy efficiency: Favors topic 18
Lowest oil imports and highest oil production in 16 years: Opposes topic 18
All-of-the-above approach to reduce foreign dependence : Opposes topic 18
All-of-the-above energy; enough natural gas or 100 years: Opposes topic 18
Big promoter of clean coal technology & nukes: Strongly Opposes topic 18
More Alaska oil & gas leases, plus new gas pipeline: Strongly Opposes topic 18
Free America from its dependence on foreign oil: Strongly Favors topic 18
Debate is settled: climate change is a fact: Strongly Favors topic 18
First-ever carbon pollution limits for new oil & coal plants: Strongly Favors topic 18
Include clean coal in clean energy future: Opposes topic 18
Reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050: Strongly Favors topic 18
Aggressively address accelerating climate change: Strongly Favors topic 18
Cap-and-trade is more specific on reducing greenhouse gases: Strongly Favors topic 18
Natural gas is a "bridge fuel"; then go solar: Opposes topic 18
Invest in clean energy because China & Germany will: Strongly Favors topic 18
Doubled use of renewable energy; doubled car fuel efficiency: Favors topic 18
Don't cede wind, or solar, or battery industry to foreigners: Strongly Favors topic 18
Subsidize clean energy by canceling oil subsidies: Favors topic 18
More incentives for clean energy, including nuclear: Opposes topic 18
GovWatch: $150B for electric car batteries & new technology: Strongly Favors topic 18
Invest in alternative energy sources: Favors topic 18
Renewable Fuels Standard: require ethanol in fuel supply: Strongly Favors topic 18
Wind energy jobs are not imaginary jobs: Strongly Favors topic 18
Sponsored bill for tax credit for providing 85% ethanol gas: Favors topic 18
Sponsored bill raising CAFE by a 4% per year until 2018: Strongly Favors topic 18
Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence: Favors topic 18
Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: Strongly Favors topic 18
Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness: Favors topic 18
Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18
Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards: Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%): Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR: Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Favors topic 18
YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning: Favors topic 18
YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Favors topic 18

Opposes topic 19:
Never legalize marijuana
(+2 points on Social scale)

We share cross-border drug problem with Mexico: Favors topic 19
Look at needle exchange; and expand treatment: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Fight to rid our communities of meth: Favors topic 19
Expand drug courts; help prisoners with substance abuse: Strongly Opposes topic 19
2001: questions harsh penalties for drug dealing: Opposes topic 19
Not first candidate to use drugs, but first honest about it: Opposes topic 19
Smokes cigarettes now; smoked some pot in high school: Favors topic 19
Admitted marijuana use in high school & college: Favors topic 19
Deal with street-level drug dealing as minimum-wage affair: Opposes topic 19
End harsher sentencing for crack vs. powder cocaine: Opposes topic 19
Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use: Favors topic 19

Favors topic 20:
Stimulus better than market-led recovery
(-3 points on Economic scale)

I've cut taxes for middle-class families & small businesses: Strongly Opposes topic 20
Some earmarks are defensible, if done in full light of day: Strongly Favors topic 20
We cut taxes 25 times, for 95% of Americans: Strongly Opposes topic 20
My plan cuts taxes for most small businesses & 95% of people: Strongly Opposes topic 20
Restore progressive tax; close loopholes; relief to seniors: Favors topic 20
Return to PayGo: compensate for all new spending: Opposes topic 20
Specific tax relief for families making $75,000 or less now: Strongly Opposes topic 20
Close tax loopholes for US companies relocating abroad: Favors topic 20
Bush’s economic policies are not working: Favors topic 20
Supports federal programs to protect rural economy: Strongly Favors topic 20
Last thing we need now is a permanent tax cut: Favors topic 20
Save $150 billion in tax cuts for people who don’t need them: Favors topic 20
Recovery Act averted a second Great Depression: Strongly Favors topic 20
Spending freeze now would be destimulative; later is better: Strongly Favors topic 20
Bring back the Clinton tax rate for income above $250,000: Favors topic 20
Buffett rule: millionaires pay minimum of 30% in taxes: Favors topic 20
No across-the-board tax cuts for the wealthy: Favors topic 20
Tax cuts for wealthy got us into the current deficit: Favors topic 20
No $300 billion on tax cuts for those who don’t need them: Favors topic 20
I will raise CEO taxes, no doubt about it: Favors topic 20
I’m not bashful about it: wealthy will pay more taxes: Favors topic 20
Reduce Bush tax cuts to pay for health care & other programs: Favors topic 20
YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 20

[obxhead]

121. Has opened more offshore drilling licenses than Bush

Will approve the Keystone XL. Yeah, take that check to the bank and make a deposit. "The people have spoken."

Will continue to push, and possibly sign into law, the TPP/TTIP. This will allow corporations to sue for the right to pollute.

The good things you point out will be far outweighed by the above.

Obama is NOT a leader for the environment. He favors the corporations.

[VanillaRhapsody]

130. but see you are a one issue voter....

that doesn't outweigh all of the above....that is ridic. We are Democrats here....not Left Leaning Independents....

Explain to me how he can score THAT on those issues and tell me he is a Republican? Please point out a Republican that can match that....Please point out a single Republican that agrees with him on ALL of the above....

You can't....therefore...he's not!

[malaise]

128. Now that's laying it out

[A Simple Game]

87. You also said President Obama was not a Republican no matter what

your lying ears tell you.

[VanillaRhapsody]

96. He is not a republican.....did you listen in context or is that the ONLY word you heard him say?

Have you seen the Republican party today? Do you notice there are NO Liberal Republicans....and by the way....Lincoln was a Republican....do you think HE would be a Republican today?

[A Simple Game]

112. We have liberal Republicans in New York.

I did listen to the context, he said he would be considered a moderate Republican.

[VanillaRhapsody]

119. as opposed to?

what about THAT part of the "context" you heard.....

MY god! Some people cling to the flimsiest of positions.

[A Simple Game]

122. I don't know what your "as opposed to?" is in reference to.

I do know that was President Obama saying with his policies as they are he would be considered a moderate Republican. Did I hear that wrong? Not a liberal Republican, a moderate Democrat, or a socialist, but a moderate Republican. I and many others think he is very accurate in that statement. What causes you to differ from what President Obama said in his own words? Why should I believe your opinion over what the President has told me in his own words? Please persuade me.

At least you must believe me about New York having liberal Republicans, and yes they are to the left of President Obama.

[VanillaRhapsody]

132. In context what does it mean....when you listen to....the.....words....he ....wrappped....around....

that....

Do you normally pick up on facetiousness in conversations?

[gyroscope]

19. Surviving and living

...are two different things.

[VanillaRhapsody]

20. Ay yi yi.....Yeah Obama is the Antichrist I know....

[gyroscope]

23. "Shut up and just be glad you're alive"

Wow, such high expectations you have of our leaders.

[VanillaRhapsody]

63. You only think in terms of Black and White right?

[lumpy]

52. The bulk of our fellow voters can share the blame for the quality our leadership.

When voters don't take the time to know who/what they are voting for this is what we get.

[vlyons]

61. a GOP congress may be a blessing in disguise

Not much legislation dismantling gov and everything in sight will get signed by Obama--even if the wimpy Dems line up to give away the store. I predict that the self-righteous, over the edge Tparty crowd will be so arrogant that they will show us levels of nut-job, bat-shit craziness never before imagined. If such a thing is possible, but they keep astonishing us with their hatred and ignorance. Hopefully more and more people will begin to see them as the empeor with no clothes.

[VanillaRhapsody]

64. One other thing Republicans are champion at....Overreach!

If you have been on facebook lately in discussions about the Micheal Brown murder....and the midterms...they are feeling very very confident...VERY.over confident. They see those two things as Victories....and think that the country is with them now...

Its hilarious to watch their heads explode when you show them poll numbers that are the opposite of their false world view...

[vlyons]

111. As a Buddhist, I see their ignorance in a very ironic light

Their ignorance and hatred and fear and greed are classic displays of how it is our minds, and the ignorance that we hold, no CLING TO in our that keeps us trapped in deep, deep, never-ending suffering. The Tparty crowd at least serves the purpose of showing us what NOT to think and what NOT do.

[raindaddy]

83. I wish he would've campaigned on that, "I promise you will survive my presidency"

Instead of campaigning as a populist Democrat who was going to change the way we do business in Washington DC.
Then when he filled his administration with Wall Street and corporate insiders and expanded on Bush's spying on Americans we could've lowered our expectations.

[VanillaRhapsody]

97. He IS a Populist Democrat!

MY God people......lets just ignore all evidence to the contrary...


Strongly Favors topic 1:
Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right
(+5 points on Social scale)

We can find common ground between pro-choice and pro-life: Opposes topic 1
Expand access to contraception; reduce unintended pregnancy: Favors topic 1
Stem cells hold promise to cure 70 major diseases: Favors topic 1
Trust women to make own decisions on partial-birth abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1
Extend presumption of good faith to abortion protesters: Favors topic 1
Pass the Stem Cell Research Bill: Favors topic 1
Protect a woman’s right to choose: Strongly Favors topic 1
Blocked IL law: Born Alive Infant Protection Act: Strongly Favors topic 1
Rated 100% by NARAL on pro-choice votes in 2005, 2006 & 2007: Strongly Favors topic 1
Voted against banning partial birth abortion: Favors topic 1
Supports Roe v. Wade: Strongly Favors topic 1
Sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women: Favors topic 1
Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance: Strongly Favors topic 1
Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors topic 1
NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1
NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP: Favors topic 1
YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives: Favors topic 1
NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions: Favors topic 1
YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Favors topic 1


Strongly Favors topic 2:
Legally require hiring women & minorities
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Supports Fair Pay Act: equal pay for equal work: Strongly Favors topic 2
Racial equality good for America as a whole: Favors topic 2
I benefited from affirmative action in my academic career: Strongly Favors topic 2
Keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day’s work: Strongly Favors topic 2
Past discrimination affects future generations: Strongly Favors topic 2
Fight job discrimination to give women equal footing at jobs: Strongly Favors topic 2
Include class-based affirmative action with race-based: Favors topic 2
Better enforce women’s pay equity via Equal Pay Act: Strongly Favors topic 2
Supports affirmative action in colleges and government: Strongly Favors topic 2
Opposes CA Prop. 8, one-man-one-woman marriage: Strongly Favors topic 2
America’s race and class problems are intertwined: Favors topic 2
Get minorities into home ownership & global marketplace: Favors topic 2
Ending racial profiling is part of fight for justice: Favors topic 2
Sponsored bill for a Rosa Parks commemorative postage stamp: Favors topic 2
Rated 100% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors topic 2
Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2
Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2
Reinforce anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements: Favors topic 2
Afghan law tolerating marital rape is abhorrent: Strongly Favors topic 2

Favors topic 3:
Comfortable with same-sex marriage
(+2 points on Social scale)

Same-sex couples should be allowed to marry: Strongly Favors topic 3
Same-sex couples should be allowed to marry: Strongly Favors topic 3
Decisions about marriage should be left to the states: Opposes topic 3
Homosexuality no more immoral than heterosexuality: Favors topic 3
We need strong civil unions, not just weak civil unions: Favors topic 3
Gay marriage is less important that equal gay rights: Opposes topic 3
Opposes gay marriage; supports civil union & gay equality: Favors topic 3
Marriage not a human right; non-discrimination is: Favors topic 3
Gays should not face discrimination but should not marry: Opposes topic 3
Include sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws: Favors topic 3
Increase funding for AIDS treatment & prevention: Favors topic 3
Rated 89% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 3
Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees: Strongly Favors topic 3
NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3

Favors topic 4:
Keep God in the public sphere
(-3 points on Social scale)

Cut poverty in half in 10 years, with faith-based help: Strongly Favors topic 4
Engages people of faith on all aspects of his public service: Favors topic 4
Listening to evangelicals bridges major political fault line: Favors topic 4
Black churches minister to social needs out of necessity: Favors topic 4
Reach out to faith community;faith has role in public square: Favors topic 4
Religious concerns ok, if translated into universal values: Opposes topic 4
Rated 100% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation: Strongly Opposes topic 4
NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Opposes topic 4

Strongly Favors topic 5:
Expand ObamaCare
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Ensure access to basic care: Favors topic 5
They called ObamaCare "Armageddon", but no asteroids fell: Strongly Favors topic 5
Repealing healthcare reform would cost $250B: Favors topic 5
Health care is a right: something’s fundamentally wrong now: Strongly Favors topic 5
Increase competition in the insurance and drug markets: Opposes topic 5
National Health Insurance Exchange for private coverage: Opposes topic 5
The market alone can’t solve our health-care woes: Favors topic 5
Believes health care is a right, not a privilege for the few: Favors topic 5
Will expand health coverage & allow meds to be re-imported: Favors topic 5
If we started from scratch, one-payer system would be best: Strongly Favors topic 5
Added 20,000 children to Illinois healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5
National insurance pool & catastrophic insurance: Strongly Favors topic 5
Crises happen in our lives and healthcare is necessary: Strongly Favors topic 5
More funding for Rx benefits, community health, CHIPs: Favors topic 5
Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn: Strongly Favors topic 5
NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: Favors topic 5
YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics: Favors topic 5
YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug: Strongly Favors topic 5
YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D: Favors topic 5
YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D: Favors topic 5

Strongly Opposes topic 6:
Privatize Social Security
(-5 points on Economic scale)

MyRA: new savings bond for retirement: Favors topic 6
What do we do with the losers of privatizing?: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Stop any efforts to privatize Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Privatization puts retirement at whim of stock market: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Stop any efforts to privatize Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6
No privatization; but consider earning cap over $97,500: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Stock market risk is ok, but not for Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6
$2000 tax credit for Working Families Savings Accounts: Opposes topic 6
NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Opposes topic 6

No opinion on topic 7:
Vouchers for school choice
(0 points on Economic scale)

Guarantee affordable life-long, top-notch education: Opposes topic 7
Race to the Top: reward innovation in public schools: Favors topic 7
Opposes D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Increase school choice & accountability within NCLB: Favors topic 7
I doubled charter schools in Illinois; but no vouchers: Favors topic 7
Vouchers don’t solve the problems of our schools: Opposes topic 7
Supports charter schools; it’s important to experiment: Favors topic 7
Supports charter schools and private investment in schools: Favors topic 7
YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies: Opposes topic 7

Strongly Opposes topic 8:
No 'rights' to clean air and water
(+5 points on Social scale)

Genesis teaches stewardship of earth: sacrifice for future: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Promote green technologies and fuel efficiency standards: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Conserve, develop alternative fuels, increase efficiencies: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Scored 60% on Humane Society Scorecard on animal protection: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting: Strongly Opposes topic 8

Opposes topic 9:
Stricter punishment reduces crime
(+2 points on Social scale)

Reduce recidivism by providing ex-offender supports: Opposes topic 9
Pushed Illinois bill to videotape all capital interrogations: Opposes topic 9
No extra penalty for gang association: Opposes topic 9
Some heinous crimes justify the ultimate punishment: Favors topic 9
Videotape all capital punishment interrogations: Opposes topic 9
Passed 150 laws to toughen penalties for violent crime: Favors topic 9
Death penalty should be enforced fairly and with caution: Favors topic 9
Death penalty should not discriminate by gang membership: Opposes topic 9
Battles legislatively against the death penalty: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Supports alternative sentencing and rehabilitation: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program: Opposes topic 9
Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance: Strongly Opposes topic 9
YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9

Opposes topic 10:
Absolute right to gun ownership
(-3 points on Economic scale)

Respect 2nd Amendment, but local gun bans ok: Opposes topic 10
Provide some common-sense enforcement on gun licensing: Opposes topic 10
2000: cosponsored bill to limit purchases to 1 gun per month: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Concealed carry OK for retired police officers: Favors topic 10
Keep guns out of inner cities--but also problem of morality: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Bush erred in failing to renew assault weapons ban: Strongly Favors topic 10
Ban semi-automatics, and more possession restrictions: Strongly Opposes topic 10
NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Opposes topic 10

Strongly Favors topic 11:
Higher taxes on the wealthy
(-5 points on Economic scale)

We need a tax code where everybody pays their fair share: Strongly Favors topic 11
Now business can write off the full cost of new investments: Opposes topic 11
Lower corporate tax rate; pay for it by closing loopholes: Opposes topic 11
Trickle-down economics has failed: Strongly Favors topic 11
Maintain the inheritance tax on wealthy: Strongly Favors topic 11
Tax cuts for the rich do not create jobs: Favors topic 11
No tax breaks for millionaires; GOP always wants tax cuts: Strongly Favors topic 11
Tax cut for 95% of all working families, not corporations: Strongly Favors topic 11
Trillion dollar giveaway: the Paris Hilton Tax Break: Strongly Favors topic 11
Bush tax cuts help corporations but not middle class: Strongly Favors topic 11
Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset: Favors topic 11
NO on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends: Strongly Favors topic 11
YES on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut: Favors topic 11
NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax: Strongly Favors topic 11

Strongly Favors topic 12:
Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens
(+5 points on Social scale)

Sent unmanned aircraft drones to monitor Mexican border: Opposes topic 12
Stop expelling talented undocumented workers: Strongly Favors topic 12
Send 1,200 National Guard troops to southern border: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants: Opposes topic 12
Deporting 12 million people is ridiculous and impractical: Strongly Favors topic 12
Immigrants are scapegoats for high unemployment rates: Strongly Favors topic 12
Illegals shouldn’t work; but should have path to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12
Support granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants: Favors topic 12
Reform must include more border security, and border wall: Opposes topic 12
Pathway to citizenship, but people have to earn it: Favors topic 12
Let’s be a nation of laws AND a nation of immigrants: Strongly Favors topic 12
Give immigrants who are here a rigorous path to citizenship: Favors topic 12
Still supports comprehensive reform and the DREAM Act: Favors topic 12
Extend welfare and Medicaid to immigrants: Favors topic 12
Support the DREAM Act for the children of illegal immigrants: Strongly Favors topic 12
Comprehensive immigration reform without amnesty: Strongly Favors topic 12
Provide funding for social services for noncitizens: Favors topic 12
Rated 8% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security: Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on establishing a Guest Worker program: Favors topic 12
YES on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Opposes topic 12
NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government: Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Favors topic 12

Favors topic 13:
Support & expand free trade
(+2 points on Economic scale)

Export more goods stamped "Made in the USA": Favors topic 13
Negotiate a Transatlantic and a Trans-Pacific Partnership: Strongly Favors topic 13
Double our exports by 2014; starting with South Korea: Strongly Favors topic 13
People don’t want cheaper T-shirts if it costs their job: Opposes topic 13
Fair trade should have tangible benefits for US: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Tax incentives to create jobs at home instead of offshore: Opposes topic 13
Trade agreements mean we sell "Made in America" to millions: Strongly Favors topic 13
Double US exports via deals with Panama, Colombia, & S.Korea: Strongly Favors topic 13
NAFTA protects corporate profits; should protect labor: Opposes topic 13
Stand firm against CAFTA for labor & environmental standards: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Amend NAFTA to add labor agreements: Opposes topic 13
NO on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13
YES on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Favors topic 13

Opposes topic 14:
Maintain US sovereignty from UN
(-3 points on Economic scale)

2005: The Plan: build credibility with travel abroad: Opposes topic 14
The UN has succeeded in avoiding a Third World War: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Human rights and national security are complementary: Favors topic 14
No “strategic ambiguity” on foreign policy issues: Favors topic 14
Meet with enemy leaders; it’s a disgrace that we have not: Strongly Opposes topic 14
In Berlin: proud citizen of US; fellow citizen of the world: Opposes topic 14
Cooperation among nations is not a choice; it’s the only way: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Engage with Iran; but combat Al Qaeda in Pakistan: Favors topic 14
Iran is more isolated and will face growing consequences: Opposes topic 14
Secure all world's nuclear materials by international treaty: Strongly Favors topic 14
Key to Iranian sanctions was world's involvement: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror: Opposes topic 14
YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees: Strongly Opposes topic 14
YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods: Strongly Opposes topic 14
NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Opposes topic 14

Opposes topic 15:
Expand the military
(+2 points on Social scale)

Don't give military money that they're not asking for: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Grow size of military to maintain rotation schedules: Favors topic 15
Give our soldiers the best equipment and training available: Favors topic 15
Sponsored bill for Iraq budget to be part of defense budget: Opposes topic 15
Improve mental health care benefits for returning veterans: Favors topic 15
YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months: Opposes topic 15

Strongly Favors topic 16:
More enforcement of the right to vote
(+5 points on Social scale)

Ended corporate jet travel subsidized by lobbyists: Favors topic 16
No lobbyist money; no PAC money; fund campaigns instead: Strongly Favors topic 16
Reduced cost TV ads for candidates; $85M presidential limit: Strongly Favors topic 16
Public campaign financing with free television & radio time: Strongly Favors topic 16
No “bundled” money from federal-registered lobbyists: Favors topic 16
People know his “bundlers” because he pushed disclosure law: Favors topic 16
First bill ever passed was campaign finance reform: Strongly Favors topic 16
Lobbyist influence comes from access, not money: Favors topic 16
Prohibit 'voter caging' which intimidates minority voting: Favors topic 16
YES on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity: Favors topic 16
NO on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress: Strongly Favors topic 16

Favors topic 17:
Stay out of Iran
(+2 points on Social scale)

US policy should promote democracy and human rights: Favors topic 17
End our longest war: out of Afghanistan in 2014: Favors topic 17
We've taken the fight to al Qaeda in Afghanistan, until July: Opposes topic 17
Evil does exist in the world; sometimes war is justified: Favors topic 17
We are playing to Osama’s plan for winning a war from a cave: Strongly Favors topic 17
Iraq: 100,000 troops have left; let's finish the job: Favors topic 17
$2.7 billion each week of Iraq spending is unsustainable: Favors topic 17
War in Iraq is “dumb” but troops still need equipment: Strongly Favors topic 17
NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007: Strongly Opposes topic 17
YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008: Strongly Favors topic 17

Favors topic 18:
Prioritize green energy
(-3 points on Economic scale)

Develop 100-year natural gas supply; it's beneath our feet: Opposes topic 18
GovWatch: Supports nuclear power if it’s clean & safe: Opposes topic 18
3-way win: economy, environment, & stop funding terror: Strongly Favors topic 18
Increase CAFE to 40 mpg: Strongly Favors topic 18
Sponsored legislations that improve energy efficiency: Favors topic 18
Lowest oil imports and highest oil production in 16 years: Opposes topic 18
All-of-the-above approach to reduce foreign dependence : Opposes topic 18
All-of-the-above energy; enough natural gas or 100 years: Opposes topic 18
Big promoter of clean coal technology & nukes: Strongly Opposes topic 18
More Alaska oil & gas leases, plus new gas pipeline: Strongly Opposes topic 18
Free America from its dependence on foreign oil: Strongly Favors topic 18
Debate is settled: climate change is a fact: Strongly Favors topic 18
First-ever carbon pollution limits for new oil & coal plants: Strongly Favors topic 18
Include clean coal in clean energy future: Opposes topic 18
Reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050: Strongly Favors topic 18
Aggressively address accelerating climate change: Strongly Favors topic 18
Cap-and-trade is more specific on reducing greenhouse gases: Strongly Favors topic 18
Natural gas is a "bridge fuel"; then go solar: Opposes topic 18
Invest in clean energy because China & Germany will: Strongly Favors topic 18
Doubled use of renewable energy; doubled car fuel efficiency: Favors topic 18
Don't cede wind, or solar, or battery industry to foreigners: Strongly Favors topic 18
Subsidize clean energy by canceling oil subsidies: Favors topic 18
More incentives for clean energy, including nuclear: Opposes topic 18
GovWatch: $150B for electric car batteries & new technology: Strongly Favors topic 18
Invest in alternative energy sources: Favors topic 18
Renewable Fuels Standard: require ethanol in fuel supply: Strongly Favors topic 18
Wind energy jobs are not imaginary jobs: Strongly Favors topic 18
Sponsored bill for tax credit for providing 85% ethanol gas: Favors topic 18
Sponsored bill raising CAFE by a 4% per year until 2018: Strongly Favors topic 18
Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence: Favors topic 18
Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: Strongly Favors topic 18
Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness: Favors topic 18
Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18
Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards: Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%): Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR: Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Favors topic 18
YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning: Favors topic 18
YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Favors topic 18

Opposes topic 19:
Never legalize marijuana
(+2 points on Social scale)

We share cross-border drug problem with Mexico: Favors topic 19
Look at needle exchange; and expand treatment: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Fight to rid our communities of meth: Favors topic 19
Expand drug courts; help prisoners with substance abuse: Strongly Opposes topic 19
2001: questions harsh penalties for drug dealing: Opposes topic 19
Not first candidate to use drugs, but first honest about it: Opposes topic 19
Smokes cigarettes now; smoked some pot in high school: Favors topic 19
Admitted marijuana use in high school & college: Favors topic 19
Deal with street-level drug dealing as minimum-wage affair: Opposes topic 19
End harsher sentencing for crack vs. powder cocaine: Opposes topic 19
Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use: Favors topic 19

Favors topic 20:
Stimulus better than market-led recovery
(-3 points on Economic scale)

I've cut taxes for middle-class families & small businesses: Strongly Opposes topic 20
Some earmarks are defensible, if done in full light of day: Strongly Favors topic 20
We cut taxes 25 times, for 95% of Americans: Strongly Opposes topic 20
My plan cuts taxes for most small businesses & 95% of people: Strongly Opposes topic 20
Restore progressive tax; close loopholes; relief to seniors: Favors topic 20
Return to PayGo: compensate for all new spending: Opposes topic 20
Specific tax relief for families making $75,000 or less now: Strongly Opposes topic 20
Close tax loopholes for US companies relocating abroad: Favors topic 20
Bush’s economic policies are not working: Favors topic 20
Supports federal programs to protect rural economy: Strongly Favors topic 20
Last thing we need now is a permanent tax cut: Favors topic 20
Save $150 billion in tax cuts for people who don’t need them: Favors topic 20
Recovery Act averted a second Great Depression: Strongly Favors topic 20
Spending freeze now would be destimulative; later is better: Strongly Favors topic 20
Bring back the Clinton tax rate for income above $250,000: Favors topic 20
Buffett rule: millionaires pay minimum of 30% in taxes: Favors topic 20
No across-the-board tax cuts for the wealthy: Favors topic 20
Tax cuts for wealthy got us into the current deficit: Favors topic 20
No $300 billion on tax cuts for those who don’t need them: Favors topic 20
I will raise CEO taxes, no doubt about it: Favors topic 20
I’m not bashful about it: wealthy will pay more taxes: Favors topic 20
Reduce Bush tax cuts to pay for health care & other programs: Favors topic 20
YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 20

[Progressive dog]

100. Yes, he is a populist democrat,

and he has always been one.

[VanillaRhapsody]

102. Denial in the face of all the evidence....is willful ignorance..

[raindaddy]

113. There's not a progressive Democrat in the history of the party......

who would've extended Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. Can you name another progressive Democrat who appointed so many Wall Street and corporate hacks to major oversight positions in their administration? Name a progressive President that that promotes secret trade deals that favor international corporations over labor. Or favors too big to fail banks over poor and middle class homeowners?
Barack Obama has conducted his presidency out of the back pocket of the big banks, military contractors and global corporations. Yea, third way Democrats will favor social issues, Wall Street could give a shit about gay marriage, or imagination reform. Ronald Reagan was an immigration reformer. They do care about wealth and power and the minute you jump in bed with them you not only not a populist you're no longer a Democrat.

[VanillaRhapsody]

120. You mean "not a Populist" like this:

Strongly Favors topic 1:
Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right
(+5 points on Social scale)

We can find common ground between pro-choice and pro-life: Opposes topic 1
Expand access to contraception; reduce unintended pregnancy: Favors topic 1
Stem cells hold promise to cure 70 major diseases: Favors topic 1
Trust women to make own decisions on partial-birth abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1
Extend presumption of good faith to abortion protesters: Favors topic 1
Pass the Stem Cell Research Bill: Favors topic 1
Protect a woman’s right to choose: Strongly Favors topic 1
Blocked IL law: Born Alive Infant Protection Act: Strongly Favors topic 1
Rated 100% by NARAL on pro-choice votes in 2005, 2006 & 2007: Strongly Favors topic 1
Voted against banning partial birth abortion: Favors topic 1
Supports Roe v. Wade: Strongly Favors topic 1
Sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women: Favors topic 1
Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance: Strongly Favors topic 1
Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors topic 1
NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1
NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP: Favors topic 1
YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives: Favors topic 1
NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions: Favors topic 1
YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Favors topic 1


Strongly Favors topic 2:
Legally require hiring women & minorities
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Supports Fair Pay Act: equal pay for equal work: Strongly Favors topic 2
Racial equality good for America as a whole: Favors topic 2
I benefited from affirmative action in my academic career: Strongly Favors topic 2
Keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day’s work: Strongly Favors topic 2
Past discrimination affects future generations: Strongly Favors topic 2
Fight job discrimination to give women equal footing at jobs: Strongly Favors topic 2
Include class-based affirmative action with race-based: Favors topic 2
Better enforce women’s pay equity via Equal Pay Act: Strongly Favors topic 2
Supports affirmative action in colleges and government: Strongly Favors topic 2
Opposes CA Prop. 8, one-man-one-woman marriage: Strongly Favors topic 2
America’s race and class problems are intertwined: Favors topic 2
Get minorities into home ownership & global marketplace: Favors topic 2
Ending racial profiling is part of fight for justice: Favors topic 2
Sponsored bill for a Rosa Parks commemorative postage stamp: Favors topic 2
Rated 100% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors topic 2
Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2
Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2
Reinforce anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements: Favors topic 2
Afghan law tolerating marital rape is abhorrent: Strongly Favors topic 2

Favors topic 3:
Comfortable with same-sex marriage
(+2 points on Social scale)

Same-sex couples should be allowed to marry: Strongly Favors topic 3
Same-sex couples should be allowed to marry: Strongly Favors topic 3
Decisions about marriage should be left to the states: Opposes topic 3
Homosexuality no more immoral than heterosexuality: Favors topic 3
We need strong civil unions, not just weak civil unions: Favors topic 3
Gay marriage is less important that equal gay rights: Opposes topic 3
Opposes gay marriage; supports civil union & gay equality: Favors topic 3
Marriage not a human right; non-discrimination is: Favors topic 3
Gays should not face discrimination but should not marry: Opposes topic 3
Include sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws: Favors topic 3
Increase funding for AIDS treatment & prevention: Favors topic 3
Rated 89% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 3
Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees: Strongly Favors topic 3
NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3

Favors topic 4:
Keep God in the public sphere
(-3 points on Social scale)

Cut poverty in half in 10 years, with faith-based help: Strongly Favors topic 4
Engages people of faith on all aspects of his public service: Favors topic 4
Listening to evangelicals bridges major political fault line: Favors topic 4
Black churches minister to social needs out of necessity: Favors topic 4
Reach out to faith community;faith has role in public square: Favors topic 4
Religious concerns ok, if translated into universal values: Opposes topic 4
Rated 100% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation: Strongly Opposes topic 4
NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Opposes topic 4

Strongly Favors topic 5:
Expand ObamaCare
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Ensure access to basic care: Favors topic 5
They called ObamaCare "Armageddon", but no asteroids fell: Strongly Favors topic 5
Repealing healthcare reform would cost $250B: Favors topic 5
Health care is a right: something’s fundamentally wrong now: Strongly Favors topic 5
Increase competition in the insurance and drug markets: Opposes topic 5
National Health Insurance Exchange for private coverage: Opposes topic 5
The market alone can’t solve our health-care woes: Favors topic 5
Believes health care is a right, not a privilege for the few: Favors topic 5
Will expand health coverage & allow meds to be re-imported: Favors topic 5
If we started from scratch, one-payer system would be best: Strongly Favors topic 5
Added 20,000 children to Illinois healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5
National insurance pool & catastrophic insurance: Strongly Favors topic 5
Crises happen in our lives and healthcare is necessary: Strongly Favors topic 5
More funding for Rx benefits, community health, CHIPs: Favors topic 5
Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn: Strongly Favors topic 5
NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: Favors topic 5
YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics: Favors topic 5
YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug: Strongly Favors topic 5
YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D: Favors topic 5
YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D: Favors topic 5

Strongly Opposes topic 6:
Privatize Social Security
(-5 points on Economic scale)

MyRA: new savings bond for retirement: Favors topic 6
What do we do with the losers of privatizing?: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Stop any efforts to privatize Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Privatization puts retirement at whim of stock market: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Stop any efforts to privatize Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6
No privatization; but consider earning cap over $97,500: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Stock market risk is ok, but not for Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6
$2000 tax credit for Working Families Savings Accounts: Opposes topic 6
NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Opposes topic 6

No opinion on topic 7:
Vouchers for school choice
(0 points on Economic scale)

Guarantee affordable life-long, top-notch education: Opposes topic 7
Race to the Top: reward innovation in public schools: Favors topic 7
Opposes D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Increase school choice & accountability within NCLB: Favors topic 7
I doubled charter schools in Illinois; but no vouchers: Favors topic 7
Vouchers don’t solve the problems of our schools: Opposes topic 7
Supports charter schools; it’s important to experiment: Favors topic 7
Supports charter schools and private investment in schools: Favors topic 7
YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies: Opposes topic 7

Strongly Opposes topic 8:
No 'rights' to clean air and water
(+5 points on Social scale)

Genesis teaches stewardship of earth: sacrifice for future: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Promote green technologies and fuel efficiency standards: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Conserve, develop alternative fuels, increase efficiencies: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Scored 60% on Humane Society Scorecard on animal protection: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting: Strongly Opposes topic 8

Opposes topic 9:
Stricter punishment reduces crime
(+2 points on Social scale)

Reduce recidivism by providing ex-offender supports: Opposes topic 9
Pushed Illinois bill to videotape all capital interrogations: Opposes topic 9
No extra penalty for gang association: Opposes topic 9
Some heinous crimes justify the ultimate punishment: Favors topic 9
Videotape all capital punishment interrogations: Opposes topic 9
Passed 150 laws to toughen penalties for violent crime: Favors topic 9
Death penalty should be enforced fairly and with caution: Favors topic 9
Death penalty should not discriminate by gang membership: Opposes topic 9
Battles legislatively against the death penalty: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Supports alternative sentencing and rehabilitation: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program: Opposes topic 9
Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance: Strongly Opposes topic 9
YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9

Opposes topic 10:
Absolute right to gun ownership
(-3 points on Economic scale)

Respect 2nd Amendment, but local gun bans ok: Opposes topic 10
Provide some common-sense enforcement on gun licensing: Opposes topic 10
2000: cosponsored bill to limit purchases to 1 gun per month: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Concealed carry OK for retired police officers: Favors topic 10
Keep guns out of inner cities--but also problem of morality: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Bush erred in failing to renew assault weapons ban: Strongly Favors topic 10
Ban semi-automatics, and more possession restrictions: Strongly Opposes topic 10
NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Opposes topic 10

Strongly Favors topic 11:
Higher taxes on the wealthy
(-5 points on Economic scale)

We need a tax code where everybody pays their fair share: Strongly Favors topic 11
Now business can write off the full cost of new investments: Opposes topic 11
Lower corporate tax rate; pay for it by closing loopholes: Opposes topic 11
Trickle-down economics has failed: Strongly Favors topic 11
Maintain the inheritance tax on wealthy: Strongly Favors topic 11
Tax cuts for the rich do not create jobs: Favors topic 11
No tax breaks for millionaires; GOP always wants tax cuts: Strongly Favors topic 11
Tax cut for 95% of all working families, not corporations: Strongly Favors topic 11
Trillion dollar giveaway: the Paris Hilton Tax Break: Strongly Favors topic 11
Bush tax cuts help corporations but not middle class: Strongly Favors topic 11
Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset: Favors topic 11
NO on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends: Strongly Favors topic 11
YES on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut: Favors topic 11
NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax: Strongly Favors topic 11

Strongly Favors topic 12:
Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens
(+5 points on Social scale)

Sent unmanned aircraft drones to monitor Mexican border: Opposes topic 12
Stop expelling talented undocumented workers: Strongly Favors topic 12
Send 1,200 National Guard troops to southern border: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants: Opposes topic 12
Deporting 12 million people is ridiculous and impractical: Strongly Favors topic 12
Immigrants are scapegoats for high unemployment rates: Strongly Favors topic 12
Illegals shouldn’t work; but should have path to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12
Support granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants: Favors topic 12
Reform must include more border security, and border wall: Opposes topic 12
Pathway to citizenship, but people have to earn it: Favors topic 12
Let’s be a nation of laws AND a nation of immigrants: Strongly Favors topic 12
Give immigrants who are here a rigorous path to citizenship: Favors topic 12
Still supports comprehensive reform and the DREAM Act: Favors topic 12
Extend welfare and Medicaid to immigrants: Favors topic 12
Support the DREAM Act for the children of illegal immigrants: Strongly Favors topic 12
Comprehensive immigration reform without amnesty: Strongly Favors topic 12
Provide funding for social services for noncitizens: Favors topic 12
Rated 8% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security: Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on establishing a Guest Worker program: Favors topic 12
YES on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Opposes topic 12
NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government: Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Favors topic 12

Favors topic 13:
Support & expand free trade
(+2 points on Economic scale)

Export more goods stamped "Made in the USA": Favors topic 13
Negotiate a Transatlantic and a Trans-Pacific Partnership: Strongly Favors topic 13
Double our exports by 2014; starting with South Korea: Strongly Favors topic 13
People don’t want cheaper T-shirts if it costs their job: Opposes topic 13
Fair trade should have tangible benefits for US: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Tax incentives to create jobs at home instead of offshore: Opposes topic 13
Trade agreements mean we sell "Made in America" to millions: Strongly Favors topic 13
Double US exports via deals with Panama, Colombia, & S.Korea: Strongly Favors topic 13
NAFTA protects corporate profits; should protect labor: Opposes topic 13
Stand firm against CAFTA for labor & environmental standards: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Amend NAFTA to add labor agreements: Opposes topic 13
NO on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13
YES on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Favors topic 13

Opposes topic 14:
Maintain US sovereignty from UN
(-3 points on Economic scale)

2005: The Plan: build credibility with travel abroad: Opposes topic 14
The UN has succeeded in avoiding a Third World War: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Human rights and national security are complementary: Favors topic 14
No “strategic ambiguity” on foreign policy issues: Favors topic 14
Meet with enemy leaders; it’s a disgrace that we have not: Strongly Opposes topic 14
In Berlin: proud citizen of US; fellow citizen of the world: Opposes topic 14
Cooperation among nations is not a choice; it’s the only way: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Engage with Iran; but combat Al Qaeda in Pakistan: Favors topic 14
Iran is more isolated and will face growing consequences: Opposes topic 14
Secure all world's nuclear materials by international treaty: Strongly Favors topic 14
Key to Iranian sanctions was world's involvement: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror: Opposes topic 14
YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees: Strongly Opposes topic 14
YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods: Strongly Opposes topic 14
NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Opposes topic 14

Opposes topic 15:
Expand the military
(+2 points on Social scale)

Don't give military money that they're not asking for: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Grow size of military to maintain rotation schedules: Favors topic 15
Give our soldiers the best equipment and training available: Favors topic 15
Sponsored bill for Iraq budget to be part of defense budget: Opposes topic 15
Improve mental health care benefits for returning veterans: Favors topic 15
YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months: Opposes topic 15

Strongly Favors topic 16:
More enforcement of the right to vote
(+5 points on Social scale)

Ended corporate jet travel subsidized by lobbyists: Favors topic 16
No lobbyist money; no PAC money; fund campaigns instead: Strongly Favors topic 16
Reduced cost TV ads for candidates; $85M presidential limit: Strongly Favors topic 16
Public campaign financing with free television & radio time: Strongly Favors topic 16
No “bundled” money from federal-registered lobbyists: Favors topic 16
People know his “bundlers” because he pushed disclosure law: Favors topic 16
First bill ever passed was campaign finance reform: Strongly Favors topic 16
Lobbyist influence comes from access, not money: Favors topic 16
Prohibit 'voter caging' which intimidates minority voting: Favors topic 16
YES on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity: Favors topic 16
NO on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress: Strongly Favors topic 16

Favors topic 17:
Stay out of Iran
(+2 points on Social scale)

US policy should promote democracy and human rights: Favors topic 17
End our longest war: out of Afghanistan in 2014: Favors topic 17
We've taken the fight to al Qaeda in Afghanistan, until July: Opposes topic 17
Evil does exist in the world; sometimes war is justified: Favors topic 17
We are playing to Osama’s plan for winning a war from a cave: Strongly Favors topic 17
Iraq: 100,000 troops have left; let's finish the job: Favors topic 17
$2.7 billion each week of Iraq spending is unsustainable: Favors topic 17
War in Iraq is “dumb” but troops still need equipment: Strongly Favors topic 17
NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007: Strongly Opposes topic 17
YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008: Strongly Favors topic 17

Favors topic 18:
Prioritize green energy
(-3 points on Economic scale)

Develop 100-year natural gas supply; it's beneath our feet: Opposes topic 18
GovWatch: Supports nuclear power if it’s clean & safe: Opposes topic 18
3-way win: economy, environment, & stop funding terror: Strongly Favors topic 18
Increase CAFE to 40 mpg: Strongly Favors topic 18
Sponsored legislations that improve energy efficiency: Favors topic 18
Lowest oil imports and highest oil production in 16 years: Opposes topic 18
All-of-the-above approach to reduce foreign dependence : Opposes topic 18
All-of-the-above energy; enough natural gas or 100 years: Opposes topic 18
Big promoter of clean coal technology & nukes: Strongly Opposes topic 18
More Alaska oil & gas leases, plus new gas pipeline: Strongly Opposes topic 18
Free America from its dependence on foreign oil: Strongly Favors topic 18
Debate is settled: climate change is a fact: Strongly Favors topic 18
First-ever carbon pollution limits for new oil & coal plants: Strongly Favors topic 18
Include clean coal in clean energy future: Opposes topic 18
Reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050: Strongly Favors topic 18
Aggressively address accelerating climate change: Strongly Favors topic 18
Cap-and-trade is more specific on reducing greenhouse gases: Strongly Favors topic 18
Natural gas is a "bridge fuel"; then go solar: Opposes topic 18
Invest in clean energy because China & Germany will: Strongly Favors topic 18
Doubled use of renewable energy; doubled car fuel efficiency: Favors topic 18
Don't cede wind, or solar, or battery industry to foreigners: Strongly Favors topic 18
Subsidize clean energy by canceling oil subsidies: Favors topic 18
More incentives for clean energy, including nuclear: Opposes topic 18
GovWatch: $150B for electric car batteries & new technology: Strongly Favors topic 18
Invest in alternative energy sources: Favors topic 18
Renewable Fuels Standard: require ethanol in fuel supply: Strongly Favors topic 18
Wind energy jobs are not imaginary jobs: Strongly Favors topic 18
Sponsored bill for tax credit for providing 85% ethanol gas: Favors topic 18
Sponsored bill raising CAFE by a 4% per year until 2018: Strongly Favors topic 18
Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence: Favors topic 18
Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: Strongly Favors topic 18
Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness: Favors topic 18
Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18
Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards: Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%): Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR: Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Favors topic 18
YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning: Favors topic 18
YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Favors topic 18

Opposes topic 19:
Never legalize marijuana
(+2 points on Social scale)

We share cross-border drug problem with Mexico: Favors topic 19
Look at needle exchange; and expand treatment: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Fight to rid our communities of meth: Favors topic 19
Expand drug courts; help prisoners with substance abuse: Strongly Opposes topic 19
2001: questions harsh penalties for drug dealing: Opposes topic 19
Not first candidate to use drugs, but first honest about it: Opposes topic 19
Smokes cigarettes now; smoked some pot in high school: Favors topic 19
Admitted marijuana use in high school & college: Favors topic 19
Deal with street-level drug dealing as minimum-wage affair: Opposes topic 19
End harsher sentencing for crack vs. powder cocaine: Opposes topic 19
Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use: Favors topic 19

Favors topic 20:
Stimulus better than market-led recovery
(-3 points on Economic scale)

I've cut taxes for middle-class families & small businesses: Strongly Opposes topic 20
Some earmarks are defensible, if done in full light of day: Strongly Favors topic 20
We cut taxes 25 times, for 95% of Americans: Strongly Opposes topic 20
My plan cuts taxes for most small businesses & 95% of people: Strongly Opposes topic 20
Restore progressive tax; close loopholes; relief to seniors: Favors topic 20
Return to PayGo: compensate for all new spending: Opposes topic 20
Specific tax relief for families making $75,000 or less now: Strongly Opposes topic 20
Close tax loopholes for US companies relocating abroad: Favors topic 20
Bush’s economic policies are not working: Favors topic 20
Supports federal programs to protect rural economy: Strongly Favors topic 20
Last thing we need now is a permanent tax cut: Favors topic 20
Save $150 billion in tax cuts for people who don’t need them: Favors topic 20
Recovery Act averted a second Great Depression: Strongly Favors topic 20
Spending freeze now would be destimulative; later is better: Strongly Favors topic 20
Bring back the Clinton tax rate for income above $250,000: Favors topic 20
Buffett rule: millionaires pay minimum of 30% in taxes: Favors topic 20
No across-the-board tax cuts for the wealthy: Favors topic 20
Tax cuts for wealthy got us into the current deficit: Favors topic 20
No $300 billion on tax cuts for those who don’t need them: Favors topic 20
I will raise CEO taxes, no doubt about it: Favors topic 20
I’m not bashful about it: wealthy will pay more taxes: Favors topic 20
Reduce Bush tax cuts to pay for health care & other programs: Favors topic 20
YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 20

[raindaddy]

123. Just as I thought! And thanks for reminding me.

The first Democratic President to offer up Social Security to the Republicans for cuts.

[VanillaRhapsody]

131. Aaaaaand did they get them?

[LongTomH]

2. There were rallies in support of low-wage workers in KC today!

I was in one of them! The cry is for: "$15 and a Union"

[malaise]

4. Proud of you

We are the change

[daleanime]

7. Sweet!

[1StrongBlackMan]

104. Thank you LongTomH for getting this thread back on track. n/t

[Cooley Hurd]

9. At the time, they hated Truman because he...

...forced white soldiers to live with black soldiers. But the fondness for him has warmed over the years due to that, and many other acts.

[woo me with science]

10. +1 Two terms of corporate rule by Democrats

Last edited Thu Dec 4, 2014, 08:56 PM - Edit history (1)

have had an important silver lining that we can't risk allowing to slip behind the cloud again.

More and more people are aware that the corruption in our government is not just a function of one party, but rather is the result of a deep, systemic, corporate, monied corruption of our democratic institutions including BOTH parties. That we live in an oligarchy now that serves corporations rather than people.

And most importantly, that we need deep, radical, fundamental change to get corporate money out of our government. That it won't be solved by more of the same hoping one party is uncorrupted or by PR fiddling around the edges by the corrupted parties themselves.

The trick will be holding onto that awareness of the need for fundamental change - the need to rally the entire nation to demand corporate money out of government - when corporatists of both parties achieve their apparent goal of getting a Republican in next time. The corporate elite are hoping that, as corporate Democrats go back to pretending to oppose these policies, people will forget all this talk about oligarchy and the need for fundamental change. They hope that the feigned opposition of corporate Democrats to the same policies they aggressively promoted while in power will reassure people that we do still have a democracy. That we will fall back into our divided, mindless cheering of one party over another and forget the urgency of coming together as a nation to demand corporate money out of government and elections as a whole.

It's a constant, incremental game of corporatists....keeping people passive and hopeful that merely voting will be enough this time....through just one more election cycle...

[malaise]

26. Good post

but what you said of the two parties in America is true of the vast majority of parties allowed to govern in 'capitalist democracies'.
Indeed since the neo-liberals seized power and the multilaterals promote their agenda, the corporatists don't even want governments. Notice how they use the word governance and not government. They would abolish government without batting an eyelid if they could.

[Jim23434]

29. Try this

http://www.wolf-pac.com/

[Dustlawyer]

36. +1!!! What you said is aboslutely correct!

If we could get everyone that is upset about some issue that will not be solved as long as corporate money buys our politicians, education, climate change, Wall Street reform, etc., to focus on this one issue we could get the money out and then be able to have Representative Democracy again.
I believe that Publicly Funded Elections (PFE's) are the best way to approach this. We would have to shut down the revolving door as well. Once we have politicians that do not have to rely on the Oligarchs to get and stay in office they will be free to bust up the big banks and media conglomerates.
None of this will be easy and will take very large numbers of committed people focused solely on PFE's in order to have a chance at success!
Thanks for cutting through the crap!

[Enthusiast]

69. +1 a whole bunch.

[appalachiablue]

37. There's also: movetoamend.org

[Maineman]

58. Yes, MoveToAmend is working for what we need regarding corporate money...

A Constitutional Amendment: A corporation is not a persons. Money is not speech.

[appalachiablue]

59. I have the Move to Amend dollar bill STAMP, also ones from stampstampede.org- Ben & Jerry's

idea. How fun, the stamping, not Citizens United which never should have existed. Dean has much to offer like Warren and Sanders on your sig. line.

[alfredo]

46. The Democrats, by tradition is more open to the needs of the masses.

We stand a better chance of rolling back the influence of the Oligarch with the Democrats.

Social justice is a dirty word to the Republicans.

[Maedhros]

103. We have no chance of rolling back such influence

if we continue to fail to hold Democrats accountable for enabling the Oligarchs. "Yeah, Obama's going to put the TPP in place without even letting us know what's in it, but he's better than Romney!" That kind of thinking encourages Democrats to try and get away with more bullshit, not less.

[alfredo]

117. Saying we stand a better chance with the Dems, also means they more willing to be

convinced by our argument. We will not be dismissed out of hand with the Dems, as we would be with Republicans.

Laws will have to be changed, hearts will have to be changed, and most of all we have to become the lawmakers. Reform minded people have to run for office.

[grahamhgreen]

65. WooT!

[Enthusiast]

66. PLUS ONE, a huge bunch!

And while we're at it, let's do something about the fucking media. Jesus Christ.

[raouldukelives]

74. +1 It is a tired, obvious script and I fear it will be lapped up once again. nt

[underpants]

11. The ability just to air grievances is amazing

Having attended the October 26, 2002 march against the war I can tell that the situation is completely different. There was a palpable feeling of suppression during the W fiasco.

[maddiemom]

82. Remember the "Free Speech Zones?"

[underpants]

90. Oh yeah

Cheney had a meeting at a hotel next to where I worked at the time. The Free Speech zone was two blocks away and around the corner. I stood there as what we thought was his caravan - I quietly flipped him the bird.

The other one I remember was W inviting himself to a MLK Day event in Atlanta. The King family accepted - W needed a reason to go other than the fund raiser which was the real purpose of the trip. Word got out and about 2,000 or so people showed up to boo him. The Secret Service quickly hired buses to block the view of the crowd across the street. One person in the media bothered to cross the street and get a shot of the crowd. This was mid-War so we couldn't have any sign of dissent.

[maddiemom]

124. Yes. There have been some crazy/sneaky attempts at free speech, but mostly voter suppression,

continuing today. I'm active in local Democratic politics, which includes supporting local, state gubernatorial (Tom Wolfe-PA in this case) candidates and President Obama in 2012. This is a college town where we've worked hard to register students, even if they go Republican. During the 2012 elections, local Republicans were strongly invested in trying to confuse college voters as to their polling places. Their local presidential campaign was comprised of trying to confuse and surpress student voters. Signs of a desperate and dying party? Of course, but successful in the recent election: certainly, along with Democratic apathy. This will still take some time.

[maddiemom]

125. And, also: I credit Cheney with the evil stuff you dealt with. He has been the

scariest person in politics in my lifetime ( I just barely remember my parents talking about Joe McCarthy, but he just seemed pretty nuts, not sane, calculating evil like Cheney). Cheney has absolute certainty about his views, and no remorse however they turn out. To his credit, he would have been the perfect person to go up against Hitler (if you'll excuse the over-used reference). Crazy evil vs. cold, sane, calculating evil? Cheney, hands down.

[Ink Man]

12. I think the courts

should get the credit on LGBT issues not the President. It was not until the end of his first term that he changed his mind on same sex marriage. And he only did that when the LGBT held back their money for his second term.

[thesquanderer]

16. True about marriage views "evolving", but Obama has still been strong on LGBT

see: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/lgbt_record.pdf

[calimary]

49. Hey! Welcome to DU, both of you - Ink Man and Jim23434!

Great to have you both here! I guess it's just so easy to look at what all has NOT been done, instead of focusing on what's been accomplished that's good. YES he's not perfect. I don't know who is. But it comes down to - which side do you want picking the next Supreme Court justices? Even as stinky as some here have found both Presidents Obama and Clinton, I would MUCH prefer having a Dem do the picking than even the best of the opposition. rand paul picking? How 'bout mitt romney? jebbie bush? What about chris christie? Maybe scott walker since he'll feel like he's got some mandate now, since he survived the last election.

And as disagreeable and Third-Way-ish and corporatist as Bill Clinton was, Ruth Bader Ginsberg was HIS pick. And she's been a keeper from the very start. She still is THE "liberal lion (or lioness?) of the high court." And Barack Obama has given us two more women on the court - when have we ever seen that? The ratio expanded to THREE out of nine, instead of just one. Plus one of his picks is Latina. That demographic NEVER had a seat at the table before, male OR female. And they're reliable liberal votes.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

13. But he didnt fix absolutely everything, loser...

[Phlem]

21. As a matter of fact, fast tracking the TPP

is really going to help things.

[BootinUp]

24. lol. nt

[rhett o rick]

33. He fixed very little actually, in the area of inequality. nm

[LawDeeDah]

47. and he didn't find the cure for the common cad!

whatsamatta wit that loser slacker guy!

[YOHABLO]

15. It's painfully slow because of the right wing establishment and corporate greed.

[Johonny]

18. These last two years are going to be rather interesting

He's worked 6 years under the straight jacket of trying to govern. He has a chance with a congressional-White House divide to really press the difference in societal view point now that compromise is basically impossible. If his speech on immigration is any indication then he really plans to set out his views more openly and to work more to set the agenda without congress. It should be a fun few years.

[MBS]

67. Fingers crossed he keeps it up, for the rest of his term.

I've liked what he's been doing, not just in terms of immigration, but also his quiet but real work for Native Americans, environmental issues, etc. Now if only more of the Congressional Dems would acquire a spine. If only there were more in Congress like John Lewis, Al Franken and Elizabeth Warren. .

[Maedhros]

22. I disagree that Obama "changed everything for LGBT folks."

Last edited Thu Dec 4, 2014, 09:32 PM - Edit history (2)

All the credit for gains in LGBT rights in the last decade belongs with the hard work and tireless perseverance of LGBT activists. Obama saw which way the wind was blowing and signed on after the fight was over.

[nichomachus]

27. +10

[JoePhilly]

73. Yea, and McCain and Romney would have too!

[Bluenorthwest]

79. But the choices are not 'he did it all and handed it to those homosexuals' or 'vote for Romeny'.

What irks people who worked for decades in the face of great resistance, during a pandemic which straight hero Ronald Reagan ignored, while being discriminated against in housing, in employment, in social settings, is this claim that it was all Obama who changed everything. He should be getting the proper credit for the things he did do, but to leave out the LGBT people from LGBT accomplishments is not really acceptable. People got murdered, beaten, jailed, deported.
The consistent exclusion of LGBT people from these victory laps is of course performed by the very centrists and queasy straight folks who were often resistant to equality themselves. The whole 'settle for civil unions and stop wanting a pony' crowd.
You need to get a better copy writer if you want to take this on.

[JoePhilly]

88. Who ended DADT?

You, or Obama?

I never said Obama gets ALL of the credit.

But ... as the President who ended DADT ... and under whom, DOMA will probably fall ... he's going to get some of the credit.

I know its popular to not give President Obama credit for anything on DU, but in the end ... Obama IS going to get a fair amount of the credit.

[Capt. Obvious]

84. And there you are with that tired retort

Can always count on you.

[JoePhilly]

89. Who ended DADT?

You, or Obama?

[Capt. Obvious]

98. Not Romney or McCain!

[vi5]

78. Bingo!

I get mildly annoyed when people give Obama credit for too much stuff that he didn't actually do anything on or for. But this one gets me outright livid. He was "evolving" and playing it safe while people were working hard and tireless in their efforts.

Then when things change he comes out and takes a victory lap after all the hard work is done and all the risk were taking.

If anything I consider this to be the issue he handled in the most craven, opportunistic, and cowardly way.

[spanone]

25. and he's done it with opposition never seen before.

k&r...

[malaise]

40. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

[spanone]

41. ooops, my bad.!!!

[underpants]

91. From Day 1

Roberts screwed up the Oath and the attack machine demanded he take it again.

[brentspeak]

28. You failed to mention Obama's depressing worker wages and offshoring US jobs

via his support of both KORUS and now TPP.

We could also delve into the small matter of his propping up and support of the Big Banksters, if you'd like.

[malaise]

31. There are lots of contradictions in this

capitalist madness. That said I blame Reagan, the Bushes and Bill Clinton for those trade deals.
We the people will have to smash them.

[SammyWinstonJack]

32. +1.

[valerief]

34. I think Occupy Wall Street and phone cameras and social media have played a big role, too. nt

[malaise]

42. Absolutely

but he did say early that we will have to effect the change.

[valerief]

57. That's right. He told us to "make him" do things, and he's right. nt

[Ykcutnek]

35. He's not perfect, but he is genuine and we are all fortunate to have him as President.

Even the loons on both sides who can't take off their ideological blinders long enough to appreciate him.

[alfredo]

38. The middle class needs to be motivated to act.

[malaise]

43. As reality sets in more and more middle class folks

will get involved. Only the completely gullible don't see what's happening to their standard of living and the slow erosion of rights and freedoms.

[alfredo]

44. Look at all of the peaceful revolutions in the past few decades, it was the middle class that

hit the street. The end product wasn't always the most desirable, but the status quo was upset.

They will roll the dice if the status quo is intolerable. The more peaceful the transition, the better the chance for a more democratic society.

[rhett o rick]

39. I don't think he gets much credit for changing life for the LGBT folks. That movement

carried on in spite of him.

And let me see if I get this. You say that "people now understand the gap between rich and poor, the racism that still exists and the exploitation of working class folks in all spheres means the scales are coming off the eyes." Are you trying to give Pres Obama for "opening people's eyes" but not fixing any of the problems?

As far as wealth inequality Sen Sanders gives a speech to anyone that will listen once or twice a week and should get credit. The Pres as far as I know has mentioned it once. And that's all he has done to help the 99%. He hasn't done anything to alleviate the gross financial inequality. In fact all of his appointees in the financial have been strong conservatives and done nothing to help the 99%. Eric Holder has given Wall Street a free pass.

[alfredo]

45. Sometimes just getting out of the way is enough.

[rhett o rick]

48. Kind of funny way to put it. Maybe he "got out of the way" for same-sex marriage

but he got all over the way for legalizing marijuana. He strongly persecuted medical marijuana dispensers. People were using medical marijuana to alleviate pain and Pres Obama's DoJ went after them anyway.

As far as the wealth inequality, he didn't get out of the way. He did nothing to alleviate this problem and all of his appointees were Wall Street favorites. If anything he exacerbated the problem with appointees like, Tim Geitner, Lawrence Summers, Ben Bernanke, Eric Holder. He has done nothing to alleviate the problem of the ever increasing wealth gap.

[alfredo]

51. That's what I was referring to. I am not too disappointed that he has acted poorly

on the other issues, I knew he was a moderate conservative, so I didn't get my expectations up too high. One commentator called him an "Eisenhower Republican." I can't find fault with that. I remember IKE. IKE's contribution was the superhighway system, Obama's is healthcare. *

*It could have been a whole lot better, like single payer.


Before Obama I was pushing to have the Federal Employee Health Benefit program open to everyone. The ACA isn't too far from the modest proposal I wanted during the dark years 2001-2009.

[jtuck004]

50. The average educational level of those in poverty has increased in these 6 years. Significant! n/t

[lonestarnot]

129. Very significant!

[jtuck004]

133. Yup. Over 10 million people have dropped into poverty in this administration. Many

of them were far better educated. The net effect has been to raise the educational level of those already in poverty, left there while the thieving banksters were made richer than they ever have been in history. Most of those kids in poverty will be there long after this presidency ends, with little opportunity to do what their parents did. What a great accomplishment.

[kentuck]

53. Only after they have something to compare it to...

such as a Republican majority in House and Senate and a Republican elected to the White House in 2016. And people see how far down we can really go...

[Recursion]

55. I think it will be looked back on as a realigning election, like Reagan's in 1980

Reagan was excoriated by conservatives at the time for being too timid, too compromising, and a being a RINO. 20 years later, every single GOP POTUS candidate was trying to make the case that he was the real heir of Reagan. There will something like this in our party, too (though hopefully less bumbling on the part of our future Presidential candidates).

[Fearless]

56. Her did very little for lgbt rights.

We did that work.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

60. first thing he did in office was remove the Global Gag Rule

He's also been the first president I ever saw who actually takes a strong, honestly respectful stand for women.

His doing that right in the face of the Bewshies who had set women back worldwide in Chimpy's first days really impressed me. It was courageous and certainly not politically self-serving.

[mfcorey1]

68. Amen!!

[loyalsister]

70. I agree

I also think that like Jimmy Carter, he will make a very good former president. When he is outside of the confines of the office, he will be free to truly speak his mind.

[kelliekat44]

71. Once again, he is the "apocalyptic" President. The President who "unveils what is hidden." nt

[DireStrike]

75. I don't really understand why you're giving Obama credit for those things

The democratic party and its functionaries are, as usual, lagging behind the people on the ground who did the real work, but are happy to come along and lap up the credit because they said some nice words a few years ago. All politicians have always said some nice things a few years ago.

Wealth gap - credit goes to OWS and organizers who have been working tirelessly for years to raise the issue. I'd say George W and the banksters did more to bring this to light by crashing the economy in the first place.

LGBT issues - again, this is all due to the organizational efforts of many small groups.

Racism - I think society is backsliding on this issue. "We have a black president, racism is over now!" Millennials especially are bored of racism and pretend it has basically been solved, and are firmly against affirmative action due to this. The common answer to any sort of social outrage is "both parties are wrong, get over it and make peace so I can go back to my iphone apps". And I say this as a millennial.

Obamacare sucks but is a very, very small step in the right direction. It is like the first cut in a surgical procedure. If we stop there, it's basically just a stab wound.

Obama's major accomplishments include stabilizing the economy through fiscal conservatism, and projecting an image of having addressed problems which he has done nothing about. This is an important function in a president and Obama has done it very well.

[99Forever]

76. I see it differently.

Barack Obama has been for me, the biggest disappointment I ever voted for. Bar none.

[tridim]

77. I keep imagining the post-2016 Obama.

And I see great things. His greatest work will likely happen after he leaves DC.

As much as it will upset the RW and a good chunk of DU, he is not going away and he will never give up his fight.

[Capt. Obvious]

85. It's going to infuriate DU

[zipplewrath]

92. Which fight would that be?

When I think of "fight" I don't picture Obama. I do imagine he'll be more in the model of Clinton than Bush, but none the less I wouldn't really call it any kind of "fight". I'll be mildly impressed if it qualifies as advocacy.

[tridim]

93. Maybe you'll get it someday.

But I'm not holding my breath, because you rarely do.

[zipplewrath]

95. And maybe you will too

Last edited Fri Dec 5, 2014, 03:59 PM - Edit history (1)

But I won't hold mine either.

[NorthCarolina]

80. He didn't change everything with respect to LGBT. In fact, he was late to the table

for purely political reasons. You know, when it was "convenient" for him to do so. That doesn't smack of a person leading the way towards justice. It was the courts that played the major role in addressing LGBT issues. Obama was a follower on LGBT issues, never a leader.

[MADem]

81. He won't get any credit, and in fact, he will continue to be blamed in some corners....

Obama has been a superb President in these troubled times. I can't imagine what the last six years would have been like under Bomb-bomb-bomb, bomb-bomb Iran McCain and Miss Moosilla.

Anyone who insists that there's "no difference" between the parties should chew on that.

But you are right. Change IS coming.

[1StrongBlackMan]

105. I read a piece by Robert Reich (I believe) ...

the single line, out of a couple hundred pages, that stuck with me most was:

"{Something to the effect of, and my paraphrasing} By the time the masses of people recognize that change is coming, it is already a done deal."

[pocoloco]

86. Significant in that it's the first time

we have ever had a 3 dimensional chessboard stuffed up our ass!!

[MaggieD]

99. I agree

No president is perfect but Obama has already accomplished much. To me, he has already left a great legacy with LGBT rights and the ACA.

[demwing]

101. It's like removing the scab from an infected wound

painful, but ultimately good for the patient.

[1StrongBlackMan]

106. Yes ... and with both meanings of the word "Patient." n/t

[Demsrule86]

107. I hope SCOTUS does not gut Obamacare

Not the plan I would have chosen but my kid have health care thanks to this plan...and thousands of lives have been saved...Premiums in my employer plan did not go up this year either. First time in 20 years.

[Albertoo]

108. Obama will end up in the middle of the top half of past Presidents.

I think the Obama Presidency is going to turn out to be very
significant.

He achieved 3 things.
Two defensive:
- reducing exposure to criticism of military imperialism
- weathering the storm of a very bad economic crisis (but the downturn isn't over)
One proactive
- the Affordable Care Act

All in all, I guess he will end up in the middle of the top half of past Presidents.

[Prophet 451]

109. Also, Obama will be impeached

I've been predicting this for a year now. The GOP view all Democratic presidents as illegitimate by definition of being Democrats and they've spent years hyping their rabid base. So they'll impeach on the first pretext they can dream up. They won't have the votes to convict but they'll spin it as "we had a majority for conviction but he got off on a technicality" (that being the 2/3 requirement). They desperately want to put "impeached" in Obama's record.

[INdemo]

110. Ok But because President Obama is the first African American

it will take time for his accomplishments to be recognized even among Democrats that are still living in the attitudes of the 1950's and 60's. those accomplishment may never be brought to the forward. The Bias media will be the blame for that.
I remember first hand in 60's driving from Norfolk to Richmond and seeing crosses burning on a Friday evening and these kind of things seem to go unnoticed by many and to them it seemed like just another day. And its a shame to see this bigotry here in 2014. And its the Politicians that seem to encourage that hatred.
I am not as optimistic about my grand kids future living in a free society, because with the corporate take over of our Democracy I think our Freedoms are doomed. And I mean that.

[awoke_in_2003]

115. I think the moment before he ran for his second term...

and came out in favor for marriage equality was EPIC. It took some real nerve to do that, IMO. It made me even prouder that I had voted for him.

[Miigwech]

116. Waiting

Obama better put on his tights and cape ... I really believed he was going to be America's super hero from day one. I know he had the worst situation with the economic depression and the nasty Republicans blocking him at every turn...... but shit ..... why did he compromise on everything. He had the power in his first term and didn't know how to use it. Pres. Obama is the only one standing between us and the Republican House and Senate .... Super Hero time! The majority of American's are with him and the vote to sweep in Republicans does not reflect the true feeling of the majority of Americans .... that perhaps could not get out and vote even though they might have wanted to.

[mia]

126. I agree.

He's done a great job at playing the part of President of the United States, despite the fact that US presidents , of late, don't have much real power. He's done well at being the face of the United States to the rest of the world. He is a great man and I am hopeful that his wisdom will be recognized.

[Cha]

127. K

[liberal_at_heart]

134. I just wish he was in there fighting for the working class instead of promising

business leaders he is willing to take on the unions and liberals. He will be remembered but when it comes to helping the working class it will not be a pretty legacy.

[steve2470]

135. big kick and rec! nt