Reply #378: I think you hit the nail on the head

[green917]

The Obama administration has shown, since the campaign ended and his Presidency began, that they are devoted to the Corporate and Military Industrial Complex's agendas. The only way they can sell that to the American people is by convincing us out here in the hinterland that, their hands were tied by the obstructionists in Congress (which isn't entirely untrue but is secondary to the fact that they aren't pushing for progressive policy). What has been lost in translation for the Cheerleaders here and elsewhere, is the fact that, time and time again, they have gone to bat to support those obstructionist voices in their own party (campaigning for Blance Lincoln, Arlen Spector, and a host of other blue dogs who were up against more progressive candidates). This excuse is starting to wear thin though for many of us out here in the real world dealing with immense unemployment, a housing nightmare the likes of which we've never seen and the rising cost of things like health care making it harder for all of us to get by. They need a new meme to sell the American people on why they can't get more progressive legislation passed...if they lose this fall, however, it gives them the perfect cover. Not only can they keep making their corporate overlords happy but, they can blame it all on the Republicans being in control in the House and/or the Senate.

Notice how he made a point to say that President Obama has kept his promises but didn't site any specifics. This is a play directly out of the Republicans' play book. Put forth a wild proposal without any details ("The Plan for America" is a perfect example) and the media will lap it up and back up your statement. Let's look at the facts though:

"We will end this war (Iraq)!" -VP Candidate Joe Biden, 2008
We have "ended all combat operations in Iraq" (now where have I heard that before?) but we still have 50,000 troops and 180,000 (read that number again) private security forces in Iraq...In other words, we withdrew about 80,000 troops and replaced them all with mercenaries which are far more expensive for the American taxpayer and have no code of ethics or conduct governing them under Iraqi or US law (by our design I may add).

"We will end this failed policy (DADT) by the end of this year!" -President Obama, 2010
VP Biden gave a very telling interview last week on this issue. When asked why the President didn't sign an Executive order suspending the practice of kicking out service members under DADT, while the military review is conducted, VP Biden said that this was the deal they made with Congress (presumably both Rs and Ds) to garner support for allowing the military to end the policy. They got ZERO votes from Republicans, and even had a few members of our own party defected to uphold a filibuster of the Defense Authorization bill (something that used to get you labeled a terrorist sympathizer and un-American). Read that again...they made a deal that the other side of the deal didn't uphold and, not only will there not be any consequences, they didn't even address it to the American people. Remember when the Democrats wanted to filibuster the Defense Authorization Supplemental (the vote that got Pres. Candidate John Kerry labeled a "flip flopper")? Did the Republicans just let it go? Oh yeah, they raised holy hell about it and it contributed to winning their President a 2nd term.

"I will close the Military Prison at Guantanamo Bay"
I don't even know where to start with this one. Not only have they not closed the prison, but they've decided to continue to prosecute prisoners under the military commissions act (which is in direct violation of at least 3 treaties which have been ratified by Congress, making them the law of the land).

I could go on and on and on.
I think they do want to lose this year because they, misguidedly, believe that it will give them something to get us motivated to vote for them again next time around and, as a cute ancillary benefit, allow them to continue to funnel our money upwards to the top 2%. The fact that they aren't going to bring the expiration of Bush's tax cuts for the rich to a vote until after the election just solidifies this for me. It tells me that either they're planning on capitulating and extending the tax cuts for the wealthy or, they've made a deal which the other side probably wont uphold. Regardless, this "whiner" is pissed and will continue to call them on this centrist BS until I have real representation in Washington.