No reporter has ever asked him as far as I know. I don't know if any will ask this time around. What did you mean by "Change" anyway? He ran a whole campaign on it and does anyone really know what Barack Obama meant he was going to change?
I'm in the camp that he hasn't changed a damn thing. People will counter with Lilly Ledbetter. It's a lovely law, but does anyone really believe that's what was meant by the grandiose statement "Change"?
Of course I use Lilly Ledbetter as a symbol. President Obama obviously has more accomplishments than that. He really did change the laws and many people's perceptions on gay rights for example. Don't Ask, Don't Tell is history. The government is no longer defending the Defense of Marriage Act. And the President of the United States is finally for gay marriage. But did people really think Senator Obama meant he would change gay rights legislation? Is that what the 2008 election was about?
A little bit of financial reform (which so far has proven to be as ineffectual as progressive critics predicted) certainly doesn't qualify as "Change." Thirty million more Americans insured -- maybe, hopefully, by 2014 -- is a good thing. Is it transformational? Has Washington changed as we know it? Have we gotten "Change"?
Here is the common sense interpretation of what "Change" is -- changing the way Washington works. In fact, this is exactly what was promised, specifically by Barack Obama. He even made a campaign ad about it:
And by God, what have you done to that effect? I would venture to say, almost without refutation, absolutely nothing. Even the most ardent Obama supporter can't in good conscience or sound mental state argue that President Obama has changed the way Washington works. He's just played the game a little better, if you're being charitable on how you keep score on that count.
But here's what should really burn you up -- he hasn't even tried. Not even close. Has there been a single piece of legislation backed by the White House that would stop the way lobbyists or big corporate interests or any special interest groups buy our politicians? In 93% of the cases, the person with more money wins their Congressional race. Democrat or Republican. Obviously the controlling factor is not ideology, party or even votes. It's money. And it's obvious.
And the president has done what to "Change" that?
Nonetheless, I'm insanely optimistic and naïve. So, I say we give him one more chance. But there is no way you should just trust him and hope for the best. He has to actually do something this time instead of just hanging a campaign placard up.
Congressman John Yarmuth of Kentucky has introduced a bipartisan bill that would amend the constitution to say that money cannot control our elections. Will the president make this one of his top priorities? Will he campaign on it? Will he do everything in his power to pass it if he is re-elected?
If he does, then we should let bygones be bygones. The slate is wiped clean and God bless second terms and the concept of redemption. If the president makes a real effort on the campaign trail to emphasize this as one of his core issues, then progressives should turn out to do everything they can to get him elected, whether it's voting, donating or volunteering. We're not asking for much in return -- just deliver on your original promise.
On the other hand, if he can't even do this, then it's obvious that the Democrats will never, ever help us. It will be painfully clear that they are part of the same corrupt system and have no interest in ever changing it. In fact, they love that system because it is what keeps them in office.
But this is not a decision for me to make. It is for the president. Which way will he go? Will he continue to play small-bore politics? Will he continue his rhetorical games and hope we don't realize that he is being too clever by half? Will he play the same old Washington games and hope to play them just a little better? Or will he actually lead and bring us real change?
Despite all the broken promises and all the cute political tricks, I still have the audacity of hope. I'm just waiting for President Obama to put it out one last time, so we can really go to war against Washington -- all of it. Democrats and Republicans alike. The public has a pox ready for both of their houses and only one man has the antidote. Let's see what he does.
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Peter Roell
Kerry Lauerman
Joan Walsh
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The change he promised? Well, that's MIA along with a functioning democracy.
And just how does Mr. Yarmuth truly expect to get "money" out of the elections? Forbid expensive TV ads? Forbid plane service (make 'em walk!) no assistants, aides, or poll takers? Let 'em guess at the results, we just make this stuff up anyway.
Get money out of politics? You do that and the entire Congress would turn into private co-op bankers and fund themselves. Since it's THEIR money then, no rules.
At least there are rules, and even then, try and change those. Pig will fly first.
First President to apply for college aid as a foreign student, then deny he was a foreigner. First President to have a social security number from a state he has never lived in. First President to preside over a cut to the credit-rating of the United States; First President to violate the War Powers Act.
First President to be held in contempt of court for illegally obstructing oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. First President to defy a Federal Judge's court order to cease implementing the Health Care Reform Law. First President to require all Americans to purchase a product from a third party. First President to spend a trillion dollars on 'shovel-ready' jobs when there was no such thing as 'shovel-ready' jobs. First President to abrogate bankruptcy law to turn over control of companies to his union supporters. First President to by-pass Congress and implement the Dream Act through executive fiat.
First President to order a secret amnesty program that stopped the deportation of illegal immigrants across the U.S., including those with criminal convictions. First President to demand a company hand-over $20 billion to one of his political appointees. First President to terminate America's ability to put a man in space. First President to have a law signed by an auto-pen without being present. First President to arbitrarily declare an existing law unconstitutional and refuse to enforce it.
First President to threaten insurance companies if they publicly spoke-out on the reasons for their rate increases. First President to tell a major manufacturing company in which state it is allowed to locate a factory. First President to file lawsuits against the states he swore an oath to protect (AZ, WI, OH, IN).
First President to withdraw an existing coal permit that had been properly issued years ago. First President to fire an inspector general of Ameri-corps for catching one of his friends in a corruption case. First President to appoint 45 czars to replace elected officials in his office. .
First President to golf 73 separate times in his first two and a half years in office, 90 to date. First President to hide his medical, educational and travel records. First President to win a Nobel Peace Prize for doing NOTHING to earn it. First President to go on multiple global 'apology tour'. First President to go on 17 lavish vacations, including date nights and Wednesday evening White House parties for his friends; paid for by the taxpayer. First President to have 22 personal servants (taxpayer funded) for his wife. First President to keep a dog trainer on retainer for $102,000 a year at taxpayer expense. First President to repeat the Holy Quran, tells us the early morning call of the Azan (Islamic call to worship) is the most beautiful sound on earth. First President to take a 17 day vacation.
Can we least agree that President Obama even if he hasn't changed much, has accomplished a number of firsts???
One I can personally speak to is the lies about insurance company executives regarding truth in rates. I am self-insured and I can say that the vast majority of the health care premium increases I experienced happened under Bush. In other words, the health care system is out of control and Bush was just as big of a problem with his prescription drug scam. The reality is that politicians from both parties are lining their pockets with money from a for-profit health insurance monopoly; one that exists courtesy of Richard Nixon.... who by the way, if he had his druthers, would have instituted national health care.
The system is rotten to the core. Democracy is dead. If you think your voice matters, think again. As long as the entire economy is rigged by politicians, and it is in more ways than the average person understands, your voice means nothing. Both parties are corporatist parties. Corporatism is part of the trickle down economics mantra of Bedtime with Bozo.
We need an end to corporate personhood and ALL money in politics. In fact, we need an end to politics. We need a post-political governmental system. Politics is the bane of humanity and a relic of ancient man. It serves no purpose to a free society.
BTW I notice your bio doesn't mention your show on Current TV. Not going so well? Not that I expect any responses, you're not here to have a conversation -- just to use another platform to trash President Obama.
Yes, I'm not mincing words anymore, this election is too important and you can go, well, let's just say "to Brazil".
Obama and the Democrats did do quite a bit. Regardless of how many may want to see the health care reform as a negative, it was the first reform of a very broken system in ~40 years. It is a good base to work from for further reform later. Financial reform and the consumer financial protection bureau have put back into place a lot of the kind of legislation which was meant to keep these very deep financial crises from happening. The CFPB is the first to make all the complicated financial contracts we enter into much more understandable. Because of it we are all better informed about what we're getting into BEFORE we get into it. We're pulling ourselves into a progressive recovery given the improvements we've seen in jobs and GDP throughout 2011 and the first quarter of this year. I've written about this quite a bit already and won't rewrite it all here. The list goes on... he has presided over a lot of note-worthy accomplishments despite the “invented” Obama the GOP has created.
Change...
Yes, Obama did have every intent to change the way things were done in DC. But as we all know.... one person cannot effect major change all alone. Was he overly optimistic...yes, gullible even. He, like myself, probably thought the GOP would return to DC after the hammering they were subjected to in 2008 with their tail between their legs and a begrudging realization that they, at least, were there to WORK to fix the problems we were facing at the time. We expected them to act like professional adults. What did we get? A Republican Party that, from the very first night of Obama's presidency, committed itself to oppose him on every single solitary thing. And that is what they did. Obama was faced with an opposition party that put it's own designs on power ahead of the country's needs for pragmatic solutions.
So, no, we did not get the change Obama "promised". Given the opposition this was impossible. He did try and he DID try to work with the GOP. He tried to work with them so much he gave up MANY of his own agenda items, core items. And he got nothing in return. It was that intent to make that change which is admirable. It was the SITUATION in which he tried to effect that change that was intolerable.
Despite my general disagreement, this was a thought provoking, well-written post.
There is little doubt that Obama is a better choice than Romney but Obama is still a conservative. If the American People want real change they have to become active in the process and stop chipping from the sidelines.
And so I'm expecting with a declining economy between now and November, that the POTUS race will wind up being incredibly close. And D versus R turnout will be the deciding factor in the election.
So, let's get all incredibly enthusiastic about voting around say November 2nd! But until then, it will be a long, cold slog.
Not being able to defend the Constitution, after being a Constitutional law professor, was a chilling sign that systemically our government, to use a technical political-science term, is fucked. History is clear on what happens next: armed insurrection. When enough of the 99% get tired of being repossessed, evicted, and stripped of any way to get an education, they will discover their favorite animal is Colt and their best friends are Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson. Historically, people have not just resigned themselves to sit on the curb and starve to death. Their reptile brains kick in with the survival instinct.
Sadly, the 1% are proving to be simply too short-sighted, greedy, and/or stupid to figure this out. They apparently never read the fable of the Golden Goose. They still think they can take it all with them when they die.
After going to both Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School simultaneously, Mitt Romney passed the Michigan bar, but never worked as an attorney.
As a venture-capitalist, Romney's first major business deal involved investing in a start-up office supply company with one store in Massachusetts that sold office supplies. That company, called Staples , now has over 2,000 stores and employs over 90,000 people.
Romney or his company Bain Capital (using what became known as the "Bain Way") would go on to perform the same kinds of business miracles again and again, with companies like AMC Entertainment, Aspen Education Group, Brookstone, Burger King, Burlington Coat Factory, Clear Channel Communications, Domino's Pizza, DoubleClick, Dunkin' Donuts, D&M Holdings, Guitar Center, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), Sealy, The Sports Authority, Staples, Toys "R" Us, Warner Music Group and The Weather Channel. and many others (check Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bain_Capital).
Took no salary as president of the Salt Lake Olympics 3 years.
Took no salary as MA governor 4 years. (Wikipedia: A Romney spokesman noted that Romney did not accept a salary while
he was Governor and that he paid for his personal and political travel, while the superintendent of the State Police pointed out that the Governor never requested the security and that the security detail followed the Governor on all trips.)
He gave his ENTIRE INHERITANCE to charity.
That's a grand total of 28 years of unpaid service to his country, his community and his church. Why? Because that's the kind of man Mitt Romney is.
And He’ll show you his:
1) Un-doctored Birth Certificate!
2) College transcripts!
3) Law degree!
4) Un-doctored Draft notice!
5) & Un-doctored Social Security card, and what state it's registered in!
So, Smokeysmom, why is it so horrible to have Mitt Romney for a president? Maybe we really need a change!
Racism is a belief system. It is a superstition. American racism, the plantation based, intense, skin superiority version, requires a certain narcissistic, nihilistic denial of the broad spectrum of contribution to humanity. I'm two years younger than the President, and I can remember debates about whether a black man had the wherewithal mentally to be a middle linebacker in the NFL. The Browns first one was Robert "Stonewall" Jackson, as ironic as that name is. I remember in 1984 people discussing Jesse Jackson's run for the highest office as a run for "Black President", as if it is a separate category or event. You're in L.A., Cenk. I worked for the LAPD in the early 90's. I remember that the LAPD had 2 openly gay officers at the time (early 90's), and they both were relegated to work within the divisions because they could not get backup on the street. Reagan never said the word "AIDS." I was in the USMC right before that, and I can recall Lt. General Petersen, and African American USMC General, and former pilot, and the special attention paid to him for his exotic status in his lofty rank. I can remember in the early 1980's meeting people who said that they had never met a black person before, or that their father changed the channel whenever they saw one on television, etc. I did not go to college in Norway or Idaho. I grew up and attended college in Ohio.I lost count of how many people told me that I was the first black person that they had ever met. I can recall in the 1980's a person in Atlanta, white male in his 20's, told me that Jews had horns. He told me this to my face. Until then, I did not know such ignorance was possible in the modern world. 25 years later or so, I am well aware of it. We're soaking in it. I can remember Justice O'Connor making the Supreme Court. Adding Ginberg made two. Now there are three with Sotomayor and Kagan joining Ginsberg. Women outnumber men in the U.S., and are underrepresented in government. Our society shows the lack of broad representation from our culture. We have a long way to go in many respects, but that is CHANGE-ing. Did you see what I did just there? There has been change. Oh, you might say, that change is just for the coloreds and the skirts, and the queers. Who cares? Right? Wrong, Cenk. Do I still meet people who presume that I can't swim because of my skin color? Yep. That will be around for a while. Does Wall Street still gamble with credit default swaps? Yep. That'll likely be around for a bit too. You know why? Because liberals so, so, frequently want to pull a Ralph Nader and claim that, "they're all the same." You know, just like your conservative brethren do at the Moose Lodge, only this is intramural intransigence. Change is happening. Sometimes it comes with a crawl, and sometimes with a pounce. Sometimes one sets up the other. But let's stop the nonsense about discrediting the America that others have to live in. If you don't see the significance, ask someone. Ask, don't tell.
Like you, I am disgusted, but I’m not disgusted with what I suspected would continue to be the same - politicians thriving as they wallow in and feed upon the feces of corporate interests, but I’m disgusted that I would allow myself to hope against every ounce of logic, every glaring sign that reality and truth were going to paint Obama, just as it did the others before him as the political David Copperfield that he is.
I read here on OS and in every other outlet available that I can find and the tone is the same; Obama is the lesser of two evils, or Obama will do better in the next four years, or even more insanely absurd; “Obama has kept his promises and we’re better off than were.”
Our political system is in shambles and Obama, the very epitome of that mangled system, had no intentions of keeping his “promises” the last four years, nor is he going to change his stripes in a second term; he will instead continue his bullshit speeches disguised with rosy perfume to placate the masses in order to advance the agenda of the corporations and the elitists who placed him where he is.
Despite what everyone states, thinks, or implies, we truly don’t have a choice between the lesser of two evils – Obama or his brother in putrid corruption Romney; what we have is simply to accept either the smoke or the mirrors and until we dismantle the system that has taken our future from you, me and our children by whatever means we can, we will continue to find ourselves hoping that the next four years will be better until four years become irrelevant.
He underestimated the power of resentment and hate. He did what he could to find bipartisan support for programs that would offer the greatest benefit to the most people, and sacrificed the best programs for even symbolic Republican representation.
Those of us who supported Senator Clinton anticipated this. "Ready From Day One" meant that she was ready for Washington politics, having been around for the impeachment of President Clinton. Similarly, Paul Krugman correctly predicted the outcome of the too-small stimulus program that was again tailored to get Republican support. President Obama is a good man, elected at a time when there simply wasn't time to learn.
But heaven help us if Governor Romney is elected, and we're faced with the Paul Ryan budget. With Europe mired in the effects of austerity, and Angela Merckel demanding ever greater scarifies, with China's export driven economy starting to shrink, the United States is the last hope of recovery, not just for ourselves but for the world.
It's that simple. Barak Obama was not the President we hoped he would be, but he has learned something by now, and the alternative, the economics of Hyeck, the greater maldistribution of wealth, would be the worst thing that couple happen to the country, and perhaps to the world. With all his faults, Barak Obama is a last hope for all of us.
If the U.S. did not bail out the auto companies, millions more people would have been out of work and that would have caused the stock market to plummet even farther, put more people on unemployment, more children on SNAP, and Michigan even further down the rabbit hole than it already is.
If you believe Romney and his pals can do better, you must have "learned" U.S. history in a public school with a rowdy class who could not sit still and listen when the teacher explained how often trickle down economics have been attempted and failed.
Ronmey for Amercia 2102!
Some accomplished the missing with words, Obama did with action!
Some accomplished the mission with words, Obama did with action!
That's a change, if some would in the latter instance have advised to deep six him quietly, but that has a price too.