Daily Topics - Tuesday January 26th 2010
By Louise
Quote: “We are trying to construct a more inclusive society. We are going to make a country in which no one is left out." Franklin D. Roosevelt
Hour One - Has Obama just become a Herebert Hoover Republican? Max Keiser www.maxkeiser.com
Plus...Dan Gainor www.businessandmedia.org - Recommendations from the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah
Hour Two - Is cash for Geezers now getting some support in Congress?
Hour Three - Will the real tea partiers please stand up?! John O'Hara www.JohnMOHara.com
Comments
#2
Gerald,
I'm sorry. I meant no disrespect for you or your children. I just fundamentally disagree with you logic and conclusions. I disrespect many of your opinions. I believe in the ideals of our fore fathers and cherish my country. I will fight to make it better. Your blanket statements are shrill and in my opinion hurtful to those who are trying their best help find solutions. Politically, many of your messages are poison. As to teaching your children to think for themselves...that's nurture. Good on you. Remember! there is nature too.
Finally, I assume that KMA is an acronym for Kiss My Ass. If so... No thank you. You go first.
#3
Nels and Thom, Obama cannot turn a new leaf in his life. Obama is who he is. He is not a leader and he will never be a leader. He is a failed president. He is finished. He let the crazy Republicans beat the crap out of him in an old fashion alley mugging.
#4
I'm still hearing reference to Brown's apparent win Massachusetts but not a word about what's being discussed over at Black Box Voting:
http://www.bbvforums.org/cgi-bin/forums/board-auth.cgi?file=/8/80830.html
#5
Ravi Batra for president!!!!!
#6
Stop me before I feed the troll again. I'll sit down and try to shut up for a while.
#7
@Brad: Sarah Palin is qualified to be President
Qualifications for the Office of President
Age and Citizenship requirements - US Constitution, Article II, Section 1
No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States.
Term limit amendment - US Constitution, Amendment XXII, Section 1 – ratified February 27, 1951
No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.
THE ISSUE IS THAT SHE SHOULD NOT BE PRESIDENT.
#8
Corporate speech rant:
If giving Corporations free speech will result in more speech, then it follows that the "group of persons" that make up the corporations will have more free speech than those who do not belong to corporations. Is this unequal protection?
Corporations are more like kingdoms than democracies. Why are we giving Kings free speech rights?
#9
Food for thought ...Could Barak possible be looking out for his own vested interest once he is out of office by keeping the banksters happy so he could be part of the good old boy's in crowd?
Why else would he not fight...what is he afraid of?
I am disgusted, but I will not stop fighting because my president has no back bone.
#10
@DDay - RE The Troll: You show more respect that I do . . .
#11
DDay, the KMA comment is not personally directed toward you. It is a general comment for America, our politicians, and the world specifically. Please do not take some of my comments personally! The people who comment on Thom's blog do not upset me. I am upset by politicians who lack leadership skills and I believe that Obama lacks leadership skills.
DDay, I welcome, enjoy, and encourage dialogue with the people who comment on Thom's blog.
#12
@Gerald, I never thought Obama as a progressive leader. He governs from the middle, no doubt about it. However, he is a leader, he is quite capable in this area if you don't believe it, review how he ran his campaign. One of his problems is this, his advisers are piss poor and obviously giving him wretched and misleading insights. Another problem is (as others far wiser than I have pointed out) the only things in the middle of the road are dead animals and a yellow stripe.
Now then, you're calling for Obama to resign, fine with me.... but who, who will step into his position? Biden? Pelosi? someone else, and what will they do. Historically from their political choices, I cannot assume it will be any different. So who is your solution, who will be allowed to be President that will be progressive. As I said earlier, I'd be happy with Dean, or Kucinich. I'd also be happy with universal health care, American manufacturing protections, higher taxes on the wealthy (enforced) and a pretty pink pony to ride through lollipop land on Sundays. I'll work toward two out of three of those desires that I think are doable.
#13
Thom --- you stated that Lyndon Johnson didn't have 60 Senators---Well he had 68 in '65 to '67 and 64 in '67 to 69
#14
We can not have an inclusive society when only a few enjoy the spoils of Capitalism. Wealth writes the rules no matter who is in charge. Republicans are the wolves, they are proud to be wolves and are damn good wolves. The Dems in Congress are nothing more than wolves in sheep clothing. We have been fooled. They have no interest in change or we would have it by now.
#15
@D.Silva, AMEN!
#16
An American Conservative (Recessivist) offended by a factual representation of his views! Who woulda thunk it.
#17
Thom! O here it goes: T Party grassroots? We don't think so! Let us return to the days of yore, say last summer? Faux News & Repugs manufactured so-called Tea Parties. Don't let this guy you've got on reinvent history!
#18
@ D. Silva, Amen!
#19
"Sexual blackmail, she said, had long been part of Lyndon Johnson's modus operandi—abetted by Edgar. "J. Edgar Hoover," Lincoln said, "gave Johnson the information about various congressmen and senators so that Johnson could go to X senator and say, `How about this little deal you have with this woman?' and so forth. That's how he kept them in line. He used his IOUs with them as what he hoped was his road to the presidency. He had this trivia to use, because he had Hoover in his corner."
#20
I WANT MY MOUTH TO SPIT FORTH DOLLAR BILLS!!!!! If I incorporate . . .
#21
Equal Protection under the law means that since corporations have limited liability for the wrongs they do, and canNOT be jailed nor executed ... the Supreme Court has outlawed not only the Death Penalty but jail itself, and strictly limited PERSONal liability for anything you do.
We'll save a LOT of money letting all those prisoners go!
#22
@Richard, at the rate our country is going, you may be better off wishing to spit Pesos.
#23
D. Silva, your words say it all!
The key to being a good manager is keeping the people who hate me away from those who are still undecided.
Casey Stengel
US baseball manager (1890 - 1975)
Obama cannot seem to keep the people who dislike him from the people who are undecided. However, more and more people are starting to decide and it does not look good for Obama.
Nels, running a campaign will help a person to be elected but it does not reveal if the person can run the government.
His advisors are very poor. Rahm Emmauel (sp) needs to do the country a favor and retire. With friends like Rahm who needs enemies.
A person who drives the middle of the road will be hit by cars going both ways.
I do not expect Obama to resign but he is not person that i thought he would be for our country. He is the Grand Experiment that has failed our citizens.
#24
BULLSH** !!! It is the lack of government spending . . . Not the Libertarian spew that we are spending to much. This caller, Brandon, is an idiot.
#25
#26
BRADON! Tell us about your Grandma . . .
#27
@Nels: Yuan . . . Not Pesos . . .
#28
Hey Brandon - you were home-schooled, eh? So one of your parents stayed out of the workforce. That's nice. What about single parents? What about families where both parents have to work?
#29
@THOM: Shame on you! You stopped Brandon before he could tell us that his Grandma refuses Medicare because she prefers being a burden on her family and how he refuses to get health insurance. It is the best part of his rant.
#30
This is going to sound raw but I have to ask it. One of the planks of Obamas plan is an increase in the child tax credit. Why is the fastest way to appease the public to increase the child tax credit? This is pandering at the highest. This is rewarding bad behavior. Want a little more money in May? Pump out a few more kids. Let's make the Octomom and John&Kate roll models for getting a peace of the pie.
Also, how is this fiscally responsible? This will only take more funds out of the treasury.
How does this create jobs. You need an income to claim the credit.
#31
@Gerald, Obama is behaving the way I expected, I also expected the same from Hillary Clinton. They are centrists, it was obvious during the campaign.
As Richard mentioned earlier in reference to Palin's qualifications, she is qualified, because she is a Citizen and old enough. That's all it takes to run lead this country (unfortunately).
I really don't feel that leadership is all that mystical, as a leader you choose a path and others follow you if they choose. As I see it, what you're talking about is a leader that takes you down the path you want to go. If that's the case, you're not a follower, you are a leader (so long as someone, anyone, is following you). Good, bad, whatever that's being a leader.
Either that or you're a backseat driver.
Regardless, I'm not a huge proponent of Obama, I'm not a proponent of any Right, or Center politician. But as I see it I can either stay in the boat I'm in, or jump overboard and hope those sharks aren't as hungry as they look.
That's just my reasoning though, I'm in no way trying to say your opinion is wrong, I'm just taking your argument and following it to the conclusions I see from my own point of view (however limited that may be).
#32
The truth is that I am unhappy that Obama is living up to my expectations of him . . . THAT is what is disappointing.
#33
Gerald,
Re: The Paul Wellstone quote. It is his most memorable and speaks to my heart.
#34
@ rewinn
re: Equal Protection
I intend to steal this and pretend I was smart enough to think of it...this "road-map" to absurdity as reasoned by the decision of SCROTUS Thursday. Excellent! This is going on my list of Arguments for Individual Freedoms.OR Arguments for Reversing Citizens United vs. FEC, OR Saving Person-hood for People. OR One Human, One Voice, One Vote!, Campaign file. Thank you! Clever and humorous is a great combination.
#35
Brandon is another young worker that is ignorant of the past. He is ungrateful for the workers that spilled blood to unionize and set the standard he now enjoys.
#36
@Nels: .
#37
My husband, son and I have talked about moving to another country this last week. My husband and I realize that we are too old and have no money. Only our son has any chance to move...
Thom, I also very seriously thought about leaving the country after "W" was selected. I told Al Franken that, too, though he argued vociferously against it.
My sentiments are honest but my ability to make it happen are severely lacking. However, I keep thinking about all the immigrants who came to this country without anything. They were willing to risk whatever it took...
#38
When I was 18 I registered and voted Independent. As I got older I realized that I was wasting my vote. I started voting Democrat - the less of two evils - but they are worthless because they lack a spine.
If we had started with a firm plan for single payer healthcare and hit the road with facts. If Obama and all the Dems were on TV selling it on every network from day one, the Republicans and the Insurance Industry would begging for a plan with a strong public option. We would have won with the appearance of bi-partisanship. I didn't go to college and I can figure out that much.
#39
s.b. "abilities"
#40
@D.Silva, I agree, the first rule of negotiating, ask for everything you want and way, way more, then parse it down to everything you want and more.
I can in no way believe that the Democrats don't know this, so that leaves us with one simple conclusion... they had no intentions on getting us anything, while giving the Insurance companies more. The only problem they have right now is selling us this spin.
#41
Nels,
Obama's experience seemed to show him that he could always finesse his way through anything, cut deals, etc. He's never run any large company or government office before, so never knew it takes more than that. Plus, he's a DLC Dem.
#42
@DDay - plagiarism is the sincerest form of flattery LOL!
Please use my comment re Equal Protection with my blessing ;-)
If/when you do get your "Arguments for Individual Freedoms.OR Arguments for Reversing Citizens United vs. FEC" webpage/blogpost up somewhere, pls post a link so we all can enjoy!
#43
@Charles
Well said. For the twenty plus years I've been married, every time they have wanted to throw a bone at us, it has been in the form of a child tax credit. My wife and I are DINKS who pay a large part of our taxes to educate other people's children. I enthusiastically support top notch public education, and won't complain about paying taxes for services not personally used, but don't appreciate being left out of almost every basic stimulus package. In the future, when the world grows even more crowded, those who burden our systems least will perhaps be rewarded instead of penalized or overlooked. Cest la vie.
#44
Quark, He's a DLC Dem, says a lot more about his current situation than his previous leadership experience. His direction is to the center, which from where I'm sitting (and more than likely, everyone else here) that is to the Right.
I'm certainly not trying to apologize for Obama or insinuate that he's getting everything he wants done, done. As I see it he's ready to compromise, before he's even asked for anything... I don't see that as "Good Leadership", I see it as "Bad Leadership". Rather he ran a large company, or government office is not likely to have changed his personality. There are a lot of company leaders that are horrible leaders, yet still run the company for years.
I guess what I'm saying is this, a great General is nothing if his subordinates are incompetent, as well as a useless General can be considered great if his subordinates are on the ball. Whether Obama is a great leader or a useless one is not nearly as relevant as the subordinates he surrounds himself with, for ultimately it is these people that enact their leaders decrees.
#45
@ everyone
This is the smartest group. I spent the whole damn day praising one after another* who had written something informative, clever, insightful, or moving to the heart. Thanks
* with one exception..... (Y) Peace Gerald :-)
#46
DDay, thanks for the comment.
My wife and I greatly enjoy raising our son and do take advantage of the child tax credit. But I would not miss the credit if it was capped at two (replace yourself) or completely eliminated.
Thom made reference to JFK's tax reductions and I think we should eliminate all deductions and credits and go with a clean graduated tax system.
#47
By "clean", I mean ALL earnings. Back-breaking or butt-flattening.
#48
Quark just think if all our politicians thought like Paul Wellstone what a great world it would be.
Obama does not even know Negotiations 101. You ask for everything but you realize that there are some areas you want but you will not get everything you want. This is one reason why Obama is a loser.
He should have said that I want Medicare for everyone in starting the health care negotiations but he would settle for single payer option in the back of his mind. Obama lost in the beginning when his bar for health care was so low.
Do you now understand why I have my handy barf bucket near me all the time?
#49
DDay and Charles,
It would be nice if we COULD go with a fair, progressive, clean tax system. That will not happen in MY lifetime, however.
During the early years of our 33-year marriage, my husband and I put everything we had into a small business (which ultimately failed during the horrendous economy of the early to mid 80s.) The child tax credit was real help to us then.
#50
Gerald,
Think how much trouble Paul Wellstone would have been to the Repugs? That's why, in my dark heart, I think they killed him.
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@Gerald, yes Bush did, most people refer to his cajones as Dick Cheney though.