Republicans should be Dancing in the Streets
By louisehartmann
Republicans should be dancing in the streets. So says Democratic Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver after an 11th hour debt-limit deal was struck yesterday between President Obama and Congressional leaders to avoid our nation from defaulting. Unfortunately – once again – the President let right-wings take the American people hostage and then gave in to the hostage-takers. The deal – which still needs to be approved by lawmakers today – extends the debt-limit through the 2012 elections and calls for $1 trillion in spending cuts targeting mostly working families over the next decade – plus an addition $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction through revenue raisers and entitlement reforms to be determined by a six-member “Super Congress” comprised of Democrats and Republicans from both chambers of Congress.
If the Super Congress can’t agree to a deal – then automatically – $750 billion will be cut from both the Pentagon and from Medicare doctor reimbursements. But still – not one single penny from hedge fund managers – subsidized oil corporations – or subsidized corporate jets – will be contributed to deficit reduction. Also not in the deal – no stimulus measures to address the real crisis in America – jobs! In fact – economists estimate that the spending cuts will actually stifle economic growth – making our REAL CRISIS – a lack of jobs – even worse and almost guaranteeing a double-dip recession. There’s nothing balanced about this deal – Republicans essentially got everything they wanted – yet the Tea Party STILL will likely not vote for it. As Paul Krugman noted – the President surrendered. And President Obama will learn the hard way that the truly transformational presidents of the 20th century did not govern by compromise – they instead held their ground.
Once this deal goes through – President Obama will be viewed as even weaker than the Republican caricature of Jimmy Carter – and his presidency ruined.
Comments
#2
"As the head of Freedom House, a CIA-interlocked think-tank [1] that promotes free markets, free enterprise and free trade, Peter Ackerman has been at the forefront of efforts to topple foreign governments that place more emphasis on promoting the welfare of their citizens (and often their own bourgeoisie) than providing export and investment opportunities to US corporations, banks, and investors.
An ex-Wall Street investment banker who was once junk bond trader Michael Milken's right-hand man, Ackerman's speciality these days is regime change civil disobedience –training activists in the use of civil disobedience destabilization techniques to bring down foreign governments.
A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a Washington-Wall Street insiders' group that brings together corporate CEOs and lawyers, scholars, and government and military officials to recommend foreign policy positions to the US State Department, Ackerman also heads the International Center for Non-Violent Conflict (ICNC). Working in parallel with billionaire financier George Soros' Open Society Institute, the ICNC deploys civil disobedience specialists to teach "activists how to agitate for change against" governments on Washington's regime change hit list, "going everywhere from Eastern Europe to train Belarusians to Turkey to coach Iranians." [2]
Ackerman and other civil disobedience imperialists, like Stephen Zunes, a self-styled progressive who acts as chief apologist for Ackerman among leftists who have romantic illusions about popular uprisings, [3] give their efforts to topple foreign governments the deceptively reassuring name "democracy promotion." Democracy promotion, a Bush administration official once said, is a rubric to get people to support regime change without saying the words. [4] Zunes has also sprung to the defense of Gene Sharp, the head of the Albert Einstein Institution, who advised right-wing Venezuelans on how to use civil disobedience to overthrow Hugo Chavez. [5]"
http://www.trinicenter.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2024
#3
Emelle: I read it...have you read this?
http://michael-hudson.com/2011/07/debt-ceiling-for-progressive-repealing/
You know, I've met a lot of overly zealous religionists who tried to tell me that I wouldn't be an atheist if I would just read the bible. I had already read the bible and they retorted "well you just didn't read it the right way". I try to shy away from circular reasonings...it's like a dog chasing it's tail...the dog just gets worn out and goes nowhere...and what's the point?
I know that this guy behind that web site seems to be a good and meaningful guy...maybe he really is a progressive liberal...he sure seems to be. But I think that his argument still rings hollow in light of Obama's overall consistent performance showing us just how much of a non-progressive, non-liberal, non-Democrat he really is.
Tell me what you think of what Michael Hudson has to say. I'd believe Michael Hudson over this guy any day. This is not to say that he is not a great guy...but I don't think he is an economist as is Michael Hudson...or as is Krugman, or Robert Reich, or Richard D. Wolff .
He seems to be someone who supported Howard Dean in 1984...and still seems attached in some way..."deaniac"? But just how liberal or progressive was Howard Dean? Many thought he was really...well...like Obama....not really liberal or progressive at all...but maybe...Republican. Dean was born into a fairly wealthy family...silver spoon and all of that....a doctor....and many people thought he was just pretending to be liberal.
#4
Palindromedary: It's just a matter of time before the markets crash and it will be global! I've stopped all spending and plan on living off what I grow.
#5
Thank you to all the Democrats that voted NO, all of you are real patriots and obviously still believe in DEMOCRACY!
Between Murdoch's moron's, the Supreme Court, and the Koch-heads it was the most discreet Govt. overthrow in history, it's amazing most citizens are unaware that the terrorists are now in full control.
Why hasn't the President called out the military yet? Is he locked in a White House closet while the tea baggers loot.
#6
Yes Lynden Johnson compromised. There is a world of difference between compromise and capitulation. GWBush couldn't have given the Reps more than Mr. Obama has during his administration.
#7
Absolutely disgusting.I believe that this will be the proverbial last straw for many of Obama’s liberal leaning supporters. He lost me quite a while ago. This president has absolutely no fight in him. Absolutely disgusting. I would never vote republican, but I for one will not be working for him this year, or donating anything to his campaign. I instead will be giving to true progressive voices that will actually fight for us. I wish Bernie Sanders would wage a primary challenge. His message really needs a larger stage.
#8
LOL.. I replied to post 7 when I meant to reply to you lol.. I'm post 10 responding to post 6 but actually responded to post 7!!!!
#9
I just don't understand why we need a "committee" to do what congress (whose job it is) to do. It is rather aggravating and this is the type of wasteful spending that needs to stop.
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#10
Just don't get suckered into that Americans Elect trick to get frustrated voters to join their cause. It initially sounds good but I think it's a trick to get voters to vote against their best interests. Do a little research and look up who founded the organization (Peter Ackerman) and how he made his wealth, and what other organizations he is tied in with, and other people he associates with) and you might think twice about signing their petitions. I got suckered..so I admit I was a fool who didn't know what the heck I was signing..even though I scanned their literature...but most people don't even do that in a busy mall. Yes, I should have done this research before I signed the petition. That's why I am so ticked off about this. I believe they are not being totally honest and that they hope that people don't really look at who they are and look beyond the initial "sales hype". If Americans Elect ends up running a true progressive I'd be very, very surprised. But, I wouldn't be surprised if they run a conservative. A conservative will continue the same screwing of the people that they have been doing for the past 30 years.
#11
2950-10k: And the markets don't look so good today..the DOW under 12,000..(~11,850 which is down 250)...just a week or so ago it was up around 12,500...down about 750 points from a couple of weeks ago. But to hear those idiot talking heads on CNBC, who are always trying to sell "bull" one would think oh it's just a temporary hiccup..(what's the term they use...oh yes..."correction mode"...what freakonomics doublespeak...."we'll be back on tract shortly". Yeah, sure!!!
Oh, and they were trying to sell people the old idea of "being in it for the long term" (while the rich secretly rip off the suckers who do by being in it themselves for the short term)...I think they were talking about emerging markets....anyway..it's such dejavu kind of hype that people like Jim ("Don't sell Bear Stearns") Cramer will make. Currently he is yelling "Don't sell" again. Yeah, right!!!
#12
Palindromedary: With the absence of any real SEC oversight collusive timing associated with day trading is rampant. The real losers are working class 401k holders. Switch to gold or silver or better yet low risk IRA's at your local credit union. Get out now before unemployment takes off like a rocket again, which thanks to the republicans is about to happen. The media manufactures market hype with any old crap story which promotes volatility, which helps day traders siphon off profits. The stock market is quite corrupt and a bad choice for any honest hard working citizen.
#13
I will NEVER vote for Obomber again!
#14
My business partner once said to me: "If you always agree with me, then there's only need for one of us!" How true! (I couldn't work that one with my wife, however.)
So...by logic, we should just go ahead and disolve the democratic party. It obvious they can't offer anything different in power and policy than that of the Republican/Tea Party. So why is there a need for it? Let's get rid of it entirely, save the stress, and call it a day. The D party can't seem to counter the R party and there's no indication that it will.
My point is: If we can't counter them, we're useless and a waste of effort, time and money. It's time for action! I'm done following, I'm done trying to get out of the way. It's time to lead.
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Flyguy: People should check out for themselves just who is behind Americans Elect 2012!!! Peter Ackerman, who got very wealthy on CDOs, who sits on a right-wing think tank panel that want's to privatize social security, who co-chairs an organization that sounds liberal-progressive but which is anything but. And has been accused of trying to overthrow other governments by internal subversive means...like the Hugo Chavez government of Venezuela..and others. Look into the people he associates with like Jack Duvall and his company Arlington Institute and all of the military and other right-wing organizations that they do business with. Subversively overthrowing other governments...it is not too far fetched that they are doing the same here in the US. Before you sign those petitions that Americans Elect has out in all those shopping malls you should look into just who Americans Elect is. Don't be fooled by the psycho babble they give you in their literature. They say that they are not aligned to any particular political affiliation but tend to sound like they are going to represent "the people" against the entrenched political system of Democrats and Republicans. They won't tell you who they will run...they say that they will take an internet poll later on to determine who is to be selected. But you are trusting them to run someone who is fairly chosen...can you trust them? Again, look who founded Americans Elect ...Peter Ackerman (his son now runs it).