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I Want My Money Back! (Pres. Obama!)
I want my money back.
I gave $20 a week for seven months, plus $60 every once in a while for a t-shirt and sticker. I gave of my modest purse joyfully. Once I add that all up, it makes a grand total of... $106 billion?! Wait a minute, I thought I was supporting change I could believe in, not more of the same bloodshed and war!
Betrayal is a part of life. After awhile, you just come to expect it. Yet, the initial shock always hits you as a surprise. Alas, the nature of betrayal. Humans are vulnerable to being betrayed because underneath our husky shells, our pain and hardened hearts, we are soft and trustful creatures. We want to believe in people.
I'm not that young, so I possess some cynicism. But I'm not that old either, so I manage some idealism. Sure, I am used to being betrayed by my government. But I thought my days of calling the White House in tears were over. To think that Barack Obama preyed on this naive hope in me and millions like me is unforgivable.
I expect the Republicans to throw money at the Military Industrial Complex. Yet, from the Democrats, I was promised a different direction (like OUT of the Middle East). Regrettably, there has been miniscule change. There is still nothing to believe in.
It is against my religion to say the Pledge of Allegiance. (I am a Christian so I pledge allegiance only to God.) I did, however, pledge my time and treasure to Barack Obama. On November 4, 2008, I danced in the streets waving the American Flag, feeling proud to be an American. I was pathetically close to bustin' out some Toby Keith ditties.
It's not just the $106 billion that makes me feel betrayed. It's not just the fact that Gitmo probably won't be shut down after all. It is not even the president's assurance to Republicans that he will not release the photos of detainee abuse.
It is the rumors of intimidation and strong-arming that are, to me, the greatest betrayal.
That President Barack Obama sent Rahm Emanuel and Nancy Pelosi to bully anti-war Democrats into voting for the supplemental (and threatening to withdraw the leadership's support for their re-elections if they didn't) is a shameful misuse of power. Where's the humanity I once saw in Barack? It's just more of the same and I can't stomach it.
I knew I was naïve; yet like millions of Americans, I had no choice but to believe. Our hearts were desperate for hope. We saw Barack Obama as an oasis in the desert. To think that he may be just a mirage is heartbreaking.When you have a minute, give Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold a call at (202) 224-5323. He was the only Democrat in the Senate to vote against the war funding (along with three Republicans and an Independent).
Oh, and please consider supporting my grassroots campaign to get my $680 back so I can donate it to the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center. Thanks.
Comments
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240 Comments so far
Show AllThe change we were told to believe in turns out to be a change for the worse. The appointment of Rahm Immanuel was the first clue for me. Since then there have been few surprises. The problem goes much deeper than Obama, however it would have been nice had he risen above being two-faced sell-out liar. America, it seems quite apparent, is on a rapid, irreversible trip to hell. Hold on. It's not just your money thats gone missing Marie. It's our grandparents, ours, our kids and their kids money, their dreams and any hope for a future. Our very country has been stolen. The only sensible, legal remedies for treason are not allowed to be talked about.
For me, it was FISA.
As for those who say he's doing it to oust the Republicans, Howard Dean formed the strategy that worked, and Rahm opposed the winning strategy. Results? Dean leaves, Rahm rules.
Marie:
If you are disappointed with Obomber's foreign policy, just wait until he and Congress pass the NO INSURANCE COMPANY LEFT BEHIND "health care reform" that will end up costing you and I more than ever for less health care than we are getting now.
Your junior Senator (Maria Cantwell D-WA)has gone one step further than Obama in advising her constituents (NPR Station KUOW, 6/22/09) that single-payer and a public option are DOA and the best we can hope for are regional co-ops (which are more of the same).
FREE AMERICA
REVOLUTIONARY (DIRECT) DEMOCRACY
Nanoo
Marie, by all means you should write Obama and request your money be returned as you are disappointed with the product. From what I've read, Obama has all kinds of money left over.
Most pols won't even consider it unless it a large sum in the tens of thousands or higher. Obama and most pols have a knack of taking the money and churning it with the monied elites.
Why should she ask for a refund? She knew what she was doing when she contributed and she deserves to be punished just like the rest of those who donated to Obama's campaign. Those who donated to Obama have no reason to be forgiven. They voted to continue the war machine.
"They voted to continue the war machine."
The article makes it very clear that that author did NOT vote to do so.
q
"The article makes it very clear that that author did NOT vote to do so."
Oh sure, anyone can offer a fake apology but Obama never promised an end to the war machine but she still fell for all his hope bs. Obama even made a lot of talk about keeping the occupation in Iraq ongoing and even bombing Pakistan and Afghanistan and yet she still gave money to that criminal scumbag. She may have wished that he hadn't chosen that path but she voted for him and gave him money to his team to crack down on progressive dissent. She helped Obama further rob us so she ain't gettin' back no stinkin' refund. I voted for Nader and I'm mad as hell at these apologists suddenly pretending to be sorry. How the hell can any of us be so sure that she really means it? Let's say she gets her money back, then what? She'll donate it to Obama again in 2012 because the GOP puts up Sarah Palin and then in 2013 she'll beg again if Obama wins and keeps betraying the country. If she doesn't get her money back, she'll learn her lesson the HARD way and not give to that criminal scumbag next time and the same thing goes to the millions who donated even when Obama clearly stated his criminal intentions !
Ah!And with a heart like that you expect to get people to your cause?If all of your fellow voters are so elite and true then you are no better because you expect folowers and not the different peoples.So what do you end up with?Tony
I voted for Nader and I'm damn proud of it. You voted for Obama? If so, how do you like it now? A "nice" raw deal, ain't it? I'm fed up with party apologists.
I apologize for nothing to you or anyone else for my vote.Tony
Shameless.
Frederick Johnson you may be right, but you are too harsh. Haven't you made a mistake before? I am so glad people are starting to realize they got hoodwinked. That's progress. Some posting on CD are still under the influence of the kool-aid and are accusing us of not giving O'bomber enough time. I am celebrating these articles.
The liberals at The Nation, on the other hand, have not, to my knowledge, recanted their vote for the Bomber. They are the types that are likely to write articles as we approach 2012 calling for us to support the Democrats with lesserevilistic arguments, because the dreaded Republicans are coming.
Even as cynical as I am, I wouldn't be so sure Marie Marchand will support the Bomber again. The Nation yes.
I've made mistakes before but I learned from them and I don't repeat them. In Marie's case, I would have checked month to month to see how whoever I was contributing to was doing. Obama was getting worse month to month and she could have at least checked on that. I am frustrated that thanks to her, we're all gonna get poorer with Obama continuing Bush's wars and economic policies. But alright, I'll see what she does by 2012. I'm just fed up with the party apologists from both sides. If she had gotten back her money while others didn't, I don't know what article she would have written by now.
Look, I hear you. You are preaching to the choir. I am just saying better late than never.
I'm tired of the "I made a mistake" whining.
After promising to vote against FISA, Obama voted for it.
FISA!!
After that there were no "mistakes".
Oregoncharles
Good post! Constant recriminations are not effective?
Oregoncharles
yes, you are better than they are. Is this what you want to hear. Are you satisfied now?
These recriminations are not helpful and they serve no purpose. It's ok to discuss why people voted for Obama and a plan for next time. They don't need insults on a daily basis! It's unproductive.
Right. "I voted for a pro-war candidate to oppose the war machine."
Other than your wish, who had the votes to stop the War Machine? Not the talk, but had the votes to stop the funding of the MIC?
Nader, Mckinney and all the rest didn't and did not even say they could.
I understand your frustration but what your blame game does is counter productive to the goal of a better united Peace and Justice movement. And it may be unhealthy for you to carry such a grudge.
You ask "Why should she ask for a refund"?
Because it is her right just as it is for you to vote your wish.
To stop the War Machine we need to unite or else we are foolin ourselves.
Ok, so she can beg for a refund but the fool ain't gonna get it and doubly so for being a DPA. She must be made to learn her lesson. I rest my case.
maybe we can overlook the arrogance and ignorance that got us where we are. our controllers use every divide strategy in the book to keep us from forming an effective opposition party. if people are waking up to the betrayal, that is good. this is class warfare of the worst kind. you are either with the federal reserve/derivatives crew (none of which has been regulated or banned yet) or you are with the american people. we're $17trillion in the hole since October of last year, and that is nothing compared to the 1.5 quadrillion of derivatives the bankers expect the american and british commonwealth taxpayers to pick up the tab on. we need grand juries and convictions for fraud. audit the fed: HR 1207 -- call your senators and congress people. goldman sachs is manipulating oil futures markets again, betting the prices up like they did last fall, while they sit on a dozen supertankers full of crude, waiting to cash in. all these futures trading have no tax or transaction fee, yet incur real damage to non-insiders like the american people. bernanke during congressional testimony last week said that the dollar would collapse and we would enter a depression if the fed is audited. ask yourself who is the real terrorist?
HR 1207 to reign in the fed? Sounds great. I doubt that my three Republicans out here in SC will take it seriously but I think there's a chance they'll vote yes on it. I'll give it a read. Thank you.
Frederick Johnson June 28th, 2009 3:51 pm :
you can find out more here:
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/campaigns/auditthefed.php
http://endthefedusa.ning.com/group/repealthefedpetitionproject
http://www.infowars.com/fed-to-hire-pr-wizard-to-fight-against-hr-1207/
yes, there are some "right" of center points of view expressed occasionally in the above; but i think we need to find common interests and fight collectively for those. reclaiming the US money supply from jp morgan/bank of england/rockefeller is a good place to start.
Great post, Treebeard.
It could be the media and then the individuals themselves. Like the author, I am noticing a similar pattern with what little we have of the progressive media. During election year, most of the progressive sites on the Internet play go-along get-along with the media and do not offer real progressives such as Nader, Mckinney, Kucinich, Sheehan, etc ... a voice. When I looked back at the archives, on most progressive/liberal sites, I noticed that there was very little mention of Kucinich in the primaries and same of Nader/Mckinney in the general election. So if we're to build a progressive/liberal media, why do these younger alternative media outlets on the Internet keep giving high preference to Dubya-lites such as Hillary and Barry?
I would at the same time like to ask this author if she had even given Kucinich, Nader, and Mckinney a look at all through the primaries or general election despite bad media showings. If all Marie is worried about is money, then why didn't she actually take even a few minutes to look up Obama's actual voting record in the Senate? Except for one war spending bill, he's pretty much voted yes to more war funding. In fact, often times on the corporate media, during his Senate tenure he always attacked anti-war rallies and people against continuing the war. Even throughout his entire campaign trail, Obama made his intentions crystal clear and even the rightwing media started questioning his flip-flopping to the right on almost every issue.
I don't know what made me immune to Obama's pixy dust but I'm finding out and so far I have a blurry understanding of his seductive nature. He'll no doubt get tougher by 2012 about it. However, I would like to see the author apologize for not giving Kucinich, Nader, and Mckinney a chance.
Oregoncharles
"I don't know what made me immune to Obama's pixy dust.."
I have an inkling: You're a bit of a loner, you see through the surface of things, have very high ideals and expectations, you can see through fakery, you're smart, maybe a little quirky, and very discerning. this is the personality of a political organizer. This is your calling Jennifer.
"You're a bit of a loner"
I wouldn't say that completely. It can almost feel that way though when thinking entirely different from the supposed norm. I will admit that I'm working on overcoming that lingering feeling and trying to mix confidence and happiness with success and courage.
As for having high expectations and ideals, I don't know. I didn't know that asking for the simple basics similar to Nader meant asking for so much. As for being a political organizer, I feel tickled on that one. I always look at the issues in a non-political sense. Since I'm no fan of big money, I don't know that I could do it.
I likewise was immune to as you so cutely expressed, "Obama's pixie dust". I became dead-set against him years earlier - the moment he finished his rather right wing, pro-war, keynote speech at the 2004 DNC.
I continue to be stupefied how so many people, who should have known better, couldn't hear or see Obama's obvious conservative, and capitulation-to-conservative viewpoints. Of course, the standard reply was he was just putting on an act and would become a genuine progressive the second the polls close. So I would ask, "So, are you telling me I should vote for a candidate who is deceiving the public? Isn't this only going to work if it's kept secret? Where did YOU get this secret information that Obama is just faking being a conservative?
Lewis Carroll couldn't have thought this stuff up.
The excellent analysis of Paul Street on Znet also helped me see through the crap.
But I think the biggest key is television. It is well known from research that critical thinking decreases precipitously with TV viewership. Obama's campaign was primarily a tried and true TV advertising campaign that is specifically engineered to turn the emotions on and the brains logic centers off.
I, too, had hope that he would live-up to our expectations. Although I am disappointed, I am not surprised. He never really made any commitments. Just a lot of lofty rhetoric. I despise him as much as I despise Bush. At least Bush was predictable from the get-go. Obama played us for suckers. I had my first inkling that something was amiss when he took the train from Philadelphia to Washington. That was pretentious. When he assembled his cabinet, I knew for certain that he was just another clown. I will not be fooled again! I will never vote for another mainstream candidate.
Blackagendareport.com pegged him as a phony from the start. I dismissed it as just more sour grapes. Glen Ford and Margaret Kimberly knew what they were talking about.
I forgive you. The sad truth is most of us get seduced by what looks appealing. It's like getting tempted into eating junk food and writing off good food but it's probably that the monied media will use their capital to seduce and manipulate, something non-monied folks like Ford and Kimberly could neither afford to do nor even consider doing. Society has been awash in worshipping Mammon in all sorts of ways and that has to be reversed.
After FISA, there were no more excuses. If you voted for him after that, you're a closet moderate right-winger.
If you had actually read her posts, you would have realized that she voted for Nader thrice. She does have a right to forgive especially if those people are ready to look towards a new party. How do you expect more people to vote for 3rd parties if you keep being completely rude about it?
odoco
Carla - thank you for your fairmindedness. Badmouthing and alienating those that should be our political cohorts serves no effective, practical purpose. Our position should be to persuade, inform, educate, so that a viable, true and people-oriented political grouping can take form.
Name calling and derogatory comments that serve only to demean actually lessen our force as a political entity.
If you folks want to get nasty - fine - but point your abuse toward those that now control the system, not toward folks who potentially could become the groundwork of a new movement.
Carlawaters and odoco, thank you for setting the record straight and trying to put some sanity here. Some people can tick me off so much and even end up raising my blood pressure. I'm happy to have come here and learn and even help some. Interestingly, I find myself less unhappy the less angry I am about who voted for whom. As long as they are ready to admit their mistakes and will join us in helping and healing our wounds and scars, I welcome them with an open heart and mind.
By the way odoco, I admire your name. How did you come up with that name?
I wasn't trying to insult you. I was trying to describe you.
But OK, take your shot.
After Obama promised to vote against FISA and then voted for it, why did you continue? Otherwise, my description stands.
DON'T TREAD ON ME~
Won't get fooled again, huh?
I didn't have any money to give the dumb-ass (not that I would've) because they already took it all, thanks to Reagan.
He's not my boss (new or old), he's my persecutor and torturer-in-chief.
Just the latest in a long line.
FUCKERS.
You got that right brother ! Anyone who gives money to traitors deserves more karma. God will continue to punish this country until she finishes bleeding to death as long as we're stuck with party apologists in both parties !
Last week I left a request at whitehouse.gov for a refund of $25 for a contribution I made last October since I was the victim of a bait-and-switch scam.
Six months in, and the alarm bells are going off, a collective wake up call is growing exponentially, and yes, we are finally realizing what we created; or should I say what we asked for?
Wait a minute, actually I voted for McKinney. I am old enough to respect my cynicism. A starry eyed dreamer, I am not. Cynicism is another word for realism. And politics is the best way to catch the virus.
How many times does it take to be fooled again?
Wait a frigging minute: there must be a tune by the Rock group, Who, that goes something like, "We Won't Get Fooled Again, Meet the New Boss, Same as The Old Boss" or something like that.
Yes, I am sure my cynicism is perpetuated by cynical people - elected people - who suck our blood like parasites. They bleed our collective bodies dry.
It is pretty clear that politicians are the dregs of the world and those who seek public office see it as a path for personal wealth, power, prestige, and a means to personal security. Wonder if inside their smoke filled rooms they are having one of the best belly laughs at our expense?
They don't say it in public or at cocktail parties, but it must give them a glow as they stuff their pockets with corporate cash. They probably go to bed at night laughing themselves sick.
As I write these words, I just have the urge to punch Nancy Pelosi phony looking and plastered smile down her throat, and kick Obama's skinny ass at basketball.
What a crybaby. You got a Kindler, Gentler Puppet. That's not enough for you?
Presidential actors aren't cheap you know.
McCtain or Hillary would have given us the same agenda but with less candy talk.
The horrors of the Bush administration guaranteed a Democrat would get into office and like Iran whose Mullahs control which candidates run, we are only given two choices.
PS, by the time you would get your refund it would be worthless anyway.
Excellent one mokanco. No refunds for funding criminal scumbags.
Obama raised most of his money by means of small donations from millions of people like you and me. I am old enough to realize that third party, single cause candidates have historically only served to split the opposition vote, effectively helping the very people they oppose. So I will not support the candidacy of a Nader or Kucinich. But I want all the Democrats to know that next go round I will not contribute one penny to their cause unless two things happen before November of 2010: 1. we see the beginning of the end of a US military presence in the Muslim world; 2. we have a single payer health care option for everyone signed into law.
Those in Congress are old enough to know that campaign contributions from the people with deep pockets are not without strings and always given as well to the other side to insure the bet. They need those of us who give a little but don't play both sides. When I give $50, or $100, I also cast my vote. Big Oil or Pharma or Defense will stroke you with money and vote for the other guy. If you don't get my money, you won't get my vote either.
odoco
ppeters: I understand your position, I exhibited same for all my life - until now. What I came to understand, with Jennifer's help, among others, is that voting for one or the other in the duopoly is not really a choice - that is simply now a fact. By voting 3rd party you are actually telling the system that you will not play their game anymore - and when enough people actually do that, then the duopoly, just as they have done in select locations and times in the past - will have to resort to the outright rigging of elections, increased intimidation at the polls, using the military to quiet dissent, etc. Then, we will have come full circle - and I believe that is exactly where we are headed.
Voting your conscience ppeters is not wasting your vote - it is preserving your integrity as a citizen in a democracy.
Odoco:
I must disagree with you. I have no problem with people voting their conscience, but to consider a third party candidate who polls in the less than 15% range a reasonable choice does not send a message of any kind. Consider the effect of Jack Anderson, Ross Perot, Ralph Nader. In each case they had absolutely no effect on the direction of the country and drew off enough progressive votes to award the victory to the candidate that was the tool of large corporate interests. I predict that the GOP strategy in the next election and in the 2012 elections will be to secretly back "independents" in congressional districts that are heavily GOP. By so doing they allow people to "vote their conscience" because these same people would never consider voting for a democrat. The result--the combination of independents and GOP is enough to deny a non-GOP victory.
Change won't come from outside the system. And it will only come from inside the system when the little donors (of money and times) say "no more".
The nature of politics is that you often have to hold your nose and chose between two evils. To throw your vote away is to duck your responsibility.
This is a self fulfilling prophecy that is trying to pass as reasonable thinking.
-- Obama raised most of his money by means of small donations --
From cfinst.org - "Obama also raised 80% more from large donors than small..."
Maria: I share your disappointment in President Obama although my first preference was for Dennis Kucinich. I knew Dennis was for real and the depth of his true compassion and spirituality mirrored my own inner feelings.
The radical left must now finally recognize reality, the powers that be within this rotten capitalistic system will never allow for the election of a true reformer.
It can only be taken from these capitalists in the streets.
There has to be at least 5% of us that are willing to take to the streets, and to be truly peaceful and non-violent. These numbers would be more than enough to bring about radical social change. The election of Obama has proved that this is the only way. The big unanswered question is, how do we get it going?
I would like to share with CD posters today's Reflections by Franciscan Father Richard Rohr:
FREEDOM
The primal freedom is the freedom to be our True Self—the freedom to live in the whole truth of the moment—attractive and unattractive. This takes far more courage than we might imagine.
Great religion offers us, not just freedom from our small illusion (often called “sin”) but freedom for the Big Picture. That’s why the saints could be imprisoned and not lose their spirit. They could be put down and persecuted like Jesus and still not lose their joy, their heart, or their perspective. Their freedom came from within. Our freedom from finally and eventually becomes our freedom for. We must always seek the positive and full meaning of freedom, which nation states know little about.
Secular freedom is having to do what we want to do. Religious freedom is wanting to do what we have to do.