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TechnoratiI 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.
240 Comments so far
Show AllOur Democrats have a problem. They now have control and don’t want it. They’d much prefer that Republicans block progress, because doing what is right is now entirely up to them, and it will upset their funders (the insurance industry). HR676 is the best answer to health care reform, but the industry will hate it.
But if the dems don’t get it right it is their problem and they’ll answer for it in 2010.
Tough position, eh Dems?
Even with Franken the Dems are as corrupt as the Republicans. There is now zero reason for them to roll over to the insurance industry, except for the $46 million they gave in campaign contributions.
Health care should be a part of our infrastructure, like fire and police and military. But that's the last thing in the world the for-profit insurers want. And they will win this just as they did in 1993.
--
Jack Lohman
http://MoneyedPoliticians.net
http://SinglePayer.info
there is a difference
healthcare is crippling the other multinational businesses
but health care should be part of our infrastructure, definitely
It seems that neither party can accomplish jackshit while it's in power, and both parties are rather pathetic opposition parties as well. Tough nut to crack.
OK this writer is a typical Democratic Party member. So sad. She thought the Democrats would not continue to feed and expand the Military-Industrial Complex? Oh sure, but they actually invented it! And Obama PROMISED during the campaign that he would expand funding to the military. And President Clinton EXPANDED military spending and funded genocide in Columbia supporting para military massacres of villagers (Plan Columbia), and in Peru (Clinton was a big pal with "anti-terrorist" dictator Fugimoro) . And Noble Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter EXPANDED military spending and funded genocide in El Salvador supporting para military massacres of villagers. And so forth and so on. All this is exactly what this person voted for. Shame on her for supporting the Democratic Party.
WE TOLD YOU SO!
I can't sympathize with anyone here who voted for Barack Hussein Obama. I was a lifelong democrat, but that ended May 31, 2008. I did not vote for Obama, I campaigned against him, I knew the man is corrupt to the bone. I was called racist, lowlife - yeah being called by white folks as racist and lowlife when I'm colored that surely makes me feel good.
A lot of you voted for Obama, banking on hope and change, you've got the hope and change you're dreaming of; you're now HOPELESS and you barely have CHANGE left in your pocket.
WE, who use plain old COMMON SENSE did NOT vote for your Messiah or hope and change, but you took us along with you.
Marie, you can ONLY hope Obama will return your money, but I doubt that very much - the man don't have an ounce of honor in his bones. AT LEAST Hillary Clinton return donation to her campaign if donors asked for it.
Difference between Hillary Clinton and Obama is this; Hillary Clinton is an honorable person, Obama is a THIEF!
Rather than funding Common Dreams through private donations, I think we should consider market based solutions.
I. Whining Offsets:
A. Members wishing to complain that a national politician is not left enough on an issue should contribute 1 dollar per post.
B. Members wishing to complain that a national politician is no where near as pure or magical as their preferred candidate should contribute 3 dollars a post.
C. Members criticizing the 2 party du-opoly should contribute $1.50
D. Members writing a "I was naive but now I am wise" genre--5 bucks
E. Members writing "You're all naive, but I am wise"--25 dollars
F. Members who shed their political allegiance to progressive politics because a national candidate doesn't do as they wish- 50
II. Cap and Trade
A total of 50 whining licenses will be posted daily, offering graduated opportunities to complain.
25 general complaints about a national politician being too cautious/right
15 complaints that suggest another politician is more righteous
5 complaints using the phrase "When will .... wake up"?
5 wildcards, offering unlimited opportunities to cry a river and howl at the moon.
Every day at 2 eastern, the complaint licenses will be offered in a Dutch auction.
This will almost certainly reduce unnecessary and harmful emissions and blowhard effects.
Awesome :-)
Marie my sweet, I too was a dumb brain for having voted for Obama on the last minute. I was hell bent on voting for Nader and my wife and I even contributed to his campaign. He did return some of the contributions closer to election time and with too many more giving it up on supporting Nader, I thought oh screw it, I'll just vote very reluctantly once more. Like you, I feel gunged by Obama and his wrecking crew with egg all over myself. Refunds? There's no refunds in politics unless it's a serious enough scandel. Sorry.
Not only did he betray your vote, he stole the election by
-using chicago-style thug scare tactics to manipulate the DNC into carrying him over the finish line
-manipulating hate to whip his bloggers and the media into a misogynistic hate frenzy against Hillary Clinton
so, you been double-done-wrong. You followed the hater, excusing yourself because you NEEDED A CHANGE.
unfortunately those of us who saw this train wreck a mile away are now also caught in the wreckage caused by the Great Hopium Crash of 2009.
I'd offer some condolences for your loss, but WE TOLD YOU SO.
koolaidHANGOVER writes: ...the Great Hopium Crash of 2009.
That is a good one. And you will have more opportunities to come up with witty statements as Obama continues to sell out the American public.
Hope is the opiate of the masses.
yes mitt romney who closes factories and sends jobs to china, he must be our friend
and lets trash obama, before he gets anything done because, in fact he might get something done for the people and we can't have that
tell me revjimmyjoegheater
you said, "What did you think was going to happen?"
what really is happening revjimmyjoegheater??
I doubt obama is really raping and sodomizing and toss all his supporters in dumpsters behind old country buffet......... so what really is happening??
Yes, another Obot finally sees the light.
As a registered Dem for 40 years, when the Dem leadership took votes AWAY from Hillary and gave them to Obama - I could no longer be part of the Dems charade - and registered Repub.
Obama condoned his "winning" the primary via corruption. That's who he is.
dear josey j
wow "Obot"
thats is such a nice new name to ridicule people with, did you think of it yourself??....you must be so talented
and you "registered repub." why was that, are you biting off your nose to spite your face
and of you must be right, obama is just some one who wins by corruption
that all he is
why could be we not see it, thank you so much for enlightening us
you must be an amazing person, and so superior to obama you are
why can't we have you as president, I am sure you would have solved ALL the worlds problems by now
Take a deep breath and think this through, Marie. Obama can't flush away 50 years of Washington corruption with a snap of his fingers. He has to go after the hydra one head at a time. Right now, he's working on re-inflating the economy, saving the planet from global warming, and national health care.
Just have a look around to see what kind of firestorm is raging around these changes. A very high percentage of people in the country are nodding in agreement with Limbaugh, Fox news, etc. An equally high percentage of congress persons are bought and paid for by energy and pharmaceutical multi-nationals.
He told us he was NOT going to dismantle the military-industrial complex, and he isn't. So, at least he's more-or-less truthful. He told us he was going to reform health care. That's a change we really need. And that appears to be happening.
Meanwhile, Marie Marchand, there's a change that YOU can make: If you want to end the US wars of empire, stop complaining about Obama and get busy. Maybe the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center needs phone volunteers.
If anyone was fooled in the last election, it was by their own naivety in thinking one man could change an entire system of corrupt politics.
Is he doing things many of us disagree with? Of course he is. Is he attempting to do things that were completely ignored by the last few administrations? Yes, he is.
Perhaps we were all naive in thinking that any newly elected President wouldn't get in office and find things were much more difficult and there was many more gray areas than he or she first thought. Perhaps we were all naive in thinking that a majority Democratic Congress wouldn't still consider their own best interests, careers, and fundraising abilities before they rubber stamp any of his policies. Many of us, or at least me, knew that the economic mess wouldn't be easy to clean up and no one, including me, you, Obama or any of his advisors, knew exactly what to do about it.
Am I disappointed in some of the things he is doing? Absolutely. I would like all of his campaign promises to be accomplished in the snap of his fingers and I would like to see every single campaign promise upheld. But I am not naive enough to believe that is going to happen, no matter who is in office. He will no doubt do many things I don't like, but hopefully, given enough time--we do elect our Presidents to work for us for 4 years, you know--he will do things I do like as well.
I think for any of us to so readily wave the right flag in surrender to negativity about his presidency shows our lack of commitment just as much as it shows his.
"If anyone was fooled in the last election, it was by their own naivety in thinking one man could change an entire system of corrupt politics."
If that's the case, then anyone who believed Nader could change the system if elected is similarly naive, right?
Obama is a complete corporate sellout. He will betray every promise about "end of old style politics as usual serving the corporate interests" bla bla bla.
He'll "reach across the aisle" as long as his palm comes back greased appropriately.
Saving the planet? Cap n Trade is just another opportunity for Wall Street to rape and pillage another bubble! Obama's health care bill will only drag our economy down. He should be pushing a single payer system, the only change that will really bring reform. He won't because he's in bed with the insurance companies, for power, gain, his career. He don't give a darn about governing or improving things for the peeps.
Saw this a mile away, but y'all were bamboozled. Many still ARE, apparently.
Hilarious send-up of an Obamapologist clown.
dear wanderer
another new name... how wonderful you are at making up names to ridicule people
you are a real "name caller" aren't you
lets not have any discussion on these pages that that is intelligent
lets just make up names, ridicule people, show them how superior in fact you are!!!!
did it ever occur to you that it is that kind of mindset that creates wars??
but i bet you see yourself as "antiwar" don't you
My over-reaction, for which I wish I could edit out, was in response to the idea that Obama didn't promise anything.
Yes he did, he promised in generalities and took away in details.
You have a point, and I apologize. The response was written in haste.
Thank you for bringing that up.
Now... would you clarify your last statement?
Obama campaigned for Leiberman and against the anti-war candidate Ned Lamont.
I think her feelings of betrayal are legit. He helped the banks, not the working people in crisis. Libraries are closing in Ohio; Community Colleges closing in California; he can't help those institutions by infusing them with some quick cash??
He bailed out the banks and insurance companies and tries to sell us the deeply flawed economics that the US economy is recovering, when it's not. Is this Reagan era "trickle down" economics? Feels that way to me.
Obama is the ulitmate Repulicrat. He has dashed the hopes of Millions in Americans by not following through on several issues. Half baked Climate bills and Health Care bills are not Real Change. He owes everyone an explanation.
Watch when he runs for re-Election, he'll ditch Biden and pick up Lieberman, who Obama called "his mentor" at a Lieberman fundraiser.
To the Nader / 3rd pty. candidate bashers:
VOTE FOR THE USUAL CANDIDATES/PARTIES, AND YOU GET THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT YOU DESERVE.
"Nader will NEVER win an election," etc, etc, etc. If you don't want Nader to win, don't vote for him, vote for the usual candidates/parties and get the kind of government you deserve.
I WANTED Nader to win, so I voted FOR him.
But all "we" got was the kind of government "we" deserve because the lefties and the mainstream enviros didn't want Nader (or any one of the other 3rd pty. candidates) to win.
We got the government Obysmalites deserved.
And now we have to put up with they're whining "I was fooled" followed by "Why are you saying mean things to me now?" followed by "Don't vote for the alternatives" abuse.
If it will shut you up, I give you your money back. You need it to buy a brain.
What did you think? That everyone would roll over and let him follow though. You aren't keeping your end of the deal. Get busy and get the ones that are blocking things out of the way.
Rethugs and blue dogs.
30 years of destruction can't be fixed in 5 months especially if all you whiners can do is complain. Do something to help. otherwise, STFU!
I seriously disagree with the previous writer. STFU is anyway not really respectable language so he must first learn to get some manners and behave in a civilised manner in a civilized forum.
To Marie: I think this is a great way of putting pressure on politicians. Keep going ahead with it and don't let anyone discourage you ! I hope there is many people who will join your efforts and that your grassroots movement will grow into a mass movement !
The problem is that politicians in an intrinsically corrupt system like the U.S. take their mandate more from their 'funding sources' than from their 'votes'. The sort of grassroots / internet campaigning that was started by Howard Dean showed that by a lot of small donations you can still beat the large corporate sponsors, but in a real democratic system it should not be necessary for ordinary citizens to have to pay to make their vote count (only to discover that it did not count).
You must hit the politicians where it hurts. The problem is of course that it might drive Obama back in the arms of his corporate sponsors, and he will be more seriosuly exposed as another corporatist lackey but a campaign like this will be able to draw attention to the most serious deficiency of American democracy: the absense of public funding for elections and the fact that corporations can just bribe any politician into obedience.
Don't fight against Obama, because this is really not about him; fight FOR democracy !
Oh, we are doing something all right.
We are planning a nice welcoming for Obama and all his world-of-high-finance buddies this September 24 and 25 at the G20 in Pittsburgh.
Come on out!
What's this silliness about having no choice but to believe? I didn't vote for Obama because I took what he said during the campaign at face value. He's pretty much behaving the way he led me to believe he would. You believed only because you wished to do so. Not because of anything Obama said or did.
Obama and his followers were in a willful dance of a liar and his enablers.
I voted for the man because the alternative was, and is, unthinkable, and because the third party was a brave but doomed effort. It is my daughter I grieve for. She voted for the first time, having just turned 18, and feels terribly betrayed and tells me that probably won't vote again for a long while.
And I always thought that conflating hope as being audacious was plain dumb. It is not hope that defines audacity, but the very act of acting on something that requires risk.
And I didn't have to go to Harvard to learn the obvious.
"I always thought that conflating hope as being audacious was plain dumb. It is not hope that defines audacity, but the very act of acting on something that requires risk."
Well said viejolex1. I'm sure you'll find a way to re-engage your daughter.
"She voted for the first time, having just turned 18, and feels terribly betrayed and tells me that probably won't vote again for a long while."
That means that them Washington thugs have her exactly where they want her. Talk to your daughter again and tell that there always is a choice: Democrats and Republicans are not the only ones that you can choose (Well, in any case, you would have to be insane to vote Republican in ANY election).
Sorry, but you saw what you were looking for and not what was actually out there.
What was actually out there, and it was glaringly obvious, is another water carrier for big money/business and a war-monger.
Many people saw through his bull-shitting and warned the people, but to be invariably and vehmently shouted down, even those who saw it coming voted for him as the lesser of two evils which is futile becasue they really voted for the evil of the two lessers.
And we had a choice, there was Nader and Mckinny.
Continuing to vote Rupublican or Democrat is futile. Both parties are beholden to big Money/business and war-mongering.
It is time for a third party.
Marie.....I am sorry that you believed in a man who only made anti-war statements BEFORE he won the Democratic primary. Not ONE SINGLE TIME AFTER THE PRIMARY did Obama mention pulling ALL OUR TROOPS out of Iraq/Afghanistan (in fact he said he would keep a minimum of 50,000 troops there and never said he would close the 14 permanent US military bases we have been constructing in that region). I am sorry that MILLIONS of good-hearted progressives and somewhat leftists voted for Obama instead of either Nader or Cynthia McKinney who both vowed to end our involvement in both countries and would have ended the Israeli occupation and annhialation of Palestine.
Sorry that you and millions of good-hearted Americans believed falsely that Obama was ANY DIFFERENT than either of the Clinton's when it comes to our nasty, oppressive trade agreements. In fact, Obama made sure that the Canadian govt. know that NOTHING would happen to the NAFTA trading system.
Where were you and the millions of other Americans when both the Democrats and Republicans REFUSED to allow third party candidates in their national televised "debates" (hardly much of a debate at all)?
Sorry if I find it hard to shed a tear....I followed the campaign closely and found no REAL change coming out of the monied two-party system! I refused to vote "LESSER EVIL" and for that I can sleep soundly at night.
PEACE
M
I don't think Marie is really expecting a refund. She's just showing how betrayed she feels and that she probably feels very bad that she went out of her way to support Obama like that. At least she won't get hurt even if she were to ask. I wished I was lucky to be able to ask my leaders for a refund back in the days of racism out here in MS. Truth is we whites actually lived in fear in the deep south. If we didn't pay our mafia racist gangs, we'd be knocked around if not killed. And don't even think about getting a refund for being betrayed. Who knows what Obama has next on his plate? At least he won't be shooting any of us for asking for refunds. He's probably keeping the money in sheer desperation for getting reelected.
Maybe you don't expect a refund, but you will still FIGHT for it. It is creative activism and play it out in full earnesty. Nobody in a real domocratic state should have to pay to make their vote count. So if you feel betrayed, join with Marie: it is a great idea.
"I knew I was naïve; yet like millions of Americans, I had no choice but to believe."
Wrong. You - all of us - had a choice. A number of them, actually - DK, RN, RP, for example.
And this author is still as naive as ever, referring to BO as if he weren't corporate-approved and paid for from the get-go, as if he weren't hired by the "owners" of "the place" to do as he's told, like all other managers hired by owners of places.
I, mr. nobody, distinctly remember trying to sound the alarm for the entire two-year BO campaign. And I was hardly alone.
Y'all didn't listen? Tough toenails. Enjoy your choice for 'hope' and 'change' you can no longer believe in...
BINGO!!
After FISA, there's no excuse.
And now they're ducking responsibility by whining, "I was fooled, why is everybody so mean to me?" and "I can't vote third party until somebody has to organize".
Pathetic.
The next step is obvious. Use our numbers and take it to the streets. There is no other resolution.
When the truth of 9/11 is revealed, will there be any answer other than massive protest DEMANDING the entire government STEP DOWN? In truth and courage, we should have taken this step when SCOTUS appointed Bush as president. What's wrong with us?
Are we THAT cowardly?
They're all a disappointment. I contacted my Congressman about investigating the Bush Administration and received the standard reply about how we have so many issues to take care of in America and we need to "move forward."
I guess after WWII the world needed to move forward and should have ignored the atrocities of the Nazis. Imagine a family faced with problems like unemployment, foreclosure, bankruptcy, etc., and on top of that someone becomes the victim of a crime- like a mugging or rape. Should they not report the crime and just let the perpetrator go? After all, their personal situation is a mess-- too many serious matters to deal with; therefore, they just need to move forward and get on with their lives.
It happens after every election - "Voters' Remorse". It is such a waste. 95% of the voters continue to vote for dem/repubs while ignoring ALL of the other candidates on the ballot. On my ballot there were EIGHT presidential candidates plus a write-in option. Instead of blaming Bush/Obama it is time for the voters to accept responsibility for what they have done.
During every campaign season, I ask all uninformed voters to stay home on election day. The problem is we have too many irresponsible voters who cancel out the votes of those who do their homework.
odoco
A better option would be to educate the uninformed. To do that we have to 1) unite, and 2) have a plan.
A truly informed, objective and dispassionate education of the masses would reveal the hypocrisy and duplicity of the two major parties and their histories. We will not and cannot win until we find a way to actually approach, reach out, speak to and convince a majority of people that the system is broken. Mainstream media is now controlled by the 'propertied interests' so we must find a different avenue. Community work, door to door work, working for good and justice and peace each and every day is what we have to do - and we have to be obvious when we do it.
"I ask all uninformed voters to stay home on election day. The problem is we have too many irresponsible voters who cancel out the votes of those who do their homework."
While I share your sentiments about our votes getting cancelled out by the uninformed, I'm not so sure that telling them not to vote is a perfect idea either. We cannot afford to give up informing our electorate and trying every venue towards bringing them to our side. I used to be angry and unforgiving but as I'm slowly learning, it's best to bring on board and retain those who admit their mistakes and are willing to learn and heal from them. That way, we can look forward to a higher turnout for Nader or similar. Imagine such candidates getting 80 million votes. Sure it won't happen soon but we can't afford to give up trying.
For $20/wk., you can't buy politicians coffee nowadays. If you want to be heard, you need to pony up bribes in the six figures, like corporations do. Otherwise, consider bypassing politicians altogether with voter initiatives and referendums:
http://ni4d.us/
How true it is. Ain't it a bummer that money's become this worthless? I think it's our overpopulated planet that's killing us.
No, it is the greed of a few maniacs that learnt on Harvard Business School that 'greed is good' and never stopped to think about the consequences of their actions in human terms, that make the value of money worthless.
Only people eligible to vote should be allowed to contribute to political campaigns or elections. No other people, no organizations!
Well, just take it one step further and you're there.
Publicly funded campaigns.
That is how we do it in a democracy. It is an interesting political system: I am sure it could work in the U.S.A. as well.
Why have billionaire elections of sold out representatives when we can represent ourselves with voter initiatives and referendums for next to nothing?
Marie Marchand, you think you were promised things you wasn't. You were too lazy and delusional to pay attention. So consider your loss of money a minor fine for your willful ignorance.
"I knew I was naïve; yet like millions of Americans, I had no choice but to believe."
As a Christian, I'm sure this is normal behavior for you: you willingly chose to believe a lie. A big lie. An obvious lie.
No choice?!?? You already knew you were naive? Then you weren't so naive, were you? You were just so afraid of McCain that you failed to acknowledge that he was the same candidate offering the same policies as your beloved Obama. You refused to admit (and probably still do) that there was no more necessity to stop McCain as there was/is to stop Obama. The necessity is to stop bad policies regardless whether they are stamped D or R.
Why did CD run this whiny article? This guy is no better than the folks who felt that "Bush looks like nice guy to have a beer with". Yet now he wants to be held unaccountable for his support of a neocon. Just like a Bush supporter.
Did CD run out of authors?
Hit 'em hard hopedup. I couldn't have said it any better.
Hopedup, at least give Maria some credit for seeing the real Obama now. The majority of Obama supporters I know still hold steadfast to the idea that he is a great president and that things will vastly improve. I have friends who refuse to criticize the president in any way, remaining diehard devotees. They say nothing about his reversal on Single Payer- he publicly supported it in 2003; one friend remarked that the United States can't pass Single Payer because "it's too radical." They seem to forget that he was pro gay marriage in the 1990s and had spoken out against "don't ask don't tell" before being elected president. Only my gay friends seem capable of seeing things like they are and admitting that they are disappointed in Obama and the majority of the Democratic party.
Maybe I'm being hard on her. I'm glad she snapped out of it. But how long until she snaps right back into it? If Marie has truly lost all her delusions about Obama (and our elections) then she deserves credit. The problem I have is that she wants to play dumb about why she supported him and then act like it's a good excuse.
"To think that Barack Obama preyed on this naive hope in me and millions like me is unforgivable."
To a degree this is true. Millions of dollars were spent on Obama's campaign for a good reason, to hypnotize people like Marie. But as every hypnotist will tell you, you hypnotize yourself. You have to be a willing participant. So Marie is not exactly a victim.
Yet she claims, "I had no choice but to believe".
And not just does she have to believe, but she has to give money as well. Sounds like a cult doesn't it?
Even now she makes false statements to defend her logic like,
"from the Democrats, I was promised a different direction (like OUT of the Middle East). "
Yet it's false, because (as we all know) they never promised to do that.
She says,
"It's not just the fact that Gitmo probably won't be shut down after all. "
As if that was the issue and not restoring the rule of law. She does not, for example, mention the Bagram prison.
She whines 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. "
Yet she completely ignores that Obama and Pelosi have consistently voted for funding the wars. There is a long history of the "shameful misuse of power". So how is this a surprise?
More to the point, Obama didn't hide any of his policy statements prior to the election. Almost everyone of his rightward shifts were publicly announced as his campaign platform prior to people like Marie voting for him. Many important issues were right on his website, like his rejection of single payer and gay marriage, or his false Iraq withdrawal plan.
Marie did what your democratic friends are still doing. She let style trump substance. She let herself become distracted by Obama's never-ending stream of comforting platitudes. She didn't bother to find out what she was donating money for (more ecological destruction, more toxic food, more war, more surveillance, more police, more privatization, fascism, hegemony and so on). Shouldn't Marie be honest about this? I'll bet she still think Obama is a million times better than McCain - but couldn't tell you more than a few (minor) policy differences between them.
Once again the larger context is completely absent: the US runs the most expensive elections in the world, with little regulation; and we have election fraud to boot. If election campaigns cost this much, what does that say about so-called democracy, rather plutocracy?
The corrupt, two-party, winner takes all, corporate media dictated PR extravaganza, tabloidized, lowest common denominator election, voting and campaign system is corrupt to the bone. Don't hate the player, hate the game. Why can't people see what stares them in the face?
Do people have that short of a memory? Many said the same thing of Bubba Clinton as well. This sort of thing has become all too predictable
Sorry, Ms. Marchand: No Refunds!
It's store policy. Didn't you read all the signs before you voted?
You bought him; YOU break him!
However, we CAN offer you a Store Credit, good through 2012, to buy a replacement New! Improved! Lesser-Evil Moderate Centrist Democrat!
· Yr Obd't Servant
DISCLAIMER: Our 2012 New! Improved! Lesser-Evil Moderate Centrist Democrat is being developed to be a greater-evil than our Our 2008 New! Improved! Lesser-Evil Moderate Centrist Democrat.
Glad you enjoyed it, Jennifer!
Oh, and I hear they're adding an extra scoop of "lesser" to dial down the "evil" aftertaste.
· Yr Obd't Servant
"Oh, and I hear they're adding an extra scoop of "lesser" to dial down the "evil" aftertaste."
Good. Next time I vote for the lesser evil it will leave a little sweeter taste in my mouth.
Poison is poison no matter which of the two you choose. Yeah, it'll feel a little sweeter once Obama's done leaving you bitter and dry.
Thanks for more laughs. I nearly wet myself on this one. :)
"However, we CAN offer you a Store Credit, good through 2012, to buy a replacement New! Improved! Lesser-Evil Moderate Centrist Democrat!"
Oh OS, I love that one. LOL ! :)
When I heard about Obama's vote on the FISA bill to give telecom companies immunity after they had illegally spied on Americans, I felt an immediate betrayal, especially knowing Obama was a constitutional lawyer. After that, I saw the writing on the wall. I had given some money to the campaign, but stopped short as I observed his voting and actions. I ended up voting for Cynthia McKinney, in spite of the fact that my Democratic friends told me I was throwing away my vote. I had to vote my conscience. Obama has chosen a corporate administration, and his leanings to the safe center are a betrayal to a lot of people. I do not believe he is as he represented himself.
We have an oligarchy running this country and the rest of us are getting sold down the road.
There should be some kind of provision that when a candidate states he is going to do certain things as he runs for office, that he has to be held to those promises.
Lynne: Although I never would have voted for McKinney, I totally agree with you about our new president. Obama's vote for the FISA bill nearly a year ago gave us a clue to his real identity. I was so incensed I emailed his national campaign HQ for a refund of my one modest donation. About two weeks later I got a call from Obama HQ to verify my address to send the refund. Thinking about the alternative, McCain, I decided to let the donation stand. Now I feel sucker-punched for several reasons.
Obama was long on good intentions but is woefully slow so far on meaningful change. It's shameful, really. I say "Feingold in 2012"!
The thing that always amazes me is how quickly people that came from nothing like Obama, or Bill Clinton end up abandoning the working class once they gain power. There are so few politicians at the national level that on a consistent basis fight for the little guy. And those few that do are usually marginalized. It's pretty discouraging.
Oregoncharles
Their called the neuveau riche. Sometimes the old wealth is more trustworthy than the new wealth.
You may have a point there. Franklin Roosevelt for one comes to mind. Although by no means perfect he was probably better than what we have now.
There are ways to spot red flags in candidates most likely to abandon the working class once in power. I could see where Clinton would have been somewhat tougher to detect but Obama? He made himself clear and yet there were those who refused to think or those who were just numbed to the core that Obama looked better back then. We might be better off paying attention to all our elections from local to federal so that maybe we can improve our chances of putting more pols who support the little guy over the big slops.
this article and the comments that follow are proof that most of the big mouth morons who are commenting are interested in one thing
showing every how superior they are to whoever they are commenting on...........
they are not interested in anything resembling truth,
if they want to change things they should run for office
obama is doing what he can, he is trying to close guantanomo, he is trying to get us out of iraq, he ALWAYS! send we needed to focus on iraq and complete the mission there
but keep on thinking up new words to ridicule obama, and keep thinking up derogatory names too........ thats probably all you were ever good at anyway
"...but keep on thinking up new words to ridicule obama,"
Hey djb, thanks okay, I will. You know how naval ships belong to classes. Like for example, Centaur class aircraft carriers. How about if the highest class a politician could aspire to would be a Bush Class. So Obama would be a Bush Class President.
Or perhaps like Caesar is a title of imperial character, perhaps instead of using the term president it could be replaced with Bush. So in 2012 we will be voting for a new Bush, and our current Bush is Obama. Which means that instead of referring to the highest leader in the land as President Obama it would be Bush Obama. How's that?
Now, now, Michelle!
I know it's disturbing to find that so many briefly bamboozled voters have come to see the truth about your husband, but it was only a matter of time.
Why don't you go outside to your little garden and help the Secret Service detail pick hornworms off the tomato plants?
Don't go away mad...
· Yr Obd't Servant
Actually I heard that Oprah and Michelle aren't speaking to each other because Oprah was very pissed about being used when the agenda was more war for wall street. Maybe Oprah will do a show but I doubt it. Oprah is rich but she is a coward.
Yea after she butted heads with the beef farmers she learned first hand that free speech isn't free any more...
Ouch!!!!!!!!!!
I gave a few bucks to Obama because I knew he would be better than Bush or McCain.
I didn't give much more because I knew he wouldn't be a whole lot better than Bush or McCain.
Happiness, as they do say, is knowing that you can change some things and can't change other things, and figuring out which are which...
The corporate military industrial oligarchy is not something that can be changed through elections... if at all.
Obama is a better oligarch, but he is still an oligarch.
Anyone paying attention during the four tedious years of election coverage should not feel disappointed or disillusioned with the master of empty rhetoric, oBOMBa. It's like marrying a player then acting shocked at their infidelity. The signs were all there, but the promise of "hope" (that meaningless, vacuous term we all love so much) blinded the smitten.
So okay, you got burned, what do do now? wallow in pity? hope for another messiah?
Or get real, get mad, and quit feeding these thieving conniving sold out bastards?
I'm astonished people didn't see through Obama--not because I'm so clever, but because of the execrable behavior of his fans during the primaries.
Most people who voted for Obama are like the OP, who is guilty of getting her hopes up and seeing what she wanted to see. I'm in no position to throw the first stone at her.
But there was a hardcore cadre of Obama supporters who behaved worse than any Democrats I have ever seen. Their favorite tactic--deployed over and over again during the primaries--was to call their fellow Democrats racists for daring to criticize their sh!tty candidate...
...now our sh!tty President. So I knew right away we were screwed. After watching Obama's people steal the primary from the more qualified and more popular candidate--using underhanded means to do it--I voted for Cynthia McKinney. The party is on ice until we get a better crop of Democrats.
The party is over, period!! If we don't learn from this last election, we are hopelessly trapped into the New World Order. Repeat after me, "The Democrats and the Republicans are working for the same paymasters". And they are doing a fine job. Our 'leaders' just game the banksters TRILLIONS of our tax funds for more war and more genereous gifts (no strings attached) to the banksters.
Now, me personally, I would rather those tax funds go for our badly strapped domestic programs---you know, like put Americans to work and fund our schools, health care system and public transportation. Spending some money to repair our infrastructure would be a nice investment in the future. We need to fund programs to protect our environment---and giving polluters the right to pollute more is not a good idea. They do that just fine with out us giving them permits they can sell to encourage other polluters to have at it.
Still a Democrat? You need professional help. 'Hope' ain't the answer. Getting smart may help a bit.
Exactly! Well said.
All "third" parties need to unite under a single issue of no more War profiteering, PERIOD.
Sure, the CIA or the corporations will run a super populist anti-war hero for us to rally behind so he/she can withdraw at the last minute. At which time our "hero" would endorse one of the "mainscream" candidates.
In the meantime, I see that the CIA has declared open war on Latin America. The shit never ends.
Probably about the best thing that could happen in the upcoming midterm elections is if nobody voted. I know that will never happen, but could you imagine if it did? What a statement that would make to all the members of our two broken political parties.
I am personally done with either the Republican or Democratic parties . I'll probably vote for Greens when/where they are available.
The Republican party is for the most part full of right wing nut jobs, while the Democrats now only pay lip service to the average working stiffs needs. If Obama and his crew is the best that the Dems can do for the average Joe/Jane, then it aint worth the gas it would take to go out and vote for them again...
The statement it would make is that the population hates their guts but will let them more or less do what they want.
How upset do you imagine that makes them?
They are doing whatever they want already! I was thinking nobody voting would take away the legitimacy of the government. The way things are going now is big behind the scenes money prop up various candidates that they are sure will do their bidding for them. This is the pool we all get to choose from. Then we diligently do our part in this big scam and vote for them.
But as we keep on seeing for the most part these people we vote for have no interest in truly representing us. They represent the monied interests that gave them the money to run for the office. People voting for them just makes the whole thing look legitimate when it really is not.
Again I know it will never happen, but just imagine if no one voted, especially in a presidential election. All those talking heads on network TV in front of the national map showing the electoral college votes, and they were all zero, zip, natta. It would show that the American people know that there really is no choice and the sham of our political system would then be laid bare for all the world to see.
You can say that you don't vote and it will take away the legitimacy of the government, but the real question is whether the government will also interpret it in that way. Why are there dictatorships in the world ? And what differentiates Americans that don't vote out of protest from Americans who don't vote because American Idol is on television so everything is fine ?
So if you don't vote in order to show your disgust with the present system, you also have to follow through on your actions and help overthrow the government in a social revolution, with all the blood and gore and discomfort that comes with it !
Sorry double posting
odoco
And when everyone refuses to vote, when they boycott the electoral process, the fascists, who care nothing of sentiment, will take power just that much mmore quickly. No opposition - good - we can now set our own agenda OPENLY since the masses refused to speak.
Freedom, once abandoned, is hardly ever regained without a battle. I don't ever intend to give up my freedom to vote - however tainted and corrupted the process may be - it is still the ultimate outlet for the voice of the people. We simply need to educate - change the voice of the people - then get all to vote. Then the rapidly emerging fascists will be forced to choose: show their true colors and control by martial law, or allow the people to rule.
It will eventually come to that.
I truly appreciate what you are saying but I fear it is too late. I feel a form of American fascism has already taken over. This country was too big to be concurred from the outside so the takeover had to be an inside job. Look around, we live in a country that openly acknowledges it is involved in generational wars, and is clearly run by corporations.
Voting only counts if you have a true choice. Look at Iran. An awful lot of people put their faith in Obama, (me included), and it appears to have been for nothing. After this last election I really don't care much for playing this rigged game any more. We may have some power in our votes at the local level but I feel we have no power at the national level anymore. Maybe there is a small chance we can influence things from the grass roots but the Oligarchy that runs this country has things pretty much nailed down, and it will not be easy if it is even possible anymore . I live my life on how I observe the world to be, not as I wish it to be, and to be honest things don't look too good to me as I look around. I hope I am wrong but I fear I am not.
bobm10591, we hear you on the Obama bait-and-switch scam.
For us it was the FISA flip-flop. We immediately requested and were promised a refund of our contribution to his campaign... but, as you may have guessed, it was just another empty promise from another empty politician.
Fortunately, we made our contribution via credit card and Visa helped him keep his promise.
Unfortunately Visa is unable to help with all the other broken promises... or refund of misspent billions bailing out businesses that should have been allowed to fail due to their incompetence and greed.
The American Dream is dead. Stick a fork in it and watch it circle the drain while our alleged two-party system re-arranges the deck chairs.
Wow, are you saying you actually asked for and recieved a refund of a campaign contribution? I've never contributed, but I had no idea you could ask for a refund. How did you convince the credit card company to facilitate the refund? I'm impressed.
This was all very predictable.
I was sitting and watching the 2004 Demo convention which crowned Kerry and up steps this political nonentity to give the keynote.
Who is this guy, anyway? Why, Wall Street’s, that’s who. Shortly after the Kerry meltdown, the talking heads are saying "Barak Obama is being mentioned as a possible candidate in 2008" Over and over. So here's this first term junior senator putting together this big money machine and getting all this money from Wall St. and Silicon valley and making a few progressive noises on the side.
Meanwhile, Dennis Kucinich is down in the trenches fighting for the people. The corporate press had nothing good to say about Kucinich except to say he believed in UFOs and "couldn't win" when they weren't completely ignoring him, but heaped adoration upon our pseudo-Black candidate. There's more, but that should have set alarm bells ringing. I gave Kucinich hundreds in two election cycles and not one dime to Mr. Hope/Change/Yes we can.
Yep,
It is all crazy, but if we don't unite, we will lose again. I hope we learned that much.
People will never unite around politics. By its nature, politics is divisive.
If we can unite at all, it will have to be outside of the bounds of politics - where the real work is done. I'm lucky that I have such a place to unite with others and do good, satisfying, meaningful work.