Subscribe to Common Dreams News Updates
Most Popular This Week
Popular content
Today's Top News
Mr. President, It's Time to Fight
No one's ever conquered Washington politics by constantly saying "pretty please" to the guys trying to cut your throat.
The editors of the Economist magazine say America's healthcare debate has become a touch delirious, with people accusing each other of being evil-mongers, dealers in death, and un-American.
Well, that's charitable.
I would say it's more deranged than delirious, and definitely not un-American.
Those crackpots on the right praying for Obama to die and be sent to hell -- they're the warp and woof of home-grown nuttiness. So is the creature from the Second Amendment who showed up at the President's rally armed to the teeth. He's certainly one of us. Red, white and blue kooks are as American as apple pie and conspiracy theories.
Bill Maher asked me on his show last week if America is still a great nation. I should have said it's the greatest show on earth. Forget what you learned in civics about the Founding Fathers — we're the children of Barnum and Bailey, our founding con men. Their freak show was the forerunner of today's talk radio.
Speaking of which: We've posted on our Web site an essay by the media scholar Henry Giroux. He describes the growing domination of hate radio as one of the crucial elements in a "culture of cruelty" increasingly marked by overt racism, hostility and disdain for others, coupled with a simmering threat of mob violence toward any political figure who believes healthcare reform is the most vital of safety nets, especially now that the central issue of life and politics is no longer about working to get ahead, but struggling simply to survive.
So here we are, wallowing in our dysfunction. Governed -- if you listen to the rabble rousers -- by a black nationalist from Kenya smuggled into the United States to kill Sarah Palin's baby. And yes, I could almost buy their belief that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, only I think he shipped them to Washington, where they've been recycled as lobbyists and trained in the alchemy of money laundering, which turns an old-fashioned bribe into a First Amendment right.
Only in a fantasy capital like Washington could Sunday morning talk shows become the high church of conventional wisdom, with partisan shills treated as holy men whose gospel of prosperity always seems to boil down to lower taxes for the rich.
Poor Obama. He came to town preaching the religion of nice. But every time he bows politely, the harder the Republicans kick him.
No one's ever conquered Washington politics by constantly saying "pretty please" to the guys trying to cut your throat.
Let's get on with it, Mr. President. We're up the proverbial creek with spaghetti as our paddle. This healthcare thing could have been the crossing of the Delaware, the turning point in the next American Revolution -- the moment we put the mercenaries to rout, as Gen. Washington did the Hessians at Trenton. We could have stamped our victory "Made in the USA." We could have said to the world, "Look what we did!" And we could have turned to each other and said, "Thank you."
As it is, we're about to get healthcare reform that measures human beings only in corporate terms of a cost-benefit analysis. I mean, this is topsy-turvy -- we should be treating health as a condition, not a commodity.
As we speak, Pfizer, the world's largest drug maker, has been fined a record $2.3 billion as a civil and criminal -- yes, that's criminal, as in fraud -- penalty for promoting prescription drugs with the subtlety of the Russian mafia. It's the fourth time in a decade Pfizer's been called on the carpet. And these are the people into whose tender mercies Congress and the White House would deliver us?
Come on, Mr. President. Show us America is more than a circus or a market. Remind us of our greatness as a democracy. When you speak to Congress next week, just come out and say it. We thought we heard you say during the campaign last year that you want a government-run insurance plan alongside private insurance -- mostly premium-based, with subsidies for low-and-moderate income people. Open to all individuals and employees who want to join and with everyone free to choose the doctors we want. We thought you said Uncle Sam would sign on as our tough, cost-minded negotiator standing up to the cartel of drug and insurance companies and Wall Street investors whose only interest is a company's share price and profits.
Here's a suggestion, Mr. President: Ask Josh Marshall to draft your speech. Josh is the founder of the Web site TalkingPointsMemo.com. He's a journalist and historian, not a politician. He doesn't split things down the middle and call it a victory for the masses. He's offered the simplest and most accurate description yet of a public insurance plan -- one that essentially asks people: Would you like the option -- the voluntary option -- of buying into Medicare before you're 65? Check it out, Mr. President.
This healthcare thing is make or break for your leadership, but for us, it's life and death. No more Mr. Nice Guy, Mr. President. We need a fighter.
125 Comments so far
Show AllWithout at least a public option and the most, single payer, Mr. Obama had better save his fighting energy for his struggle to stay in office. He's going to need it to stave off the masses with pitchforks and shovels about to show up on the front lawn of the WH.
The Democrats appear to be hell bent on passing a "health care reform bill" even if it makes the existing bad system worse.
Just as my two Democratic Party US Senators told me that the 2003 Medicare Drug Extortion Bill, TARP Bailout Bill and other bad legislation were "better than no bill", I am certain they will repeat the "better than no bill" mantra when they pass a health care bill that gives more corporate welfare to the insurance and drug industries, criminalizes individuals and businesses that refuse to submit to insurance company extortion, and makes health care less affordable than it already is for most of us.
raydelcamino September 8th, 2009 10:52 am.....................We cannot stand for this.....it's time to get to DC by the millions.
Sorry Mr. Moyers (my favorite public person) but there's nothing in health care reform for which the President can fight: at least nothing that comes remotely close to delivering health care as a human right available to everyone whoever they are and whatever funds they have to pay for it. This was long ago swept "off the table" of "reform" deliberations. I personally wouldn't put up my dukes and fight for the piddling concession to "liberals" contained in the public option, but I'd literally die fighting not for business for every insurance company but for health care for everybody. Otherwise it's like fighting for the "honor" of your prostitute sister.
The problem isn't that Obama doesn't put up a good fight.
Obama very eloquently fights for and promotes the interests of Wall Street, the insurance and pharmaceutical industries.
"I personally wouldn't put up my dukes and fight for the piddling concession to "liberals" contained in the public option, but I'd literally die fighting not for business for every insurance company but for health care for everybody. Otherwise it's like fighting for the "honor" of your prostitute sister.'
Indeed.
Screw 'em at this point in the game. There's nothing to fight for.
The only way I'd "Push" this useless, lying, whimpy bag of sh*t now, is over a cliff. Thankfully that will be done by the republicans in 2012.
Then we'll have at least 4-8 years with Cheney or Palin to think about it.
Oh boy.
Anyone who uses a prostitute knows exactly what she/he wants. $PAYMENT$
She doesn't trick you into believing she loves you or that she has your best interest at heart. It's a clean deal (or should be, imo) She/he is far more honorable than politicians.
A man who took the job of representing the circus that is America, of course is going to compromise to the point that the minute changes are invisible to the spectator. But Mr. Moyers treats us like the children at the circus, asking their daddy "How does the lion tamer make the lions do what he says?" Instead of saying,"Well son, first they drugged the lion, then they abduct him and ship him over to America! Then they torture him using whips, manipulating their source of food, etc. until Mr. Lion is "trained". After that son , the lion tamer uses fear and oppression to get the lion to do what he wishes on command." Mr. Moyers instead says, "It's magic!"
The horror of a circus remains hidden from the spectators, even the article above. Americans number one concern is health, without getting too upset nor speaking too much about the true issue of "health" for the people of Afghanistan, and Iraq who NEVER did anything wrong to America.
relament: agreed
we, the sheeple, get to star in the not so glorious role of the beaten and broken lion, your forgot to mention the neutered and declawed part...
matt taibi's peice on the "process" of the reform legislation, posted here a couple of days ago offers an insight into the mind-numbing shitrope that is the stock and trade of the american circus/political process
in short, and in so small part due to obama not having any spercifics for a plan whatsoever, the plan has been ripped apart and reconstituted as a cash cow for pharma, indurance and hmo's
after the bank scam (24 trillion and counting) should we be surprised
obama took the single payer option off the table before the process even started - huh - he sold us down the river before the game even got going on the biggest plank in the reform package. what's up with that...
then in secret and sweetheart deals made in private and behind closed doors he brought the hmo's, insurance and pharma on board by agreeing NOT to use the purshcasing power of a government run plan to reduce costs in general and their profits in particlar. silly me - i thought the whole purpose of the exercise was to create large pools of consumers and use their collective purchasing power to reduce costs
no no no says brother o
now that the boood suckers and their obscene profits are well protected by sweetheart deals they are "on board" - they can hardly wait to rake in their new, their unexpected profit centers
and this will keep the cost of health care high and allow it to go higher and higher, thereby undermining the basic concept of the reform - that being to lower costs generally
the "package" we are likely to get is going to be lumpy swill at best and accordingly i think it is time to just stand down the process until such a time that we have a president is not a nwo shill and turncoat assassin to the millions who poured their hopes and dreams into the public relations spectacle, otherwise known as his presidential campaign
bill moyers admonishes obama to "fight" - i simply ask him to recuse himself because, as an agent of the nwo and a benefactor to the hmo's, insurance and pharmas
and as he has demonstrated as of late - he cannot and will not act on our behalf or in our best interests
"mind-numbing shitrope that is the stock and trade of the american circus/political process"
INDEED!
This should be the heading to any Congressional bill more than 28 pages long (HR676 is 27 pages long).
A very good piece by Bill Moyers.
Get to the truth--rent Michael Moore's "Sicko" and realize how we've been had. Plenty of bread for killing and nothing for healing. It's time for a real change! How can it happen-We can start by getting of our assess and participate in pro-active events to take the power away from those unfit to hold it--it's been way too long since justice has been served in these United States--we must meet on the shores of the Potomac and take back out nation--all who see tyranny must act now and muster in DC beginning October 4th and ending when we have succeeded--those who cannot make it must support the cause by striking until the job is finished. Let the whole world see Americans at their best--"Because now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the true spirit of the United States of America. I'll see you there the Right and the left--We won't be fooled again!
Get to the truth--rent Michael Moore's "Sicko" ans realize how we've been had. Plenty of bread for killing and nothing for healing. It's time for a real change! How can it happen-We can start by getting of our assess and participate in pro-active events to take the power away from those unfit to hold it--it's been way too long since justice has been served in these United States--we must meet on the shores of the Potomac and take back out nation--all who see tyranny must act now and muster in DC beginning October 4th and ending when we have succeeded--those who cannot make it must support the cause by striking until the job is finished. Let the whole world see Americans at their best--"Because now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the true spirit of the United States of America. I'll see you there the Right and the left--We won't be fooled again!
Yes, we do need a fighter in the White House, but Barack Obama (and the vast majority of both "parties") took a bribe to throw the fight (on whatever issue you want to talk about) years ago.
He merely "floats like a butterfly" - only this "butterfly" is really only another elephant with wings leaving carnage in his wake.
All of the ideas being discussed about healh care reform in Washington have it backwards.
Any decent attempt at reform would have Started with the creation of a "medicare for all" plan to ensure coverage of all the people and Then had options for people to keep their private, corporate profiteering insurance.
All of this phoney performance by Obama and the "leaders" in congress has nothing to do with decency and everything to do with greed.
There is only one topic in Washington on which the vast majority seems to have NO complaints. We are by far the biggest (10 times larger than our closest competitor), most lucrative merchant (37.8 Billion dollars last year) of weaponry to the rest of the world.
We just can't get enough of bloodshed and we are PROUD of it.
I don't believe I've ever recommended a column by conservative columnist David Brooks, but in this case I think this is well worth considering:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/04/opinion/04brooks.html?_r=1
In calling for fundamental health care reform (not what Obama and the Democratic leadership is pushing), Brooks is right on in my opinion that there has to be such a reform in the "perverse incentives" that encourage not only patient abuse (as you'd expect from a conservative) but also the abuse by the medical care and pharmaceutical providers whose motives, as Wendell Potter said on a Bill Moyers show, are the same "perverse incentive" of insurers NOT to honor the expense claims of their clients. I doubt that much "reform" could come out of digging for system abuse among patients; but among providers and insurers? Take a big shovel and a big dump truck when you dig in those polluted hills. But then of course this is not anything that Obama and his other industry-controlled shills would do at the point of a gun.
Moyers tells the truth. Obama gave bipartisnship his best try. Now is the time to rally his troops on behalf of public option and REAL health care change.
Mr. President, are you listening??? How about paying attention to people like Bill Moyers who aren't bribe "makers and takers" and put a little non-biased consideration into your decisions regarding this monumental issue. Be our President for the NOW and live up to your campaign promises!
VETO any bill that doesn't contain a public option (just like George Bush vetoed every bill that didn't "screw" the average citizen).
Don't worry about your political future. A win in "healthcare for every citizen" would be worth any number of re-elections!
But I'd bet you'd win another one with real healthcare reform under your belt.
The electorate had plenty of choices last year but instead chose status quo, Mccain or Obama ! Bill Moyers needs to put party aside and stand for principle and look at candidates on the issues for a change. Sorry Mr. Moyers but Obama is no LBJ except for dragging people into reckless wars overseas.
As for the electorate, open your hearts and minds to the issues and learn to judge candidates not by party affiliation but by their take on the issues.
Mr. Obama is fighting.
He's fighting liberal organizations from opposing his pro-corporate positions.
Obama and his buddy Rahm aren't throwing featherduster punches either.
This must-read piece from Jane Hamsher at FDL says it all.
http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/09/06/van-jones
-a-moment-of-truth-for-liberal-institutions-in-the-veal-pen/
Yeah, I think you all are wasting your time if you think all you need to do is ask Obama to "fight harder". You don't get to be a US president without knowing how to fight. But from the first time we saw him give a speech (remember the Dems allowed him to speak, but not former president Jimmy Carter), to his recent dismissal or Van Jones, Obama has shown what he does, and does not, want to fight for.
Both Jimmy Carter and this Jones fellow seem to share something that Obama doesn't, a concern for the future of America, ( I'm talking about the 99 percent of America that doesn't wine and dine in Obama's social circle. They will do fine, I'm sure.
At least Bill Moyers acknowledges that Obama is the President and encourages instead of disparages him at every turn like so many on CD.
I understand the negative nature of critics, I certainly was one of George Bush. It is not surprising to see the vitriol on the right. It is to be expected. What is disconcerting is to see the anger coming from those who should know more about how the political system works here in the United States. Give the guy a chance, for crying out loud.
-"At least Bill Moyers acknowledges that Obama is the President and encourages instead of disparages him at every turn like so many on CD. "
I'm curious. What would you encourage Obama to do? Throw more progressives under the bus? send more troops to Pakistan? Take more healthcare remedies off the table? Build more Iraq bases? Step up the torture program? Give blanket immunity for war crimes to more corporations and government officials? I'd really like to know.
-"What is disconcerting is to see the anger coming from those who should know more about how the political system works here in the United States."
Oh, you see anger do you? And from those who "should" know better. Well as presumably you "do" know better, you just keep on keepin' on there brother! Go team Obama!! How is that?
-"Give the guy a chance, for crying out loud."
Yeah, give 'em a chance! It has only been two weeks, no one month, no, gee without any progress or accomplishments to put to Obama's name, I've lost track...
damnliberal September 8th, 2009 12:22 pm...........What signs do you see that we are missing? Up to this point, what are Obama's accomplishments that favor WE THE PEOPLE??
Oh please ! Obama's fighting all right but on the wrong side. You think it's okay for Obama to do everything Dubya did? You call yourself a liberal? Oh we're giving Obama plenty of chances all right but he's blowing them and you like that ? Well, you can kiss us all you want to but we're not dumb ! We're fed up with being sold out and we're trying to fight it.
I completely agree!
Exactly.
During the Bush administration did you "encourage instead of disparage him at every turn, like so many on CD?" Just my guess, but I'll bet you had some very nasty things to say about Bush, Cheny, et al and not a lot of encouragement.
Ahhhh, the beauty of personality cults.
damnliberal is an agent in the elite "secret service" tasked to help keep the rabble divided/conquered by trumpeting the fake Demok/Repuk contest. It's not a real contest - it's just for show. A diversion, or camouflage, to mask the real contest between the elites and the people, the class war, the grand-daddy of all wars. The correct action for the people to take is to dissent, resist, boycott, ostracize all elites and all their godzilla machines. For example, cancel your private health insurance like I did several years ago. I called up the public health clinic and said I'd like an appointment and they asked if I had insurance. I said yes, and they said I can't have an appointment until I cancel my insurance. So I canceled it. I told them that I have to go to the public clinic because it's the only clinic with ethical standards acceptable to me. It's great to go to a clinic where both the providers and the patients share the same high ethical standard. The highest standard of all.
As you know labor was divided between support for Single Payer and support for the Public Plan Option. Many who wanted Single Payer were persuaded to go along with the compromise Public Option to get on the Obama bandwagon for the Employee Free Choice Act. Let's see how that's working out. Public option is dead and Emplyee Free Choice, with the check off option already eviscerated awaits further gutting. "Employee Free Choice is something the president really believes in." says Joe Biden to the Pittsburgh Labor Day Crowd. The crowd is quiet. "And we're going to get it done this year." to which the crowd murmers and shouts out, "Don't sell us out Joe, don't sell us out."
Obama is in real trouble, not because Right Wingers will not let their children watch him on TV, but because the people who are supposed to be behind him don't trust him either. If the Obama administration gets nothing for labor--that's one more group who will do nothing to support him for the rest of his term. By now Mr. President you have to fight to regain the respect you once had among your own people--forget about trying to mollify the right. Unless of course you want to change your party registration.
"Obama is in real trouble"
I disagree, my friend. Obama is doing fine. There are worse things in life than being a one term president of the US. And the corporations that pay the Dems should have no trouble finding someone who is slightly less scary than Sarah Palin for you to vote for.
It is you, the average US voter, that is in real trouble.
Turtle Island will have the last laugh long after the repugnant human race has ceased to be...
unfortunately the Romney palin 'ticket' is already warming up...
everything in the current media is geared to relegitimize the
party that but for the MEDIA would be a hundred years dead.
"Down with the ROCKEFELLER RANGELERS"
Wright was right and van jones is right on.
The masses will not revolt, they are passive. And if there are to be rallies, the old media will dutifully ignore them and the new media will drown them out with naked celebrity ping pong or whatever. Sad times for anyone not in finance.
If Obama stood for real progress, he would of stood behind Van Jones. That issue would of defined real progress because Jones said what needed to be done.
Obama started out on the wrong foot and every step he takes will be out of step.
He hid from the progressive agenda his whole campaign. Don't tell me he doesn't get it, he knows enough about what WE want to tease us into voting for him, but then he hires Bushes war mongers to his staff.
Nope, the prez doesn't have the slightest interest to do the right thing. Don't waste your time even writing a letter to the White House, been there done that!!!
I will keep writing to him to demand the universal single payer option (H.R.676), I have written frequently and I will continue to write to him and the Texas Federal Legislators about this issue, and the Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 1409 and SB 560) and about renewable energy (introduced February 4, 2009 by Reps. Edward J. Markey and Todd Platts).
I will never stop fighting with the administration to get these issues out in the public again and again. I do see the point that you're making about the President's behavior, I just won't let it slow me down while I do what little I can to stay active and protest this gutting of the issues that I am so much in favor of.
I welcome all of your opinions on this CD website, really, I like the sharing that you give back and forth here. I will respond to any remarks that you care to leave. I've read as much of Jennifer's and Rich's postings as I can find as well as yours NMBill and I will always value what you have to say to me. I just will not give up this display of opposition to these very important issues.
That's right Bill. The next time he bends over to the right, we should kick his butt.
Bill Moyers (and one could say the same about Michael Moore) is a well-known and influential figure so his words may reach the subject of his criticism. Some may believe Moyers is too gentle here, but I think he is probably correct in concluding that he loses more than he gains by attacking Obama outright and accusing him of being nothing more than a back-stabbing, sold-out corporatist. Instead, he tries to tempt Obama into taking a more progressive course by implying that Obama is a wimp (the old appeal to "manhood")if he does not start fighting for progressive issues now, while probably understanding that Obama probably never had any intention of fighting for progressive causes (after Obama made his cabinet and other high-level appointments, who could believe anything else).
Moyers most likely understands that such prodding has little chance of success, but it is sensible for him to try.
"but I think he is probably correct in concluding that he loses more than he gains by attacking Obama outright and accusing him of being nothing more than a back-stabbing, sold-out corporatist. Instead, he tries to tempt Obama into taking a more progressive course by implying that Obama is a wimp "
If so, do we not lose more than we gain by not cutting through the already falsehood ladden media with some hard conclusions? why bother fighting fox news propaganda if all you are doing is replacing it with the myth of the president who would do the right thing, "if only he knew" the plight of the common man. Perhaps, if Moyers is doing as you say, and of course there is the possibility that Moyers is sincere in his faith in Obama, perhaps Moyers would do better to speak to his audience as adults, and put aside the childish beliefs in a president who could fight the status quo, if only we gave him a few more cheers, or high fives or wrote him poems of encouragement.
It makes perfect sense for us here at CD to tell it like it is with regard to Obama, but that does not mean that Moyers should necessarily do the same. It just is not his style and never has been. I doubt that Moyers has much faith in Obama (Moyers is generally on top of it, and who could still believe Obama's progressive rhetoric after his cabinet and other appointments). He is just trying to reach that tiny little part of Obama's brain that may respond to appeals to common decency and that is still capable of feeling empathy for the common people, and, failing that, trying to appeal to Obama's fear of political failure. Moyers does this by using the strategy of pretending that he believes that Obama has the best intentions, which means that only cowardice can adequately explain Obama's recent behavior. Through this Moyers apparently hopes to push Obama towards a progressive choice by limiting Obama's other alternatives to the politically suicidal -- admitting that he completely misrepresented himself in the campaign or admitting that he is a coward.
Sioux Rose
KIVALS: Your attorney-training serves you well. Nice dissection of why Mr. Moyers plays so gently against the evident sins of the Obama Administration.
Hi kivals--I suspected as much were Moyers's motives, as I posted above. I should point out that if you and I can figure out what Moyers's strategy is, then he or more likely his advisors can figure it out too. I don't think you or I expect any changes on Obama's part, but will be pleased to be surprised if he does.
Excellent analysis, and very refreshing. CD is getting hard to read because so many posters seem to be the left version of the rabid righties: if something's not exactly what they want, and not happening now now now, they hold their breath, close their eyes, and stomp their feet (like Frank Burns on MASH).
-"so many posters seem to be the left version of the rabid righties: if something's not exactly what they want, and not happening now now now, they hold their breath, close their eyes, and stomp their feet "
Oh if only the "rabid right" would hold their breath!
But yeah, brilliant observation there jeeves, Obama isn't "exactly" what "they" want. If only he would disappoint the progressives on just one more issue...
Sioux Rose
RICH M: As always spelled out with the erudition of a patient, inspired teacher. I would suppose that KANE is entirely caught inside the two-party parameter view of American politics, so to his way of thinking, NOT having Bush makes all the difference. Many times you have taken the time to spell out FACTUALLY the LACK of difference between the current policies of Obama, and those of his disgusting, diabolical predecessor. Problem is, if the policies remain unchanged, even if the "new leader" looks intelligent and wears a better smile, the EVIL remains in place and evil is never something just persons ought to compromise with; nor is it particularly helpful to make excuses for it. If both team A and team B further the same life-negating agendas, it makes NO sense to pretend that one is in the right, while the other, in the wrong. There is nothing to celebrate here. The right wing's loud efforts to make Obama appear something (liberal, progressive, socialistic) that he is not are well-funded for a reason. A confused, discombobulated public being taught to aim their hate and virtriol at illegal "aliens," or the latest political figure to serve as scapegoat never succeeds at getting at the rot that's eaten our nation's soul, fiscal reserves, sense of honor, and raison d'etre. The language of sports cuts deeply into many otherwise intelligent psyches. It ensures that those engineering the fall of this nation (while their inner circle profits from war and privatizing human services and necessities) will be able to continue on course.
Well said.
Bill Moyers needs to say it loud and clear. We are presently ruled by traitors. We are not a democracy. There is no hope in half measures at this point. A media fire storm should be ignited and even invited with loud calls for the simultaneius impeachment of a bevy of supreme court justices and congresspeople of both brands of the corporate party as well as the president.
Let them holler, scream and call us insane. What else is new? We don't have to be concerned with losing our democracy any longer. That already happened.
If McCain had won ... aye, aye, aye! ... the blood of progressives would have reached the boiling point by now. We would be witnessing massive protests in the streets, strikes! Behold - the beauty of the O-balm-ahhhhh administration.
Thank you for your kind words. We are in short supply of civility and kindness in the US and even here at CD (with the exception of a few here). However, I hope you do not believe that I was defending Obama as that was not my intention. I was defending Moyers and trying to understand where he was coming from. I may be foolish for this, but I do trust Bill Moyers. I do not, on the other hand, trust Obama except to the extent I could say I trust him to try to do what he perceives to be best for Obama, in terms of both his political career and his future life after politics.
kivals,
I agree with your analysis!
I watch his PBS show every Friday night, and Mr. Moyers has, from the start, regularly criticized Obama's actions, and inactions.
Come on Bill ... cut to the chase ...
Past time to look for someone ELSE in 2012.
Between Obama's position on the military in general, Afghanistan in particular, the trillions he keeps lavishing on Wall Street criminals and his continued attack on human rights at home and abroad there is no room left for support from the left ...
mmckinl
"Come on, Mr. President. Show us America is more than a circus or a market."
Geez! Hasn't he already done his share of telling the people what they want to hear instead of showing them the plain unpleasant truth? On the other hand, I suppose he could truthfully tell them that even America's so-called "free market" is just another part of the circus act. But he won't do that either, of course.
As for fighting harder, as others have said, give the guy a break. He's fighting as hard as he can to accomplish the goals of the interests he actually represents and seems to be succeeding quite well.