Get News & Views Updates
Most Popular This Week
Popular content
Today's Top News
Five Ways the Democrats Can Avoid a Catastrophe and Pull Off the Mother of All Upsets
Sadly, it's a situation the Democrats have brought upon themselves -- even though the majority of them didn't create the mess we're in. But they've had over a year and a half to start getting the job done to fix it. Instead, they've run scared ever since they took power. To many, the shellacking they're about to receive is one they deserve.
But if you're of a mindset that believes a return to 2001-2008 would be sheer insanity, then you probably agree we've got no choice but to save the Democrats from themselves.
Memo To: President Obama and the Democratic Party Leadership
From: Michael Moore
Subject: 5 Things Dems Can Do to Turn It Around by November 2nd
1. Immediate Wall-to-Wall TV Ads, Internet Videos, and Appearances Hammering Who the Hell Put Us in the Misery We're In.
We Americans have very short attention spans (Quick: Who Won the Oscar for Best Picture last year? The World Series? Exactly.). People need to be reminded over and over that it was the REPUBLICANS who concocted and led the unnecessary invasion of two countries, putting us in our longest war ever, wars that will eventually cost us over $3 trillion. Bush and Co. also caused the biggest collapse of our economy since the Great Depression. I don't know a single person in Hollywood who wouldn't shoot and produce those spots for you for FREE. Dems: Do not pull a single punch on this. Quit being a bunch of wusses and let the bastards have it! The public will be astonished that you've found your courage and your spine. We expect you to be Muhammad Ali, not Ally McBeal.
2. Indict the Criminals.
Announce that the Justice Department will seek indictments against both those who caused the economic collapse and those who became war profiteers. Call it for what it is: organized crime. Use the RICO statutes. Use the basic laws that make fraud of any kind a crime. Get in the face of those who stole the billions, make them pay for it -- and the people will love you. We want Dirty Harry, not Dirty Dancing.
3. Announce a Moratorium on All Family Home Foreclosures.
Last month (August) there were more home foreclosures than in any month in U.S. history. Worse than any month in the worst year ever, 2009. The bleeding hasn't stopped -- it's only gotten worse. And now, this week, two of the largest crime organizations who are throwing hundreds of thousands of people out of their homes (GMAC and JPMorgan Chase) have been forced to momentarily stop doing this. It turns out, they don't really have the paperwork to prove they actually own these houses! It's madness. So if you do one thing for the middle class this week, do this. It will take an hour of your time to draw up the decree and issue it. We'd rather watch "It's a Wonderful Life" than "Poltergeist."
4. Announce a New 21st Century WPA.
"Who's hiring? THE GOVERNMENT IS HIRING!" Put together a simple plan to hire enough people to repair our roads, fix up our aging schools, and rebuild our infrastructure. Fund this by taxing the richest 1% who have more financial wealth than 95% of Americans combined! Unemployment will drop to 5%. Can you pass it? Well, you sure can't unless you try! And as you're trying, announce that you will force the Republican senators (who until now simply have had to say they "intended" to filibuster in order to kill a bill) to have to actually filibuster! Make them stand on the floor of the Senate and read from the phone book 24/7. They won't last a day. And America will see them for who they really are.
5. Declare That No Democrat Will Accept ANY Wall Street Money in the Next Election Cycle.
Pick a day in the coming week. Have all your fellow Democrats in Congress stand in front of the Capitol (with President Obama) and pledge that if America allows you to retain control of Congress, none of you will take a penny from Wall Street for the 2012 election. Instead, promise to accept donations of only $2, $5 and $10. You will also pledge not to take a job as a lobbyist or lawyer for ANY corporation for ten years after you leave Congress. The message will be a powerful one to the average American fed up with corrupt political hacks. Act like Honest Abe, not Fast Freddie -- and see what happens.
And here are two bonus suggestions: Use what sense of humor you have and go after these candidates and their agenda with all the hilarious ridicule they deserve. And quit complaining about "the base" not doing enough to help you. You want help? Do something this week to earn it. I've offered five suggestions. I'm sure the rest of "the base" has a few more.
Comments
Note: Disqus 2012 is best viewed on an up to date browser. Click here for information. Instructions for how to sign up to comment can be viewed here. Our Comment Policy can be viewed here. Please follow the guidelines. Note to Readers: Spam Filter May Capture Legitimate Comments...
216 Comments so far
Show AllIn all these tedious campaigns, you're near certain to read the same imbecilic crap. First, there's the inevitable blowhards that come to tell us that the Clinton's are evil and responsible for all the crimes and horrors in the universe. Consider that Bill Clinton is blamed for NAFTA, even though he didn't sign it into law, Bush the Elder did. In this connection, I read a recent piece by Michael Lerner where he wrote, "...as Roosevelt did in the 30s and Reagan did in the 80s, you use your presidency to build support for your worldview, then you find that even when a president and congress of a different party take control (Eisenhower in the 50s and CLINTON IN THE 90s), their options ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED because the previous ideology (the elder Bush, when he signed NAFTA into law) STILL HAS A HOLD ON THE COUNCIOUSNESS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE." Why, then, is Clinton blamed for NAFTA? Clinton is blamed, because it's easy to blame someone that has come under non-stop and vicious attacks by the republicans and their enormous strength in corporate, network media, and a kangaroo court desperate to impeach him for trivia. The Clinton's are believed to be worse than other democrats, even by many democrats. What most Clinton haters, especially non-Republican haters, can't face is the humiliating truth about themselves, that their hatred has been conditioned by propaganda and media.
A post-writer calling himself dreamjoehill made this point, "Never forget that Obama was the top recipient of campaign contributions from Wall St. in 2008." In spite of these obvious points, people continue to hold the Clinton's as responsible for many of Obama's problems as Bush. Who was it that Obama ran against in 2008? Forget McCain, that moron was lost before he started. It was Hillary that Obama was worried about, not McCain. In fact, Michael Moore conspired with old freaks like Larry King to continue a wave of attacks like those delivered on Larry King "Live," made by Moore when he appeared on King's show, against Hillary. Why would Moore so strongly support a candidate (Obama) who "...was the top recipient of campaign contributions from Wall St(?)." Was Moore so dumb, that he didn't know who people in his own economic class were supporting? I strongly doubt it. Does it take a genius to see that if Obama was the top recipient of Wall St. money, he would inevitably turn into the top supporter of Wall St. when he became president. Yet, Moore went out of his way to support Obama, and destroy Hillary. Why, I ask you, didn't the corporatists support Hillary with their largesse, if Hillary is so driven by big money? Why did the financial elite in this country back Obama, and work to destroly Hillary? Why is it that Bill Maher's unseen writers (Maher is pretty much incapable of writing his own stuff), almost never fail to include a joke, delivered by Maher, against Bill Clinton and Hillary, during nearly every one of his shows? Maher once told me, that he "liked Bill Clinton," and I believed him. But you wouldn't know it from the ugly shit he continues to spread about Clinton. It must be writers (probably mostly republicans) that give Maher his anti-Clinton rubbish, and constantly work to give Maher his pro-Obama orders.
Dear Michael Moore,
It would be so easy for the Democrats to grab hold and increase their momentum. My question is: What is holding them back? I have to conclude one of two things: 1. They are spineless incompetents, or 2. There is someone or some group with greater power putting the brakes on them. I hope for 1 but fear it's 2. Number 2 (no pun intended) would explain so much of the otherwise inexplicable behavior on both sides of the aisle.
I hope that some day you will turn your investigative light on this theory of "the men behind the curtain". It's the crux of everything.
Jesus wept.
For all of your information Michael Moore doesn't really expect Democrats to do any of these things. He's merely using this article as a vehicle for pointing out how full of shit they are.
Since you could only be sure of this if Moore personally told you so, won't he be ticked off that you've given away his true agenda?
And as long as you're sharing the inside scoop, why did Moore find it necessary to mention that the prospect of electing even WORSE shit-filled Republicans is justification for supporting these treacherous shit-filled Democrats?
Was this part of the frame? And who is this satire-- because your explanation is that this screed is really satirical-- targeting? It's remarkable that Moore's true message went over everyone's head except yours.
Yes, yes, yes, but, there are some problems with all this, especially since Obama and the Dems won't do any of it anyway. But if they did ... it's disingenuous to blame the Republicans for the financial collapse when you have life long Republican Geithner and deregulator Summers on your team and Bill is out there on the hustings even though he happily signed the Glass-Stegalman (sic?) financial deregulation bill (but I guess the stupid public won't notice). Sure, a foreclosure moratorium would be nice, but the voters will wonder why he didn't do it 20 months ago, or why none of his half hearted foreclosure iniatives have worked. But then again it's because they were half hearted with no real presidential backing anyway. WPA would be nice, but then again, why not 20 months ago in the inaugural address, along with a $400 billion infrastructure program (not $50B), to be transferrred from Hillary's Iraq, Afghanistand Pakistan infrastructure building programs. Sorry, guys, get your money from the Arabs, not U.S. taxpayers. Afghanistan? Great, but kinda hard to do when you been telling us its a "war of necessity" all this time.
Forget about Obama and most of the Dems, folks. Don't fund them, support them or vote for them. Everybody should go to Wisconsin to save Feingold, who tragically is being dragged down by the image Obama has given his party, and then start organizing his primary challenge to Obama.
If you fund them and vote for them, you will only encourage them to keep on doing what they have been doing, pretending that they are full fledged Republicans!
We need a national labor party to replace the Dumbocrats!
Why do I give a fig whether repulicrats or demoblicans win. They both suck.
I like how Moore's first item is attack those "Who the Hell Put Us in the Misery We're In". As if democrats and liberals are trying to help anybody but their masters in Corpland.
Cicero: "Freedom is participation in power."
Moore's heart is in the right place but it's too late.
Hope that both party's continue to fail and make fools of themselves, as this is the only way the american public will wake up and discard the two party system for something that represents a broader spectrum of life. something that puts money and power last and helpfulness and compassion first. Critics who mock this type of talk will only serve to show the hardness of their interior and their fear of giving up their own aspirations for power and the illusory safety that is its seduction.
Where are the rest of the comments? 180 of them? Do the editors delete some of them?
The USA is a one party state.
The corporate media has been actively promoting the miniscule and totally insane fringe that is the Teabaggers, in order to force the progressives into voting for the purposefully ineffectual puppet that is Barak Obama and the toothless democrats.
NOW is the time for a real 3rd choice. The majority of Americans would embrace a 3rd party right about now, since it has become obvious that the GOP/DEM is just a national good cop/bad cop charade.
However, the corporate media masters would never let anything like that on your TV sets.
So turn off your damn TV sets, and turn on your brains.
Thanks for this insight, mujeriego. I had long been thinking that the media promotion of the Tea Party was intended to divert the outrage over the economic debacle away from a progressive resurgence, but using the lunatic fringe in order to make even the Democrats look preferable is a desperate but possible strategy. As indicated below, if people like Michael Moore and the other CD authors would help form and lead a new third party, we might start to have grounds for hope.
1. Immediate Wall-to-Wall TV Ads, Internet Videos, and Appearances Hammering Who the Hell Put Us in the Misery We're In. (The US Government?)
2. Indict the Criminals. ( Then give them pardons)
3. Announce a Moratorium on All Family Home Foreclosures.(but dont enact it)
4. Announce a New 21st Century WPA. (but dont enact it either)
5. Declare That No Democrat Will Accept ANY Wall Street Money in the Next Election Cycle. (but will take triple the NEXT one...sort of a lay away plan)
Giving advice to the Democrats is about as useful as serving ice cream to piranhas.
The Democratic Party will not enact any of this, Michael, and you know it. In fact, if they become aware of your suggestions, they will pour contempt on them and accuse you of being part of the "professional left." Don't you think it is time to create a new third party that consists of real progressives?
"Don't you think it is time to create a new third party that consists of real progressives?"
He supported Nader in 2000 but has since declined any such efforts. Someone, I forgot who, brought this up on Moore's endorsement of Kerry the day before the election in 2004. Here it is.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mikes-letter/one-day-left-by-michael-moore
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mikes-letter/two-hours-to-go
Even better, check out Michael Moore's begging the public to "vote Democrat or else" in the 2002 midterm elections:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mikes-letter/you-are-either-with-us-or-you-are-fired
You can see more on his site. I have no reason to expect him to be seriously committed to thinking or voting on principles and convictions despite his otherwise great films. On the bright side, MM reminds us that any party we support (Democrat, Green, or whatever) had better stick to principles and convictions over politicking or else we all lose.
You are right that MM supports the Idea that "the party had better stick to principles and convictions or else we all lose." Unfortunately, when the Democratic Party consistently fails to make even a pretense of following principles (read David Michael Green's new article "Bucking up for Barry"), there are no anti-party consequences. As DMG demonstrates with devastating clarity, the Obama administration has followed exactly the same policies as George W. Bush's administration and in a few cases, such as drone attacks, gone beyond even Bush in right wing fury.
My point is not to criticize MM personally. It is to criticize the tendency among liberals to cling to the Democratic Party as the only realistic alternative for progressives. The performance of the Obama administration demonstrates beyond the possibility of doubt that there is no chance of a Democratic administration enacting significant (or even insignificant, it would appear) progressive change under present circumstances. This demonstrated fact, it seems to me, is a game changer.
As a example of the consequences, the Tea Party is a fabricated political "movement" which serves several corporate purposes - one is to shore up Democratic Party fortunes by providing an even worse, not to mention insane (perhaps brain-dead is the better word), alternative to the Democrats (read Matt Taibbi's new article "Tea and Crackers"). The other purpose is to allow the mainstream media to focus on themes that reinforce right-wing moral frames. The point is that the Tea Party is a political maneuver by the power elite to reinforce their eroding political hegemony.
Just so there's no misunderstanding, what is happening on Nov. 2 is not a contest of Democrats versus Republicans. Chris Hedges said it best, "Do not fear the tea party movement, the birthers, the legions of conspiracy theorists or the militias. Fear the underlying corporate power structure, which no one, from Barack Obama to the right-wing nut cases who pollute the airwaves, can alter. If the hegemony of the corporate state is not soon broken we will descend into a technologically enhanced age of barbarism." (http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/do_not_pity_the_democrats_20100913/)
November's election is a contest between two factions of the corporate power structure who basically have the same interests and have agreed to share power. As one CDer put it , "..the two parties do not contest for power. Rather the two parties between them already have a monopoly on power. The goal of American politics is to preserve the monopoly by excluding reformers from positions of power." Or in the IWW's pungent phrase, "If voting made any difference, it would be illegal."
Michael Moore, DMG, and the host of other leading liberals continue to cling to the illusion that our political system can bring about real change. The failure of the Obama administration means that hundreds of millions must now recognize that the system is designed to prevent change. The fact that in the 30s and the 60s significant change slipped through was due to forces outside the system forcing that change. The fall of Obama is the first real opening for progressives in many a year. The failure of the power elite to put a friendly face on domination means that they will be forced to use other strategies, of which the Tea Party is one pathetic example. But uglier possibilities loom and their declining power may well push them closer.
INSTEAD OF WHINING, EVERYONE SHOULD FAX THIS LETTER TO THE WHITE HOUSE! That is OUR job. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If enough voices are heard, things will change. Sitting doing nothing is what they want.
Democracy...IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME.
In all respect, frank cash, i have been in the street with 300,000 people in nyc and it didn't make any difference.
Funny thing is, most here seem to be more okay having the Republicans back in power than with having the Democrats making heavy concessions to buy time to reverse some of the horrific policies put in place over the past nearly ten years.
I guess you won't be satisfied with anything less than the grand spectacle of Democrats falling on their swords to amuse the most radical progressives among us.
Part of me suspects that this is an intel op on the part of the regressives, designed to divide and conquer liberals and progressives. (If it is, hopefully it won't be successful.) But if it's not, then we truly must be dealing with some of the most ignorant, short-sighted and delusional people who ever roamed the earth.
You progressives seem a lot like the Evangelical "Christian values" voters -- noisy and disgruntled, but not really having any true plan of action. You're a fringe group. What are progressives doing to try to move the country toward their agenda? Complaining to each other about how horrible the Democrats are? Yeesh.
First you build a large, robust populist movement, and then no politician will dare to marginalize you or manipulate you. Then progressives will not only be the politicians, they'll be the ones most likely to win elections.
But it seems like what you want is to elect someone who pandered to you, and then expect him to throw aside any moderates who voted for him, and any regressives who didn't, and commit himself exclusively to your agenda. Sorry, that's not mature thinking.
I wish you weren't a fringe group, but at this time, you are, that's reality, deal with it.
People here shouldn't be fooled. Those saying we shouldn't vote for Dems in this election are either grossly naive or they're downright disingenuous.
Don't be tricked! Vote AGAINST Republicans.
If you actually had any brains to know the meaning of progressive, you wouldn't be attacking them in the first place. How many more elections do you Obamabots and Democrat Party apologists want to continue to put party over principle? Enough until the country is dead beyond recovery?
That's the same Obama cultist from last year on Alternet that should up here earlier this year. See my response to Two Americas.
Thank you max for the reminder. I had that creep off my mind for a long time. I never see her on Alternet even when I do visit that site now and then. She must be too busy trying to "save" her state's Democrat seats from going Republican. That Obamabot had the nerve to call me a "racist" for saying Barry Hussein Obama. Racist "my ass" !
Don't worry JB. I don't think Beck can do much over here unless she wants to pull a "Shawn Berry". I'm surprised I don't ever see her on Alternet anymore. Maybe she doesn't have the rating system to abuse anymore that made her bored of Alternet? You can always stand up to her and virtually no one will hurt you on CD for doing so. Take care.
I am. I am more willing to have Republicans in office than Democrats. Democrats are worse. No Republican would ever attack the Left any worse than you are here. I can't speak for the others.
Your post makes it very clear that no one even remotely or vaguely to the Left politically should ever support the Democrats. You are saying that you are going to treat left wingers worse than the Republicans do, yet that we should side with you and that you are a friend. In other words, you are free to be our enemy, but we must be your friends? That is nonsensical.
A very small number of people, as represented by you, have this sort of hatred for the Left, yet claim to be opponents of the right wing and friends to the Left. You represent maybe 5% of the people in the country. You only seem to represent more people than we do because you are sucking up to those in power, and those in power can suppress what we have to say and make it disappear. I wish you weren't a fringe group, but at this time, you are, that's reality, deal with it. People here shouldn't be fooled. Those saying we should vote for Dems in this election are either grossly naive or they're downright disingenuous.
You apologists for the Democratic party seem a lot like the Evangelical "Christian values" voters -- noisy and disgruntled, but not really having any true plan of action other than to follow our masters. You're a fringe group. What are Democratic party apologists doing to try to move the country toward their agenda? Complaining to each other about how horrible the Left is? Yeesh.
Part of me suspects that this is an intel op on the part of the Democratic party apologists, designed to divide and conquer the working class. (If it is, hopefully it won't be successful.) But if it's not, then we truly must be dealing with some of the most ignorant, short-sighted and delusional people who ever roamed the earth.
That user "Beck" is a known Obama cultist and he/she was very ruthless last year on Alternet against those of us who called out on Obama's wrongdoing. Here, have a look:
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/03/08-4
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/03/17-3
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/03/16-7
First Black Presidency Has Driven Many African Americans Insane
by Glen Ford
A section of Black America has lost their minds – literally – unable to make contact with reality since November 2008. Despite the horrific and disproportionate damage suffered by Blacks in the Great Recession, a psychologically impaired group of African Americans believes they are better off than before the recession began, and that the future is bright. When Obama entered, their powers of reason exited.
“The psychological harm done to Black people by Obama’s presidency may be even greater than the economic and political damage.”
When debating Black supporters of President Obama, there often comes a point where even the most fervent Obamites can find no coherent defense for the president’s pro-Wall Street and militaristic policies, when his refusal to even consider race-targeted solutions to race-based problems becomes simply indefensible. Typically, at that point, the Obama supporter will play the psychological card. The advent of the First Black President, they say, has been of incalculable psychological benefit to Black people, especially to Black children, who can now project themselves into an infinity of possibilities because a Black family is in the White House. Hallelujah!
This psychological argument is the Obamite’s last bastion of defense, especially the “What about the children?” trump card. Yet there is mounting and disturbing evidence that the psychological harm done to Black people by Obama’s presidency may be even greater than the economic and political damage. Barack Obama’s presidency is driving millions of African Americans insane – stone, cold out of their minds.
The insanity is documented in the Pew Research Center’s recent report, “How the Great Recession Has Changed Life in America,” which shows that Black America, the group that has been the most damaged, by far, in the Great Recession, is also the most enthusiastic about the state of the economy. Twenty-five percent of Blacks tell pollsters that the economy is doing good or excellent; that’s almost twice as high as the number of whites that think so – even though Black unemployment is about twice that of whites. Eighty-one percent of Blacks say America is still a land of prosperity, while only 59 percent of whites think that way, even though Blacks make only 61 cents for every white dollar earned, the same as 30 years ago.
more...
http://www.blackagendareport.com/?q=content/first-black-presidency-has-driven-many-african-americans-insane
TA, I have seen what you have described when I get to visit St Louis City once in a while and my uncle has seen similar in the Kansas City area.
I've been suggesting that people vote for Dems to keep the Rethugs out and I found your post offensive.
The fact of the matter is people have good reason to be upset with the Dems and posts that pretend otherwise aren't going to change anyone's opinions, they're going to further alienate the people you're addressing.
If you want progressives to listen to you why not start with a list of Obama's accomplishments? At least then you'd be conveying a positive message. As it is your post is just a disingenuous, offensive, counterproductive bit of blame the victim nonsense.
See my response to Two Americas.
Any idea what idiot came up with the, "If we insult people enough they'll vote for us" strategy? Unfortunately Obama (and 'Beck') seem to have bought into it.
Beck's post is so counterproductive and polarizing that I wonder if her/his first name isn't Glen.
"Any idea what idiot came up with the, "If we insult people enough they'll vote for us" strategy? Unfortunately Obama (and 'Beck') seem to have bought into it."
Good question. I think that it has always been around but just gotten more obvious when attempts to muster support or salvage losing support became desperate.
"Beck's post is so counterproductive and polarizing that I wonder if her/his first name isn't Glen."
That is the same thing a lot of us on Alternet wondered. It seems to be a "she". She would make a big deal about her husband serving in Iraq and getting VA benefits while bashing us for demanding single payer instead of Obamacare. So many times "Beck" would even defend the Blue Dog Democrats callously paintbrushing everyone in the Blue Dog district as conservative. She used to talk a lot about campaigning for the Democrats in Detroit and poking fun at third parties on Alternet. There is more to the story but it's very long and you don't want to know. I would have thought that Beck would have learned anything but like a few known imbeciles on this site, she apparently hasn't. She probably still thinks we all just hate Democrats. It's not that any of us hates the Democrats so much as what they are doing all wrong that we detest.
Sorry, Michael, the bare truth is that the Democrats don't want progressive support. It embarrasses them in front of the opinion leaders they really do care about - their task masters on Wall Street. Wake up and help start a new party - this one's starting to wilt.
While I've promised myself, I wouldn't vote this election, if Obama runs again, the fact remains, that the dems are vastly to be preferred to the republicans, with one priviso. Of course, it's all important that Democratic party "values" are stressed and that they be conveyed by our candidates, with a high degree of honesty. Obama is, measured against the demands of the presidency, a moron, who swindled himself into the presidency by a mountain of lies and fabrications, so important was it, that the financial elite that bought the presdency for him, maintained power. How is this any indication that the dem party "is just as bad as the republicans?" If our presidential campaigns are reduced to a pack of lies, they become mere contests to determine which candidate will be sold to us, and thereafter act as a dupe to continue the theft of our country by the rich. This has nothing to do with the dems, this is simply Grand Theft, posing as politics.
6. LEGALIZE POT...
maybe if the dems had endorsed legalizing marijuana nationally they could have picked up more support, as prop 19 is now polling ahead of every major candidate in the state of california.
http://blog.norml.org/2010/09/30/prop-19-increasingly-popular-among-california-voters/
{Prop 19 is more popular than any candidate or incumbent
Of the statewide propositions polled, only Prop. 19 possessed majority support among California voters. In fact, the same poll reports that a greater percentage of voters now back Prop. 19 than support incumbent Democrat Senators Barbara Boxer (42%) and Dianne Feinstein (44%), Senate Republican challenger Carly Fiorina (35%), Gubernatorial Democrat candidate Jerry Brown (37%) or Gubernatorial Republican candidate Meg Whitman (38%).}
if you live in california - vote for prop 19, and encourage your neighbors to vote for the prop as well...
...peace...
They're mad that the base isn't doing enough? These democratic political whores sold us out! They sold us out to Wall Street and to the Health Insurance oligopoly. They screwed us and now are mad because we're on to them.
I can't stomach the republicans, but I sure don't want to vote for these whores either.
good god Mike
all state of affairs have their reasons - you have to identify them and address them
(like in Roger and Me)
then present your winning solutions
publicdom.net
Moore, you have become irrelevant. I have never been a big fan, although Bowling for Columbine was quite poignant.
You are naive, as i have said before. And speaking of Afghanistan.....obama ran on the pledge that he would rachet that war up several notches. Your own memory is a bit short term itself, isn't it?
obama is the country's only hope to avoid ending up again with a caveman president like W in 2012. remember that at this point obama is the only glimmer of decency among actual power players in D.C., since the senate and the congress are dominated by venal chamber-of-commerce demobliRat senators and congressmen. obama is being responsible by being minimalist and playing defense to keep alive his hope for re-election (a hope with huge implications: want any more nazi scalia-alito-roberts clones as supremos?).
obama must proceed carefully so he can change things when it's possible. he cannot go against the plutocrats masters of the universe cold turkey and become the only problem of the billionaires. if he tried, this neo-feudal class of parasites would cough up in a sec more than enough savings to hire full time and for several years every one of the many mercenary armies of the USA plus the whole of organized crime, just to get rid of him.
obama knows the risks and does not want to become a martyr that goes down in flames to great “progressive” awe and emotion. so be patient and careful about what you ask for unless you really want to redeem your coupon for the opportunity to end up whining about "the friend of the usurer" aka joseph biden.
you guys should instead be harassing non-stop ali baucus, nelson, dianne bribestein, liebercreep, and all the other by-bribe-only whores in the senate and the house.
in particular the wrath of progressives should be funneled into sabotaging the (re)election of sellout blue-creep demobliRat senators and congressmen. congressional pseudo-majorities that are regularly blackmailed by blue-slime demobliRats are worse than republican control of congress and only getting rid of the blue-creep scum will lead to a real chance to start sending decent democrats to congress in 2012 and to re-elect obama.
asking for obama's political suicide before 2013, just because the "progressive" arm-chair warriors are buying 72" HDTV screens is imbecilic and lazy.
I am sorry erplus but Obama knows what he is doing and is shamelessly and knowingly siding with the wrong people. Yes, this isn't a presidential election year but we do not tolerate pols who put politics and cowardice over principles and courage of which Obama is one of them.
"Those in the liberal class who cling to the corpse of the Democratic Party do so not because they believe in the policies of the party—it does not differ in any significant way from the Republican Party—but because they hope against hope that the party will somehow restore itself to its former position as a defender of liberal values and the working class interests. It is the politics of nostalgia." - Chris Hedges "March to Nowhere", 10/5/10
There is some truth in what you say, although it may not be what you intended to convey and our conclusion is wrong.
Aside from what Obama's intentions are, you are correct: he could do nothing for the working class even if he wanted to, and you accurately explain exactly why that is true, in my opinion. The criticisms against the administration - at least in my case - are not attacks on Obama, but rather are attacks on the system and the thinking that supports the system. No election is going to overthrow the immense power of the ruling class, no politician is going to decree them out of power, no Congress is going to legislate them into impotency, and yes they will stop at nothing to thwart anything we try to do.
You then conclude that for this reason - that he can do nothing for the working class people - we, as working class people, should support him.
In any case, your whole thesis falls apart when we recognize that Obama has done many, many reactionary and right wing things when he didn't need to, supposedly bargained away things, yet consistently got nothing in return. He is getting a lot accomplished for the ruling class. He is doing a great job of destroying the Left. He has no intention of doing anything for the working class people, and never did. Those who think otherwise were deceived, believed his lies. Those who are asking us to continue to demand that we support him are still believing, and presiding the lies.
But still, if you really think that he is our only hope and that if he fails some much worse alternative would ensue, then what you say is understandable. You will no doubt be extremely resistant to discussing this, since that would require you to risk losing your only hope and to face the possibility of your worst nightmares coming true.
Maybe you would be willing to consider this: is it possible that this state you are in - unwilling to think about or discuss this because you are caught between losing your lifeline, that one little hope you have, and your worst fears coming true - is an illusion, and that it has been planted into your imagination by those who profit and gain by having you in this paralyzed and emotional state? Is that even remotely possible?
Michael Moore, I've seen several of your films and I've always respected you for your articulateness, as well as your positions, but I think that Obama and the Democrats have blown it clear out of the water, the damage has already been done, and it's too late.