What do Progressives want?

[vaberella]

Okay...the only reason I ask this because I saw the Bill Maher clip on MSNBC, I did not see it last week or this weekend. So that was a first for me...and some people say he was digging into the President. Now, I have to say I find his position a bit off.

I thought the key thing for people was that we knew what our President was going to do, where he stands on issues, and definitely that we have so much transparency it's ridiculous. That would entail Op-Eds, radio addresses, tv appearances and the like to keep the American people abreast of major current issues of the White House and national affairs. Added to that, it would help for people to realize that the WH is doing something except for taking advantage of perks like going to Camp David every 20 days.


That being said...what's up with Bill Maher's statements on the President being on television? I figured a lot of people would like to keep in touch with this and for progressives this is a step up to the former lock down of the entire US Government that we had for last 8 years. Just looking at the WH house during Bush's time was like classified information.

I just get the feeling that it's just never enough. There's either not information or too much. It's either not enough television appearances to tell us what's going on and where the President stands---or the President doesn't explain his position enough on an issue or the administration is not doing enough. Or he has control of Congress but he's not getting anything done within that time frame--forgetting that there is divisions of power.

I'm just noticing that there's a level of dissatisfaction and it seems endless. Maybe if there were 30 of him things could be different. I've seen people talk about Gitmo, like he's doing NOTHING on it. I've seen people call him a Corporatist on this board when he's been basically dismantling the corporate structure little by little. I remember weeks ago until days ago people would say he's not taking command of the health issue---when he was in the forefront for a public option for ages. Now he's facing the Senate, which has basically said, "We're going to shut you down." Then we have LGBT rights, where he's stated he is dedicated to getting things done to repeal a law and yet it seems to not matter because for most he's not taking command of the issue. This goes directly back to the health care issue----I can't wait until DADT and DOMA go up to Congress. I can see the Senate now screwing him...but always he's not doing enough.

Don't get me wrong. President Obama has a lot to get done and I have my own set of goals I want met. However, I hired him to be transparent, to follow through on his campaign promises and I gave him 4 years to do that. From Women's rights to LGBT rights, to Native Americans to improving national security and education. He hasn't even started on the Education part yet.

So for me he's doing a lot currently and I hope he continues on the pace and I hope he gets more tv gigs so I can be abreast of the issues. To me he's not trying to win a popularity contest if I get something substantive in regards to the State of Affairs currently in the White House.

Just my own perspective on a slight annoyance.

[jenmito]

1. And of course the part the media is talking about is Maher's opinion that Obama's over-exposed...

and asking the question, "Is the President over-exposed?" He took the RW's attack that Obama's a celebrity and AGREED with it. He seems maybe a little jealous of Obama and his family and his marriage and his popularity.

He compared Obama to Lindsey Lohan as if he's just doing nothing but "being famous for being famous." Obama is the POTUS and his appearances on tv are often of him giving speeches or town halls or having press conferences. When he goes out for a meal, that restaurant's business always drastically improves. When he and his wife go to a play, that play is seen by way more people than would've seen it otherwise. When he invites cameras into the White House, people get to see THEIR house (and people are interested).

Bill Maher doesn't seem to get ANY of that. But now HE'S getting publicity. Ironic.

[NYC_SKP]

3. "the comedian suggested Obama needs to act more like his predecessor."

Alrighty, then...

[jenmito]

7. Yeah...

that was something.

[vaberella]

4. Is Bill Maher bipolar? I don't get him.

That's a totally deranged analogy; President Obama = Lindsay Lohan---it's like some of the people on here with their President Obama = Bush III.

[jenmito]

8. He's SOMETHING...

I can't (nor do I want to) put my finger on it.

[NYC_SKP]

9. I think Bill says what he says because he THINKS it make him "cool"...and...

for me, he's too clever by half.

On the other side of the aisle is a similar former comedian turned pundit, Dennis Miller.

I think he similarly thinks he's clever and that it's cool to be sickeningly snarky.

I can't watch Maher, I love his guests but I just can't bear to look at him or hear the sound of his voice.

:kick:

[NYC_SKP]

2. I saw that, the crack about "Law and Order", and "I don't want a TV Star". Hey, Bill Maher:

Go FUCK YOURSELF!

I don't give a flying fuck what you think or want and you can just STFU, asshole.

"“This is not what I voted for,” Maher said. “I don’t want my president to be a TV star.”
Maher criticized Obama’s constant television coverage and said the president should focus on fixing the nation’s problems instead.
“You don’t have to be on television every minute of every day — you’re the president, not a rerun of ‘Law & Order,’” Maher said. “TV stars are too worried bout being popular and too concerned about being renewed.”

Maher continued: “You’re skinny and in a hurry and in love with a nice lady — but so is Lindsay Lohan. And just like Lindsay, we see your name in the paper a lot but we’re kind of wondering when you’re actually going to do something.”
Maher added that s presidential rival John McCain was right to say Obama acted like a celebrity and, amazingly for Maher, the comedian suggested Obama needs to act more like his predecessor."

Fuck Off, Bill!

http://www.apakistannews.com/bill-maher-obama-125930

[vaberella]

5. +1. n/t

[wyldwolf]

6. turmoil and conflict?

Something to complain about? A recognizable and easily labeled enemy?

[zipplewrath]

10. A Joke

First, you have to remember that Maher to some extent works from a comedic position. The whole bit about being over exposed was a bit of humor to set up his more serious tone. But furthermore, let's talk about your assertions, and in there you might find your answers.

1) "...Gitmo, like he's doing NOTHING on it"

He hasn't deviated from the actions of the Bush second term all that much. The vast majority of it has been just rearranging the furniture. He's still advocating indefinite detentions. The complaint isn't so much that he is doing "nothing" as what he is doing isn't the transformational "change" that progressives were expecting.

2) "call him a Corporatist on this board when he's been basically dismantling the corporate structure little by little"

That one might need to be fleshed out a little bit. The bailout money hasn't backed up any sort of "dismantling" claim. His "stress tests" were basically intended to shore up confidence in the major banking entities. And there's been little if any real accomplishment with respect to individual mortgage holders. His stimulus was vastly less than some were advocating, and not particularly focused where progressives would have chose.

3) "he's not taking command of the health issue---when he was in the forefront for a public option for ages"

Of SOME public option. It isn't clear what he'll insist on, and his exclusion of single payer advocates from the process wasn't encouraging. Truth is, what is starting to become clear is the plan is as much a "insurance profits protection act" as what progressives were "hoping" for.

4) "Then we have LGBT rights, where he's stated he is dedicated to getting things done to repeal a law"

Prove it. He's done nothing. He hasn't even gotten the issue moving within the DoD. There's nothing happening over in Congress. They are still running folks out of the military. And the justice department has taken positions on various related issues that are contrary to the desires of the GLBT communities desires or expectations. Throw in Rick Warren and Obama's complete silence on advances in Gay Marriage legislation and there's not alot of "meat" there.


I've said this before around here, but it bears repeating. These defenses of Obama are usually grounded in "give him more time". We are giving him time, we have no choice. But don't try to say we don't have reasons for concern. On issue after issue it usually is either vastly less than progressives were hoping for, or it is directly opposite of what was expected. So on the issues upon which we are "waiting" we have cause for concern.

[WonderGrunion]

11. Bill Maher isn't a progressive, he's a provocateur.

He has no issue slamming progressives or progressive issues (except drug legalization).

[Name removed]

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[Life Long Dem]

12. What it is, is, Obama cannot do anything their presidential choice would have done.

That's all it is. And he never will do anything as good their choice. These people have a negative outlook with anything that Obama says. And this negative look at his policies will only take a look at any evidence they can find to prove their point.

It's this negative attitude toward Obama that is not their for their choice. But if they looked at Obama - for once - like they do their first choice then they would be looking at Obama says and what he is saying and not looking only at what fault you could find.

Give it a try and look at Obama the same way you looked at your candidate, and you might find out that the negative attitude you had is not healthy for you and maybe you will realize your attitude really sucks.

For me, I couldn't be any happier with Obama, and that attitude goes much further than pissing and moaning about losing. But then again they could be repukes as well. :-)

[Thrill]

13. Just like with Krugman, the media ignores Maher until he criticizes

Obama. Then they can play the shit over and over. Unreal

[vaberella]

14. That's true. n/t

[Kermitt Gribble]

16. "we have so much transparency it's ridiculous"

The level of transparency does not equate to the number of times the President appears on tv.

This -> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5809703 has everything to do with transparency.

And how, exactly, is President Obama "dismantling the corporate structure little by little"? I'm really curious about that one.

[Orsino]

17. Of course it's never enough. As a wise woman once said...

"President Obama has a lot to get done and I have my own set of goals I want met. However, I hired him to be transparent, to follow through on his campaign promises and I gave him 4 years to do that. From Women's rights to LGBT rights, to Native Americans to improving national security and education. He hasn't even started on the Education part yet."

There's no such thing as "enough," when all this remains to be done. The thing is, now is an excellent time to kick up a fuss about these things, because we have a president who listens--and the forces arrayed against us never sleep.