Hey, Bill Maher-Here are just a few of the pieces of legislation that Obama signed into law

[jenmito]

that makes him NOT "just another color" than Bush:


FEATURED LEGISLATION

Cash for Clunkers Extension

Signed: Thursday, August 6, 2009

Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

Signed: Monday, June 22, 2009

Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009

Signed: Friday, May 22, 2009

Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act

Signed: Friday, May 22, 2009

Helping Families Save Their Homes Act

Signed: Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act

Signed: Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

Signed: Wednesday, April 21, 2009

Omnibus Public Lands Management Act

Signed: Monday, March 30, 2009

Small Business Act Temporary Extension

Signed: Friday, March 20, 2009

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Signed: Tuesday, February 17, 2009

DTV Delay Act

Signed: Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act

Signed: Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

Signed: Thursday, January 29, 2009

http://www.whitehouse.gov/

And that doesn't include how he has improved our standing in the world!

So when Bill Maher asks Michael Moore, "How much longer do you give your hero (Obama) before you decide he's 'just another color'" (paraphrased question, but that was the idea of it) maybe he should realize he's already done a LOT!

[DevonRex]

1. Bill will never acknowledge that. That would ruin his schtick. Gotta make

that money, doncha know.

[jenmito]

3. Ironic, isn't it...

that he does it for the money while chastising others who supposedly do things for the money? And when he called Obama Moore's "hero" just because Moore said he still supports Obama, he outs himself as a hater.

[BlooInBloo]

8. Heh - I'm sure Bill also just likes to snark for snark's sake. His vocation = his avocation.

[jenmito]

Yeah, Bill's no better than the people he puts down.

[marshall]

153. He's a comedian, he doesn't deal with facts

He distorts them--because reality isn't that funny.

[DevonRex]

10. He certainly did out himself as a hater. He also needs to take a few

courses in political science. Like how a bill becomes law and the separation of powers. Until he educates himself on the basics, he has no standing to spout off, IMO.

And the condescension he used in talking to Moore on the subject of Obama was just out of line. Michael Moore actually tries to DO things. He's a practical idealist. Bill just whines for money. He loves that capitalism, doesn't he? As long as he's at the top of the pyramid scheme, it's okey dokey with him.

[jenmito]

12. Exactly...

you described Maher perfectly.

[DutchLiberal]

34. A "hater" that supported Obama 200% during the elections?

Maher has also repeated time and again that he thinks Obama is too *soft* on people who make as much money as he (Maher) does. He has argued for raising the rich's taxes; that includes his own taxes! He's no hypocrite.

Maybe he's not a hater. Maybe you're just a blind worshiper.

[jenmito]

43. No, I'm not a "blind worshiper" as you wrote...

and you'd know that if you searched my posts. And yes, he's a hater NOW. He's impatient and blind to what Obama has already accomplished.

[DutchLiberal]

60. "He's a hater". That's what the right said about anyone who disagreed with Bush.

Like the people over at Fox News. Congratulations. You're in good company.

[jenmito]

65. No. HE'S "in good company."

:eyes:

[DutchLiberal]

77. Please, go on, continue to amaze me with your well-reasoned arguments...

[Clio the Leo]

2. If Bill would ONLY accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour....

.... he would be eligible to get a coveted slot on Fox News.

Ain't nothin' separating that boy from the whack jobs at Fox but a hair cut.

[jenmito]

5. Sadly...

he's just about that bad, but from the left. He started early by making fun of his use of the teleprompter (even though every other president has used one, too).

[DutchLiberal]

35. Nothing... Except intelligence, critical thinking and using reasoning and arguments...

The fact that you equate him with Fox News speaks volumes about you...

[Bluenorthwest]

40. and it says plenty about the faith the poster touts

Plenty.

[Clio the Leo]

47. Like most of the Fox pundits, Bill says stuff to get a rise out of people...

.... he's producing a television program. And attention, negative or otherwise = viewership and viewership = money.

Of course I also suspect Mr. Maher has a bit of an evil streak in him ... he likes to say thing that he knows will stir the pot because its fun to watch folks react to it.

I know this because I have that same streak myself. ;)

Of course the difference between Maher and Bill O and Sean and myself is they have been smart enough to figure out a way to get paid for it.

[DutchLiberal]

63. Except that Bill Maher speaks truths no-one else in the media dares to speak...

Watch a skilfully build, well-worded argument like this on Bill Maher's show, about how 30 years of Reaganism has destroyed the country:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-oPdoT0H1A

Do you *really* think that such a rational argument would ever air on Fox?

Or take this call to end the American military empire overseas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAoDSXxwpsQ

You know such harsh truths that question the military-industrial complex would never make it to a Fox program.

What about the countless times he defended Obama against right-wing smears?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQVYmhpvhkg

But noooooooooooooo, that doesn't count anymore, since Maher has dared to criticize the Untouchable!

[jenmito]

69. You mean like when he claimed Obama got rid of Van Jones because he cursed at Repubs.? n/t

[DutchLiberal]

78. Yes, I mean that too! See, Obama is not a Holy man, and the Democratic party is not infallible...

So they can be criticized.

[jenmito]

81. So you defend Maher lying? I guess you have blind faith in Bill Maher!

Who woulda thunk it?! :rofl:

[DutchLiberal]

94. Who's lying here? You're lying about both Maher and me...

[jenmito]

97. You and Maher are. Maher said Obama got rid of Van Jones simply because he cursed

at Republicans. That's a LIE.

[sandnsea]

4. cynical chic

There's a certain group of elite liberals who will never be anything but. If they passed the exact same health care as Canada, this group would complain about drug coverage even though Canada doesn't cover it either.

[CTLawGuy]

11. very astute

they cling to their cynicism as others do guns and religion--as some have said.

[Tansy_Gold]

19. And those who continue to see the glass as not just half full but

overflowing will not tolerate any negatives.

I can't speak for anyone else on this thread, only for myself, and I will repeat what I've said/written so many times before:

It's not that Obama has done NOTHING or that he's done nothing good; in fact, he has. But on the signature items of his campaign -- taxes, the wars, the economy, health care -- we have yet to see major bills being presented, passed, and signed into law.

Yes, there was the credit card reform thing, but for all the hype it gets in the OP, it's not a major fix for the current situation because it goes into effect more than a year after signing, it allows the credit card companies lots of room to gouge cardholders until then, and it doesn't fix some of the major problems.

And yes, the Lily Ledbetter legislation was important, but there are ever so many more pieces of labor legislation -- EFCA, anyone? -- that are languishing.


Obama is a great speechgiver, and I don't need to remind anyone here who said it first because I'll get flamed for even repeating it. I don't give a shit. The fact is, he does give great speeches. But he's not in the lecture hall or on the campaign trail any more. Now he has to get down to the business not only of GOVERNING but of LEADING.

Too many have already said -- including Bill Maher -- that Obama should have come to the health care reform table with all his demands, whether single payer "Medicare for all" or whatever, and only THEN started compromising. We're going on 11 months, almost a year since the election, and nothing's been passed on health care yet. I'm one of those who has no insurance and I expected better from Obama than five senate bills and four house bills or however many it is and everything gets dragged on and on and on people are dying and getting sick and NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. Lots of rhetoric. Lots of speeches. Lots of lies. All smoke, no fire.

Vietnam has moved from Iraq to Afghanistan, the graveyard of empires.

GDP is up, employment is down.

Maytag laid off 1100 in Indiana, is hiring 1100 in Mexico.

Where's the change? Where's the change in your life? In mine?

Mine hasn't changed. My taxes haven't gone down. I still don't have affordable health care. I'm still hearing about friends' nephews and granddaughters shipping off to Afghanistan, and reading about their sons being killed there. I'm lucky -- I own my home and have no mortgage to be foreclosed on and I have a modest income from self-employment to supplement my modest social security survivor's benefits from mine and my late husband's contributions. (Both of us paid in, but only one of us will collect).

Obama can only blame the mess on booooosh for so long. After a while, it becomes his. Cash for clunkers may have benefited some middle-income people, but most of my friends who had cars that would qualify, including me, couldn't afford to take advantage of it. We've watched as neighbors and acquaintances have gone through foreclosure unable to renegotiate their loans and/or unable to even afford a restructured loan because they've lost their jobs. Some were indeed more spendthrift than perhaps they should have been, but others weren't. They bought what they honestly believed they could afford, and had they not lost their jobs due to circumstances beyond their control, they would still be able to afford them.

Obama behaves as president more like a college professor. He acts as if he thinks he is still talking to a classroom of bright, hopeful students and he is trying to get them to think for themselves and find their own answers to the questions. Instead of taking sides on the issues, he plays games, stays neutral, encouraging his students so they can learn and then go out into the world on their own.

But this isn't a classroom, not all of the people to whom he directs his message are very bright, and many don't want to find the answers themselves or are capable of implementing the answers. Right here on DU we know damn well what some of the answers are, but we can't do anything because we aren't senators and congresscritters, cabinet secretaries or white house advisors. We don't have media access.

Obama needs to lead, not urge others to prepare to lead. He's at the top of the hill now, and he needs to act like it.

The glass is maybe quarter full and getting fuller, but it sure as hell isn't overflowing.


Tansy Gold

[Cha]

21. And, those who do not acknowledge PO's and his Team's

accomplishments are nothing but whiners.

Political Tiger (1000+ posts) Mon Jul-20-09 06:36 PM
Original message

"What your President has accomplished just 6 months into his first term"

Signed executive orders to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, within a year, ban torture and end the CIA’s secret overseas prisons and define treatment of Detainees.

Reversed restrictions on stem cell research.

Signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Reducing discrimination based on gender, age, religion, or race.

Signed an executive order reversing the ban that prohibits funding to international family planning groups that provide abortions. Gag rule revoked (Mexico City policy).

Creates the White House Council on Women and Girls "to provide a coordinated federal response to the challenges confronted by women and girls and to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies consider how their policies and programs impact women and families."

Signed a Presidental Memorandum extending federal benefits to same-sex partners of federal workers and announced support for the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009.

Reverses U.S. position on LGBT Issues at the UN: At the "Durban Review Conference," U.S. supports language condemning “all forms of discrimination and all other human rights violations based on sexual orientation.”

Signed executive order requiring federal contractors to offer jobs to current workers when contracts change.

Reversed a Bush order requiring federal contractors to post notice that workers can limit financial support of unions serving as their exclusive bargaining representatives.

Signed executive order preventing federal contractors from being reimbursed for expenses meant to influence workers deciding whether to form a union and engage in collective bargaining.

Created a foreclosure prevention fund for homeowners.

Expanded eligibility for the refinancing portion of the Making Home Affordable plan to help Americans struggling with distressed mortgages refinance at lower interest rates, even if they owe up to 25 percent more than their homes are now worth.

Established a credit card "bill of rights".

Expanded loan programs for small businesses.

Extended and index the 2007 Alternative Minimum Tax patch.

Expanded eligibility for State Children's Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP).

Expanded funding to train primary care providers and public health practitioners.

Created a new White House task force on the problems of middle-class Americans, and installed Vice President Joe Biden as its chairman.

Appoints Vice President Joe Biden to Oversee Stimulus Plan Payouts.

Granted a reprieve to Liberian immigrants facing imminent expulsion.

Directed military leaders to end war in Iraq.

Allowing Caskets to be photographed when the return from Iraq with family approval.

Released nine previously secret internal Justice Department memos and opinions defining the legal limits of government power in combating terrorism.

On Arab TV Network, Obama Urges Dialogue.

Gave a speech in Cairo engaging the Muslim and Arab world.

Bars independent contractors from conducting interrogations of terror suspects.

Granted Americans unrestricted rights to visit family and send money to Cuba.

Ordered the release of nearly a quarter of a million pages of records from the Reagan White House that were kept from the public during a lengthy review by President George W. Bush.

Restored funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) program.

Released presidential records.

Required new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliation or contributions.

Pushed for enactment of Matthew Shepard Act, which expands hate crime law to include sexual orientation and other factors.

Invites gay families to the Easter Egg Roll as part of the Obama administration's outreach to diverse communities.

Created a White House Office on Urban Policy.

Increased funding for the NEA.

Appointed an assistant to the president for science and technology policy.

Funded a major expansion of AmeriCorps.

Banned lobbyist gifts to executive employees.

Investment in all types of alternative energy.

Enacted tax credit for consumers for plug-in hybrid cars.

Support for high-speed rail.

Provided grants to encourage energy-efficient building codes.

Extended unemployment insurance benefits and temporarily suspend taxes on these benefits.

Created the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers to help auto industry workers transition to new manufacturing opportunities, including jobs in alternative energy.

Stopped raids on medical marijuana dispensers.

Nominated Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States. If confirmed, Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic to ever serve on the Supreme Court.

Appointed more than 60 openly LGBT persons to positions in the executive branch.

Issues Presidential Proclamation for Pride, proclaiming June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.

Signed a mercury reduction pact with 140 other nations.

Signed the Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act to curb wasteful spending by the Pentagon. Intended to price contracts and budgets lower; may potentially save billions of dollars in defense.

Signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009, which serves to protect two million acres of land and creates a new system of land conservation for the Bureau of Land Management.

Phase out government payments to crop producers making more than $500,000 a year and eliminates subsidies for cotton storage to help trim the U.S. budget deficit.

Cut funding for a proposed U.S. nuclear storage facility at Yucca Mountain.

Restored Endangered Species Act Provision requiring U.S. agencies consult with independent federal experts to determine if their actions might harm threatened and endangered species.

Orders The Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration "to protect and restore the health, heritage, natural resources, and social and economic value of the Nation's largest estuarine ecosystem and the natural sustainability of its watershed."

Signed the 2009 Omnibus Public Land Management Act designating two million additional acres of public wilderness areas the highest level of government protection from logging and other forms of commercial use and development.

Signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act which will expedite the search for cures and treatments for millions of Americans living with paralysis caused by spinal cord injury, stroke, MS, Parkinson's and many other diseases and disorders.

Established The Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record, a new system for updating medical records of servicemen and women both during and after their military careers.

Established the White House Office of Health Reform

Created new and stronger safety standards to safeguard the country's food supply.

and

Got his daughters a new puppy!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8538282

[Tansy_Gold]

30. It's a long list, but. . .. .

things like appointing Joe Biden to oversee stimulus plan pay-outs is mere administrative busywork. It's not a separate accomplishment.

Like, if your mom tells you to clean your room, you can't come back and say you did four other things in addition to cleaning your room: "I cleaned my room AND I made my bed AND I cleaned my closet AND I put away my toys AND I hung up my clothes." It's part and parcel of the same thing.

Yes, Obama appointed 60 openly LGBT persons, but he would have had to appoint someone anyway. He gives speeches on LGBT issues. He changes US policy at a conference. He invites LGBT families to the Easter egg roll. None of these are insignificant (well, maybe the easter egg thin. . .) . But at best it's a change, perhaps, in hiring policies. CHANGING THE PRACTICE ON BENEFITS FOR LGBT PARTNERS is a much more significant accomplishment.

Where are the equally significant changes on other issues? And is the granting of benefits to the gay partners of federal workers all you want to see him accomplish? If not, what kind of effort is he making toward accomplishing whatever it is else you want him to do?

The point is, the general direction of the country in terms of the bullet-point elements of the campaign has not changed. We do not have comprehensive health care reform, nor are we anywhere close to it, and the existing huge Dem majorities in congress may or may not exist in another year. We do not have comprehensive tax reform along the lines touted in the campaign. Gitmo may be slated for closure but it's still open. The Iraq war seems to be getting less coverage but as far as I know it's still going on, still claiming lives, still sucking up our money, and Afghanistan is getting worse by the second. The economy is as fucked up as ever, if not actually worse.

Obama had the opportunity in January and February of this year to bombard the Dem congress with his agenda. The pukes were stunned by their losses and at their weakest point. Now, nine months later, they've discovered they have the power to stall and stall and stall and stall. And they've done exactly that. They've angled for compromise after compromise after compromise, and the Dems have compromised. (Sonia Sotomayor is hardly a liberal; with the majority Obama had/has in the Senate, his showed his true colors in nominating her: compromise, get along with everyone, no fights in the clubhouse.)

There is no investigation, let alone prosecution, of booooosh administration crimes. None. What has that compromise given the Obama administration? Has it given them any cooperation from the GOP? No, not the tiniest bit.

Making a speech is not an accomplishment. We need fewer words and more actions.


TG

[TheWraith]

27. Oh, for crying out fucking loud.

"But on the signature items of his campaign -- taxes, the wars, the economy, health care -- we have yet to see major bills being presented, passed, and signed into law."

To paraphrase Barney Frank, what color is the sky on the planet where you live?

Taxes: the Bush tax cuts are going away next year, and new incentives and tax credits for working people are already here. The wars: we're leaving Iraq AS WE SPEAK, and an endgame is being formulated for Afghanistan. The economy: remember that whole "stimulus" thing? Healthcare: there's bills in front of Congress RIGHT NOW!

"ever so many more pieces of labor legislation -- EFCA, anyone? -- that are languishing."

So what zone of downtime do you imagine seeing where Obama could have passed this stuff and just ignored it? Do you think that EFCA is more important than, say, the 18,000 people a year who die because of a lack of health insurance? Are there really people out there who don't realize that the bottleneck is, as always, the Congress and Senate?

"Now he has to get down to the business not only of GOVERNING but of LEADING."

Really? What does that look like, exactly? Advocating for a given set of positions? Like, say, doing healthcare town hall meetings across the country? Mobilizing his volunteer base to spread the word? Prime time news conferences and speeches? Oh, wait, he's been doing that almost continuously, hasn't he?

"We're going on 11 months, almost a year since the election, and nothing's been passed on health care yet. I'm one of those who has no insurance and I expected better from Obama than five senate bills and four house bills or however many it is and everything gets dragged on and on and on people are dying and getting sick and NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. Lots of rhetoric. Lots of speeches. Lots of lies. All smoke, no fire."

All temper tantrum, no substantive criticism. You wanted Obama to wave a magic wand and make everything happen right away? We've gotten closer to real healthcare reform in the last 6 months than entire presidencies have before. If this were as easy as you seem to think it is, just taking a tough negotiating position and saying "let's do it," it would have been done 100 years ago when Teddy Roosevelt was talking about universal healthcare. It's ironic that the people who complain the loudest about others supposedly treating Obama as a god are actually the ones who are having fits because he DOESN'T have magical powers. This country has been through the governmental equivalent of being nuked, 40% of the Congress will obstruct ANYTHING Obama tries to do no matter what, a very large faction on the right is actively trying to get him murdered, and you're having a fit because he's been in office eight months and hasn't manifestly fixed the lives of every American citizen? Give me a break.

[Tansy_Gold]

32. No, not a temper tantrum, Just a litany of my concerns. Yes, "CONCERNS."

I realise that there are people here on DU who simply cannot bear ANY criticism of their god. It's ironic to me that they continue to think of him as a god and yet make excuses for all his failures! I mean, c'mon boys and girls. If he's so wonderful, why hasn't he done everything? Why does he need all you little mortals to cover up for him?

The point being, I don't expect Obama to be a god and I don't expect him to do everything in eight months. I do expect him to be doing more than making pretty speeches and then letting his followers claim a speech as an "accomplishment."

For example: Where was the White House proposal on health care reform and when was it delivered to congress?


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/10/AR2009091004365.html

Details Still Lacking On Obama Proposal
White House Unclear on How Some Far-Reaching Goals Would Be Met

By Ceci Connolly
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, September 11, 2009

One day after President Obama pitched his plan for comprehensive health-care reform to a joint session of Congress. . . . .

Obama's proposal came out on 10 September, with details lacking. That's seven and a half months into his presidency, with a strong Dem majority that should have been working on getting it passed months ago. Instead, he let the various committees and subcommittees -- including those headed by individuals known to have ties to the health insurance and health industy lobbies -- fart around all that time and when he came out with his "plan" it was already a compromise.

There's been too much debate here on DU about whether or not there's going to be a public option, whether Reid will back it, whether Pelosi will back it, whether Obama will back it, whether Emanuel will back it, whether Baucus will back it. COME ON, PEOPLE, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO'S ON OUR SIDE AND WHO ISN'T! We don't even know what side our party is on!

And you say we're close to getting meaningful health care reform passed? Are you shitting me?



The tax cuts that are set to expire aren't the only problem with the tax code. Oh, the AMT patch was fixed, but there are a zillion other things that need fixing. Capital gains for one. Inheritance tax for another. Taxes on the extremely obscenely wealthy.



We aren't even getting much rhetoric any more about the bankers and CEOs who are going home with billions every year -- or even only hundreds of millions -- while too many working people are out of work or out of their homes or both because of the still unchecked policies of Wall Street. A few investigations here, a few inquiries there, but has anything really been done? How many millions have been clawed back? Any?

I rarely attack other posters as individuals. I'm not saying I never do, but I don't do it very often. And I manage to weather a lot of personal attacks leveled at me because I don't -- and never have -- fallen into worship mode when it comes to the president. But maybe it's time I started taking my own advice to him.

Open your eyes, you who are blinded by blind hope, and realize that we have not progressed nearly as far as we need to. Don't blame me for pointing out that this isn't Oz.

In just another few months it will be 2010 and we'll be in campaign mode again. There will be long breaks for this and long breaks for that, as representatives and senators head out on the campaign trail. THIS was the year for real change to happen, and it didn't. The pukes will be able to go back to their states and their districts and point to Obama's failures -- and of course they will not take the blame for that. They WILL, however, take credit for what they see as their success in stopping the creep of evil socialism. They will continue to lie, and we will not always be able to uncover their lies. There will not be time on the media -- what little of it we "control" -- to document the "macaca" moments.

That means that we only had 2009 to get the ball rolling. Obama is not guaranteed a second term, and even if he gets it, eight years is not eternity. Make hay while the sun shines, the old adage says.

Make hay, not speeches, says



Tansy Gold

[Number23]

61. With a post this damn stupid, I'm surprised you were able to work your computer

well enough to type it.

I realise that there are people here on DU who simply cannot bear ANY criticism of their god. It's ironic to me that they continue to think of him as a god and yet make excuses for all his failures! I mean, c'mon boys and girls. If he's so wonderful, why hasn't he done everything? Why does he need all you little mortals to cover up for him?

Open your eyes, you who are blinded by blind hope, and realize that we have not progressed nearly as far as we need to. Don't blame me for pointing out that this isn't Oz.

With material this corny and crumbly, you MUST work for Frito Lay.

[Cha]

125. You're linking that mediawhore, Ceci Connolly

as your source to bash President Obama?

No wonder you're so clueless ..sucking up corporatemedia.. like they ever deal in facts.

I have more confidence in Obama than you, your little bash brigade and all the mediawhores in the USA.

[dionysus]

131. you have no credibility when you bring out the "their god" horse shit.

your slip is showing.

[stevenleser]

62. There you go being all factual and logical again Mr. Wraith

You know it pisses off the Obama haters when you do that...

[DutchLiberal]

36. They don't wanna hear all that. They want one person they can trash...

When that same person was praised and celebrated when he criticized Bush, McCain and Palin.

They do it because it's easy. Let's trash Bill Maher. I'm sure all of America's problems will fade immediately. :eyes:

Thanks for your post. :)

[Tansy_Gold]

42. You're welcome.

And they can even trash Tansy Gold if it makes 'em happy.

:hi:



TG

[DutchLiberal]

58. They will do it, and it will make them happy. They're a lot like Republicans...

in that respect. Critical thinkers and people questioning the 'leader(s)' are not welcome.

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kenfrequed]

108. Awesome conservative doublespeak

Bonus points for even using the term 'elite liberal.'

I think I will answer yoru post with the gift of song.




I cried when they shot John Lennon
Tears ran down my spine
And I cried when I saw "JFK"
As though I'd lost a father of mine
But Malcolm X and Ice-T had it coming
They got what they asked for this time

CHORUS
So love me, love me, love me
I'm a liberal

I go to pro-choice rallies
Recycle my cans and jars
I'll honk if you love the Dead
Hope those funny grunge bands become stars
But don't talk about revolution
That's going a little bit too far

CHORUS

I cheered when Clinton was chosen
My faith in the system reborn
I'll do anything to save our schools
If my taxes ain't too much more
And I love blacks and gays and Latinos
As long as they don't move next door

CHORUS


Rush Limbaugh and the L.A.P.D.
Should all hang their heads in shame
I can't understand where they're at
Arsenio should set them straight
But if Neigborhood Watch doesn't know you
I hope the cops take your name

CHORUS

Yeh, I read the New Republic(an)
Rolling Stone and Mother Jones too
If I vote it's a Democrat
With a sensible economy view
But when it comes to terrorist Arabs
There's no one more red, white and blue

CHORUS

Once I was young and had an attitude
Stickers covered the car I drove in
Even went on some direct actions
When there weren't rent-a-cops to be seen
Ah, but now I've grown older and wiser
And that's why I'm turning you in

CHORUS


Yes, Jellow Biafra reworking the lyrics to that old Phil Ochs song.

[brentspeak]

6. Under Obama: 1) A second bailout of Wall St; 2) gifting the insurance industry with a mandate

3) pushing to privatize the public school system far more aggressively than even Bush did; 4) http://www.monthlyreview.org/mrzine/weisbrot110809.html">continuing Bush's policies regarding Latin America; 5) http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/05/13/photos/">continuing Bush's efforts to conceal evidence regarding torture.

And there's more where that came from.

[jenmito]

9. Start another negative thread about it then because he also has accomplished everything

in my OP which you didn't comment on. :eyes:

[DevonRex]

13. Is that you, Bill? Same schtick.

[CTLawGuy]

14. you have a crystal ball there on #2 there genius?

NT

[jenmito]

15. That poster is never one to wait for facts. n/t

[DevonRex]

17. Or to miss an opportunity to trash Obama. nt

[brentspeak]

51. Why would I need to predict the future when Obama's stumping for a mandate right now?

Are you hoping that Obama fails in his mission to get legislation passed which would require everyone to purchase private health insurance?

[CTLawGuy]

54. well I am not per se in favor of a mandate

but I'd tolerate it with a PO and with new and needed restrictions on insurance cos including banning exclusions for preexisting conditions and banning/regulating rescission.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dionysus]

133. sorry about smoove johnny. well, not really. it must be unpleasant to be so bitter.

[jenmito]

7. Funny that the person (people) who unrec'ed my OP didn't leave a comment saying why they did so. n/t

[DevonRex]

16. I guess the message has been sent out

since you've been swarmed by them.

[Ineeda]

18. k&r

optimist here. (though sometimes it's an effort!)

[TheWraith]

23. The tantrum brigade has been stomping on the unrec button the last few days.

Strange that some people here--who actually aren't freepers in disguise--are infinitely more ready and willing to believe right-wing spin and give the wingnuts the benefit of the doubt than they are to back up our own side.

[DutchLiberal]

37. The fact that you even care about such a trivial thing underlines your childishness.

[Cha]

44. The fact that you're pointing it out and personally

attacking the poster says more about you than anyone.

[jenmito]

46. Thanks, Cha...

I agree. :D :hi:

[Cha]

49. You know I got

your back, jenmito~B-)

And, thanks for your much needed call out to bill whiner maher.

:hi:

[jenmito]

50. Yup...

and I got yours when needed. :hi:

My pleasure! :D

[DutchLiberal]

59. So you mean I'm childish for pointing out childishness?

Wow, that's quite a stretch.

Why should we listen to genuine, justified criticism of Obama, coming from Bill Maher, when we can whine about somebody "unrecommending" a thread at DU? I mean, everybody knows there's nothing more important than threads on DU!

[Cha]

64. Keep digging.

[jenmito]

66. It's NOT "justified criticism" when you repeat RW talking points and lie about people by

omission which Maher does often. But keep hatin' on Obama with your eyes wide shut.

[DutchLiberal]

79. Oh yes, I'm sooooo hatin' on Obama! In fact, I'm hatin' on Obama right now!

I'm even hatin' Obama in my sleep! I'll never stop hatin' on Obama! Hatin' on Obama is my favorite past-time!

[Cha]

121. Yeah, and you look stupid doing

it.

[jenmito]

122. ...

:fistbump:

[dionysus]

135. *boom tiss*

:rofl:

[seaglass]

85. I like to unrec OPs that whine about unrecs. It's fun!!!! n/t

[Uzybone]

22. Maher is just a comedian, and often he makes a a fool of himself

he will say whatever it takes to get laughs, create controversy and draw viewers. When I recall that he tried many times onn his show to give cover to Bush for the Iraq debacle I know to always take what he says very skeptically.

[Cha]

55. Thanks for bringing that into the equation,

Uzybone. Someone needs to be on his show sometime and call out his shit out on him.

[uponit7771]

24. Good I'm not the only one who's taken criticism from Maher about Obama with a grain of salt?

[Astrad]

25. I think it's fair to say

that a lot of Obama supporters thought that he would be drawing down significant number of troops from Iraq by now, that he wouldn't escalate the war in Afghanistan, that he would have reduced the defense budget even just a little bit, that he would have repudiated the more odious aspects of the Patriot Act, that he would have not taken up some of the Bush regime's legal positions in ongoing civil rights cases (Telecom surveillance), that he would have been more aggressive going after Wall Street corruption. They may have been wrong to believe these things but that's what many of them hoped for and it's their frustration that Mahr is giving voice to.

[TheWraith]

31. Checked the facts lately?

"drawing down significant number of troops from Iraq by now"

That's going on as we speak.

"that he wouldn't escalate the war in Afghanistan"

I guess I'm the only one who remembers that right after he got into office, he rejected the Pentagon plan for more troops in Afghanistan because they didn't have a clear endgame strategy, and that he's continued to do so.

"he would have reduced the defense budget even just a little bit"

He's done that.

"he would have repudiated the more odious aspects of the Patriot Act"

They've done that.

"that he would have not taken up some of the Bush regime's legal positions in ongoing civil rights cases (Telecom surveillance)"

They're doing that too.

"They may have been wrong to believe these things but that's what many of them hoped for and it's their frustration that Mahr is giving voice to."

No, Maher is speaking to the people who don't know what to do with themselves if they're not constantly in a state of outrage.

[dionysus]

144. it's like arguing with your dining room table, isn't it?

[goclark]

26. Is Bill still running around with Hookers?

He is not funny to me anymore.
I was a big fan but he changed IMO.

[TheWraith]

28. Are you referring to his buddy Ann Coulter?

Oh wait, you said "hookers," not "whores." I apologize to hookers everywhere for associating them with Ann's mental debauchery.

[DutchLiberal]

38. Yes, Bill changed. From criticizing Bush to criticizing Obama.

And some folks can't handle it.

[ProSense]

29. And there is a lot more on the way

Obama's budget, health care reform and climate change.

Obama to chair historic U.N. council nuclear meeting

G20 to Become Forum for Global Economic Cooperation

Time will reveal domestic and international impact of Obama's Presidency, and those comparing him to Bush will look like the fools they are.

[jenmito]

52. Thanks for those additional differences between

Obama and Bush. Obama has already accomplished more in his first 8 months than Bush has accomplished in his 8 years. :hi:

[DutchLiberal]

33. Well, whoopdee-fucking-do! A few breadcrumbs...

You're missing the bigger picture, and your party/president-loyalty let you get you blinded by these minor acts.

[Cha]

45. No, you're missing the bigger picture.

[Baltoman991]

48. Hey, Dennis lost

get over it.

[DutchLiberal]

56. See, that's what I mean. You think in people. I think in principles.

As does Bill Maher, who supported Obama 200% during the elections, because he believed Obama would bring significant change.

[jenmito]

68. And he HAS brought significant change already in his first 8 months but you and Maher

continue to ignore it and not acknowledge it.

[Better Believe It]

72. What's changed? Are we better off now than we were 8 months ago?

[jenmito]

84. Did you NOT read the OP? Go read it-and then for more, read post #29...

and if you still don't know the answer to your questions, I don't know what you're doing here at DU.

[Better Believe It]

88. Is the working class and middle class better off now than 8 months ago?

That's the only question I asked and I think you know the answer to that question.

But tell me, how do you think we are far better off? Have we brought our soldiers home from Iraq/Afghanistan, have we stopped pissing away hundreds of billions of dollars on those wars, have we done away with the Bush governments attacks on our civil liberties, have we placed a cop on the interest rates credit card companies can charge, have we reduced unemployment and provided jobs for all, have we put into operation a job stimulus program that will create millions of useful public works jobs, have we passed legislation that will enable judges to issue "cramdown" rulings that will stop millions from losing their homes, have we forced banks that have received trillions of dollars in federal help to make loans available to help revive the economy, have we (or will we) passed legislation that will overturn all of the bi-partisan Wall Street and bank deregulation legislation adopted in 1999-2000 that nearly caused a full scale economic depression and will we pass universal health care single payer legislation or at a minimum a strong public health insurance option available to ALL individuals and employers that want to escape the clutches of the private health insurance industry?

Those are just a few issues that you and White House staffers might not have noticed or would prefer to ignore.

But the really big question that will be asked by most people in 2010 and 2012 is "are you better off now than you were at the end of 2008"?

We don't know what the answer to that question will be .... unless of course you have the answer.

[jenmito]

90. Yes, and if you would've read the OP listing some of the "featured legislation," you'd know that.

Can you read and comprehend? I'm not going to re-list what's already there.

[Better Believe It]

91. None of these issues were effectively tackled in the points you raised.

Not a single one!

But, I suppose we can pretend otherwise.

[jenmito]

96. If you read the OP, you wouldn't even be asking the question if we're better off than we were 8

months ago-unless you don't have comprehension skills.

[Better Believe It]

107. You are way out of touch with working class people.

Who have you been talking to?

Perhaps Wall Street bankers? They certainly are doing better, much better than 8 months ago.

[jenmito]

110. You think I'm RICH???

:rofl: I got a tax cut-well, technically, my husband did. I'm disabled and on Social Security. Maybe the tax cut means nothing to YOU but it helps US. I guess you also don't care that now women can sue for equal pay for equal work thanks to Obama. And the "Cash for Clunkers" didn't hurt, either. Nor did any of the legislation passed that helped people who needed help for mortages, etc. Add to that, Obama is now allowing embryonic stem cell research which may lead to a cure for my MS...

[dionysus]

139. i'm working class and i'm better off. your act is stale.

[scheming daemons]

100. We are INCREDIBLY better off now than we were 8 months ago...

...to say otherwise is ridiculous.


8 months ago:

- we were losing 700,000 jobs per month

Now:

- we are losing 125,000 jobs per month



8 months ago:

- The economy was on the brink of depression

Now:

- The economy is in the early stages of recovery


8 months ago:

- Health Care Reform wasn't on the table

Now:

- It's about to happen


8 months ago:

- The entire world hated our guts

Now:

- U.S. popularity around the globe is way up


8 months ago:

- the U.S. government didn't fund ebryonic stem cell research

Now:

- it does.




That's just a small smattering.

To actually seriously make the claim that we are no better off now than we were 8 months ago is to be completely ignorant of current events. You'd literally have to be living in a cave during that time.

[jenmito]

101. Thanks for showing that poster more facts about how we're better off now

than 8 months ago! I'm sure it'll be ignored. :hi:

[DutchLiberal]

73. Obama continues bad Bush policies...

Like 'indefinite detention'. You know how DU got angry with the Bush-administration for locking up people for years, without ever even having a trial? That's what Obama continues to do.

What about 'extraordinary rendition'? You know, that practice where terror suspects get pulled off the streets and brought to a shady Middle Eastern country, where they get tortured by that country's intelligence agencies? (Because for them, that's legal, and the CIA can outsource its torture.) Obama continues to do this.

Then there's the fact that the Obama White House is still doing business with Blackwater and other murderous mercenary armies (or as they call themselves, 'private contractors'). These people are under investigation for murder, yet the White House continues to employ them in Iraq. As they do with KBR, which is also under investigation for their sloppy electrical work which electrocuted US troops in the showers. But Obama continues to give them millions of dollars.

Doesn't look like change to me.

[Baltoman991]

70. Bullshit!!!

You, Maher and anyone else who thinks all the fucking problems in our country should be fixed now are off in fucking la la land.

Obama has done more in 9 months than any President in recent history.

Because he hasn't gotten around to kissing your ass yet or Mahers ass doesn't mean significant progress hasn't been made.

Keep your fucking head in the sand while the real world passes you by. I realize though that if you or Bill would actually admit to the truth of the matter it would mean you'd have nothing to really slam Obama with.

Bill Maher is nothing but another mouth piece who knows that bullshit sells and that's pretty apparent by some of the posts on this board.

[DutchLiberal]

74. Can you swear just one more time? It makes your argument so much more convincing...

[dionysus]

134. is that that gnomish lil fella?

[jenmito]

53. I responded to a similar insult by you up-thread. n/t

[DutchLiberal]

57. Oh goody! Criticism has become "insults" now!

How this place has changed...

[jenmito]

67. An ad hominum attack on a person is not criticism. I'm just glad other posters see what

you're saying. ;)

[DutchLiberal]

75. I'm glad your main occupations are "recommendations" and how many online friends you have...

Meanwhile, I'm going to continue to talk about policies and politics, okay? :hi:

[jenmito]

80. I'm glad you know my "main occupations"...

or maybe you don't and you sound foolish! :hi:

[dionysus]

140. pulling out the "worship" card shows your true colors. policy discussion my ass.

basically a few whackadoos pissed that obama isn't dennis.

[DutchLiberal]

149. And you know all about my "true colors" because you know me SO well, right?

Just look at the evidence! It's overwhelming: a Dennis Kucinich avatar! That says it all about me! :eyes:

[dionysus]

151. i know your type well.

[DutchLiberal]

152. "My type"? Buddy, you're making a fool out of yourself with your cheap shots.

[earth mom]

92. I hear ya. Whoop dee fucking doo. All we got was fake hope & change.

:grr:

[Baltoman991]

105. Perhaps to those

who refuse to enter reality it's seen as fake hope and change.

But to those women who will now be paid equal money for equal work, it's real. For those with debilitating injuries or diseases who now have some hope thanks to stem cell research, it's real. To those 5 million more children now covered under SCHIP, it's real.

Need I go on? I doubt it would do much good as no matter what Obama does, the same group here will say nothing has been done.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

126. SCHIP and Ledbetter are far, far from being minor acts.

Nice try though.

And either way, that list of "minor" acts is already far more than your hero, DK, has produced over his entire career.

[Phx_Dem]

41. Is that all? lol

:sarcasm:

[jenmito]

71. For all of you defending Maher, not only did he claim Obama got rid of Van Jones just for

cursing at Republicans, but he said back in JUNE that Obama was over-exposed, a celebrity like Lindsay Lohan, agreeing with the RWers, as you can see by my post here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8471970#8472003 , "joked" about his use of the teleprompter, said that he should be more like Bush, said he hasn't accomplished anything, as well as calling him "Black Jesus" and all the other things RWers call him.

[DutchLiberal]

76. Bill Maher *defended* Obama against right-wing smear attacks...

Maher blasted the idiot birther-movement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1WmbY-B6uU

Maher slammed right-wingers for painting Obama as a 'terrorist':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQVYmhpvhkg

Maher predicted the right-wing media attacks and debunked them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojl_BZrTGCU

Maher even explicitly stated, after the criticized Obama: "And as far as you folks on the right, who think that we're now, somehow, in league: WE'RE NOT IN LEAGUE! I was criticizing Obama for not being hard enough on the corporate douchebags you live to defend. I don't wanna be on your team; pick another kid!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3kXpfEFjqQ

So you can stop your smear campaign against Bill Maher now.

[uponit7771]

83. Maher is unfairly negative about Obama also, he RARELY says somethign positve about what Obama has..

...done

[DutchLiberal]

95. That's not true when you have actually *watched* his shows.

But hey, if you can't stand the fact that Bill favors principles over people, you shouldn't watch.

[jenmito]

86. Unfair criticism is unfair criticism, WHEREVER it comes from. And it comes from Bill Maher. n/t

[uponit7771]

82. WOW, wtf is up with Maher?

[jenmito]

87. Maybe his buddy Ann Coulter got to him. n/t

[JamesA1102]

115. Yep Bill often resorts to parroting RW talking points

when it suits him. Like Maureen Dowd he just likes to bash people and doesn't care if he has to use lies to do so.

[jenmito]

116. Exactly...

I can't believe some here deny it.

[themaguffin]

89. the weekly bash Maher thread for

saying what needs to be said. Grow up people.

[jenmito]

98. If he continues to unfairly bash Obama every week, there will be a weekly thread about it. n/t

[themaguffin]

106. when he starts doing that, then such threads will make sense, until then they are assinine

[jenmito]

109. HE IS doing that. n/t

[themaguffin]

143. like I said, when he IS doing that start a thread, until then

stop blowing stuff up and accept that all leaders need to be reminded and called out on shit. This is important stuff and I am happy that Maher calls out Obama as necessary. If it were not necessary then start a thread, but this reactionary bullshit is the opposite of what we need. If people are that clueless they need to STFU and get a clue first.

[jenmito]

147. And like I said, he IS doing that. If you want to ignore his accomplishments so far,

that's YOUR problem.

[Cha]

119. maher's a fooking liar..that needs to be

said.

[earth mom]

93. No Univ. Health Care, Continued Wars, Ass Kissing Banksters, Global Warming on the back burner

those are the things Obama will be remembered for.

What a crappy legacy!!! :puke:

Oh and Bill Maher ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BILL: :yourock:

p.s. HUGE UNREC ON THIS THREAD!!! :evilgrin:

[jenmito]

99. Wow-someone who can see into the future!

:yourock: :eyes:

[Cha]

104. No, someone who has their

eyes closed and hopes the cheap shots will hit something.

[jenmito]

111. Yeah...

that's true. Funny how these people are so able to ignore all the accomplishments of Obama posted here.

[Cha]

113. The way I see it..they're in a

narrow deep rut and can't comprehend the progress if it hasn't taken care of their personal lives.

[jenmito]

117. I guess you're right...

but it's still depressing to see it from "our side."

[dionysus]

142. IMO it's basically a small pack of kucinich devotees that are naive enough to think

30 years worth of problems can be solved in 6 months.

[jenmito]

145. Yeah...

but I doubt they'll EVER acknowledge Obama's accomplishments if they can't do it NOW.

[DutchLiberal]

114. Those ' accomplishments' are so incredibly small, they're hard to notice...

Like I said: breadcrumbs.

[jenmito]

118. Keep excusing Bill Maher while ignoring reality...

it just makes you look foolish.

[dionysus]

137. what planet do you spend most ofyour time on? geeez.

[Baltoman991]

146. Small???

So you think it's no big deal that women are finally getting what they deserve in the work place?

No big deal that more children can now grow up healthy?

Folks with serious injuries or illnesses now have hope?

How fucking pathetic that you think they're no big deal like those people don't really matter.

And please, before you call me a liar again it's all right there in your post.

Once again, right wing bullshit being spewed by you. Don't you ever tire of it?

[DutchLiberal]

150. Get back to me when you can make a post without personal insults...

[earth mom]

148. This isn't a sporting event here. EVERYONE loses when there is no Health Care

and Global Warming is ignored. Not to mention those people in the Middle East who are dying in a war based on lies and greed.

LISTEN to yourself!

LOOK in the mirror!

Is this really the kind of world you want to live in?

Is this really the best that you think Obama can do?

Obama can do better and should do better and deep down you know it.

[dionysus]

141. it's sad when you have to resort to the position that a 2-bit narcissist stoner is better than the

president.

if you think 30 years of problems can be solved that quickly you are not based in reality.

[moondust]

102. Maher is full of himself.

He's okay on other people's shows but I seldom watch his show.

So he's sitting across the table from a Nobel economist and the Sheriff of Wall Street/former Gov. of NY and he ends up going on and on trying to impress people with his "New Rules." They weren't all bad but considering his powerhouse guests it was almost like watching "Deep Thoughts" with Jack Handey all over again.

[Name removed]

103. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

112. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

120. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

123. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

124. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Peacetrain]

127. This is why I cannot stand libertarians... they just piss and moan

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5840639

[dionysus]

128. havea few more bong hits and lines of blow bill.

:eyes:

[jenmito]

129. What are you talking about? n/t

[dionysus]

130. apparently bill maher needs to do some more drugs, because he doesn't know what he's talking about

in regards to obama. i hear he's quite fond of his reefer and cocaine...

[jenmito]

132. Oh. Whew...

I thought you were talking about ME (I missed the "bill" at the end).

[dionysus]

136. i didn't think your name was bill.

:P

[jenmito]

138. It's not, but since you wrote "bill" (no capital B) I didn't realize you were talking

about Bill Maher although I should have.

[Name removed]

154. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.