Cheney will be forced to publicly support Obama.

[vaberella]

I just heard our President's speech tonight at the HRC dinner. He stood fast and there is no way he's backtracking. Since the day we put him in office we knew things were going to happen. Some felt they weren't fast enough, others felt they were going according to plan and others just didn't think he did or is doing anything. The latter I have heard from DUers which have disappointed and appalled me, fucking' hell I'll say...it disgusted me. It got worse with the Nobel Peace Prize.

Tonight, Obama reiterated all he's said in the past to make himself clear that he will end DADT. He promised under his watch DADT and DOMA will end. He's working to end them now, and he's already talked about legislation in the House on ending DADT. What's important about this is that for those who were hard of hearing or for those who were losing faith (hope), for those who lost it, and for those who kept the faith but just wanted a slight reassurance----our President came through and made clear his goal is not (ONLY) to make America look good for in the eyes of the world but to make America good for Americans----every bloody one of us. He's coming through.

I think he felt that Health reform was a daunting task and it was going to really take a lot out of the House and himself. Some would bring up the notion..."Well Obama said a President should multitask." Yeah, the President should but he never said Congress could. Congress is what's always been holding him back and he knows how to use them to get things done. Unfortunately for us and for him, those guys are in for him. There are Dems, such as some Blue-dogs who are either sincere in their convictions or just hate our President and will fuck him over. Then we have the Repubs who just won't side with him on ANYTHING. So while our President can and has multitasked on a set of issues, obviously, we can see that Congress is not that great with multitasking and they were always the real problem. From what I can see.

He's not the end all be all and he is dealing with something called division of power and not wanting to step on toes, since you need honey to catch the bees (or whatever that phrase is). He knows if one idiot doesn't support him on one issue, he might get those idiots to support him on another issue. While others are screaming for him to fuck them and get things done (speaking solely in regards to Blue-Dog Dems as the ones to fuck off), I've said it myself; he needs them as much as we do at times (unfortunately). So I get it. I'm glad I stuck around long enough to see that O is going to get Health care passed, an issue I thought was going to get killed, although I hoped against it. Those Repubs were annoying and the Blue-Dogs pissed me off, but Obama handled it and persevered. DOMA and DADT wouldn't have been given the light of day or consideration (properly) in Congress with Health-care in the mix. But it's moving ahead and most likely with a public option.

However, to get back to the whole point of my title. Cheney will be forced to support Obama's push to repeal DADT and DOMA because of his daughter. This will be interesting to see play out. Because crazy Repubs will put all sorts of shit out on there to do stop it. And we know they'll come out like mad in the streets. But Fox News is not going to even be able to move against this and with health-care out of the way, it could get silently passed with the PO, since we're getting the needed votes (hopefully). So, this can take be the major news for the media-whores.


I love my President, really and truly. I'm happy I voted for him and that some rational people voted for him. We're getting things done and I gave him 4 years to do it. He's doing it, sooner than I expected.

Thanks Mr. President.

*Edited to add this: If you didn't see the HRC speech. FIND IT and WATCH IT---NOW!! It's way better than football.

**Edit #2: The video will be up at http://www.hrcbackstory.org/ -- as stated by a DU poster who got t from HRC. Thanks to Garbo 2004 for the update, here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8695785#8695872
---note the people hugging and crying in the audience (CNN/CSPAN version)--I cried too.

[jkshaw]

1. I hope you're right about Cheney, Vaberella

And what a wonderful speech that was this afternoon! I loved it, and I'm proud and happy that he's our president.

[vaberella]

5. Well I have hope he will. I just want to see the Fox News pundits on that one. n/t

[BlooInBloo]

2. Note also that the guy who introduced the DADT bill (what's his name, again?)....

Argues exactly the same as Obama: that the President should not do any sort of end-run around Congress, due to separation of powers issues.

To agree with both or disagree with both is fine - but ripping on one, while not the other just makes one a hypocrite.

Oh - and you're wrong about Cheney. :P

[Hosnon]

3. That argument doesn't make much sense (at first glance).

The protections provided by the separation of powers are designed to work even when one branch attempts to invade the territory of another. Generally, it's not dangerous for the President (or any branch) to be aggressive. Madison intentionally set ambition against ambition.

[vaberella]

6. It's not dangerous to be aggressive, but being aggressive hinders success. Clinton '94 as example.

Let's be serious. For some Presidents arm twisting at times is successful. But as of late, more often than not it's not a good thing. Added to that, this President is against people who just hate him not only because he's a Dem but also because he's Black. I'm not scared to say it...there are racists in the Congress. Plus these Blue Dog Dems look like they want the Pres to fail as much as any Repub. Being aggressive with these people we might need is not functional since it could also hurt us, especially in the Senate.

[Hosnon]

8. It can, yes. But that doesn't change the fact that it's a shaky argument to hide behind. nt.

[vaberella]

9. It's not shaky when it's a fact well currently. n/t

[firedupdem]

4. Rec'd

The speech was excellent. Cheney doesn't have human compassion so I don't know if he will go along. Time will tell!

And yeah, I'm a football nut, but glad I switched over to watch!

[vaberella]

7. I think he will. It will be funny, but I think he will. I'll have to bookm'k this thread.

Oh...good you switched over. I'm not a fan but this speech was the bomb diggity.

[masuki bance]

10. Some people will never be able to make a distinction

between a speech and an action.

[Enrique]

11. who will have the guts to ask him about it?

:scared:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL-q5vvaDmw

[vaberella]

12. oooh....Wolf looks scared. Anyway, he has stated in the past he supports it.

And he said he supported gay marriage. This was touted all over this site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXg4IvhXhnM

[Historic NY]

13. I wouldn't hold my breath..Dick is a dick.