Did Obama misinterpret his mandate?

[Flaxbee]

It's always interesting to get the Russian's take on things: http://www.iqvote.com/?p=13573

[tabatha]

1. No, the Republicans prevented him from doing a lot of what he wanted.

[jefferson_dem]

2. No. By the way, RT is a bottom-feeding, conspiracy-promoting, Anti-USA propaganda site.

"Having been elected on a wave of hope four years ago, Barack Obama now faces a significant drop in popularity among disillusioned Democrats." Ha... Whatever.

[girl gone mad]

11. I think RT is generally excellent on American politics..

and world affairs outside of Russia.

Many aspects of their reporting are very refreshing. Hartmann's show is very good. RT's financial reporting is top notch.

Really I don't understand how anyone could take such an extremist view of their work.

[TheWraith]

25. Because among other things, they promote birtherism.

Also claims that the US government staged 9/11. That NATO mass-executed civilians in Libya. Etcetera, etcetera.

[girl gone mad]

26. I don't know about all of that..

it looks to me as if they were poking fun at birthers in their coverage.

http://rt.com/usa/news/claim-obama-faked-certificate

and called the 9/11 truther ideas "wild conspiracy theories"

http://rt.com/usa/news/conspiracy-we-trust

Covering the things Americans are talking about is not always the same as promoting them, even though there is clearly some amount of pandering going on. i.e. 'Maybe they do have a point, though it's too crazy to believe'

[mmonk]

17. Like Thom Hartmann?

[Flaxbee]

23. I think RT is generally pretty interesting -- critical of Obama (realllly critical of the

defense act he just signed that makes me sick to my stomach).

I'm disillusioned. I know what Obama has to deal with: an awful economy, recalcitrant Congress, etc., but I still hoped he'd be able to do more. Maybe I'm not so much disillusioned with Obama, but with the entire idea that anyone I vote for can really *do* anything.

[Thaddeus Kosciuszko]

3. All politicians misinterpret or outright invent so-called mandates.

Additionally, they all promise the world and then proceed to deliver nothing.

You can't blame them though--it works. And like professional wrestling, some people even believe that it's real.

[MineralMan]

4. Why is it interesting to get the Russian's take?

I'm afraid I can't see your reasoning on this. RT's bias is obvious, and they have nothing whatever to do with American politics, other than to comment on them. What is it that you see in RT that you particularly like?

[jefferson_dem]

8. RT produces nothing but rank propaganda... Frankly it's embarassing to see it linked to on DU.

The Conspiracy Channel
With a larger staff than Fox News, a worldwide Russian TV network spreads a unique brand of anti-American propaganda
http://www.utne.com/Media/Conspiracy-Channel-Russia-Today-Anti-American-Propaganda.aspx#ixzz1iWltIkhK

What Is Russia Today?
The Kremlin’s propaganda outlet has an identity crisis
http://www.cjr.org/feature/what_is_russia_today.php?page=all

[MineralMan]

10. I agree 100%.

Pure propaganda, and yet it's widely liked by some on DU. An odd thing, it seems to me.

[girl gone mad]

15. What the heck?

The cjr article you link to reads like right-wing propaganda.

How dare that RT reporter stand up to Glenn Beck and FOX news! How dare they report that the 'New Black Panther Party' coverage was designed to drive racist Republicans to the polls! They must be Obama apologists!



Why would you post this here? The report doesn't make RT look bad. Take a look at the comments following the article. I'm not the only one puzzled by the author's conclusions.

http://www.cjr.org/feature/what_is_russia_today.php?page=all

[Cali_Democrat]

19. Some people prefer their information spoon fed to them by US corporations

It's pathetic. Also, you're right about the linked article, it's right wing propaganda.

Welcome to the new DU where right wing, corporate propaganda is considered trustworthy. It's easy to smell that shit from a mile away. I sure as hell don't buy that bullshit.

[girl gone mad]

20. It thought is was really strange that someone would post that piece..

in an effort to make RT look bad.

It made them look fucking awesome.

[Cali_Democrat]

21. "It made them look fucking awesome"

Amen to that! I have even more respect for RT now.

[Cali_Democrat]

18. You want rank propaganda? Look no further than the US corporate controlled media

RT is nothing compared to US "mainstream" media.

[DFab420]

5. Nope. Thanks tho

[RC]

6. Understandably the Obama lovers have a problem with this.

Obama has proven to not be what he campaigned as - Time and time again. Blaming the Republicans for all or even most of his failing and shortcomings is not going to solve the real problem. Standing up to the Republicans is what is needed. Where is Obama's Bully Pulpit?

We need to look at actions and support those that are trying to do the right thing and criticize them when they do not.
Not just get behind someone and blindly support them, regardless. That is a Republican trait.

[MineralMan]

7. Obama lovers? That's interesting.

Who did you have in mind? For example, I support President Obama, and plan to work toward his re-election. Am I one of those "Obama lovers?" There are many people on DU who support Obama. Who do you support, I wonder?

[Motown_Johnny]

9. another Republican trait is to turn us against each other

so that they can win elections while we are infighting

[RC]

12. Well ignore them then.

Figure out what needs to be done and who is capable of doing it. Obama has had 3 years and he still keeps trying to work with the Republicans. You can't blame the Republicans for everything.
NDAA is the latest case in point. Surely he had to know what was in that bill while Congress was still working on it. Where was his bully pulpit then? Where is it now?

[MineralMan]

13. Who do you have in mind to replace Obama?

It's clear that you can't support him, so you must have an alternative in mind. Tell us, pray tell, who that might be?

[girl gone mad]

14. That seems to be the Obama campaign strategy this year.

It's likely those who control the purse strings prefer this tactic. Seems like our economic and political elite plan to use Obama's re-election apparatus to disable all left-leaning critics of the globalist neoliberal police-state agenda. Note how Romney seems to be totally flying under the radar while every day brings a new round of attacks on left-wing writers and Ron Paul (not a serious candidate in the Republican primaries, but the only one in the field who poses any threat to our present system of corporate communism and authoritarian statism). Romney vs. Obama is a no lose proposition for the oligarchs. Either man represents status quo.

[mmonk]

16. Yes. He didn't get his landslide to be bipartisan or "post partisan".

[leeroysphitz]

22. Thank you. n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

24. Exactly, that is the entire thing right there.

I agree fully.