Who Woulda Thought...

[berni_mccoy]

Last edited Wed Jan 29, 2014, 02:03 PM - Edit history (1)

Obama said last night all the things the extreme left has been wanting, for some time, a President to say. He said:

1. Despite Republican Obstructionism, we've done very well: highest graduation rate in 30 years, 8 million new jobs in the past four years, now using less foreign oil than producing, wars coming to an end, deficit cut in half, manufacturing adding jobs for first time since the 90's.

2. Despite all of the above, it's not good enough. While the stock market and corporate profits are at an all time high, workers' wages have barely budged. If Congress doesn't act to help working Americans, he will, by raising the minimum wage for Federal workers and working with states and corporations to do the same (as some have).

3. By focusing on renewables and new energy technologies, we can create jobs and save the planet. In the past 8 years, the U.S. has lowered its Carbon Footprint by more than any other country. He brow-beat Climate Change Deniers, publicly shaming them for the damage they've done to the planet.

4. Declared that Immigration Reform is of utmost importance to the people and the economy of this nation and used his bully pulpit to declare it needs to be done this year. Even without Congress, he's making progress on this issue (citing many examples of opportunity and programs), but that the people need to push their representatives harder than ever.

5. He recognized that part of the problem with Congress has been the Election system and the direct impact on voters who have been disenfranchised to vote. He's introduced reforms to change this, despite the blow the Voting Rights Act was delivered.

6. With respect to Foreign Policy, we've ended one war, and are ending another. We're negotiating to end Iran's nuclear program and that we've used diplomacy successfully with far more powerful nations, there's no reason to believe diplomacy won't work with Iran. If Congress tries to derail that diplomacy, he will stop them.

And yet, Obama took one moment to honor a soldier he knew personally, a soldier he knew before he made his sacrifice, and who has suffered for this Nation's agenda. Obama honored him...

And this place loses its fucking mind. Who woulda thought...?

[FSogol]

1. Exactly. He even honored him both as part of ending endless wars

and as an example of perseverance.

So-called "liberals" are against that now?

[SidDithers]

2. DU rec...nt

Sid

[ProSense]

3. You don't understand

Obama said last night all the things the extreme left has been wanting, for some time, a President to say. He said:

And yet, Obama took one moment to honor a soldier he knew personally, a soldier he knew before he made his sacrifice, and who has suffered for this Nation's agenda. Obama honored him...

And this place loses it's fucking mind. Who woulda thought...?

...the set up (I love the state of the union) for the kill (damn).

It was predetermined. How else would one shift focus from the entire speech to a single moment that was supposed to be positive?

Make the speech irrelevant by distorting and perverting a single moment.

[babylonsister]

4. Thanks for the reality check, berni_

Same as it ever was around here.

[rurallib]

5. not to be a debbie downer, but if he would quit pushing the TPP

I would be much happier

[gordianot]

14. Yes or at least minimum explain it.

[MannyGoldstein]

6. He should have bragged about the three "free" trade agreements he pushed through

Called 'em "jobs bills"

And one more (very secret, shh!) one to come.

I happen to disagree with the hysterics over showing a wounded soldier. War is Hell: the more we see that, the better. But, pretty words aside, Obama has shown a distinct disinclination to fight for anything other than the bill that he considers his legacy achievement.

[1StrongBlackMan]

19. Yes ...

because the other 99 points are so decidedly NOT on progressive agenda.

[Cha]

7. They blew it en masse.

But, so many saw and heard exactly what was going on and I thank you and those who did, berni.



http://theobamadiary.com/2014/01/28/the-state-of-the-union-part-2/#comments



http://theobamadiary.com/2014/01/29/early-bird-chat-138/

[JNelson6563]

8. Grandstanding and soap-boxing.

I thought the earliest offerings along the lines you describe (the losing mind part) were the best examples of self-righteous bullshit I have seen here in a long time!

Julie

[Enrique]

9. lol @ "the extreme left"

I actually am skeptical if anyone lost their mind over this speech, but regardless, most of the demands that I'm aware of are not for him to SAY things. He's been saying the right things for quite a while.

[berni_mccoy]

29. I'm pretty sure if you'd ask anyone, this place was pretty mindless last night

And as far as anything Obama says, it's mostly what the Obama haters hang on (or what he doesn't say). It's less about what he's actually accomplished, which is the most progressive Presidency since FDR.

[stupidicus]

10. who woulda thought that the "extreme left" concerns woulda taken going on 6 years to address

when there's nary a change or effort proposed of the economy or planet saving kind that couldn't have been voiced and avidly pursued as a remedy long ago. ANd had that been the case, maybe, just maybe, so many of them wouldn't have stayed home in 2010, no? Apparently the "politically possible" is no longer a justification for silence and efforts at extreme lefty pacification or support-seeking, no?

I guess the "extreme left" is now defined as those who object to the objectification of the victims of empire he still heads. Is that in addition to objections over NSA spying, the TPP, the chained-cpi proposal, ect, or is it sufficient standing alone?

At least those extreme lefties (not this "place&quot had a mind to lose. Maybe that's because they are citizens of the planet first, and this country second, as all good humanists should be, and think just because six of the courses served up were tasty doesn't mean that that should serve as a bar to criticizing what they thought to be a foul dessert.

I'm haven't given the thing enough thought to determine whether I agree or not with the unpalatability of such, but I'm always amused by the way those lefty extremists are demonized around here for seeing as much as the butt crack of the emperor...

well done

[LWolf]

11. Maybe not.

All of the things I have been wanting a President to say would have included:

1. We need a national health CARE plan, paid for 100% by taxes, free at point of service. Let's get the for-profit insurance industry out of health care.

2. Privatization and high-stakes testing has destroyed public education. Let's take our education system back from the private sector and fully fund it to make it truly public, 100% free, universal, pre-school through university or trade school. Let's ban high-stakes testing and create a vibrant, healthy, supportive system for all. Let's pay our teachers like professionals and honor their public service.

3. Let's get rid of the "free" trade policies that aren't free and establish trade based on strict environmental, labor, and human rights standards.

4. Let's make sure that every American worker has a union and a living wage.

5. Let's get money out of politics, and make elections 100% publicly funded. Let's level the playing field further, by instituting some form of IRV and proportional representation.

6. Let's eradicate poverty by guaranteeing a job to anyone who wants one, safe, healthy, affordable housing to all, and a minimum income for all adults.

7. Let's get out of the business of war and empire building and focus on domestic priorities, putting our resources to work on raising the standard of living and quality of life for all. Let's pay for that by taxing those with the most to give.

8. Let's lead the world in sustainable, environmentally sound energy, food, and transportation systems.

9. Let's lead the world in protecting and defending civil liberties and civil rights.

I haven't lost my mind. I haven't commented on the speech at all. I think you don't have much understanding, or respect, for the left. The first clue? Referring to the left as "extreme." The second? Suggesting that your list addresses the priorities of the left. Your list?

#1? Means little as long as we're still deploying military, spending too much on the military, and enacting economic policies for the 1%.

# 2? See my # 4, a more robust, farther reaching proposal.

#3? Sure, if the policy behind the words fits my #3 and #8.

#4? This is not "of the utmost importance," and doesn't even appear anywhere on my list. If immigration "reform" does not include my #3 and #4, amnesty for those here, and severe, long-lasting penalties for those American employers not adhering to them, I'm not interested.

#5? Is he introducing my # 5?

#6? Words, which are meaningless as long as we are still deploying troops around the world. My #7.

The soldier? My # 4, #6, and # 7 would ensure that no soldier ever sacrificed for this nation's "agenda" beyond actually defending us against attack.

Defend the president, and his speech, all you like. Just don't pretend that his words were supportive in any way of "the left."

Yes, I know I'll be waiting the rest of my life to hear any of what I want to hear from any POTUS, to no avail. I understand that. I understand that American capitalism and corporatism will make sure we never have a president who WOULD enact any such policies. I freely acknowledge that. I just don't want to give neo-liberal speeches and policies an Orwellian spin as something positive for the left. They aren't.

[zeemike]

15. Here here...well said.

But next we will be called commies...and demands will be made that DU be purged of such trash as us.

[LWolf]

35. Part of me can't believe I'm actually typing this,

but that might be a case of when, not if, and when it happens, I sadly won't be surprised based on the things I read here daily.

[bemildred]

16. Well said. Let this country lead the world again, for a change. nt

[LWolf]

36. Lead the world in something to be proud of. nt

[MineralMan]

12. Some see the cup as three quarters full.

Others see it as almost empty. And so it goes.

Pulling out and misinterpreting one aspect of the SOTU indicates something of that nature, I think.

K&R

[gordianot]

13. As one who is left of center Eisenhower compared to right wing of today would be extreme left.

Barry Goldwater would be viewed with deep suspicion by the modern Republican Party especially Tea Party types and would never be allowed to call himself a conservative.

[albino65]

17. I agree

I haven't been around here very long, but the road is often paved with bullshit. All think that they are right, and any who disagree will suffer their slings and arrows. This is one of my reasons for pessimism concerning our future.

[1StrongBlackMan]

21. As per design ...

This is one of my reasons for pessimism concerning our future.

I have long suspected that much of the negativity found here is for the purpose of driving pessimism, which is intended to drive down Democratic voter participation.

Maybe it's coming from folks that wish to drive down Democratic voter participation in order to better the chances for the gop or libertarian candidate of their choice.

Maybe it's coming from folks that figure that with lower "mainstream" Democratic voters, the "truly progressive" candidate of their choice will stand a better shot because their supporters are really motivated; but not in large enough numbers to survive the primary.

Maybe it's coming from folks that wish to drive down Democratic voter participation so that nothing changes (or gets worse for Democrats), thereby giving them the chance to remain angry for the next 3-11 years.

I don't know ... but I'm pretty certain it's not organic.

[albino65]

22. True

Anger is a self-fueling fire. If we are not careful, it will consume us. All I know is that if we spent less time on pontificating, and more on getting out the vote, we can achieve a lot.

[1StrongBlackMan]

23. Yep; but ...

I suspect those fueling the fire, have no interest in Democratic GOTV efforts.

[albino65]

25. That's why...

we need to get our asses off the chair, turn off our computers and go to the local Democratic offices and help. And so my ass is off my chair. Have a nice day. I appreciate reading your posts.

[freshwest]

34. You nailed it. K & R right here. n/t

[noiretextatique]

18. lol

And so the spin begins.

[toby jo]

20. I'll take it. Imagine Mittens up there .

Between that and johnny ompa loompa up there on the right, I was happy.

[cali]

24. say what? first of all, "extreme left"? what. the. fuck?

a widening gap between the haves and have nots that has rapidly widened under President Obama. a faux job recovery with wages falling, not rising. more and more people giving up looking for work. the failed escalation of war in Afghanistan. More support for fracking from this President.

A push for trade promotion authority and the dreadful tpp and ttip. whoot!

your post is revisionism and nothing but.

[ProSense]

27. Raising the minimum wage for a half a million workers and the other proposals

were a "smokescreen" for the TPP, right?

"your post is revisionism and nothing but. "

The OP was spot on, but your animosity toward anyone who doesn't fall for the anti-TPP porn and faux outrage is clear.

[berni_mccoy]

28. What exactly am I "revising"?

Obama recognized that the working class isn't benefiting from the recovering economy. You (and many others like you here) simply won't hear it. You get hung up on a single word or phrase that doesn't fit your precise mold.

[RainDog]

26. k&r n/t

[Number23]

30. This place "lost its fucking mind" a long time ago. I don't know who some of these folks are

and don't particularly want to. But many of them are about as "liberal" as the toenail that's been sitting under the desk in my office for longer than I have.

[Rex]

31. Nice dog whistle, I see some actually took the bait.

[Whisp]

32. K&R, the crazytrains always seem to arrive on time. n/t

[1000words]

33. "Extreme left?"