Do you think President Obama is only able to do 'what he's told'?

[babylonsister]

I broach this because I disagree vociferously, but there are many who don't. I just want to know if I'm in the minority. Thanks.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8299977#8300364

[firedupdem]

1. I agree with you. That's BS! n/t

[BlooInBloo]

2. Polls are really the way to go on these things, imo.

[babylonsister]

6. Yea, bummer. Ha! nt

[FrenchieCat]

3. I'll tell you what I do know!

Tearing down Obama every step of the way ain't gonna get us shit. period.
That, I do know.

[babylonsister]

13. I know, and It's annoying. nt

[Peacetrain]

4. No, I saw that thread, and did not even know what to post

It was so out to lunch, I was just kind of stunned.

[dflprincess]

5. Yes

"The real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, that a finanical element in the larger centers has owned the government ever since the days of Andrew Jackson." Franklin Roosevelt to Colonel Edward House October 21, 1933

This is how Russ Baker opens his book "Family of Secrets". And, after seeing how Obama is bailing out the wealthy on wall street, protecting the for profit health insurers with his "reform" plan, escalting in Afghanistan and letting KBR continue to operate in Iraq - yeah, he's doing what he's told.

[babylonsister]

10. Hold the fuck on. If Obama is doing all that Russ Baker says, why

does he even want a conversation about healthcare, reform, etc.?

Makes my little mind wonder what the point is. Please elaborate.

[dflprincess]

15. His original conversation on health insurance did not include any

advocates of single payer. And he only added two at the last minute after some pressure was brought to bear. I think his "conversations" make good theater and are meant to keep the public thinking he's in touch with them. But, in the end, he'll do what he has to do to protect the status quo. And I do truly wish I was wrong about that.

[babylonsister]

16. Wow. Thanks. Considering he hasn't even developed a health care

plan yet, you are a genius, because you have it all figured out. Your disdain is so thick, I can't even fathom how you must feel. Did you like Bush? Did you even or ever like anyone?

And Russ Baker. Should we blame your opinion on him, or are you projecting? Remember what 'they' say about opinions.

Would the election of McCain made you more miserable, because I can't even imagine how horrid your life is if you think Obama sucks.

And do you have any idea how to improve your life?

[dflprincess]

23. Actually, you can blame my opinion on Franklin Roosevelt

I was just citing where I found the quote and it happened to be the first thing in Baker's book.

I've been active since McGovern ran and yes, I've grown very weary and cynical about politics. I had hoped things would be better without Bush but the directions Obama is going on several issues leave a great deal to be desired. It appears that the only change we'll see is in style, not substance.

You are correct, Obama hasn't developed a health care plan, he keeps talking about health insurance. He has said single payer is off the table and indicated this week that a public option would be offered only to those with a preexisting condition. He can spend our money to save billionaires, but we can't afford to have health care (now I'm paraphrasing Bernie Sanders who must also have a horrid life as he is not happy with Obama's health insurance ideas either.) And I do not support escalating in Afghanistan - it's another thing we can't afford and it's pointless.

I don't quite understand why not being enamored with Obama makes you think my life is horrid. I have all these years, perhaps taken politics too seriously and I am giving serious thought to listening to Harry Reid's request that liberals back off. Someone else can do the volunteer work and write the checks (besides, I can't afford to donate enough for my opinion to matter). But my life isn't horrid.

[Hippo_Tron]

27. What was the context of Franklin Roosevelt's quote?

Perhaps he said it sarcastically while he was disgruntled about the difficulty he was having passing banking reform legislation. Or perhaps it was half sarcastic and by "the government" he meant enough senators and congresscritters that reform is very hard, although not impossible.

[Hekate]

7. Christ on a trailer hitch, Babs. That thread is just too much, & I just cannot figure out where....

... some people are getting the crap they spew.

Needless to say, I agree with you.

Hekate

[firedupdem]

9. I stopped reading at he had to kiss the ring to be able to run for

President. Too deep for me on a Saturday night!

[Pirate Smile]

8. No but I'm feeling like a minority on this board. It feels more and more fringy.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8300288&mesg_id=8300321

[babylonsister]

11. Please stay put, P S. We need you to quell the real weirdos.

There are people who bring up valid arguments, but then there are others. Please hang around.

[Peacetrain]

12. Full Moon somewhere.. that is for sure

[Hekate]

14. It's feeling too bizarre for words a lot of the time. The day the "pot" boiled over I had to leave--

... DU for the rest of the day because Once Again a whole contingent of DUers had gone apeshit. Fortunately I had just brought home 2 kittens and they've kept me entertained.

Hekate

[Justyce]

17. I hope to hell so or otherwise I'm pretty goddamned pissed off at his

remark the other night about offshoring, that those jobs are just gone & we aren't going to get them back.

Yes, I know he was originally a free-trader, but I'd hoped the state of the economy and the umemployment rate would open his eyes.

[stillcool]

37. How would 'we' get those jobs back?

[Justyce]

38. For starters, he could do what he promised in the campaign,

like penalizing those who offshore to make it not as appealing or offering incentives to hire US workers. If he didn't intend to do anything about it, he shouldn't have made those promises and then retracted them a couple of months after taking office. We can't straighten out our economy until we get the unemployment situation under control, and that can't happen until steps are taken to stop the offshoring.

[stillcool]

39. Those jobs are gone...

The whole purpose of the budget is to restore the economy by creating new jobs, rather than giving more tax-cuts to the likes of IBM, as an incentive to stay in this country. I don't think you can give these global corporations enough money to stay..penalizing them would at least get some money out of them, but I think probably the budget will be a far greater priority for Congress, don't you?

[Clio the Leo]

18. There is only ONE PERSON on this planet who can tell Barack Obama what to do....

.... and we all lust after her biceps.

[babylonsister]

19. Not even. He does what he thinks is right. That's good enough

for me, given his perspective and smarts.

[Clio the Leo]

21. You just wait until you see him walking that girly dog for the first time...

.... in the back yard. You'll know who the boss is. ;)

[Clio the Leo]

22. *

[DeepBlueC]

20. Quel Bullshit!

Or...There's Always Room for Paranoia

[donheld]

24. No I don't by that crap

[leftofthedial]

25. in some areas, I think that's close to the truth.

[Hippo_Tron]

26. No, and I think people who believe the "bankers" control the world read too much fiction

[Karenina]

28. And those in denial about how the system works

are LIVING A FICTION.

[Skwmom]

29. I think the financial titans dangled the presidency in front of Obama

if he would be their guy. That is an offer few could pass up. And I think Emanuel, Biden, Geithner, Rubin, Summers, Gensler, and the rest of the gang are just part of the deal to make sure that Obama delivers. Do you really think the financial titans, knowing the storm was brewing, were just going to role the dice on who became the next President?

Obama is a very likable guy with a gorgeous family. If I wanted someone to further my unpopular agenda with the American Public, and quell a populist uprising, he would be my guy. Obama makes Clinton look like an amateur.

[babylonsister]

30. If there was an iota of truth in that, don't you think

McSame would be more malleable? So you think the 'financial titans' picked Obama? Okay.

PS I don't.

[Two Americas]

31. why?

Why would McCain be preferable for the wealthy and powerful few?

I don't agree with the puppet masters theories about elites controlling everything, and I don't think anyone is controlling Obama. However, I do think that politicians are beholden to, or forced to play ball with and do the bidding of the wealthy and powerful few. I don't see any evidence that Obama is an exception to that.


..

[Djinn]

32. you gotta dance with them what brung you

That was my grandmother's (may she rest in peace) view about politicians - and these days when those that brung you, did so in transport that cost a few hundred million, well you'll be dancing a LONG time.

Gran's other fav saying was "all fur coat and nae knickers" which is also currently apt.

I miss her.

[Skwmom]

34. McSame could NOT get the American people to get behind TRILLIONS in bailouts to

the crooks on Wall Street, the insurance companies, etc.

Obama, like Reagan, is a heck of a good public speaker. Bill Clinton was a master at telling the working class that he was their defender while selling them down the river. Obama makes Clinton look like small league. Obama is so darn likable and his wife even more so. And cute doesn't even begin to describe the kids.

If Obama hasn't sold out to the financial industry big money backers, I'd hate to see what it would look like if he did.


Have you ever heard the saying "the mind has the infinite capacity to rationalize." I've seen a lot of good people rationalize selling out. Listen to some of the comments by Bill Clinton and you'll realize he perfected this technique.

[ZombieHorde]

33. Only in bed. nt

[L. Coyote]

35. One word: Constitution

There really is a role of Chief Executive of the United States, a large piece of real estate on planet Earth
(albeit with an underside of mammary units known as pork .... :rofl: where those who suckle are corrupted).

Obama wakes up every day, a scholar on what that Constitution means, knowing which side of the desk he is on now!

[stillcool]

36. I do not think that the Presidency..

has all the power people believe it does. I've learned an awful lot over the last 8 years about where the power lies in this country, regardless of who resides in the White House, or which party is in the majority. Obviously these people do not go away, and neither does their influence. I think the President sets policy with consequences in mind. So does that mean he 'does what he is told'?

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

40. I think that when the President does not act in the interests of the "have mores"

that the full fury of the mockingbird MSM is brought to bear to lambast him 24/7 for any flaw, fault, slight, habit,tc whether it is real or imagined. The whole "teleprompter" episode is just a little preview of how low and stupid they are willing to go.

[Mass]

41. No, I agree with you. He is impressive with his mastery of issues.

[ecstatic]

42. The Bilderberg group is in control!!11 Series!!11 nt