11 months later, Obama still as the ‘blank screen’
On the eve of the Senate’s approval of a sweeping, secretive health-reform bill last week, opinion writer Miles Mogulescu had this to say:
“For the first time in American history, Democrats are about to pass a bill that uses the coercive power of the federal government to force every American — simply by virtue of being an American — to purchase the products of a private company.”
The rant of a tea-party activist? Hardly. Mogulescu is a self-described “progressive Democrat” who writes for The Huffington Post, a decidedly left-of-center online news site.
In fact, the Senate bill has been pilloried by much of the progressive left pantheon. Among the disgruntled are former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas, MSNBC hosts Keith Olbermann and Ed Schultz, and such organizations as MoveOn.org, labor unions AFL-CIO and SEIU, and Progressive Democrats of America.
The motivation to oppose ObamaCare for liberals like Mogulescu is quite different from that which animates me. Our two sides would take starkly divergent paths from this small patch of common ground.
But I do think the left’s frustration says something interesting about the bill and our president.
Progressive disillusionment with ObamaCare is not a sign that Congress has somehow found the political middle. The putative winners and losers from the bill both think things are getting worse for them during the legislative process. This is because Democrats have abandoned the pretense of fixing a problem and now are just trying to save face. Having declared a health care crisis, they have to pass something.
As a result, this bill isn’t centrist. It’s “get enough votes”-ist.
At the same time, the health debate has transformed Barack Obama from an irresistible magnet to an irresistible target.
In his book “The Audacity of Hope,” Obama famously described himself as “a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views.” When he was a fresh face offering unobjectionable platitudes, that worked well for him. People projected onto him their aspirations, a neat little political trick that enabled him to go from the Illinois statehouse to the White House in just over four years.
Now, however, the blank screen is starting to reflect images of Americans’ frustrations.
The tea party crowd decries Obama as a tyrant who’s expanding government irreversibly. Meanwhile, Mogulescu heaps scorn upon the president. He calls Obama a “corporatist liberal” who has continued Bush-era policies toward Wall Street and foreign policy while scoring a “historic defeat for the type of liberalism represented by the New Deal and the Great Society.”
As with the health bill specifically, this isn’t a case of governing from the center and alienating the extremes. The independent voters who put Obama in office tell pollsters they’re jumping ship, just as they abandoned Democrats in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections this fall.
Obama doesn’t lie in the middle, because he still doesn’t exist beyond the blank screen.
He could be very real. It’s hard to deny that he has intelligence, charisma, gravitas. He may have courage, too — but we wouldn’t know it because, 11 months into his presidency, we can’t be all that certain about his convictions.
Ah, someone will say upon reading that last line, but the president is above all a pragmatist. Is that the kind of pragmatist who keeps pushing for a health bill that’s opposed by solid majorities in opinion polls? Or the kind who similarly defies public sentiment about relocating Guantanamo Bay prisoners to U.S. soil?
Keep on projecting.
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115 comments Add your comment
oldtimer
December 30th, 2009
7:50 pm
Well written.
Sick of Repukes
December 30th, 2009
7:54 pm
Just can’t get enough of the attacks from the Neanderthals over the last week over Obama taking 2 days to respond to the attempted Detroit bombing and trying him and civil court when Bush took 6 days to respond to the shoe bomber Richard Reid and he was tried in civil court! Oh by the way, 7 of your “strong” senators voted against enhanced airport security in 2007! How pathetic to try to score political points when we should be pulling togather as a nation behind the President! What is the phycosis behind you thinking you are only people with a right to govern the country? You do nothing but whine like little babies when not in power and try to undermine all Democratic Presidents! I think that is treason and you should be hanged!!!!!
Sick of Repukes
December 30th, 2009
8:06 pm
Actually 8 Repuke Senators. I forgot to includ Jim Demented!
hryder
December 30th, 2009
8:42 pm
What the Big O needs to possess, beyond those traits you claim he possesses but others reject, is viewing the world through other than rose tinted glasses. He indicates through several different communications that his mere presence with the leaders of both friendly and unfriendly countries will result in all joining hands and singing Kumbiah(sp.) and offering to end any and all conflict, hunger, pain, and suffering. Nice thought but ignores the reality that envy and meaness, just to mention a few traits, that exist in at least a few people. The man does not have a clue about far too many things other than his ego. He reached his goal and has no idea what to do now that he has succeeded and others expect him to do something other than interject his utterances with I more than any other noun or blame any error or failure on George Bush.
Peter
December 30th, 2009
9:00 pm
Sure Kyle……I guess we need invade another country for the Republican’s to be Happy.
Jess
December 30th, 2009
9:09 pm
You can tell when Kyle hits a home run. The lefties get down right childish. Good work!
Sick of Repukes
December 30th, 2009
9:11 pm
I guess his knuckles don’t drag the ground hryder! He isn’t talking in 6th grade simple sentences like the Retard and saying profound things like you are either with us or against us! Wow! You Repukes miss fear mongering! If a thought or idea falls outside of Rush(I mean the Republican) talking points, you have no clue how to respond except shout a person down or tell a lie! Oh by the way, he escalated Afghanastan(Because the retard and five deferment Cheney dithered it for 8 years and wasted billions in Iraq, and is taking the offense in Yemen. Being smart and able to communicate is not a weakness! This isn’t grade school where the bullies rule. Oh yeah, we are getting away from the Republican talking points, so come up with a simplistic way to shout me down!
godless heathen
December 30th, 2009
9:24 pm
The scariest thing about Obama is the mindset of those that support him. (See above.)
Sick of Repukes
December 30th, 2009
9:45 pm
The scariest thing about Obama is the mindset of those that support him.
(See above.)
How profound!!!!!!!!!! You really make a valid point!!!!!! Quick go back to the Rove playbook! Should we whisper he is a homosexual? Or maybe say he is not a Patriot? How about a Socialist? I got it! I’m drinking the Koolaid! LOL!
Audrey in Georgia
December 30th, 2009
9:49 pm
We are safer with President Obama. Always remember 3000+ people were killed while Bush
was the president. If more than 3000 people are killed during Obama’s presidency, then, and only then should we say we are safer with Bush. Kyle and the republicans can spin or distort the truth any way you like it, but try the truth. President Obama is ahead of Bush on national security. Oh and those “tricks” Obama used to become president worked marvelously, didn’t they?
Red Foreman
December 30th, 2009
9:50 pm
Call Presbo what he is…a clown!
Dusty
December 30th, 2009
9:56 pm
Keep going, Kyle. You have presented a true picture quite clearly. Obama gave us the intelligence (seemingly), charisma, and gravitas. but, in a short time, it wore so thin that we could see the empty space behind it. It was as if experience, common sense, graciousness as Bush gave to him, and other attributes were missing.
Obama spends money like he just won the lottery and wants to spend it all and more. Most promises made before elections are forgotten.
He dabbles in minor squabbles (Gates and the policeman).
In a time of lost jobs, lowered incomes, loss of investments and foreclosures he spends a vacation in a magna mansion bringing friends and relatives with him at exhorbitant costs.
Removing prisoners from Guantanamo will cost millions as Obama spends millions on upgrades and bringing enemy prisoners into the USA mainland against the wishes of most Americans. Of course, he is president but it would be smart to show the slightest bit of economical intent. He economizes by spending and promising trillions.
Speaking of decisions, there seems to be a great slowdown in his ability to make them. It happened with some of his appontees. Obama waited months to decide about Afghanistan. He may be intelligent but he moves slowly and not surely.. It is as though he is waiting on his “keepers” to tell him what to say and do.
Obama seems empowered to do the wrong thing. I wish it were not so but it certainly seems that way..
Sick of Repukes
December 30th, 2009
9:56 pm
A Home Run???? Kyle, where was your God Reagan after one year in office? The Virginia Governer’s race has went to the opposing party in the White House for over 30 years. The New Jersey Governer was in scandal and an idiot(but why not blame Obama, he is the root of all evil in the Rethuglican camp!) How profound you take one paragraph in Obama’s book he actually wrote(unlike you betcha! wink) and twist it! Yes a home run Kyle! Let me let you get back to studying your talking points for tomorrow’s blog robot!
Ward
December 30th, 2009
9:58 pm
It was posited months ago that Obama is ‘the man who’s never run anything, trying to run everything.’
So far, I’ve seen nothing to debunk that.
Sick of Repukes
December 30th, 2009
9:59 pm
In truth Dusty, Obama has spent 2 trillion, and the last 8 years over 10 trillion spent. But I guess Rush didn’t tell you that!
Sick of Repukes
December 30th, 2009
10:01 pm
Yeah he can’t see Russia from his house Ward and hasn’t flown in on a jet to an Aircraft carrier and declared Mission accomplished!
Red Foreman
December 30th, 2009
10:16 pm
Presbo da Clown, gonna save us all…I got a crisp 100 dollar bill that says we get nuked while this messiah is in charge!
DAN DEACON
December 30th, 2009
10:19 pm
This president is the biggest joke ever in the history of our great nation. He’s torn it down to pusing socialism, communism and dictatorship onto its citizens. That will not stand and true Americans will not allow him to do it. He’ll eventually make a brutally, illegal, amateur mistake and impeachment will follow. One can only lie so long before they catch up with a person.
He is incompetent and impotent when it comes to any type of military or defense issues and we all should be worried about how our country is protected from our enemies and terrorism. This is evidenced by his imcompetent appointees in Homeland Security and the recent amateurism that took place allowing terrorism to again take place on our soil (thanks to a civilian no one was hurt or killed, meaning it’s up to us to protect ourselves) and his inability or unwillingness to make a decision to send more troops to Afghanistan while our soldiers were being ambused, wounded and dieing for our country in need of our help.
You Obama lovers keep bleeding for him in search of smooching off others that have earned their right to their freedom and financial well being. He’ll keep giving you exactly what you’re getting now….socialism (reliant on government), communisim (told what, when and where to do certain things) and dictatorship (demanded to do certain things) – all currently taking place under his administration. The rest of us will vote him out of office next go round or have him impeached upon an opportunity to do so, which seems likely at the rate he is going.
mike
December 30th, 2009
10:20 pm
Sick of Repukes –
“I think that is treason and you should be hanged!!!!!”
Thanks for showing us how a “tolerant” liberal thinks.
Sick of Repukes
December 30th, 2009
10:27 pm
Your welcome Mike! The truth hurts doesn’t it!
Bill
December 30th, 2009
10:35 pm
Kyle, unfortunately you continue the fine tradition of Jim Wooten!! You are not for anything – you are only against any proposals that are brought forward by the other side.
The Obama health plan is far from perfect – but it is a plan. What did you and the folks who were in power for many years bring forward – nothing!! And you have the gall to complain when something is brought forward that will improve the current situation (with all it’s imperfections).
I only hope that some day you will have the courage to write an article that is actually positive about the efforts being made to improve our wonderful country (NOT!!).
Regards
Audrey in Georgia
December 30th, 2009
10:35 pm
The republicans voted against updated systems for airport screenings. I wonder why? Maybe
they thought we would just forget about 9/11 and they did not want to inconvenience anyone at the airports. So are you still safer with Bush?
DannyX
December 30th, 2009
10:40 pm
So your answer Kyle is to put Republicans back in charge? You know? The same group that gave us the Medicare Part D Bill. You know, that socialistic program that added billions to the budget with no new revenue stream.
I guess if you’re going to pick one party over the other it would have to be the Democrats.
The Republicans passed these same horrible Bills and Republicans never spoke out. Now all of a sudden the Republicans seem to have found their voice, in a cowardly way. Silence and downright support for terrible Bills by their Republican leaders, then all of a sudden anger.
Many Democrats aren’t having it from their leaders. They seem to think their leaders work for them, not the other way around. This blind Obama worship the right claimed has evaporated into another one of their fantasies. Republicans were lead down a cliff and are now asking for a return to power? What if you get laryngitis again?
Right now the only momentum the Republicans have are obscure Rasmussen polls, just like last year.
Bill
December 30th, 2009
10:43 pm
Dan Deacon, your comments are treasonous at best. Are you an American? If so, you should understand what it means to be the “loyal opposition”. From your comments, you obviously have no idea. It certainly is wonderful that we have a democracy so that people like yourself can spew your vile hatred. Why don’t you try something positive for a change – that certainly would be a novel approach!!
Regards,
Audrey in Georgia
December 30th, 2009
10:56 pm
Red Foreman, you better run while you still can. Take Bush and Cheney with you. As a matter of fact, take all the republicans with you and go under ground. After the country is nuked, all of you can come out and start a new generation of republicans.
DAN DEACON
December 30th, 2009
11:16 pm
Bill…Treasonous would be the act of imposing socialism, communism and a dictatorship. Opposing it would be American…..what country (world) are you from? You may want to get your head out of the sand and pay attention to what’s going on around you. If you have children and can understand the impact all this irresponsible spending will have on them, you should show compassion and be willing to fight for your childrens (and their childrens) well being. At present Obamanism is dooming that generation and the next with his imposing dictatorlike policies and rampant irresponsible spending. Thanks for taking your head out of the sand to keep up with all the comments in this section. Perhaps you’ll be able to recognize what treason really is now.
When you’ve fought to protect our country and had friends and relatives die for this country as many of us have, then you’ll have room to speak. Until then, don’t talk to me about treason, budroe.
Robert
December 30th, 2009
11:21 pm
Sick of Repukes writes…….
“Yeah he can’t see Russia from his house”
I guess this in reference to Gov. Palin. Better look in the mirror before calling someone stupid.
Just a few facts for you….
“Russia is indeed close, with less than 60 miles separating Alaska’s northwest coast from Chukotka, and less than three miles separating the Alaska island of Little Diomede from the Russia island of Big Diomede. Russia and Alaska share a window onto the Arctic.”
” More and more American and Canadian fighter jets are scrambling and intercepting Russian bombers flying off the Alaskan coast, exacerbating tensions between the former Cold War foes.”
“The most recent incident occurred March 25, 2008 when two F-15s from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, scrambled to intercept two Russian Tu-95 Bear heavy bombers.”
Robert
December 30th, 2009
11:24 pm
Danny X……..we still got our bet? (If the Repubs don’t pick up seats in the House I buy you a big juicy steak with all the trimmings…..and if they do……..you send in $25 to the Republican National Comm.) ? Right?
Robert
December 30th, 2009
11:30 pm
Audrey wrote…….
The republicans voted against updated systems for airport screenings. I wonder why?
Because it ain’t the system that’s broke….it’s the people. Good Lord Audrey…….The underware bomber was on the watch list, his own father said to watch him. All they had to do was pat him down with thier hands and let the doggie sniff him to find the explosives. What updated system are you talking about? Can you state the House or Senate Bill number so we can read what they voted against?
See, here is the problem……..Dems always think that if you just spend more money al will be fine. You can do better Audrey, I know you can.
Sick of Repukes
December 30th, 2009
11:35 pm
Just in. Rush rushed to the hospital in serious condition! You better check on the Godfather! Karma
Sick of Repukes
December 30th, 2009
11:37 pm
I guess that is why the Rethuglicans spent over 10 trillion dollars the last 8 years Robert(6 you controlled congress)! Rush is down! OMG! Where do talking points come from tomorrow????
Sick of Repukes
December 30th, 2009
11:44 pm
About the Russia comment Robert! I guess Pinnocio Palin has bionic eyes and would have got the Alaskan National Guard on those Rogue Russians! You betcha!
Sick of Repukes
December 30th, 2009
11:54 pm
Dan Deacon I have fought for my country in first Gulf War, my family has fought. So I call you Sir a traitor for not RESPECTING our Commander in Chief REGARDLESS of which party! Bill had a very valid point LOYAL OPPOSITION! Something Rethuglicans don’t know. Are you sure you just can’t take the fact a black man is running the country JACKASS! (I’m white before the rednecks come out of the wood works!)
mike
December 30th, 2009
11:55 pm
Sick of Repukes –
“About the Russia comment Robert! I guess Pinnocio Palin has bionic eyes and would have got the Alaskan National Guard on those Rogue Russians! You betcha!”
Too bad she never said that, idiot. Tina Fey did. I am not surprised that you get your news from SNL. Your moronic and ignorant ranting is a sure sign of a loser who is too lazy to actually read an article from a real new source.
Keep banging on those exclamation marks, you sad lonely person. If shouting your mindless partisan hate brings some comfort into your friendless existence, I am happy for you. LOL
mike
December 30th, 2009
11:56 pm
Sick of Repukes has been here shouting ignorance to himself for at least four hours now.
I guess that is what you do when you have no life. Have fun sleeping alone in your mommy’s basement loser. LOL
Sick of Repukes
December 31st, 2009
12:00 am
I actually have a wonderful life Mike. Lots of friends and Wonderful Marriage. But when all else fails and you run out of intelligent things to debate, go all Karl Rovian style and attack the person! You proved my point knuckle dragger! I’m gone! Owned this blog tonight Rethuglicans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OBAMA 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Later dimwits!
Vinny
December 31st, 2009
12:25 am
What a joke the libs are. They can’t stand it that Obama is proven over and over again to be nothing but an impotent boob.
Loran, Whatayagot?
December 31st, 2009
1:09 am
By the way, sick of Repukes, the word is psychosis, not “phycosis”. Are you a GED dropout? You are very adept at comparing situations which do not have similar circumstances and drawing imbecilic conclusions, which make your guy look competant, which he is not. However, I do not think you should be hanged, as you do wih those who disagree with you. Isn’t there a guy in North Korea who does that? You are useful for amusement and revealing the idiotic nen-seqitors of the left. I urge you to keep blogging.
Sunshine and Thunder
December 31st, 2009
1:09 am
Sick of Repukes:
Stick a fork in it buddy. You are the worst kind of ranting maniac. Do you and George Soros stand at the top of a mountain and vomit all night? What’s with you? Nobody wants to hear your ravings. This is a debating forum not a dais for uncontrollable blatherings. Got blog? READ!! Please journal up. We don’t need another left nut saliva spitter. Your boss is in trouble. He has written the end of the careers of many of his supporters on the hill. They aren’t likely to forget. Nobody wanted this health care legislation. Nobody. Now, in its final form, it isn’t even loved by the left. Who’s going to vote for democrats ever again?
Sick of Repukes
December 31st, 2009
1:28 am
I guess it is ok when Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Jim Dement, Peter King, Dick Cheney, Sarah Palin, etc. can spew lies and try ti destroy the President, that is ok huh? But me to object to it! Wow! The line is in the sand. You are going to see the next three years. Your own interfighting will make you obsolete and I’m going to sit back and laugh! Karma
Sick of Repukes
December 31st, 2009
2:27 am
Guess your blog was a blank screen tonight Kyle like the ideas of your party! Get creative! You sound so much like Wooten really stale. At least Bookman on other side keeps his Conservative bloggers more entertained than you! Come on dude! Try criticizing your party for political opprotunity for attacking Obama while Bush did same thing with Richard Reid the shoe bomber!
Michael
December 31st, 2009
3:52 am
Perhaps if GOP conservatives not named Olympia Snowe had offered anything, you wouldn’t have both bases complaining about the bill. Republicans pretty much spent the year telling you any scare tactic, facts be damned, instead of actually doing something. Well, the stonewalling killed the public option. Same GOP response. This is what happens when about 60 percent of Congress is trying to get something to work and 40 percent is out to lunch.
To the idiots above almost celebrating Rush Limbaugh being in the hospital, grow up. I can’t stand the man, but he’s still a person.
Michael H. Smith
December 31st, 2009
6:01 am
This happens when 60 percent of the Congress controlled by the Democrats tells the remaining 40 percent of Congress occupied by the Republicans to go out to blazes. I’ve heard all the lying left wing crap I care to hear: NO REAL EFFORT was made by Democrats to produce a non-partisan or by-partisan healthcare reform bill.
In fact, even the somewhat centrist members of the Democrat Party were ignored or squashed or told to hit the road.
Nah, you own this piece of fascist socialist crap, liberals: It’s yours!
I hope the rest of America does what I intend to do: Vote every stinking socialist left wing nut job liberal elitist Democrat out of office in 2010.
So get ready, it’s on and it is war: James Carville, Howard Dean, Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas,
MSNBCMSDNC hosts Keith Olbermann a.k.a. “BATHTUB BOY” and Ed Schultz a.k.a. “THE TALKING DUNKEY”, and such organizations as MoveOn.org, labor unions AFL-CIO and SEIU/ACORN, and Progressive (correction to Kyle’s spelling to the lower case “p” “progressive”) Democrats of America.Gerald West
December 31st, 2009
6:52 am
Let’s see now. Democrats, particularly the popularly-elected President, are bad. Republicans and postering “conservatives” are good. Kyle, why can’t a man of your age and education lift his vision above the gutter of partisan politics and avoid silly puns devised by Foxnews propagandists?
“Obamacare” is not an appropriate name for the monstrous health care bill that the Congress may pass. The President had a simpler, more effective scheme in mind, but our Constitution assigns legislative responsibility to the Congress, not the President. The Congress has been dysfunctional for many years. It’s a miracle when they enact legislation of any use at all, and all their legislation is larded with hundreds of pages of political favors. The health care bill actually has a few improvements to health care coverage along with the typical earmarks.
Forcing people to arramge for health care insurance is a reasonable approach, and a first step toward cleaning up the health care mess. Everyone does, in fact, have access to some degree of health care, but the uninsured who get their treatment in the emergency rooms are sponging off the insured, the taxpayers, and perhaps even their relatives. It’s far cheaper to force them to pay, even to assist them to pay, for coverage than to burden the hospitals with the cost of treatment plus the expense of futile billing and collection procedures.
Besides, if everyone had basic health care coverage, we could put the private health insurers out of the basic health care coverage business. Private health insurers do not actually provide any health care (they use same providers as Medicare). They ration health care by denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions and the ability to pay, and they impose an enormous, unnecessary financial burden on health care payers and providers.
The rightful role for private insurers is demonstrated by Medicare right now. They should offer supplements to the basic health insurance plan, and perform the clerical functions of eligibility verification and claims processing under contract (as the lowest cost bidder) to the basic insurance plan. They should not decide who is eligible for health care, or which treatments are covered.
NeverTrustaDemocrat
December 31st, 2009
6:55 am
Sick of Repukes claims to have a wonderful life and marriage, yet he was spewing his angry hate on this blog until 2:27 a.m. this morning. If things were so perfect for him, he would have been sleeping restfully with his wonderful wife at 2:27 a.m. in the morning!
GA40
December 31st, 2009
7:11 am
For Bill (and others who are interested)- Sen. Tom Coburn (and others) introduced the Patients Choice Act of 2009 in May of this year, which is a comprehensive approach to health care reform. It was largely ignored by the media, mainly because it doesn’t expand the government’s role in health care like the current reform plans do. It can be easily found using Google and may serve to add some thoughtful debate to this board, rather than the senseless shouting that I’m reading from both sides.
Horrible Horrace
December 31st, 2009
7:27 am
Its becoming more and more enjoyable to watch the kenyan spinning round and round, getting ever so deeper in the ever so STINKY waters of the ALMIGHTY TOILET!
2010 Landslide
December 31st, 2009
7:51 am
Repeal Obamacare in 2011. When Conservatives take over the Congress in November REPEAL OBAMACARE ON DAY ONE! Harry Reid will be prosecuted for his bribery schemes to get this terrible bill through the Senate. If you thought Nancy Pelosi was ugly before, just wait until her office is moved to some leaky basement stinkhole. Obama is scum!
NeverTrustaDemocrat
December 31st, 2009
8:29 am
Obama took his eye off the ball on this one. A few days ago, he pledged to keep us safe. Why didn’t he live up to this promise before now? Because he was too busy meeting with Insurance Company executives, lobbyists, and in September even the CEO of ACORN paid him a White House visit. I would say he was too pre-occupied in backroom dealings with shady people trying to make history with his healthcare disaster bill. He had time to have a beer fest with the professor and cop from Boston, had time to play more golf in his first year than Bush did in eight, had time to fly to Copenhagen for an unsuccessful Chicago Olympic bid speech, had time go on a worldwide apology tour, bowing to emporer’s and dictators along the way ( but didn’t make the time to buy a decent gift for the Queen of England or the PM). Our nation’s security should have been his #1 priority and it wasn’t. Hopefully it will be bumped up a notch on his to-do list.
Horrible Horrace
December 31st, 2009
8:29 am
Whatever happened to the H1N1 pandemic that was supposed to be spreading across the globe and killing citizens by the handful?
And what about this wonderful vaccine that our stupid govt officials seem unable to make available?
All a big ole hoax!! More smoke and mirrors from the Jackass Federal govt. KMA!
vracer
December 31st, 2009
8:30 am
Sick of Repukes comments makes this newspaper unfit for even wrapping the garbage.
Morono
December 31st, 2009
8:34 am
Can I have your freedom fries?
stands for decibels
December 31st, 2009
8:35 am
Kyle, that’s a pretty decent piece. I don’t agree with much of it, but at least you are willing to acknowledge that a lot of the supposed public-rejection-of-Obamacare-per-this-here-polling(R) is, in fact, coming from the left.
You don’t take the next step, though, and bother to consider how this will shake out in a few weeks, when the bills are reconciled and passed and some of the dust has settled. Lefties will likely see this for the historic regulation that it is; they will understand that you don’t get the whole loaf all at once but take half, or (in my humble opinion) in this case, about four-fifths of one.
You get most of that left-wing opposition turned around and you have an overwhelming popular support for the reform. which will happen.
Sneer at that and call it “pragmatism”, as if that were a bad thing, all you want. Doesn’t bother me.
But having written all that, I do continue to appreciate having at least one local right-wing opinion writer who isn’t nutzoid, and who makes a few solid points now and again.
stands for decibels
December 31st, 2009
8:39 am
Oh, one other thing–I read The Audacity of Hope. The actual book. I’m sure there’s a line in it where Obama describes himself as being perceived as a “blank screen”.
That really wasn’t the point of the book, though.
Kinda like how, oh…
- Sonia Sotomayor isn’t really all about thinking of herself as the wisest Latina judge evah, or
- Trinity United Church of Christ isn’t really about hatin’ on whitey and saying “God Damn America”, or…
well, you get my point. The reliance on selectively, deliberately out-of-context stuff is rather annoying, tends to backfire on the user, and I suspect you’re a bit better than this, Kyle.
Eric
December 31st, 2009
8:56 am
Great article, Kyle–my sentiments as well–the public forced to purchased private insurance. I voted for Obama, but 11 months looks a lot like a continuation of Bush’s policies. I plan to vote Republican next time if the GOP will come up with a stronger candidate that espouses freedom and constitutionality.
The Devil
December 31st, 2009
9:11 am
Megga Dittos! Gotta do some spring cleaning to make room for the big one, better order some oxycotin to celebrate his arrival….
The Dogfighter Returns
December 31st, 2009
9:15 am
Dan Deacon
Next time you may want to include some facts in your post. You complain of socialism, however, you want the government to protect you when you fly.
You don’t know what socialism is do you?
Chris Broe
December 31st, 2009
9:23 am
Obama’s Charisma at Christmas
Flat-earther Birther, Kyle Wingnut, graciously acknowledged Obama’s gravitas, (but not gravity). Repeatedly, Kyle has utilized blogs and twitters to parrot warnings of a precipitous plummet in presidential polls. He’s our canary in the political cage; not so much Chicken Little as Tweet(ee) Bird.
There’s no doubt about it: The bloom is off the Obama rose garden.
Happy New Year!
Horrible Horrace
December 31st, 2009
9:34 am
Here is some Hope and Change for us all!!
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
sam
December 31st, 2009
9:52 am
the biggest problem with this bill is that we are being forced to watch it be written, debated, trashed, re-written, etc…the fact that the far left is not happy with it, is a good thing. lets be honest the right will hate anything at this point, so for me as long as the far left is unhappy it tells me its more centrist that we know. healthcare costs are out of control and only getting worse, something needs to be done. this bill doesnt sound perfect but i’ve never known one that was..the intricacies can be worked out over the next 10 years..in my mind, any start is a good start.
Stan Kelley
December 31st, 2009
9:52 am
The last paragraph implies that Obama and the Democrats in Congress should govern according to the polls. Is that what you think? Polls can often change so that what is opposed in the polls one month can be favored the next and vice versa. And which poll should govern? Should an official polling organization be named? If so, which one? Ask a few easy questions and your argument falls apart of its own weight.
Kyle Wingfield
December 31st, 2009
10:00 am
stands for decibels: The blank screen thing might not have been the point of the book, but it most certainly was the point of the Obama campaign. And it was a successful campaign strategy. But I don’t think it works as a governing philosophy.
DannyX
December 31st, 2009
10:10 am
So far Stan, Kyle has basically been cherry picking what he wants out of the polls. Of course he never mentions that just about every single poll taken says Americans would support the more LIBERAL health care plan that includes the public option/Medicare buy-in.
Kyle and his followers also fail to point out that polls show Americans STILL trust Obama more on health care than Congressional Republicans.
You see if you really analyze the polls, despite the Democrats failures Republicans are hardly making a dent. Real Clear politics average on Generic Congressional preference has Republicans up only 1.7%. The latest Gallup has the Dems up 3%.
There is NO Republican revolution taking place right now no matter how much Republicans wish it.
Please, Republicans, you have been asked to prove your wild claims with anything other than a over active imagination.
Kyle made the claim the other day that Republicans could retake the House. Preposterous! Will Republicans gain a few seats? Probably, history says it will. No maps at this time indicate there is the slightest chance of a huge Republican victory at this point.
Road Scholar
December 31st, 2009
10:20 am
Dan Deacon: “Treasonous would be the act of imposing socialism, communism and a dictatorship. ” And he shops retail!!!!
Robert: And the Repubs have voted against a new computerized air traffic system. What will it take? A few midair crashes?
Michael:”To the idiots above almost celebrating Rush Limbaugh being in the hospital, grow up. I can’t stand the man, but he’s still a person.”
Agreed, but I have to add that I didn’t know Rush had a heart!
stands for decibels
December 31st, 2009
10:20 am
The blank screen thing might not have been the point of the book, but it most certainly was the point of the Obama campaign.
And here I thought the point of the Obama campaign was to shift direction away from a neocon-drenched foreign policy and belief in the Tax Cut Fairy, and toward a rational, workable form of governance based on policy positions most Americans agree with.
Kyle Wingfield
December 31st, 2009
10:22 am
Let’s see those polls, DannyX. And please be sure to include the ones that ask whether people want a public option if it means their taxes will go up.
As for the GOP re-taking the House, all I said was that this was the very best they could hope for…and I said it in the context of explaining why the GOP will remain rather limited in Congress for the next few years.
Talk about “cherry picking.”
jconservative
December 31st, 2009
10:25 am
“historic defeat for the type of liberalism represented by the New Deal and the Great Society”
If Obama is able to do this, kill New Deal/Great Society liberalism, then he will get my vote if he runs for re-election. I have been trying to get rid of this pestilence for 40 years and will certainly vote for the man who pulls the trigger.
I trust everyone noted the “if”. Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton & Bush all continued the “New Deal/Great Society liberalism”. So I really hold out little hope that I will live to see the demise of the
scourge.
Chris Broe
December 31st, 2009
10:26 am
Fair and balanced, Kyle has borne again the task of reminding us all that campaign rhetoric stays in the campaign.
Why must Kyle insist on reliving the campaign over and over. A landslide must be a nightmare for a flat-earther.
Resolve not to relive 2008 in 2010, sir. You need to read Cynthia Tucker’s New Year’s Blog. You’ll be a better person. (and a better writer. There’s gold there for U 2 steal).
Jklol
JF McNamara
December 31st, 2009
10:30 am
I’m not sure I get this one Kyle, but whatever. Governance is a lot harder than campaigning. Having the votes to enact legislation (and actually doing so) is a lot tougher than throwing stones from the sidelines.
We don’t have a clear political majority in this country, so someone will always be mad. If you really have that big a problem with it, you should have implored your Republican Congressmen to work hand in hand with the Democrats instead of being the party of “No”, since it was clear something would get passed.
As it turns out, moderate Democrats played the part the Republicans should have played and this is what happened. You need to point the thumb too. Republicans should be a strong dissenter, but not to the point of excluding themselves from the political process.
…and before anyone says it, the Democrats didn’t exclude them from the beginning. It became clear they wanted to politize this in the 2010 elections and wouldn’t be reasonable negotiators in the process.
The bill wasn’t secretive. It was only secretive if you chose not to look for it.
Horrible Horrace
December 31st, 2009
10:33 am
The only things DannyX can produce are sheets of used toilet paper from his clothes line as his phantom polls simply do not exist.
Intown Lib
December 31st, 2009
10:34 am
Finally a thought-provoking and original critique of Obama. Good stuff Kyle. I wonder where voters will flock to though. The Repubs don’t really offer a sane alternative governing philosophy.
Kyle Wingfield
December 31st, 2009
10:37 am
Thanks, Intown. And I agree that the GOP has a long way to go in convincing voters that it is a real — that is, potentially effective — alternative.
Road Scholar
December 31st, 2009
10:38 am
Kyle, while we have disagreed in the past, and will probably disagree in the future, have a Happy New Year! May it be better than this one! (even though it has been a good one for me and my family!)
Kyle Wingfield
December 31st, 2009
10:44 am
JF: The Republicans were shut out of this process from the moment the president made it clear that he would let Pelosi, Reid, et al. take the lead on all of the biggest pieces of legislation, especially this one.
Not secretive? Then why was Sen. Durbin, the Senate majority whip, saying to Sen. McCain just two weeks before the floor vote took place that he was “in the dark almost as much as he is, and I am in the leadership”?
Kyle Wingfield
December 31st, 2009
10:45 am
Thanks, Road Scholar, same to you and yours…and to everyone else who visits this blog.
Robert
December 31st, 2009
11:09 am
DannyX,
Since the public option is not in the senate’s proposal, we have to go back a month when the public option was being discussed as a major component of the House version.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2387676/gallup_most_americans_oppose_government.html?cat=5
As you can see, Gallup’s headline was “Gallup: Most Americans Oppose Government Health Care”. If you read the article further, the author quoted Ed Morrissey as saying something spot on: “People have begun seeing what the bill would be to deliver that kind of system — and not just in dollars and cents. It has costs in choice, in access, in options for care that only became clear when Democrats rushed to impose such a system on the US. Before 2008, the question existed almost entirely as an academic one, and people gave a response based on broad concepts and lazy thinking.”
Democrats are Corrupt, Repukes are Lying Scum
December 31st, 2009
11:22 am
Good news: Fat Boy Rush has had a massive heart attack, and is now a vegetable, imho, Suffer fat boy suffer.
Democrats are Corrupt, Repukes are Lying Scum
December 31st, 2009
11:23 am
R we hanging Repukes yet? Aw got the rope…
Robert
December 31st, 2009
11:24 am
DannyX
http://www.gallup.com/poll/123332/Many-U.S.-See-Health-Insurance-Personal-Responsibility.aspx
“In a recent Gallup survey, 89% of Republicans, 64% of independents, and 61% of Americans overall say Americans themselves — rather than the government — have the primary responsibility for ensuring that they have health insurance. Six in 10 Democrats say the government should be primarily responsible.”
F-105 Thunderchief
December 31st, 2009
11:25 am
Health care “reform” has become a cluster you-know-what and should be abandoned for now. The President’s lack of experience is showing. He looks and sounds like a leader, but I don’t know yet if he really is one. I hope so, because we could sure use one. But, I’m leaning toward not.
Robert
December 31st, 2009
11:31 am
According to Poll Averages for the month of December, 56.7% believe the direction of the country is on the wrong track.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls/
So, we have a Democrat in the White House, both houses have a Democrat majority, and we have seen some of the bills come out of both houses this year. Considering the Democrats have control of everything and are charting the course our country will take, a clear majority of the population thinks they are taking us in the wrong direction.
DannyX
December 31st, 2009
12:00 pm
Again, Robert, nothing you have provided has shown evidence that Americans are turning to the Republicans. That page you linked to confirms it.
We have been getting trash Bills from Congress for years now. This new health care debate shows how out of touch Congress has been the last 10 years, at least.
Its an embarrassment. Senator out for sex in public bathrooms, diaper wearing prostitute hiring about to be re-elected-Senator, Medicare Part D, Terry Schiavo, Health Care reform, Big money lobbies, No Child Left Behind,destructive partisanship, and most of all turning government into all politics and no governing.
While most of this stuff was going on Republican faithful remained silent. I guess that’s why you have no way to refute my main point, Americans are in no hurry, with good reason, to give control back to Republicans. Any control.
Gallup most admired American men, Obama 30% tops the list, no big deal its almost always the president. At number 2 on the list Bush at 4%, then Mandela with 3, GLENN BECK is next at 4%
How do you win elections when the most respected Republicans on the list are George W Bush and Glenn Beck? Heck Hillary still out polls Palin.
Bush, Palin, and Beck…….Your Republican heroes…….
Republicans will not move into leadership until they find suitable leaders. Get your own house in order.
Ragnar Danneskjöld
December 31st, 2009
12:07 pm
Great essay Mr.Wingfield. Chauncey Gardener has proven even worse than our original fears. Far from attempting to calm markets, he has proffered ever-larger government input. Rather than encouraging recovery in the productive economy, he has shifted trillions to the public sector, condemning the next generation of Americans to the moribund life of socialist Europe. Every time freedom fighters arise in such helll-holes as Iran, Chauncey reach out to the overlords of those dictatorships. I feared he would be as bad/weak/incompetent as Jimmy Carter, but I think the degree of failure is already irretrievably greater.. .
Robert
December 31st, 2009
12:19 pm
DannyX,
You need to be able to back up your claims. You seem to have lost your credibility. Take a look.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/124226/republicans-edge-ahead-democrats-2010-vote.aspx
“PRINCETON, NJ — Republicans have moved ahead of Democrats by 48% to 44% among registered voters in the latest update on Gallup’s generic congressional ballot for the 2010 House elections, after trailing by six points in July and two points last month.”
Robert
December 31st, 2009
12:27 pm
Kyle, is there anyway you can delete the post at 12:21 by the the moron who is hoping someone will die soon? I think it’s ok to get into heated debates on here, even some name-calling if that’s what some like to do…but he has taken it too far.
Dunwoody Mike
December 31st, 2009
12:29 pm
jconservative,
Then I guess that you will refuse Medicare and Social Security as soon as you turn 65, correct? All you want is your money back.
Do you also want to get rid of the Tennessee Valley Authority and OSHA while we are at it?
DannyX
December 31st, 2009
12:40 pm
Robert here is the reference you asked for. Released DECEMBER 14,2009.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/124661/Race-2010-Remains-Close-Democrats-Recover-Slight-Lead.aspx
Creditability indeed.
Robert
December 31st, 2009
12:51 pm
DannyX, my poll is more recent than yours (December 29, 2009)and Republicans still lead democrats in a generic congressional race in 2010.
Your credibility is lost…again.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/generic_congressional_ballot
What do you think about the poll numbers I mentioned earlier as far as the direction our leaders are taking us? You never mentioned anything about that.
DannyX
December 31st, 2009
1:01 pm
Robert, you want to play games go ahead. You called me out and got burned. Your original link was to an outdated Gallup poll. I corrected you just as you asked. In fact I already made reference to the Real Clear Politics average that figured in the Rasmussen poll and noted that Republicans held a very slight advantage.
My story hasn’t changed one bit. There is absolutely no evidence of any sort of Republican revolution taking place.
DannyX
December 31st, 2009
1:06 pm
Robert, regarding your comment: 12:51 “What do you think about the poll numbers I mentioned earlier as far as the direction our leaders are taking us? ”
Did you not even to read my 12:00 post. You are falling apart.
Kyle Wingfield
December 31st, 2009
1:07 pm
Robert: I’ve taken down that post and others related to it. Repukes, I’m not allowing death wishes for specific people.
Hillbilly Deluxe
December 31st, 2009
1:09 pm
Having a so-called “super-majority” is a mixed blessing. You have the votes to do whatever you want to do, but the downside is that you are expected to produce results. When the Republicans won control of both Houses of Congress, it was because the majority of people weren’t happy with the status quo. After gaining that control, they didn’t produce, so they were voted out. It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the near future.
Robert
December 31st, 2009
1:18 pm
Danny, I haven’t been burned. You have. The reason why I gave poll numbers from November earlier was to compare apples to apples. Your claim that the polls show people wanting a public option doesn’t matter when the latest bill (senate bill) passed in December has no public option. So, I thought that showing what the polls from November, when the house was debating the public option, would be more applicable. The polls showed more people did not like the bill than did. The major component of that bill WAS THE PUBLIC OPTION!
I further gave links to a poll that said that the majority of people don’t think it’s the government’s responsibility to provide health insurance (which is a PUBLIC OPTION!)
I then gave a link to show that in December, the majority of people do not like the direction we are headed. You never responded directly to that question, so I am not falling apart.
As far as a Republican revolution taking place, I never said that. I only referenced polls that showed the Republicans are leading the Democrats in a generic congressional race in 2010. This poll was as of 3 days ago. Your poll was 17 days ago.
Either way, the fact that a year ago, noone thought Republicans would even be close to defeating Democrats…now we can at least agree that it is a very close race in 2010. We can debate over the latest poll numbers, but we cannot deny the fact that Republicans have indeed gained favorability and the Democrats have lost some.
Alan
December 31st, 2009
1:18 pm
President Obama is a great salesman, hence his phenomenal campaign and victory. But the personal traits that make a top salesman are often at odds with those that make a good leader. With every issue and crisis which President Obama confronts he tries to sell rather than lead, and the American people are developing buyers remorse.
Robert
December 31st, 2009
1:22 pm
Thanks Kyle. These people don’t deserve the right to post those kind of comments on a public forum.
godless heathen
December 31st, 2009
1:31 pm
From Politico 12/28: “Obama had arrived at Luana Hills Country Club at 10:40 a.m. after delivering remarks at a Marine Corps Base about Friday’s attempted terrorist attack on a Northwest Airlines flight.”
These remarks were when he said: “we will not rest until we find all who were involved and hold them accountable.”
Maybe he should take OJ with him to play golf and find all involved and the real killers.
DannyX
December 31st, 2009
1:52 pm
Actually godless heathen there has been some great leads in the bombing attempt.
One of the terrorists masterminds of the operation was released from Guantanamo prison in 2007 by the Bush administration. It seems they sent a terrorist home to Saudi Arabia for some “art therapy.”
He ended up in Yemen working again for Al Queda.
Oh, yes. Republicans keeping us safe. Kumbaya!
BS Aplenty
December 31st, 2009
1:53 pm
Kyle, your points are well-taken especially the “blank screen” quote. President Hypocrisy has little moral standing, hence, it’s difficult for him to lead on anything. Particularly when he stands for nothing.
godless heathen
December 31st, 2009
1:57 pm
Well DannyX, Obama will be sending more of them home to Yemen, so he must think it is a good idea.
Robert
December 31st, 2009
1:59 pm
Hey DannyX,
You still around? I responded to your questions, clarifying your misunderstanding. No comment? Nothing to say? That’s what I thought. Presenting you with facts scared you into silence.
Peter
December 31st, 2009
2:28 pm
Hey maybe George Bush will spend some quality time with Bin Laden this New Years, after he let him off free via the Bush Terrorist Protection Program.
Chris Broe
December 31st, 2009
2:38 pm
New Years Blog rules and resolutions:
No more vacant remarks like “Well Written”, or “this stinks”. U have 2 explain Y.
The paleolithic cave paintings in Lascaux, France were the world’s greatest masterpieces during the mezo-roccoco era, okay? But now they look like Picasso wiped his ass on a tree, alright?
U have 2 explain Y.
or face the scorn and ridicule of 32K years of advancement on going medieval on a Neanderthal’s ass.
Jklol
How quickly they forget
December 31st, 2009
2:49 pm
Are we to understand that an American citizen, Mr. Dick Cheney is publicly criticizing the Commander in Chief while we are at war?
Isn’t that giving aid and comfort to the enemy? That’s what they were saying when Bush was president.
Peter
December 31st, 2009
3:15 pm
After 8 years of Bush……we still have a Blank screen Kyle…….
Republican’s Keep America Safe…..BIG JOKE HA HA HA……
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – As a prisoner at Guantanamo, Said Ali al-Shihri said he wanted freedom so he could go home to Saudi Arabia and work at his family’s furniture store.
Instead, al-Shihri, who was released in 2007 under the Bush administration, is now deputy leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, a group that has claimed responsibility for the Christmas Day attempted bomb attack on a Detroit-bound airliner.
Peter
December 31st, 2009
3:25 pm
Please comment on the Detainees that Bush let go…… and how they are leading al-Qaida today Kyle.
Robert
December 31st, 2009
3:48 pm
Peter,
Bush releasing these guys from GITMO is a legitimate criticism, but the Democrats want to release all of the prisoners from GITMO.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
December 31st, 2009
5:06 pm
Peter, hate to break it to you but the democrat party has yet to produce Bin Laden.
Obama said he’d get him…………….. 11 months later…….nothing
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
December 31st, 2009
5:07 pm
Kyle, great piece by the way. Obama is looking dumber and dumber with each passing day.
November 2010=slaughter of the democrat party.
saywhat?
December 31st, 2009
6:19 pm
Democrats are Corrupt, Repukes are Lying Scum wrote
December 31st, 2009
11:22 am
Wrote “….Rush has had a massive heart attack, and is now a vegetable, imho….”
What has changed?
As for today’s topic, this “blank screen” nonsense is simply that, nonsense. As a candidate, Obama was somewhat unknown at first, and for that reason, was not my choice in the democratic primary. My first choice, based on policy proposals, was Edwards, but we all know how that turned out. My next choice was Clinton, whom even though I felt she was too corporatist, I was confident she would at least surround herself with competent people. As I have learned more about Obama by seeing him in action, I have discovered that he has most of the corporatist tendencies of Clinton and is generally a centrist, but also surrounds himself with competent people, and appears to make well thought out decisions.
The only people spouting the “messiah” bs are Republicans/”Conservatives”/Libertardians. It is simply a defense mechanism because they can’t come to terms with the fact that President Obama is hands down a better president than W ever was, and better than McCain would have been. They are completely blind to or at least refuse to see all those qualities that have made him an exceptional leaderthus far, and will serve him well as president the next 7 years.
The other point which should be made regards the health care bill. Yes, many liberals oppose it, and as Kyle points out, for very different reasons than the right wingers do. But is dumb to assume that opposition from the left translates into support for the right. The general feeling I get from the left is that while we dislike some of what President Obama has done, and what the Congress has done, we still haven’t forgotten how much worse it was with Republicans attempting to govern. While significantly flawed, the healthcare bill is at least a long due start. It will improve with time. I predict the next installment to come in 2012, after President Obama’s re-election landslide.
Peter
December 31st, 2009
8:59 pm
Yes and Bush attacked a country and let Bin Laden Ge FREE !
Peter
December 31st, 2009
9:01 pm
HA HA HA…….Bush the Big Brain……NOT !
Peter
December 31st, 2009
9:02 pm
FOX soon not to air…what a shame !
Apathetic independent
January 1st, 2010
11:01 am
1. Both Nneopolitano and Rice failed miserably in doing their jobs as security advisors with terrorist attacks which could easily have been prevented if the people under them did their job and they were more alert. Both tried at first to place blame elsewhere and say the system worked as good as could be expected. One president thought reading “my pet goat” and turning over control to his vice president permannetly for all intelligence decisions was appropriate. Obama admits the failures of his administration and takes responsibility- a far better response!.
2. One president thought the war on terror should be fought in Iraq letting Ben Laden escape thereby creating a new bunch of battle hardened terrorists and did nothing about the safe haven in Pakistan . Another president has gotten aggresive on fighting our real enemies in Afghanistan along with matching efforts by Pkaistan.
3. Succesful attacks on our enemies in Yemen and Somalia and elsewhere have occurred since Obama took office:
4. More true terrorist cells and plots in the country have been uncovered and arrests made since Obama took office than before;
5. By withdrawing the US as the paper enemy in Iran, true unrest and destabilization is occurring from within;
6. The State Department has had a serious problem with its visa policy under both administrations- the 9-11 terrorists came on express visas that Saudis could get at travel agents- the current crotch bomber should have had his visa revoked – but who was checking before he got on US soil??
12. Obama is learning that the Clinton approach of giving enemy combatants rights to our courts is not helping anyone but the terrrists in the war on terror. however, his track record for arrests is far superior
13. Health care is a distraction but a high priority that can be only solved in a bipartisan manner with ultimate regulation by the states as is currently. However Obama is at least making headway on Medicare cutbacks and waste – let the seniors complain- they will not payoff the debt they are creating and in many cases are fraudlently obtaining services and Medicaid because they have political clout.
So I disagree that we have an empty slate on key issues after one year.Both Clinton and Bush had serious terrorist attacks their first year in office which were handled poorly and could have been prevented. The system that failed was not created under Obama; The two Yemini Gitmo graduates were not let out under Obama and we snuffed them and their cohorts under Obama. By the way – what did Bust do about the attack on the USS Cole from Yemeni terrorists which became fact after he took office? Now there is ampty slate. Both presidents did a good job in not communicating a sense that the terrorists have rattled us or accomplished their goals of creating fear and terror – that is not an empty slate either.
Robert Littel
January 2nd, 2010
1:49 pm
It is fairly well understood that the Right-wing has united in a solid stupid wall of “No”. no matter what our legitimately elected president tries to accomplish. I think the situation can be better understood when held in a more historical context. The far Right-wing and their corporate masters are attempting to regain and maintain control by something that can only be classified as the Weimarization of America. In the aftermath of WWI, the German people established their first democratic government, with the founding of the Weimar Republic in 1919. Faced with the debilitating effects of the mess that fell upon Germany after the downfall of their Monarchistic autocracy, the new government struggled to cope with problems far worse than what we are facing here today, but that has not stopped our Rightist elements from adopting the same tactics German rightists used to topple their fledgling attempt at democratic rule. The Rightists there, used fear, bigotry, hatred, lies, intimidation, and the ignorance and stupidity of a demoralized war weary population, to take control of the political processes and erase any hope of freedom and sanity.
Today, the tried and proven path has been taken again by our own extremist elements, in what will prove to be a similar outcome, if we adopt the cowering, simpering attitude that the majority of good Germans took in the face of an intractable bulling machine. All that is required is that we good citizens do nothing and by allowing them to be perceived as having a valid point of view in the public forum and we are doing just that. They must be identified for whom and what they are, their ignorant doctrinaire minions must be slapped down at every turn and we must never lose sight of what our forefathers envisioned when they took the first bold steps toward the equalization of all persons in the body politic. The American Right-wing and the Autocracy of ultra-wealth that strives to control them, are determined to keep things just as they are, if not stiffened by more repression and loss of rights and freedoms, in a flag waving patrio-jingoistic orgy of applied and glorified stupidity. We must stand up to the bully, because they have no intention of backing down. They mean to win at all costs and we must not allow it, now, or ever.
outspoken
January 26th, 2010
10:59 pm
it is obvious that the republicans are looking to blame someone for their bad policies and failed ideologies. take a look at the local leadership of georgia. their failed policies continue to plaque the residents of georgia. bush had eight years to dig the american grave. you give the new leadership less than a year to get us out. that is democracy for you.