By now I'm sure you're sick and tired of hearing about the debt ceiling, I know I sure am. Never before has this ho-hum matter-of-fact government function been in the public eye like it is this time, namely due to the moronic and radical idiot-logs called the Teabaggers. I will end the debt ceiling portion by telling you what I would have done, or would still do, if I were President Obama. Back when this debate was just a blip on the political radar screen and the first sign of trouble arose I would have addressed the Congress in a private meeting to let everyone know that any vote to raise the debt ceiling must be a clean vote. Anything else would meet the veto pen. If that warning was not heeded, I would then inform them that as a fail-safe, the 14th amendment of the Constitution will be invoked just as Harry Truman did during his time in office and, failing that, I would invoke 31 USC 3102 to pay national debts. That's all I have to say about that...
Now, onto what I REALLY want to talk about. An election was held at some point after Obama became President. It was an internal election with only two candidates: President Obama vs. Candidate Obama. President Obama won handily and with much help from the Republicants. I'm hereby calling for a recall election so Candidate Obama can get another shot at the prize. Let's take a look at many of the notable campaign promises that Candidate Obama made during the 2008 election season:
- End The Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
- Protect the big 3 (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid) NO MATTER WHAT! He said he'd be on the picket lines with union workers
- Crack down on companies that send jobs overseas
- Re-visit NAFTA
- End the Bush Tax cuts and return us to Clinton era tax rates
- End oil and gas subsidies or enact a windfall profits tax on those same companies
- Enact the Employee Free Choice Act to benefit organized labor
- REALLY crack down on Wall Street (not Dodd-Frank)
- Reform Health Care
- Stand up for the poor, elderly, working and middle class who have few champions looking out for their best interests.
YAY for Candidate Obama!
The rhetoric was outstanding and inspirational. I thought he'd keep most of his campaign promises as Bill Clinton mostly did but so far he's fallen woefully short. The last item on the above list would seem to sum up what a Democratic President should stand for but sadly, in President Obama's case, does not. President Obama likes to proudly proclaim that he's everyone's President, not just a portion of the country. Well, I have a different take on the matter. President Obama sits in office right now solely due to the hard work and passion of a certain portion of the American people. Those people voted for Candidate Obama because of the inspiring speeches and promises that he made during the 2008 campaign. The Progressive and Democratic values that he championed during that campaign season are what the majority of this country voted for and still want to see in governing. Why is it that President Obama is ignoring this fact? He is suddenly alienating his base at every turn, seemingly intentionally.
There are so many people who are losing faith because Candidate Obama represented their last hope for a government that added value to their lives instead of President Obama who is slowly being poisoned with Republicant ideas. These same people need a true champion, someone who will fight for them tooth and nail as it seemed would be the case when Candidate Obama took office.
Remember that crisp, bitter-cold January day where hope was the elixir that intoxicated an amazing crowd of hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic supporters in Washington DC? Kiss that goodbye! It's long gone, only to be replaced by Teabaggers and a-hole billionaires hell bent on destroying the middle class. Where is President Obama? He's holding the door open while Teabaggers throw grandma off the train. He's looking the other way while the Koch brothers systematically dismantle unions and organized labor, a building block of the middle class in this country. How did this promising candidate fall from grace?
Every major showdown with Republicants shows his lack of experience and backbone. He goes into negotiations by giving ground before even being asked. The delusional bipartisanship has become absolutely maddening! I figured once he took office he'd soon realize what everyone else already knew -- Republicants DO NOT want to work with Obama! They want to do anything in their power to insure he doesn't get re-elected even if that means throwing the economy, and the American people along with it, to the wolves.
Bernie Sanders, former representative Alan Grayson and Dennis Kucinich are great examples of leaders in Congress who understand what values they were elected to represent and they do it unwaveringly. Obama needs to study Franklin Delano Roosevelt and how he managed to save this country from the Great Depression. We're going through something similar, albeit not quite as severe, but he would do well to study the mistakes of history so we're not doomed to repeat them.
One major problem with President Obama is that he has allowed Candidate Obama to lose the fight. Candidate Obama is long gone, possibly never to be seen or heard from again except on the 2012 campaign trail in rhetoric only. Poll after poll after poll show resoundingly that an overwhelming majority (over 70% in most polls) of the American people support Democrats in their fight to preserve Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. The same can be said for making the wealthy pay their fair share in taxes to help balance the budget and reduce the deficit, over 70% in most polls. I think the most compelling poll numbers are found when the American people are asked what is most important to them. The top issues are by far jobs and the economy, with the deficit further down the list. With the super majority of the country behind him, President Obama could easily remain Candidate Obama and have political cover and widespread support. All he has to do is be the Progressive fighter that we elected him to be. Somehow, he has decided that being subservient to Republicants is more important.
I will likely hold my nose and vote for President Obama in 2012 (unless Bernie or Hillary were to run) if for no other reason than upcoming Supreme Court appointments. I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR A REPUBLICANT!
Thanks for the memories, Candidate Obama. I celebrated your historic election win with every ounce of my being but you've lost me. I can't fathom how in the hell you and the Democrats can possibly call yourselves Democrats or Progressives when you're going to vote for this menace of a bill. It doesn't include ANY revenue increases so once again the little guy gets the bill while the mega rich and corporations get YET ANOTHER free pass. Shame on you guys.
I'm going to change my party affiliation to Independent because I'm ashamed to be a Democrat today. The Democrats have a proud heritage of Presidents such as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy and even Bill Clinton who fought for the values that protect those who need protecting. This is such a kick in the gut. I feel like Clark W. Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Story when he received a membership to the Jelly Of The Month club instead of his usual Christmas Bonus.
Sen. Bernie Sanders issued the following statement after he voted AGAINST a Senate deficit-reduction proposal:
MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY!"The Republicans have been absolutely determined to make certain that the rich and large corporations not contribute one penny for deficit reduction, and that all of the sacrifice comes from the middle class and working families in terms of cuts in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, LIHEAP, community health centers, education, Head Start, nutrition, MILC, affordable housing and many other vitally important programs.
"I cannot support legislation like the Reid proposal which balances the budget on the backs of struggling Americans while not requiring one penny of sacrifice from the wealthiest people in our country. That is not only grotesquely immoral, it is bad economic policy."
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