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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDemocrats need to wake the hell up. These are manufactured GOP scandals based on lies.
Benghazi- faked talking points over nothing that needed to be hidden. The country is yawning and knows this is all about politics.IRS- where there is smoke there is fire. There are Tea Party groups abusing the 501-C rules. If 100 GOP groups are abusing the rules, are they supposed to look at Democrats to make everything "look" fair I'm not seeing where any laws were broken in this matter.
AP Phone Line Tapping- GOP has real balls to complain about this, considering it was George W. Bush who put all of this Patriot Act nonsense into place. Should the FBI have ignored references to Al Qaeda and National Security even at news organizations like the AP?
This is being used to smear Obama, Hillary Clinton and Eric Holder. The GOP has had a hard-on for all of them for a while. Democrats should stop acting like they have cotton balls and call these assholes out for their purposeful destruction of everything decent in this country.
I would be laughing if this wasn't so hypocritical and serious.
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msongs
(73,718 posts)RC
(25,592 posts)You have hit the nail squarely on the head.
CakeGrrl
(10,611 posts)It all started in 2009. Who knew?
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)that sounds?
President Obama is so weak that he has the entire Democratic Party weak?
So I guess President Obama possesses an all a powerful weakness, that effects everyone except you and the ever true, right?
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Congress-people to support progressive legislation?
He didnt get all the Senate Democrats to support enhanced background checks.
He didnt get all the Senate Democrats to support fixing the Republican misuse of the filibuster. Now that really should have opened some eyes. Why would Senate Democrats want to hold on to this terrible obstruction technique?
What I see is the Republicans leading the Democrats around by their noses, especially in the Senate.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)exactly does President Obama, or any modern president, get grown ass men and woman to do anything. He can ask, beg, scold, cajol, bribe or threaten; but at the end of the day, it is those Democratic Congress people that must decide to support progressive legislation.
Everyone says this is a leadership issue(citing to the mythology of FDR and LBJ); completely absolving those responsible for the lack of rogressive legislation.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)gets no blame? Is that what you are saying?
I believe that "at the end of the day" a good share of Washington the DC Democrats do not want progressive legislation including the President because their corporate sponsors dont want progressive legislation.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)So doesn't that pretty much kill your "all he has to do is lead better" narrative?
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)via questions. Do you agree that a good share of Washington the DC Democrats do not want progressive legislation including the President because their corporate sponsors dont want progressive legislation?
I believe a great leader should be able to influence his party. Dont you? Therefore, his lack of leadership is either inability or lack of desire.
Tell us what you believe.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)I ask how YOU got what you did from what I didn't say ... and you accuse ME of dodging?
No ... I do not agree. I see the Blue Dogs not wanting progressive legislation because they are, generally, conservatives that caucus with the Democrats; not because of "corporate sponsors."
No ... I do not agree. I see President Obama wanting (more) progressive legislation; but he has the ability to count and knows what can and cannot pass through this Congress. He would rather get something done; than pursue some quixotic progressive mission. After all ... he, unlike most progressive, has an obligation to govern.
No ... I don't agree. I see the corporate sponsor holding back progressive legislation (among Democrats), pretty much the same as I see the right's liberal media meme ... the figment of over-active imaginations.
Seriously???? You really don't see this:
and, this:
As two contradictory statements? Really??
Tell me ... what amount a leadership would get you to go for something that you are motivated to oppose? What amount of leadership could President Obama demonstrate that would have you oppposing Medicare? ... assuming, of course, you are a Democrat; and assuming he would propose that and, assuming
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)I think he doesnt want progressive legislation and that's why he doesnt try to influence Congress. How progressive can Penny Pritzker be? Or any of his other appointees? I think some of us have lost track of what progressive means. It sure as hell doesnt mean cutting SS and Medicare. It doesnt mean voting against extended background checks.
Other than a few, the Democrats in Washington the DC, are as conservative as Nixon.
" I see the corporate sponsor holding back progressive legislation (among Democrats), pretty much the same as I see the right's liberal media meme ... the figment of over-active imaginations. " So you dont think that the big money has any influence on Congress? Or you dont think the corporate sponsors are against progressive legislation? Which is it?
By the way, putting that emoticon is rude.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)you're probably right ... President Obama doesn't want what cannot/will not be passed, and nor do I; he, I and the 1,000,000s benefitting from his non-progressive ObamaCare, would rather have ObamaCare, than wait for this Congress to pass a single-payer system, or even the Public Option.
Who cut SS or Medicare? But some of us know exactly what progressivism means; others of us would rather see progress.
Yes ... big money influences Congress; No, I don't think the "corporate sponsors" give a shit, one way or the other, about progressive legislation because ... guess what ... the "corporate sponsors" know that progressive legislation has little to no chance of passing in this political environment ... I neither do I.
We are a good 3-4 election cycles away from of anything approaching "progressive" possibilities ... and that is only if we elect and hold (in your view) sell-out spineless Democrats in every election between.
Finally, didn't want to be rude ... I just naturally react that way to funny stuff.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)for 3 or 4 election cycles to get a home or a meal. I see it on a daily basis. When the Pres nominates Penny Pritzker, I lose all hope. She is a capitalist with a capital C. He doesnt give a shit about the 99% and you know it.
I am done with our little chats, thank you. Go chat with those that are living in the "everything is rosey" bubble.
Do you think saying that you dont mean to be rude when you are being rude gets you a pass? Go be rude elsewhere.
The Revolution is waiting. Which side are you going to be on???
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)I have suffered, personally, and still see many that suffer.
I was born into a family of Civil Rights warriors, in a time where standing up was very likely to get you dead. I suspect (based on your comments and comport) I was fighting the Civil Rights War before you were in long pants. And have been actively engaged in fighting the fight to this day.
From that experience, I learned that pie-eyed activity rarely results in anything other than "moral victories", i.e., principled losing, that does little to advance one's cause, or the ones one seeks to help; but gives great comfort to those fight, and losing, the "good fight."
Those of us that actually have fought in the trenches, in the streets and stood the line (literally, rather than by posting on an anonymous bulletin boards), know that progress is slow and steady; but only comes in increments.
The rest is all Bull Shit.
NewJeffCT
(56,848 posts)as she assumed the Speakership...
Harry Reid has refused to change the filibuster rules...
Democrats fell all over themselves to defund ACORN based on a Breitbart video...
It's certainly not all on Obama.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)the conservative memes and policies. Near total.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)I dont believe he wanted to influence those decisions. The fault is not all his. We must face it that the Corporate Overlords own Congress and the Presidency.
NewJeffCT
(56,848 posts)of Reid at least. However, Pelosi took impeachment off the table in 2006, before Obama was even officially in the race for president.
Harmony Blue
(3,978 posts)All we can do is watch the carnage unfold.
rufus dog
(8,419 posts)It ain't my fault it is Obama's fault. Lame to the Nth degree.
DonViejo
(60,536 posts)in the last couple of hours, there was NO phone tapping. The logs of calls made by a group of AP reporters and the people they spoke with, were subpoenaed.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)This is an article on a 2013 decision:
Police properly subpoenaed a cell phone company’s data that showed a suspect’s movements, the 9th District ruled recently. Patrick Griffin appealed his murder conviction, asserting among other arguments that the trial court should have suppressed location information obtained from his cell phone provider. The court overruled his assignments of error and upheld his conviction.
Griffin was tried and convicted for killing a neighbor, Alberto “Cookie” Gutierrez. Investigators had identified Griffin as a person of interest when they traced the last number dialed on Gutierrez’s phone to him. During the investigation they subpoenaed records from his cell phone company.
Testimony at trial showed that embedded in the record of each cell phone call was information that shows the general location of the cell phone when the call is made. A cell phone transmits a radio signal that is intercepted by the service provider’s nearest antenna. Each antenna has three sides. When a customer makes a call, the log records which antenna received the call and on which side.
If the cell phone moves during a call, it will shift to a different side of the antenna or to a different antenna. The call log also includes the antenna and side of the antenna in connection with the phone when the call ends.
. . . .
http://www.akronlegalnews.com/editorial/6203
More.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_v._Maryland
Anansi1171
(793 posts)We are too busy speaking truth to power! 
That will show this administration about Fast and Furious, Running up the deficit, Benghazi, Obamacare, Czars-oops, wrong screed...
That will show this administration about Chained CPI, the Drone wars, not jailing bankers, blah-blah-blah. Maybe next time the Democrats will learn not to take their base for granted! 
grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)
Baitball Blogger
(52,314 posts)We have to go on a full frontal assault because their side only hears what their media tells them.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)
one_voice
(20,043 posts)single reply from the usual suspects.
Thanks for the link, I missed the thread. giving it a k&R
Blue Owl
(59,042 posts)I say to hell with the GOP...
upaloopa
(11,417 posts)rso
(2,671 posts)Democrats need to go on the offensive, especially considering the fabricated talking points BS. Reid, Pelosi and others need to go on the news shows and bring up the republicans' lies and long record of obfuscation and hypocrisy.
texshelters
(1,979 posts)"They have no program, so they have to make things up."
PTxS
Half-Century Man
(5,279 posts)These scandals (?) are meant to be the flash-bangs for the republican assault for the WH. Too bad for them they are effective as sparkle-farts
morningfog
(18,115 posts)to control the message and frame issues. This all has a real risk of derailing any meaningful pushes on his agenda.
I agree on Benghazi and IRS, the AP story is bad though. And the gitmo hunger strike is bad.
Poiuyt
(18,272 posts)The republicans are much better at having consistant talking points and shouting them loudly.
mtasselin
(668 posts)If only this President would start acting like one, instead of always trying to get along with a bunch of turds. They are trying to destroy him and he just doesn't get it, I think he wants his legacy to show that he tried to get along with everyone. He will be laughed at by everyone for being so naive.
grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)is Democrats don't need, aren't/shouldn't be talking to, or giving a shit about rightwing authoritarians.
Just like it would be a waste of time for a rightwinger to attempt to convince you of anything; so it is a waste of time and energy for Democrats to address the rightwing.
grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)You are correct, you can not talk them into your position, however, they will do whatever the fuck you tell them to once they see you are the biggest baddest alpha male on the planet!
Hence, throw a few in jail and the rest will follow.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)Okay!
Harmony Blue
(3,978 posts)that is why they don't like Obama and how he is a community organizer and believes in bipartisanship.
grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)
treestar
(82,383 posts)Why let the media nonsense run anyone's agenda? They don't deserve the name journalist. They lose credibility by the day.
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)They hate Obama almost as much as the Teabaggers do. They will never blame Republicans first. Never!
mfcorey1
(11,134 posts)President. What the what is going on?
ChoppinBroccoli
(3,900 posts)When it came out that the Bush Administration was wiretapping phones without a warrant, all I heard from the Right Wingers I knew was a deafening chorus of, "If you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't CARE if the government taps your phone!!!"
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)We don't like it no matter who does it.
rufus dog
(8,419 posts)For fucksake!
Dawson Leery
(19,568 posts)The GOP and right wing hate media are hellbent on destroying any Democrat.
mountain grammy
(29,016 posts)if Republicans win control of the senate, Dems can shut them down. Here's the funny thing, Harry, Repubs will change those rule on ya anyway, and if they ever do control both houses, game over.
Being ruled by a few hundred billionaires has been bad enough, it could be far worse.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)The phone records are records of numbers called and received, and durations of calls. There is nothing about a "tap".
cali
(114,904 posts)
Puzzledtraveller
(5,937 posts)
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)The main screwup in Benghazi was the overrunning of the CIA safe house and the rolling up of the CIA's network in eastern Libya, which can't be discussed, so they are making noise about the State Department.
There doesn't appear to be anything illegal in the subpoenaing of the AP reporters phone records from the telephone companies. Possibly some aspect of 28 C.F.R. §50.10 was bent, but that is a regulation promulgated by the DoJ anyway. If you write it, you can interpret it.
The IRS scandal has legs because it will energize the GoP right wing. It will prove to them that the IRS bureaucracy is opposed to people who want to simplify the tax code and shrink government, which would also shrink the bureaucratic empires in the IRS.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022847992
roamer65
(37,950 posts)The American people are getting fed up with them. If they keep this crap up, they are toast.
madville
(7,847 posts)This all is going to motivate the right. Waiting to see what is going to motivate the left, everyone seems to be on the defensive now justifying spying on the press and partisanship by the IRS. Independents tend to be casual about midterms and just not interested unless its a Presidential race.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)Last edited Thu May 16, 2013, 10:32 PM - Edit history (1)
2014 will be all about turn-out ... that's why Democrats need to work our butts off to continue presenting/reminding independents and that small sliver of semi-sane republican voters that they are correct ... the gop IS obstructing; the gop IS more concerned about seizing power, than what is good for the nation; the gop IS sacrificing America, for the nra and koch.
We Can Do It.
Safetykitten
(5,162 posts)manufactured or not, things will grind to a halt while we have hearings.