I strongly support President Obama

[ProSense]

President Obama is one of the best Presidents this country has seen, and he operates like all President's in the scope of a vast bureaucracy, and in this current climate, massive obstruction.

I can understand holding the President accountable and pushing for change. I don't understand the notion of focusing on the negatives to justify withdrawing support from a President who has done a lot of good and just recently won re-election by a decisive margin.

The fact that the President is advancing some policies that someone disagrees with, doesn't mean he has changed. For example, most people agree that chained-CPI is not good. Not everyone agrees with the claim about why it was offered. It still hasn't passed. It likely will not. Why wouldn't that outcome be seen as a success in getting a bad policy rejected? The Guantanamo policy has faced obstruction from within the Democratic Party. Not everything is black and white, and trying to get things done counts.

For every disappointing claim, I can cite extremely positive achievements to counter the negatives. Some the achievements are not extremely positive, they may not go far enough, but they are still steps in the right direction.

The Stimulus.

Obama’s stimulus package aids people with disabilities

By Mike Ervin,

<...>

The first is a one-time additional payment of $250 to people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and other selected Social Security benefits. Many SSI recipients live on less than $10,000 a year, and so this additional income will make a significant difference.

Second, the stimulus package also allocates $500 million to help the Social Security Administration reduce the processing time for claims and appeals decisions. During the Bush years, the number of people awaiting final determination on their Social Security disability claims more than doubled to 755,000. Many were waiting two years or more for determination, without income. Obama’s allocation should help end this disgrace.

<...>

More creatively, Obama provided $140 million to support centers for independent living. These nonresidential centers are run by people with disabilities and are focal points for services and advocacy. There are hundreds of these centers throughout the United States, providing thousands of good jobs for people with disabilities and others in their communities.

The stimulus package will also invest in the future by providing $540 million for vocational rehabilitation programs, which assist people with disabilities in obtaining higher education and jobs.

- more -

http://progressive.org/mag/mpervin030509.html

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included a number of provisions of particular concern to people with disabilities.

•The Act included $500 million to help the Social Security Administration reduce its backlog in processing disability applications;
•The Act supplied $12.2 billion in funding to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA);
•The Act also provided $87 billion to states to bolster their Medicaid programs during the downturn; and,
•The Act provided over $500 million in funding for vocational rehabilitation services to help with job training, education and placement.
•The Act provided over $140 million in funding for independent living centers across the country.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/disabilities

Before the health care law, the President signed the expansion of CHIP.

Obama Signs Children’s Health Insurance Bill

By ROBERT PEAR

WASHINGTON — The House gave final approval on Wednesday to a bill extending health insurance to millions of low-income children, and President Obama signed it this afternoon, in the first of what he hopes will be many steps to guarantee coverage for all Americans.

<...>

The roll call ended a two-year odyssey for the child health legislation, which President George W. Bush adamantly opposed on the ground it would lead to “government-run health care for every American.”

<...>

In a major change, the bill allows states to cover certain legal immigrants — namely, children under 21 and pregnant women — as well as citizens.

Until now, legal immigrants have generally been barred from Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program for five years after they enter the United States. States will now be able to cover those immigrants without the five-year delay.

- more -

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/us/politics/05health.html

The health care law.

Who Benefits from the ACA Medicaid Expansion?

A key element of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the expansion of Medicaid to nearly all individuals with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) ($15,415 for an individual; $26,344 for a family of three in 2012) in 2014. Medicaid currently provides health coverage for over 60 million individuals, including 1 in 4 children, but low parent eligibility levels and restrictions in eligibility for other adults mean that many low income individuals remain uninsured. The ACA expands coverage by setting a national Medicaid eligibility floor for nearly all groups. By 2016, Medicaid, along with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), will cover an additional 17 million individuals, mostly low-income adults, leading to a significant reduction in the number of uninsured people.

Medicaid does not cover many low-income adults today. To qualify for Medicaid prior to health reform, individuals had to meet financial eligibility criteria and belong to one of the following specific groups: children, parents, pregnant women, people with severe disability, and seniors. Non-disabled adults without dependent children were generally excluded from Medicaid unless the state obtained a waiver to cover them. The federal government sets minimum eligibility levels for each category, which are up to 133% FPL for pregnant women and children but are much lower for parents (under 50% FPL in most states). States have the option to expand coverage to higher incomes, but Medicaid eligibility levels for adults remain very limited (Figure 1). Seventeen states limit Medicaid coverage to parents earning less than 50 percent of poverty ($9,545 for a family of 3), and only eight states provide full Medicaid coverage to other low-income adults. State-by state Medicaid eligibility levels for parents and other adults are available here.



The ACA expands Medicaid to a national floor of 138% of poverty ($15,415 for an individual; $26,344 for a family of three). The threshold is 133% FPL, but 5% of an individual’s income is disregarded, effectively raising the limit to 138% FPL. The expansion of coverage will make many low-income adults newly eligible for Medicaid and reduce the current variation in eligibility levels across states. To preserve the current base of coverage, states must also maintain minimum eligibility levels in place as of March 2010, when the law was signed. This requirement remains in effect until 2014 for adults and 2019 for children. Under the ACA, states also have the option to expand coverage early to low-income adults prior to 2014. To date, eight states (CA, CT, CO, DC, MN, MO, NJ and WA) have taken up this option to extend Medicaid to adults. Nearly all of these states previously provided solely state- or county-funded coverage to some low-income adults. By moving these adults to Medicaid and obtaining federal financing, these states were able to maintain and, in some cases, expand coverage. Together these early expansions covered over half a million adults as of April 2012.

Eligibility requirements for the elderly and persons with disabilities do not change under reform although some individuals with disabilities may become newly eligible under the adult expansion. Lawfully residing immigrants will be eligible for the Medicaid expansion, although many will continue to be subject to a five-year waiting period before they may enroll in coverage. States have the option to eliminate this five-year waiting period for children and pregnant women but not for other adults. Undocumented immigrants will remain ineligible for Medicaid.

- more -

http://www.kff.org/medicaid/quicktake_aca_medicaid.cfm

Arizona Gov. Brewer Opts For ‘Obamacare’ Medicaid Expansion

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) on Monday said the state will join the Medicaid expansion under the new federal health care law, the Associated Press reported.

Her announcement came as a surprise to many observers, and it distinguishes Brewer from other Republican governors. The Supreme Court's ruling last summer on the Affordable Care Act, widely known as "Obamacare," made the Medicaid expansion under the federal law optional and state leaders such as Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R), Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) have already opted out.

But in her State of the State address on Monday, Brewer rejected the notion that a rejection of the expansion would reduce the federal government's deficit.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/arizona-gov-brewer-opts-for-obamacare-medicaid-expansion

HHS Ruling Helps Workers But Spells Trouble for Employer Mandate
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023207327

LGBT rights.

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/05/09/481147/obama-marriage-2/

Pres.Obama urging state lawmakers to legalize gay marriage in Illinois
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2012/12/obama_urging_state_lawmakers_t.html


The End of the Iraq War: A Timeline



http://www.whitehouse.gov/iraq


Osama bin Laden brought to justice




Rescuing the auto industry.

<...>

Before the domestic auto rescue, President Obama made$5 billion in Federal loans available to small auto parts suppliers:

The Treasury Department announced a $5 billion program to aid struggling auto-parts suppliers, raising the likelihood the government will extend more aid to General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC.

What a lot of folks, including politicians, don't seem to realize is that GM and Chrysler merely ASSEMBLE cars. They don't make the parts.

<...>

Obama rescued the Domestic Auto Industry.

But BEFORE that. BEFORE that. BEFORE he sent the domestic auto industry into structuered bankruptcy, he made sure the LITTLE GUYS....the SMALL manufacturing companies that make SPRINGS or BOLTS or LATCHES or TINY WIDGETS were able to stay afloat so that when GM got back on its feet again it didn't have to look to CHINA or MEXICO to make those parts because the previous suppliers had gone belly up.

- more -

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/29/1069618/-What-Happened-Before-the-Rescue-of-the-Domestic-Auto-Industry

Report: Wall Street’s Opposition to Dodd-Frank Reforms Echoes Its Resistance to New Deal Financial Safeguards

Bedrock Consumer Protections Once Were Flogged as ‘Exceedingly Dangerous,’ ‘Monstrous Systems’ That Would ‘Cripple’ the Economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the nation approaches the first anniversary of the Dodd-Frank financial reform law, opponents are claiming that the new measure is extraordinarily damaging, especially to Main Street. But industry’s alarmist rhetoric bears striking resemblance to the last time it faced sweeping new safeguards: during the New Deal reforms. The parallels between the language used both then and now are detailed in a report released today by Public Citizen and the Cry Wolf Project.

In the decades since the Great Depression, Americans acknowledged the necessity of having safeguards in place to prevent another crash of the financial markets, including the creation of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and laws requiring public companies to accurately disclose their financial affairs. Although these are now seen as bedrock protections when they were first introduced, Wall Street cried foul, the new report, “Industry Repeats Itself: The Financial Reform Fight,” found.

“The business community’s wildly inaccurate forecasts about the New Deal reforms devalue the credibility of the ominous predictions they are making today,” said Taylor Lincoln, research director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division and author of the report. “If history comes close to repeating itself, industry is going to look very silly for its hand-wringing over Dodd-Frank when people look back.”

<...>

In fact, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is designed to prevent another Wall Street crash, which really made it tough on everyone by causing massive job loss and severely hurting corner butchers and bakers, as well as retirees, families with mortgages and others. The Dodd-Frank law increases transparency (particularly in derivatives markets); creates a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to ensure that consumers receive straightforward information about financial products and to police abusive practices; improves corporate governance; increases capital requirements for banks; deters particularly large financial institutions from providing incentives for employees to take undue risks; and gives the government the ability to take failed investment institutions into receivership, similar to the FDIC’s authority regarding commercial banks. Much of it has yet to be implemented.

- more -

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2011/07/12-0

Lisa Jackson to Leave EPA: Earthjustice Statement

Statement from Earthjustice Vice President of Litigation Patti Goldman:

“America owes Lisa Jackson a debt of gratitude for her work to protect the public's health from polluters and their allies in Congress. For her efforts to clean up pollution and better protect the environment and public health, she faced a steady barrage from members of Congress and the industrial polluters who back them. Her detractors are the same people who told us taking lead out of gasoline in the 1970's would break the economy and that taking acid out of acid rain in the 1990's would ruin the country. In both cases, the environment and economy were strengthened and this is the approach Lisa Jackson took. There is a lot of unfinished business started by Jackson that the next EPA director will need to attend to. Whoever it is, they'll need the support of the President and they'll need to be ready for a non-stop barrage of attacks from the chemical, industrial and fossil fuel industries and their allies in Congress.

“After 17 years of Earthjustice litigation it was Lisa Jackson who finally regulated mercury and other toxic pollutants coming from power plants. After a decade of litigation from Earthjustice and others, it was Lisa Jackson who supported and implemented regulations aimed at curbing greenhouse gases. After more than a decade of Earthjustice litigation it was Lisa Jackson who finally implemented the first regulation of mercury from cement kilns all over the country.”

http://earthjustice.org/news/press/2012/lisa-jackson-to-leave-epa-earthjustice-statement

Justice Is Served

By Laura W. Murphy

June 2011 marks the 40th anniversary of President Richard Nixon's declaration of a "war on drugs" — a war that has cost roughly a trillion dollars, has produced little to no effect on the supply of or demand for drugs in the United States, and has contributed to making America the world's largest incarcerator. Throughout the month, check back daily for posts about the drug war, its victims and what needs to be done to restore fairness and create effective policy.

Today is an exciting day for the ACLU and criminal justice advocates around the country. Following much thought and careful deliberation, the United States Sentencing Commission took another step toward creating fairness in federal sentencing by retroactively applying the new Fair Sentencing Act (FSA) guidelines to individuals sentenced before the law was enacted. This decision will help ensure that over 12,000 people — 85 percent of whom are African-Americans — will have the opportunity to have their sentences for crack cocaine offenses reviewed by a federal judge and possibly reduced.

This decision is particularly important to me because, as director of the ACLU's Washington Legislative Office, I have advocated for Congress and the sentencing commission to reform federal crack cocaine laws for almost 20 years. In 1993, the ACLU lead the coalition that convened the first national symposium highlighting the crack cocaine disparity entitled "The 100 to 1 Ratio: Racial Bias in Cocaine Laws." Now, 25 years after the first crack cocaine law was enacted in the 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act, the sentencing commission has taken another step toward ending the racial and sentencing disparities that continue to exist in our criminal justice system.

By voting in favor of retroactivity, I am pleased that the commission chose justice over demagoguery and concluded that retroactivity was necessary to ensuring that the goals of the FSA were fully realized. It is important to remember that even with today's commission vote not every crack cocaine offender will have his or her sentence reduced. Judges are still required to determine whether a person qualifies for a retroactive reduction so, contrary to what some have said, this is not a "get out of jail free card."

- more -

http://www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/justice-served

Chance at Freedom: Retroactive Crack Sentence Reductions For Up to 12,000 May Begin Today
http://www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/chance-freedom-retroactive-crack-sentence-reductions-12000-may-begin-today


Here's a great clip from December 2010: Rachel Maddow on securing loose nuclear materials
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26315908/vp/40859004

The START Treaty.

MADDOW: If the Senate ratifies the START Treaty tomorrow, it caps an astonishing period in American political history.

For the last two years, Democrats have held the White House as well as big majorities in both the House and the Senate. Their record of achievement in that time, even in the face of unified, at times totally random Republican opposition, Republican opposition even do things Republicans had proposed in the first place, unified Republican opposition even to their own ideas—their track record even in the face of that is historic.

Whether you agree or disagree with what Democrats have done in the first two years of President Obama‘s presidency, they have freaking done it. The Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act for women, expanding children‘s health insurance, new hate crimes legislation that they said could not be done, tobacco regulation, credit card reform, student loan reform, the stimulus - which in addition to helping pull this country back from the brink of a Great Depression was also the largest tax cut ever, the largest investment in clean energy ever, the single largest investment in education in our country ever.

There was also a little thing you may have heard of called health reform. Also, Wall Street reform, the improvements to the new G.I. bill, the most expansive food safety bill since the 1930s.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/40898769/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show/

Trade:

In case you missed it: Good moves by the Obama administration
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002540300

Transparency, Declassification, and the Obama Presidency

By Lee White

<...>

Steven Aftergood (Director of the Project on Government Secrecy at the Federation of American Scientists and the publisher of the blog Secrecy News)

In retrospect, the Administration erred in making its early public statements promising unprecedented transparency. The President raised expectations so high that the ensuing disappointment was inevitable. The smarter move would have been to demonstrate openness in actions, not in words, and to exceed public expectations.

<...>

Thomas Blanton (Director of the National Security Archive at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.)

There are obviously some differences of opinion on this subject. My own is that too often we conflate "the Obama administration" with actions of specific agencies or specific bureaucrats, when in fact the policy decision at the top has been pretty good, just stymied by ongoing bureaucratic obfuscation in the middle and the bottom. Or even worse, continuity by federal career employees of Bush policies that the White House has not succeeded in changing.

<...>

Anne Weismann (Chief Counsel for Citizen's for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington-CREW)

In my assessment, the administration's record on transparency is mixed. Without question, President Obama put strong, pro-transparency policies in place that really set the benchmark for a more open government. The problem has been in implementing those policies at the agency level. Agencies have been encouraged to make proactive disclosures, but they have shown little regard for the quality of and public interest in the information they are posting. And the administration has not provided them much guidance on this front.

<...>

Patrice McDermott (Executive Director of OpenTheGovernment.Org)

I think it is a very mixed bag. There are strong indications that the initiatives and efforts of the Obama Administration have begun to institutionalize changes in the attitudes of components of the Executive Branch, mostly in the area of domestic right-to-know. While the effectiveness of FOIA as a disclosure and accountability tool for the public continues to lag behind the promises the President and the Attorney General made, much more attention is being directed by agencies to improving the process, and agencies are putting more information out proactively (without requiring or waiting for a FOIA request)—and not just the usual stuff they want you to know. The greatest frustration on the domestic policy front has been the ongoing changes in policy personnel in the White House, creating problems of follow-through and consistency.

<...>

- more -

http://www.historians.org/Perspectives/issues/2012/1209/Transparency-Declassification-and-Obama-Presidency.cfm

Obama offers GOP an ambitious, progressive debt-reduction plan
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021905787

Obama First POTUS in History to Publicly Support Divestment Movement
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023144219

New State Dept. Envoy Begins Work Of Closing Guantánamo

The new State Department special envoy for closing the United States military's detention center located at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba began the effort to shut down the polarizing prison camp, McClatchy reported Thursday.

Clifford Sloan, a former publisher of Slate magazine and a Washington attorney who’s worked in all three branches of government, embarked on a one-day tour of the prison facility, where he had discussions with military and medical personnel.

In a major national security speech in May, President Barack Obama vowed to close Gitmo, which he said has "become a symbol around the world for an America that flouts the rule of law." Obama has drawn criticism, mostly from the left, for failing to close the detention center during his first term in office, despite his 2008 campaign pledge to do so.

“President Obama has been very clear as he laid out the goal,and the objective is to close Guantánamo," Sloan told McClatchy. “Our marching orders are clear.”

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/new-state-dept-envoy-begins-work-of-closing

ACLU Comment on Appointment of Envoy to Close Guantánamo
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023036083

[11 Bravo]

1. So do I. (And before the usual suspects arrive to commence pissing and moaning ...

about "worshippers" etc, let me join you.)

[madokie]

6. Let me join the both of you

History will show Obama as a very good President.

[Pirate Smile]

184. Count me with you all as well.

[FreeBC]

243. Sorry if pointing out murder is "pissing and moaning"

Overall I like Obama too.

But he is allowing some things to happen that are morally reprehensible. I'm all for Children's health care, but does that offset murdering people with flying robots? If it does, then I think we've allowed our expectations to sink too low.

I may disagree with Obama on chained CPI. I can accept this disagreement. I don't expect to have the perfect president that does everything the way I think it should be done. But murdering innocent people with drones and advancing the spying infrastructure in clear violation of the 4th amendment aren't little things.

If people ask me what I think of Obama, I say I think he's done a decent job considering he's had the worst congress in our nation's history.

But someday we are either going to look back on some of the things Obama has done in shame and disgust, or we are going to be living in the type of society that just accepts complete surveillance and the extrajudicial execution of people for reasons we aren't allowed to know about.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

246. Frankly, I'm glad President Obama ordered the "murder" of Osama bin Laden

...and his supporters, who deliberately target schoolgirls for murder, deliberately target civilians including fellow Muslims on religious pilgrimages, and are trying to spread a culture of such pure misogyny that well over 200,000 women in Afghanistan alone have tried to commit suicide by burning themselves to death with cooking-oil rather than to be brutalized in marriages they were forced into.

I don't worry about blowback from drones - because drones are the blowback. If these assholes would stop setting off car-bombs at each other's mosques, they wouldn't have to worry about bombs being given back to them.

Obama has done more to wind down wars he was handed than any President in modern day history. So if his people say they've figured out that someone is an enemy combatant, and inaccessible for capture, then by all means treat them like we did the NAZIs.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[quinnox]

2. so, no picture of the adorable White House dog?

^(stolen from a witty duer)

I am disappointed!

[ProSense]

4. How about

"so, no picture of the adorable White House dog?"

...a picture of the campaign logo: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023213080

I'm thrilled the President won re-election and is continuing to advance his agenda.

[quinnox]

7. whoa, now that makes me want to get on my knees and pray

We got to pray, we got to pray, we got to pray just to make it today!

[NoOneMan]

5. Damn you!!!

[NoOneMan]

3. Really? I didn't get that from your other 100K posts.

[ProSense]

8. I should have

"I didn't get that from your other 100K posts."

...celebrated crossing that threshold.

100k posts of greatness!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021823533

[quinnox]

23. "100k posts of greatness"

[riqster]

26. Party on, Garthcoon!

Party on, Waynecoon.

[quinnox]

32. heh

[JaneyVee]

73. You constantly try to derail and hijack any positive Obama threads.

Please please please tell me you're being paid to do so because if not it's just sad on your part to be wasting your summer waiting for high school to resume.

[NoOneMan]

79. I haven't been around long enough to constantly do anything

1) If there is a place to get paid, let me know where. Thatd be sweet.

2) I really am ambivalent about Obama. The president is selected by a corrupt system to polish turds for the majority and appease them. I understand the scope of his position and I understand he doesn't get to select his turds, only his polish. That's fine. I am not ambivalent about Obama supporters, or supporters of any person/party/ideaology who have no opinions of their own and bend with the slightest wind. Thats transparent and ridiculous, and on occasion, I point this out. We are all humans, which means nature has bestowed a certain level of intelligence to us. So lets all use our brains. If our brains coincidently, beyond all probability, align your beliefs 100% behind the president, then fine. Perfect. We can debate the merits of your mistaken thinking, rather than blind loyalty. I'm up for that.

[JaneyVee]

120. But it's not as if you say something meaningful on the subject or anything of

Substance, you just pop in to derail or hijack. If you have something meaningful to say or even dissenting then say it. For example, after a great op, here is your retort: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023207815

Ridiculous.

Way to derail a thread with nonsense. You're free to do what you want but it would be great if you could use some intelligence or offer something of substance. That's what makes a great community.

[NoOneMan]

124. After someone says the same thing 100K times, its not meaningful. Its funny.

Let's take a chance to laugh. Yes, at each other. With each other.

For example, after a great op, here is your retort

"Great" is greatly subjective. The first few paragraphs were loaded with fallacy and a few strawmen, to a point of offesiveness. Then I scrolled to the bottom and realized how ridiculously brainwashed or bored I'd have to be to wade through it. At that point, it became hilarious that someone would put that much effort in to preach to the choir. So again, let's all have a jolly laugh.

Why take it all seriously? Its a rough game. No one gets out alive. Lets smile.

Way to derail a thread with nonsense.

Why thank you. I found the thread to be nonsense and unnecessary, especially in contrast with everything else around here. Why not challenge nonsense. You challenged mine. Way to go. We will work together on it.

[JaneyVee]

127. Cool. Just gauging your maturity level. Seems like you just like knocking posters

And adding nothing of substance. Noted. Carry on.

[NoOneMan]

132. Maybe we need a maturity test with the loyalty pledges

I'd settle for everyone to just start debating nothing but the merits of an issue, void of who may support or endorse it.

[JaneyVee]

139. Who's talking about loyalty pledges, I'm talking about how you just knock posters.

Which actually violates the TOS.

[NoOneMan]

140. Im assuming that you are referring to commenting on redundant, gratuitous postings

And calling that a "knock" (Ill look that one up). I think that is a matter of perception. Just alert on the post.

[SunSeeker]

242. The info in the OP requires repeating, because we have some DUers who appear clueless. nt

[Sheepshank]

247. speaking of gratuitous knocking...looked in the mirror lately?

now don't you feel silly?

[JDPriestly]

99. What do you think of Obama's repeated appointments of Republicans to high positions especially

in the intelligence and security sector?

It looks really bad to me.

Comey is a terrible choice for the head of the FBI in my view.

[L0oniX]

229. 'pin drops'

[darkangel218]

85. lmao!!!

[whatchamacallit]

217. +100k n/t

[L0oniX]

228. LMFAO

[warrior1]

9. I support Obama

[Union Scribe]

10. The hell you say! nt

[woo me with science]

11. Of course you support the man.

Your loyalty *obviously* is not to issues or principles.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2461323

ProSense: "Spying on Americans was, is and will still be illegal."

ProSense (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-15-06 08:53 AM
Original message
Edited on Wed Feb-15-06 08:53 AM by ProSense

Bush is spying on Americans: opponents and activist groups. The law can't
be changed to make that legal. The Republicans are trying to pull a fast one with this "law change" tactic by framing the illegal spying as warrantless spying on terrorists; therefore, the law is being changed to give Bush the authority to spy on terrorist. Spying on Americans was, is and will still be illegal. Bush committed crimeS by illegal spying on Americans and breaking existing FISA laws.

I'm sure all criminals would love to have a law passed that retroactively absolves them of their crimes.

[Hydra]

15. *shhh...*

You're disturbing a fact-free thread! DU wouldn't be the same without them!

[ProSense]

21. So

"You're disturbing a fact-free thread! "

...you see no facts in the OP? Did the President sign the health care law? Is that a lie?

[Hydra]

22. Oh, you mean the Gingrich/Nixon plan?

Yes, he certainly did! Also exempted child coverage and now employer requirement for a year.

I don't consider that a grand accomplishment since we could have had a Republican pass that for us.

[ProSense]

24. "Yes, he certainly did!"

That proves the "fact-free" claim false.

[rivegauche]

62. Could have, BUT DID NOT

You pukes have the most AMAZING ability to spin your buillshit any way it suits your warped reality.

[Hydra]

75. Public option?

Arresting single payer protestors? Closed door meetings with Insurance lobbyists before the open debate?

I think you're pointing the wrong direction with the "Puke" label. Dick Cheney would have been proud of the ACA's progress into law. After all, that's how he set up his energy policy.

[ProSense]

141. I don't think

"I think you're pointing the wrong direction with the "Puke" label. Dick Cheney would have been proud of the ACA's progress into law. After all, that's how he set up his energy policy."

...think Dick Cheney or any RWingers are "proud of the ACA's progress into law"

Koch brothers ready to spend big on Obamacare disinformation
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/08/1222098/-Koch-brothers-ready-to-spend-big-on-Obamacare-nbsp-disinformation

Howard Dean: Mandate Delay Begins Shift To Government-Financed Health Care System
http://election.democraticunderground.com/10023162211

HHS Ruling Helps Workers But Spells Trouble for Employer Mandate

Richard Kirsch

Workers won't be denied coverage because of the reporting delay, but they may not want to give up the insurance they get through the exchanges come 2015.

In my post last week, after the announcement that the employer mandate would not be enforced for a year, I wrote that it was vital that the Obama administration show as much concern for the workers who might be denied health insurance as it did for employers. Specifically, I asked the administration to make clear that a worker would be able to get subsidized health coverage through the new exchanges based on filling out an application, without having to get proof from an employer. On Friday, HHS issued that ruling.

<...>

As noted, the HHS ruling made it clear that the exchanges should rely on the information workers provide rather than proof from their employers. Workers can ask their employer to help provide the information, but that is not a requirement. And the exchanges can try to verify the information if possible, but that will be difficult and again is not a requirement. Under the new ruling, a worker who reports that he or she is not offered affordable health coverage at work will qualify for subsidized coverage. (Affordability is measured by the employee share of premiums being no more than 9.5 percent of their income.)

The HHS announcement is an important measure to help get coverage to uninsured workers. Of course, it has received little attention compared to the news about the employer mandate. That news is almost always reported incorrectly, with most articles saying that the mandate itself has been postponed for a year. What has been postponed is the enforcement of the mandate through penalties for employers that do not comply. It’s still the law that large employers are required to offer affordable coverage. But if they don’t, there will be no penalty.

There’s one more potentially interesting twist to this story, one that could provide real benefit to some workers in 2014 and then highlight a big problem with the employer mandate in 2015. Workers who get health insurance through the exchanges will get coverage that is much more affordable – lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs than health insurance offered by employers. This will be particularly true for the low-wage employers most likely to not offer coverage. As a result, workers who get coverage in 2014 in the exchange may find in 2015 that they are forced to get coverage that is much more expensive to buy and use, and covers fewer health services, from their employers. The workers will want to stick with the exchanges, putting pressure on employers to pay a fine and let the employees stay in the exchanges, or to improve the coverage they offer.

- more -

http://www.nextnewdeal.net/hhs-ruling-helps-workers-spells-trouble-employer-mandate

[Californeeway]

165. In October my daughter will be ensured for the first time in her life

I also will be ensured for the first time since grew out of my parent's insurance policy.
Btw I have ongoing health issues that have not been properly treated because I am uninsured and can't afford to pay for it out of pocket.
From what I have read it will cost me about $100 a month to insure both my daughter and I. Very reasonable.

Before the ACA was passed, there was a dark cloud hanging over my family and I for the longest time. I always lived in fear, every time I had an unusually bad stomach cramp or something similar I had to lay awake at night and wonder if I was developing a health problem that would financially destroy me. Now that dark cloud is gone. Obama did that, not you, you tried to get in the way.

I remember reading on this board during the ACA debate self-proclaimed Liberals say that people like me needed to just wait and suffer until we could pass a more ideologically pleasing bill no matter that that might take a generation to do. Getting exactly what they wanted now or nothing was more important to them than the millions of people in my situation or worse who needed help right away. I'll always remember that:

A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE LEFT WERE MORE WORRIED ABOUT AN IDEOLOGICAL VICTORY THAN ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE WHO DESPERATELY NEEDED HELP.

That's why I don't trust the Left when they criticize Obama. The very people criticizing now are the one's who told my family and millions of others to go fuck ourselves and suffer while you waited for the perfect bill that suited you. Thank God Obama stood with us and ignored you. It was Obama who lifted our asses out the fire, not you.

[Number23]

169. Thread Winner. Thank you for this.

And believe me there are ALOT of people who feel the same way that you do. On this web site and in Democratic/progressive circles over all.

[Hydra]

171. I'm glad it helps you

It doesn't change the fact that it was a Republican program, or the fact that many people will not be able to afford coverage or will be forced to take coverage they can't afford to use. I would have been one of those people if I hadn't totally lucked out and gotten another job.

They President could have and should have at least gotten the Public option included, but he negotiated it away before we were even debating it.

As I said, I'm happy that you'll benefit, but it's going to kill other people...and nobody will care. But that's fine, right? Because this was "the best we could do"?

[Californeeway]

186. Claiming that Obamacare will kill people is just flatly dishonest

claiming that Obama sold out the Public Option is another lie.

Main reason why I don't trust Obama critics, you take away the hyperbole and spin and the intentional misunderstandings and you got nothing left.

[Hydra]

200. Welcome to DU!

I just noticed this was your 8th post. Read up- we had a lot of debate here and the time and we watched and calculated and documented the issues, including he issue of the lost public option and how some people would fall through the cracks.

Obama supports public option:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x324894

Senate forced to try for the Public option without support from the WH:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7930459

Public option through reconciliation:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7752845

We know it was pulled out from the reconciliation bill for whatever reason.

Surprise! We find out those closed meetings were exactly what we feared.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7930459

And during all of this, we find out this won't actually get everyone covered:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023009246

At least in any affordable fashion. Bronze level requires 40% coinsurance. Buy it because you have to, and never be able to use it? Or pay the fine? That's what was going to kill me and my disabled relative. Sheer luck that I'm not still in that situation.

[Californeeway]

202. the ACA is inadequate in a lot of ways

But I don't think it's honest to say it's going to kill people because it doesn't go far enough.

the honest way to put it is that it's not going to save enough people.

[Sheepshank]

248. who cares where the concept of ACA originated?

THE IMPLEMENTATION FINALY HAS BECOME A REALITY UNDER OBAMA. Purists clearly would throw out the baby with the bathwater because they think the wrong person is applying the shampoo? My god, you lost this argument and the hate insanity keeps you gums flapping

[treestar]

191. Exactly.

The Puritopians are just wrong. Any step in the right direction is a step in the right direction.

[calimary]

224. GREAT post, Californeeway!

The drummer in my kid's band is a childhood cancer survivor. His parents are able to keep him on their insurance for another three years while he gets on his feet, and it made a HUGE difference to them. And even while they're pretty conservative about a lot of things, they are GREATLY appreciative of this.

Count me as an Obama supporter. Yes he's not perfect. Who here is? Look what he's up against. And TRUE, the ACA is far from perfect as well. BUT AT LEAST IT'S SOMETHING!!! It's a START!!! Hell, I wanted single-payer and then the public option. I got this instead. But this is helping people, which was the whole idea in the beginning.

I'd love to go all out for 100% purity. I'd love to have it all MY way. That's not possible, especially with the obstruction seemingly EVERYWHERE. But just imagine where we'd be if we had another republi-CON in the White House. We'd have NOTHING. ACIDIC's drummer's parents would have NOTHING. You would have NOTHING as far as coverage for your daughter - and for yourself. As a whole, we women would have NO FURTHER JURISDICTION over OUR bodies. We'd be boots-on-the-ground in Syria already. We'd have Pirates on Parade throughout the Cabinet. We'd have Yosemite and Yellowstone paved over and lined with McDonalds and Walmarts - with the fracking people and drillers and strip miners and clear-cutters unrestrained and running amok through there already. We'd have two more asshole knuckle-draggers on the Supreme Court instead of Sotomayor and Kagan, and I'd be willing to bet that they'd both be Anglo males. And for Latinos? It'd be a non-stop wall-to-wall walls and government-approved "Fuck 'em's." We'd be Somalia in some many words. And more.

(Sorry - maybe I'm just getting cantankerous because I've got the Zimmerman trial on the TV over there and that damn Don West dude is just making me wanna throw something at the TV. "You disagree every time I make a ruling." DAMN!!! Glad I'm not that judge having to put up with that! Bad enough being a viewer...)

[JDPriestly]

107. The president signed a law but can't get well enough organized to implement it.

It's been years since the law passed.

Problem is that there is a lack of support among employers for the law.

We needed single payer. I was pleased that we got something although not single payer. At the time those who really wanted single payer were told they couldn't get their "pony," that they should settle for less. Those who said only single payer would work were ridiculed.

I supported Obama's bill. Now I regret that I supported it because I see that it is impossibly flawed. Obama''s bill relies on cooperation and support from employers for providing health care for their employees. Employers are not on board, and they are stopping the implementation of the bill.

Obama's health care bill was a nice thought, but he is not tough enough to enforce it.

Nor is he tough enough to stand up to the Republicans and get Democratic appointments passed through Congress.

I am very disappointed.

If he can't get his health care bill implemented after all these years, neither he nor any of his sycophantic fans should brag about that bill.
At this point, the most important part of the bill appears to be a huge hoax.

And then, Obama is investing money in a massive surveillance machinery and a bureaucracy to operate it while suggesting the chained CPI and cuts to Medicare.

We can afford a huge facility in Utah and thousands of people to perform the nonsensical task of running computers to sift through oceans of junk mail. (You should see our daily offering of junk mail and the spam and junk in my e-mail for example.) But we can't afford health care for our citizens or paying our Social Security debts to seniors who paid into the trust fund.

What is wrong with this picture?

Obama is not doing what he should be doing.

[Politicub]

52. Are you daft?

The OP was filled with facts.

I don't even know why you are on DU, honestly.

If you can't or won't recognize the progress that has been made on so many levels, you have revealed yourself to be the disruptor that you are.

[SidDithers]

61. +1...nt

Sid

[Hydra]

70. Oh don't know, the Transparency bit was funny

Considering the DOJ is fighting tooth and nail to keep the FISA ruling that shows the NSA is violating the 4th amendment in the dark.

The President was also adamantly opposed to equal rights for the LBGT community until someone got him to step into the 21st century.

But don't let a few incongruities like that stop you from questioning my role on DU. After all, we don't need critical thinking, because nobody in the Gov't ever lies or conceals anything from us, right?

[Phlem]

109. Riiiight

filled with facts.

A disruptor, racist, hater, etc....



-p

[Bobbie Jo]

220. WTF does that even mean?

[ProSense]

16. Did you expect me to support his ears? Can't

quit being disingenuous, huh: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3122617

Do you stand by this post, Prosense?

Bush is spying on Americans: opponents and activist groups. The law can't be changed to make that legal.

ProSense (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-15-06 08:53 AM
Original message
Edited on Wed Feb-15-06 08:53 AM by ProSense

Bush is spying on Americans: opponents and activist groups. The law can't
be changed to make that legal. The Republicans are trying to pull a fast one with this "law change" tactic by framing the illegal spying as warrantless spying on terrorists; therefore, the law is being changed to give Bush the authority to spy on terrorist. Spying on Americans was, is and will still be illegal. Bush committed crimeS by illegal spying on Americans and breaking existing FISA laws.

I'm sure all criminals would love to have a law passed that retroactively absolves them of their crimes.

Yup, stand 100 percent behind it.

Ever heard of the PAA: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023026724

By all means, go on pretending you never received a response.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3122942
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3133739
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3125366
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3122700
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3122561
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3133739
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3133751
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3134370
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023134060#post86
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023169023#post167
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023185307#post1
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023187207#post21
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023181859#post97

You know I'm going to post this everytime you post your failed gotcha, don't you?

No, you can't quit being disingenuous:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3186751
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3186886
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3187300

[LondonReign2]

98. I've read your links

The point out the fact that when Obama was against it, you were too. However, you simply refuse to say why you changed your mind on such an important matter.

[Dreamer Tatum]

18. You should name your post like Darryl Dawkins named his dunks. +1 nt

[quinnox]

27. slam dunk, indeed!

[renie408]

44. YEAH!! Because illegal wire taps and asking a phone company for its records are OBVIOUSLY

the same exact thing!

Even though the Obama 'spying' amounted to information that anybody who went through my trash could get, it is WAY WORSE!! I know because I identify myself by my outrage and I am OUTRAGED, I tell you, OUTRAGED!!

I really just want to tell the edges of both parties to just grow the fuck up.

[Blanks]

174. Is AT&T violating your 4th amendment right to privacy?

You should be OUTRAGED. If you're not you're stupid.

[renie408]

209. Ok, you get that adding the 'sarcasm' tag means that you agree with me

and are making fun of people who think that AT&T is violating their 4th amendment right to privacy, right? Cause if you actually think that AT&T is violating your 4th amendment right to privacy, then your comments were not sarcastic; they are literal.

So, if you agree with me...YEAH!!

If not:

1) There is no right to privacy stipulated in the Constitution. It is a right implied, but not specifically outlined. The 4th amendment protects from unlawful search and seizure. According to the government, this program is legal because of some of the shadier elements in the Patriot Act. If you don't like that the government can do this, instead of invoking the 4th amendment, maybe you should lobby to revoke the Patriot Act. Actually, we should ALL probably lobby to revoke the Patriot Act.

2) Whose information is this? Does it belong to the phone company or me? Is the fact that my number called another number and talked for 1 minute and 15 seconds something that requires an individual warrant when the grocery store can sell the fact of which brand of toilet paper I buy to another company for profit?

3) Perhaps, like when you sign up for a discount card with the grocery store, AT&T should put a disclaimer that states that general information about your account will be made available to the government upon request in your phone contract. And that would be the end of that.

[Blanks]

259. We are in complete agreement.

I'm glad that you see the AT&T/4th amendment/privacy connection for exactly what it is, and took the time to lay out the point that I was making. Of course I understand the use of the sarcasm 'smiley'.

People aren't looking at the rights of private companies in this debate. There's a lot of OUTRAGE directed toward big companies, but I'm not seeing a lot of people saying that you are taking advantage of their infrastructure, unless there is a specific law prohibiting what they do with that information - we are suggesting using the government to hamper free enterprise.

For the government to prohibit a practice that was financially profitable for a company without compensation might constitute a regulatory taking. Is that what we are fighting for. Instead of allowing the companies to sell our information (which is currently legal) we want to pass a law regulating what can and can't be sold and allow the phone company to calculate how much they 'were' making selling our 'secrets' and then the federal government cuts a check to all of these entities that are trading in our habits.

Personally, I'd rather we thought about just what it is we are trying to accomplish, and keep the OUTRAGE from affecting our judgement.

[Phlem]

50. Uh Oh

Don't rock the boat or the failfull might send you a barrage of carefully selected blue links headed your way. Don't you ever forget he's the holy one and thou shall not question his actions or motivations.



-p

[truebluegreen]

240. Rec for "failfull"

Excellent descriptor.

[L0oniX]

236. Good find. n/t

[Skraxx]

12. He's Doing A Damn Good Job, Especially Given The Circumstances

He's racked up some amazing accomplishments in a political environment that has little precedence.

[Dreamer Tatum]

13. Does your opinion always come with 1000 videos and links?

I'm taking a vacation soon and would like to spend a day reading, so what's your favorite candy bar?

[ProSense]

19. Always. If you didn't know, now you do. Get used to it. n/t

[msongs]

20. hey selective editing is a great skill for PR agents :-) nt

[pscot]

14. I used to

[SidDithers]

17. At DU, that makes you an authoritarian troll...nt

Sid

[zeemike]

41. Blind allegiance to the leader makes you a authoritarian.

And if you troll then you are one.

[SidDithers]

51. You would know much more about trolling than me...nt

Sid

[zeemike]

111. Could be, I don't know what you know about trolling.

But I do know about authoritarians.

[treestar]

192. Is that even logical?

The leader would have to be in a dictator's position.

Support is not "blind allegiance." You can't support anyone then, and may as well give up on politics.

[zeemike]

199. Blind allegiance has nothing to do with a dictatorship

And support is only blind when it is given whether it is due or not.

[Jamaal510]

131. +1

[Blaukraut]

25. I largely support him, too. Has he lived up to my expectations? No, but they were too high.

In an ideal world, President Obama would have closed Gitmo already, pulled out of Iraq and Afghanistan the day after he took office, have Bush, Cheney, et al prosecuted for war crimes, and stopped any and all questionable NSA practices that violate the privacy of (not just) US citizens.
He would have only appointed progressive cabinet members, and he would have strong armed congress into passing progressive legislature he could proudly sign into law.

As it is, the world we live in is less than ideal. President Obama mostly worked with what he had, except for a few unfortunate times where he really did give away the store needlessly.

So, while it remains to be seen if he will go down in history as one of the best presidents, his track record is definitely not too shabby when viewed in context.

Finally, let me add this on a personal note: ProSense, I for one am glad for, and do read your links While I might be biased because I know you personally, let me tell you that you've pulled me out of despair and hair on fire times more than once, so thank you!

[ProSense]

28. Thanks.

Forever,

[BlancheSplanchnik]

235. this is what ideologues don't get.

they'd rather scream about abstracts.


Including the abstract notion that only the angry and hateful can claim the keys to the throne of Purity Brand Liberalism(tm). Or something.

ProSense, I for one am glad for your links and though I don't always read them through, I do check that the source is one I respect. I DON'T know you personally, but let me tell you that you've pulled me out of despair and hair on fire times more than once, so thank you!

[grahamhgreen]

29. You're not even an I - You're a think tank persona comprised of multiple individuals, for God's sake

Get real.

[dreamnightwind]

83. +1

I don't know if what you said is true or not, but I've always suspected as much. Would love to actually know.

[MineralMan]

112. Post your evidence. You have made the accusation.

Now support it.

[Number23]

163. Really hard to get evidence when it's all jammed up your hiney.

So I think we'll be waiting for that "evidence" for a while...

[grahamhgreen]

190. Prosense has been posting for 2,804 days and has 101,262 posts

averaging 36 posts per day, or 2+ posts per waking hour.

Rather prolific for one person working a 40 hour week, IMHO.

[Bobbie Jo]

197. Who cares?

Don't like it, try HIDE/IGNORE.

Problem solved.


What is the obsession with this woman? Seriously?

[davidpdx]

218. Obsession

You've got that one right. It sounds like Prosense has a stalker.

[grahamhgreen]

262. LOL... Obsession with honest debate:)

[MineralMan]

212. That is prolific, and also indicative of nothing.

I'm prolific, too. You're making accusations against a DUer. If you can't back them up, then you have nothing.

[RetroLounge]

145. +100

RL

[NuclearDem]

148. I was starting to think I was the only one who thought so... n/t

[davidpdx]

215. An accusation of mental illness

That is pretty ugly.

[MissDeeds]

256. +1000

All of those blue links at the ready to tamp down any criticism or support any position seem a bit curious, to say the least. Most on DU can see the forest for the trees.

[Decoy of Fenris]

30. He's okay. Kind of "Meh."

After Bush, a plank with a face painted on it could be considered "One of the best". I'd say the Prez settles into the lower end of the top 15, but hovers around the 11-12 mark. Many more presidents did far more with their terms, and with greater impact. Obama's administration has been lackluster, but not particularly marred by any major scandals or the like. I'm not disappointed, but I'm not impressed, either. Then again, I was hoping for "Not Bush" going into 2008, so I guess I got what I was hoping for.

[cali]

31. When your finger gets tired from scrolling down a single post, it's too long

do you actually think throwing in huge block quotes that are repetitive and link after link, strengthens any argument you may have? It does not. It's like being beaten about the head.

If one out of a hundred, reads your op all the way through, I'll eat my easter bonnet.

[Hydra]

39. I think your easter bonnet is safe :) n/m

[riqster]

33. I support him, too.

Far too many Americans expect to get everything they want. I've never been fortunate enough to have such delusional expectations.

Obama advanced the biggest health care reform plan since the Sixties.

He has done more to advance the rights of LGBT Americans than any President before him.

He averted a depression caused by the Reeps.

He got us out of Iraq. And so on. A helluva track record when one stops to look at it.

Has he pissed me off? Sure, every Prexy has pissed me off at one time or another. So what?

Especially since the alternative was President McCain (or even Palin!) in one case, or Captain Forehead as Prexy in the other, oh HELL yeah, I support Obama.

Good post, lots of factual support for your case.

[Democrats_win]

34. Still, no "rich" person can save the middle class.

He's not as out-of-touch as the Supreme joke or the House of Fools. Yet early on there were articles pointing out that "wealthy" people like Obama didn't get the extreme need to drastically change the economic equation in America. For instance the stimulus was tiny.

Recognize that bush's "stimulus" --the Iraq war and his homeland security-- spending was massive. In fact I understand the billions in homeland security spending was greater than FDR's New Deal programs (even if you adjusted the New Deal spending to today's dollars, bush still spent more on just the homeland security fiasco.) Ever heard of locks on the airplane doors? That's all they needed!

Bush was the "greatest" keynesian this country has ever seen (just ahead of Reagan). Oh, but the tea party lie is that they didn't support the village idiot--you know, even though they voted for him twice. Get wise, you know that the tea bagger traitors would spend spend spend if Obama wasn't president.

[L0oniX]

238. You can't vote Goldman Sachs out of office.

When our asshole leaders do the will of those with millions in campaign money there is no Democracy ...it's an illusion.

[Just Saying]

35. With you on that!

[Skittles]

36. change "strongly" to "obsessively"

then you're on to something

[ProSense]

37. Maybe that's

"change 'strongly' to 'obsessively' then you're on to something"

...in the eye of the beholder. I mean, some people don't seem to have a problem with posting something "obssessively"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023217632#post11

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023217632#post16

No, I meant "strongly."

[RetroLounge]

147. Exactly

RL

[Dr. Strange]

239. I think "blindly" is the word.

[handmade34]

38. ...

[BenzoDia]

40. I do too. I have some issues with some of his policies overall he has my support.

[EC]

42. Me too.

I consider all the others that do nothing but criticize Obama, people who are here just to discourage us. That's how they got 2010...it's not going to happen again.

[think]

43. Obama has done many great things in a face of a relentless Republican opposition

I doubt any president has seen the kind of opposition Obama has. It is insane the shit he had to endure..

From questioning his citizenship to questioning his loyalty as an American the Republicans cannot stoop low enough to demean president Obama.

Regarding the NSA.

As I consider The Carlyle Group & their spy company Booz Allen the main culprit in the NSA scandal I don't fault Obama there either.

Rather I know the onus is us the American people congress, AND the president to work together to end the NSA private contractor entanglement and illegal spying & activities there of. This will be no little task.

And there is no party without people loyal to the party. So in that respect I applaud the efforts made to keep the Democratic party together.

However the Democrats should take a note from the Republicans and understand the American people will see through any attempts to white wash the truth should the party decide to let the NSA continue the narrative of telling the American people they can't handle the truth.

No. It is the Democratic party that must now handle the truth.

The Democratic party must decide if it's worth destroying the party image to prop up a licentious & illegally operating NSA. It must decide if the nation truly benefits from private contractors like Booz allen who make billions in profit with very little over site while sharing none of the responsibility.

The Democratic party can make decisions to avoid looking like the culprit for Bush's secret law by now proactively engaging the NSA & these contractors and showing the American people what true leadership is all about...


My 2 cents

[CakeGrrl]

45. Happy to REC

And anyone who wants to piss and moan that I'm an authoritarian who supports the police state blah blah blahhhhh can take the proverbial long walk.

[renie408]

46. But he was supposed to be my cool new black friend and do everything I wanted, just the

way I wanted it!! I want it ALL!!

And if I do not get everything I want, the way I want it and when I want it, I will throw a temper tantrum and act like a big, giant two year old.

[cali]

63. there's something particularly repugnant about using race the way you are

and of course, it's utter nonsense to falsely claim that this is about people not getting their shiny new toys or that they're throwing tantrums. I'll put up my reasoned, sourced posts about policy against your reductive, imitative gunk, any day of the week.

[renie408]

72. LOL

When did this get to be a contest?

And since I don't give two shits about what you think and you are obviously quite worked up; if it is a contest, it would appear I am winning.

Don't you have some heart wrenching, reasoned, sourced, breast beating post you are due to write just about now?? I mean, at the rate you crank those things out, you can't afford to get behind.

[cali]

94. you're the one that's obviously all in a lather, hon

now continue on with your hysterics. you're so good at it, sweets.



and i hate to break this to you, but the OP you so admire, "cranks' them out more than I do.

[renie408]

102. Extrapolate much?

A) Can you please show how my comments display my hysteria or that I am 'all in a lather'?

B) Can you also cut and paste which of my comments display my admiration for the OP?

C) Can you illustrate how the use of emoticons makes you look like anything other than a fifth grader?


Since you have basically pulled all of that, including my supposed racism, out of your ass, I am going to guess...not.

But I do like how your posts display how attached to your internet presence your ego is.

[cali]

146. lol.

hey, the op uses emoticons, go tell her it make her look like a fifth grader.

[renie408]

207. So, this is really between you and the OP and I just got swept in because I made a comment

supportive of them. YOU keep referencing the OP when even I have not.

Yes, if the OP uses emoticons, they look like a child. Sort of like you do. For someone who evidently prides themselves on their substantive contributions to internet discourse, this exchange does not put you in a very flattering light.

[CakeGrrl]

153. One telling tactic is the

passive-aggressive use of terms of endearment.

One poster dramatically announced that I was being ignored with the signoff "Bye, Snookums!"

It's the catfight waiting to happen but doesn't.

[renie408]

208. How about the obvious bitter jealousy of the OP or the out-of-nowhere overly

aggressive attack of my post? Or the touting of their own mad message board posting skills?

I think this whole thing has been pretty telling and if I were Cali, I would not be proud of what it tells.

[Maximumnegro]

104. Hear hear. Sums it all up perfectly.

There is serious unconscious (and conscious) racism when it comes to Obama. The degree to which both left AND right obsess over him testifies to that.

[renie408]

106. Thank you.

Apparently it was not a point that was obvious to all.

[JustAnotherGen]

158. ++++++

[JEB]

47. I was dissapointed that we did not go single payer

and get the profit out of providing health care. But at least I have my Public Option...oh wait. Got to protect the blood sucking insurance companies. Whatever.

[BornLooser]

48. Ah me!, Instant America, "We wants it all, We want's it now"...

"We don't want to hear about the pain...just show Us the Baby."

Comes with the position, He's had beaucu help with the heavy lifting, and this IS the ultimate circular argument. Who here has completely withdrawn support, abandoned our President? I may be disappointed, but abandonment?, it solves nothing. I will be critical, my 2 votes earns me that.
Being all things to all people is like juggling 10 bowling balls whilst riding a 10 ft. unicycle, on ice.
I have doubts, will continue to hold Him accountable, however just as the heavy lifting is shared, so must the "blame". NO ONE here should begrudge anothers loyalty, either way. Respect it. .

[totodeinhere]

53. Why don't you try telling us something we don't know?

You have been like a broken record ever since Obama took office. I voted for him twice and generally support him but it just seems unnatural that you don't at least occasionally have some criticism of him. Perhaps you posted criticism but I missed it. But I think we all know where you stand by now so perhaps you could add some variety to the forum once in a while and talk about something else besides your unconditional adoration of Barack Obama.

[Politicub]

56. Why don't you get some manners?

The rudeness in your post is uncalled for.

[totodeinhere]

71. If I came off as rude I apologize. But there are also some rude comments directed at

people who don't completely fall in line behind the OP. Just downthread a defender of the OP is calling another poster a "puke." Yet I don't see you calling them out for being rude.

[Sheepshank]

250. so, for the constant black cloud/BO is a shithead posters

do you make a point of pointing out that pattern of behaviours. You do realize that your comments seems a tad one sided?

[totodeinhere]

252. Nobody can be more one-sided than the OP. So if you are going to criticize one-sided

posters where is your criticism of her?

And I don't think that those who are critical of some aspects of Obama's record are calling him a "shithead." I know I certainly am not. I voted for him twice and would again if he ran against any Republican. I think that having supported him gives us moral authority to criticize some of his policies now.

[Sheepshank]

254. I happen tp agree with the sentiment and support A Dem President on a Dem site...shocking, huh?

I actually don't give a rats arse who you voted for. I'm just as sick of the "I have a black friend so I can't be a racist" or "I have gay friends, I just don't think that the word "marriage" should apply" types of arguments. Your voting history bolsters nothing in this argument and doesn't give you special rights to try and shut down those who don't think like you .

[totodeinhere]

257. Please tell me where I tried to shut down anybody. If you can find any

comment that I made attempting to shut down anyone else's opinion please post it. And I noticed that you very conveniently ignored the fact that you are criticizing me for being one-sided while giving the OP a pass
for being just as one-sided as I am if not more.

I only cited my voting history in order to demonstrate that I have been an Obama supporter. And for that matter I support many of his policies now. But when I disagree with him I will say so. Just because he has a "D" after his name that doesn't mean that he has earned any blind unquestioning loyalty on each and every issue.

[Sheepshank]

258. snark on post #53 was designed to encourage personal disclosure of preferences?

oh please.

[Politicub]

54. I stand with President Obama!

Great thread. Thanks for taking the time to put it together.

People need to be reminded of the progress that has been made.

Maybe one day the TOS will be enforced and outright disrupters will be banned.

[Maedhros]

55. Hagiography [n/t]

[renie408]

66. No.

There is a difference between saying that you support the President and that while you understand the negatives, you find that the positives far outweigh them and worshiping him.

But nice use of an obscure word.

[Apophis]

57. You tell us this 100 times a day.

And you still had to make a thread and tell us AGAIN.

[renie408]

59. Oh, I don't know, after reading your post I can think of a few things.

[renie408]

108. Interesting edit.

That completely removes your previous post and replaces it with something totally different.

[MineralMan]

113. And, as a DUer, that poster can do that

as frequently as desired.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

58. are you and grantcart in a contest? that is a long ass post!!

I'm sure I'll read it more fully later....but damn!

[quinnox]

76. lol. Maybe of grantcarts extra long recent post, prosense took as a challenge of some sort

[OneGrassRoot]

89. I'll take the long ones over the twitter-esque nothingness...

that comprises so much of GD nowadays ANY DAY.

I respect the effort that goes into the longer posts. Sometimes short posts are fine, but there are too many twitter-type posts by the same people repeatedly these days cluttering GD.

IMHO, of course.

[OneGrassRoot]

91. (Posted in wrong place, sorry.) I appreciate your posts, ProSense.

Just as I appreciate other more thoughtful posts with counter views which actually contain content.

K&R

[ProSense]

125. Thanks. n/t

[Pretzel_Warrior]

96. actually, you remind me of a time on DU when those types of one liner type posts

were locked by moderators. Though I sometimes just wanted to post something quick...I admired the sentiment that this site should be about posting something more informative and thoughtful than a 140 character "burn" of someone.

[rivegauche]

60. ME TOO!

GREAT POST! Of course the man isn't perfect, of course he makes mistakes - he's a human being. But he's also an extraordinary human being, a brilliant, compassionate man who tries his hardest to do the right thing. I think he's absolutely one of the very best Presidents we have ever had, and we are fucking LUCKY that he has the strength to do his job so well.

[azbillyboy]

65. Sorry but....

I tried out for the cheerleading squad when I was in H.S. but, unlike GWB, I washed out.

A little bit plainer. Never was a cheerleader, Can't see putting B.O. on the same plane as JKF or even Eisenhower .....

[JEB]

67. Here is a reality check concerning Health care.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/1/Carol-s-story-One-woman-t-by-Trudy-Lieberman-130710-877.html

[Scurrilous]

68. Big K & R

Thanks ProSense. :

[Progressive dog]

74. ^^K&R^^

Thank you ProSense.

[AZ Progressive]

77. I don't think any Democrat or Liberal doesn't want Obama to succeed...

But there are some things that we, on principal, have to object to and get angry at the president for.

Democratic presidents aren't perfect. Clinton signed NAFTA and was pro-globalization, Carter started the ball rolling on deregulation, LBJ of course escalated the Vietnam war, FDR and the internment of Japanese Americans in WWII.

Obama's problem is that for the times of now, we needed Obama to be better than he currently is. We need a president as aggressive as Theodore Roosevelt and Harry Truman, that would've outwitted the Republicans and checkmate them to help Democrats to takeover Congress, and to outwit Corporate America, bring the banks to justice, and reverse the damages of Bush and to help the 99% in economic relief. Instead, Obama's adopted some of the worst things of Clinton (on economics) and also of Bush (on foreign policy and civil liberties.)

[zappaman]

78. Can you believe someone alerted on this? Jury results...

AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your Jury Service

At Wed Jul 10, 2013, 02:39 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

What
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3217504

REASON FOR ALERT:

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate. (See <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=aboutus#communitystandards" target="_blank">Community Standards</a>.)

ALERTER'S COMMENTS:

Disruptive because of its extreme size. It has already been posted as its own thread - could be referred to with a link. Don't want to start having this wall of text/images show up in every thread.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Wed Jul 10, 2013, 02:49 PM, and the Jury voted 0-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Well, that's 15 minutes I'll never get back. Hot air but I don't know why it was alerted on.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Until it becomes a violation of TOS or explicitly forbidden, I don't see this as hideworthy. It's relevant. Obnoxious as hell, but relevant. Reluctantly vote to leave it alone.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Frivolous alert makes me wonder if alerter is on board with the goals and aspirations of DU and its membership. These shared aspirations do not include using every trick in the book to get commendable and perfectly DU-worthy OPs like this locked. Leave it.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: It's a form of spamming another poster's thread. I'm sure we'll see a copy and paste of this reply again. And not just in its own thread. Other people do this as well.

But calling it a form of spam is just my opinion. So, leave.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Bwhahahahahahaahahahahahahaha!!!!!!! "Disruptive because of its extreme size." Wow. What a fucking reach! Look, I get that we have people here who don't like Obama. Why they are here, I don't know. Once again, I will say that I wish the admins starting thinning the herd of the libertarians and "independents" on this site. Shame on you alerter. Really...you suck.

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[ProSense]

82. Yes,

someone alerted on this: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023034825

I wonder if it was one of the "authoritarians"?

[kirby]

86. What absurdity...

Alerting because a post contains too much info? Perhaps the person who alerted should be banned since it really is an abuse of the system. Kinda of like a frivolous lawsuit.

[zappaman]

90. At least they can't alert for 24 hours.

Loser.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

97. that is hilarious and sad all at the same time.

I've never seen an alert get 6 out of 6 "leave it alone"'s

[Jamaal510]

134. #6 had me rolling.

"Once again, I will say that I wish the admins starting thinning the herd of the libertarians and "independents" on this site. Shame on you alerter. Really...you suck."

[Number23]

164. Jurors #4 and 6 are ON POINT. Juror #2 "reluctantly" voted to leave a post that did not violate

a single damn rule and is unapologetic in its support of the Democratic president alone on an allegedly Democratic web site.

[zappaman]

166. Right?

Amazing.

[L0oniX]

232. "a form of spam" LMFAO ...I'll bet that DU member isn't the only one who thinks that.

[AZ Progressive]

80. In short, We needed a Hero, Candidate Obama proclaimed himself as the Hero....

...And President Obama has only succeeded as the Hero on some things, and has fallen short for the most part. Healthcare is probably his biggest accomplishment, but we aren't sure how successful that will be. We needed a Hero as great as Teddy Roosevelt and FDR.

[avaistheone1]

118. True.

And if Obama followed on the path of change he promised in his campaign we would have had one.

[kirby]

81. Do you work for the administration?

I am just curious if you work for the White House or the DNC or something public relations related? Your posts always have the glow/bias of a PR person.

[quinnox]

93. If they don't, they should be

Otherwise, whoa. Posting hundreds of OPs, day after day, morning to night, all basically White House press releases or "feel good" news puff pieces. They better get some kind of remuneration for this!

[dreamnightwind]

101. I have asked this question myself

more than once and never received what I consider a straight answer. I think it deserves an answer, or even an investigation. I don't want DU to be a home for paid PR posts, regardless of which side they are on.

[Blaukraut]

105. I'm sure Skinner will get right on that investigation you demand

Investigation into ProSense and her alleged employment by the Obama Admin. Oh the irony!

[dreamnightwind]

115. I never said the Obama Admin

but I would like to know if ProSense or anyone else is being paid by anyone to post here. It makes a difference to me. If I want the opinion of paid PR types I can turn on MS-NBC (and often do). When I listen to a paid PR type, I consider the person's paid status to be a qualifier to the information they are presenting, and I try to allow for that in how I process that information.

[ProSense]

122. Well,

"I never said the Obama Admin but I would like to know if ProSense or anyone else is being paid by anyone to post here. It makes a difference to me. If I want the opinion of paid PR types I can turn on MS-NBC (and often do). When I listen to a paid PR type, I consider the person's paid status to be a qualifier to the information they are presenting, and I try to allow for that in how I process that information."

...asking that question is simply a diversionary tactic to discredit and deflect attention from the issue at hand.

I mean, it's not like if I answered it, you or anyone else asking it is going to believe me. Sort of like the people who will never believe that Obama was born in this country and is not a Muslim.

My answer is no, I'm not paid to post here. I think it's a silly assumption along with referring to me as "them" or "they." It's embarrassingly silly.

Now, do you believe me? Do you think that's going to stop you or anyone else from asking that question?

I mean, someone even started a thread on it. So what's the point?

Stick to the topic, and stop resorting to cheap tactics to try to discredit.

[dreamnightwind]

133. Not a cheap tactic

I sincerely want to know.

I made no such assumption, and if I had, it would not have been silly, considering your body of posts.

Thank you for at least going on-record and saying it isn't true. A couple of earlier responses from you on this topic looked to me to be worded so as to leave some wiggle-room. And for me, that is the point, I had never seen what I considered a definite denial. So I will not ask you for one anymore.

[L0oniX]

233. ProSense for Obama Press Secretary ...not a bad idea. n/t

[LondonReign2]

84. Shocker. Who could have guessed?

[Sheepshank]

253. your response...a huge shocker

who could have guessed?

see how silly it sounds...like anyone with a stand cannot make a statement of their preferences?

How about you stick to the topics without personal attacks?

[Cha]

87. President Obama has an outstanding legacy

so far.. and we can only build on that by giving it our all to get him a Demcractic Congress in 2014. I know OFA is serious about that as are many many other Activists. PBO is always saying that we are the change. We're here to help not let someone else do all the work.

There's so much misinformation and disinformation always making the rounds. I really appreciate the Information you bring to this website, ProSense. Great compilation of PBO and his Admin's work. Bookmarking!

Here's another one from Milt Shook

http://www.theprogressivesinfluence.com/2012/11/please-cut-crap-and-addictinginfo-on.html

Beautifully stated of just exactly why you "strongly support President Obama", PS!

[sheshe2]

187. Great link, Cha~

Does he deserve some criticism? I suppose, but I must admit I haven’t seen any complaints that were of based on anything having to do with the real world. One I can’t forgive him for is pulling Janet Napolitano out of Arizona. But the thing is, on balance, he’s mostly stellar. Besides, criticism about certain specific problems is one thing; taking on an overall “Obama sucks” meme not only has the potential to put Willard Romney into power, it’s also a lie. Just because you wanted a president who would give you a glitter-farting unicorn and didn’t quite get that doesn’t mean he’s not doing well at the job we hired him for.

Does he deserve some criticism? I suppose, but I must admit I haven’t seen any complaints that were of based on anything having to do with the real world. One I can’t forgive him for is pulling Janet Napolitano out of Arizona. But the thing is, on balance, he’s mostly stellar. Besides, criticism about certain specific problems is one thing; taking on an overall “Obama sucks” meme not only has the potential to put Willard Romney into power, it’s also a lie. Just because you wanted a president who would give you a glitter-farting unicorn and didn’t quite get that doesn’t mean he’s not doing well at the job we hired him for.

- See more at: http://www.theprogressivesinfluence.com/2012/11/please-cut-crap-and-addictinginfo-on.html#.dpuf

Thanks

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

88. ProSense: I stand with you 100%, my sister!!

[polichick]

92. Bo, is that you? :)

[darkangel218]

116. ROFLMAO!!!

[L0oniX]

227. LMFAO

[JDPriestly]

95. What do you think about Obama's many appointments of Republicans to high offices?

I think that Comey is a terrible choice for FBI director.

The nation elected a Democrat, but Obama appoints Republicans over and over.

That is extremely disappointing.

In addition, the continuation of this overbearing, intrusive surveillance program is an abomination.

Who in the world keeps a record of other people's mail and e-mail and phone calls and then analyzes them. It's positively sick.

I would not do that to my spouse, or my children or anyone.

Only in the context of a lawsuit or a criminal probe should people look at other people's records of that sort.

And in the context of a civil lawsuit, you serve a subpoena and give notice and the opportunity to be heard to the person whose records you are seeking to obtain and review.

NOTICE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD. That is the basis of due process. Obama is supposed to be a lawyer. He should know that.

Obama has done some good things (although his failure to get his health care plan actually ready for implementation is not something to brag about. it will hurt millions of American families.), but he needs to do far better.

And this from one who volunteered many, many, many hours in 2012 for the Obama campaign.

I am very disappointed.

[politicasista]

100. Kick

Last edited Wed Jul 10, 2013, 11:03 PM - Edit history (1)

Another excellent post.

If you Pro are still reading this thread far down, congrats on your 100,000+ post.

[cali]

150. lol. c'mon. you didn't read the op

I don't want to have to eat my easter bonnet.

[Iliyah]

103. In total agreement ProSense!

And I always find your threads entertaining for the fact that the naysayers come out of the woodwork to harass anyone who supports Pres O - lol

From delusional, totalitarian, and any other demeaning nouns, adjectives used against his supporters.

[DontTreadOnMe]

110. The anti-Obama crowd here on DU is drawn to this thread like a moth to a candle

Last edited Wed Jul 10, 2013, 04:00 PM - Edit history (1)

They CANNOT RESIST to reply... hair on fire is beginning to getting boring here on DU.

[darkangel218]

117. Ant-Obama crowd?? whats that?

[DontTreadOnMe]

123. typo :)

[darkangel218]

126. I know, i was just being silly :)

[Iliyah]

119. That last I've checked in a democracy

we are not a one party system re: country. It use to be somewhat a bi-partisan 3 branches but lately two branches are not and are very partisan on almost everything. The president choses who he feels is that best for that position. Right or wrong no matter if that person has a R or a D or an I, G.

I commend him for that. Now when a GOP or Libertarian gets in, check back with me ok.

And I agree "DontTreadOnMe" hair on fire bullshit non-stop.

[veganlush]

121. I'm with you, ProSense

thanks for posting. I'm getting ready to take a hiatus from DU because of all the foolish, wrong-headed negativity. It's great to see a comprehensive counter-post.

[Jamaal510]

128. None of that stuff matters. Obama is still a huge disappointment and a Republican!

[Taft_Bathtub]

129. Did you support President George W. Bush?

Because Obama is basically a continuation of the Bush presidency with a Democratic Party face.

[11 Bravo]

142. Fuck yeah, there's not a dime's worth of difference between them, right, Mr. Nader?

(By the way, the Taft bathtub was large, inarticulate, white, and often full of sewage. Just saying.)

[Taft_Bathtub]

195. The truth usually strikes a nerve

I'm sorry you can't handle that his policies are very close if not identical to Bush. In some ways they're worse: Bush wasn't as trigger happy with Drones like Obama was.

But when we examine very crucial issues that impact America they're identical: massive, unwavering, sycophantic support of Wall Street, "healthcare reform" that is nothing more than handouts to HMOs and Pharma, tax cuts for the wealthy while slashing programs that help the poor, the continual operation of Guantanamo Bay, support for DOMA, opposition to Plan B...

The list could go on and on and on. But please insult me, that adds a lot to the conversation.

[geek tragedy]

160. Only an idiot would say that Obama=Bush overall nt

[Taft_Bathtub]

196. Rather be an idiot than blindly follow someone who actively is against the middle class

I'm not a Wall Street banker so President Obama doesn't care about me or my concerns.

[geek tragedy]

198. Because you know him so well. nt

[Taft_Bathtub]

203. Just the actions of his Administration

They tell me enough

[Sheepshank]

255. ok...your are here for comic relief,,,right?

HCA, Iran, Afghanistan, DOMA, killing Bin Laden...just like Bush? Please. At least you used the word Democratic haa haa haa

[ROFF]

130. Thank you, ProSense

This place is becoming Free Republic with a modern internet face.

[silverweb]

135. K&R.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Thank you, ProSense, as always.

[ProSense]

138. It's

I support the President as well, but I do it for free ..

You are obviously paid to create this voluminous output ...

I really don't like the fact that paid advertisers are allowed to hold sway in this forum ...

As much as I like President Obama, I have always disliked your fawning posts ... something very icky about them ...

...hilarious that someone could write that, and then describe the OP as "icky."

[flamingdem]

143. Alert results 5-1

Results of your Jury Service

Mail Message
At Wed Jul 10, 2013, 05:41 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

I support the President as well, but I do it for free ..
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3219265

REASON FOR ALERT:

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate. (See <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=aboutus#communitystandards" target="_blank">Community Standards</a>.)

ALERTER'S COMMENTS:



JURY RESULTS

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Wed Jul 10, 2013, 05:52 PM, and the Jury voted 5-1 to HIDE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Oh FFS the BOG needs to get a life.
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT and said: borderline, but avoid "you are obviously paid"
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT and said: Agreed on the personal attack. I've seen similar original posts on a variety of subjects, filled with references to back up the author's opinion. That does not make the author a paid flack; it makes the author a thoughtful writer willing to backup his or her opinion with documentation, rather than spewing out words without facts. Agree or not with the author, but don't attack him/her personally.
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT and said: Baseless accusation
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT and said: Disgusting personal attack.
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT and said: jerk

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[bluedigger]

144. How do you feel about anything else?

Anything at all. Sports, literature, hobbies? Are there any issues the President hasn't stated a position on, on which you have an opinion? Because the President is capable of talking for himself - he doesn't require your unequivocal affirmation. (I'm pretty sure even Michelle has a disagreement with him once in a while.) And what are your plans for 2016 and beyond? Will you just go "poof" and disappear?

[darkangel218]

149. .

[ProSense]

152. Glad you asked.

"How do you feel about anything else? Anything at all. Sports, literature, hobbies? Are there any issues the President hasn't stated a position on, on which you have an opinion? Because the President is capable of talking for himself - he doesn't require your unequivocal affirmation. (I'm pretty sure even Michelle has a disagreement with him once in a while.) And what are your plans for 2016 and beyond? Will you just go "poof" and disappear?"

I feel that the comment above is as silly as it gets. Hope that helps.

[bluedigger]

157. I appreciate the brevity and nonresponsiveness of your reply.

[RetroLounge]

151. No Shit?

RL

[darkangel218]

154. ROFL!!!!

[bvar22]

260. Who could have guessed????

[Major Hogwash]

155. I think his greatest accomplishment was getting re-elected.

Even after he did all that great stuff during his first term.

Just look at all of the opposition the Rethuglicans threw against him during the first 4 years to see how much they didn't want to cooperate with him and tried to block his agenda.
They spent more than a Billion dollars over the last 4 years trying to get him out of the White House for a 2nd term.

But, they failed.

President Obama is not just cool, he's super cool.
He's a freakin' genius. Period.

[bvar22]

156. I support President Obama and the Democratic party too.

However, I STRONGLY OPPOSE these issues:

*More Union Busting American Job Killing, Wage depressing "Free Trade"

*Mandates to BUY Health Insurance from For Profit Corporations without a Public Option

*Cosigning, adopting, and expanding Supra-Constitutional Powers of the Unitary Executive founded under Bush

*Resigning and giving a Democratic Party endorsement to The Patriot Act, and the very troubling hints we are now getting about a "Secret" Patriot Act

*The Executive Powers claimed under the NDAA

*Expanding the Drone Assassination Program to nations beyond Iraq and Afghanistan

*Spying on American Citizens without Probable Cause

*Amassing and Collating Personal Data Files on American Citizens without probable Cause

*Failure to hold Bush War Criminals and War Profiteers Accountable

*Giving a Free Pass to Wall Street Criminals

*Refusing to include members from the Progressive Caucus on his "Team of Rivals".

*Offering cuts to Social Security

*the somewhat Less than aggressive policy on protecting the Environment

*Forgetting that Raising the CAP on FICA deductions in was a Campaign Issue in 2008

*Forgetting that making EFCA "The Law of the Land" was a Campaign Issue in 2008

*Forgetting implementing Country of Origin labeling and GM labeling of our foods was a Campaign Issue in 2008

*Putting Monsanto Lobbyists and Lawyers Lawyers in charge of our USDA and FDA
without a counter balance from the Healthy Food and Sustainable Farming movements

*Rescuing DINO Blanche Lincoln's Failing Democratic Primary Campaign 2010 against a popular Pro-LABOR/Pro-HealthCare Democrat with a Last Minute Oval Office Endorsement,
and then taunting and ridiculing Organized LABOR and the Grass Roots for their efforts
to give Obama Progressive Democrats in Congress that wouldn't obstruct his agenda.

*Appointing Conservatives and Republicans to positions of POWER when there ARE Good Progressive Democrats well qualified for those jobs.

*Wasting all that Dry Powder "Standing By" people like General Clapper and Eric Holder while throwing good Democrats (like Shirley Sherrod, Van Jones,...), and Liberal Organizations (like ACORN) to the wolves.


...but aside from those few issues,
I'm pretty supportive President Obama.

[dflprincess]

189. Great post bvar!

[Art_from_Ark]

213. Words of wisdom from the Ouachitas

[Sentath]

241. Thank You for rounding that up

Is there a spot in the list for excluding single payer (and maybe even just public health) advocates from the table at the health insurance reform talks?

[bvar22]

261. Yes, of course.

I could have gone on to a number of other issues.

The deceptiveness of this OP is that it is an attempt to conflate "SUPPORT"
with APPROVAL of all the warmed over Republican Policy that has come out of the current administration. It is just another way to suppress criticism of Conservative Policy on DU.

I have been a Democrat way too long to approve of Republican Economic Policy,
and I've been a Democrat way too long to just quietly sit in the corner and keep my mouth shut.


Is THIS too much to expect from a "Democratic" President?

I CAN Support the President AND the Democratic Party
AND criticize the areas where I believe the Democratic party has abandoned the Working Class
ALL at the same time.
In fact, calling out these Lurches to the Conservative Right in Party Policy IS the best way to Support the Democratic Party that I know of.
It IS My Job to Keep them Honest.



[font color=firebrick][center]"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will STAND UP for Working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone [/font][/center] [center] [center] [/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]




[font size=5 color=firebrick]Solidarity99%![/font]

[Lady Freedom Returns]

159. Your not the only one!

Many do, it is just that as of late many Party distorting haters have come on the scene. It is those haters that will refuse to look any good you point out. They will attack anything and anyone that will puncture a hole in their delusion of evil. They are our sides equivalent of "truthers".

[Jamaal510]

206. They've gone so far

Left, they're meeting the Right wingnuts on the other side. The hyperbole against him is vastly different, but the caliber is the same as the far-Right. The Right wingnuts call him a "communist" and "Kenyan", and that is false. The wingnuts on our side of the spectrum call him a "corporate shill" and "the same as Bush", and that is also false. The denizens of both extremes fail to look at the larger picture regarding all of Obama's policies, and everything he has fought tooth and nail for in the face of GOP obstruction. They're swamped with both tunnel-vision and blind hatred.

[Gravitycollapse]

161. The problem is that your "strong" support is unconditional.

Which means it is unprincipled. It would be a tad different if all you did was post positive stories about the president. But you have spent plenty of time smearing critics of the administration.

[ProSense]

167. Interesting.

"The problem is that your "strong" support is unconditional. Which means it is unprincipled. It would be a tad different if all you did was post positive stories about the president. But you have spent plenty of time smearing critics of the administration."

With all the personal attacks and justifications, you offer another.

[octoberlib]

162. I rec'd this for the all the good things Obama has done

although I haven't " strongly" supported any President. I always find areas of disagreement, no matter who's in power. I also think influence peddling and corruption in Congress is a far greater concern. I don't care how much Obama uses the bully pulpit or schmoozes with Congress to get legislation passed, influence peddling and lobbyists will win every time.

[Number23]

168. The kindergarten quality personal attacks and the number of hidden posts in your thread

where you do nothing but present an OP of factual, well-researched and WELL SOURCED (emphasis on that because I see what the other side has been trotting out lately and it is absolutely HILARIOUS) information to support your strong support of President Obama on a supposedly Democratic web site is the perfect illustration of how fucked up this place is now and has been for some time.

[zappaman]

178. +100!

"Wahhhh! Your post is too long! It should be hidden!"

[ProSense]

182. Always come prepared. n/t

[warrprayer]

169. still "hanging around"

D.U. even though I am appalled by some of the recent decisions by Obama and co. -

[DCBob]

172. me too.. he's done an amazing job given the circumstances.

and hes not done yet.. still 3.5 years to go and I think the best is yet to come!

[Whisp]

173. K&R The world is fortunate to have him as President.

Can you just imagine if..... gawd help us if one of his opponents would be in the WH now. oiy. Dreadful thought.

He is compassionate, wise and about as egoless as I have seen in that office, sparing Carter - he also seems to think of others before himself.

Hip Hip Hooray!

[cantbeserious]

175. Thank You For Sharing - I Strongly Do Not

eom

[ProSense]

176. Did you vote for him? n/t

[cantbeserious]

177. Thank You For Asking - Yes, I Voted For Obama Twice - 2008 And 2012

eom

[ProSense]

179. So

"Thank You For Asking - Yes, I Voted For Obama Twice - 2008 And 2012"

...you voted "twice" for someone you "strongly do not" support? Why?

[cantbeserious]

180. Thank You For Asking - Lesser Of Two Evils

eom

[ProSense]

181. Yeah, clearly there was no one more progressive on the ballot. n/t

[cherokeeprogressive]

183. Color me shocked, then knock me over with a feather.

If nothing else, I admire your consistency.

I support him.

[Tx4obama]

185. K&R :) n/t

[sheshe2]

188. I also strongly support this President!

Thank you for the OP, ProSense.

And Brava~for the magnificent way that you handled the disruptive ones.

[Lucinda]

193. Bookmaking. Thankie for the collected info!

♥

[rug]

194. About this: "Osama bin Laden brought to justice"

If killing by SEAL is considered justice, I'm beginning to see the problem here.

[Demo_Chris]

201. You failed to point out his confident smile and beautiful piercing eyes... *sigh* nt

[ProSense]

204. I apologize to all for not posting these earlier:

[TBF]

223. I'll give you a few brownie points for that amendment -

Bo is a very presidential canine.

[mia]

205. Thanks for your post.

I'm glad that you're keeping track of the accomplishments of President Obama. There is much to be admired about him.

[Capt. Obvious]

210. The sun came up today

[RedCappedBandit]

211. "he operates like all President's in the scope of a vast bureaucracy"

Well, yeah.

[Ter]

214. Really, I'm shocked?

In other news, the sun rose this morning.

[Nye Bevan]

216. I give him about a B minus.

But Romney would have earned probably a D minus, so no regrets about voting for Obama.

[whatchamacallit]

219. Obama had his shot

"Next!"

[12AngryBorneoWildmen]

221. Thank you, ProSense.

Excellent compilation. Sadly, I DO need to be reminded of accomplishments v. obstruction, from time to time.

[TBF]

222. Better choice for women in both 2008 & 2012 -

but that is all I'll give you. Also I like Bo.

But the capitalism has to go - it's killing too many people not to mention the planet.

[Dustlawyer]

225. Well, he sold out to BP on the oil spill and gave them the Coast Guard to do their dirty work

just to try to save the 2012 mid terms, boy that worked out well! It's drilling as usual, no wait, it's more drilling than usual. Obama should have been the one saying, "Drill Baby, drill!" Obama has been a great Corpratist leader! He throws us some bones but gives the 1% the meat! Say all you want, but he and all the other corrupt Democrats and Republicans answer to the 1% and the corporations. Eric Holder has been great for business so why shouldn't he stick around. Look at the cabinet, bunch of great altruistic corporate types for sure!
I am disgusted with the lot of them! It is sad when you can only name a few real leaders, Elizebeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Alan Greyson. Maybe 1 or 2 more, but that s it!
Defend Obama all you want, lesser of 2 evils and all of that I don't care. We need publicly funded elections which means we would have to vote out all of the old white guys. I wonder when people will finally realize that our system of legal bribery with campaign donations has given control of our government over to business and the very rich? Sounds crazy that ambitious people would be influenced by the money that keeps them in office, I know! I guess that makes me a crazy conspiracy theorist huh?

[One of the 99]

226. Great post as always ProSense

No President is perfect. I don't agree with the President on every issue. But those who constantly highlight the negative all the time are just helping the GOP.

[hueymahl]

230. I support Obama

And I thank you for reminding everyone of all the good things he has accomplished.

That said, there are definitely some things he screwed up on and that are not consistent with traditional democratic and progressive values (I'm not going to list them here, enough folks have done that).

As impressive as your arguments in support of him are, I think they could be even more impressive if you could acknowledge that even Obama is human and makes mistakes. And it is OK to criticize he and his policies when they are wrong.

Congrats on all the posts - from my position, 100k+ is almost unimaginable!

[fadedrose]

231. Your post is way too long...but

I agree with you. Break it up into subjects next time, so that these topics could be discussed separately. Many good replies get buried as with all long posts, but I agree with you.

I still love President Obama and always will.

About the spying issue - the FBI and SS say that this president and his family have received more death threats than any other president in history....a lot of this spying must be done to protect them....

[L0oniX]

234. We finally got a perfect POTUS.

[grantcart]

237. and I appreciate your constant effort document the President's record

[Scurrilous]

244. Boink.

[SunSeeker]

245. K & R

[a2liberal]

249. Wait, really?

color me surprised

[great white snark]

251. K&R. Sorry I missed this yesterday Ms Sense.

Do I even need to state my level of agreement with this?

Thanks for this excellent post.

[Rex]

263. Really? I would have never guessed that in a million years!

I thought you HATED the POTUS! I keed.

[RetroLounge]

264. You're not alone

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=280518&sub=trans



RL

[SidDithers]

265. Kick...nt

Sid