you kind of have to ask yourself - "whose side is Obama on?"

[paulk]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/05/obama-jobs-act-labor_n_1404401.html?ref=politics

"Obama JOBS Act Leaves Labor Fuming In Democratic Feud "



"The JOBS Act -- short for Jumpstart Our Business Start-Ups Act -- was birthed in late-January by Obama's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, a group whose membership provides some insight into the administration's loyalties and priorities.

Of the two slots Obama awarded to labor unions on the 27-seat council, one was filled by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. The 19 corporate executives included the heads of GE, Intel, Citigroup, Xerox, Boeing and American Express. Investment managers, lawyers and academics make up the remainder.

The jobs council recommended lowering the corporate tax rate and easing federal regulations across the board -- sweeping proposals with little chance of being enacted during an election year. But one of its suggestions had political potential: making it easier for growing private companies to sell stock to the public, a process known as an initial public offering. By attracting more funding, the council surmised, these enterprises could expand their operations and hire more workers.

While Obama and, to a lesser extent, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) are eager for a bipartisan photo-op, no JOBS Act supporters are trumpeting the number of jobs the legislation will create -- a notable PR omission in an era when lawmakers rarely hesitate to tout rosy employment projections.

Trumka publicly criticized the jobs council's report. He refused to sign off on it and boycotted a January meeting with Obama presenting the recommendations."

----------------


Sure doesn't seem to be labor's side....

I guess that's ok for the "new" Democratic Party - you know the one that increasingly resembles the pre-Reagan era Republican Party. Labor just isn't that important of a constituency any more. And who, after all, are they going to support? They'll end up supporting the Dem ticket this November because there is no where else to turn. Right?

[Autumn]

1. These Democrats are the only game in town.

So yeah that's right, and they know it.

[tex-wyo-dem]

62. Hasn't that been the plan all along?

To basically transform the Democratic Party into a right leaning, big-business friendly party to support the policies of the well-healed. As you said, it basically now resembles the Republican party pre-Reagan.

I'm convinced that the Dem party was slowly infiltrated and transformed starting in the '70s, to turn it into a moderate-right wing party that would basically not be (or be less of) a threat to the 1%. Meanwhile, the Rethugs would push the agenda way out rightward in an effort to push the overall politics in that direction.

It's all kabuki theater at this point...Washington works for certain people, and it ain't you and me. Now, as far as the PTB is concerned, it really doesn't matter which party is in power. If the Dem leadership tries to get too cute with their regulations and consumer protections to throw a bone to their base, or otherwise tries to implement policy that would threaten the profits of a major industry (see healthcare), then there are enough RW Dems and Rethugs to shoot any real progress down. Even the anemic AHA is now being attacked by the RW power structure to completely neuter it. To think we will ever get close to even considering single-payer or Medicare-for-all with the current situation is laughable.

The Federal Government, not to mention many state and local governments, are corrupt to the core. They work for those with money, lots of it...period. The rest of us can go spit and live under a bridge somewhere for all they care.

The only thing that will turn this around is what was started last Fall.

[Autumn]

75. I agree with everything you said

[paulk]

76. it's funny

I used to own a business where I traveled to SE Asia frequently - I found the corruption there rather humorous, it was just so out in the open. Now I wonder - has the corruption in our government gotten worse since then or is it that my eyes have been opened? It seems like it is so much more blatant these days - there used to be at least a pretense of pretending that things were different here. Not so much anymore.

[tex-wyo-dem]

81. There was certainly a pretense...

But from the 30s to somewhere until the 70s - early 80s, the government for the most part worked for the betterment of the little guy. There was still corruption and cronyism, but it was, IMO, a lot less prevalent. Today government resembles more a puppet of the wealthy class with a thin veneer of still working for the rest of us. They have multiple media sources now (something they didn't have in the past) to push the propaganda of whatever message they want to push, because the media is owned by the very same people that are corrupting government to begin with. This was/is part of the grand plan...propagandize the populace to a point that they think this is just the way things are.

The American middle-class is what made the U.S. The economic power that it is. The middle-class that was grown from progressive government policies post-WWII. It is this very middle-class that the RW looks down upon for some reason...and is currently working to destroy.

You don't have to go too far to see countries that basically have no middle-class. South/Central America is an example: Although they've made major strides in the last decade, most countries in this region are a stark example of what happens when a government is corrupt and embraces unregulated, hyper-capitalism coupled with fake democracies. 1-5% of the population is extremely wealthy, the rest absolutely dirt poor...and I mean really poor...the middle-class is basically nonexistent.

This, with what the RW is pushing us toward, is where the U.S. Is headed.

There is one thing that will turn this around...#OWS.

[ProSense]

2. It's amazing

how many iterations of this criticism there are. I see people using comments made before the Senate changes. A lot of the opposition was to the House version. The fact that, per the Merkley amendment, investors with incomes or net worth less than $100,000 are limited to 5 percent of their income and must be provided information helps. Senator Reeds amendment would have added more protection, but it was filibusted by Republicans.

The House passed the bill with a few progressive votes, including:

DeFazio
Ellison
Frank
Waters

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll132.xml

Whose side are they on?

Still, given that there is a massive package of regulation (which gets little attention from the critics of the OP bill) still being implemented, I doubt it will have the devastating impact being predicted.

Banks’ preemptive strike against Dodd-Frank

By Suzy Khimm

When Deutsche Bank reorganized its U.S. operations this week in response to new banking rules, it was the latest manifestation of what both supporters and opponents of the Dodd-Frank regulatory overhaul predicted would happen: The law has pushed big banks to reorganize — to comply with the new rules on Wall Street, as well as to avoid their impact...Deutsche Bank and London-based Barclays have moved their commercial banks from their U.S. subsidiaries into their global firms to avoid new, more stringent capital requirements — even though they don’t go into effect until July 2015.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean that Dodd-Frank has fallen short of what its authors intended. By giving up its status as a U.S. bank holding company, Deutsche Bank is forfeiting its access to the Federal Reserve’s emergency lending window. Doing so effectively cuts itself out of any future government-backed bailout in the event of a crisis. One of the overarching goals of Dodd-Frank was limiting taxpayer exposure to bailing out big firms.

“They’re saying, ‘If this is the price we have to pay, we’re going to shed that protection — we’re not too big to fail,’ ” said University of Maryland law professor Michael Greenberger, a former regulator at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Deutsche Bank was the Fed’s second-largest discount-window borrower during the 2008-2009 crisis.

<...>

The Volcker Rule, which is scheduled to take effect in July, also prohibits banks from providing more than 3 percent of capital in private-equity or hedge funds, prompting banks to spin off those operations as well. Other Dodd-Frank rules recently prompted insurance giant MetLife to sell its FDIC-insured banking unit, which would have subjected the firm to greater regulation and scrutiny by the Federal Reserve.

- more -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/banks-preemptive-strike-against-dodd-frank/2012/03/23/gIQATnUmWS_story.html

[AtomicKitten]

4. My rep, Nancy Pelosi, voted for it too. nt

[paulk]

6. after criticizing it

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi ridiculed the bill during a briefing prior to a House vote last month. "It's so meager," Pelosi said. "Trumpet -- tun ta ta ta -- here comes the little king!"


she's a good soldier

[AtomicKitten]

11. She thinks it's innocuous unlike the hair-on-fire folks

... who breathlessly post here as a 'good soldier' trying to stir up shit.

[paulk]

25. you always need to make it personal, don't you?

that says a lot.

[stevenleser]

54. Bad Logic makes her upset. That is what it says. nt

[paulk]

55. makes Nancy upset?

[paulk]

5. the important point is not the bill necessarily

which is a pile of crap no matter how you polish it

it's this -

"Of the two slots Obama awarded to labor unions on the 27-seat council, one was filled by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. The 19 corporate executives included the heads of GE, Intel, Citigroup, Xerox, Boeing and American Express. Investment managers, lawyers and academics make up the remainder."

the administration's loyalties are clear

and why not? unions don't have the power or money that they used to. the bus is now being driven by the corporations and banks. time to hop on board or get run over.

[ProSense]

8. Really?

the important point is not the bill necessarily

which is a pile of crap no matter how you polish it

it's this -

"Of the two slots Obama awarded to labor unions on the 27-seat council, one was filled by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. The 19 corporate executives included the heads of GE, Intel, Citigroup, Xerox, Boeing and American Express. Investment managers, lawyers and academics make up the remainder."

the administration's loyalties are clear

and why not? unions don't have the power or money that they used to. the bus is now being driven by the corporations and banks. time to hop on board or get run over.

The unions are clear about which side the President is on.

AFL-CIO 'enthusiastically' endorses Obama for reelection
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101474380

[ProSense]

10. More

Steelworkers Endorse Barack Obama for Re-election as President
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002392799

Unions that have endorsed President Obama for re-election
http://www.democraticunderground.com/100233214

[paulk]

12. like I point out in the OP

it's not like they have a choice.

half a glass is better than none, or in Obama's
case when it comes to supporting unions, 2/27's of a glass

[ProSense]

14. Oh please

"it's not like they have a choice. "

That's just utter nonsense. The unions made it known they were prepared to sit it out and withhold endorsements. They chose to endorse the President for re-election.

Stop projecting your dissatisfaction onto the unions. They obviously don't share it.

[paulk]

18. Oh please

"The unions made it known they were prepared to sit it out and withhold endorsements. They chose to endorse the President for re-election."

am I supposed to take this seriously? only in an alternate reality would the unions do that, despite what little pressure they may try to exert on our pro business President.

stop projecting your adoration of the Obama onto every policy decision he makes.

[ProSense]

20. Wow

am I supposed to take this seriously? only in an alternate reality would the unions do that, despite what little pressure they may try to exert on our pro business President.

So you think the unions are full of shit?

[ProSense]

22. Oh, and

who he appoints to a jobs council, which most people thing is irrelevant, is not as important to unions as who he appoints to the NLRB: http://www.nlrb.gov/who-we-are/board

See, this President is responsible for revitalizing the NLRB.

[JNelson6563]

64. lolz Yeah, unions are just powerless powder puffs!

Gawd knows they just have two choices, strongly support the R or the D, right? Cause in a black and white world, that's how it works!1!

I gather you aren't in Michigan and if you are you are not active in real world politics. You want to know how unions operate in the political theater, as it were? It's apparent you don't, I wonder if you want to, it might shake your established view.

The unions are made up of some of the smartest, politically sophisticated people out there. They operate in many ways and some are more subtle than others. They have varying degrees of support up to and including sitting on their hands and letting an election pass. Have seen that more than once.

So, just for shits and giggles, who ya votin' for?

Julie

[progressoid]

28. This has nothing to do with Obama's re-election. The post is about this piece-of-shit bill

But the AFL-CIO felt that the process had been rigged against them. Reid, who pushed for passage on behalf of the White House, agreed to a 60-vote threshold to pass amendments, rather than a simple 51-vote majority. Nevertheless, with the gloss of investor protection applied, the bill passed the Senate by an overwhelming, bipartisan majority on March 22.

For consumer groups, the amendment was like putting lipstick on a pig.

"It is almost unbelievable that the Senate would rush passage of measures that will undermine transparency and accountability in the capital markets, and expose our families to a new round of fraud and abuse," said Lisa Donner, executive director of Americans for Financial Reform, a coalition of consumer groups and Wall Street watchdogs that organized in the wake of the financial crisis. "But that is what they have done."

Labor was furious.

"We are disappointed -- and angry -- that despite warnings from current and former financial markets regulators, law professors, institutional investors and consumer advocates, 73 senators voted for the cynically named 'JOBS Act,'" Trumka said.

"This is a vote against investors in the real economy and for Wall Street speculators. When the next bubble bursts, Americans will know who to blame."

But, of course, you knew that. It is much easier to redirect than address the issue at hand.

[bread_and_roses]

65. Our leaders can be as politic as anyone else

They have made a political calculation - period. If you take their words at face value, there's this nice bridge in Brooklyn ...

Richard Trumka is not stupid. Leo Gerard is not stupid. I may disagree with the political calculation they have made, but they are not stupid. They also, I am quite sure, know they have to somehow whip up a disenchanted membership, and so must present a strong front. I don't agree that slow boiling is better than a quick knife to the heart, but that's the calculation they've made.

I doubt that anyone outside the Labor movement has any idea of the extraordinary efforts it took to get the 2008 results below (I just took the first links I found with the info, but the numbers sound like those I recall we were given after the election, so I think they are fairly accurate):

Election results by group
Obama/McCain

http://www.gallup.com/poll/112132/election-polls-vote-groups-2008.aspx

Union families 64/36

http://www.edwize.org/poll-shows-key-role-of-union-vote-in-election

Obama won among white men who are union members by 18 points, while losing that group by 16 points in the general public.

Obama won among union gun owners by a 12-point margin, while losing that group in the general public by 25 points.

Union veterans voted for Obama by a 25-point margin. He lost among that group in the general public by nine points.

... This year’s campaign was the largest, broadest and most targeted effort in AFL-CIO history

... In all, the AFL-CIO’s program reached out to more than 13 million union voters in 24 battleground states.

I doubt Obama wins without those numbers. We achieved that by an extraordinary effort to penetrate the racism, the Reagan-democrat-ism, the social conservatism that have about the same prevalence among union members as among the general public.

The mistake our leaders made was ever trumpeting that they would "hold politicians accountable" without including an "except."

I expect the effort to be even greater this year, given that our leadership is going to have far less to work with than the hope that was generated in '08. But no one does turn-out better - the AFL-CIO will squeeze every vote that can be squeezed out of the membership. "Hope" probably won't play well this cycle, so they'll go with fear. The Democrats better hope that Romney keeps giving Labor fodder for the fear grist - if he starts to sound "moderate" it will all be a lot harder than it already will be.

[marshall gaines]

38. priorities

since when,in america, has business, America Inc,the corporation, of which the president is CEO, not been the priority over all citizen needs? Money, the worshipped god of america first, people second.

[zipplewrath]

15. So are you saying?

I see people using comments made before the Senate changes. A lot of the opposition was to the House version.

So are you suggesting that Labors objections to this bill were sufficiently addressed in the Senate changes such that they wouldn't have boycotted the January presentation?

[bart95]

3. pre-reagan?

i'd debate you on that one

i dont recall nixon or ford (or carter) supporting replacement of American workers via a program like H-1b visa

[Dragonfli]

19. I agree, I have them pegged as early to mid nineties Republican-like

They even took the GOP 93 health care plan and made it their own. http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2010/February/23/GOP-1993-health-reform-bill.aspx

They also appear to have a very, very big crush on the Chamber of Commerce, following most of their proposals for job growth across a couple pieces of legislation.

http://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/110905_jobs_letter.pdf

[RC]

66. I was thinking the same thing. It was during the Reagan Administration and his Voodoo economics

that things really began to change. And the Republicans, and now the Democratic party, are still trying to sell it.

[Swede]

7. I'd have to ask the same of you paulk.

An election is coming,and soon. One that the Republicans are pulling out all their tricks to try and win.

[Autumn]

9. Seems to me he is on Labors side, where Obama should be.

Maybe Obama should pull out some tricks and make it easier for the people who support him to win.

[paulk]

13. what "Autumn" said

or is there some loyalty oath you'd like me to sign?

[Tarheel_Dem]

26. Shhhhh! That wasn't supposed to be common knowledge.

[msanthrope]

33. If there's proof, we should post it. nt

[paulk]

34. if it's "common knowledge" then I suggest you provide proof

[Autumn]

45. They won't offer proof, just like the republicans they

toss it out there cause they know it will stick. Republican dirty tricks suck and Democrats don't use them.


I remember what they call it, swiftboating.

[paulk]

52. I could say that I'm surprised at the depths some of these people will go

in denigrating those they don't agree with

but I'm not.

what surprises me is that other DUers would find slander acceptable ...

tarheel's post was alerted on and let stand by a vote of 5 - 1

I wonder what the comments were

[Ikonoklast]

23. MY Union decided a long time ago to support this president in his bid for another term.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2011

CONTACT: [e-mail]


UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION ENDORSES OBAMA 2012

(Washington, D.C.) - The following is a statement issued by United Food and Commercial Workers International Union President Joseph T. Hansen:

"The 1.3 million members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) are ready to fight for the future of our country and to stand with leaders who will stand up for working families. President Barack Obama is that leader.

"I am proud to announce that the UFCW is endorsing President Obama’s reelection campaign because our members understand how much is at stake in this election. President Obama has stood up for the jobless, the uninsured, the middle class taxpayer, Medicare recipients, working women, and accountability from Wall Street. UFCW members are ready to mobilize for the president and to elect more leaders who will stand with him in Congress and statehouses across the country.

"Cashiers and grocery workers are ready to stand up to elect leaders who will ensure good jobs stay in their communities and that their children can achieve their dream for a better life. Meatpackers and food processors are ready to stand up to elect leaders who will keep fighting to hold Wall Street gamblers accountable to the home owners and retirees who have invested in their future and deserve security and honesty from financial institutions.

"Working families are struggling during this recession - a recession created by Bush-era tax breaks, lack of financial regulation and unnecessary military escalation. Turning our economy around is going to take a tremendous effort - an effort that must be led by a president who speaks for the 99 percent of Americans who clock into work every morning, instead of those who simply watch stock tickers all day.

"UFCW members are energized because corporate-backed politicians at the federal and state level have launched an all-out assault on working people. President Obama is fighting back.

"UFCW members have never stopped fighting back in statehouses and in their communities. They are ready to win the fight for the White House in 2012. The UFCW will be mobilizing, organizing and energizing our members, their friends and families to keep President Obama in the White House and to elect a Congress that works hard for hard working Americans. Ours is an enthusiastic choice to stand with President Obama as he fights against political opposition that seeks to enrich a select few at the expense of millions of regular Americans."

###
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) represents more than 1.3 million workers, primarily in the retail and meatpacking, food processing and poultry industries. The UFCW protects the rights of workers and strengthens America’s middle class by fighting for health care reform, living wages, retirement security, safe working conditions and the right to unionize so that working men and women and their families can realize the American Dream. For more information about the UFCW’s effort to protect workers’ rights and strengthen America’s middle class, visit www.ufcw.org, or join our online community at www.facebook.com/UFCWinternational and www.twitter.com/ufcw.

What has YOUR union done?

I love how many here who aren't now, or never have been Union members feel the need to speak out for us.

[paulk]

27. I belonged to a union for 20 years

this one

http://www.bmwe.org/index.shtm


which is why I get upset at the Obama administration's lack of support for unions

[progressoid]

31. And there is the irony.

If more shitty bills like this keep getting signed, there will be less union members to support Democrats.

Oh well.

[limpyhobbler]

63. Wow that is ironic...for a political party to repeatedly undermine their own base of support.

Actually it's such a stupid move that it seems like no political party that was actually trying to win would ever do that.

[bart95]

16. 'no criticize party'

if you're saying more than that, fill us in

[frylock]

35. it would be nice if someone could provide a timeframe where it would be acceptable..

to level LEGIT criticism of the president's policy. i'm thinking it's about a 30-second window sometime in december of this year.

[Dragonfli]

61. Hey pal, that thirty seconds of meany mean bashing could suppress a vote somewhere.

DONT YOU DARE!!!

[SidDithers]

72. +1...nt

Sid

[KamaAina]

21. You don't have to ask yourself which side Rmoney is on.

It's pretty much $$$elf-evident.

I don't like "lesser of two evils", either, but that's the way the system is set up.

[TahitiNut]

73. I'm inclined to vote for the person most likely to listen to valid criticism from the "left" ...

... and possibly act in a positive manner in response. What seems totally antithetical to that criterion is to withhold that criticism. Thus, the social 'gag rule' makes no sense to me whatsoever.

[WillyT]

24. Yep... Once Again The White House Screwed The Pooch...

Even small business advocates and many venture capitalists were alarmed when Majority Leader Cantor and the House GOP began pushing a version of the JOBS Act that would have permitted unlimited investment in companies without any federal oversight, provided the transactions were conducted online.

"We think that the House version has gone overboard," said Frank Knapp, president and CEO of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce, speaking the day after the House bill passed. "The same greed and fraud that gave us the Great Recession is going to come to Main Street if the House version of crowdfunding goes through."

Privately, Obama administration officials say that the unlimited investment provision would have broken their support for the bill. But publicly, the White House communicated a strong message of support, prompting a quick vote in the House. The Obama administration's statement blindsided unions and business groups who were critical of its provisions and created uproar in the Senate.

An aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations, told HuffPost his boss called the White House to complain, saying the aggressive White House support had hampered Reid's ability to improve the bill, putting him in a bind with Democrats who didn't like the legislation and forcing him to choose between his loyalty to Obama and the commitments he had already made to interest groups. The administration's statement almost blew up the bill.

Trumka personally called senators to blast the bill, bypassing the standard lobbying channels to emphasize the intensity of his objections. "We'd believed it would slow down in the Senate," senior AFL-CIO lobbyist Bill Samuel told HuffPost. "That plan changed almost overnight because the White House endorsed it and the House held this big vote."

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/05/obama-jobs-act-labor_n_1404401.html?ref=politics

[LetTimmySmoke]

29. The side with the biggest donors.

[harun]

40. +1

[SammyWinstonJack]

67. Yup.

[emulatorloo]

74. True! The proof is the billions Koch Bros and Karl Rove are spending to promote Obama

and Democrats with their unfair ads about Republicans and Romney.

[paulk]

77. but when it comes to corporations vs unions

it's pretty clear that the DNC calculation falls on the side of the corporations.

They know that the unions will take whatever they can get from the Democrats because they won't get anything from Koch, Rove, Romney, et al...

That said, I would like Obama to throw more than a few crumbs (two seats out of 27?) to organized labor. Actions always speak louder than rhetoric, and Obama's actions have not been pro union by any stretch.

[pasto76]

30. "new" democratic party? how about the democratic party NOT run by liberals

hard for a union to create a job, especially since we (union labor) are typically NOT the business owners.


with a national average of 15% of the market share, across all trades and across the country, we hardly fit the republican portrayal of some kind of national powerhouse.


But it sounds like you arent even in this fight. If you REALLY look into President Obama's administration, he has done quite a bit to help the lowly working man, even if he isnt union. Appointing a Sec of Labor who actually gives a damn about us and is enforcing the -minimum- OSHA regulations is still currying my favor.

And as a nation, we still buy 85% more non union made, non american made products. You really want to support us? stop buying that crap. Today. Grandfather what you have in, and buy AMERICAN first; UNION MADE would be really good. Thanks

Ironworkers #24

[freshwest]

32. OMG! 19 corporations on the board! How come the board isn't made up completely of unions?

Except that unions have to make their bargains with corporations and not each other, or their members. In other words, this is a dance with the devil, just like in the rest of world outside D. C..

If my union had a way of employing all of us without negotiating with management to get me higher wages, more benefits and everything else on my laundry list, I'd be rich and famous right now.

I am among the most anti-corporate posters on this site. The world I want would be full of community owned cooperatives. Some people are doing it on the local level now, or they are helping workers to buy back manufacturing facilities. That way they can ensure the community makes decisions about what is the most important to them. It's a way of not allowing a group of sociopaths to steal their living out from under them from afar.

Until we get that way nationally, we'll have to keep on dancing with the devil. Spitting in the face of these people is non-productive in negotiations, just like this. We have to save that until we're free of their grasp, if it seems important enough.

Obama is simply dealing with what is in our face now, and not what he may be angling for in the future. And I don't care for people bashing Pelosi either. She's the favorite whipping post of the right wing boards.

The hatred for her is due to her not impeaching Bush, but there weren't enough votes. Instead, the Democrats pursued things that were badly needed. The Tea Party was created to stop the daily investigations and putting on the record the crimes of the Bush Administration.

You can make a great media scoop with impeachment, or lay the groundwork for stopping what a generation of Republican abuse in this country has done to us. What Bush, Inc. did were war crimes according to the standards. The desire to punish when the Democrats held majority was heartfelt but not fully thought out. It requires an occupation overthrowing a government by a foreign army to try a president for war crimes.

I was so agonized by what was going on in the Bush years, I wanted anything to end the war. All we could do was to oust his group, but they kept on coming. They always do, they have the money and took over the House in 2010.

This isn't over by a long shot, let's stop shooting each other, is all I'd like to say. n/t

[progressoid]

36. "We are disappointed -- and angry"

Understatement of the year.

[mother earth]

37. Our party needs a progressive ass-kicking. I am sick to death of centrist & "bipartisan" BS.

This current "jobs" act is just another round for deregulation, aimed once again at Wall St., and will have little to do with how Main St. fares or jobs. It's another round of legal pillaging.

President Obama, if you want to help Main St., strengthen our unions.
Strong labor unions are the best protection for true job growth and saving that middle class that is slowly dwindling away before our eyes.

We see this for what it is, yet another 1% enabled measure.

Walk your talk, Mr. President.
We are tired of words, we need action, PROGESSIVE action.
Strengthen our labor unions, please.

End bipartisanship for 1%er protectionism. We "see" this for what it is.

[anti-alec]

41. +1.

Ever since Citizens United has been affirmed by the Supreme Morons, why hasn't the corporations placed under arrest for continued criminal enterprise and RICO statutes?

[mother earth]

43. They are certainly guilty...love your moniker. :)

[chervilant]

42. How strange...

I must have most of the Obama apologists/sycophants on my list, because I don't (can't?) see them rebutting your OP...

I wonder, are we EVER going to progress to the point where we fight the vile corporate megalomaniacs instead of each other? The corporate megalomaniacs have usurped our media, our politics, AND our global economy. If we don't find a way to stop them, we will likely continue to bicker--and snarf their partisan red herrings--while they continue to amass wealth and power.

As denizens of 'Richistan,' the corporate megs don't have to worry about no income, homelessness, and probable starvation. Perhaps they see the current global economic catastrophe as a 'shock doctrine' means of population control...

[Douglas Carpenter]

44. that's the choice - the Democratic Party has moved way to the right and the Republican party has

moved into the insane asylum.


"The Republican Party fears its base. The Democratic Party loathes its base." - David Frum

[woo me with science]

48. And that is very useful, indeed, for those who own both of them.

It is so easy to get people to vote for right-wing, neocon, and corporate policies when the other candidate is even more extreme.

[Douglas Carpenter]

56. yeah that's true. But what the hell else do we do?

Obviously it is not a choice anymore between liberals and progressives versus conservatives. It hard to view the political divide that way anymore. Even the Most honorable and Venerated Professor, Noam Chomsky said of Obama. He's not a progressive but at least he is somewhat grounded in the real world. So we have choice between corporate/military industrialist Democrats who are at least somewhat grounded in the real world and flat out insanity. When it is possible during the primaries I vote my conscience. But in the general election I will support the one who is at least somewhat grounded in the real world who is also significantly less likely to blow up the world. The last time I voted my conscience in a general election, Ronald Reagan ended up as President. Then twenty years later we faced an election in which I just didn't care that much and George W. Bush ended up as President. Twice bitten has made me awfully shy. I'm not inclined to make that tactical mistake again - ever.

[woo me with science]

60. Occupy,

before the price of occupying extends even beyond the potential strip searches that the Obama DOJ has just helped to make possible.

[paulk]

78. the problem with the Democratic Party

is that it doesn't really stand for anything. It has no principles that can't be compromised away.

the strength of conservatism is that it has a belief system (insane as it is) that doesn't change and is carved in bedrock for it's believers.

[Douglas Carpenter]

79. I agree - the GOP has become the part of an inceasingly narrowly defined belief system and the

Democratic Party is everybody else except them

[jtuck004]

46. Again? n/t

[woo me with science]

49. This is the new politics, and it really is brilliant.

The corporate elite have figured out how to win.

It's brilliant, really, and the people haven't caught on yet.

Most people consider themselves savvy about corruption in politics. What we mostly haven't figured out, though, is how to see past the partisan blinders to acknowledge that it is coming from both sides.

As long as people are so blindly partisan that they will defend, excuse, ignore, or even cheer on corporate, right-wing, fascist, neocon, or authoritarian policies just because they come from our own party, we will NEVER have a unified opposition to oppression.

The corporate types in both parties have figured this out. They are using it with gusto now. We will see how long it takes the people to figure it out.



Obama DOJ urged Supreme Court's ruling on strip searches
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002521527

[xiamiam]

57. I think only die hard democrats refuse to get it..everyone else gets it but doesn't know what to do

well, at least those people who recognize the mainstream media for the propaganda tools they have become. and refuse to believe that we really only have one party..and some are more extreme and crazy...i think this summer is going to be fresh with new ideas as to how we proceed to restore democracy and our constitution which has been brutally savaged in the past year..i have faith and i also know it is our last chance. expect a miracle because we deserve one..all of us who have been kicked around the block a dozen or so times and see more of that for our fellow citizens who dont have a clue. Expect a miracle which I feel is being inspired in meetings and dreams by the young millenials who still dream and have allegiance to ideals rather than party. They will show us the way. I can't believe I'm saying this..but that is what I think.

[Poll_Blind]

58. It's an airtight racket. nt

PB

[xchrom]

50. Du rec. Nt

[KG]

51. not on the side of labor.

he seems to believe what's good for business is good for labor, or something...

[Egalitarian Thug]

53. I haven't asked that question since the transition team was announced.

OTOH, this one-sided governance is forming an opportunity. Certainly not this year, but it is happening.

[ThomThom]

59. They'll end up supporting the Dem ticket this November because there is no where else to turn.

as will the republican'ts support rMoney no matter what he says.

[Doctor_J]

68. Like most of us

heartbreaking. I am trying to expatriate

[Doctor_J]

69. He sold us out on health care, war crimes, torture,

Don Siegelman, voting rights, and a number of other lesser issues. Unfortunately

1. The alternative is worse - way worse
2. Many self-identifying Dems also hate unions


So this is a safe right-wing position for the president to embrace.

[woo me with science]

70. Kick

[Better Believe It]

71. K & R

[Hotler]

80. Now is not the time to point fingers. Stop picking on this president.

Did I really need this????

[upi402]

82. around here

ya never know. many would seriously say that. reminds me of the bush dittoheads that insisted nobody criticize their moran pretzeldent.