Only Three Presidents Have Not Raised The Federal Minimum Wage

[WillTwain]

Last edited Wed Dec 24, 2014, 06:59 PM - Edit history (1)

Since the minimum wage was enacted in 1938, only three presidents have not raised the minimum wage. The minimum wage began at 25 cents an hour and the subsequent 22 increases now leave it at $7.25 an hour.

The first president to not raise the minimum wage was Gerald Ford. Of course, Ford was in office for only two years. He became president after Nixon was booted. The Nixon/Ford era actually had two increases in the minimum wage. So, he technically did not raise the wage but for practical purposes he did.

The second president to pass on raising the minimum wage was Ronald Reagan. Dutch can be considered the godfather of the modern conservative movement we have suffered through. The man looked up to Ayn Rand. It is no surprise he ignored helping the poor.

The third, and the only Democrat in the nearly 80 year history of the federal minimum wage, is Barack Obama. Granted, President Obama has two more years but there is little chance an increase will happen given the republicans control the house and senate. He has faced immense obstruction but did have strong control of the house and senate for two years.

It the POTUS does not get the minimum wage increased, it can be argued that Ronald (Trickle-Down) Reagan is the only president other than President Obama to have not won an increase for the poor.

[Capt. Obvious]

1. Oh but President Romney would have?

Just wanted to be the first one in.

[WillTwain]

2. Absolutely not

But you bring up an interesting comparison.

[SomethingFishy]

13. Go easy on him Cap.. He's new. LOL...

[WillTwain]

15. I got drilled yesterday

You saw the future. I am the new ODS guy. I am trying to open up the discussion a bit but what a tough crowd. Just The Facts.

[SomethingFishy]

20. The good news is you are in a club with some great people...

I always find it funny that whenever I complain about some policy or another I'm lumped in with Rush Limbaugh.

Also find it amusing that these very same people bitch and moan about how if you don't vote you have no right to speak out. I assumed that meant that when I worked for Obama, donated to his campaign and voted for him twice I was to be given a little leeway to speak out when he did something I don't like. Boy did I have that one wrong. It's more like give us your time, money and your vote, then go home and STFU.

[WillTwain]

33. Ditto head, sorry drop the head, just ditto

Like you, I campaigned for Barack, sent him lots of money, door-knocked, telephone-banked and had an Obama sticker on my car for six years. This last act brought me countless middle-fingers and rejection from many neighbors in my suburban neighborhood.

I put my ass out there for him and got spanked for it. I wish I could say the same for him.

[1StrongBlackMan]

65. Sure you did ...

But, reading your posts, I'm pretty sure you are here for the pure masturbatory thrill of stirring sh!t.

[WillTwain]

89. Why do you say that I am lying. You have no idea of my support for the POTUS.

Sure you did...

Maybe you meant "I believe you" but I took you wrong.


Like you, I campaigned for Barack, sent him lots of money, door-knocked, telephone-banked and had an Obama sticker on my car for six years. This last act brought me countless middle-fingers and rejection from many neighbors in my suburban neighborhood.

I put my ass out there for him and got spanked for it. I wish I could say the same for him.

[1StrongBlackMan]

96. No, you understood me correctly ...

Based on what you've posted, I do not believe you campaigned for President Obama, sent him lots of money, door-knocked, telephone-banked or, even, had an Obama sticker on my car for six years (unless it was on the used cars you purchased).

[hopemountain]

134. and you still have your ass... nt

[WillTwain]

136. So does he

and many more on Wall Street.

[840high]

147. We'll never know.

[NewDeal_Dem]

3. It's overdue. $7.25 today bought $2.50 in 1980, when minimum was 3.10.

That a democratic president presides over this is appalling, especially one who ran on hope and change.

A $10 minimum would = $3.50 in 1980. No state has one. Mine (at 9.32, soon to become 9.47) is closest.

[WillTwain]

4. He will be the first Dem in history

Some economists argue the minimum wage should be over $21 hour, if it were tied to productivity.

[Ykcutnek]

7. He didn't appoint a Congress against minimum wage...

The people did.

The people who voted in this crop of imbeciles are appalling, not the man who has been calling for increases to the minimum wage for years.

[WillTwain]

9. It would seem that a persuasive leader

that had commanding majorities could have worked hard for such a basic piece of legislation. Again, the first dem to not increase the MW.

[BlueCaliDem]

132. He's not a dictator. When will you anti-Obamanites get that through your heads??

Fact of the matter is, this president has done everything he could to push for a minimum wage raise, but idiots in this country either didn't vote for more Democrats (because they're not liberal enough - as if the alternatives were. Jesus.) or they sat their behinds home wailing and whining.

Either way, in order to raise the minimum wage, a law has to pass through both chambers of Congress. With racist Americans openly practicing their racism shamelessly and threatening their Whtie elitist Republican politician that they better NOT help this president in anything, what chances would this BLACK president have trying to "persuade" these White elitists who were elected by White supremacists to pass a minimum wage raise?

I'm getting so sick and tired of some on this board - with pathetically low post count to boot - coming here to slam this Black president over and over again for things that they should be going after Congress and the Republicans for. Either they're as stupid politically as they appear or they're here with an agenda. IMO, it's a 50/50 toss up - or even both.

[WillTwain]

135. Except he got 60 votes for the ACA didn't he, why not the Min Wage?

Regarding the post count. This is dangerous territory. Many are playing it safe.

[BlueCaliDem]

144. Ask the Republicans why. But you won't do that, will you?

Of course not. Predictable.

[WillTwain]

12. Great Statistics

The minimum wage was an insult in 2008 and should have been high on the new president's agenda.

[Recursion]

25. It was near the top of his list, and it passed the House twice

And, incidentally, the last time it went up was July 2009. Guess who was President then?

[WillTwain]

30. Obama had not even declared his candidacy for office when that was passed

That is a reach. That raise was signed in 2007. Guess who was in office then?

[LWolf]

67. That's the problem

with taking "hope" and "change" on trust because of inspiring speeches, instead of demanding specifically: Hope for whom? Change in what direction?

[WillTwain]

99. Beautifully worded

[NewDeal_Dem]

141. Yes.

[Ykcutnek]

5. Presidents don't raise the minimum wage.

Only Congress can do that.

[Bobbie Jo]

54. Well, there's that.

Basic civics.

[SidDithers]

59. Facts don't matter to the perpetually outraged...nt

Sid

[Number23]

126. He's new, Sid. He'll catch on soon enough

Especially with such numerous and WILLING sponsors.

[joeglow3]

127. So the president did nothing to help healthcare pass?

[olddots]

6. Reagan brought an end to the maximum wage

Obama is in no position to raise the minimum wage untill the maximum wage gets dealth with .

Hopefully I'm wrong as ussual .

[WillTwain]

8. The history speaks for itself

It is an extreme example to not raise the minimum wage. All other democratic presidents pushed for and won increases. Reagan did not push for a raise and did not get one. The POTUS directs policy and usually has success with policy like minimum wage increases - particularly if you control the house and senate.

[hughee99]

19. I'm not familiar with Reagan ending the "maximum wage"

could you please tell me more about that? Google wasn't helpful.

[nomorenomore08]

137. Dramatically cutting tax rates for the highest bracket. I assume that's what the poster meant. n/t

[NYC Liberal]

10. Presidents don't raise the minimum wage. Congress does.

Has Congress sent PBO a bill raising the minimum wage that he refused to sign? No? Then it's not Obama who "hasn't raised the minimum wage."

[WillTwain]

11. Presidents do influence congress

The most recent example would be the Cromnibus bill. It appeared destined to fail before the president and JPMorgan CEO whipped the floor to get a narrow passage. The Cromnibus bill loosens Wall Street regulation and raids retiree pensions.

So, you are correct, but presidents do have power, particularly when you have 59 senators and opinion polls in your corner.

[AndyTiedye]

56. 59 is Not Enough

Obama did try to raise the minimum wage, but his efforts fell to the inevitable Republican filibuster.
We did not have enough votes to break the filibuster.

[LWolf]

68. Oh, come on.

If it didn't happen, it's always someone else's fault.

If it does happen, he did it all by himself, a misunderstood martyr who never gets credit for his goodness.

Get with the program.

Just in case, of course:

[LiberalFighter]

78. There are 535+ votes a President has to deal with.

You have to be blind to think the President can do it all by himself. There are a lot of other players in the game. And if you were to say that he had the power when Democrats had power of both chambers you would be wrong. You should check out the ideology score over at govtrack. Democrats are not clustered in one general pattern.

[WillTwain]

79. Then we may as well give up. We will never have 60 "progressive" senators.

[LiberalFighter]

85. That appears to be your attitude.

And your refusal to understand how to get legislation passed.

That is also bull to suggest that we can never have 60 progressive senators. Or are absolutely necessary. Part of the problem the first few years of Obama's first term were the BlueDogs. Most of them are gone. Another problem is that too many damn people believe that candidates running as Democrats need to campaign as Republicans. Why would anyone vote for a candidate that is willing to behave differently depending on who is the audience?

[WillTwain]

93. i just do not see 65 "progressive" senators in our future any time soon.

I say 65 because surely five or so will be peeled off bringing us down to around 60.

I am as frustrated as you are with bluedogs, but getting over 60 senators is a tall order.

[Reter]

143. There will never be more than 45 progressives

For the party as a whole, 57 is about the maximum. The country is too divided for either party to have 65 again. For the record, no Republican or Democrat will ever win more than 45 states ever again. Maybe 40.

[Reter]

142. There most certainly will never be 60 progressive Senators

Even getting 60 members of one party ever again (Democrat or Republican) appears to be a stretch, let alone 60 Warrens/Sanders. The best either party can do is a peak of about 57. Yes, we had 70+ Senators in the past, but those days are forever gone. Sorry, but being realistic is best here.

[jeff47]

14. No, zero presidents have raised the minimum wage.

Several have signed laws that do so.

We don't gain anything by pretending Presidents are dictators or neo-dictators. All that does is reinforce the "only pay attention to presidential elections" crap that has hamstrung our party for decades.

[WillTwain]

16. Please read the whole thread

I have already addressed this argument

[jeff47]

17. No, you haven't.

You addressed the first sentence. If you're going to demand others read, you should do so yourself.

Your argument is a terrible thing for the party. It reinforces the idea that only presidential elections matter. Your argument is why we don't have good options for 2016.

Stop pretending the president is a neo-dictator. If we want to actually get stuff done, we need more than the presidency. We need Congress. And we won't get there by pretending that the presidency has more power than it actually does.

ETA: Additionally, all the down-ticket races form the pool of presidential candidates. By ignoring those races, we get a lousy pool to choose from.

[WillTwain]

40. "Stop pretending the president is a neo-dictator." What are you talking about?

I am arguing that he is anything but a dictator, but some have wielded great power.

[jeff47]

114. You are arguing that the president gets a minimum wage increase whenever they want.

Thus you are arguing that the president has near-dictatorial powers.

In reality, Congress has to do it. A president can shift a few votes, but can't make Congress do something most of Congress does not want to do.

Aside from the problem of blaming Obama for teabaggers refusing to consider a minimum wage increase, you're also making it harder to change that. You are downplaying the power of Congress, making midterms all the less important. "Might as well just ignore them and only vote in presidential elections, since the president can get whatever they want from Congress."

That makes it harder for us to actually get anything changed. It also makes it harder to elect liberals to Congress and lots of governorships, because people aren't bothering to vote in midterms.

But you do get to pretend to be morally superior.

[WillTwain]

117. I have no idea what you are talking about.

I am saying every democratic president and nearly every republican president have signed legislation to pass the minimum wage. This is pretty much a slam dunk, if the president pushes for it. Reagan and Obama, so far, did not get it passed. Others in this thread find it unbelievable,too.

[jeff47]

119. That's because you're too busy with the hatred to read.

It's really not that hard to understand. Your inability to do so is quite telling.

[joeglow3]

129. We had the presidency and large majorities in both houses

Would have been easy to pass it then AND index it to inflation. Any guess on why that didn't happen? I'll tell you: they have no desire index it because their wedge issue would go away. They want the issue to come up again and again so they can remind us how they support us and why we should continue to hand them the money and power that comes with their position.

[jeff47]

131. It's amazing how many people can't count to 60.

You wouldn't think it was difficult to count to 60, but over and over again we get people who just can't do it. They get to 51 and think they've reached 60.

To pass a minimum wage increase after 2011, you need to get the Republicans to change the rules of the House. Since I'll grow a third arm before that happens, we'll concentrate on 2009 to 2010.

To pass a minimum wage increase between 2009 and 2010, you needed to turn about 6 blue dogs in the Senate. When the 2009 change was either pending, or brand new. In a bad economy, when those blue dogs are going to be clinging to supply-side economics.

[WillTwain]

140. They passed the ACA with 60 votes.

[jeff47]

156. And do you know what they did to do so?

What did they give Ben Nelson? And Lieberman?

Do you know how many bills actually form the ACA? Hint: It isn't one.

[joeglow3]

149. Did any even try? Why has it never been indexed when raises were passed?

[Capt. Obvious]

18. Very true

I'm constantly reading posts here that Obama ended Don't Ask Don't Tell but we all know that's not true. Congress ended it.

Same goes for the ACA - it should really be called Congresscare, or if we want to really give credit where it is due, Pelosicare.

[WillTwain]

23. I half-way agree with you

Pelosicare is accurate as she really worked her tail off to get that passed. But much of the argument to protect the president assumes he has no power. Why did our founding fathers even set up a presidency, if he is useless. FDR, LBJ, Reagan and Bush all faced opposition but muscled through difficult legislation. Bush had a 50-50 senate but rammed through huge tax cuts for the rich. He got stuff done with a 49-50 senate. It seems your argument says who needs a president, he is just a secretary of sorts.

My point that should not be overlooked is the minimum wage increased 22 times and always with dems in office. This has been a priority for dems since the Great Depression. Very difficult to believe that the pres could not marshall the votes necessary to pass this during the first two years.

[Capt. Obvious]

27. The President is powerless

unless something good happens. Then it's all credit due to him.

[WillTwain]

35. I get it sort of like a quarterback

[Capt. Obvious]

38. Only if that quarterback is Peyton Manning

His team really let him down Monday night.

[JoePhilly]

39. On DU the opposite is true.

Obama gets no credit, and all the blame, always.

[Capt. Obvious]

46. Except when you're the one posting

[JoePhilly]

60. Then he gets credit for things he's actually done.

And that perspective is much closer to what historians will say decades from now than much of the nonsense that gets posted here.

[Enrique]

32. imho Baucuscare is more appropriate

at a crucial point, there was a Pelosi version and a Baucus version, Obama went with the Baucus version.

[WillTwain]

42. Unfortunately he picked the more republican plan

and we are all stuck defending it. How did we end up defending the Heritage Foundation?

[baldguy]

21. Congress is full of Republican assholes, so of course it's Obama's fault.

OP is typical defeatist pseudo-liberal anti-Democrat crap.

[WillTwain]

26. Please read the whole thread

He had large majorities for two years.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

31. Not this crap again: "large majorities for two years"

[baldguy]

34. Even in its entirety it's still typical defeatist pseudo-liberal anti-Democrat crap.

Next, you'll be blaming 9/11 on Obama, too.

[WillTwain]

43. That was Bush/Cheney. Not sure where you get this stuff.

[baldguy]

63. The same place you're getting the excuse to tarnish Obama with the GOPs shortcomings.

Any reason to tar & feather the Democratic President is good enough for you.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

44. In what reality did he have

"large majorities" for two years?

[WillTwain]

51. If you check the historical record, 59 is way above the average.

Bush did immeasurable damage with a 50-50 senate.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

58. One of those was Ted Kennedy.

He died early on in that time frame. Another was Al Franken, and he wasn't even confirmed to the Senate until way later. Joseph Lieberman, who quit caucusing with the Democrats after that election.

The reality is that Obama had a great majority for about 4 months. And he pushed through sweeping health care reform at that time.

[WillTwain]

70. Still 56 is a strong number but he did not pass minimum wage

It is hard to imagine a dem president not pushing that one through. I am not saying that he did not have huge obstruction. But the only dem pres to not pass a min wage bill when the wealth gap has not been this large since the roaring twenties is inexcusable.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

120. It wasn't presented to him.

You are bitching that the sitting president didn't pass minimum wage, yet he has been calling for an increase for some time.
The president CANNOT pass a minimum wage bill, he can only sign it. Congress has yet to pass it (although it did pass the house twice).
He did, however, raise the minimum wage on federal jobs, which he was able to do as an EO.
He is a president, not a dictator.

Your FUD is obvious.

[HughBeaumont]

69. NAWP.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jennifer-m-granholm/debunking-the-myth-obamas_b_1929869.html

[WillTwain]

71. I never called it a supermajority so this is off topic.

Just look at the context. First Dem pres to not push through min wage. Meanwhile, the wealth gap is at record levels. The min wage has not been this meager in many years. It should have been raised.

[HughBeaumont]

75. No one's saying it shouldn't have. But be mad at Republicans for what they refuse to do . . . .

. . . . not at the President over something he has no control over, especially when it comes to economic issues.

If it doesn't please the Corporate Handlers, not even Zig Ziglar would be able to sell the purchased Republican Congresspersons on issues that make life an atom speck fairer for anyone making less than $300,000 a year.

Swaths of these idiots would love nothing more than to abolish the minimum wage and toss that subject to guys like Peter Schiff, who would re-introduce slavery to America if given the chance.

[WillTwain]

81. I completely agree with you but to say Obama has nothing to do with this is disingenuous.

[JTFrog]

139. No. What's disingenuous is the OP. n/t

[Recursion]

22. The last minimum wage increase was in July 2009.

So...

[WillTwain]

24. So... even Bush signed legislation to pass the minimum wage

[Recursion]

28. Moving goalposts is fun, I agree

The minimum wage is higher than it was when Obama took office.

Furthermore, he's frequently lobbied Congress to increase it, and it's passed the House twice.

[Enrique]

37. no, the obvious goalpost is which president signed the increase

so your point is more of a trick than a substantive argument.

[WillTwain]

45. The voice of reason has spoken

I do admire their loyalty to the pres.

[JaneyVee]

29. If only it was that easy.

[tridim]

36. You should file a lawsuit against Obama

Call it the "Blame Obama in spite of the asshole Republicans in Congress" suit.

[WillTwain]

47. Obama has not been perfect, can we all agree with that

He left a lot on the table.

[tridim]

48. Why do you talk about our President in the past tense?

[Capt. Obvious]

49. Don't worry

I've alerted the Secret Service

[WillTwain]

50. Great Question

I am referring to the fact that he has little hope of passing much big legislation in the future. Particularly, I am talking about the lost opportunity that he had in his first two years.

Great question.

Thanks

[tridim]

52. LOL

Good luck Willy.

[WillTwain]

55. Thanks for the "love"

[obnoxiousdrunk]

53. he just can't wait .....

[Cha]

150. Bull. No one has said he's "perfect" the Table is still there and there's so much that has gotten

done and will get done that you don't even know about. you're very limited in what you know about this President and his accomplishments.

[SidDithers]

57. Better believe it!!...nt

Sid

[Sopkoviak]

61. Nixon was not impeached

And as long as you're doing history,

Only two U.S. Presidents have been impeached by the House of Representatives.

Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998.

Both were later acquitted at trials held by the Senate

[WillTwain]

72. Sorry

[1StrongBlackMan]

62. Shouldn't you OP title read ...

Only Three Presidents Congresses Have Not Raised The Federal Minimum Wage

Wouldn't that be more accurate? Wouldn't that display a minimal comprehension of 8th grade Civics?

But that said ...

Doesn't this:

http://www.dol.gov/whd/flsa/nprm-eo13658/factsheet.htm

Give lie to your transparent OP?

[stevenleser]

73. Yep, but in a previous OP, OP blamed Obama for tuition increases at state colleges

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5996373

so considering that, this isn't as much of a stretch. Also, OP's agenda is pretty clear after both of these OP's.

Everything is Obama's fault. I expect another post at any moment from OP blaming Obama for the Spanish Inquisition.

[WillTwain]

77. This is a flat out lie. I said he should have done something to reduce tuition. Keep it real.

[stevenleser]

103. LMAO, thanks for confirming what I said. nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

88. Or, mishandling the Cuban Missile Crisis. n/t

[WillTwain]

95. Where are you coming from?

[1StrongBlackMan]

98. Tucson, AZ. n/t

[stevenleser]

105. ROFLMAO

The only response to ridiculous accusations like what the OP has leveled now in two OPs is to laugh.

[stevenleser]

104. That Damn Obama, he did that too?

[SidDithers]

107. Thanks, Obama...

Sid

[WillTwain]

74. I appreciate your loyalty to President Obama. Presidents champion important legislation.

If you do not think presidents push through what they want, check out Bush/Cheney's Iraq war and huge tax cuts for the rich and so much more. The college of hard knocks proves to be much more helpful than 8th grade civics, which I did very well in by the way.

[1StrongBlackMan]

91. It's not "loyalty" to President Obama; but rather, ...

fidelity to reality.

I can ask, beg, cajole, or threaten, my friend to let you use her car ... but at the end of the day, it's her decision.

So it is with President Obama ... he can advocate until the cows come home; but, at the end of the day ... it's up to Congress. And the task is doubly difficult since Democrats/liberals are being true to our/their "independentitudeness" that abhors supporting this President.

[WillTwain]

97. He has been described by democrats in office as a president that will sign but not fight for a bill.

He is known as a "you fight for it and get it to me and I will sign it guy." You must admit, he is not a bulldog.

Many say, they would not want him by their side in battle. Not my words, but I have heard this many times.

[1StrongBlackMan]

100. Yeah. Okay. n/t

[freshwest]

157. It's discouraging to talk to people who must have slept through 8th grade Civics. n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

158. No ... It's not a matter of having slept through 8th Grade Civics ...

But rather, an utter disregard for facts.

[bahrbearian]

64. K&R for Sid

[Cerridwen]

66. OT: Are you the same WillTwain who posts at kos? n/t

[SidDithers]

92. It is...

here's his blog:

http://willtwain1.rssing.com/chan-33052075/all_p1.html


Where we get such gems as:

"Barry Barry Quite Contrary, How Does Your Legacy Grow?"



Sid

[sheshe2]

106. Thanks for the early Christmas present Sid.

[SidDithers]

108. All the best to you, she...

I know it's not the happiest of holidays this year.



Sid

[sheshe2]

110. The best to you and yours~

Thanks Sid, leaving in a few minutes for Christmas Eve dinner. I get to play with my 2 grand nephews and niece. I plan to hug them tight, it will do wonders for me.

[great white snark]

111. Reading his collection of words you'd think Obama slept with his partner and killed his dog.

Thanks Sid, now I see the full picture.

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

[SidDithers]

112. You too. All the best...

Sid

[zappaman]

76. You better believe it!!!

[LiberalFighter]

80. Actually, Obama did raise the federal minimum wage.

In June of this year.

[WillTwain]

82. Tell that to the millions of people working for $7.25 - many that are living on the streets.

[LiberalFighter]

87. It appears that you want to be negative about everything.

And typical of those that want to complain and do very little.

[WillTwain]

94. if you do not think what i am doing now in the face of furious liberals is doing something

you are wrong. I am simply trying to demand more of our president. That may mean Hillary, too.

[SidDithers]

86. Inconvenient facts like this don't matter to the perpetually outraged...nt

Sid

[Initech]

83. Fuck the minimum wage. We need a living wage.

The crooked billionaires are stealing everything that we take for granted. A living wage would not only rejuvenate the economy, we would actually be able to buy the crap that they're selling. And they wouldn't be able to get away with wage theft.

[WillTwain]

90. Great point

Even $10.10 is robbery.

[SidDithers]

84. DU rec...

because if this is the kind of swill that's representative of DU, then this is the kind of swill that needs to be on the front page.

Sid

[giftedgirl77]

102. Hey Sid, you missed his carney nonsense from last night...

Number 23 & I were having a ball until someone alerted on him & got him locked. But somehow even with less than a 100 posts at that time we still got to keep the little bugger & wouldn't you know he's right back here bright & early with the same shit.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5998446

[SidDithers]

109. I did miss that one...

last-minute Christmas shopping last night. Will go back and read it now.



Sid

[Ineeda]

101. Nixon was not impeached.

When a single statement of fact is incorrect, it belies the entire conversation. Just so you know. And until Congress presents a bill for him to sign, President Obama can do squat about increasing the federal minimum wage.

ETA: Also stop perpetuating the myth that Democrats had control (nevermind 'strong control') of Congress for two years. Try a couple of months. Google it.

[WillTwain]

113. Posting on DU has been a great education.

If we cannot get past our biases and allow basic criticism of our leaders, how are we to keep them representing us? Blind faith is for the religious. The truth: To many, President Obama will be viewed as the most right leaning democratic president in modern history. Some will argue that Bill Clinton was a bit more to the right, though this is up for debate.

The defense of the president is laudable, but at some point you need to recognize the lip stick on his shirt is not yours. He is sleeping with the enemy. His whipping with Jamie Dimon to pass Cromnibus is appalling. His whipping for pension raiding is deplorable. He refused to go after Wall Street after the crash and refused to try Cheney/Bush for the Iraq war crimes. Allowing the minimum wage to stay below the poverty level is inexcusable. He extended tax cuts for the rich for far to long. He totally pissed off the AFL-CIO, etc.

This is risky business criticizing the president on the left-wing's home-court. But, somebody needs to do it.

The president is not perfect.

[jeff47]

115. Blind hatred is as bad as blind faith.

Obama can not do that which he does not have the power to do. You are insisting Obama can do something only Congress can do.

This is risky business criticizing the president on the left-wing's home-court. But, somebody needs to do it.

You'll find that actually dealing in reality is much more effective when issuing criticism.

The president is not perfect.

Nope, he isn't. But it's also not Obama's fault when I stub my toe.

[WillTwain]

116. I have no idea what you are talking about.

You seem to believe presidents have no influence. This is mind boggling.

[jeff47]

118. So....never took a basic civics class?

You seem to believe presidents have no influence.

You seem to believe presidents are deities who can make Congress do anything.

Presidents can move a few votes. They can't make 53 turn into 60.

But you're doing an excellent job with the blind hatred and moralizing.

[WillTwain]

121. I taught civics classes

We are talking about passing the minimum wage, not making Putin Chief-Of-Staff.

The polling is heavily on his side as were the senate numbers. This one should have been easy.

He is the first democratic president to not sign a bill to raise the minimum wage. To wash his hands of any responsibility is blind faith.

The first democratic president - the first.

[jeff47]

122. So you've paid zero attention to how insane the teabaggers are.

To wash his hands of any responsibility is blind faith.

Then explain how he gets a Republican in Congress to vote for it. 'Cause you either need Republicans, or Lieberman and several other pseudo-Republicans.

How does Obama turn 54 into 60. In explicit detail. Because you are claiming it would have been extremely easy in 2009 or 2010, so it must be quite easy for you to explain exactly how it happens.

Otherwise, you're arguing that Obama could have gotten it through the House after Captain Orange took over, which would demonstrate you are lying about your understanding of civics.

[WillTwain]

123. Once again

If bush can lie lemmings into believing in WMDs and that tax cuts for the rich will trickle down, how can President Obama - a much better communicator than Dumbya - not sell a minimum wage increase. That is his job of you do no get it. He is the salesman in chief.

[jeff47]

124. And once again you fail to back up your claim.

How, exactly, does Obama turn 54 into 60. Which 6 senators does he swing? How does he do so? If it is so easy to do, surely you can explain exactly how to do it.

Alternatively, you could realize that no president has faced such scorched-earth opposition. But that would mean you couldn't blame Obama for it, so that isn't going to happen.

[WillTwain]

125. I agree that his opposition was strong

but they hated Bill Clinton, too - remember his fake impeachment. He got it passed.

Again, he is salesman in chief.

Also, I know this pisses people off but he had tremendous momentum in his first hundred days.

[jeff47]

130. So....you claim Clinton was thrown out of office?

they hated Bill Clinton, too - remember his fake impeachment. He got it passed.

So....you claim that Clinton was thrown out of office?

Or is your incredibly strong grasp of civics consider something "passed" when the House votes for it and the Senate does not?

And "fake impeachment"? What, exactly was Clinton's motivation for promoting the Lewinsky scandal?

Also, I know this pisses people off but he had tremendous momentum in his first hundred days.

Yes, when the Republicans met on inauguration day to discuss how to make Obama a one-term president, that showed his tremendous momentum.

Again, you are dodging the question: How does Obama turn 54 into 60? Specifically, what does he do to change those 6 votes? For example, Ben Nelson was bought off to not filibuster the ACA via an earmark. Which 6 senators does he turn and how does he do it?

[WillTwain]

138. The ACA passed with 60 votes

I guess it can be done.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

145. 4-3.

Merry Christmas.

On Wed Dec 24, 2014, 06:26 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

i do not know what you are talking about half the time.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6001381

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

I just want to see where DU is. If this: "The pres has the nickname of O'bummer for a good reason" is not worth a hide, I wd say DU is no longer DU. If you think that's a mistake, look at his Obama-bashing log posted above at Kos. This poster is a rw troll. And I am critical of a lot of Obama's action and non-actions, but being critical is not, as this poster is, being a troll with no intention other than to troll DU with Obama-bashing, every post.

JURY RESULTS

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Wed Dec 24, 2014, 06:40 PM, and the Jury voted 4-3 to HIDE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Obvious troll. Dont know how she racked up 143 posts. She must have been posting in those cat threads. HIde this and recommend tombstone this righty manure for brains.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Yep. Calling the President O'Bummer is one of Rush Limbaugh's favorite insult.
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

[Cha]

146. "O'Bummer".. that's some rw shite.. and you think you're hot shit calling him that on DU?

[aspirant]

153. I thought it was illegal

to fund-raise within the walls of Congress.

Why hasn't any watchdog group subpoenaed Jamie Dimon's phone records to see if funds were offered?

[gopiscrap]

148. Come on Obama raise it to 21.00 an hour!!!

[doc03]

151. It's Obama's fault congress won't do anything? n/t

[Sunlei]

154. Congress raises the minimum wage and with this anti-Americans congress do not count on any raise.

Romney wanted to take away the Federal 'minimum raise' that States have to match. Thank your lucky stars and your $7.00? (WTF is todays FEDERAL minimum) an hour paycheck he is not president.

[Orsino]

155. I won't completely absolve the president.

He certainly was saddled with the most corrupt Congresses in history, but raising the minimum wage wasn't exactly the centerpiece of his platform.

He could have sold it harder...but might have gotten little closer to achieving the goal.