The GOP’s Obama problem

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/opinion/columnists/brent-budowsky/297423-the-gops-obama-problem


The GOP’s Obama problem
By Brent Budowsky - 05/02/13 11:27 AM ET


snip//

The magnitude, intensity, and obsession of rightist hatred of the president is unprecedented in the history of American politics because it has poisoned the ability of Republican leaders in Congress to work in good faith with a twice-elected American president.

This GOP leadership's fear and sanction of rightist hatred towards the president foments a near total obstruction against anything the president and Democrats propose, creates a near total gridlock of government in Washington and demonstrates a contempt for long-held notions of American civic life that have traditionally been accepted by all major political parties.

snip//

The venom directed against the president is different because it has morphed into a magnitude of gridlock and obstruction never before seen in America.

I have written that the number of filibusters instigated by Republican senators today is far greater than the number of filibusters instigated by the most racist senators during the darkest days of the segregationist South. This is factually indisputable. This corrupts the Senate’s responsibility to govern, usurps the president’s authority to appoint, impedes the judiciary’s ability to function, poisons the integrity of our politics, destroys public faith in government, erodes global confidence in America and destroys the legacy of Lincoln.

Obama was elected twice. Neither election was close. Republicans should respect this.

Obstruction, gridlock, venom, vitriol, contempt and derision towards an American president is an American tragedy, brought to you by the politics of hate, which would serve the interests of Republicans and Americans to end.

[mainstreetonce]

1. And it will not change

when Hillary follows him......so we need to do something about Congress.

[NYtoBush-Drop Dead]

3. Hillary will go All LBJ on them.

Like Obama should but won't. After the election he should have said to Cantor, mcConnell, Ryan, Paul, Bachman and every other miscreant holding back the peoples work... with more than enough to turn house back... and say. I have 100 mil dollars left from my campaign and I'm raising more, and tomorrow I start running against you personally. And tomorrow I start running ads and every month I will be in your district telling your constituents exactly which bridges are falling down, how many people there are with out health care, and exactly what you did to obstruct my jobs bill et all. I am coming after you starting tomorrow. You think, I'm Satan, wait until tomorrow, tomorrow you'll know it.

[Pirate Smile]

14. Hillary can only go "all LBJ on them" if she has LBJ-like majorities in Congress otherwise she's

going to have the same issues.

After LBJ lost his big majorities, one of his aides said LBJ couldn't get a Mother's Day Resolution passed.

People need to grow the fuck up regarding what a POTUS can do without control of Congress & with the current radical state of the GOP.

[AgingAmerican]

23. LBJ twisted arms

He didn't adopt the GOPs agenda.

[graham4anything]

26. It will be 80-20. The extremist20%(made up of both sides) shall soon be rendered obsolete.

the republican voters are NOT the extremists that their party elected.
Just 15% of them, along with 5% of the democratic voters=20% soon rendered obsolete.

[AgingAmerican]

42. There are no extremists in the Democratic party that I'm aware of

n/t

[graham4anything]

47. The Ralph Naderites for one. The burn it down crowd

[AgingAmerican]

55. Nader isn't a Democrat

Nor is he an extremist.

The "extreme" of the left is communism and the "extreme" of the right is fascism. 20% of Dems are not communists, sorry.

[graham4anything]

56. 15 on the right 5 on the left, but extremists don't have to be communists to be extremists

[AgingAmerican]

57. OK

Then please do tell what constitutes extreme on the left if it isn't communism? Traditional Democratic values?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

58. LBJ twisted arms because those that he twisted lived in marginal or competitive districts. These

Republicans come from near safe districts. There are more competitive districts on the Democratic side. There are a lot more than Republicans. What you fail to realize is that there is a real historical difference between the political capital that LBJ emjoyed versus the very different political circumstances that Obama finds himself in. LBJ had supermajorities in both the House and Senate, not to mention quite a few liberal and moderate Republicans from the coastal states; therefore, he was able to win battles with bipartisan support. Obama doesn't have that benefit.

That is history. Apply it accordingly.

[AgingAmerican]

60. LBJ did not adopt the GOPs agenda

History applied.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

61. Gulf of Tonkin = preemptive war. No president is perfect and there is no such as a purely LIBERAL

president. We haven't had one in our history. And yes, that goes for FDR too.

[AgingAmerican]

62. LBJ did not adopt the GOP agenda

That's the difference between him and Obama.

[DhhD]

16. In my opinion, if Obama had have taken the banksers to court during the first two years of

his presidency, the American People who have been behind him almost 100% and the People would have finished the job in Nov 2010 by removing Republican obstructionism from Congress and State Congresses. In my opinion, a new business pack with the Pacific was the real Queen, for Obama. He waited around those first two years and decided to give We the People, the ACA as an award for the cancellation of democracy.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

52. Taken the bankers to court for what? Sadly what they did was not illegal. Clinton did away with

Glass-Stegall years before. Congressional oversight was weakened years before Obama got to town. Again, there's little that Wall Street did that was illegal.

[cantbeserious]

17. Hillary Is A DLCer, She Will Be More Of The Same

eom

[liberalmike27]

29. You are Dreaming

Hillary is just going to be another corporate subservient, who gives up Americans rights, wages, benefits, and toes the corporate line.

That is why so many of us are disappointed with Obama, as we didn't vote for Hillary because we thought she'd be that way, only to have Obama be as bad, or worse.

Think again if you think Hillary is going to be any different. I suspect she'll win, even if she isn't the best candidate. Hell, there might not even be anyone running against her, since she'll be such a juggernaut.

[rhett o rick]

43. If you think that Sen Clinton gives a shit about the 99%, you are smoking the funny

stuff. I sympathize with your delusion but until the American people wake the fuck up, we will continue to be preyed upon.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

51. WRONG!! Historically and politically inaccurate! Please stop the stupid comparisons!

JFK and LBJ = Supermajority of Democrats in the House and Senate, plus a large contingent of east coast and west coast Republicans who tended to be moderately liberal.

Obama DOES NOT have this and neither will Hillary Clinton!!!

So stop this! It's stupid!

[hue]

2. Yup! Tea/Repuke/ALEC puppets' hatred & gridlock are the crux of the problem!!

They should be flushed....

[OKNancy]

4. I sure see a lot of hate here on DU

it's disgusting, over-the-top, and unreasonable.

[babylonsister]

10. Yes.

All we can do is try to counter their unreasonableness with reasonableness. I'm trying not to argue with anyone, though not always successful at that.

[cantbeserious]

18. The Failure Of Democrats Is Their Attraction To Corporate Campaign Funding

When one is beholden to the enemies of the people, one can never serve the people.

[leftyohiolib]

25. "I'm trying not to argue with anyone" this is a problem with dems. dems dont want to argue

or risk offending people so they get walked all over and they appear weak and spineless. im not picking on you personally but this is a problem with dems in general. there are a few who arent like alan grayson

[babylonsister]

27. I meant on here; I think it's

counter-productive. I pretty much know where most of the long-time DUers stand and don't relish arguing with people I don't agree with. We're all entitled to our opinions, though some people can get on my last nerve, which is another reason to turn the other cheek when I can.

[TRoN33]

32. I'm going to deflect that back to you...

Hell no. Registered Democrats tends to engage in any forms of debates with respect of others' opinions. We all are already well aware that there are plenty of the registered Republicans would do the same thing but we have already encountered a lot of conservatives who refused to engage into the debates and instead, they would restort to any forms of the insults and hypocrisy attitude on us. Its pretty tiresome for five long years.

Neo-cons and anti-Obama people are the one who made the choice to be divided from rest of the country. We didn't want to get divided up. Its not our fault, period.

[bhikkhu]

22. That's my first thought as well

I've never had any interest in any movement or party that preaches hatred. There's way too much of that here. Hatred of the president (which I just don't get), hatred of the Clintons (which I also don't get at all), hatred of anyone who has done ok financially, hatred of people from other countries who came here to work, hatred of US companies - only slightly less than the hatred of foreign companies...and so forth.

I suppose you could argue its not hatred of the person, its hatred of the behavior, but most of the time that's a muddy line. The whole attitude just seems like poison to me; its a poison in the GOP when they do it, and its an infectious poison here.

[cantbeserious]

28. What Would You Prefer - Disgust, Disillusionment, Disdain, Disappointment, Despair

eom

[Blanks]

31. I agree with you.

If your mind is wrapped up in negative emotion all the time, how can you expect to come up with positive solutions.

It's one thing to be disappointed and try to come up with solutions - it's something else entirely to be wrapped up in hatred all the time.

I think no good can come of it.

[cantbeserious]

35. When The Democrats Are In Bed With the Corporations, How Can One "Come Up With Positive Solutions"

eom

[bhikkhu]

36. Which democrats, and which corporations?

Blanket statements are a part of the problem.

I know democrats that are fine, and I know corporations that are good and responsible. When you just slam everyone and everything carelessly, you beat down the good with the bad. Its an irresponsible way of behaving and leads to nothing good.

[cantbeserious]

37. Not Going To Do Your Research For You - Follow The Money By Starting With The DLC - Then Wall Street

eom

[cantbeserious]

38. Here You Go For Starters - Corporations Pay For Democratic Party Convention

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-04/companies-pay-20-million-to-fund-democratic-convention.html

Companies including Bank of America Corp. and Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC) have contributed $20 million toward the cost of the Democratic National Convention, helping fund an event that Democrats initially said wouldn’t accept corporate money, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Organizers of this year’s convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, turned to corporations after the city’s host committee struggled to reach its $36.7 million fundraising goal, according to the people, who requested anonymity.

Last year, the Charlotte host committee set up a separate entity called New American City Inc., to take corporate cash and to which Bank of America and Wells Fargo contributed, according to the people. The two banks were on a list of corporate donors released Sept. 1 by the host committee that also named AT&T Inc. (T), US Airways Group Inc. (LCC), Duke Energy Corp. (DUK) and the law-and- lobbying firm McGuireWoods LLP.

After saying in February 2011 they wouldn’t take corporate money, Democratic Party leaders and convention organizers have grappled with how to cover the estimated $52 million cost of the event, which will culminate Sept. 6 in President Barack Obama’s renomination acceptance speech.

Snip .....

[rhett o rick]

44. Have you been sleeping for the last 40 years? Sure there is a good Democrat here and there.

But in general the Democratic party has sold out to the corporations and their money. Your President is willing to cut SS and Medicare before doing anything to the 99%. Look at who he has appointed, all republicans. Get it? He appoints republicans.

[bhikkhu]

45. Then why are you here?

If the democratic party is rotten to the core, and our democratic president is a sell-out, why are you here on a democratic forum? What do you suggest?

[rhett o rick]

46. I am going to fight to kick the corporatist and their enabling centrists out of my party.

Corporate money has bought many, if not most of our representatives and the centrists/corporatists among us root them on.

My Democratic Party will not cut SS and Medicare and we will end the Patriot Act and domestic spying.

Prey tell us what your principles are?

[bhikkhu]

49. Social equality, good governance

and a pragmatic perspective on the realities of human nature. Most people are good, most people are honest, most people have sound morals and will chose to do the right thing if that option is practically available.

[Blanks]

39. I don't know, but I believe that your mind is more clear...

When it is not filled with hate. If the solution is to get rid of them, it is better to come up with a plan if you approach it analytically as opposed to emotionally.

People wrapped up in emotion are easy to manipulate.

[treestar]

5. Amen

They are doing their best to punish us for electing a black man to their precious Presidency. They are so obsessed with that, all else has faded for them. They just can't believe we voluntarily did that - they though white supremacist theory was actually true and the matter would take care of itself.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

53. DING!! DING!! DING!!!! We have a winner!!!

[Tennessee Hillbilly]

6. --

The Repugs are traitors. They're totally disgusting.

[bemildred]

7. Kind of takes you back about 153 years or so.

Another time when the nation was divided by hatred and fear.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. It's worse. Only gerrymandering gave Republicans the House. nt

[gtar100]

9. Yes. Democrats had more respect for the presidency even after Bush stole two elections

than republicans have ever shown the Obama administration who won both elections outright with significant margins. They don't even pretend anymore. It's all about the power for them. And all because of the filibuster rule, they basically still control everything (thanks, Harry).

It's classic - Democrats want to have some semblance of rules for government (you know, those things they teach in civics classes) and republicans only play to win, at any cost. For them, it's about exploiting the rules, not respecting them.

But if you talk to them about politics, they act like they're a bunch of victims. And they're being sincere! That's the kind of people they've become because they treat ignorance like a virtue.

[Bucky]

11. Maybe if we elect a Hispanic female president next time, they'll lighten up.

Especially if she's an atheist

[n2doc]

12. They hated Bill Clinton too

It just seems like a part of the pattern. And if HRC comes in in 2016, it will just get worse, with misogyny thrown in. Electing a different Dem will still produce the hate. The only solution is to call these folks out on it, all the time, until votes get it through their thick skulls that we need representatives who want a functioning government, not a kleptocracy.

[Frustratedlady]

15. But it will continue until the Democrats or the people demand it stop.

It's as though the Democrats are shrugging their shoulders and saying, "Maybe we'll gain control in 2014."

What's happening to us in 2013 and 2014? All either party cares about is the next election, laying their strategy to knock out the next presidential candidate and make sure their own job is secure. When will they learn that their jobs would be secure IF they got to work?

As far as I'm concerned, they should all be fired. The treatment Obama has had to endure is sinful, and whether they are involved in it or standing nearby watching the carnage, they don't deserve their seats in Congress.

Send them back to Head Start and see if they can learn something once they graduate elhi.

Come to think of it, why can't we demand their pensions be put back in the treasury? Everyone else is losing theirs.

[Merlot]

19. Yes, it's really not any different with Obama than any other Dem POTUS would be.

Had Hillary been elected, the racism would be full on sexism. That would be the only difference. repubs hate anything that gets in their way. They hated Clinton, hated Carter, pretty much hate all democrats. I think the best thing about this is that their hatred is on full display for more people to see than ever before.

[Cha]

33. Yes, they hated Bill Clinton, Hillary, and Nancy Pelosi.. and will hate Hillary even more

if she becomes President.

But, they have an extra frothing hate for President Barack Obama. PBO brings out all the idiots' hate, like no other.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

54. They hated Bill Clinton but there were a few Republicans willing to work with him. Obama has ZERO!!

[zipplewrath]

59. Their reaction to triangulation

Clinton trapped them with triangulation. Co-opt their agenda, make it your own, and undermine their opposition. Worked like a charm for Clinton. The GOP, like the borg, adapted. When your agenda gets adopted, move right. You can't lose. Worse thing that happens is that they pass your agenda. The best thing that happens is your opponents lose the elections and you get control of a chamber of congress.

[AlbertCat]

13. The GOP got away with stealing an election once

Why would they care about legit elections any more? They think cheating is genius!

[VPStoltz]

20. "Republicans should respect this..." They respect nothing but the pursuit of $.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

21. Many of the GOP are trash

there are only a few decent, respoinsible ones

[Iliyah]

24. With all the talk about Nazism

from the RWers, i.e. constant fear mongering, hatred towards fellow Americans who don't think like them. In Germany they took away the guns from the certain German citizen while they were targeting Jewish community for the reason for its failed economy. The present Administration is NOT targeting gun owners, but want more effective gun control to help keep the American public safer, but alas, $$$ is the root of evil, and therefore, the greedy just can't fathom such.

Also, the present GOP party want a fascism run country and they have decided to appoint themselves as the Almighty rulers. Thus, a never ending war inside and out.

Some posters always proclaim that the Democratic Party have no spine although many great programs and progress have been made, some quietly. Some poster consider that reaching out to the other side (olive branch) is a sign of weakness, and to stop trying to deal with the GOP party of hell no. America is a democracy, and although the RW, GOP party and others have forgotten or disregarded it, Dems have not.

I really did like a sci-fi movie called The Darkest Hour" and the song "There's got to be a morning after".

[Laelth]

30. k&r for the truth, however depressing it may be. n/t

-Laelth

[Cha]

34. Brwawaa, republicons don't "respect" anyone or anything except

their Koch money.

thanks babylonsistah

[Pisces]

40. Watch "42" to understand why they hate "44". The first always bears the brunt of history. We will

look back on this time and shake our heads at the shameful way Repukes acted because they couldn't believe there was a black man
in charge.

[Skittles]

41. repukes became unreasonable long before 2008

they have long been allowed to behave like spoiled children

[davidpdx]

48. True, I think 1993 was when it got really bad

The defeat of the healthcare plan, the continued investigations into the Clinton Administration, and then the impeachment.

[nolabels]

63. When the GOP became complicit in the murder of JFK

To say nothing of LBJ. There will be no total healing of our country till the whole country can come to grips with it's own history. The people of Germany still have the Turkish workers and their worker status with little rights for the same reason they still cannot grasp why Hitler was the monster they empowered. It's about some being more equal than others.

It's also about Karma and it's inescapable grasp. The imperial corporate state will be it's own downfall

[davidpdx]

64. That was a bit before my time

I started following politics during the 1980 election and wasn't quite 10 years old. The habit started early.

[nolabels]

65. It's not enough to be a cynical skeptic

I have learned a lot here at DU in the last 10+ years but know i know little as compared what is to be known. I started following politics slowly after realizing how i got screwed over by it in my early twenties. I voted for the Reagan the first time i was able to vote believing all the propaganda that campaign put out. Today i just try to live, waiting for the days like today when more and more of the lies are uncovered. The internet and the computer is something the is leveling the playing field very dramatically. Keep on reading, there is a lot to know

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

50. Why can't Obama be like JFK and LBJ...blah...blah...blah...