The filbuster sell-out kind of explains Obama's "surprisingly liberal" inauguration speech.

[woo me with science]

14. K&R This is a tremendously important OP,

because nothing changes until we, the people, are clear about what is really being perpetrated here.

The corporate kabuki, the script, is familiar and insulting. And, of course, we are already seeing attempts to reassure us that Reid and Democrats might take more meaningful action in the future. As always, the people will be gloriously represented at some time in the future...

The outcome here was easily predicted months ago by anyone who has been paying any attention at all to the game:

So now we are mysteriously falling short of Democratic votes for filibuster reform.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021809132

The truth is that the outcome is predictable every time. The one percent win, and the people lose. And this outcome, for the filibuster, was *especially* predictable, because it sets the stage for another *entire term* of excuses. There would have absolutely been no way to justify the forthcoming betrayals on policy related to economics, war, and the police state, had Democrats truly fought for the power to override Republican obstruction. The stagecraft is brilliant. The propaganda is masterful. But the outcome shows the truth, every single time.

The Democratic Party's Deceitful Game
http://www.salon.com/2010/02/23/democrats_34/

That's why this OP is so important. Nothing will change until Americans look clearly at how the game is rigged from the start in every single negotiation, how the possible options are artificially narrowed from the start, and how every negotiation moves us rightward. Every. Single. One.

We have a systemic problem of corporate power and money driving policy in both parties, against the will of the people. Democratic and Republican corporatists are colluding against us. Rather than arguing about *whether* it has happened, we need to figure out what we are going to do about it, because change is clearly not coming from those who claim to represent us.

____________________

Obama, Democrats Push to Make Bush Spying Laws Permanent
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022084702

The Enemy Expatriation Act - another attack on legitimate protest and dissent like NDAA
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022072450

FBI Investigated 'Occupy' As Possible 'Domestic Terrorism' Threat, Internal Documents Show
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022061578

NDAA 2013 - Indefinite detention without trial is back
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014342985

Congress, at Last Minute, Drops Requirement to Obtain Warrant to Monitor Email
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014348022

Democratic-controlled US Senate approves...new $633 billion war bill
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022060449

Purposely aiming bombs at children: "It kind of opens our aperture."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021931748

The Pentagon's New 30,000-lb MOP Bomb Is Ready To Go
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022200058

Obama Administration To Offer More Than 20 Million Acres in Western Gulf of Mexico for Oil/Drilling
http://upload.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1896005

Obama's (Corporate) Education Reform Push is Bad Education Policy
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x221922

Obama's 'Race To The Top' Drives Nationwide Wave of School Closings, Teacher Firings
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2183810

Trans Pacific Partnership is NAFTA On Steroids
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1914478

NYT slams the government for choosing not to prosecute HSBC top-bankers
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021965407

Why is Social Security Under Attack from Obama, when it ADDS NOTHING to the deficit???
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022065493

Obama: "Too many of us have been interested in defending programs as written in 1938."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid

Surely every American must realize any cuts hereinafter made to social security, Medicare, or Medicaid...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022191730

Health insurers raising rates by double digits
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014358823

So now we are mysteriously falling short of Democratic votes for filibuster reform.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021809132

Why Harry and the Democrats gave away filibuster reform
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022251878

Nine Democrats signed letter urging quick approval of Keystone XL pipeline
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022250081