General Discussion

Lydia Leftcoast

(48,225 posts)

163. Forty years? Yes

Sat Apr 13, 2013, 10:45 AM

Apr 2013

From the New Deal to the Reagan era, there was a pretty good balance between the R's and the D's, with the D's philosophy having the upper hand.

Who were the Republican presidents? Eisenhower (advocated desegregation, started the Interstate Highway System, warned against the military industrial complex) and Nixon (started the EPA, made food stamps a nationwide program, proposed a guaranteed annual income, opened diplomatic relations with China). I didn't like Nixon (I was a college and graduate student during his time), but he would be "too liberal" for today's Republican Party.

Those were the days when "Republican politician" wasn't synonymous with "mean and dumb."

Now the R's have the upper hand in ideology, the mean and dumb are running rampant, and the D's are cowering in the corner, with the "mainstream" Dems acting as if they accept the R's ideology.

As for how this ends up? Well, note that we will now have Mitt Romney's health plan nationwide.

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Do I feel betrayed by this President? Yes. [View all] cali Apr 2013 OP

You would sing a different song if you were a big bank! immoderate Apr 2013 #1

Wow! You beat the think tank herd to the first comment! Nice job! grahamhgreen Apr 2013 #82

Could you please edit this post? eridani Apr 2013 #150

Done. In my mind I see a think tank cubicle cluster dedicated to first post response on DU. grahamhgreen Apr 2013 #172

Not in my case. It's just my policy to request edits before alerting eridani Apr 2013 #178

Watch out. I got slapped down for using a term like that last week. SylviaD Apr 2013 #158

agreed, 100 percent.... mike_c Apr 2013 #2

I am surprised. In precisely the way that Lessig described his disappointment. cali Apr 2013 #3

I think I am in a state of grief over this. Also, I have problems even understanding it. CTyankee Apr 2013 #155

Nothing will get done for two more years if the process doesn't get underway. randome Apr 2013 #4

that is so not my point, but never mind. I'm done with people cali Apr 2013 #8

I don't know about the 'deliberate' part. Maybe I'm just obtuse? randome Apr 2013 #13

Maybe I'm just obtuse? Clearly, you know the answer to that by now, randome. JDPriestly Apr 2013 #89

"Deliberate obtuseness." Exactly right. AnotherMcIntosh Apr 2013 #25

I think the President and the Democratic Party blew a huge opportunity... kentuck Apr 2013 #5

Exactly n/t Jade Fox Apr 2013 #34

Agreed and very well put I might add lobezen Apr 2013 #35

Exactly. The Republican party has been a disaster the last 5 years newthinking Apr 2013 #120

another 40 years? daybranch Apr 2013 #147

Forty years? Yes Lydia Leftcoast Apr 2013 #163

Precisely Sherman A1 Apr 2013 #148

The problem is that Obama and third-way Dems have much more in common with the GOP NorthCarolina Apr 2013 #167

Both you and kentuck got this one exactly right. n/t Egalitarian Thug Apr 2013 #184

No, no, no. It's not a mystery at all. woo me with science Apr 2013 #6

"The answer is corporate purchase of government." zeemike Apr 2013 #40

Hear! Hear! nt snappyturtle Apr 2013 #58

Spot on. JEB Apr 2013 #60

That's it in a nutshell. n/t ljm2002 Apr 2013 #80

"The answer is corporate purchase of government." Very true, but since the bought-off and Nay Apr 2013 #84

Since Wealth Rules, Progressives with enough Power LarryNM Apr 2013 #98

But the corporations can't purchase a candidate who isn't for sale lbrtbell Apr 2013 #114

They can destroy one, though. nt woo me with science Apr 2013 #115

They purchase them before they are in office. They choose our candidates and then fund them sabrina 1 Apr 2013 #175

As an intellectual exercise, just assume for a moment ... Laelth Apr 2013 #152

Yes. nt LWolf Apr 2013 #161

You would feel even more betrayed if you realized Yo_Mama Apr 2013 #7

Spot on, cali. n/t 99Forever Apr 2013 #9

Oh please, ProSense Apr 2013 #10

more bullshit with lots of links that are not germane. boring bullshit. cali Apr 2013 #14

The OP is bullshit. ProSense Apr 2013 #15

opportunistic? now you're even more ridiculous cali Apr 2013 #26

Wait ProSense Apr 2013 #63

The Obama tax cuts of 2010 lowered taxes on the rich, exactly as Bush did. merrily Apr 2013 #122

It's 2013 Rosa Luxemburg Apr 2013 #141

I knew that, but you knew I knew that. Did you have a point? merrily Apr 2013 #143

thank you, ProSense! n/m Cha Apr 2013 #91

Did bush tell the AG DiverDave Apr 2013 #104

what exactly was 'bullshit' there? Whisp Apr 2013 #33

And astute annalise zeemike Apr 2013 #43

Not only are they not germaine, they are circular demwing Apr 2013 #46

I know, it's bizarre. Marr Apr 2013 #185

that one is a Pro Skittles Apr 2013 #72

Secret: ProSense Apr 2013 #92

it goes beyond that and you know it Skittles Apr 2013 #108

? n/t ProSense Apr 2013 #109

One 'suck' proposal?? Didn't we just get past the Monsanto rider? sabrina 1 Apr 2013 #20

+1 cali Apr 2013 #21

Exactly correct. Thank you. JEB Apr 2013 #61

+1000000 "One" corporate, predatory proposal? Only ONE???? woo me with science Apr 2013 #83

Precisely right! n/t markpkessinger Apr 2013 #133

The 6 month funding bill had some bennies for the gun folks, as well as Monsanto. merrily Apr 2013 #144

Well, all is fine and good about medicaid expansion as long as snappyturtle Apr 2013 #64

Predictable! Wind Dancer Apr 2013 #68

KILLING it. As usual. Number23 Apr 2013 #100

You must have forgotten that Bush said he would not release TARP II unless Obama asked him to do so. merrily Apr 2013 #121

"One sucky proposal" . . . that happens to be utterly, morally perverse n/t markpkessinger Apr 2013 #127

Really. Well how do you account for this? Marr Apr 2013 #186

"no budget he sends to this Congress has a chance of being passed" TheProgressive Apr 2013 #11

Good question! randome Apr 2013 #18

No, politics is that if you are Democrat and you are elected by mostly Democrats and you want your sabrina 1 Apr 2013 #24

An excellent summary, Sabrina. Over and over again, the only rational conclusion is that Nay Apr 2013 #81

We trusted him. He doesn't even acknowledge those who elected him. His spokesperson's only sabrina 1 Apr 2013 #107

Exactly treestar Apr 2013 #54

Some examples might be appropriate here quakerboy Apr 2013 #87

This site is setting out details treestar Apr 2013 #119

You mean the Democratic things? What about them? merrily Apr 2013 #124

Republican administrations have had progressive components in their policy too newthinking Apr 2013 #125

"Why does Obama choose republican policies to move forward?" kentuck Apr 2013 #19

"Why does Obama choose republican policies to move forward?" SammyWinstonJack Apr 2013 #47

This is exactly what I think. He is much more charismatic than The Boner. Push rhett o rick Apr 2013 #96

his eloquence works against him Enrique Apr 2013 #12

To be fair I will blast Obama as I have blasted his cohorts and his predecessors in the past who avaistheone1 Apr 2013 #16

True, Bill and Hillary Clinton do it too. merrily Apr 2013 #129

K&R forestpath Apr 2013 #17

Well said. He promised "change". We got deal making Politics as Usual. Tierra_y_Libertad Apr 2013 #22

Pres. Obama is not the man he said he was LuvNewcastle Apr 2013 #23

He hasn't changed the system, but he has entrenched it! newthinking Apr 2013 #134

.. NorthCarolina Apr 2013 #187

that saying if you don't learn from history you are bound to repeat it Whisp Apr 2013 #27

I don't think he's evil. I find him personally likeable. cali Apr 2013 #28

I would bet a lot that close to 100% of posters here were sure he was going to be a wonderful merrily Apr 2013 #126

that's not true, the 100%. not even close. Whisp Apr 2013 #128

I don't believe that. merrily Apr 2013 #131

K&R Arctic Dave Apr 2013 #29

worshippers are mounting a full court press today nt msongs Apr 2013 #30

+1 n/t markpkessinger Apr 2013 #130

Republicans love "negotiating" with this President... kentuck Apr 2013 #31

the funny thing is, I can see history judging him quite harshly cali Apr 2013 #32

So can I, especially in light of the enormous, almost insurmountable problems the planet and Nay Apr 2013 #86

approval ratings impact will be interesting to see carolinayellowdog Apr 2013 #102

HUGE K & R !!! WillyT Apr 2013 #36

With the exception of LGBT issues - Hell Hath No Fury Apr 2013 #37

Interesting. kentuck Apr 2013 #39

Lesser of 2 evils Gary 50 Apr 2013 #38

Ever is a long time. zeemike Apr 2013 #44

As I do feel about our Harper and Martin. ConcernedCanuk Apr 2013 #41

K&R Agree with every word. MotherPetrie Apr 2013 #42

Apparently, it's only okay to propose your crazy-ass fantasy budget if you're a Republican. winter is coming Apr 2013 #45

Quelle surprise!!!! Beacool Apr 2013 #48

Let me offer you some equations DonCoquixote Apr 2013 #85

They can do whatever they want. Beacool Apr 2013 #94

Its kinda funny quakerboy Apr 2013 #88

Well, Biden said it himself at one time. Beacool Apr 2013 #95

Biden aint always right either quakerboy Apr 2013 #99

So true. CalFresh Apr 2013 #112

Well said walkerbait41 Apr 2013 #49

If we had voted hard for a Democratic House, he would not be in this concrete The Wielding Truth Apr 2013 #50

"The fight for democracy must be bigger & smarter & more constant than the creep and surge of greed" marions ghost Apr 2013 #71

Fighting means letting your leader lead and supporting his method.It will not happen unless revenue The Wielding Truth Apr 2013 #111

Responding to your points: marions ghost Apr 2013 #118

My answer to your numbered responses are:. The Wielding Truth Apr 2013 #180

"Fighting means letting your leader lead and supporting his method." woo me with science Apr 2013 #149

Let him do his work. Sucking up all the oxygen will not help. He is doing his best. The Wielding Truth Apr 2013 #181

Come again? woo me with science Apr 2013 #182

Your wish list is mine, too, but we did not elect the superman that you want. In our post Bush/ The Wielding Truth Apr 2013 #188

Oh, I see the problem here. woo me with science Apr 2013 #189

This is not rhetoric and you have not diagnosed any problem. You have refused to see that politics is The Wielding Truth Apr 2013 #191

We did . . . markpkessinger Apr 2013 #135

I'm talking about the off year when we did not overwhelm the ballots boxes. Fall 2010 The Wielding Truth Apr 2013 #179

Not bashing at all. It's all true. bluethruandthru Apr 2013 #51

You felt betrayed by him before he was ever elected. You're like a broken record. MjolnirTime Apr 2013 #52

I was an early and enthusiastic supporter of Obama's right here on DU cali Apr 2013 #55

I don't have to search. I've witnessed what you've been doing here. MjolnirTime Apr 2013 #57

Wow. Your comments to cali are virtually identical to your attaks on Manny. Bluenorthwest Apr 2013 #74

You made a totally false claim and you don't even have the intellectual cali Apr 2013 #79

+1 n/t markpkessinger Apr 2013 #145

Really? Hell Hath No Fury Apr 2013 #70

You're wrong, Cali was an Obama supporter. Beacool Apr 2013 #117

That's contrary to the facts. Only a truly ignorant person could say that about Cali. AnotherMcIntosh Apr 2013 #132

thanks. cali Apr 2013 #183

Er...no. LWolf Apr 2013 #162

He was elected in 2008. You've only been a member here since 2011 Heddi Apr 2013 #190

Oh for God's sake treestar Apr 2013 #53

You sound more broken-hearted than bashing fadedrose Apr 2013 #56

that's true. And honestly, I wish I could have faith, but I've cobbled that together so many cali Apr 2013 #165

Why not stand up for Democratic values? JEB Apr 2013 #59

Think McCain and Romney. Try them on for size. demosincebirth Apr 2013 #62

That thinking does not move us forward marions ghost Apr 2013 #73

"downtrodden" or not, I sleep better with him at the helm. He has not done many of the things demosincebirth Apr 2013 #139

... but they didn't win, Obama did. n/t RKP5637 Apr 2013 #77

Just think if they did. You'd probably be upset about something more serious. I don't agree with demosincebirth Apr 2013 #138

Yep, agree!!! n/t RKP5637 Apr 2013 #142

That's setting the bar very, VERY low n/t markpkessinger Apr 2013 #146

Right On! Rider3 Apr 2013 #65

"...why not stand up for liberal democratic values?" paparush Apr 2013 #66

Agree CTCharlie Apr 2013 #156

Welcome to DU CTCharlie! hrmjustin Apr 2013 #174

Sounds like simple truth to me. lark Apr 2013 #67

One of the questions is: Who elected the president- the people, or the corporations? Gregorian Apr 2013 #69

And this is what makes marions ghost Apr 2013 #75

Obama is a politician. Few people have ever said he truedelphi Apr 2013 #113

US = Failure for "we the people." This is a hallmark of a failing society ... throughout history. RKP5637 Apr 2013 #76

Very well said! ljm2002 Apr 2013 #78

I want my vote back. If he is just going to bow to Republicans and include Romney ideas in the beyurslf Apr 2013 #90

When ProSense Apr 2013 #93

This is not about betrayal this is about a broken system. Blaming Obama rhett o rick Apr 2013 #97

Absolutely marions ghost Apr 2013 #137

November 2011? And you wonder why some might view this as opportunistic? Number23 Apr 2013 #101

there are plenty of current stories. I chose that one because I cali Apr 2013 #106

Yeah. ProSense Apr 2013 #110

I don't. Rex Apr 2013 #103

On the mark, as always DJ13 Apr 2013 #105

because he's not a liberal democrat noiretextatique Apr 2013 #116

"the obvious answer" LWolf Apr 2013 #164

Well said, cali! mother earth Apr 2013 #123

We were are shilling for him CountAllVotes Apr 2013 #136

exactly stupidicus Apr 2013 #169

K & R! nt LeftyLucy22 Apr 2013 #140

Reality check.. DCBob Apr 2013 #151

ending Social Security as we know it, is no way to "bring this country together" nashville_brook Apr 2013 #153

no one is "ending social security".. good grief. DCBob Apr 2013 #154

Thank you Cali. Divernan Apr 2013 #157

That photo is damning... haikugal Apr 2013 #176

"He's better than a Republican." SylviaD Apr 2013 #159

I was a lefty bigot with low expectations for the centrist stupidicus Apr 2013 #160

Whether true believers or paid shills, their extreme positions ARE a catalyst for outrage Divernan Apr 2013 #166

that's the unfulfilled expectation alrighty stupidicus Apr 2013 #168

He's an unmitigated failure. Fuddnik Apr 2013 #170

well, I don't know if I'd go that far stupidicus Apr 2013 #171

What do u want, president Palin? grahamhgreen Apr 2013 #173

no way dude stupidicus Apr 2013 #177