General Discussion

primavera

(5,191 posts)

71. Could be, but so what?

Sat Dec 17, 2011, 08:19 AM

Dec 2011

Perhaps all that you say is true, and Obama really does mean well and is just trying to make everybody happy. If so, then he's an ineffective advocate and not what the country needs in the most adversarial period in American politics within memory. Maybe Obama's not a Quisling, but more of a Kerensky, but it doesn't really matter - Kerensky was just as catastrophic as Quisling was. What we need is a strong leader who recognizes that it's impossible to make everybody happy and uses the power of his office to advocate for what is right. And maybe such a leader would lose a few battles and would sacrifice some poll points. So what? By trying to be Mr. Nice Guy, Obama's surrendered every battle before it was even fought and his approval ratings are still at historic lows. Conservatives hate him and always will hate him no mater what he does simply because he's not one of them; liberals are having a hard time supporting him because he's not championing their causes. How has his strategy helped matters?

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When I look at Obama, I see a man who is trying very hard to do right by the people [View all] Eliminator Dec 2011 OP

Very well said! nt One of the 99 Dec 2011 #1

My sentiments exactly! Hulk Dec 2011 #141

get your eyes checked............... babsbunny Dec 2011 #2

He can do no wrong, even if he is unable to do achieve anything right kenny blankenship Dec 2011 #140

It sounds like nothing could possibly satisfy you Anatos Dec 2011 #196

If he's as impotent as his apologists always claim kenny blankenship Dec 2011 #197

Not ominipotent is not the same as impotent Anatos Dec 2011 #199

Which people? That's the question everyone is asking. Only O can answer it. MichiganVote Dec 2011 #3

All people. He's president of the liberals AND conservatives. Like he said, there is ONE America. FarLeftFist Dec 2011 #6

I think you're dreaming. There is rich america and rich europe and rich asia MichiganVote Dec 2011 #11

Who wants it all? I thought we were talking about Obama. FarLeftFist Dec 2011 #14

Except conservatives didn't vote for him. Liberals did. Why do he and his spokespeople badmouth MotherPetrie Dec 2011 #17

Because they have to Eliminator Dec 2011 #21

Oh, so that's why Rahmbone called progressives UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #30

Apparently you still haven't read the full context of the quote Sheepshank Dec 2011 #99

He Rahm apologized for that Charlemagne Dec 2011 #146

That makes no sense.... Scuba Dec 2011 #80

Did you like it when Republicans acted as if we didn't count when they were in power? treestar Dec 2011 #137

"there is ONE America"... awoke_in_2003 Dec 2011 #132

great videa..thanks for posting +1 AnOhioan Dec 2011 #164

No problem, my fellow buckeye... awoke_in_2003 Dec 2011 #168

Beautiful time of year :) AnOhioan Dec 2011 #169

Not "everyone" is asking that. You don't speak for "everyone." nt pnwmom Dec 2011 #53

I feel similarly, like he definitely doesn't have some evil hidden agenda like the last guy did. FarLeftFist Dec 2011 #4

I agree. And to do right by ALL of the people. TheWraith Dec 2011 #5

What About NDAA and rsmith6621 Dec 2011 #7

It was written with clear provisions to exempt US citizens and legal residents bhikkhu Dec 2011 #22

strike two words and the meaning is reversed. The Republic is dead. n/t nebenaube Dec 2011 #38

Actually, I think it is written in language that is amiguous at best, contradictory most likely, JDPriestly Dec 2011 #42

Again, sadly as you'll see on this forum, there aren't very many Obama supporters. Liberal_Stalwart71 Dec 2011 #8

Hey Liberal Stalwart rsmith6621 Dec 2011 #10

I was unaware that all 60 senators had his back at all times. FarLeftFist Dec 2011 #12

But he really didn't Eliminator Dec 2011 #19

I knew that someone would come back with this lie. Obama DID NOT have a majority for TWO years Liberal_Stalwart71 Dec 2011 #20

+1 n/t JTFrog Dec 2011 #23

Bush had a Democratic Congress and got what he wanted. JDPriestly Dec 2011 #46

bush was figurehead for a machine that didn't believe in democracy and controlled most media certainot Dec 2011 #49

"the best the left can get" primavera Dec 2011 #145

IMO left has ignored the right's best weapon- talk radio- while it has dominated US politics last 20 certainot Dec 2011 #154

Interesting, thank you! primavera Dec 2011 #157

just wanted to add that i didn't want to give the impression i thought obama was mediocre certainot Dec 2011 #163

+1,000! Kahuna Dec 2011 #172

yeah, because the fault couldn't possibly be with that 'Democratic Congress' MH1 Dec 2011 #98

Or the voters and non voters. Those reps. didn't get into office without Kahuna Dec 2011 #173

Obama is in charge of the DNC (or appoints the person who is). JDPriestly Dec 2011 #194

Sure, that would make it easy primavera Dec 2011 #73

yeah, seriously, I remember how Bush had such trouble Warren Stupidity Dec 2011 #78

"The excuses never stop" So true. SammyWinstonJack Dec 2011 #82

He DID have 60 votes Eliminator Dec 2011 #85

GOP doesn't believe in democracy so they can vote lock step without a problem certainot Dec 2011 #158

A lie???? C'mon man, we have a majority in the Senate right now. TheKentuckian Dec 2011 #88

I'm very much a lady, but thanks for playing anyway. Others have already chimed Liberal_Stalwart71 Dec 2011 #108

Thanks. russspeakeasy Dec 2011 #123

well, it is easier for a democrat or repug newspeak Dec 2011 #131

Not two years. LiberalAndProud Dec 2011 #33

I find that the weakest argument by Dems. vaberella Dec 2011 #64

Uhhh...no, It was a mere 6 weeks. And repeating the lie only helps the Reps...how nice of you!! Sheepshank Dec 2011 #100

Because he as made it abundantly clear.. sendero Dec 2011 #26

Yet he has an 82% approval rating from Libs/Progressives. Go figure. FarLeftFist Dec 2011 #27

Only because the alternative is so horrible. JDPriestly Dec 2011 #48

Not all liberals/progressives think exactly like you. boxman15 Dec 2011 #111

Maybe I know more about life and the world than the liberals/progressives JDPriestly Dec 2011 #193

Because most are more realistic about how government works and Kahuna Dec 2011 #176

Never ever ever is stretching the point. LiberalAndProud Dec 2011 #34

Have you considered the possibility that you are 100% wrong? BzaDem Dec 2011 #35

and when he signs the NDDA nebenaube Dec 2011 #39

Did he sign it? n/t vaberella Dec 2011 #65

This message was self-deleted by its author sendero Dec 2011 #69

exactly-remember ALL THOSE GROUPS & PEOPLE THROWN UNDER THE BUS! StarsInHerHair Dec 2011 #55

Apparently you need to "go fucking figure!" Obama never claimed to be a Liberal_Stalwart71 Dec 2011 #107

dead on! thank you! tfsoccer Dec 2011 #94

Well said! One of the 99 Dec 2011 #174

Here is the bottom line ... JoePhilly Dec 2011 #9

Doing nothing is better than doing bad socialist_n_TN Dec 2011 #15

I used to think that only tea Baggers saw the world as black and white ... JoePhilly Dec 2011 #18

I'm noticing this too, JoePhilly. The prevailing meme that Obama is not Liberal_Stalwart71 Dec 2011 #72

Something at any price does not always or even generally doing nothing. TheKentuckian Dec 2011 #91

Didn't they used to call that "throwing the baby out with the bath water"? Wait Wut Dec 2011 #143

In the absence of making things worse, they will settle for doing nothing at all. LiberalAndProud Dec 2011 #36

what does that have to do with caving in before even putting up a fight? StarsInHerHair Dec 2011 #56

Exactly Charlemagne Dec 2011 #139

& that is the main source of people's frustration, anger, & fear StarsInHerHair Dec 2011 #184

Mostly our government is not doing anything, other than hassling the . truedelphi Dec 2011 #150

I think he's doing at least as well as anybody would have in the environment Orangepeel Dec 2011 #13

The unconstitutional detainment provision that passed is a tipping point for me Ferret Annica Dec 2011 #24

Your fight is with the AUMF, not Democrats. Robb Dec 2011 #25

My fight? I am against this unconstitutional detainment indefinately of Americans. Ferret Annica Dec 2011 #40

Who did you vote for, who voted for the AUMF? Robb Dec 2011 #96

Most, not none; as I think Ron Paul would do OK in terms of a Supreme Court nominee Ferret Annica Dec 2011 #106

It would be a worthless gesture, and a setback. Robb Dec 2011 #110

Thanks for the food for thought Ferret Annica Dec 2011 #114

Thank you for the video. Coming soon to every neighborhood in truedelphi Dec 2011 #147

indefinite detention sounds too polite, permanent imprisonment=truth StarsInHerHair Dec 2011 #57

You get no argument from me on that. Ferret Annica Dec 2011 #70

He knows how to play ball libodem Dec 2011 #16

Passed three Bush "free" trade agreements in November MannyGoldstein Dec 2011 #28

I agree. OhioBlue Dec 2011 #29

"elect more progressives in so many positions..." BAM! THE solution right there. alp227 Dec 2011 #151

...on Wall St. and K Street. That is all. n/t arendt Dec 2011 #31

Very well put. jberryhill Dec 2011 #32

Is this sarcasm? AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2011 #37

No one forced him to lie about "not running on a public option". Zhade Dec 2011 #41

americans allow team limbaugh to make real health reform impossible, since back in clinton years. certainot Dec 2011 #54

Americans WANTED a Public Option, esp after watching "Sicko", even people in TEXAS StarsInHerHair Dec 2011 #59

we allow team limbaugh to create made-to-order constituencies to enable the 1%'s politicians certainot Dec 2011 #90

Do you equate a radio host's show with the POTUS' bully pulpit ? russspeakeasy Dec 2011 #126

There are people who listen to Rush bloviate daily treestar Dec 2011 #134

Point taken. Thanks. russspeakeasy Dec 2011 #135

it is louder. it is a coordinated repeated message from the think tanks reaching 50 mil a week certainot Dec 2011 #148

it's kabuki, the "Left" is not real, does not function StarsInHerHair Dec 2011 #187

what short term do i use to describe those who are not republicans and include many who don't certainot Dec 2011 #188

neo-Con & neo-Lib both are conartists, to me StarsInHerHair Dec 2011 #189

so what is the short term i can use? the limbaugh republicans are totally irrational. the RUSHANS! certainot Dec 2011 #190

well I'd pronounce Rushians like rush-E-ans StarsInHerHair Dec 2011 #195

that wouldn't be certainot Dec 2011 #198

but it doesn't sound like "Russian", it just LOOKS similar StarsInHerHair Dec 2011 #200

What would you have him do? Eliminator Dec 2011 #87

the singular reason SINGLE PAYER was impossible is because americans have ignored talk radio certainot Dec 2011 #192

Obama ran into huge opposition to the Public Option Zalatix Dec 2011 #175

Anybody read Confidence Men by Ron Suskind? thescreaminghead Dec 2011 #43

Wins the primary, you mean. LiberalAndProud Dec 2011 #45

Really? So the whole time they were planning on killing Maraya1969 Dec 2011 #51

OMG thescreaminghead... tallahasseedem Dec 2011 #83

I recommend reading "The Promise" by Jonathan Alter about Obama's first year boxman15 Dec 2011 #117

That's not his problem fadedrose Dec 2011 #44

could it be the donheld Dec 2011 #47

I see some people who will only see what he has done wrong or that he has done nothing Maraya1969 Dec 2011 #50

people's lives are still getting WORSE-I'm disgusted by your 'racism' remark StarsInHerHair Dec 2011 #60

Have you forgot the GOP congress and Senate won't Maraya1969 Dec 2011 #112

I was not commenting on the Senate's possible racism, I was talking about people here & in StarsInHerHair Dec 2011 #186

great second paragraph. unfortunately much of the right's strength comes from ignoring talk radio by certainot Dec 2011 #52

honestly I think the so-called Left has not been organized on purpose, 20 + years & STILL StarsInHerHair Dec 2011 #61

i think that was the US reaching a bush-related threshold. wouldn't have been that close and this certainot Dec 2011 #92

Many are no longer profitable, they are funded. TheKentuckian Dec 2011 #180

which suggests the whole thing would fall apart if universities broke their sports contracts certainot Dec 2011 #181

No, it means they will push the propaganda even if it costs because it produces TheKentuckian Dec 2011 #201

they operate the radio monopoly to sell war, dergulation, climate denial etc. but those stations certainot Dec 2011 #202

Yeah, but the sponsors don't matter. The point of the shows isn't to turn a buck on the TheKentuckian Dec 2011 #203

i agree they're selling bigger things but they can't get away with it if they go to fullout subsidiz certainot Dec 2011 #204

drone campaign is entirely within his control themadstork Dec 2011 #58

All that is true eridani Dec 2011 #62

One word: Bipartisan. Hatchling Dec 2011 #63

You didn't read the OP did you. Unfortunately you are not the only person who voted. vaberella Dec 2011 #67

effectively this government is one party. Warren Stupidity Dec 2011 #77

This message was self-deleted by its author OccupySamizdat Dec 2011 #66

When I look at Obama... OccupySamizdat Dec 2011 #68

Whatever... tallahasseedem Dec 2011 #84

Could be, but so what? primavera Dec 2011 #71

He came into office thinking Americans were fed up mmonk Dec 2011 #74

I see just another politician who opposes marriage equality for 'religious reasons' Bluenorthwest Dec 2011 #75

I see a weak center right administration that blew Warren Stupidity Dec 2011 #76

K&R #69... on the headline alone! stlsaxman Dec 2011 #79

Obama is Bush-Lite Quantess Dec 2011 #81

He needed to do what Dylan Ratigan said Dustlawyer Dec 2011 #86

I think I need to borrow your Rose Colored Glasses. nt NorthCarolina Dec 2011 #89

It's very hard to veto an unconstitutional bill. DireStrike Dec 2011 #93

he talks a good talk Slit Skirt Dec 2011 #95

Obama has failed on his hopeful change platform quinnox Dec 2011 #97

Wow, so many talking points in one post... vi5 Dec 2011 #101

I wouldn't want his job for anything Grateful for Hope Dec 2011 #102

He's better than *. MoonRiver Dec 2011 #103

Agree, and well said. That's my general sense of the man -- he's doing what he can to gateley Dec 2011 #104

+1 Bluerthanblue Dec 2011 #105

the excuses are starting to sound like a mantra n/t Enrique Dec 2011 #109

I agree, Obama is trying very hard to do right by the people. h2ebits Dec 2011 #113

right on madokie Dec 2011 #115

So, are you saying sulphurdunn Dec 2011 #116

well put question stockholmer Dec 2011 #156

Honestly? dotymed Dec 2011 #118

and then sells them out in backroom deals. nineteen50 Dec 2011 #119

Sorry but I do disagree jimlup Dec 2011 #120

Disagree Also ecoalex2 Dec 2011 #121

Kick & recommend bottom line Dec 2011 #122

I'm well over 60 and I try not to mix my med's. russspeakeasy Dec 2011 #129

Yeah, yeah. And he let BP ride roughshod over the Gulf because...... blindpig Dec 2011 #124

I'm 60 Too ecoalex2 Dec 2011 #125

class of 69 :) bottom line Dec 2011 #136

If he really wanted to do right by the people he would level with them. kenny blankenship Dec 2011 #127

Obama is a coward Downtown Hound Dec 2011 #128

+100000000000 treestar Dec 2011 #130

A sincere question which may have a positive answer: wial Dec 2011 #133

He shares responsibility to be fair mitchtv Dec 2011 #138

I'm afraid I don't see that at all. Deep13 Dec 2011 #142

Bullshit...... quickesst Dec 2011 #144

Great Post!!! samplegirl Dec 2011 #149

You can thank Fox News, the Drudge Report, trash talk radio, and Grover Norquist. alp227 Dec 2011 #152

congratulations on being able to read the president's mind BOG PERSON Dec 2011 #153

Then he needs to try a lot harder Jack Rabbit Dec 2011 #155

So why did he not veto the latest defense bill, which allows people to be git-moed on a whim?? webDude Dec 2011 #159

I think he is too trusting of the BS spewed by Establishment policy wonks. Odin2005 Dec 2011 #160

Finally a voice of reason! BumRushDaShow Dec 2011 #161

You state the obvious texshelters Dec 2011 #162

Right Man at the Right Time MjolnirTime Dec 2011 #165

The least we can do is cover his back. nt bluestate10 Dec 2011 #166

Sadly... with profound disappointment... wundermaus Dec 2011 #167

In my opinion, you are no where near reality babylon50 Dec 2011 #170

Right... because in reality, Obama can just demand anything he wants and get it. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #185

Very well said proud patriot Dec 2011 #171

I miss being able to unrec these vanity threads Doctor_J Dec 2011 #177

I'm impressed that you know better than anyone that Obama has a cakewalk. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #183

Fuckin A TheKentuckian Dec 2011 #191

When I look at Obama unionworks Dec 2011 #178

Well said. silverweb Dec 2011 #179

What's with the reality? The Doctor. Dec 2011 #182