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global1

(26,507 posts) Wed Jun 24, 2015, 04:02 PM Jun 2015

Is It Wrong For Me To Believe That Obama Is Playing 3D Chess With This TPP?..... [View all]

I keep hoping that there is something in this trade agreement that Obama knows about that will make the Repugs regret that they joined forces with him to pass it.

Even to the point that Pelosi may have staged that rebellion a week or so ago - is she in on it? Was that a ploy on Obama and Pelosi's part to further lure the Repugs in voting for this agreement?

I still have to believe that Obama is sincere when he says why would he do something counter to what he's been doing for all his years in office. That he wouldn't support anything that would hurt the economy he worked so hard to bring back from the brink. That he wouldn't do anything to cause more unemployment - because he worked so hard to get the employment numbers where they are today.

Something is just not adding up to me. It seems an uncharacteristically 180 degree turn for Obama - and I just don't think he has it in him to be doing this just a a legacy thing.

Come on - his legacy will be he was the first black President of the U.S. That seems pretty good to me for a legacy given the odds that were against him. And all through his administration he's done more good for this country than not. Why would he want to hurt his image. For some reason I don't see him as a money grubbing ex-pol that will be out to just make a speech and collect a fee when he leaves office. Seems to me that the more he gets the people of this country to like him - the more successful he will be as he retires from his Presidency and begins to do good for the world - which I feel he will do.

Does Obama have an ace up his sleeve on this or is it just wishful thinking on my part?

139 replies

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Highlight:

Is It Wrong For Me To Believe That Obama Is Playing 3D Chess With This TPP?..... [View all] global1 Jun 2015 OP

He's not playing chess. onecaliberal Jun 2015 #1

Obama doesn't work for us. Maedhros Jun 2015 #2

You left out "what he's told by Wall Street". Elwood P Dowd Jun 2015 #6

Bill Clinton & NAFTA. Same scenario..../nt think Jun 2015 #3

Without the titialiting diversions with the intern, of course. truedelphi Jun 2015 #59

You said it for me! n/t haikugal Jun 2015 #61

Although if you had typed it, maybe you'd have truedelphi Jun 2015 #69

It's right....LOL haikugal Jun 2015 #70

He could be securing his retirement. immoderate Jun 2015 #4

Oh, no doubt. SammyWinstonJack Jun 2015 #71

Be interesting to see how much the Obama's are worth in ten years. n/t cherokeeprogressive Jun 2015 #91

I vote for "wishful thinking" as the answer. guillaumeb Jun 2015 #5

Putting It That Way - I Want My Campaign Contribution Money Back From Him......nt global1 Jun 2015 #9

I did put it that way. guillaumeb Jun 2015 #12

Yep, once he had the nomination, remember the other choice was Hillary salib Jun 2015 #85

Thank you. And I'm supposed to be happy with HRC, who will do much the same. nt ladyVet Jun 2015 #72

I would not say that one is supposed to be happy with HRC, guillaumeb Jun 2015 #111

LOL leftstreet Jun 2015 #7

I don't know about the chess game thing. SaranchaIsWaiting Jun 2015 #8

I'm with you - cilla4progress Jun 2015 #15

At this point, that 'three dimensional chess' line is outright delusional. Marr Jun 2015 #10

I wonder the same thing Andy823 Jun 2015 #11

I don't think he is evil Kelvin Mace Jun 2015 #19

Sorry I don't buy that. nt Andy823 Jun 2015 #35

".. he will never want for anything financially and will not have to suffer consequences .." GoneFishin Jun 2015 #130

Yes, I feel the exact same. n/t Control-Z Jun 2015 #21

Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2015 #13

Sorry, but you are wrong Kelvin Mace Jun 2015 #14

I disagree. cilla4progress Jun 2015 #16

And what vacuum would be filled by China? Art_from_Ark Jun 2015 #116

My understanding is cilla4progress Jun 2015 #119

And yet, Obama has said that China is being considered for TPP membership Art_from_Ark Jun 2015 #122

China is just this week's boogeyman. This sets privileges for corporations, the countries djean111 Jun 2015 #128

Reaming is right Art_from_Ark Jun 2015 #135

Funny, I don't see China in there. Maybe the Chinese were going to swoop in and fire everyone, djean111 Jun 2015 #136

Here's another potential "benefit" of TPP in Japan Art_from_Ark Jun 2015 #137

Yep. Those poor Vietnamese farmers are gonna see health care costs go up, too. djean111 Jun 2015 #138

there only thing i can think of... lame54 Jun 2015 #17

It is very simple Kelvin Mace Jun 2015 #23

not buying that... lame54 Jun 2015 #25

Same, no sale. Obama is not like a Clinton when it comes to greed and money. SaranchaIsWaiting Jun 2015 #29

Yes-- he believes things like NAFTA and the TPP are great. Marr Jun 2015 #31

if this is purely for his own financial gain - then yes... lame54 Jun 2015 #33

That's my point. I don't think he's doing it for his personal financial gain. Marr Jun 2015 #36

Exactly dreamnightwind Jun 2015 #40

Yep. Marr Jun 2015 #43

I'm not generally an Occam's Razor type dreamnightwind Jun 2015 #50

If a person shoots you in the head Kelvin Mace Jun 2015 #94

Sure, but my comments were in the context of... dreamnightwind Jun 2015 #100

My apologies Kelvin Mace Jun 2015 #108

No problem, my apologies if I took you wrong, and yes we do agree - n/t dreamnightwind Jun 2015 #109

that's really it in a nutshell Locrian Jun 2015 #106

So, that would make him an absolute fool Kelvin Mace Jun 2015 #93

He started betraying us almost as soon as he hit Washington Kelvin Mace Jun 2015 #92

I certainly agree with that dreamnightwind Jun 2015 #107

the carrot is usually backed up with a stick magical thyme Jun 2015 #97

He plays 3D chess all time, problem is he's a shitty chess player. bowens43 Jun 2015 #18

No, it is not wrong for you to believe that. SamKnause Jun 2015 #20

Those are exactly my concerns with this deal. HappyMe Jun 2015 #27

I really really want to believe it too. Avalux Jun 2015 #22

It's mostly in line with the initial profile I had heard about him Bradical79 Jun 2015 #24

I think Obama is doing what he thinks is right, Agnosticsherbet Jun 2015 #26

Well we know who the pawns are.... truebrit71 Jun 2015 #28

"Yes." It is wishful thinking. truebluegreen Jun 2015 #30

How moral are signature strikes, or double taps? [n/t] Maedhros Jun 2015 #52

Fine. He's not moral. truebluegreen Jun 2015 #82

We shouldn't be minimizing the misery we heap on third world citizens.[n/t] Maedhros Jun 2015 #86

You are absolutely correct. truebluegreen Jun 2015 #90

I think the correct metaphor is "11th dimensional chess" aikoaiko Jun 2015 #32

I think he knows we are in trouble long-term if we do nothing. Hoyt Jun 2015 #34

"I will not stand by as peril draws closer and closer." arcane1 Jun 2015 #37

So, we shouldn't do anything about climate change, etc., because george Hoyt Jun 2015 #38

Not even a nice try. Climate change is a real, actual threat. arcane1 Jun 2015 #42

Trying to maintain an economy here that keeps people from complaining is real. Hoyt Jun 2015 #44

Strawman. We are already trading with Asian countries, without the TPP. arcane1 Jun 2015 #47

Perhaps you are believing the junk about how bad TPP and TTIP are Hoyt Jun 2015 #51

People in Europe are angry about the TTIP. The governments could care less. This is not about djean111 Jun 2015 #129

+1 appalachiablue Jun 2015 #131

Yes, some protesters in Europe are against it. Their governments aren't -- Hoyt Jun 2015 #139

We already have free trade agreements with 80% of the GDP covered by the TPP. jeff47 Jun 2015 #63

So will Obama sign the bill that PROHIBITS trade negotiators from addressing climate change? Jim Lane Jun 2015 #112

Do you have a specific citation. Besides, it is a trade agreement, not an environmental agreement Hoyt Jun 2015 #113

Thanks for providing me with today�s laugh. Jim Lane Jun 2015 #114

You better check your sources, looks like climate change prohibition may not have been part of Hoyt Jun 2015 #115

And isn't it funny how those encroaching perils always Marr Jun 2015 #39

There comes a point when the fearmongering no longer works. arcane1 Jun 2015 #46

The GOP fervently hope that we have not reached the "point when the fearmongering no longer works". pampango Jun 2015 #101

TPP solves zero long term issues. joshcryer Jun 2015 #103

I agree completely with the automation issue, and need to address. Hoyt Jun 2015 #104

If anyone thinks he isn't, you haven't been paying attention for the last seven years. tridim Jun 2015 #41

Are you suggesting Obama doesn't actually want to pass the TPP? /nt Marr Jun 2015 #45

I agree. I'm hoping a lot of Democrats will be eating crow when this is over. Frustratedlady Jun 2015 #133

I guess it's called Career Advancement Chess. ananda Jun 2015 #48

Of course it is wrong for you to believe that tavernier Jun 2015 #49

Well, some of us care about the poor and working classes Maedhros Jun 2015 #53

Hey, don't shoot the messenger! tavernier Jun 2015 #60

Hey, don't forget "piece of shit used car salesman"! Solomon Jun 2015 #64

I have to agree that there is more to this than meets the eye (nt) Dream Girl Jun 2015 #54

Naive of me......when will we find out that this deal really stinks....how long before we can a kennedy Jun 2015 #55

I've heard this for seven years.. sendero Jun 2015 #56

Yes. frylock Jun 2015 #57

He's been pretty straightforward: he thinks this will be good for the economy Recursion Jun 2015 #58

There's a school of thought that when the economy does well, people will do well. winter is coming Jun 2015 #62

yes glinda Jun 2015 #65

Not wrong. He has stated his reasons more than once. He has not betrayed us. There will be.... Hekate Jun 2015 #66

up or down vote with a r senate and r house questionseverything Jun 2015 #83

And whose fault is it that he has to work with a Repub majority? Voters who stayed home... Hekate Jun 2015 #84

It's amazing how far you'll stretch to blame the public, and to excuse Obama. /nt Marr Jun 2015 #98

Democratic voters stayed home in the midterms. That's the truth, not a stretch. nt Hekate Jun 2015 #99

What? MFrohike Jun 2015 #117

And mark my words.... CANDO Jun 2015 #67

I believe firmly that he has an ace up his sleeve. I trust the man. n/t lamp_shade Jun 2015 #68

I think we need to find a new leader of the Democratic party in the interim. Baitball Blogger Jun 2015 #73

Yes, it is wrong. n/t PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #74

He's a communitarian, not a populist. haele Jun 2015 #75

It's not wrong and it's not wrong for you to believe in unicorns, but neither is reality based. eom Cleita Jun 2015 #76

Obama's legacy is his trail of success. He's a winner. Renew Deal Jun 2015 #77

Nope, I think you are absolutely correct global1. EV_Ares Jun 2015 #78

Yes, you are wrong. 99Forever Jun 2015 #79

Hmmm...looking at the replies in this thread, I think you might be on to something. Rex Jun 2015 #80

In all honesty, I can't make heads or tails out of the TPP issue. It is massively complex Number23 Jun 2015 #81

It is just that only 5 or 6 chapters have anything to do with trade. The rest sets up global djean111 Jun 2015 #132

McConnell and Boehner are fighting for this tooth and nail Ruby the Liberal Jun 2015 #87

A few thoughts wilsonbooks Jun 2015 #88

no more wrong than my believing Spock has beamed himself HFRN Jun 2015 #89

I think Hope and Change ... GeorgeGist Jun 2015 #95

I hope you are right and at the very least... lostnfound Jun 2015 #96

With Pelosi signing on, yes. joshcryer Jun 2015 #102

I'm afraid this issue has made me very cynical about the POTUS. Vinca Jun 2015 #105

I think he is playing 3D chess with US. We are willing pawns. Or some of us are. djean111 Jun 2015 #110

I think you are indeed wrong. Betty Karlson Jun 2015 #118

Oh he's playing alright Autumn Jun 2015 #120

There is some aspect to this with regards to getting SOME Gloria Jun 2015 #121

The "counter China" argument is bogus Art_from_Ark Jun 2015 #126

I think there are two possibilities gollygee Jun 2015 #123

I think you're right with #2 DFW Jun 2015 #124

Yes DiverDave Jun 2015 #125

I've been waiting for that card to appear for 7 yrs, the same people WE bailed out, now dictate our orpupilofnature57 Jun 2015 #127

lol BlindTiresias Jun 2015 #134