I wish the President would give a speech...

[kentuck]

It would be nice to know where he is "leading" us?

But, I guess he likes the drama? He wants to keep you guessing?

It's always a little discouraging to know that your opinion is worthless.

But the President is going to do what he thinks is best for the country - not what is best for the Democratic Party. He is not trying to win votes by being a "partisan" standing up to the evil Republicans. He is going to do what he thinks is right without regard to Party affiliation.

That is why he is so silent at this time. Although there is an uproar in the progressive base, he could care less. It is so obvious that he really is not that into you.

So, there is no need to write the White House, no need to post on the blogs, no need to discuss with other progressives, the President is not listening. He will do what he wants to do.

It would be nice if he would just speak to you. Maybe say "hi"? But don't hold your breath.

[TwilightGardener]

1. I'm thinking they're still working it out. And I agree, he's not into politics as a blood sport.

I don't know if he cares about winning one for our team, or losing one to their team. I think he's always been more focused on racking up legislation under his watch, modest as it may be.

[asdjrocky]

8. Politics for them, for people of their class-

is never a blood sport. The blood comes from us.

[TwilightGardener]

27. I agree, there will always be a distance there, no matter how modest

their upbringings were. They have learned how to make it in this country, and once you do that, I imagine it's hard to understand the average folks you've left behind.

[polichick]

2. I'm tired of pretty words - I want to see action that puts Democratic principles...

...and regular citizens above corporate welfare and the very wealthy.

I agree that the President isn't listening - at least not to Dems.

[obxhead]

4. +1

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

13. +1 x 1000 His speeches...

His speeches turn me off, now, for that reason.

You can't expect to mollify your angry base without throwing them a bone.

[hfojvt]

20. I would have said that I was sick and tired of the damn TV

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcuKpudlHug

but I am kinda stuck in 1985

[somone]

3. "I shall not seek, and I will not accept"

would be appropriate given his dismal record

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[Andy823]

22. Excellent reply!

Couldn't have said it better myself!

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

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[bigtree]

6. he's not going to gab away while his folks are negotiating.

I'd expect a detailed statement when an agreement is reached with time for questions.

The President just held a sit-down interview with progressive bloggers a month or so ago . . . how quickly we forget. I wouldn't assume that he isn't weighing public sentiment, even as his negotiators hammer away in private at republicans with his initiatives and proposals.

[kentuck]

7. He does have Jack Lew and Tim Geithner negotiating with the Repubs...

So we can rest easy that the right decision will be made. After all, Repubs negotiating with Repubs always seem to come out with a workable compromise.

[gateley]

10. Ouch. nt

[bigtree]

12. It was Geithner months ago arguing to end the Bush cuts for the wealthy

. . . arguing about the negative effect on the economy. Of course, that doesn't suit the narrative that these Obama people are 'just like republicans'. Candy for uninformed dilettantes, curious prattle for those who bother to actually determine these folks' actual positions.

[kentuck]

14. My God, man, he was the head of the NY Fed...

..and when he left, his job went to some old fart from Goldman Sachs. Yep, a Democrat to the core.

[bigtree]

19. your god man, that doesn't make him a republican

. . . no matter how much you dish out irrelevant simplicities which attract and encourages simple-minded sophists to join in your accusatory chorus. Play on, by all means, maestro!

[kentuck]

26. Conversely, it doesn't make him a Democrat.

Does it? He was a major player in the collapse of the banks and the credit derivatives. Jack Lew? What's his history?

[RKP5637]

9. I often wonder where we're going to be as a country in a few more years. Some will

be doing quite well, but many will be down and out. There needs to be a major paradigm shift in this country as to how jobs are created if in fact we are still going to distribute wealth via jobs. Anymore, it seems the distribution of wealth is not correlated much to jobs.

We need a wide spectrum of jobs in the country. Maybe I'm just not paying attention well enough, but I really don't see the economic engine that is going to create jobs for those currently unemployed and into the future.

There will not be a lot of jobs until the US labor rate is less than or equal to the global common denominator wage rate.

What are the masses of individuals going to do for jobs in the future. I feel like I'm working in a corp. where the hatchet is cutting all of the jobs to improve profits.

We had major industry growth after the great depression ... where is this coming from today ... that would employ masses of individuals at many skill levels. Other countries are quite able to supply their needs without the US exports such as in past decades.

IMO the US has never faced so much competition in the global marketplace.

I really don't hear innovative solutions by politicians. Most of it is ban-aiding the rotten piers.

[kentuck]

11. Global marketplace?

Yes, David Brooks, on MTP this morning, said that once American workers can produce five times as much as the foreign competition, then the jobs will return to America. How is that possible??

[somone]

15. Race to the bottom

Pretty soon he'll say "if American workers can produce TEN times as much as the foreign competition"

[RKP5637]

21. Yep, that's a good example of the ridiculousness of the situation ... fantasy

solutions, not real solutions.

I spent some time yesterday looking on You Tube and the endless destruction of manufacturing in this country. It just leaves one cringing ... those factories represented hoards of jobs at all levels, many many skill sets and educational levels. I see nothing like that today, and IMO nothing replacing it ...

We also have other jobs leaving the country, for one example, radiologists - that can be done remotely in lower labor countries. We are seeing engineering, R&D, many types of jobs leaving for cheaper labor lands. I just do not hear any politicians effectively addressing these issues and frankly our current financial modeling just might not have a solution.

And "if" American workers could produce 5X output, what would be the magic that off shore labor could not do the same.

IMO the politicians are clueless as to a solution, riding by the seat of their pants, all of them, hoping for the best.

[kentuck]

25. That about sums it up.

imo.

[tpsbmam]

17. Obama giving a speech is meaningless to me at this point. His words are empty

rhetoric. He talks a very pretty good game and then does the opposite (i.e., sells the American people out to the corporations & wealthy). Fuck the speeches -- I no longer bother to listen when he speaks because it's mostly lies and just pisses me off. I can read it the next day or read key excerpts in articles/posts by authors I trust. Do I trust Obama? Oh hell no!

[hfojvt]

18. yeah, that would actually be nice

If he would do what is best for the country. Here's a clue for him though - caving in to the Republicans as they fight to serve the rich - that ain't it. That's not what is best for the country. Not even close.

[kentuck]

24. I do believe...

He is doing his best to do what is best for the country and not his Party. I sincerely believe that. Unfortunately, I believe he is in a very tight bubble. I would like to see him double his number of advisers. He has accomplished a lot. To his supporters, they are very happy with his accomplishments. To his detractors, they think he should have made larger accomplishments, rather than settling for what he did. Perhaps that was all that was possible? Perhaps not? That is where the disagreement lies.

[hfojvt]

30. I am not interested in rehashing any of the past

my point is that an odious compromise here will not be an accomplishment. It will be a betrayal. We did not vote for him, we did not chant 'yes we can' as something that means 'yes we can win the election and then roll over for Republicans and conservative Democrats.' Yes we can was supposed to mean we can win the fight, not we can concede without a fight.

What is best for this country is to have a government of the people, not a government of the rich. Republicans are determined to be the servants of the rich, willing to fight to the death for their masters. Obama and the Democrats are supposed to be fighting for the people, not giving up. Republicans are demanding a pound of flesh and Obama seems prepared to negotiate it down to 15.9 ounces and declare that a victory.

[KT2000]

23. Me too

LEADERSHIP!!!
That is what we are missing here.
All we hear are the TW talking points and hideous comments from them.
If he wants to take the high ground he has to explain it - tell us why he is doing what he is doing.

[treestar]

28. I too wanted the President of the United States to be my puppet.

Then I grew up.

Why does he have to tell you what you want to hear? Why do you sit passively waiting?

[kentuck]

29. But he was all sweet talk when he wanted our vote...

But now, he has a new sweetheart.

But from what bigtree posted, they are in deep negotiations with the House. They don't have the votes in the House yet for any kind of deal. And the President, is a very cautious man. He will not show his hand until all the cards are on the table. Maybe?