Mr. President--- True DEMs are pissed.

[trumad]

I have my ear to the ground today---Blogs, forums, radio shows,....

Man they are giving Obama hell!

[uponit7771]

1. true progressives would find a way to get back a functional democracy not focus on one man

...who can't help that the USSC allowed overt and unmitigated gerrymandering in the House and has a senate majority leader who doesn't understand that if the tables were turned a KKKon senate leader would get rid of the filibuster rule and run the senate like it's supposed to be ran for a functional democracy.

[ZombieHorde]

5. That "one man" is attacking SS, and expecting people to not call him out on it

seems strange to me.

[uponit7771]

18. because there's no functional democracy....regards

[trumad]

6. Oh but he can help putting ourt a SS cut meme...

[HereSince1628]

11. "One man" made this decision...I hope his feet and lower legs have 3rd degree 'burns'

because the guy who just proposed this repugnant concession told all of us to hold his feet to the fire.

[uponit7771]

19. because he had nothing else to do? .... no, because there's no functional democracy. I agree with

...Krugman; Obama is trying to seem reasonable in the face of evil cons in congress who've been corrupted by the perception of absolute power

[Dragonfli]

36. Screwing over the most vulnerable is neither reasonable nor courageous. /nt

[AAO]

79. Oh the shame! You've apparently not heard of 4 dimensional chess before!

[walkerbait41]

121. +1

[HereSince1628]

39. I disagree, I don't think Obama is trying to seem reasonable...he's flat out conceding

precious New Deal benefits because he desperately wants to make "A Grand Bargain".

Somehow it really feels like his desire for a legacy named The Grand Bargain isn't going to benefit people the way legacy legislation such as The New Deal and the Great Society programs did.

[JDPriestly]

80. This was the one proposal the Republicans wanted Obama to make.

Now they can hold his feet to the fire as well as the feet of all Democrats who run for the presidency.

The Republican seniors will eat this up. Had Obama forced Republicans to suggest this, he would have kept Democrats in power for years and years. It's that Obama was first and front on this that is so extremely disgusting. It is a betrayal.

Manning is accused of betraying state security secrets.

That is such a joke.

The betrayal of America's security is Obama's proposal to cut Social Security and Medicare. Shame on him.

[rhett o rick]

16. If you arent a "true progressive" what are you?

A true Democrat would be disappointed at a Democratic president not fighting to support SS and Medicare. He should be pushing the raising of the cap and the lowering of the Medicare age. That's where a Democrat should be starting from.

[uponit7771]

21. a true democrat would fight the root of the cause and not the leaves...

[Dragonfli]

38. The root of the cause is Obama's obsession with cutting programs to please Pete Peterson

do you suggest we "off" Pete or steal the money he lobbied Obama with and burn it or both?

[tridim]

45. What programs has Obama cut?

If he's obsessed with it as you claim, your list must be many pages long.

Just post the top 3, m'kay?

[Dragonfli]

54. He's not finished just yet but he has obsessively been threatening our elderly with these

parroted third way talking points about cutting entitlements. When the negotiations are finished, I am sure he will get his way.

You really think threatening the elderly and disabled is a brilliant plan that will win votes?

Either his negotiations will be successful when after he gives away more of the farm, or if he does not succeed, Democrats running for office can use catchy slogans like "we aren't the party that wants cuts to SS, we just just repeatedly ask for them because we are liars"

Or for a bumper sticker, "We are not the party of SS cuts, just the party that lies about it"

[meow2u3]

91. Don't give me any ideas

I absolute loathe--even hate--rich people who look to steal the little the poor have to live on, so if I could get off scot-free, I'd have no problem rubbing out Pete Peterson.

But I'll settle for rubbing out every penny of his assets, leaving him broke and homeless. Maybe that'll teach that rich bastard a lesson in how the other half lives.

[Dragonfli]

94. What would be ironically delicious would be to Robin Hood his pampered ass

and give his fortune away to everyone that would be affected by the policies he pushes and purchases.

[meow2u3]

98. Pete Peterson would be the first I'd go Robin Hood on

Next targets: the Koch Bros.; the Romneys; the banksters, etc.

[rhett o rick]

40. And in the mean time cut benefits for our seniors? Why not increase benefits and look

for the problems at the same time. And by the way, the problems are easy to find. The Elite are not paying their share. A good Democrat would agree.

[AndyA]

65. That's exactly the bottom line.

Cutting SS benefits is putting masking tape on a water leak. It's temporary and doesn't address why there's a leak.

President Obama isn't even putting the masking tape where the leak is, he's sticking it on the other side of the boat. SS isn't contributing to the deficit, and shouldn't be part of the deficit solution.

Raise the SS cap, for starters. That would go a long way toward extending SS. Increase benefits for those on SS right now, which will help the economy because every penny of that increase will be spent.

Expecting those most in need to suffer more while those at the top don't suffer at all isn't shared sacrifice, it's abuse of the needy. President Obama should be ashamed of himself for even allowing SS to be part of the dialog, much less extending it as if it's the problem.

Perhaps he needs to be reminded that the major causes of our deficit are the Bush tax cuts, the two wars, and a pharma bill that flooded the drug companies bank accounts.

[rhett o rick]

41. I am still curious, what you consider yourself if not progressive? nm

[DisgustipatedinCA]

66. Craven. n/t

[treestar]

82. +10000

True progressive would be working on getting the Republicans out of the house and senate in 2014.

But instead plenty of them fantasize about a new white knight hero dictatorial (but for good) President in 2016!

They want to pretend Congress has no power. And that the Courts have no power. That they are servants of the President.

[Maven]

105. SHARED BLAME is not SHIFTED BLAME.

Obama is the leader of this party, Obama sets the agenda, OBAMA is presenting an unconscionable plan to undermine the Democratic party's flagship economic issue.

Put another way: if a boat is about to capsize, you don't shift your weight to the low side just because that's the way the boat is going. Especially not when you're the 200 ton heavyweight on board.

You are rambling, and it is because you have nothing.

[upaloopa]

2. He deserves it. I told O of A don't bother sending me emails of SSBenefits are cut.

Here is the irony. Our side wants to cut SSBenefits and to protect them we have to count on the other side to not accept the deal!

[uponit7771]

3. ...at this point they are cutting off their noses to spit GOP faces and don't know it...

...I can hear the 14 congressional commericals now "voted with Obama to cut social security"

[tridim]

4. Classic not seeing the forest for the trees

This proposal is not meant to pass, it's a middle-road compromise designed to put all the blame (for not compromising) on the Republicans. The voting public WANTS compromise overwhelmingly.

It's already working and will result in massive GOP losses in 2014.

Be smart "True Dems".

[trumad]

7. Oh I see---

So he's got this?

Snarf

[Autumn]

9. Snarf

I think you said it all trumad

[tridim]

20. Yes, and you'll understand that when the Repubs reject the compromise..

and begin hemorrhaging seats in Congress in 2014 because of it.

[trumad]

35. What if they don't?

What if they accept and it moves forward...what then?

[tridim]

37. They already have.

[JoePhilly]

84. Boehner is so stupid ...

He should have let this percolate for a while, so some could reach true foam at the mouth status.

[Marr]

89. lol, just like the Bushies with Iraq. It's ALWAYS "wait another year and you'll see the genius".

Y'know, sometimes things are exactly what they appear to be.

[tridim]

90. We saw the genius about 4 hours ago when Boner did exactly what the President wanted.

And made himself and his party look even more worthless to the voting public.

But by all means compare Obama with Bush, it's so "DU".

[Marr]

93. Actually, I wasn't comparing Obama to Bush.

I was comparing the Bushies to the Obama fan club.

What was it you said on that other thread, again? 'He's smarter than all of us'? So we just have to accept anything he says or does, no matter what, under the assumption that Daddy knows best.

You'll have to forgive me if I don't give your sagely historical interpretations much weight.

[Dragonfli]

103. Oh My God, I just realized the poster you are talking to is Britney!

[Marr]

104. LOL

I guess there are some sprinkled into every group.

[L0oniX]

125. WTF is he even bringing up SS? FDR would throw him to the GOP dogs. Now go on with yer worship.

[LondonReign2]

14. So just to be clear..

..you agree with cutting Social Security?

[tridim]

17. No.

Neither does the administration.

They just know they're proposing it to a brick wall with approval numbers in the teens.

[tridim]

42. Boner already rejected it this morning.

Obama is destroying the Republicans with this plan.

[JHB]

78. Bookmarking for the next round of footsie-playing with SS, to check...

...how vigorously the Republican-destroying was conducted.

[Generic Other]

102. And he's destroying the Democrats too

Totally tearing us apart. You can see it on DU.

A pyhrric victory.

Personally, I am ready to fight the GOP to the death on SS. That is my earned benefit. And I will not budge on that point. I voted for Obama halfheartedly this time around, not because I believed he would champion Democratic causes because I stopped believing that a long time ago, but because the alternative was Romney, who was utterly loathsome in every way.

I expect the Democrat I vote for to honor his word to those who helped elect him. Or be known as a liar who lacks character. As it is now, he surrenders his arms before a single skirmish. We are asked to take marching orders from someone who only knows how to retreat. Clearly, I am not done fighting, and I refuse to retreat. Clearly, I am not only fighting the GOP at this point. And that makes me both sad and angry.

[Dragonfli]

43. Is everything he says a lie or just stuff that make Democrats appear to be the party of SS cuts?

How is scaring or pissing off the elderly and disabled going to do anything to gain seats? Do all the Dems running just say, "it's ok folks, we are just liars, not pension fund thieves!"

[G_j]

64. +1000

[rhett o rick]

46. Never thought of that. He will offer to cut SS benefits to trick the Repubs.They will never suspect.

Then in 2014 the poor Dems running for office can always say that they didnt support the cuts that Obama proposed, and trick the voters. Wow. I should learn chess and give up angry birds.

The centrists are so smart.

[tridim]

48. It already worked, Boner rejected the plan.

A guy with approval in the teens just rejected real compromise. Something all voters want.

[rhett o rick]

52. Maybe the next step is to offer to privatize SS. You keep saying the voters want compromise. The

voters clearly do not want to cut SS and Medicare at any cost.

[tridim]

56. No the next step is winning congress and then strenghthening SS and Medicare

What the hell are you talking about? Now you think Obama wants to privatize SS?

[rhett o rick]

57. He offered to cut benefits to scare the repubs. Just sayin next step is to threaten them w privatiza

privatization. That ought to really freak them out.

If he wants to help Dems he should not be proposing cuts.

[jtuck004]

68. Exactly. And we can expect, since he called Kamala Harris ‘the best looking attorney general’

that women will be riding on the crest of a wave of power and respect, a massive leap forward, any day now.


Truly, people just don't understand strategery.

[HereSince1628]

69. I don't believe the public wants willy-nilly compromise from whomever will give in.

I understand that is a Third Way's view of the world. But I think the public actually looks at the outcomes as well as the process.

[tridim]

70. Nobody gave in, the GOP did exactly what Obama wanted them to do.

It's over, and he won. As usual. SS and Medicare are not cut, and the GOP look like idiots who don't want to do their job.

[timdog44]

85. I tend to agree with you.

I think that is the strategy. I hope it happens. It seems a shame to use people's lives in the "game", but lives are in the balance in everything that goes on in DC. Gotta keep the faith.

[JDPriestly]

88. If you are right, this idea is going to backfire bigtime.

But I am 95% certain you are wrong.

Obama appointed Geithner as his first Sec. of Treasury. Geithner was picked for the Fed by a committee headed by Pete Peterson.

I have posted about this so many times on DU that I am tired of doing it. Just Google. Geithner picked Fed committee Peterson. The articles should come up unless they have been scraped from digital memory.

Wall Street wants our money. They want to grab as much of it as they possibly can. And Social Security prevents them from grabbing all of it. Pete Peterson is a Wall Street bully. He sponsors all kinds of meetings in luxury and influential locations to sell his anti-Social-Security message.

Obama has either always been or has become anti-Social-Security. It may be the Clinton influence.

[Javaman]

97. Or he could have not put it in the budget in the first place.

I don't see what the "clever" tactic is of him doing this other than pissing off Dems.

And perhaps I'm missing something, what would he have lost had he not put it in the budget?

[tridim]

99. It's called "bluffing" in poker.

He certainly didn't piss off this Dem. I knew what was up literally 10 seconds after reading this this morning.

He has done this to the GOPs many times before, and he always wins.

[Dragonfli]

108. Just why is he playing poker with our SS trust fund, does he think it is his money?

How does threatening old people and the disabled make his hand stronger?
Are our seniors nothing more than fodder for his gambling problem?

In the little games he plays he appears callous and cold hearted, scaring the crap out of elderly poor people and making voters believe that the Democrats are the party that wants to cut SS and other entitlements.

The optics suck, many now believe our PARTY and not just Obama wants to cut SS, Medicare, and Medicaid. This may be causing too much damage to avoid a bloodbath of lost seats in 2014, sometimes I think he works for the RNC

[Javaman]

120. Nice to know that he feels comfortable with using our future

and our contributions as his poker chip.

[L0oniX]

124. LMFAO ...uhmm ok whatever floats yer boat. n/t

[Buzz Clik]

8. Here we go -- just like the Tea Party, we are starting to define what a "true" Dem is.

Total bullshit.

[trumad]

10. A "true" Dem would not cut SS...

Do you disagree with that?

[forestpath]

13. Exactly - what does the Democratic party stand for, if not for that??

It does not exist to provide hero worship for one man!

[HereSince1628]

25. "The Party" isn't really us. It's the political professionals and they gave up on principles.

They are pragmatists who stand for reaching deals via compromise...even if they have to concede the New Deal to do so.

They vote to mostly to protect the benefits that accrue to them made possible by remaining in office. They'll promise to get out comfortable shoes and march with us in protests for labor rights when campaigning, but after they are elected they'll do everything to have too busy a schedule to actually show up--because it could hurt their re-electablity.

[Buzz Clik]

15. No.

And I won't be bullied into someone telling me how to think.

I'll make my own decisions on this issue and all others.

[trumad]

22. Bullied?

I asked you a question.

I'll do it again--- would a True Dem vote to cut SS?

[Buzz Clik]

109. I answered your question, and you didn't like the answer so you ask it again?

No attempt to pressure there.

I"ll answer it again: you have no right whatsoever to question anyone's Democratic credentials for any reason. You can state your opinion, but you've gone beyond that.

So, once again: your declaration is pure bullshit. Plain and simple.

[trumad]

113. look at this fucking thread...

Hows it feel to be the only one threatened?

Ugg

[Buzz Clik]

114. "Threatened"? From pressure to hyperbole. Jesus Christ, trumad, take a pill.

Regardless, you don't get to tell me whether or not I am a "real" Democrat. Not you, not anyone.

You are absolutely of the same mindset as the Teabaggers busting the balls of all the GOP representatives who got us to this place. I swear to God -- not only being highly offensive but emulating people I cannot tolerate. PUKE!

[trumad]

115. I'm not telling you shit..

You're the only one in this thread saying this shit.

You need to take a pill.

[Buzz Clik]

117. Thank you for backing off.

[tridim]

23. Obama has not cut SS.

[trumad]

24. yet

[tridim]

26. Ever.

I've been told over and over by "true Dems" that he is cutting SS, yet it never happens.

Cry wolf much?

[trumad]

28. Ever?

So all this hub bub is just noise today?

It's called ratcheting up the pressure on the dude to make sure he doesn't go there.

Right now---it sure looks like he's going there.

[tridim]

44. Boner already rejected the plan. It's over.

Now we are going to win back the house and a super-majority in the senate.

Thank gawd our president isn't a "true dem" radio host.

[truebrit71]

49. I want some of what you're having...

...because winning back the House will take nothing short of a miracle, and the Dems have already proven they can't get shit done with either a majority, OR a super-majority in the Senate...

[tridim]

50. They had a super-majority for three weeks.

[truebrit71]

51. ..and they got jack shit done...

...but of course they have been fucking spectacular as the majority party in the Senate so far, right?

[tridim]

55. Ever heard of the ACA?

You're not entitled to your own set of facts on DU.

[truebrit71]

58. You mean the Gift to Health Insurance Companies Act?

Yeah, I've heard of it....not impressed...Keep spinning..

[tridim]

59. That isn't spin pal, that's a fact.

I didn't ask if you liked the ACA, you said the Democrats passed nothing, and you are laughably wrong.

[truebrit71]

63. I said "the Democrats passed nothing"?

Not so much. I said they were basically fucking useless...which is the ACTUAL truth..

[tridim]

72. You said "they can't get shit done" even with a three week long super-majority.

Which isn't true at all.

[Marr]

92. You think being the party of attempted SS cuts is going to help Dems in 2014?

I think you need to take off those rose-colored glasses. This constant push on the part of Obama to get SS cuts is not going to help.

Seriously, think about this for a second. If he really wanted to release a budget that would be dead on arrival, but make great political hay for 2014, it would be built around *popular* things.

[tridim]

96. Again, it's already over, the GOP lost. The Dems and the people won.

SS not cut, Medicare not cut, and the Dems are now poised to retake control of both houses in 2014 due to 100% GOP obstruction.

Feel free to take another 6 months to let that sink in.

[Dragonfli]

47. What is it, is Obama continually crying wolf with these offers or is he just a liar?

[Buzz Clik]

110. The voice of reason in a chorus of hysteria.

Thank you.

[Chef Eric]

122. Nobody said he DID. They said he WOULD. nt

[rucky]

111. I've already been ruled out as a Scotsman

so what the hell

[forestpath]

12. Obama is probably glad we are pissed, but I hope this is giving SOME Democrats in Congress pause.

Though I doubt it. The fix is in and they're all in on it together other than a very, very few..

[frazzled]

27. You think he doesn't know this?

Where was everybody during the entire 2012 election year, when he said over and over, repeatedly (I'm emphasizing here) that he had and was still willing to make these painful entitlement cuts, and that it would make members of his own party extremely mad at him. He said this ... about a gazillion times. Yet everyone is acting as if they're shocked, shocked.

Without making any judgments, let me just say I am not in the least bit shocked. He said this was his position, his offer, and he is sticking by it. Of course, it will come to naught, probably. But people do love to get their outrage meters spinning.

You shouldn't have voted for him in 2012 (if you did), because this was his explicit position.

[trumad]

31. Wow!!!

so--- we just kick back and take it...

OK....

[Capn Sunshine]

86. No , I think you should do what you're doing

The President also stated repeatedly he expects to hear from us , to "Call Him on it" when we don't like what he's doing.

But try to avoid terms like "TRUE Dems" maybe?

[Cha]

100. Exactly, Capn Sunshine n/t

[quinnox]

29. It is rare for me to recommend a trumad post

But this is one, it is the TRUTH.

[patrice]

33. +1 me too.

[Wellstone ruled]

30. Well,what do you expect when you

surround yourself with the leftovers from Bill Clinton's administration. Mr.Obama needs to wake-up,this shit will never fly with us Progressives.

[patrice]

32. He's making a generational war out of what SHOULD be about JOBS, not the deficit. nt

[jtuck004]

67. +! Got that right. n/t

[truedelphi]

53. As long as we have money to give 67 Counties in Calif. 1 mil $ armored vehicles developed for Iraq -

Neither our Congressional leaders or the President should be telling us about Social security cuts, or taht there is no money to give to the states.

Here is a scoop - and yes, I knew, it is a right wing talking point that 2,600 of these vehicles are being ordered. But I am finding that 67 of them are here in Calif - so maybe, just as the RW was right about MTBE being a poison, the RW seems to be right about this. If the President's name was McCain,we would be all up in arms about this.

Here is the link:

http://finance.yahoo.com/video/opinions-mixed-armored-vehicle-marin-023628977.html

I know Judy Arnold (politically speaking, not personally) so I don't think this is fiction.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

60. And the funny thing is, Boehner ain't goin' for it.

He claims Obama is "holding entitlement reforms hostage for another round of tax increases".

This is funny as hell because Republicans are DETERMINED to put themselves down firmly as wanting to cut Social Security but NOT if the package contains raising taxes on the rich.

Doesn't matter to Billo's audience. They will vote Republican because White Males should rule.

[Myrina]

61. Too bad he doesn't give a shit what we think ...

[WillyT]

62. Yep... K & R !!!

[nineteen50]

71. Once

a corporate piss ant always a corporate piss ant. NO surprise here.

[DeSwiss]

73. K&R

[florida08]

74. well we sure are

Am tired of it being used as a bargaining chip at all. Poverty level wages have risen.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022465966

[Liberalynn]

75. AARP sent an Advocacy Alert

I called Gillibrand's Office. The lady who answered the phone said Senator Gillibrand will vote against the President's proposal for Chained CPI. I said well I hope she will not only vote against it but tell the President for us that it's a horrendous idea and that he should quit offering it because its makes the majority of Democratic voters mad, and could cost us elections.

The assistant said "oh believe me, I think she plans on telling him that."

[southernyankeebelle]

76. And they should. I am so disappointed in him.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

77. True Dems need to be pissed at themselves.

They just set back after the election and flew a "Mission Accomplish" banner instead of keeping up the pressure. They went quiet and allowed the Lobbyist back to work.

You know, the other side gets their guys in and they keep pushing, they keep making noise. We started to get the upper hand and we shut up. We have nothing and no one to blame but ourselves.

[George II]

81. I seriously doubt that statement.

[Marr]

83. I expect he'd be glad to hear it. Third Way Democrats are all about steering the party away

from it's traditional constituencies, and into more Wall Street-friendly territory. That's why they're so happy to see groups like the Teachers' Union torn to shreds.

[florida08]

112. +1

[MineralMan]

95. That's good, but the people who will decide all of this

are not writing blogs, posting on forums, or talking on radio shows. They're sitting in the House of Representatives.

As Confusion said: "Man with ear on ground gets ear full of dogshit."

What's your Congressional Representative saying today? That's what you need to know.

If he or she is not saying what you want him or her to say, then start talking to him or her.

Bloggers, denizens of Internet forums, and radio blabbers are not going to decide this thing. Talk to the ones who are.

[RainDog]

101. Democrats will suppress voting for them with these actions

they don't need any Republican challenging someone at the polls.

People in this nation- and please, don't confuse DU with this nation - will STAY HOME on election day when they don't see a difference in economic positions between the two parties.

That's a fact.

That's also how Nader gained currency as a candidate - because of Democratic neo-liberal economic policies under Clinton.

So, anyone who wants to claim people must get out to vote to defeat Republicans - well, you have to give them a reason, other than culture war issues, to vote for Democrats.

This will hurt the Democratic Party. You cannot spin this away.

[Fire Walk With Me]

106. There IS no federal government. There are only corporations and plutonomists, and those who do their

bidding. Wake up.

[jwirr]

107. boooshie learned this the hard way and I am afraid that President Obama will to. I thought

he was smarter than that.

[bluestate10]

116. How do you define a "true" DEM? Two liberal Think Tanks have endorsed Chained CPI.

Are those people not "true" DEMs?

[Bluenorthwest]

118. You can't bother to name these 'liberal think tanks' and yet you demand they be spoken of kindly?

What a joke. Beltway 'think tanks' are in the business of cranking out support documents for pay. They don't think about anything but how high to set their fees.

[trumad]

127. nope

[Babel_17]

119. Truman replied ...

"I don't give them Hell. I just tell the truth about them and they think it's Hell."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Give_%27em_Hell,_Harry!

[L0oniX]

123. The NYT trys to reframe this into a left only thing ...fuck them!

Obama Budget Is Dismissed by G.O.P. and Attacked by Left
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/06/us/politics/obama-budget-is-dismissed-by-gop-and-attacked-by-left.html?hp&_r=1&

[cantbeserious]

126. Obama Deserves The Criticism - Selling Out Senior Citizens Will Never Win Support

eom