Shot In the Face Or Stabbed In the Back?

[Oilwellian]

Who says we don't have a choice in America?

At this point I choose shot in the face. To quote Han Solo, "Bring it on! I prefer a straight fight to all this sneakin' around."

I saw those comments in a Daily Kos Social Security diary. They made this tingle go up my leg and I felt compelled to share the sentiments.

[uponit7771]

1. A stab in the back is easier to fix and I can cover it up, life isn't always about the best of

...best choices

[forestpath]

2. We don't have to choose with Obama as president - we get BOTH.

[Oilwellian]

3. No, there is a different

Republicans have been very outspoken about how they want to screw us over. The corporate Dems have the same sentiments but are sneaky chameleons.

[Buzz Clik]

10. Wow! I don't know any right wingers who hate Obama as much as you do.

It's amazing. Your despise for him has completely consumed you.

[Katashi_itto]

12. I don't think he's saying anything but the truth.

We do get both with Obama, and Oilwellian does have a right to be bitter. Hell, I am I bought into the "Hope and Change" like a total rube.

[Buzz Clik]

13. Woohoo! DU has now sunk to the level of Freeperville.

We spew endless hate at Obama based on fear and unstated agendas.

Gotta love it.

[Katashi_itto]

14. True, I can't see much difference between the appologists for Bush and the appologists for Obama

They both use the same tactics.

[forestpath]

16. Thanks, you just saved me a post!

[Buzz Clik]

25. Your hate for all things Obama hardly qualify as progressive or liberal.

You supporting a post that accuses another of being rightwing is laughable.

[Katashi_itto]

26. Your strawman arguments are quite Freeper

Rather rabid actually.

[Buzz Clik]

23. Just to make this clear: are you saying that I'm a rightwing Bush apologist?

[Katashi_itto]

27. Nope. I said your tactics are from the same playbook.

[Buzz Clik]

30. And page one of that playbook for you would be simply to disagree with you.

Sorry, but I just cannot take a budget proposal concept and raise it to the level of being "shot in the face" or "stabbed in the back". If seeing me disagree with a hyperbolic metaphor is the equivalent of apologizing for Bush in your eyes, I don't see that as my problem.

On edit, let me also point out that Bush apologists have a deep despise for Obama, not unlike what I'm seeing over and again at DU.

[Katashi_itto]

34. Then don't worry about it. You have your belief set and you want to stick with that.

If you want to sanctimously scream about people "hating" the president and compare the average DU to some RWer then you better expect that sort of response.

I don't see your being upset with being compared to a Bush appologist as my problem. It's your behaviour, not mine.

[Katashi_itto]

15. What part of putting the CPI cut out in the budget did you not get btw?

[Buzz Clik]

22. Putting a modification to cost of living adjustments sinks to the level you suggest?

Not for me.

I get the whole CPI concept, but I have yet to drink the kool aid.

[Katashi_itto]

28. You already have drunk it by trying to defend the president in this.

I refer you to response #17

I think whats more telling, is the simple fact that you'd rather scream about people "hating" the president than anything else.

[Buzz Clik]

33. Jesus. You've gone over the edge.

I'm done here. You get the last word.

[Katashi_itto]

35. Happily gone over the edge. I don't have illusions about the President anymore is all.

[Armstead]

31. You get the whole CPI concept and it doesn't bother you?

Maybe the language gets a little strong around here sometimes -- but that's because people do give a shit and get angry when they feel betrayed by those who are supposed to be on their side.

[Buzz Clik]

32. Yeah, it bothers me. I don't like it at all.

But I haven't lost my fucking mind over it.

[pinboy3niner]

4. Unfortunate metaphor

I've been shot in the face (in military combat). The metaphor doesn't really work for me.

[woo me with science]

5. Well, you have enough to eat

and aren't being denied needed chemotherapy as a result of corporate greed and political gamesmanship.

For many, the metaphor works just fine.

[alcibiades_mystery]

6. Wow

[woo me with science]

7. My sentiments exactly. nt

[Buzz Clik]

11. Good point. Think of all those people who ALREADY have died from SS being gutted.

Oh, wait.

Nothing has happened yet. So, is your post complete bullshit?

[woo me with science]

17. I am sick and tired of people being pitted against each other

in an attempt to excuse or minimize what is unconscionable. People die every day in this country as a result of corporate greed. That's a fact. Pay attention to the continual stream of posts here about people denied essential care by the insurance cartel, the people who ration their own medication in order to afford to eat, and the innocents slaughtered for our MIC..all in a country where we could easily afford to meet everyone's basic needs. There was another one yesterday, a DUer talking about a family member who died rather than drown his family in debt through the insurance cartel.

Don't you dare try to derail this thread with huffy outrage because I defended a metaphor that deserved to be defended. Our outrage should be for EVERYONE who is suffering and dying as a result of these monsters who have taken control of our country.

What is being perpetrated on all of us is wrong, period.

[Oilwellian]

19. +1 n/t

[Buzz Clik]

24. You're asking me to shut up because you think you're correct? What you need is a blog.

And don't allow comments.

I think you are overreacting in a huge way, to the point of total hysteria. If you don't like my opinions, you have many options open to you.

[OldDem2012]

36. "Don't you dare try to derail this thread with huffy outrage". Interesting way to defend your point.

[pinboy3niner]

20. I'm sorry to hear you're being denied your needed chemotherapy

That would make me frustrated and mad as as hell, too. If there's a metaphor for that, I'm not sure what it is.

Best wishes to you.

[woo me with science]

21. I am not being denied chemotherapy,

but I am heartened that your compassion for those who are may cause you reconsider the appropriateness of the metaphor.

As someone who has suffered needless, unconscionable pain, you are in a particularly good position to appreciate the OP's point.

[alcibiades_mystery]

8. Given the incredible response you just received to this post

Let me just say welcome home. I was really moved by the picture you shared in the thread last week - baby face platoon leader indeed! Cheers, pinboy3niner.

[pinboy3niner]

18. Thanks, am

i have a speaking engagement coming up at the local JC, and once again I will be emphasizing what I was doing at that age--which is younger than some of the students in my audience.

Cheers, alcibiades_mystery...

[Oilwellian]

9. I'm sorry if it opened up painful memories

[woo me with science]

29. +10000 It is well past time to be honest

about what is really being done to us by those who pretend to be our allies.

"Guess what? Chained CPI is the bright idea of Third Way, the Dem "policy shop.'"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2489745

The Third way folks are the real "professional left"...er...one percent posing as left.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022644983#post155

Wall Street uses the Third Way to lead its assault on Social Security
http://neweconomicperspectives.org/2012/11/wall-street-uses-the-third-way-to-lead-its-assault-on-social-security.html#more-3690

Let me attempt again to make the basic facts clear. Third Way is not a “liberal think tank.” It does not take “a centrist approach.” It is not run by “fellow progressives.” It is not concerned with “protecting entitlements.” It is not even a “think tank.” Third Way is a creature of Wall Street. It’s version of “protecting” the safety net was made infamous during the Tet offensive in Viet Nam when the American officer explained that “it became necessary to destroy the village in order to save it.” Third Way is the Wall Street wing of the Democratic Party, which seeks to defeat Democratic candidates like Elizabeth Warren running against Wall Street sycophants like Senator Scott Brown and seeks to unravel the safety net programs that are the crown jewels of the Democratic Party. Wall Street’s “natural” party is certainly the Republican Party, but Wall Street has no permanent party or ideology, only permanent interests. Third Way serves its financial interests and the personal interests of its senior executives. Wall Street has always been the enemy of Social Security and its greatest dream is to privatize Social Security. Wall Street’s senior executives live in terror of being held accountable under the criminal laws for their crimes. They became wealthy by leading the “control frauds” that drove the financial crisis and the Great Recession. This is why Wall Street made defeating Warren a top priority.

Third Way is run by a man who Laursen terms an “acolyte” of Pete Peterson. Peterson is a Republican, Wall Street billionaire who has two priorities – imposing austerity on America and privatizing Social Security. Privatizing Social Security is Wall Street’s unholy grail. They would receive hundreds of billions of dollars in fees and ensure that their firms were not only “too big to fail,” but “too big to criticize” if they could profit from a privatized retirement system. (We do not know who funds Third Way because it refuses to make its donors public. Given who dominates its Board of Trustees, however, the donors must be overwhelmingly from Wall Street.)

Third Way’s self-description has some elements of honesty, admitting that it is “led by a prominent private sector Board of Trustees, drawn from finance, industry, academia, the non-profit sector and government.” The order is revealing – the board is dominated by finance, with a thin veneer provided by industry, and with the barest patina of “academics” and “government.”

Here are key excerpts from their web site identifying their board.
· John L. Vogelstein

Mr. Vogelstein is the Chairman of New Providence Asset Management, LLC and Senior Advisor to Warburg Pincus, LLC. [He co-managed that huge private equity firm.]
· Bernard L. Schwartz

Mr. Schwartz is Chairman and CEO of BLS Investments, LLC.
· David Heller

Mr. Heller … was … the Global Head of Equity Trading for Goldman Sachs.
· Georgette Bennett

Dr. Bennett—an award-winning sociologist, criminologist, and journalist…. [Yeah criminologists!]
· William D. Budinger

William D. “Bill” Budinger is the founder of Rodel, Inc., where he served for 33 years as its chairman and CEO. [Rodel manufactured semi-conductors.]
· David A. Coulter

Mr. Coulter serves as Managing Director and Senior Advisor at Warburg Pincus, focusing on the firm’s financial services practice.

Mr. Coulter retired in September 2005 as vice chairman of J.P. Morgan & Chase Co. He previously served as Executive Chairman of its investment bank, asset and wealth management, and private equity business.
· Jonathan Cowan

Prior to co-founding Third Way, Mr. Cowan founded and ran Americans for Gun Safety…. In 1992, he co-founded Lead…or Leave, which became the nation’s leading Generation X advocacy group. [He lobbied to protect “second amendment rights” to bear arms and led a Pete Peterson inspired group urging “Gen X” members to unravel the safety net.]
· Lewis Cullman

Mr. Cullman was the Founder and President of Cullman Ventures, Inc., a diversified corporation that included the At-A-Glance group, which manufactures and markets diaries….
· William M. Daley

William Daley served as President Obama’s Chief of Staff from January 2011 until January 2012.

Prior to his Chief of Staff role, he was Vice Chairman … of … JPMorgan Chase, from 2004 until 2011.

As Special Counsel to President Clinton in 1993, Daley coordinated the successful campaign to pass the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

He was co-chair of the US Chamber of Commerce Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness. [This is code for deregulation of finance.]
· John Dyson

Mr. Dyson is Chairman of Millbrook Capital Management, Inc. (MCM), a private investment firm.
· Robert Dyson

Mr. Dyson … is Chairman and CEO of the Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corp., a privately owned, diversified investment holding company….
· Andrew Feldstein

Andrew Feldstein is the CEO and Chief Investment Officer of BlueMountain Capital Management….

Prior to co-founding BlueMountain in 2003, Mr. Feldstein spent over a decade at JPMorgan where he was a Managing Director and served as Head of Structured Credit; Head of High Yield Sales, Trading and Research; and Head of Global Credit Portfolio. [“High yield” is a euphemism for junk bonds.]
· Brian Frank

Mr. Frank is a Director and Portfolio Manager at MSD Capital, L.P., the private investment firm founded by Michael Dell.
· Michael B. Goldberg

Mr. Goldberg joined Kelso & Company in 1991 as a Partner and Managing Director. [Private equity.]
· Peter A. Joseph

Mr. Joseph has been in the private equity investment business for over twenty years….
· Derek Kaufman

Derek Kaufman is Head of Global Fixed Income at Citadel LLC. He is a member of Citadel’s Portfolio Committee.

Prior to joining Citadel in 2008, Mr. Kaufman was a Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase….
· Derek Kirkland

Mr. Kirkland is a Managing Director and Co-Head of the Global Financial Institutions Group at Morgan Stanley’s Financial Institutions Group in Investment Banking.
· Ronald A. Klain

Ronald A. “Ron” Klain is President of Case Holdings, and General Counsel of Revolution LLC. [Case is an investment fund for the holdings of AOL’s founder.]
· Thurgood Marshall, Jr.

Mr. Marshall is a partner at Bingham McCutchen LLP, and a Principal of Bingham Consulting Group. Mr. Marshall counsels and devises strategies for advancing clients’ interests before Congress, the executive branch and independent regulatory agencies. [He is a lobbyist for a firm best known for representing financial firms.]
· Susan McCue

Ms. McCue is President of Message-Global, LLC, a strategic communications and public affairs firm she founded in January 2008 to advance progressive campaigns, activism and issue advocacy in the U.S. and globally.
· Herbert Miller

Mr. Miller, former CEO and Chairman of The Mills Corporation, one of America’s most innovative and successful mall developers and managers, founded Western Development Corporation (WDC) in 1967 and serves as its Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Stockholder.
· Michael Novogratz

Mr. Novogratz has been President and Director of Fortress Investment Group LLC….. Prior to joining Fortress, Mr. Novogratz spent 11 years at Goldman Sachs….
· Andrew Parmentier

Mr. Parmentier is a Founding and Managing Partner of Height Analytics. He and fellow Managing Partner John Akridge formed the company in January 2009. He has worked in the financial services industry since 1997….
· Kirk Radke

Recognized internationally as one of the top private equity attorneys during his 28 year career at Kirkland & Ellis….

Among professional activities, Mr. Radke is Co-Chair & Organizer of the International Bar Association Private Equity Symposium, Founder of the Private Equity General Counsel Network, Founder of Legal Series and Co-Founder of the Private Equity Law Firm Roundtable.
· Howard Rossman

Dr. Rossman is a President and Founder of Mesirow Advanced Strategies, Inc. and a Vice Chairman of its parent, Mesirow Financial Holdings Inc. He is responsible for all aspects of fund management, including manager due diligence, strategy analysis and asset allocation.
· Tim Sweeney

Mr. Sweeney has been President and CEO of the Denver-based Gill Foundation since October 2007. For more than 30 years, he has worked to advance equality for all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender expression.
· Ted Trimpa

Mr. Trimpa is a partner with the international law firm, Hogan Lovells LLP.
· Barbara Manfrey Vogelstein

She has over 24 years of experience in venture capital and specialized equity investing. [S]he was a Partner of Warburg Pincus, one of the world’s largest private equity firms.
· Joseph Zimlich

Mr. Zimlich is the Chief Executive Officer of Bohemian Companies, a group of family-owned real estate and private equity holdings.



Twenty of the twenty-nine trustees come from finance (counting the lawyer whose specialty is representing private equity firms). Their most common background is Mitt Romney’s – private equity – and hedge funds. The nine non-finance members include:

A Pete Peterson acolyte who previously created supposedly centrist front groups for gun rights and an effort to enlist “Gen X” in Wall Street’s assault on the safety net
A developer of giant malls
A semi-conductor manufacturer
A manufacturer of diaries
A criminologist/journalist
A PR specialist
A gay rights activist
A lobbyist at a firm best known for representing finance
A lawyer

The board includes three representatives of “main street” (malls, semi-conductors, and diaries). They are not heavy hitters compared to the finance representatives. On finance issues, Third Way is Wall Street. It is run by Wall Street for Wall Street. It is liberal only on social issues such as gay rights – and Wall Street created Third Way to focus on finance.

This is a much-needed OP. Thank you.