President Obama Had Two Major Victories Last Night And They Had Nothing To Do With The State Of The

[applegrove]

Last edited Wed Jan 29, 2014, 09:35 PM - Edit history (1)

President Obama Had Two Major Victories Last Night And They Had Nothing To Do With The State Of The Union

by Danny Vinik at Business Insider

http://www.businessinsider.com/president-obama-had-two-major-victories-last-night-and-they-had-nothing-to-do-with-the-state-of-the-union-2014-1

"SNIP.........................................



But the president did have two decisive victories last night, and neither had anything to do with his actual speech.

1. Republicans gave in on the debt ceiling. Just before his address last night, Politico reported that House Republican leaders were privately saying that there would be no debt ceiling fight this time around. This is a massive victory for the president and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) who both stuck to a hard line last October during the previous debt ceiling fight and refused to negotiate. This was a matter of principle. President Obama regretted making concessions in the debt ceiling fight in 2011 and want to set a standard that the debt ceiling cannot be used as an extortion device.

If Republicans are truly waving the white flag, then the president has set that standard. He has disarmed the debt ceiling for good.

2. Obamacare repeal is 100%, officially dead. Throughout the past couple of weeks, the Republican Party's position on Obamacare has slowly shifted from repealing the law to fixing it. They weren't vocal about this development but party leaders knew that repealing Obamacare in its entirety was no longer a politically viable strategy now that millions have gotten insurance through it. That's why the alternative health reform plan proposed by Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) kept some of Obamacare's most popular features and retained the same framework of the law.




.......................................SNIP"

[Cha]

1. Wow this is good news.. I think many

of us have enough to worry about without a bunch of vicious sociopaths messing with our country's ability to pay its bills.

[sheshe2]

2. Holy Moly, applegrove!

This is great! Outstanding!

These are two gigantic victories for the president. Two of his biggest fights with Republicans over the past few years have been over raising the country's borrowing limit and ensuring Obamacare became the new status quo. Last night, he decisively won both of those fights.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/president-obama-had-two-major-victories-last-night-and-they-had-nothing-to-do-with-the-state-of-the-union-2014-1#ixzz2rq5j8D89

[JDPriestly]

3. Great news! Now let's talk about wages.

[1StrongBlackMan]

7. Yeah ...

because anything perceived as positive regarding this Administration must be immediately squelched with in 45 minutes of it being posted.

[morningfog]

10. I recced the tread and I am glad to see both these wins.

But, let's keep moving forward. Obama seems like the type to have thick skin and not really care too much what people say about him.

One foot in front of the other. Even if you are going in the right direction, if you are standing still you might get run over by a train.

[1StrongBlackMan]

11. Agreed ...

but my comment wasn't for President Obama's sake.

On a Democratic site where "critical" comments out number supportive comments 4 to 1 (by my estimate), what effect do think that has the less engaged lurker/wavering Democrat that might happen upon the site? How does that move us forward?

[morningfog]

13. To be honest, I don't think DU has that much influence.

I think it is a discussion board for people to discuss issues in a group of people who care about the same issues.

I come here for the critical thoughts and comments. The supportive thoughts are easy. The RW thoughts are predictably. I find criticisms from the left the most compelling and forward thinking. It is usually there that we learn what is coming next, or what should be coming next.

I don't see the need for anyone here to take it personally or make it personal. I would say that personal attacks/criticisms on DUers outnumber substantive posts on issues 9 to 1. And that just serves as a giant ass distraction to any real discussion.

[JDPriestly]

14. Did you think my comment was critical of Obama?

I am delighted with the stance Obama took on wages in his speech. I think that he now has a strategy to win the 2014 mid-term. Raising wages is an excellent way to start moving toward a fairer division of the wealth. My remark about moving on to wages is quite serious. That is what we should be emphasizing when we talk to voters this year.

In my opinion, Obama has checkmated the Republicans by asking employers to raise their employees wages without a law setting a higher minimum wage. The Republicans complain about government regulation all the time, so now let's see if the Republican employers raise the minimum wages of their workers without government regulation. This is an issue that voter feel in their pocketbooks. It was sheer genius.

I don't agree with Obama on everything, but when I think he is right, I support him wholeheartedly. And on the wage issue, I sure do.

[adieu]

4. Good but...

it is sad that not having to fight the debt ceiling raise is considered a major victory.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

5. yes. very sad that the pukes have brought us to this. n/t

[arely staircase]

6. plus one nt

[quinnox]

8. "Obamacare repeal is 100%, officially dead."

Right, tell that to the republicans. I don't buy that for a second. If, god forbid, a GOP president took office, or they took both houses of congress, they would pass a repeal on day one. They sure have tried enough times.

[freshwest]

9. Very true and very good for our nation. n/t

[ReRe]

12. Both good news, but....

... we have to remember the only reason they (the Republipukes) gave up on those two is to soften their 5-year recalcitrant stance on everything "Obama." To make it seem they are "working" with the President. But yet, it is their loss and our gain. I'll take it.

[Jamaal510]

15. I sorta wish

that they wouldn't have called it "giving in" or "caving" when the R's decided not to hold the country hostage again. For the sake of this country, they should be encouraged by everyone to do more sane stuff like this instead of sticking to their "principles".

[applegrove]

16. "The GOP BEHAVES!!!" I can see that headline now.

[Rex]

17. So the Congressional Clown Party is holding off shutting down our government?

They probably are getting all itchy to waste more billions since that is all they know how to do.

[gwheezie]

18. The gop is getting ready for 14

they just look like idiots for 40 repeal obamacare votes, there are too many people who have insurance via obamacare at this point.