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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTAIBBI: Democrats Aren't A Real Party-They're A Marketing Phenomenon
Dodd-Frank Budget Fight Proves Democrats Are a Bunch of Stuffed Suits
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Is killing the Citigroup provision really worth the trouble? Is it a "Hill to die on"? Maybe not in itself. But the key here is that a victory on the swaps issue will provide the Beltway hacks with a playbook for killing the rest of the few meaningful things in Dodd-Frank, probably beginning with the similar Volcker Rule, designed to prevent other types of gambling by federally-insured banks. Once they cave on the swaps issue, it won't be long before the whole bill vanishes, and we can go all the way back to our pre-2008 regulatory Nirvana.
If the Democrats actually stood for anything other than sounding as progressive as possible without offending their financial backers, then they would do what Republicans always do in these situations: force a shutdown to save their legislation. How many times did Republicans hold the budget hostage to rescue the Bush tax cuts?
But the Democrats won't do that here, because they're not a real party. They're a marketing phenomenon, a big chunk of oligarchical Blob cleverly sold to voters as the more reasonable and less nakedly corrupt wing of a two-headed political establishment.
So they'll punt on this issue in the name of "maturity" or "bipartisanship," Wall Street will get a nice win, and Hillary Clinton or whoever else is being set up as the Blob candidate on the Democratic side will receive an avalanche of Financial Services donations to stave off Warren (who will begin appearing in the press as an unhinged combination of Lev Trotsky and Spartacus). A neat little piece of business all around. I don't know whether to applaud or throw up.
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Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/dodd-frank-budget-fight-proves-democrats-are-a-bunch-of-stuffed-suits-20141213#ixzz3LoNo3bfV
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djean111
(14,255 posts)billhicks76
(5,082 posts)And Hillary is the worst.
TheKentuckian
(25,029 posts)RiverLover
(7,830 posts)A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned how to walk forward.
The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough and well enough informed to maintain its sovereign control over the government.
True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.
We are trying to construct a more inclusive society. We are going to make a country in which no one is left out.
A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.
Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.
Prosperous farmers mean more employment, more prosperity for the workers and the business men of every industrial area in the whole country.
We continue to recognize the greater ability of some to earn more than others. But we do assert that the ambition of the individual to obtain for him a proper security is an ambition to be preferred to the appetite for great wealth and great power.
But while they prate of economic laws, men and women are starving. We must lay hold of the fact that economic laws are not made by nature. They are made by human beings.
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/f/franklin_d_roosevelt_2.html
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)RiverLover
(7,830 posts)Back at ya!
whathehell
(29,082 posts)cascadiance
(19,537 posts)... and speak truth to power like FDR did here instead of responding "How high?" when the oligarchs ask them to "jump".
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)society without reasonable equality won't survive.
No waffling, no weasel words. He talked straight to the people and he acted on what he said.
Part of why he pushed so hard for the working class was to prevent the collapse of this society.
Without him and his programs, it would have.
Even today, his Social Programs are keeping millions of Americans from starving.
What a legacy that man left, FOR THE PEOPLE.
AwakeAtLast
(14,133 posts)But Congress put a stop to that.
Ikonoklast
(23,973 posts)FDR had he lived would have served out his fourth term.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)enough
(13,262 posts)"loyalty" to the Democratic Party, because there really isn't a party there to be loyal to.
sendero
(28,552 posts).... some folks are just a bit slow on the uptake.
The Citi rider is INDEFENSIBLE and anyone who would vote for it should be drummed out of the party.
Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,501 posts)sgtbenobo
(327 posts)Carry on.
adirondacker
(2,921 posts)RUN!!!
malthaussen
(17,216 posts)Oops, Gil Scott-Heron beat you to it.
-- Mal
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Appearing morally superior is a higher priority than moving the Party in a good direction. Self-fulfilling prophecies of doom and corruption are considered a feature rather than a bug.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)... attack the messenger. A sure sign that you've got a strong argument.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)And then you just did the same.
It's harder to embody a prescription than to pontificate it, isn't it?
99Forever
(14,524 posts)The Peewee Herman gambit!
Awesome.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)The difference is that Matt Taibbi traffics in self-fulfilling prophecies of failure and I don't.
There are forces in the Democratic Party that resemble his criticism, but he just ignores or dismisses everyone who isn't.
It's more important to sound like he stands for something than to actually do so.
His criticism is hypocrisy.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)... in your own mind. No doubt about that.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Or anyone else who writes divisive bullshit for their own amusement and enrichment.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)Don't mean squat to me. I see what you do, that tells me more about your values than any label you attach to yourself.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)99Forever
(14,524 posts)Nice, you truly are awesome!
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Very impressive.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)Have a nice life.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Feel free to do the same some day.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)That says tons about you and nothing about me.
A real class act.
merrily
(45,251 posts)Makes them panic and lash out.
cui bono
(19,926 posts)And they're the ones who are running the country. Taibbi is a journalist. He's doing exactly what he is supposed to do. That's a hell of a lot more than the Dem leaders are doing. Especially when the POTUS supports a current Republican budget.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Instead he sells FUD narratives by the bushel. I am shocked, shocked that our GOTV efforts face such obstacles.
cui bono
(19,926 posts)Demeter
(85,373 posts)hint to the funky blue door--never give a straight line to a humorist!
TheKentuckian
(25,029 posts)This is a delusional rationalization, a wild eyed Tinkerbelle delusion that assumes the world would be right if only more people would clap harder.
Then the crazy lash out, the man has done an excellent job. What is he trying to pretending to stand for but really doesn't in this absurd narrative? I don't think it is public relations for the Democratic party as you seem to imply.
Ignore everyone that isn't, what is that case based on? How does he discuss corrective policy, alternatives, and who the bad guys are without talking about those who aren't part of the problem? The answer is of course that you are just spouting off at the mouth, saying ANYTHING to try to keep a nonsensical false (and substantially irrelevant, like the truth changes in any way) narrative going in the face of all observation and reasoning.
Then there is the problem of how much talking about the guys that get rolled all the time can anyone do? Especially, when you hint that you'd prefer it be done as let's say "constructively" as possible. Not even to mention the sad truth of the few numbers except by the most generous possible definitions of not resembling his criticism.
The charge of hypocrisy is strange to say the least. What corruption, abuse of power, socializing risk on private gains, and cannibalizing the economy for profit are you accusing this man of here? What ever it is, better bet it is a mote through an electron microscope and seen in the most uncharitable fashion imaginable considering the scope and wide dispersal of suffering caused between the two being compared.
I think most decent people with any concept of fair mindedness would be ashamed to even make such a charge in such a context.
It is, I suspect, like going on a tangent about getting a terrible offer on a watch from a Jewish pawn broker during a conversation about the Holocaust and then to find out the offer was comparable to other offers from all the pawn brokers in town.
truebrit71
(20,805 posts)Utterly unaware of the irony...
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Zorra
(27,670 posts)to oligarchs have to make shit up, and use strawmen, smoke. and mirrors, because they have nothing that is real to use as an argument to convince the gullible to give up their rights and liberty.
Seriously. They can't very well say,
"Look, you stupid, filthy, ignorant peasants, you really need to give up all right to self-determination and willingly allow your superior-by-wealth 1% masters to enslave you, and control every aspect of your lives. So give up, filthy rabble, all your children is now belong to us".
MFrohike
(1,980 posts)I'm not sure how the party is moving in a good direction at present, unless good is defined as crumbs wrapped in noblesse oblige, tossing out trillions to prop up insolvent banks, and making noises about things but never quite getting around to doing anything about them. If that's a good direction, well, it's the ultimate win for style over substance.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Taibbi obviously isn't by categorically condemning it.
Nevernose
(13,081 posts)Articles designed to draw attention, criticize those in power, and maybe inspire people to do something about it? Perhaps condemning it IS DOING SOMETHING to move it, perhaps in the best way that a professional magazine columnist possibly could.
Would it be better for you if it was more positive in tone? If there were some smilies and maybe a picture of a rainbow puppy at the end?
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)of the fucking MILLIONS of Democrats who work to improve the Party?
No, in his world, it's just a Party of corporatist sellouts, and the "heroes" are what? Trustafarians and coffee-house leftists who stay home on election days?
noiretextatique
(27,275 posts)Your party just sold out to wall street...again.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Taibbi defines us by the corrupt, which is what the corrupt want.
And which effectively makes him corrupt.
RiverLover
(7,830 posts)but I also disagree. I think its meant to WAKE US up to the republican-lite capitulating party we've become & help motive change.
Bring it!!!!!!!!
(also want to add that President Obama is NOT standing up ag WS, he's working with them.)
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)by someone who spends all their time demonizing you, looking for excuses to call you a bad person, saying everything you do is bad?
Some people would, but not most. Most people would just interpret it as a hostile person being a bastard.
The Democratic Party changes for the better when people within it take responsibility to do so, and work with other Democrats to see that it happens.
Demagoguery against the party simply weakens it. That's the lesson of both history and common sense.
RiverLover
(7,830 posts)but then are just republicans with (D) behind their name once in office. Our wanting to change that is GOOD.
I'm tired of having democrat believes but no representation, other than the social things like gay rights & such. I want the party to stand up for People, not Citigroup or Halliburton.
We don't have a reason for existing if we don't represent people & labor & environment & small businesses & health & regulations for the greater good.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Hillary Clinton, useless. Matt Taibbi, useless.
RiverLover
(7,830 posts)cascadiance
(19,537 posts)... and the Obama administration hasn't put ANY of those that arguably have lead us in to a deeper economic tailspin in to prison?
Who is standing up to Wall Street? HUH?
noiretextatique
(27,275 posts)and they are being steamrolled by "other" democrats who are laying down for wall street. unfortunately, the ones doing the steamrolling are stronger in numbers than the ones who are standing up. you do yourself no favor by refusing to see that, or the party.
Marr
(20,317 posts)Well, apart from slagging liberals as 'trustafarians', I mean?
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)I made a point. And all you did was react like a wounded animal.
merrily
(45,251 posts)I get it. The sense of impending extinction must be really difficult to deal with, even for something as large and seemingly invincible as a dino.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)I can't respond to pure non sequiturs.
merrily
(45,251 posts)Read a lot of your other posts, too. Haven't you noticed? No one seems to be buying what you've been trying to peddle.
SunSeeker
(51,658 posts)There are plenty here who agree with True Blue Door, including me.
I also agree with True Blue Door on the futility of trying to have a conversation with someone who refuses to acknowledge reality.
merrily
(45,251 posts)I agree about the futility of discussion with people out of reality as well. That's why my replies, if any, to certain people are brief and not an invitation to discuss a thing. Only a couple of days ago, he complained about my conversation ending replies to him. Guess he finally got the hint.
SunSeeker
(51,658 posts)The bullying here is ridiculous. Go on a right wing website if you want to bully people.
Response to SunSeeker (Reply #182)
merrily This message was self-deleted by its author.
SomethingFishy
(4,876 posts)Yeah that is about as ignorant a statement as I have read in a long time. Taibbi has provided BOOKS worth of information on the crimes committed that led us to the 2008 collapse, if that is useless then Dick Cheney protected us from fucking terrorists.
You agree with TBD that Taibbi is useless? He is wrong in every proven sense of the word, and so are you.
For a guy who demands action he sure seems to be pissed off at someone who went out and did something.
SunSeeker
(51,658 posts)The reality that the Democratic Party is not the same as the Republican Party...they are not even close.
.
cui bono
(19,926 posts)You subscribe to the PATS (politics as a team sport) method of participating in our democracy. You are the real threat to our country. The whole point of our system is that the people get to speak out against that with which they disagree. If the govt isn't doing right by the people and is working for the big corporations instead of us it is our DUTY to criticize it.
You don't want any criticism, so how are you going to change anything? By being a blind follower and an apologist one only enables the continuation of the behavior that is deserving of criticism. The more you let them get away with - and actually defend them doing - the more they will move to the right. The Dem Party is already center. We can't afford to let them keep moving right. Their rightward move is what allows the batshit crazy wing of the Republican Party to rise up and get elected. If the Dems would stand up for the people and actually govern as liberals the spectrum would not have shifted all the way to the extreme right and perhaps the Dems would actually be left of center. I can't possibly dream that they would really be left. But a little left of center would be a great improvement over the current batch of elected Dems, especially PBO.
Mojorabbit
(16,020 posts)MFrohike
(1,980 posts)If someone doesn't point out the wrong direction, then how would you know where to go? You'd effectively be saying, "I'm going over here and I don't know why!"
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Sorry, I'm not some media zombie who needs to be spoonfed.
MFrohike
(1,980 posts)I don't get how "having a moral compass" is going to help you analyze something, but maybe that's just me.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)And lets you know when someone is bullshitting you for the sake of a personally profitable narrative rather than doing their best to educate the public.
MFrohike
(1,980 posts)That being said, you're wrong about this article. Taibbi lays out exactly why the bailout guarantee that was given in the bill is bad and then lays out who's backing it. That's exactly what he's been doing for years.
I personally can't fault his assertion about being less nakedly corrupt and more reasonable. Sure, the Democrats won't invade Iraq, but they won't investigate, forget prosecute, the most blatant fraud in finance since the S&L crisis. We get a Democratic president and a GOP House cooperating to pass a bill that will put the federal government EXPLICITLY on the hook the next time the CDS house of cards comes crashing down. If that's the normal behavior of the party, why shouldn't your moral compass label as corrupt?
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)No, they're Democrats. Taibbi doesn't care that without Democrats there is no opposition to any of this. Doesn't give a shit. The narrative of a party with a soul infected by the corruption of its environment sells less copy than "Democrats suck, I'm the real deal so listen to me!"
He wants to claim he's helping by being unfair, fine. Anyone can then claim the same prerogative in judging him.
MFrohike
(1,980 posts)You're seriously complaining that he's making Democrats look bad because they're doing bad things? Good Lord, if they didn't want him to say it, they shouldn't have done it!
It makes no sense to claim that "without Democrats there is no opposition to any of this." You could make the claim that it has no support without Democrats, because the president himself is shilling for it (along with more than a few Congressional Democrats). If it passes the Senate, it will definitely be with Democratic support. So, your complaint is asinine because the reverse is true.
The national party is not corrupted by its environment. It is a wholehearted participant in it. It's simply not true to claim that pure hearts were worn down because you end up arguing that people like Emanuel, Geithner, Rubin, and Summers really aren't the corporate whores they seem to be. They really mean well, it's just that they can't help agreeing with what exceedingly wealthy (and greedy) people want them to do.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Every Democrat who is fighting on the side he claims to represent doesn't mean anything to him.
He wants to manufacture a situation where he's a "voice in the wilderness" even when he clearly isn't.
Corruption is as much a problem in the media as in government. These people serve themselves and no one else.
MFrohike
(1,980 posts)He's spent the last 6 years detailing the issues and naming names. He's the guy who coined vampire squid to describe Goldman Sachs. He broke the Libor scandal. He added confirmation to last year's Frontline story that directly contradicted DOJ's lie that they never had witnesses to the rampant fraud in the MBS business. What else does he have to do?
Your bit about a voice in the wilderness is silly, at best. Taibbi's far from the only person talking about these issues. You could read Dean Baker, Bill Black, or Yves Smith (that's just the very top of the list). Taibbi just has one of the best known platforms for this, but he's far from the only one.
Your assertion about corruption is dumb. There is corruption in the media, but it ain't the guys whose organizations DON'T interview presidents. You want corruption? NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, CNN, NYT, WaPo, New Republic, National Review, etc. is where you need to start. Those are your cheerleaders for whoever is in power at a given moment. Their tunes change as soon as the occupant of the seat of power changes. They'll sell whatever an administration needs selling, whether it's a bullshit war, bullshit tax cuts, bullshit lies about why you can't prosecute obvious crimes, bullshit lies about why you need to inflict austerity on the majority while continuing to bail out the wealthy. There's your corruption in the media.
As a side note, Taibbi is most definitely an egotistical jerk. He clearly loves seeing his name in lights. So what? His stories are correct. A reporter isn't required to be a saint or a partisan hero, he's just required to tell the truth the best as the facts give it to him. You don't have to like his stories, but it's just dishonest to make claims about his character to undermine his stories when you don't have a clue as to his record.
merrily
(45,251 posts)dogknob
(2,431 posts)I suspected 1 or possibly 2
Don't worry, most of us will be obedient little Hillary Hostages if that's what it comes down to.
Whatever stumblemuppet sputtering barely-encoded racism and sexism the GOP tosses under her bus won't get my vote.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)dogknob
(2,431 posts)You'd make an acceptable media pundit, but I hope you don't handle your S/O or kids that way.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Shouldn't that lead to some self-examination on your part about your assumptions?
sgtbenobo
(327 posts)....but after the last 14 years of perpetual capitulation by these clowns it is evident they have no desire to do any of the heavy lifting required to rebuild our country. Their only interest seems to be nuzzling their corporate masters balls. Good work if you can get it. All you have to do is remove your spine and smile, smile, smile. Losers. These people could fuck up a wet dream. It's not hard to appear to be morally superior when the blob that Taibbi describes is only liked by 16% of the people it is supposed to serve. If you think Matt is being a big old meanie to our precious little legislature just wait until the electorate gets a dose of the next election cycle.
We might as well ask the Queen if she'll have us back. At least then we'd know that as the monarchs property we are to be used and abused as such.
The game is rigged. We r Phuct.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)you're simply rewriting history and defaming millions of courageous people who fought for and achieved substantive change.
sgtbenobo
(327 posts)....when you are waste deep in the big muddy. Turning-the-fuck-around is.
Carry on.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)The Democratic Party helps people a lot more than any other in America. That's a fact.
The only way to prove it could do more, is by doing more.
sgtbenobo
(327 posts)But, just when do you think our elected representatives are going to acknowledge this fact? The people aren't members of their club. They won't even tell us where their meetings are.
If you want your vote to count become a lobbyist.
Carry on
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Whingeing and acting like facts have to change to accommodate our emotions.
If we don't like corporatists, stop conceding the Party to them.
Claim the Party for our own.
Howard Dean got that. Barack Obama got that. Matt Taibbi doesn't get that, if he ever gave a shit to begin with.
ArsSkeptica
(38 posts)Funny thing, that. He uses his platform to espouse ideas that he believes will move the party in what he believes to be the right direction (wit in this relevant post about Dems not being a party notwithstanding), and somehow that's not Taibbi's priority? How exactly do you propose someone with communication skills, platform, and audience move the party? Crowbar? Rental van?
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)moves it in the right direction?
Such a view of politics is like The Great Santini's view of parenting.
Would you raise a child on such a basis? Would you defend some asshole who constantly called their children worthless and stupid as a great parent who was trying to "motivate" them to do better?
ArsSkeptica
(38 posts)Either the Democratic Party needs to get with the liberal program, or the liberals in it need to form a party and leave the the right-wing Democratic Party loyalists to jostle with the GOP for relevance. At least Taibbi agitates for the "get with the program" approach. He just does it by pointing at the Emperor's old, worn-out GOP hand-me-downs.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)He doesn't attack the paradigm - he attacks the person. Democrats are weak and useless in his world. Not even by choice - by definition. So that he himself can be defined as the hero. It's always the same with assholes like him. People like him have been saying this shit since the New Deal, calling it a capitalist sellout and FDR a tool. Same old game, same perverse results.
zeemike
(18,998 posts)But I don't see how you can attack the paradigm and ignore the ones who control and are responsible...the party is a human construct and what they do is not something mystical it is people who are in charge that make things happen or not...in this case both...Republican things happen and Democratic things don't.
And I am tired of hearing that ir is those evil Republicans that make them do it. That excuse is wearing thin
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)So why hasn't he managed to do anything in the House?
Or pick a Senator you think is fully moral and dedicated to the cause - why haven't they changed things?
The only possible default is that everyone else is against them - the position you just dismiss as laughable.
Can't have it both ways. Either the environment is incredibly difficult, or even the most principled liberals are corrupt.
zeemike
(18,998 posts)And have not been for years now.
The ones in charge of the party are corrupt and are in the pockets of Wall Street.
But your argument seems to be that is we don't notice it and pretend that it is all good it will produce good results this time...when it has never happened before.
And that anyone who does notice it and speaks up is somehow a traitor to the party or suspect of being in it for the money and fame...that is disturbing to me...as if the party is more important than the principles it says it stands for.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)There's just a bunch of people either working together or competing, and we don't do either very well, do we?
zeemike
(18,998 posts)If there is no one in charge then we don't need the DNC or minority leadership or the DLC.
But they are in charge, and they decide what legislation is presented or not, and who gets what comity and who will run for office and how much money they will spend to support them.
I don't know what else you would call that.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)If they did, it's funny that it never - ever - deviates too strongly from a status quo they seem powerless to affect. Of course, we can claim they are just always all corrupt, but that seems like a stupid rationalization. The harder path is to accept that we affect that status quo and haven't done so adequately.
zeemike
(18,998 posts)But billionaires do, and they can offer them far more than we can.
A high paying BOD job when they leave the congress where they can make some real money, and lots of opportunities for their kids and whole family.
And all they have to do is go along to get along and make speeches that tell the rest of us what we want to hear...then abandon it when it comes time to vote...if it ever gets to the floor.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Believe it or not, the people at the top are inspired - or de-inspired - by what they see from below.
And while it never excuses them from their responsibilities, it's still true.
Congress is a reflection of us, even if it doesn't reflect our wishes.
zeemike
(18,998 posts)Because we don't inspire them?...that is as backward as it comes...they are supposed to inspire us...not with words but actions...and they have failed in the leadership roll.
And that is why people don't show up at the polls, not because we failed to inspire THEM.
On paper Congress is supposed to reflect our wishes, but that is not the reality, the reality is that they reflect the wishes of money interest not the voter...and the action of the last few decades prove that to be a fact despite any words that have been spoken.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)This is our country. That statement is a choice, not a passive observation.
This is our world. Same stipulation.
The price is that everything is our fault.
Pay it, or pick a different choice.
zeemike
(18,998 posts)They both have the same agenda.
But it is good child psycology...if you want a child to do something you want then give them a choice of two things you want them to do...
ArsSkeptica
(38 posts)Congress is indeed a reflection of the voters, at least the ones that bother to turn out. We get the government we deserve, or, as I tend to think of it, "we" get the government "they" deserve. Bastards
So how is continuing to make the same Hobson's choice over and over again supposed to fix that? How do we describe doing the same thing expecting different results?
As for Mr. Taibbi, I have no illusions that he means to change the Democratic party or even any leadership caucus within it with his attack on the paradigm approach. He's ripping the bandage off our eyes so that WE will change and stop doing the same things over and over again, feebly hoping that maybe THIS time it will come out differently. Maybe we'll end up TeaPartying the Dem machinery. Maybe we'll end up leaving en masse for a better alternative, even if it means creating a new party.
Here's what little I think we can safely say we know (barring epistemological hair-splitting): time and again, the Democratic Party leadership at [national/state/local (circle one)] keeps setting an apparent agenda (as opposed to an honest reckoning of what they're about) and framing the discussion so that it's palatable, even desirable, to us, the garden variety voter. Party machinery grooms and selects (read: funds and welcomes into the fold) according to some criteria to which I'm apparently not privy, but which become apparent when we observe what we get from them...betrayal. Party machinery tends to serve up names/faces/talking points that add some sweet syrup to that apparent agenda, the better to attract us small/no donor voting booth flies. Then, far more often than not, the stuffed suits they put on the menu for us to choose from proceed to rectally feed us the rest of the syrup while acting against our express wishes, wishes that are evident from the nature of our votes in response to their promises.
So yeah, as long as we keep accepting the paradigm rather than attacking it, as long as we keep accepting their pseudo-choices, we get exactly what we deserve.
Correction. "I" keep getting what lesser-evil-accepting sell-outs deserve.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)The words are correct.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)He demonizes the Democratic Party, even though the Democratic Party is the only major source of opposition to corporatist politics in government.
bread_and_roses
(6,335 posts)There are surely D/democrats who do - but the Party? Nahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)just leave already and join the Greens. They'll never disappoint you because they'll never have a chance to.
bread_and_roses
(6,335 posts)Clinton's NAFTA, Welfare "reform," and deregulation drove me out the door.
Loyalty to a political party makes no sense to me; I can't even fathom the mindset. Policies matter. Actions matter. Period.
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)All I am seeing is mass capitulation followed by excuses for why they had to felate their corporate donors again.
You are neck-deep in denial, friend.
DemandsRedPill
(65 posts)It's attitudes like this that secure the Democratic parties place as the 'door mat' of politics.
What does progressive- ism really mean?
We have the 'cult of conservatism'
Do we really need another ism complete with all the correct dogma?
Similar attitudes in the Republican party gave us The Bush Crime Family, Iraq, and of course the 911 phenomenon.
It's called group think or better yet 'adhering to a dogma'
Why embrace the message when you can just 'kill the messenger'
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)It's a message reflected in recent results. Not results we wanted.
SunSeeker
(51,658 posts)But it is so much easier to throw in the towel than do something to fix the things that are wrong with our party.
Logical
(22,457 posts)True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Logical
(22,457 posts)True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Logical
(22,457 posts)Sort of taking an ass kicking.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)you can do better than that.
Logical
(22,457 posts)True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Meanwhile, over at the adult table...
Logical
(22,457 posts)True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)No need for the pretense that your posts are honest attempts to communicate.
tkmorris
(11,138 posts)I don't think it is what you think it is.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Everyone is waiting on your awesome example.
SomethingFishy
(4,876 posts)but he's useless.
You need a new schtick.
cui bono
(19,926 posts)Sure.
rpannier
(24,333 posts)I read the whole thing.
He is right about a lot of it.
The banks will continue to engage in risky behavior, they will get bailed out by both the Republicans and Democrats (we'll be told it''s the only sensible thing to do). No one will be held accountable (unless it happens in a country where the political establishment has issues with risky behavior) and everything will move on until the next crisis
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]
Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts). . Matt simply had this ludicrous diatribe in the can already, and even though most of the Democrats voted against this bill, Matt went ahead and okayed it to be published, anyway.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)In the modern media environment, "churnalists" are encouraged to pre-write sellable narratives for contingencies and then just click "Send" when reality hits.
TransitJohn
(6,932 posts)Taibbi said that if the Democrats believed in what they were doing, they would have held out and forced a shutdown to get what they want, like the Republicans do. Instead, they will let the bill pass with no fight to speak of.
TransitJohn
(6,932 posts)Pretty superficial analysis, there.
Here's a free hint: he's not acting as a Democrat with a duty to help the Party when he's writing published stories.
Another pro tip: Not everyone cares to help the Democrats, especially liberals who have been burned by the Party too many times.
KG
(28,752 posts).
joshcryer
(62,276 posts)SomethingFishy
(4,876 posts)This one is particularly amusing...
SomethingFishy
(4,876 posts)Odin2005
(53,521 posts)d_b
(7,463 posts)I'm so sick of the 'maturity & bipartisanship' bullshit we're always fed. It reminds me of a scene in Big Daddy, with Wall Street/Cons being the kid and Adam Sandler being the Democrats.
whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)Thank you Matt Taibbi!
pa28
(6,145 posts)No wonder we had our asses handed to us last month.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)Nevernose
(13,081 posts)"Fan," as in "fanatical."
While I think that particular personal characteristic occurs more often in conservatives (fanaticism), liberals are not immune from it.
merrily
(45,251 posts)We've had proof after proof since Bubba bragged about having ended "welfare as we know it," lobbied Dems to vote for Gramm, Leach Blilely (aka repeal of Glass Steagall), got Republicans Dick Morris and Colon Powell to create DADT, then got Congress to pass it, signed DOMA, signed the Telecommunications bill, signed NAFTA, etc. And that was only our very first official DLC philosophy President, the one whose electoral success helped turn the Party into what it is now.
Too bad everyone forgot so quickly that Ross Perot had a lot more to do with Bubba's electoral success than did DLC/Turd Way philosophy. (Or did they forget?)
truebrit71
(20,805 posts)...
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)RiverLover
(7,830 posts)Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)Getting crowded
polichick
(37,152 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)is the "left" wing of the one and only party that exists: THE MONEY PARTY. Same economics, with a thin frosting of social tolerance to cover the cake made out of the same old elephant shit.
still_one
(92,366 posts)SixString
(1,057 posts)ybbor
(1,555 posts)JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)enormous risks is a basically conservative idea. And I favor it.
The Citigroup provision in the budget is yet another corporate welfare scheme.
I'm all for food stamps. But why should the banks and corporations be allowed to gamble on the dole?
mother earth
(6,002 posts)raindaddy
(1,370 posts)The Blob party campaigning as lesser than two evil populists and then transforming into oligarchs once elected is getting hard to ignore even for die-hard party loyalists.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)We greyheads, looking at the Democratic party now, one is compelled to compare it to the old neighborhood. When we thought we knew who we were -- and what mattered and we said so. Often. But everything looks so stark now. Harsher somehow. Everything is smaller and dingier and ranker, and ever so much more corrupt. You can't breathe.
It's not the place where I grew to adulthood anymore. Many have left -- disillusioned. And others simply return to their collection of faded snapshot memories of bygone days. Of the days back when we almost had it right. Almost. And hoping somehow that chance will come back.
Knowing it won't.
K&R
[center]''I can explain it to you, but I can't comprehend it for you.'' ~Ed Koch [/center]
reddread
(6,896 posts)lousy product.
DemandsRedPill
(65 posts)I have said essentially the same thing many times
I have even gone so far as to express a similar message while standing right in front of our congress critter
My expression is just a little different but the message is the same
"the Democratic party exists for only one purpose. To serve as the second party by name only so that the masses don't finally wake up to the fact that we are for all intents and purposes a one party state.
Essentially they serve as a marketing tool just as Matt expressed.
What was it the soviets used to tell us?
Only difference between our government and yours is "you think you are free and we know we are not"
turbinetree
(24,710 posts)Everyone of these hypocrites from the Congress to the Senate should have patches on there suits when they come out to vote, then we can actually see and hear, who they truly represent, just like in Golf, Nascar, ect...... if you have a sponsor then name it and show it, then we can see the political corruption that Warren was talking about
RiverLover
(7,830 posts)combination of Lev Trotsky and Spartacus)" will be staved off by that avalanche of financial services donations. (They've already labeled her a socialist.)
They will attempt to crush her...But SHE is the one who declared war on THEM, & welcomed their hatred. Plus she's incredibly strong & sure in her convictions. The media eats up her words. RW media may try to make her seem unhinged, but that is expected...She's eloquent & sharp...
I'm feeling better already.
bbgrunt
(5,281 posts)admit the truth because it makes them feel their service has been in vain. I wonder where I've heard that before.
liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)No daylight between the parties on this topic.
merrily
(45,251 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)Secretary of Defense and reappointment of Bernanke as Fed head, when the economy and the war were America's two biggest problems. So much for hope and change.
cui bono
(19,926 posts)raouldukelives
(5,178 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)redruddyred
(1,615 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)Or are not really represented.
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)Unless you're from the area where he lived, had you even heard of him before 2006 or 2007? What is the point of voting when you don't get to choose whom it is that you're voting for is also someone you'd want to vote for to start with?
What Professor Chomsky is alluding to is a series of studies that demonstrated that people in the lower 70% income brackets in the US are not represented, insofar as legislation is concerned, that considers them. That legislation is never influenced by their votes nor considered by their representatives, in the main.
In such an instance what does it matter if you voted or not if your representative doesn't care if you're alive or not except every two, four or six years? What he is saying is that the upper 30% income brackets are the ones who are listened to, catered to and whose vote matters to the elected representatives of this country, because of how those income brackets can affect him/her.
This. Is. Fascism. Defined.
- It's rigged. Through and through.
merrily
(45,251 posts)a little.
What Professor Chomsky is alluding to is a series of studies that demonstrated that people in the lower 70% income brackets in the US are not represented, insofar as legislation is concerned, that considers them.
Exactly what I said he was saying.
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)I'm more of a "only time will tell" type.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)No sympathy for anyone older than 21 who has to be "motivated" to vote every two years...
redruddyred
(1,615 posts)I think chomsky is right, but I'll turn the idea on its head: the only real political power that non-elites have IS the vote. yes, the system is corrupt, and we won't always get what we voted for, but it's the easiest way to effect change.
Joe Shlabotnik
(5,604 posts)Mass
(27,315 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)woo me with science
(32,139 posts)They market, they advertise, they spin, they try to sell toxic shit in boxes with pretty pictures on the cover for the highest profit possible.
They have no connection with the concept of representative government or working for the people, by definition.
And that is the grave problem with allowing corporations into governments, where they have power over people's lives.
whereisjustice
(2,941 posts)however, will have their butter and eat it too.
TheKentuckian
(25,029 posts)Nothing wrong with any of them when used sparingly in the proper applications but certainly a bizarre response to requests for butter.
We haven't gotten even margarine since before the You Won't Believe It's Not Butter came out, all we get is the commercials. Only the eldest of the greybeards can recall having real butter.
What I'd give for a dab of Blue Bonnet! Really, butter is just the talk of far fringe rabble rousers, miscreants, and trust fund dreamers divorced from reality in clouds of the weed! In the real world we just ask for a little drizzle of used canola oil, just enough to stave off utter dryness, mind you, and have the good sense to take a sage leaf or two if that is all we can get because it might be dry and crappy but at least there is a flavor of some sort.