We torture, we're still in Iraq, we give criminal banks 100s of billions...

[specimenfred1984]

the Treasury Sec is a Goldman Sachs lackey, our health care system is a criminal fraud and NO ONE is being arrested for any of it while politicos yap about how "we're a nation of laws".

Kiss my ass, either start arresting criminals or America is a goner.

[BuyingThyme]

1. kcik

[FreeJG]

61. Now we must pay for the damage we did to the Afghan poppy fields!

Via a supply drop, we also paid for! Look at this!

Title: Airdrop Of Military Supplies Falls On To Opium Poppy Field By Mistake
Caption: QALANDERABAD, AFGHANISTAN - MARCH 22: Opium farmer Haji Mahmoud shows off damaged poppies to U.S. Marines on March 22, 2009 near remote Qalanderabad in southwest Afghanistan. The opium poppy field was damaged when a U.S. Air Force airdrop of supplies blew off target, parachuting on to some of Khan's crops and crushing them. The Marines assured Khan they would pay him for his damaged poppy crop in compensation for the accident. The Taliban often extorts a percentage of the profits from the farmers' harvest to fund attacks on American forces, according to the military. U.S. Marines, however, have no mandate to destroy poppy crops and, in fact, count on farmers to supply them with information on Taliban activities in the area. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
Date created: 22 Mar 2009
Editorial image #: 85551974


http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/85551974/Getty-Images-News
There is a pic at the link if it does not appear here.

And...we wear poppies to?????? Fund the black ops? hmmm
:evilfrown:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. Unfortunately, those in charge of the "nation of laws" are on the take.

[leftofthedial]

3. true.

[960]

4. Our death spiral is continuing, and Obama isn't even slowing it down much.

Can't say I feel very hopeful.

[leftchick]

10. I at least thought he could slow the ride over cliff to about 40 mph

it looks more like 90mph to me. :(

[Squatch]

50. It's not the fall that kills you...

it's the landing.

[Javaman]

62. exactly, a brick wall is a brick wall. nt

[JDPriestly]

103. Obama needs to stop trying to get the "cooperation" of the rich

and powerful and start enforcing the law against them.

[debbierlus]

107. Because Obama is a corporatist vested in reviving a corrupt broken system

Not creating a new one...

And, it won't work. Printing trillions in worthless paper may hold off catastrophe for a very short while, but it won't fix any of the problems.

[lostnotforgotten]

5. So Much For Change We Can believe In - Obama Massive Fail

eom

[AnotherMother4Peace]

65. Yeah - you're right! Let's get outta here - Let's go back to Free Republic

And Rush said that it would take 7 months before Obama would own this economy. Let's call him up and tell him the media has shortened the deal. See ya at FR. :sarcasm:

[AlbertCat]

68. So Much For Change We Can believe In

Well, I'm giving Obama til Sept 12. If thousands of innocent Americans haven't been murdered in a single day, then Obama is doing way better than the Bushies.

Instantaneous change is something you cannot believe in, that's for sure.

[Patchuli]

76. You should say "BUSH MASSIVE FAIL"

You folks expect nothing short of miracles! Give the man a chance, he's had two whole months to correct nearly a decade and a half of REPUBLICAN AGENDA. Jeez Louise, :wtf: do you expect??!! Obama was handed the biggest mess ever in the history of the United States of America and you expected him to completely fix it in 2 months?! That's dumb! Don't look now but the sky's falling on your head!

[ochazuke]

79. The problem is...

...Team Obama is bending over backwards to continue Bush administration policies. The latest bank plan is proof:

http://www.businessinsider.com/henry-blodget-geithners-three-big-misconceptions-2009-3
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/23/opinion/23krugman.html?_r=2

And they are continuing to bomb people in Afghanistan. Oh, and who is Defense Secretary?

It's like that moment in Invasion of The Body Snatchers when you realize pretty much all of them are under control of the same evil entity.

[bobshin]

87. Obama's NSA: "I take my daily orders from Henry Kissinger."

http://www.cfr.org/publication/18515/remarks_by_national_security_adviser_jones_at_45th_munich_conference_on_security_policy.html

A change we can believe in. Kissinger the warmonger of warmongers.

[JDPriestly]

106. The actual quote you are referring to bobshin

U.S. National Security Adviser Jones gave these remarks at the 45th Munich Conference on Security Policy at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof on February 8, 2009.

"Thank you for that wonderful tribute to Henry Kissinger yesterday. Congratulations. As the most recent National Security Advisor of the United States, I take my daily orders from Dr. Kissinger, filtered down through Generaal Brent Scowcroft and Sandy Berger, who is also here. We have a chain of command in the National Security Council that exists today.

http://www.cfr.org/publication/18515/remarks_by_national_security_adviser_jones_at_45th_munich_conference_on_security_policy.html

I remember reading one of Kissinger's early books during a government course in college. I hated that book. I strongly disagreed with Kissinger's point of view, with his dialectic view of power and history. He made his view the reality. And it is unfortunate that Obama has appointed people who subscribe to Kissinger's view. I is unfortunate because Obama espouses the desire to find common ground and unite people of different viewpoints. That is incompatible with Kissinger's views of inevitably conflicting interests. Perhaps Kissinger's views have changed since the 1960s, but I really don't think so.

Obama and Kissinger -- a very bad, confused fit -- unless Obama is a total phony. I hope not, but I am beginning more and more to believe he might be. He seems to have such a fear and adoration for the power elite. I didn't realize that he was like that when I worked and voted for him.

[JDPriestly]

104. Problem is, Obama is letting Bush sit pretty in Texas -- and travel

to Ottawa to give speeches.

Obama unite the country -- around the prosecutions of the guys who got us in this mess including Bush/Cheney, etc. Until he does that, he will not really have regained the trust of the American people. People voted for Obama because they wanted change, not so that Obama would continue to let the corrupt elite continue their crimes.

[DWilliamsamh]

77. Yeah your are sooo right... there is no WAY it should take 60 days to fix .....

All the resulting problems and processes built into the system and laws written that led to this mess over the last 15 years or so. Yup. Definitely time to impeach Obama as the massive failure he is.

Jebus Christ. Get real. I am not in any way saying that people shouldn't continue to push and voice what we want to happen, but maybe just a little more realism about the time frames it will take (even at breakneck speed) for the things that HAVE been started, to gain traction. I hope the FSM strikes you (and everyone like you) with his noodly appendage.




edited for spelling

[AngryOldDem]

83. For real.

Damn -- the man has been on the job for two fucking months and he's yet to work his first miracle! Let's begin impeachment now. He is just a total failure.

(Never mind that huge shitpile in the corner that's been festering for eight-plus years. Or longer. I see all this mess beginning back when Saint Ronnie was in office.)

[laststeamtrain]

6. Hey man, you forgot that the Obamas are getting a puppy. STFU, hater. n/t

[lostnotforgotten]

8. Oh, That Just So Calls For A Reply - Who You Calling A Hater?

I like Obama - Don't like his emerging policies or lack there of.

Just to set the record straight!

[laststeamtrain]

9. Sigh.

Do I really have to use the :sarcasm: thingie?

:hi:

[lostnotforgotten]

11. The Sides Have Been Drawn Between The Sycophants And Patriots

So yes, you probably do have to us use the Sarcasm thingie.

[cali]

17. actually and thankfully, most people

are a bit beyond either being a sychophant or a so called patriot. Many of us are a bit brighter than a stupid bushian black/white mode of "thinking".

[lostnotforgotten]

31. Linguistic Phrasing For Effect And Succinctness

eom

[Donnachaidh]

64. really?

how's the jackal pack doing? Leading the howling must be such a chore. :sarcasm:

[cali]

7. Did you really think Obama was going to wave a magic wand

and instantly reverse years of degradation and corruption?

[azmouse]

12. It's becoming increasing clear that many thought that very thing.

So few are willing to give Obama any time at all.

[Skittles]

14. the investigations should have already been launched by now

[azmouse]

15. And then Obama could just forget about getting anything done on the economy

It's far from a perfect world or boosh would have been put in jail immediately after starting his illegal war.

[Skittles]

16. you just don't get it

letting reagan get away with his crimes paved the way for Bush I and II - letting bush inc getting away with their crimes is just as seriously damaging to America as the crappy economy - Obama is dropping the ball big time on this one

[azmouse]

18. I do get it.

And if the economy really, truly crashes nobody will be able to keep their heads above water long enough to ever care what happened to boosh.

I sincerely hope there will be time to prosecute boosh and his minions. I don't want them to get away with their crimes the way others have.

[Skittles]

20. done

[cali]

19. ridiculous.

Americans are pathetic with their expectations of instant everything.

[Skittles]

21. LOL

WTF - they shred the constitution, endorse TORTURE and send the economy off a cliff - but those of us who think there should be IMMEDIATE actions taken are PATHETIC? Stop worshiping and PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS.

[chimpymustgo]

24. Damn, Skittles - you have a way of getting right to the point. I agree completely.

[Skittles]

26. I'm SICK of Dems making excuses for not holding bush inc accountable NOW

the window of opportunity is being lost - DAMN STRAIGHT

[derby378]

29. +1 for Skittles

She's one of the few DUers I know of who could kick my ass, but that's beside the point.

[bvar22]

33. Now THAT is an unreasonable expectation.

Re: "PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS"

You will INDEED need patience if you are waiting for that event.
The economy will recover, the wars will end, and we will have universal healthcare before that particular head ever sees the light of day.

[earth mom]

35. I agree with you too. Enough is enough. nt

[Just-plain-Kathy]

85. "PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS" I want to say that to so many people here lately!

We have to ALL put country before party.

[girl gone mad]

36. Bush wanted a war and he got it, fast. He wanted PATRIOT act..

and congress had it ready to go. He wanted 700 billion for the banks, and they got it in two weeks flat.

Why is it that change which benefits corporatists, fascists and war profiteers can happen so quickly, but we are asked to sit by and wait patiently for help while our treasury is being looted and our citizens drown?

[peace frog]

49. Keep your powder dry

Never mind we've been keeping it dry for decades, keep on keepin' on. The never-ending drying of the powder. Ptooie.

[cali]

52. 9/11 had more than a little to do with that.

nothing like the deaths of over 3,000 people and the destruction of an American icon to send people and legislators into a tailspin.

Sorry, but reversing what happened under bush simply won't happen overnight.

[SammyWinstonJack]

58. Excellent question!

:applause:

[midnight]

90. Thank you for making sense of the sensless actions going

down in this country.

[PufPuf23]

97. why do you have so much contempt for others here?

you are smart and at times insightful.

Saying "Americans are pathetic with their expectations of instant everything" is a black-white truism.

One thing I think I now get about Obama is that no American is pathetic.

OTOH I like his personality but his policies are too conservative (and I recognize this may just be playing the hand dealt).

[ConcernedCanuk]

22. I am one of those that thought that very thing - but I think I was naive

.
.
.

I'm still hoping that President Obama can turn things around,

but I realized that he must walk softly through the murderous gangs that the BFEE and the PNAC gang have left behind.

JFK was doing good, but he prevented a war that the warmongers were itching for.

JFK got assassinated.

MLK did good for the black people giving them some sort of equalization as citizens in the USA.

MLK got assassinated.

'nuff said

Walk soft Barack, keep your back covered.

I hope I am correct in my belief that once you are certain you have a safe circle around you and your family that you will turn the USA into a decent country again.

But I understand that the POTUS has over half a century of lying and abusing it's taxpayers to overcome.

That will take more than 100 days methinks

[azmouse]

23. You bring up some scary ideas....

Maybe to our credit we often forget Obama is our first black President. The pressures on him must be tremendous. I can't imagine how busy his Secret Service detail must be and I pray he truly has the best of the best looking after him and his family.

[ConcernedCanuk]

25. I send my best wishes for the safety of your new President and his family

.
.
.

and yeah, these are scary times.

But so far, the World supports your new President.

I hope it stays that way.

[anigbrowl]

28. At least you're honest about it, which does you credit

There's a fine line between patience and complacency, but I agree that one can't undo the damage of 8 years (or longer, depending on your perspective) in 8 weeks or even 8 months.

[Two Americas]

46. who is talking about that?

I don't think anyone is expressing impatience that the damage from 8 years is not being undone quickly enough.

People are questioning the direction we are heading, not complaining that we haven't arrived at the destination yet.


...

[Just-plain-Kathy]

74. Give him time? ...We threw the banks billions and now we'll buy up their bad assets...

...we'll be fighting in the Middle East until the next election.

Obama bad mouthing the Bush administration is NOT holding them accountable. Obama will enable them all to walk. I'm sick of democrats putting on a dog and pony show, and in the end, the same criminals get away with all of their crimes.

[azmouse]

81. I didn't realize you had a crystal ball to see all this.

Must be nice.

[anigbrowl]

27. Oh shi-

[JackRiddler]

39. Vague and irrelevant question...

I think Obama can announce

- he wants full troop withdrawals from the two current invasions

- he doesn't want to give one billion or even one penny more to the criminal banks

- he wants to use the bailout funds and the Fed power to establish a national recovery bank instead

- he wants this bank to finance new enterprises in the necessary energy and transport conversion, which would mean good jobs

- he wants universal single-payer health care.

That's not waving a wand, and none of it works right away. That's announcing policy.

So far he has announced the OPPOSITE policies on all of these points. So it's NOT LIKE HE'S TRYING to reverse years of degradation. Nothing of the sort: he's trying to extend them.

Deal with the truth, please, no more partisan bullshit.

[dflprincess]

89. Exactly. (eom)

[PufPuf23]

96. So sadly true on all your points

Simple answers all that are pro-people (and summarize my own thoughts).

POTUS Obama is walking a tightrope.

The USA is in big trouble but I do not blame POTUS Obama now.

He needs to depend on others and their span of control.

We have deep rot in government and military and are in danger because our leaders have made so many enemies.

Depressing.

[Raksha]

124. You're right...I think that sums up the situation very well.

Re POTUS Obama is walking a tightrope.

The USA is in big trouble but I do not blame POTUS Obama now.

He needs to depend on others and their span of control.

We have deep rot in government and military and are in danger because our leaders have made so many enemies.

Depressing.

However, it is ONLY by holding the Bush criminals accountable that we will ever break their stranglehold on us. But the decisive moves to hold them accountable must NOT come from President Obama, because as you say...he's walking a tightrope.

Where will they come from then? I don't know the answer to that. I wish I did.

[RufusTFirefly]

105. Great response. Thanks! n/t

[SlingBlade]

57. EXACTLY ! It's been 62 day's folks

Only 62 Day's and even DUers are calling for Obama's head WTF:argh:


HOW SOON WE FORGET

[NeedleCast]

84. (Yes, they did, apparently)

Some people never get past the stage of political naivity where they think electing a Democrat is suddenly going to change the country into a progressive paradise.

[Mithreal]

111. Pelosi's and Reid's wands should already be warm. nt

[Skittles]

13. yes, and DAMN if I am NOT SURPRISED

[tritsofme]

30. At least we haven't lost our ability to be whiny little bitches.

I happen to be proud of the effort put forth by the Obama Administration and Secretary Geithner toward economic recovery.

They are the solution people, you are the whiners.

[specimenfred1984]

32. Ever notice posts about "whiners" are always so whiney?

Whannnn, I'm whining about whiners! Too funny.

[TheWatcher]

44. It's hilarious actually.

All it takes to solve the economy is Gun-To-The-Head Legislation (Like Bush & Paulsen gave us) that is never read by Congress, Well-Crafted Propaganda, Dazzling Distraction, Upbeat Rhetoric, Coddling and Playing Patty-Cake with the Criminals so they can keep stealing and looting, and dooming the currency with reckless Monetization.

Who knew?

As for the post you were responding to, fred, that person would have made a very "Good" German in the 1930's.

That's just a level of Delusion you really don't see everyday. he can't refute a single thing you said, just spew out blind, goose-step "yes" rhetoric.

That one is a special breed.

[Two Americas]

47. lol

Ain't it the truth.

[flvegan]

34. I'm giving him six months of leeway.

He's got a big job to do, and as much as I'm chomping at the bit to see the big "Change" picture that got dolled up and pranced around, I'm willing to be generous and understanding until roughly end of summer before I start to find "big picture" fault with him and his administration.

It's difficult for me to do, but it gives me allowances in that I wasn't rough on him right out of the gate.

[Number23]

38. I'm giving him a year. Six months is a good start but may not be long enough

I have to confess to being blown away with the number of people on this site who have decided that 2 months is ample time to profess his candidacy a failure. I'm as unimpressed by them as I am by the ones here who jump down the throats of posters who voice even the mildest criticism.

I'm personally thrilled with Obama and feel that he is definitely on the right track. And I have every confidence that I'll still feel this way in a year.

[marshall]

60. Obama's second term will be the one where he starts kicking ass!

A president's first term is really an audition for the second term, where everything comes together and the right thing can be done.

[dflprincess]

86. I knew "wait for the 2nd term" would eventually become the meme

I just didn't expect it would happen quite so soon.

[EstimatedProphet]

126. Exactly

Apparently people don't see the inherent conflict in saying both "Bush was the worst president ever, and fucked up the country beyond repair" and "Obama hasn't fixed the problems yet, after 2 months!"

[cliffordu]

37. Kicked and wrecked

[anaxarchos]

40. Waitin' on Obama...

5 million new unemployed, in the U.S. alone. Tell them to wait.

53 million new "impoverished", worldwide... at the edge of malnutrition. Tell them to wait.

The World Bank, in typical deadpan, just announced that 90 million will die because of this "recession". Tell them to wait.

Or better still, tell them it was all Bush's fault.

Can't do much... you know how it is.

[ZombieHorde]

41. As far as we know, the torture has stopped under Obama's adminitstration.

We are in the process of leaving Iraq, which is easier said then done, considering the construction workers and equipment.

As far as the banks and millions are concerned, I've got nothing.

Obama has plans for our health care system, we'll see how they pan out.

I don't believe punishment is the most important objective at this time, I believe there are other objectives, such as job creation, which will help us more.

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[captainjack08]

45. Right wing crap...

Please.... be gone with your rightwing crap. Yes, Obama is falling prey to the elite Wall Street hacks because he is caught in the catch-22 of pleasing the people and the elite who run the country. No, there was no better choice for president. So please take that video and shove it. What people need to do is get on Obama to do right the thing. Take that rightwing militia "Obama is the New World Order Anti-Christ" garbage and shove it.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

54. You make a great point. The people who have robbed us blind

for the last decade ARE the ones he has to deal with. He is dealing with a den of thieves. All used to getting whatever they wanted from BushCo.

[blindpig]

109. He is dealing with the same that any president has to deal with.

And is dealing with them as every president has since WWII.

[hisownpetard]

72. "There was no better choice for President." Amen to that! And I have faith that

we will be saying the same thing 4 years from now.

Welcome to DU, cap'tjack.

[Two Americas]

48. complete garbage

You are posting extreme right wing garbage here.

Lying about it and deceiving people too - that pisses me off.

Lying. I'm gonna tell your mother about this.


...

[Enthusiast]

51. Let's talk about deception.

Anyone that believes the crap in the movie is a victim of deception.

Just consider for a moment. The makers of this film expect us to believe that the new world order is all powerful, capable of every sort of sophisticated intelligence yet they were stupid enough to choose a black man with Hussein as a middle name to represent their interests. A black man with Hussein as a middle name would arouse the suspicion of almost half of America right off the bat. It makes no sense on its face.

Other alarm bells that should go off is the sinister music that plays during the film. This entire production strikes me as one of those UFO films we see on The Discovery Channel.

Do we have to worry about the military industrial complex and huge banking interests? You bet your ass we do. But the MIC is making money hand over fist and the economic meltdown will not make international banking interests more money in the long run-they could lose their asses. These sensationalist explanations have no solid evidence to support them. I can't explain their motives but I can't swallow this bull.

[captainjack08]

43. time for the bacon in blue

to start putting the bacon in black suits in the pen.. and I don't mean play pen.... i mean in the penitary

[placton]

53. EEEK-this sounds like Obama criticism!

we can't have THAT on DU <sarcasm>

[cali]

55. Actually, it doesn't remotely resemble criticism

it's just a petulant blast.

[Kablooie]

56. Whew! That's a relief. It's good to know we are so consistent.

[OwnedByFerrets]

59. Great post! Unfortunately.

[Javaman]

63. queue the lack of patience squad.

he's only been in for 2 months. repeat 2 months.

for fucksake, give the guy a chance.

If after a year, we are still neck deep in this bullshit, THEN, I will be colossally pissed off.

Until then, I wait, I scrape by, I grow my own veggies, I don't buy a thing until I can afford it in cash.

if whatever wheels of the economy that emerges from this mess doesn't begin to turn in a year, then it's on to a new plan for me. (what that is, I'm scared to think about)

Until then I wait and not act like a "I want it now 3 year old".

given what he has done so far, I'm pretty impressed, but yes, there is a lot more yet to do.

You have to remember, that moron* totally and completely fucked up things.

Look at it this way; a building has just collapsed and you are only given a hammer to fix it. Nothing else. No money for supplies, no other folks to help you with the heavy lifting, not even nails. You have to make do with what you got. This is where this country is at the moment.

So unless you have a lot of patience, you are going to be sorely disappointed.

[RufusTFirefly]

69. I love how the memes work. First it was "Team of Rivals"...

.. to explain why Obama would choose people so utterly at odds with core principles of the Democratic Party (such as it is these days).

Howard Dean's arch enemy Rahm

Smarmy Homophobe Rick Warren

Bush's own Secretary of Defense Gates

Architects of our economic disaster, Summers and (to a lesser extent) Geithner.

Now the new meme is "Be patient!"

I remember that one from 2004 when Kerry's lawyers (whom I naively helped finance) were going to swoop down and contest the election.

Still waiting...

[Javaman]

70. I'm sorry that you can't have your lolli right now...

but those of us who like to look at the bigger picture, understand that things take time and if that's not fast enough for you, well, that's the breaks.

so you are pissed because, people who you invested your time in didn't follow your plan of how things should be done? LOL massive ego there. LOL

So how is it having the sun revolve around you?

no wonder you lost patience after only 2 months.

sheesh.

[RufusTFirefly]

73. Feel confident that no matter the outcome, you'll be right

If the popular uprising that you and others are trying to squelch succeeds in changing the misguided economic policy from one of rewarding rapacious corporations to one of actually helping the country, you are sure to say, "See! Ye of little faith. I knew Saint Obama would come through for us in time."

But if the gang of corporate apologists and free marketeers does exactly what one would expect them to do and the country continues its economic death spiral, you can blame those of us who didn't march in lockstep for creating disunity and undermining the infallible president's noble efforts.

Congratulations in advance!!

[Javaman]

75. LOL

yeah, that's me, mr. squelcher. LOL

keep spouting and have fun with that. LOL

I'm just a little bit more adult in the concept of giving Obama a little bit more time. I'm more of the ilk of seeing what happens before I cry foul.

You know, like adults do.

[nichomachus]

99. It would be really nice if you could do something besides dish out snark

maybe like answer with a cogent argument. But, I guess when you have no logical or factual arrows left in your quiver, all you can do is throw insults.

[Javaman]

127. awww you hurting too?

LOL snark. LOL

[bobshin]

94. You hit it... be patient, until it's too late

proving, at least for me, that the duopoly is the main problem we're dealing with. Everything else is just a carrot on a stick.

[nichomachus]

100. The Republicans aren't the only ones who know Americans have a short attention span

[harmonicon]

66. "... or America is a goner"?

Where have you been? That boat sailed a long time ago.

[Bread and Circus]

67. Cry more?

[George II]

71. Then DO something about it!!!!

[valerief]

78. We are a nation of laws. None of the laws benefit the common man, however. nt

[mvd]

80. Here's how I feel about your complaints

We torture (couldn't disagree with you more; Obama has ended the practice)

We're still in Iraq (his generals are obviously telling him something; I want out starting now, but I'll see how the plan unfolds)

we give criminal banks 100s of billions (I'm willing to see the added regulations Obama adds; I didn't agree with the bailout, but Obama needed to win the election)

the Treasury Sec is a Goldman Sachs lackey (this might have been a mistake. Maybe Obama thought, "he knows how we got in; he can get us out")

our health care system is a criminal fraud (patience needed; this is painful since I'm so passionate about single-payer.)

NO ONE is being arrested for any of it while politicos yap about how "we're a nation of laws" (there is a lot on the President's plate - others should step up here)

[TBF]

82. K&R n/t

[opihimoimoi]

88. The Result of the GOP's Massive FAILURE....and that includes BUSH....he has screwed America no end.

[rollingrock]

91. Economic crisis and foreign policy

On the two most critical issues on the day, I am seeing no sign of positive change whatsoever. No one expects change to be instant, but so far Obama is displaying every indication that he intends to follow in his neocon predecessor's footsteps on the two most important issues that got him elected.

[defendandprotect]

92. Ah . . . but you're showing ANGER --!!! Tsk, tsk . . .

JUSTIFIED ANGER --

[phantom power]

93. You're not clapping very hard.

:rofl:

[Heidi]

95. President Obama, WALK ON WATER, now!!!!!!!

:eyes:

[Jim Sagle]

98. Remember, folks...

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

My tagline says it all.

[vincent_vega_lives]

101. I think the problem here is

people voted for the president they wanted, not the one they were actually getting.

[JDPriestly]

102. To say nothing of the unconstitutional wiretapping of everyone and

everything (and I will believe it has been stopped when I see some documents in a court of law), the torture and all the Bush/Cheney crimes that have not been addressed.

When Obama talked about change, I didn't realize he planned to exchange the taxpayers' money for trash and let the bankers keep their billions.

[ima_sinnic]

108. gee, how many billions of our tax dollars given away within the 1st month?

yet it "takes time" to bring those criminals to justice.

whatever.

Apathy is about all I feel for this administration. We The People were tricked and now it is obvious we are nothing but open wallets to the elite, and there apparently is "nothing" that can be done to get our money back that is funding the multimillion-dollar bonuses, yachts, luxuries cars, mansions, gated communities, etc. It would be "unconstitutional" to get that money back, doncha know, and O appears ready NOT to sign off on any bill that would try to do that.

Meanwhile, if I go down and apply for a few dollars worth of food stamps, a little "bonus" from the taxpayers, I'd be confronted with forms up the wazoo, a major investigation of my finances and assets, humiliating and degrading treatment like a pathetic loser, and enough bureaucratic bullshit to choke a pig. If it turns out I had some money they didn't know about after I start getting food stamps, I will have to pay back what I got. Welfare is only for the rich now.

I have a very very bad feeling about where this is going. I did not vote to reward criminals with my tax dollars, unless they are being spent on prison cells. This administration is kowtowing to criminals and thieves and apparently there is nothing we can do about it. The People are apeshit, but they don't count. ONLY THE WEALTHY ELITE MATTER TO THIS ADMINISTRATION.

[jaycal]

110. Now finally you are getting to see the Real Obama

The issue of bonuses is a diversion. The amount is "only" $165 million, less than one-thousandth of what was paid to AIG counter-parties (including Goldman and foreign banks).

If you want to know how much influence Goldman has over the government, you can read: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.smith20mar20,0,5158027.column or http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/26793903/the_big_takeover/print

It is funny that politicians (including Obama) have lined up to denounce AIG but hardly anyone mentions Goldman.

As this article http://thebulletin.us/articles/2009/03/10/top_stories/doc49b61e46e935b133022700.txt notes, Obama got $1 million from Goldman which got back $6 billion. Apparently Obama got 4 times as much from Goldman compared to McCain.

As Bob Ostertag writes about Obama's fund-raising "Just think through the basics: if on one side you have over a million people giving you little donations that make up 45% of your budget, and on the other side you have a handful of people giving you big donations that make up 55% of your budget, whose telephone calls are you going to take?"

My theory is that Bush was so bad, that people lost sight of what McCain actually was. And add to that the media's love affair with the "Obama story".

Paulson (ex-CEO of Goldman) sits in a meeting that includes Blankfein (current CEO of Goldman) the Sept 13 weekend when the government was bailing out AIG (led by Liddy, a former director of Goldman installed as AIG CEO by Paulson) which leads to Goldman getting $13 billion.

Also Geithner is a Rubin (a third ex-Goldman CEO) protege. His top aide is a former Goldman lobbyist.

AIG's financial products division is the low hanging fruit, which the politicians can beat up for their publicity. The employees there simply don't have the kind of connections Goldman has.

This is really become a "bipartisan kleptocracy". Bush was the original "Nightmare". Obama is "Nightmare, the Sequel".

[SemiCharmedQuark]

112. This is Democratic Underground. We do not support McCain here. Sorry.

[jaycal]

113. Yeah, I know...

... and there will be more and more reason to be sorry as the 4 or 8 years go by.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

114. LOL. McCain would have been a disaster. SPENDING FREEZE???

[jaycal]

115. Yes, freeze the spending, while keeping the same deficits

= you have huge tax cuts

Which means it would be citizens who actually had the money to spend, instead of corrupt politicians giving it to their cronies.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

116. Hoover tried that and it was a disaster. Bush tried tax cuts and they were a disaster.

What makes you believe tax cuts would work now?

[jaycal]

119. Bush cut taxes... while escalating spending... and not policing banks

who were making crappy loans... basically not doing the regulatory and law enforcement things that would have got us into this mess.

Look, I think Obama is a small time crook (if you understand what the Rezko real estate deal was about), but Bush is way worse than him.

McCain is neither Bush nor Obama.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

120. What on earth makes you believe that McCain would have imposed any regulations on banking???

His adviser was the guy that pushed for DEregulation!

[SemiCharmedQuark]

117. Not to mention: McCain's domestic policies were awful.

[azmouse]

118. It was your buddy boosh's tax cuts for the wealthy that got the country into this mess.

[jaycal]

121. The issue is not taxes but spending... yes, given the current economic

situation, we may need spending.

The question is: Who will you give the money to be spent? Will you give it to the common citizens or to politicians and their cronies?

I am not advocating tax cuts for the rich. I am all for negative income tax. If you earn $1, let the government pay you $1 more.

I am not a defender of Bush. He is by far the lousiest president I have ever known.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

122. McCain was not for spending, he was for a spending freeze...a thoroughly disasterous policy.

[azmouse]

123. Who would build the roads, fight fires, police the streets?

If no taxes then no services.

[Raksha]

125. Enjoy your stay. n/t