Was TSA hype a calculated distraction?

[Radical Activist]

Obama fought for a tax bill that didn't extend the cuts for those making over $250,000. He was doing it while the netroots were having shit fits about the TSA. We know the reporter and political class are impacted by TSA searches far more than the average working class American who doesn't fly anyway. Are we letting the upper class define the agenda for us through the media?

What if the netroots had spent more time focusing derision onto Congress for not passing a better tax bill? Could we have won? What about repeal of DADT or a clean energy bill? Are we being easily manipulated dupes of the corporate press?

[asdjrocky]

1. Yes, as is Obama. nt

[tekisui]

2. It may have been a calculated distraction perpetrated by the Administration

to distract us from the deal.

They are the ones who instituted the new procedures when they did. If anyone had a stake in distracting the public it was the WH.

[Radical Activist]

8. That conspiracy makes no sense on several levels.

It was the media who pushed TSA hype. Obama doesn't control the press.
Obama tried to put more focus on the tax issue, not TSA searches. Why would he push a story that was unpopular and made him look bad? That makes no sense at all.
Obama didn't push for tax cuts for the rich. He was forced to accept it as a compromise because Congress wouldn't pass what he wanted. Why would he create a distraction to pass something that he didn't even want? Again, your conspiracy has no logic.

[tekisui]

12. No conspiracy. Just a possibility that makes as much sense as your idea.

[Radical Activist]

14. Your post makes zero sense, as I pointed out and you didn't refute.

[Laelth]

3. I think the pat down flap was a distraction ...

... to get people to go along with the vastly more-invasive nudie scanners. Those things perform a full-body search without any degree of probable cause or reasonable suspicion. Their use by the government thoroughly shreds the 4th Amendment, and I am ashamed that a Democratic Administration foisted them upon us.

-Laelth

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

4. Yes the upper class does define the agenda.

Yes the upper class does run the country. And yes the upper class does have the upper hand.

[Matariki]

5. There is a lot of seriously fucked up stuff going on right now.

In the realm of human rights, free speech and attacks on the middle class in the US. It's not one thing or the other. It's damned frightening if you are paying attention at all.

[walldude]

6. I don't think the government had any idea of the shitstorm

that was coming over TSA...

[Radical Activist]

10. No kidding.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

7. You lost me at "Obama fought." (n/t)

[Radical Activist]

9. You don't like that Obama spent two years fighting for a progressive agenda?

I guess you could believe what some asshat pundit tells you about Obama not fighting, but I'll base my judgment on what actually happened.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

15. Join the reality-based world -- he didn't do that.

Hell, the man wouldn't even stand up for ACORN. More and more are FINALLY waking up to that reality, not just those on this board. People of all political stripes are FINALLY grasping the deleterious effects obscene tax cuts for the rich and high unemployment are having on the middle class, and how cuts to Social Security will just about finish us off.

I haven't watched Corporate Media in years and don't keep up with the latest "asshat pundits," so try that on someone else.

[Radical Activist]

16. The last person I heard say tax cuts for the rich were so bad was

Barack Obama. Once again, Congress is the problem on that one.
And the scare tactics about social security cuts don't work anymore. The deficit commission recommended minor tinkering to SS and their proposal would have RAISED benefits to many low-income recipients. No dice on your exaggeration. Maybe you're reading the wrong blogs.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

17. Again with the assumptions.

I don't spend too much time on blogs, either, and am actually pretty impressed you didn't predictably trot out FDL, although I'm sure that's the blog you're referring to.

Tax cuts for the rich are ALL on Obama, with worth-a-damn Democrats in opposition. Here, you might enjoy these 'toons:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9712272&mesg_id=9712272

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9722097&mesg_id=9722097

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9733179

Or not.

Only in a Circle D's world would the changes proposed by Alan "Cow Tits" Simpson and that bullshit commission be considered "minor tinkering." During the past couple of days I've spoken to people of all political stripes (all middle class), and EVERYONE is concerned. Peddle it elsewhere, we're not buying it.

[applegrove]

11. I still think the TSA rage amongst GOP or teabag pundits was to

take advantage of that ew factor that they use a lot when discussion GLBT issues. They were trying to recruit more people for their pursed lipped, anti tax (don't touch my cash), "ew" army.

[LostInAnomie]

13. Let's not pretend we didn't play a huge part in the outrage.

Type TSA into search and look at about the first 1000 threads. We were more than happy to play a quite active role in the outrage.

[Matariki]

18. I'm still outraged. And not apologetic for it.

I'm not at all happy with the trend toward unlawful searches, be it communications, property or underwear.