The Sublime Brilliance Of Obama's Political Instinct: It's The TIMING Baby!

[Beetwasher]

This is an offshoot of some discussion I had in another thread about Obama's sudden onslaught against the Republicans. I'll start with what I posted there but want to expand a bit about why this particular salvo of attacks is brilliantly timed.

You Need To Push This Line Of Attack When People Start Paying Attention which is usually in Sept. Obama is laying the groundwork now for the full fall rollout. This is merely the beginning and it will intensify as we get closer to the election. That's politics.

Most people have not been paying attention at all to politics and really won't start until much closer to the election.

I trust Obama's political instincts and timing. It's served him pretty well so far. And people still have more faith in Obama than any other politician in the country and will take his word over theirs.

Now, think about the particular timing of this attack during a time when most people aren't really paying attention to politics. What just happened? The well was capped and FinReg just passed. BIG news items. GOOD news items for Dems. So what happens? BAM! Obama starts going nuclear NOW and capitalizes on the attention grabbing stories already in the news that the media MUST cover. He's taking control of the message now and setting the frame for Nov. He's driving the narrative by capitalizing on the confluence of big news items. If he did this some other time, the media would probably pretty much ignore him. Now they can't because they want his comments on OTHER things too.

That's how ya do it folks. That's you play them. And that's why Obama is President and you and everyone else isn't.

[MadMaddie]

1. I agree with your analysis

Timing is everything.....the Repugs can't defend themselves against voting no on extending unemployment benefits, especially when the new talking point is that "people who are getting unemployment benefits (which by the way they paid into the system) are lazy and don't want to get off of the benefits and get a job". This talking point is not going over well at all...

[Beetwasher]

2. I Would Also Like To Add That If He Had Been Attacking All Along

And had never let up, it would lose it's effectiveness when he did it NOW, when it counts, to set the frame going into Nov.

The media already makes any excuse to not cover something like this effectively; if he did it all the time, they'd yawn. It's newsworthy because it's so infrequent.

[MadMaddie]

6. You are absolutely right

They would say he is on out too much, talking too much.....they have already done that in the past.

[corkhead]

3. this picture is worth 1000 of your words...

[Diane R]

19. I read in some book that Obama himself loved this photo and caption during the campaign.

[flyarm]

4. well he is losing many of us!! Letter from ACLU today.........

edited with bolding..

https://secure.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=2493&page=UserAction&cr=2&s_src=UNW100001ACT&s_subsrc=100715_stupak&cr=1&JServSessionIdr004=jfwgg5th93.app225a

Dear Friend,

We need you to act immediately to undo a disturbing decision from the Obama administration. Remember all the hard work you and other ACLU activists did to defeat Rep. Stupak's draconian abortion coverage ban during the health care debate?

Well now, the White House has decided to voluntarily impose the ban for all women in the newly-created high risk insurance pools. What is disappointing is that there is nothing in the law that requires the Obama administration to impose this broad and highly restrictive abortion ban. It doesn't allow states to choose to cover abortion and it doesn't even give women the option to buy abortion coverage using their own money. .

Ask President Obama WHY his administration is restricting coverage for vulnerable women.

Unless the Administration reverses this decision, some of America's most vulnerable women—those with pre-existing conditions who have been denied health care coverage on the individual market—won't be able to purchase abortion coverage except in the case of rape or incest or to save the pregnant woman's life.

You and I know that every woman should be able to decide what is best for her health and her family. A pro-choice administration should know that too.

It's especially discouraging to impose a ban on women participating in a high-risk insurance pool who are particularly vulnerable and may have a special need for abortion. For example, because of the restriction, a woman with heart disease or diabetes might be compelled to carry a pregnancy to term despite its potentially damaging effect on her future health.

Ask President Obama not to stand in the way of vulnerable women's health care choices.

It's urgent that you send your message to President Obama right now. When you do, we'll also forward a copy to Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, whose department is putting this unnecessary and harmful restriction into effect.

Thank you for acting on this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Laura W. Murphy
Director, Washington Legislative Office



© ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004



Wow..I never in my life thought I would see CAHNGE LIKE THIS..from a Democratic president..CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN..I THINK NOT!


read that again............

Well now, the White House has decided to voluntarily impose the ban for all women in the newly-created high risk insurance pools. What is disappointing is that there is nothing in the law that requires the Obama administration to impose this broad and highly restrictive abortion ban. It doesn't allow states to choose to cover abortion and it doesn't even give women the option to buy abortion coverage using their own money. .

snip:

For example, because of the restriction, a woman with heart disease or diabetes might be compelled to carry a pregnancy to term despite its potentially damaging effect on her future health.



snip:

Thank you for acting on this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Laura W. Murphy
Director, Washington Legislative Office



© ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004

[Beetwasher]

5. Man, That's Obnoxiously Off-Topic

Now that you've vomited forth your garbage, do I take it you have nothing of value to add to the subject of the OP?

[villager]

7. I think the on-topic point was about political instincts and timing -- thus, why the restrictions

...on the right to choose? Why now?

why do it at all?

(as with so many other baffling decisions from this White House)

How does that factor into the "brilliance" argument?

[Beetwasher]

8. No It Wasn't, It's Obnoxious Spam

Blood curdlingly screamed and regurgitated in huge, bright red clown letters.

[villager]

11. Your "replies" seem to be the most obnoxious things in this thread...

Are you unable to discuss aspects of Obama's "timing" and "brilliance" that don't fit in to your thesis?

[Beetwasher]

12. Only If We Can Discuss It In 180 Point, Velvet Font

n/t

[villager]

14. Can we "discuss" it... at all?

Evidently not.

[Beetwasher]

16. Sure, Start A Thread About Your Topic And Discuss Away!

My OP is about something else that you're obviously not interested in discussing.

[villager]

21. Your thread is about the "brilliance" of Obama's political instincts, which surely include

...the timing of the announcement rolling back a women's right to choose.

Why do it?

Why keep pissing off your base over and over in a tangible way, if all your relying on is a putatively "well timed" attack (maybe) on the GOP, to counter-balance it?

Is that the sum total of political strategizing from this White House.

But I guess this wasn't meant to be one of those actual "discussion" threads on a discussion board?

[Beetwasher]

23. CAUTION!!!!

Hijacking in progress.

[villager]

29. Desperate avoidance of direct answers...

...would also seem to be in progress...

[Beetwasher]

31. Inappropriate Response In The Wrong Font

How dare you even deign to speak to me in anything less than 150pt, Cobalt.

[villager]

33. Boy, you're worrying that font thing like a terrier with a bone...

Guess old material beats having a conversation? :shrug:

[Beetwasher]

34. I LOVE Talking Font, And We Haven't Even Gotten Into My Opinions on BOLDING and ITALICS!!

Seraf, non-seraf. I could go on.

[villager]

38. "I could go on"

somehow, I don't doubt you at all.

[Beetwasher]

40. You Know Me So Well!

I feel like we're soul mates. :hug:

[villager]

45. "And ye shall know them by their sig lines?"

:shrug:

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

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

[FrenchieCat]

24. The Hyde amendment wasn't struck down, last I checked

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=376055&mesg_id=377339


Working harder to change that fucking law is the way to go,
instead of pissing and dying everything time is shows up.

Instead of constantly putting dow Democrats, we need to help elect more of them.
That's the only way the Hyde Amendment will one day disappear.

And it surely won't go anywhere by vilifying this President; tell you that!

[suzie]

26. But if we elected more Democrats then how could we whine and complain about

Obama at every moment?

[villager]

30. Um, how many Democrats do we need to elect before we start to get Democratic

style legislation and governance?

[FrenchieCat]

55. A whole fucking more than what we have now.

[suzie]

61. Is that a joke?

Because you may not have noticed, but on any given piece of legislation we usually have ZERO Republicans voting for it and a couple of Democrats that will change their votes or not vote for whatever the legislation is.

[JTFrog]

62. +1

[MadHound]

13. Ah, so all women's reproductive rights are now "garbage" eh?

Make room, they're throwing women under the bus, joining public education, the LGBT community, unions, etc. etc.

[Beetwasher]

15. Yes, That's Exactly What I Said, Bravo!

:sarcasm: (because a lot of people are too stupid to get it) Care to discuss anything in the OP?

[MadHound]

27. Well apparently you're implying that you don't give a damn about women's rights

Especially since they are brought up in a manner you don't approve of. But you know what, the fight for anybody's civil rights is an ugly and messy thing, not limited to nice neat boundaries and threads. You speak of timing in your OP, what do you think of the timing of this latest little bomb on women? Do you approve? Is this what makes Obama president?

[Beetwasher]

32. I Think You Need To Stay On The Topic Which Is Clearly Font Size And Color

And you are using a font that is way too small and boring. May I suggest a dainty 115pt Chartreuse?

[MadHound]

35. Ah, there it is, the cutesey dismisal that you use to cover up for the fact that

You have absolutely nothing of substance to contribute to the discussion, and that you are simply dismissing anything that makes Obama look bad, no matter who gets thrown under the bus.

Get back to me when you have something of substance to discuss, and some cogent facts to back your ass up with.

[Beetwasher]

37. I Was Looking Forward To Discussing Seraf's With You, But If You Must Leave, Alas!

Another day. :hug:

[MadHound]

42. Wow, you can't even get your cutesey dismals right can you?

It is SERIF, not seraf.

[Beetwasher]

43. Ahhh!!!!!! RUN FOR THE HILLS!! They Break Out The Big Guns!!!!

Spelling flames!!! I'm DOOOOMED!!!!!!!!!

[flyarm]

17. "The Sublime Brilliance Of Obama's Political Instinct: It's The TIMING Baby!"

how is what i posted off topic..your topic is "The Sublime Brilliance Of Obama's Political Instinct:"


I would say the email I got today from th ACLU..shows the complete opposite of your Thread ..

If this was brilliant..then I am Einstein! Because i warned about this 2 years ago!!

And if this is good timing..I would say YOU have no idea of timing!


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

From ACLU email today........

Timing you say?? Brilliance you say??????????

I don't think many women will agree with you!! Especially women who have fought for womens rights their entire adult lives!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Well now, the White House has decided to voluntarily impose the ban for all women in the newly-created high risk insurance pools. What is disappointing is that there is nothing in the law that requires the Obama administration to impose this broad and highly restrictive abortion ban. It doesn't allow states to choose to cover abortion and it doesn't even give women the option to buy abortion coverage using their own money. .

snip:

Thank you for acting on this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Laura W. Murphy
Director, Washington Legislative Office



© ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

and WTF is Sublime about this??????????

[Beetwasher]

20. I Suggest A 250 Point, Auburn Font

It'll add just the right touch of pinache.

[cornermouse]

36. The word you're probably hoping for was

panache. Perhaps you should have listened to your teacher a little better? :eyes:

[Beetwasher]

39. Oooh!! Spelling Flames!!!

Bring it, cupcake! :rofl:

[cornermouse]

47. I guess you think redefining words and arguing about fonts, etc.

is the latest strategy that will win the argument and make us obedient? You're not married, are you?

...Wonderful strategy. :eyes:

[Beetwasher]

50. No, I Think My Hypno Ray Will Make You Obedient

Just wait.

[cornermouse]

51. I see you should have listened to your science teacher also.

[Beetwasher]

52. Teacher Don't You Fill Me Up With Your Rules!!!

School's out, baby.

[cornermouse]

54. Your latest tactic isn't going to work.

You might as well face that fact now and find something else.

[Beetwasher]

56. Tactic? I Thought We Were Flirting

You drive me wild, sugar pie.

[cornermouse]

59. You probably want to go back to the drawing board.

[Beetwasher]

60. No Thanks! I Knows What I Likes!

Growl!

[Ignis]

92. A letter from the ACLU is "garbage?"

In what universe, precisely? :shrug:

[Beetwasher]

94. The Post Is Obnoxiously Off Topic, Screamed In Giant Red Clown Letters

And therefore, garbage.

[Ignis]

95. How is it off topic? It appears to address your point rather directly.

Granted, it doesn't agree with your assessment, but them's the breaks in a public forum!

[Beetwasher]

96. No, Actually, It Doesn't, It Would Be More Direct With A 175pt Maroon Font

Bright red fonts are for discussions on trade policy.

[geckosfeet]

9. Jeezuz. Big red letters.

:scared: What we gonna do! :wow:
:shrug:

[Jane Austin]

10. I thought he never had you.

Based on your comments here.

Did I misremember?

[JTFrog]

63. +1000

[flyarm]

66. he had my vote..but he never had me fooled! eom

[Starbucks Anarchist]

88. Well, if you voted for him, technically he did "fool" you.

:rofl:

[eleny]

46. I forgot to send in my dues to renew my membership...

Thanks for the reminder. This issue is important to me, too.

[eleny]

18. He'd have to have known they were going to cap the well and that FinReg was going to pass

I don't think he had a crystal ball.

I believe he decided not to let this opportunity pass him. That's a good thing. I'm glad he's finally doing that.

I think he woke up to the fact that they were losing a portion of the independent voters and some of the base. Maybe donations weren't coming in as they had hoped plus the polls have been disappointing. That's just my guess but donations are usually a good gauge of how policies are supported.

[Beetwasher]

22. Uhh, No. He Knew HOW He'd Attack And Waited For The Right Moment

Not too difficult. "This is what we're going to go with, I'll let you know when to pull the trigger." It was decided now was a good time.

[eleny]

25. If the well wasn't capped and FinReg didn't pass would he still be waiting for the right moment?

I'm reminded of how some in the media, Rachel Maddow and Ed Schultz for example, have been urging the administration publicly for some time to fight back.

I'm glad President Obama is finally doing it. He's allowed the republicans to gain too much momentum. I want to see the Republican Party defeated royally.

[Beetwasher]

28. Probably, Yes, He Would Wait A Bit Longer

He knew SOMETHING would almost certainly come along, and probably had a drop dead date as well. IOW, if we really don't have anything to capitalize by xdate, we'll roll out anyway.

He got had a bit of luck that the capping took place at the same time as FinReg, but recognized it for the perfect opportunity it was to roll out his message for the Fall.

[eleny]

44. There's no time like the present to fight Republican arguments

They've been rooted in hypocrisy and corporate ass kissing for as long as I can remember. So I'm relieved to see the president finally putting a shoulder to a fight.

Since we're discussing timing - I'm also curious about Harry Reid's statement about how the president is more of a peacemaker. Could be that it was a planned comment. I haven't made up my mind about that yet. However, it sure was curious coming out right after Obama's campaigning for the senator. I could be all wrong about this but I can't help but speculate about orchestration.

And btw I'm delighted to see the First Family take a few days off right now. Seeing the Republicans tearing their hair out & ripping at their clothes over it gave me a chuckle. Even CNN countered with how many days off President * used to enjoy.

[Beetwasher]

48. Honestly, I Don't Know About The Reid Comment

A lot of stuff is hard to tell these days because you not only have the gamesmanship, but you have a much more pervasive media that competes to make stories for various reasons where none might exist. So, there may have been some orchestration of message, or they may have been a bit of actual venting on Reid's part or it may have been some media pushing a narrative for whatever reason by taking some stuff out of context.

I honestly did not pay that much attention to the details of that story to form an opinion on it with regards to the messaging aspect.

[Hekate]

41. Hey, Beet, thanks for this. I've been in "close family member death" mode for the last 10 days...

... and have missed out on a lot since I can't bear to watch the news or even think about it.

Yeah, I think our POTUS is starting to set up to "catapult the propaganda" as Bush so eloquently put it. Glad you see it too, and I hope he has a LOT of help following through.

KnR

Hekate

[SharonAnn]

89. Oh, I'm so sorry. I went through that in February and you're right. One just can't bear

to watch the news or even think about it when you're in that situation.

[bertman]

53. This is just another paean to Conciliation in the guise of Compromise.

The only really important TIMING issue for the President and the Democrats will be whether they have control of those Diebold voting machines or not.

[Beetwasher]

57. Somehow, Despite Diebold, Obama Got Elected And Dems Have Control Of Both Houses

Somehow. Not saying vote riggings not possible, but obviously it's not insurmountable.

[bertman]

67. I think you're right that it is not insurmountable, BW. But it requires

such a huge turnout from the Democratic base that the rigging can't be done without being exposed. Sadly, President Obama and his DLC advisors are driving us left-wingers away in droves. I wish it were not so, but it is.

[Beetwasher]

68. No, He's Not Driving Away "Us Left Wingers"

Not in droves anyway. The data doesn't support that and DU is in no way indicative of the population at large or even the whole "left wing" at large.

Obama is still the most popular guy at the party, any party.

I'm not sure what your despondent cynicism will accomplish. In my view, it's a waste of time. You should just crawl into a whole with a bunch of canned goods and wait out the end of it all if that's how you really feel. And don't start in with "just tellin'! the truth!" because in this universe, your opinion of "the way things are" is in no way a truth any more than mine is.

[bertman]

70. LOL. Crawl in a "whole"?? come on, now. And "despondent cynicism"?? Please.

I'm not a cynic, nor am I despondent. I'm an optimist. Always have been. I'm also a hopeful and upbeat personality type. What I am not, is delusional.

When I see a Democratic President who carries the debasement of our civil liberties farther toward fascism than even a Republican of the ilk of George W. Bush I am not despondent. I am alarmed and outraged.

When I see the man who moved millions with his soaring oratory and his eloquence fail to use his bully pulpit to arouse Americans to the dangers of global imperialism, unchecked capitalism, and rampant greed like what we are seeing on Wall Street, I wonder why the hell I spent so much money and time and energy on helping to elect him.

Believe me, I would love to wake up every day and read about another accomplishment of this President and his administration that I could cheer about and that I could use to convert my right-wing friends and family to the progressive cause. It ain't happening!

I know and hang out with a lot of Democrats. Most of them are very liberal. They are not impressed with the EFFORT or the RESULTS that you and others seem to feel are so wonderful. What I'm hearing is "why isn't the President taking the message to the people?" and "Why is President Obama trying to be BI-partisan when he knows the Republicans will just stab him in the back?" and "Why is President Obama letting BP cover up the extent of the damage this oil spill is doing?" to name a few comments.

If you think those kinds of complaints are uncommon among Democrats then you are hanging out with a different crowd of Democrats than the ones I hang with.

[Beetwasher]

73. Yup, Despondent Cynicism, I Suggest You Just Give Up

And dig into tubs of ice cream and cry yourself to sleep every night. In other words, keep up the good work!

[truth2power]

85. Beetwasher, I'm struck by the fact that Bertman made the effort

to express his concerns about Obama, at some length and without hyperbole. He was specific in what it looks like from where he's standing, and you seem to have interpreted that as more baseless doom and gloom.

Let me ask you something...Let's say that you had reason to believe that the son of a friend of yours was into something harmful that was likely to come to a bad end. Let's say that you went to your friend to express your concerns in a non-hystrionic, articulate way, and your friend more-or-less told you to shut up. Your friend might say that you probably don't like his son anyway, or that you're just a doomsayer who can't find anything good to say about anyone.

You might go away, telling yourself that your friend is in denial. And if some tragedy eventually ensued, you might have the impulse to say to your friend, "I tried to tell you."

Many progressives who voted for Obama have serious concerns about his policies, overall. It does no good for those who disagree to be figuratively putting their fingers in their ears and going, "Na na na na na". It's entirely possible that, at some point, some might be inclined to say, "I tried to tell you."

[Beetwasher]

87. I Don't Buy It

Sorry, but fretting over diebold after we just had two huge elections in 2006 and 2008 serves no useful purpose.

"The only really important TIMING issue for the President and the Democrats will be whether they have control of those Diebold voting machines or not."

That's how he started this conversation. That's not progressive angst about policy direction, it's despondent cynicism.

When he claims Obama is worse than Bush:

"When I see a Democratic President who carries the debasement of our civil liberties farther toward fascism than even a Republican of the ilk of George W. Bush I am not despondent. I am alarmed and outraged."

That tells me this poster is not worthy of engaging in serious discussion, but is worthy of only mockery.

[truth2power]

97. Diebold machines can be hacked. Our elections are no place for

machines with proprietary software, owned by companies with ties to the Republican party. also, we must have a paper trail.

Did Obama sign legislation to extend the Patriot Act?

Are we sending drones to kill individuals in other countries, some of them American citizens, specifically on the say-so of Mr. Obama?

What about Baghram prison, where Gen. McChrystal bragged that he prevented access by the Red Cross and where, by many accounts, torture is still occurring? Why doesn't Obama speak up about that?

Debasement of our civil liberties? Sounds like serious discussion to me.

[Beetwasher]

98. I Suggest You Start A Thread About These "Serious Discussions", Since There Not Relevant To The OP

Either that, or just dig a hole and cry yourself to sleep every night living in fear of "Diebold" machines that allowed a Dem President and Congress.

[truth2power]

86. I appreciate your efforts, Bertman. Please see my response

to Beetwasher, #85 below.

[southernyankeebelle]

58. We know he has some golf size balls but he needs to grow a pair of

tennis size balls so we can really hear him loud and clear.

[Tarheel_Dem]

64. And where do you propose we "hear him loud and clear"? Through

the M$M "news" filter? Perhaps the thousands of blogs that twist & maim his every word, to their readers' delight? I would suggest whitehouse.gov, but that's been dismissed as a propoganda outlet, by the purists among us. :shrug:

:edited for missing word

[eilen]

65. In light of the past 18 months

it is refreshing not to hear the smooch on the ass cheek but is unfortunately an anomaly-- well, not so much an anomaly as mere words which is to say, the guy does know how to hold forth and fire people up.

Lets see that forceful leadership the Repubs have been unilaterally unappreciative of (like throwing 40% of the population under the bus in the HC bill, the deafening inaction on DADT, and the ruthless rootless gap riven dull teeth of financial reform) FOCUSED on creating jobs in the US for citizens (not more trade agreements selling us down the river)-- considering he still embraces the economic model of Reagan/Bush-- unlimited growth, blah blah blah. I don't have high hopes on that front. However, if you are very concerned about Democrats retaining power, they certainly are paying the game and should retain their seats. I don't hold out much hope for a progressive agenda. Brava.

[Beetwasher]

69. You've Got A Very Weird View Of Progress

If Health Care Reform and Financial Regulation is not included in that.

[eilen]

72. For one, health care was not reformed.

Health insurance access was reformed. Health care in of itself has not changed. There are no new models for delivery. There is still no equality in access. 40% are still systemically and institutionally allowed to be overcharged and have had the services available curtailed for the comfort of religious zealots.
Second, financial reform is pretty much a watered down bill. The banks are still churning investments in the back room, CDO's are still legal, lending has not increased, big bonuses are still being handed out. There are a few consumer protections but no change in what ultimately fucked the economy. It is not a fix.

Now, if you want to say there is progress, sure there is progress like a shit sandwich is still food for the starving.

[Beetwasher]

74. It's Clear That You Like To Define Things Any Way You See Fit

I like that game! It makes things interesting, if impossible to discuss, so, let's redefine everything and just have fun! From now on "progress" means "burrito" and "reform" means "banjo".

[eilen]

76. I guess it depends on your perspective

No redefinition perpetrated. It is clear you like to take things at face value.

Peace is war
etc.

[Beetwasher]

79. And BY "Perpetrated" You Mean "Gaseous"

And "face value" you mean "donkey kick". Fun!

[flamingdem]

71. I enjoy it when O goes into Onslaught mode nt

[stevietheman]

75. The negative responses to this explain why progressives have trouble keeping power

Of course, we know why conservatives can't hold power -- their corruption becomes so obvious they can't hide it, and the electorate punishes them accordingly.

But with progressives, they can't hold power because there are too many progressive voters who get themselves lathered up with petulant betrayal because their leader can't deliver on 100% of their demands.

The reality is that like any politician, Obama does what the current politics allows him to do. I believe he delivered the most that he could deliver with HCR, finance reform, etc. Obama is a very progressively oriented President, but he must also govern the entire, very complex nation. He can't simply accede to demands from his base all the time.

The bottom line is that Obama is doing a very good job, and the alternatives are incredibly AWFUL in comparison.

[depakid]

77. No, it shows that unlike the right- progressives have working bullshit detectors

[DCBob]

80. you need to calibrate those detectors..

getting alot of false alarms.

[depakid]

82. They're calibrated just fine

I wasn't surprised by most of what's come out of this administration- nor by Obama's campaign rhetoric- after all, it was pretty clear from the record in both public statements and in Senate votes what we'd be like.

The failure to return accountability under the rule of law to pre-Bush norms, that I didn't see coming (like many of the President's former students, I'd imagine). It would be interesting to hear what they have to say about it now. Probably wouldn't be very flattering.

[eilen]

78. The fallback for apologists is this tell:

"and the alternatives are incredibly AWFUL in comparison."

A variation on "President Palin"

[Lindsey]

81. I absolutely agree with everything you've said. Thanks for

posting!

[eilen]

84. Thanks. I have always enjoyed your posts too nt

[ProgressOnTheMove]

83. Yes, I love it when he's always way ahead of the curve of even some us on our side. Everything at...

it's correct time and place. He is strong in stickign rigidly to a strategy, that takes true strength over knee jerk response.

[Radical Activist]

90. He can make partisan attacks with more credibility because he reached out to Republicans

so many times. The public saw them refuse to work with Obama. This is why 2010 won't be 1994.

[Beetwasher]

91. This Is A Point I've Made Over And Over And Over: If You Constantly Attack

It loses it's effectiveness. It's newsworthy NOW because he doesn't do it all the time.

[JNelson6563]

99. Yes, in sharp contrast to Bush

He made countless legitimate efforts to work with R's. Team Bush and their minions in Congress went out of their way to tell the D's to fuck off every chance they got, and they didn't care who witnessed it.

Julie

[Name removed]

93. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.