Why isn't Obama ATTACKING the GOP?

[QuintanarooBoy]

Full disclosure: I voted for Bill Clinton in 1992 and '96, but I've never really liked the guy personally. But I'll definitely give him this: He struck back every single time on every single bullshit point the Republicans threw his way. He challenged Newt Gingrich to shut us down and suffer the responsibility for it. He fought. And he won.

President Obama, in contrast, seems reluctant to speak---loudly---about the Republican plan to turn this country into a Dickensian dystopia, straight out of 1850s England. Does he really want 95% of us to live in abject poverty?

I refuse to believe that. So why isn't the President dismantling the wingnuts' faux assertions one by one by one? He could accomplish this easily: All he has to do is SPEAK UP, for Chrissakes.

Why is he not doing so?

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Obama does not fight at all.

He is endlessly conciliatory.

[FiveGoodMen]

2. Because he agrees with them.

[Romulox]

5. That's the simplest solution. Barring evidence to the contrary, I tend to agree. nt

[QC]

10. It's hard not to come to that conclusion, isn't it? n/t

[QuintanarooBoy]

31. So he's a Republican now?

Come on! You don't really believe that.

[Armstead]

36. Bassically a moderate liberal old-school Republican

Much better than the crappy jerks that currently dominate the Republican Party, but basically in line with what were once cionsidered moderate republicans.

He is a firm believer in our present corporate system, and that the only thing wrong is the need for a few tweaks, rather than actual structural reform. He basically would like to "do the right thing" but he also wants to be friends with Wall St. and Corporate America too, and so will not rock their boat.

[ProSense]

44. So

portraying Obama as a "moderate liberal old-school Republican" by agreeing with an OP hyping Clinton?

What was Clinton, a wingnut?

[Armstead]

46. He was basically an old-school moderate Republican too

[QuintanarooBoy]

47. "do the right thing"

You put it quotation marks. Code?

[Armstead]

53. Not code -- there is another reason for the quotes

"Do the right thing" as you probably know is a Spike Lee movie, and a phrase that came into popular use.

But these days "right" has a double meaning in the political sense -- as in right wing. So when I use that phrase I put it into quotes to make sure it is seen as the original phrase and not construed as meaning do the right-wing thing.

Satisfied? There's no nefarious reason for the quotes. Sorry to disappoint you.

[FiveGoodMen]

41. Policy-wise, yes.

[Javaman]

3. because his corporate sponsors might get angry.

see how it works?

[NorthCarolina]

4. Because there are still some Liberals in the Democratic Party he needs to go after first.

He's busy working the Weinergate diversion angle right now.

[QuintanarooBoy]

33. Suspicion

Won't get us anywhere, but go ahead if you want. :shrug:

[mmonk]

6. Why attack them? We liberals and progressives are still here.

[melm00se]

7. good question

there is, however, a big difference between now and the 90's. For the most part of the 90's the economy was moving along quite nicely and the apparent justification for shutting down the government didn't hold water.

Fast forward to today: the economy is on shaky ground; government deficit spending is at the forefront; people are finding it difficult to swallow that the government can spend and spend and spend when they can't; the appearance that # of government employees is growing is there.

These make offensive attacks appear more credible than defensive attacks (or counter-punches).

[PhillySane]

28. However

it has been noted that spending by the government IS the only way out of this. I think he just wants the economists, left or right to say that, not him. This way, he can't be blamed for it.

[QuintanarooBoy]

48. If you're right,

then he's not leading. Successful Presidents LEAD.

[Name removed]

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[KharmaTrain]

9. They're Doing A Good Job Of Destroying Themselves...

President Obama is lucky he's confronting an opposition that has flown off the rails and is weak in leadership. Look at the stooges who were on that rushpublican "debate" last night and try to take any of 'em seriously. Whomever does win the nomination will go through a bruising primary where lots of poo will be flung and the "winner" will be vulnerable.

In the House & Senate, the GOTB is also very busy self destructing...pissing off the elderly, women, Hispanics, blacks...anyone who isn't white christian male. And then there are the union busters in Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and other states that have woken up that sleeping giant. And then there's that possibility that a portion of the rushpublicans will either stay home next year or vote for some third party.

This President needs not beat up on those that are beating themselves. He can sit back and consentrate on governing and doesn't have to really rev up his machines for another year...a very looooooooong year.

[OHdem10]

11. The Democrats are pure and do not stoop to confrontation.

We are above such tactics. Too bad they never came
into Modern America.

Psssst. It may not be fair but this makes them look
weak and inneffective to the average American. The Republicans
know this anc capitalize on it.

[QuintanarooBoy]

49. Shades of Kerry '04

I know exactly what you're saying.

[WingDinger]

12. Not to sound like a sycophant, but

Presidents use and trade political capital differently. Me, I am a pugilist. I want to go at it tooth and nail. And I win that way. Obama, he never seems to push his weight around. It seems he won't use his capital to show them whatfor. I am not sure he is not right. He seems to get it done. Sure there are many things he hasn't done. Those things are likely impossible, given the political climate. And we clamor for him to use up his capital in one nukular blast. Cuz we like fireworks. Flamboyance with such a retrenchent opposition would likely be a mistake. The right wing wants us to hear Obama's campaign promises, and forget that they set him and Dems up to fail, tossing us the keys after setting the vehicle ablaze with the two santa tactic. He was screwed. America was screwed. And they intend to screw it cubed.

[Scuba]

13. +1

[PinkTiger]

14. Exactly. nt

[deacon]

18. Excellent post. +1

[JoePhilly]

25. +1

[Sheepshank]

30. Why is this so difficult to see?

So many WANT Obama to bully around like a Cheney or Nixon...but don't we all know the end game of that action? "Obama is just like xxx "(insert your favorite "R")

His finess and ability to let the opposition play itself out to it's own stupid conclusion is so obvious. How many times does the OP, and those in agreement with OP, have to see that played out before they finally 'get it'?

[TheKentuckian]

77. Probably because it isn't true. What is it that is being played out? More than zero would be a start

The TeaPubliKlans aren't self destructing into defeats as he rope a dopes.

[Armstead]

40. No, this passive approasch is not what is needed

There is a large range on the spectrum between passivity and overly fiery flamboyance.

Obama is too far on that scale in the direction of passivity, asnd thus is allowing the GOP to dominate the conversation and the agenda.

He needs to be more Bernie Sanders and less Evan Bayh.

[Johonny]

45. great leaders change with what the times need.

Now he doesn't have the house and has a weak senate lead, I really would have expected him to change style. Mixed congress generally don't do anything, so the question has been why in a congressional climate where nothing is likely to be done hasn't he gone to selling Democratic ideas straight to the people? I think it's a little troubling that the game changed in January and his tactics haven't changed nearly with them. I though his approach got a lot passed through congress in year 1 and 2, I think nothing productive will happen with the insane people in charge of the house atm. Without outward leadership directed at motivating the voters, he is unlikely to see a better climate for his leadership technique post 2012. Good leaders change with the climate, Obama simply seems like a one trick pony up to this point. The government is working vastly better than under Bush, but no one will know this unless Obama starts getting out in front of selling his party's program.

[Enthusiast]

67. I agree completely.

I would never expect fiery flamboyance from Obama. But, geesh.

[iwishiwas]

15. He is playing 'nice" again expecting them -the repugs to play nice.

What a joke!!

[Zorra]

16. The simple math of bipartisanship: Repubicans + Democrats = < 0.

The long term plan is to turn "sensible liberals" into "sensible conservatives" without them ever even realizing it, by creating and increasing the illusion that conservatism is what is good and pragmatic, and that liberalism is evil and silly, by slowly and consistently re-framing the definiton of what is sensible in the minds of the susceptible.

The change is somewhat slow, but very profound--slowly shift the party, and the nation, to the right so that there is as little awareness of or resistance to the implementation of plutocracy as possible.

[Enthusiast]

68. Very good!.......nt

[WinkyDink]

17. Why start now?

[jimlup]

19. I do believe that Obama sidesteps adversity /nt

[Bodhi BloodWave]

20. might as well ask why so many on DU attacks the president rather then the GOP

as posts in this thread and other threads shows.

[JTFrog]

22. ^^ +1 n/t

[JoePhilly]

27. +1

[Proud Liberal Dem]

29. +1

I keep wondering which website I'm on whenever I see posts like these. :eyes:

[BumRushDaShow]

34. +infinity!

[uppityperson]

37. +100

[Bobbie Jo]

50. +1

[Name removed]

57. Deleted message

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[eridani]

62. Because we know that repukes are amoral sociopaths, and we expect better from Obama n/t

[LooseWilly]

63. Ok, consider that asked—Your answer? (We'll extrapolate the answer into the question about Obama.)

Please explain why so many attack their supporters/champions... ohh wait, given the premise of the OP—that the president attacks "supporters" rather than the GOP, why shouldn't "supporters" be attacking Obama?

[Enthusiast]

70. Only because he is deficient in leadership at

this critical moment in history. His lack of leadership cost us the house. And if he continues with his weak approach we will find the New Deal and the Democratic Party in tatters.

We can't control what Republicans do but I would hope we could expect a Democratic President to behave as a Democrat.

[randr]

21. This economic collapse needs to be laid on the Republicans

at each and every chance.
Just as they have branded the health reform "ObamaCare" we need to brand the economic situation as "BushCare".

[Enthusiast]

71. PLUS ONE...............nt

[Proud Liberal Dem]

23. I'm still on DEMOCRATIC Underground, aren't I?

:wtf:

Judging by many of the posts here, I'm simply not sure. Spending every minute of every day attacking the Republicans has never been his style. He waits for an opportune moment and strikes just like he did when he slammed Ryancare (and Republican anti-social safety net mentality) right to Ryan's face- leaving him humiliated and whiny. I'm sure that when he has another opportune moment, he'll sock it to them again. Right now, the Republicans are self-destructing (or seem to be) and they're playing with fire with this debt ceiling vote. What more exactly does he need to say (and how much of it would the media cover even he did speak out more often)?

[Armstead]

38. Um, waitying for opportune moments is not very effective in the long run

[woo me with science]

42. Ah, keeping the powder dry...

[Solomon]

24. Stop blaming Obama for the stupidity of Americans

Because that's what you're doing. Why does he need to do what you say if the facts are as plain as the nose on your face?

If Americans want to keep listening to the mantra that we need tax cuts after Reagan-Bush drove the economy into a ditch then no amount of attacking by Obama is going to do anything except frame the debate as "angry black man."

[Armstead]

39. Oh horse manure. The job of a President is to lead and educate and counter the opposition

[Enthusiast]

72. THAT IS RIGHT! nt

[Peacetrain]

26. He does not do the Trump speak from the rump.. screamfest.

The President picks and chooses his targets.

[MessiahRp]

60. And oddly enough those targets are always liberals. Go figure.

Tough guy this President is, when he needs to take out a target.

He's sort of like the asshole who plays on your team in Halo and then starts shooting at his teammates because it's more fun than taking fire from the opposition.

Rp

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

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[fascisthunter]

35. Just look at who he stuck in his Administration

he chose corporate criminals...

[Ikonoklast]

51. Name two, their crimes and what they were convicted of.

Just because you say a thing does not make it so.

[Armstead]

58. None convicted but that's because the Big Crooks escape the arm of justice

[ProSense]

43. "I've never really liked the guy (Clinton)"

"truck back every single time on every single bullshit point the Republicans threw his way"

Really?

:rofl:

Not only was the repeal of Glass-Steagall sponsored by a Republican, but most of Clinton's policiies were to appease them.

He was also impeached.

It's really dubious whenever anyone invokes Clinton to criticize Obama.

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

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[Poll_Blind]

54. I...I have no idea why he changed but he changed rather quickly, IMO.

PB

[DevonRex]

55. Why aren't you?

[savalez]

56. Bingo!!!!!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

59. That's easy.

The poster doesn't have the President's bully pulpit.

The voice of one obscure citizen carries no weight.

[sabrina 1]

73. We elected him to do it, remember?

Maybe if he would stop slamming liberals it wouldn't be so obvious that he rarely does the same to Republicans. And he has way too many Republican friends. This time it is vitally important to ask him who he intends to put in his cabinet. If people had known they were voting for Rahm and Summers, and Geithner, Bernanke et al, I am pretty sure they would have thought twice about it. Geithner needs to go and it would be nice if he would include some real progressives this time. Especially on his economic team.

[loyalsister]

61. It seems like the election has begun

but it really hasn't. The best thing for all Democrats right now is to let Republicans fight among themselves during primary season.
The best thing for Obama is for them to keep talking and coming out with idiotic proposals that can be added up when the real campaign begins.
We don't know for sure who he's running against yet. There is enough difference between them that the message has to be tailored according to the candidate.

[canetoad]

64. Take a chill pill Boy

I bet yr cute irl.

[Enthusiast]

65. You see things just as I do.

And because Obama and other Democrats are as you say we are going to adopt the GOP 'Dickensian dystopia, straight out of 1850s England'. Just great. This was not the 'hope and change' I voted for.

[elleng]

66. He's got a lot of governing to do, meaning practising art of compromise,

not so easily done after a food fight, imo. He's too smart to come out punching now, at their constant b.s.

[Raine]

69. Obama NEVER fights, he's goes for "bi-partinship"

which seems to be defined as giving them EVERYTHING THEY WANT. :mad:

[Bluebear]

74. He's busy saying Weiner should resign.

[somone]

75. Easier to attack the Weiner

and dirty hippies and unreasonable purists and fucking retards

[olegramps]

76. Our nation is in dire straits. American workers have a bleak future at best.

The working class is facing economic destruction. There is absolutely no hope for a massive recovery simply because our spineless representative have allowed the basic industries to have been out-sourced. It would take a powerful leader to take the measures required to impose tariffs on goods that have been outsourced. Obama can't even awaken the public to demand that tax breaks for out-sourcing companies be repealed along with tax avoidance that they engage in with off-shore island banks let alone level the playing field for American workers. There is massive support by the vast majority of Americans who what to increase taxes on the wealthy and desire universal health care. All Obama could muster was to cave in to the his corporate masters' demands. Will I vote for him in 2012? Yes, because the alternative is certain death and their might be a glimmer of hope that he just might, just might grow a pair of balls, but I am not counting on it.