Why would Obama go against the polls and overwheliming public opinion?

[Avalux]

I'd like someone to give me a reasonable, well-thought out explanation to that.

I don't think he will.

[Merlot]

1. Because he understands what will happen if we default?

[madrchsod]

8. we are not going to default.

we never have and we never will

[girl gone mad]

18. Lucky for him, that isn't even a real possibility..

given how he has several legal remedies at his disposal.

[rhett o rick]

36. So you are saying he has to do it because he is getting blackmailed?

You dont deal with blackmailers, terrorists or Republicans.

[kick-ass-bob]

44. I was going to say the same thing.

These things are not related AT ALL to each other except that the teabaggers are holding it hostage.

[Roselma]

2. It is all right here:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2011-07-21-obama-debt-ceiling-debate_n.htm

[jtown1123]

40. Yes. Everyone read Obama's USA Today OpEd. He wants these cuts

[avaistheone1]

43. Obama keeps saying he wants the cuts, and now this OpED piece!

What is it going to take before some folks at DU wake up to who Obama really is?

[jtown1123]

50. Honestly, I have no idea. How often does one need to hear it from the horse's mouth?

Link please!!! haha

[WinkyDink]

48. OMG: " I'm willing to cut spending on domestic programs to the lowest level in half a century."

[jtown1123]

52. That line should be a title to an OP

[WinkyDink]

51. Borrowing this for a new thread.

[jtown1123]

53. Yes, please do

[RagAss]

3. If he does, something very serious is going on that we don't know about.

[kenny blankenship]

49. Yes Indeed!

[laconicsax]

4. You mean like with the public option and repealing the * tax cuts?

:shrug:

[Big Blue Marble]

5. Simply because he thinks he knows better than the American Public.

He likes to think that he is the grownup in the room who will have your eating your peas and liking it.:eyes:

[Avalux]

7. You are assuming you know how he thinks. None of us do.

Until there's a deal, I'm not buying any of it.

[Big Blue Marble]

12. Of course, this is my opinion.

Watch him, listen to him, and pay attention. Why else would he go against the American public, his own party,
and more and more likely his own re-election?

[Hawkowl]

25. For a big payoff by Wall Street

Maybe he's just angling for a multi-million dollar speaking engagement tour. Mainly I think he really believes this bullshit about how cutting the deficit will enable the jobs fairy to sprinkle millions of high paying jobs throughout the land. Never mind free trade and off shoring.

He's an economic MORON. A fool.

[CoffeeCat]

32. A multi-million dollar speaking engagement tour?

Oh please. I've heard him speak. Many times. It's all bulllshit.

Why would anyone show up to hear someone speak--who does not mean
what they say?

I'm done.

[pscot]

20. Interesting point

None of have any idea what's going in in his head. That makes me uncomfortable. I feel like we have a right to know why he does what he does. Are his actions based on principle? Pragmatism? Expediency? Politicsl cslculation? I can't read him at all. I guess Michelle knows, but she's not talking.

[saras]

26. You mean Obama has made no deals as a President yet? Wow.

[DJ13]

6. He went against the polls on the public option & single payer

He went against the polls on continuing the wars.

He went against the polls on wiretapping, and rendition, and continuing the Bush tax cuts.

His record actually shows he doesnt give two shits what the people want.

[Avalux]

9. An overwhelming number of Republican voters didn't care about a public option.

I'm not talking about our party, I'm talking about everyone.

[DJ13]

11. The public option was polling nationally above 60%

Why should the Republicans count more than the rest of the country?

[wiggs]

34. It was polling at 71%, IIRC, before the gop made it their top priority

to piss all over it any way they could.

[undeterred]

10. 13 dimensional chess.

We'll understand when we're starving to death as senior citizens.

[riderinthestorm]

13. Because we don't matter. The only thing that matters are big corporate donors

lobbyists, hedge fund managers and others in the financial elite. "We" don't matter in that elections can clearly be "bought" and SCOTUS can be bought to ensure "legitimacy"..

There's evil shit afoot. Obama is beginning to be exposed as co-opted by the PTB where the American taxpayer doesn't matter at all.

[KoKo]

29. I don't know if he sees it as "everything in shambles" ...the way some of us see things...

but, more that his agenda and true belief was that his "Change" would be more about going towards the Repugs to get consensus to get rid of "New Deal Regulations and and Policies."

He seems to have been run by Wall Street Donations...and it might be he's "captured" by those people and their views of how Wall Street is more important to Main Street than the American Worker, Consumer and Ordinary folks trying to make a living on whatever they can find these days.

I don't think POB understands, really, in his gut, what folks have been going through here in USA since Reagan...because he didn't live here for some part of that time. He's an "International Kid." His world is something very different in values and aspirations that our world here.....and it's what he's about. Nothing wrong with that...it's just he really CAN'T SEE US...out here........imho... as to what we feel has been done to us since Reagan politically...with our hopes and dreams dashed over and over again by Corporate, Think Tank Interests..

[Art_from_Ark]

33. Actually, Obama has lived in the US since the early '70s

He moved to Hawaii in the early '70s, and after graduating from a Hawaiian high school enrolled at Occidental College in Los Angeles in 1979, then transferred to Columbia University in 1981. He did a stint with Business International Corporation in 1983-84 and at New York Public Interest Research Group in 1984-85. In 1985, he moved to Chicago, and a little while after that enrolled in the Harvard Business School, and moved back to Chicago after graduation. So he has been physically present in the US for nearly the entire time since Reagan. But whether he actually does understand what "folks have been going through in the USA since Reagan" is certainly debatable.

[PSPS]

14. Because these "compromises" reflect his true beliefs.

Everything we're witnessing is just political theater to appease the base in each party. The GOP must play to the 'baggers while Obama has to pretend he is "forced to compromise." Since so much is at stake this time (the very bedrock of what we are as a country,) this episode will have to play right up to the deadline and be a "cliff hanger."

Obama himself has proclaimed his admiration of saint reagan.

How many times do you have to see the same story to recognize it as one you've seen before? Health Care "Reform" and extending the bush tax cuts for the rich (we can now rightfully call them obama's tax cuts for the rich) followed the same story line. This is no different.

[NV Whino]

15. $$$$ n/t

[emilyg]

27. $$$$ and assuring himself his

future will be very comfortable.

[babylonsister]

16. You tell me. Then tell the people who want the sky to fall.

I am so tired of this, and you inspired it.
Give me facts, then we'll talk.
But post a negative anything here, and it flies. UGH!@@@@@@@@@@@@@

[DirkGently]

17. Time to start considering the obvious: Because he WANTS to.

[undeterred]

22. +1000

[kenny blankenship]

47. How many different ways does he have to tell them he wants to cut SocSec & Medic* ?

Before they will believe him?

And when it happens, will they then make up some story about the Republicans doing it over his objections?

[seafan]

19. This might have something to do with why little that Obama does makes sense.

http://www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Rupert+Murdoch+Talks+Presentation+Hosted+Young+djhL6AfF3BFl.jpg
Link to photo


Link

[undeterred]

21. Because he can.

There is no opposing force. He is doing exactly what he wants to do. Public opinion doesn't matter to him. Only the opinion of the corporate powers matters.

Public opinion is of no consequence.

[creeksneakers2]

23. Not against all the polls

Poll: Most Americans think debt deal should include spending cuts and tax increases

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20080494-503544.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody

Poll: 71% shun GOP handling of debt crisis

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20080250-503544.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody

CNN poll, public on Obama's side

http://dailycaller.com/2011/07/21/cnn-poll-in-debt-limit-debate-obama-has-the-public-on-his-side/

US public opinion favors compromise on deficit deal

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/21/usa-debt-opinion-idUSN1E76K1V820110721

[FLAprogressive]

24. Because he lives inside a Beltway Bubble and works for Wall Street and the MIC.

[marasinghe]

28. this is not a well-thought out explanation - it is just an opinion.

after years of soaking in the Milton Friedman, Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke, Harvard, Chicago political machine, economic & social fantasies of his teachers, colleagues & buddies - he has become one of them. Perhaps he was born with those characteristics to start with. And now, he thinks the public doesn't know what's good for them; and they should lump it & swallow his medicine, 'cos he's smarter & more knowledgeable than us, the general public.

short version: he's an arrogant little elitist, of the Rahm Emmanuel school of egotists.

[emulatorloo]

38. Where does the actual composition of the House figure into your scenario?

It is full of Michele Bachmann types who are ignorant ideologues. Those people were put in because of the 2010 election. They are in the drivers seat now, and they are insane.

[Creideiki]

30. 50%+1 will win an election.

Meanwhile, it's hard to get 80% of Americans to agree on which day of the week it is.

On issues that are important to the President, like cutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, getting out of wars of choice, and same-sex marriage, 100%-1 isn't quite enough to persuade him.

[reformist2]

31. Because we don't have the votes, and the crazies do.

We're going to have to let them have their way until we can take back the House.

[jtown1123]

42. If we give them their way, we will be blamed and lose the Senate and not win any House seats

we don't already have. Actually, we'll probably lose more.

[reformist2]

54. Do you think the Repugs will chicken out if we threaten default?

I guess I'm afraid to risk it.

[Blue_In_AK]

35. Because all that matters is saving the financial markets,

silly -- at whatever cost. We all must bow to our corporate overlords, even the president of the United States.

[emulatorloo]

37. More Important: Why would Republicans go against the polls and overwhelming public opinion?

That is the first question to ask. Every bill has to pass the House, which is controlled by an army of Michele Bachmanns.

We are in this situation because of Republicans who are willing to plunge the US into Depression.

[myrna minx]

39. $

[Hell Hath No Fury]

41. He is willing to go against the will of the American people -

because he truly believes his solution is superior. Read about it here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1540315

[emulatorloo]

45. Read this too

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=717641&mesg_id=717641

[Hell Hath No Fury]

46. The Republicans are not responsible for O's ideas -

and economic agenda. O wants these cuts and is working very hard to make sure they happen. He is the one who made them part of the debt reduction talks, he is the one who chained them to the debt ceiling crises.