P-time!Obama is panicking. He knows that he messed up when he didn’t get a debt-limit agreement back in December of 2010. It was obvious from the previous Congress that the Republicans were going to do the maximum to put him in jeopardy. And given the November election results it was obviously going to get worse. And it has.
So, with a weak hand, he’s raising the stakes in a misguided attempt to save himself. But that’s foolish. Any “Grand Deal” should happen at a later time when (a) the economy is more robust, and (b) when the composition of Congress changes for the better – which it will since the Teabaggers will most likely burn out fairly quickly.
Bringing in Social Security is most foolish and reassurances that he won’t “slash” that program is con-man talk. Same with “strengthening”. Face it, Obama is a conservative Democrat and he most definitely won’t make any effort on behalf of progressives. This was clear from the beginning when he brought in Summers et al, and was reinforced with the ludicrous Simpson Bowles commission.
posted by Quiddity at 7/11/2011 08:09:00 PM
Speaking only for myself: not voting for Mr. Obama, and telling the world why I won't be voting for him (for all the reasons Q. mentions), is the best that I can do. If there is a primary challenger (and not from the right) then of course I'll support him or her.
This may not suffice to beat the Democratic party into submission, certainly not if many other don't do the same thing, but it beats nothing.
"Speaking only for myself: not voting for Mr. Obama, and telling the world why I won't be voting for him..."
I've said it before, I'll say it again: prepare to welcome your new Republican overlords. Don't come crying to me when a Republican president, House and Senate wipe out what remains of the Great Society. Sit home on election day and be happy you didn't compromise your precious principles. Obviously you don't know anyone who lost their homes during Bush's reign of error. I do. Obama's been a disappointment, but I'll take him over any right-wing maniac you care to mention.
Oh, and eb53...the "world" doesn't really care what you think.
Quiddity's attitude doesn't surprise me at all. He supported Hillary in the primaries: a conservative Democrat and a charter member of the Democratic Leadership Council. She wouldn't be any different than Obama. Worse, actually - it was the Clintons who practically invented third-way politics.
