Breaking: Democratic Agenda in Jeopardy!

(noon. – promoted by ek hornbeck)

No, I’m not talking about the Massachusett’s election where Martha Coakley is down in the polls, and, if she loses, the Democratically-controlled Senate loses its 60 seat majority.  Yes, it’s a tight race, and, President Obama can’t seem to find the time to go help her campaign.  Big deal.

What IS a big deal is the thought that losing that 60th seat is what will put the Democrats agenda in jeopardy.  

The Democratic agenda under President Obama went like this:

1) The Economy

We will not rebuild our economy on the old model of bubbles and busts. We’ll only climb out of the current crisis by creating a new, sustainable foundation for our economy’s future — and make the tough choices to put our economy back on the road to long-term prosperity.

So, President Obama brings in Wall Street insider’s Timothy Geithner and Larry Summers, because, we will not rebuild our economy on “the old model of bubbles and busts” that Geithner and Summers helped build.

The stimulus money given to banks are still being kept secret despite numerous pledges of bringing back transparency to government.

Unemployment is now at 10% nationally.

2)  Health Care

Weighing in on issue in Cincinnati, Obama said, “I continue to believe that a public option within the basket of insurance choices would help improve quality and bring down costs.” (here)

“The Obama-Biden plan will create a National Health Insurance Exchange to help individuals purchase new affordable health care options if they are uninsured or want new health insurance. Through the Exchange, any American will have the opportunity to enroll in the new public plan or an approved private plan, and income-based sliding scale tax credits will be provided for people and families who need it. Insurers would have to issue every applicant a policy and charge fair and stable premiums that will not depend upon health status. The Exchange will require that all the plans offered are at least as generous as the new public plan and meet the same standards for quality and efficiency. Insurers would be required to justify an above-average premium increase to the Exchange. The Exchange would evaluate plans and make the differences among the plans, including cost of services, transparent.” (here)

There are many other references from Obama or his campaign on a “public health option”.

President Barack Obama downplayed the importance of a public option in a final health care bill, saying he “didn’t campaign on a public option,” a statement we rated Barely True. (here)

Whooops.  Really, he DIDN’T campaign on it!  Trust him!  Because we aren’t getting it.

3)  Gay rights

[T]he approach will make it harder to keep track of which statutes the White House believes it can disregard….

[T]he administration will consider itself free to disregard new laws it considers unconstitutional….

Mr. Obama, whose advisers sided with the latter camp, has characterized Mr. Bush’s use of signing statements as an abuse and pledged greater restraint.

Mr. Obama nevertheless challenged dozens of provisions early last year. The last time was in June, when his claim that he could disobey a new law requiring officials to push the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to adopt certain policies angered Congress….

Last year the Obama administration disregarded a statute that forbid State Department officials to attend United Nations meetings led by nations deemed state sponsors of terrorism. Congress has included that restriction in several recent bills. (here)

Yes, after stating he would repeal DADT, and courting the gay/lesbian community, his administration has worked to NOT give gay/lesbian couples the same rights others enjoy.

We have a serious problem. The Democratic party likes our money, and it likes our votes, but, as one commenter noted a few months back, whenever our civil rights come up in a public discussion, the White House, especially, comes down with a sudden case of political gay panic. Yet the rich gay funders continue to bankroll the Democrats. They continue to go to the party fundraisers. They continue to pay for the cocktail parties being thrown by the DNC and the White House to buy off our leaders. They continue to give the Democrats cover for their political homophobia. (from John Aravosis)

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The three above specific examples aren’t the only examples of the Democratic agenda under President Obama that are in jeopardy.  

Close Gitmo in a year?  Nope.  We have to wait until the new supermax facility in Illinois is built so we can transfer some detainees to it, many of whom will receive military trials, the rest simply get indefinite detention without charge or trial.

End war?  Win the Nobel Peace Prize?  Sure.  Just don’t remember that the Nobel Peace Prize winning President Obama spoke at the ceremony about… wait for it… how we NEED war!  Not to mention, he has expanded the war in Pakistan, is now expanding the war in Yemen, and we get silence on the military leaving Iraq (supposedly next year).

So, who exactly, jeopardized the Democratic agenda.  Here is my Top 10 list.

1)  Barack Obama.

He is the leader of the Party.  It is HIS agenda, set through the campaign, that he is supposed to be fighting for tooth-and-nail.  Did he?

The White House is saying that President Barack Obama is not demanding the public option in the final version of the pro-abortion, government-run health care bill. The lack of a demand is not yet helping a battle between House and Senate Democrats that could ultimately delay the abortion-funding legislation. (here)

It was President Obama that stated he would work to make America more financially stable, then, brought in Wall Street insiders Geithner and Summers, not to mention renominating Ben Bernanke, making the Treasury and Fed “business-as-usual”.

It is the Obama administration that has constantly undermined the promises he gave to the gay/lesbian communities.

His promise to restore the rule of law?  That is laughable.  Bradley Schlozman wasn’t indicted.  Bush officials weren’t indicted.

2)  Rahm Emanuel

He is the President’s advisor.  Obviously everything that has occurred has been discussed between Rahm and President Obama.  This is a two-way street.  If Obama has failed, so has Rahm Emanuel.

3)  Harry Reid

Face it.  He is the poster child for spineless, capitulating politician in Congress.  He fights for nothing.  Gives up everything initially, then tries to compromise on the worst parts later.

4)  Nancy Pelosi

She started as part of the problem with “impeachment is off the table”.  If you think that the House will hold up the health care bill and not capitulate to the worst bill possible, you’re fooling yourself.

5)  Blue Dog Democrats

Get it over with… swap Party’s!  You’re voting with the GOP, so, GO to the GOP.

6)  Joe Liebermann

Yeah, how did that “saving Sen. Liebermann” plan go for you, President Obama?

7)  The Media

Have we heard about GOP obstructionism in the media?  Anything that wasn’t all “slam Obama-all the time”.

Liz Cheney’s group demands to have debates with Rachel Maddow, but, when Rachel and her staff invite Liz, they decline the offer.

8)  The GOP

The GOP doesn’t get to have a soul.  They vote as the Party tells them to vote.  Right or wrong doesn’t even become a factor.  Obstruct the other Party, while fucking over America, is the mantra.

9)  GOP supporters

Face it.  When your life revolves driving your RV to an infield of a NASCAR race, turning it into a mobile trailer park, you simply aren’t expected to be politically knowledgeable.  As long you as here God, Guns, and Gays… you pull the R lever.

Here’s my advice.  Try teh Google.  It’s that new-fangled thingy where you can get edumacated.

10)  DEM supporters

Jesus… did you people not go off on the GOP robots defending everything George Bush did?  Yet, you are the SAME people defending everything Obama is doing!

Hypocrisy knows no bounds, nor, political Party.