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odanu commented on the blog post Yeah, I’d Taggart That
datacine wins the thread
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odanu commented on the blog post Geithner: House Republicans Already Assured President They Would Raise the Debt Limit
I really wish the whole issue were as black and white as you’re trying to portray it here, but it isn’t, and no matter how much you try to make it meet the narrative that Obama has sold out everything progressives stand for, it’s not entirely true. There have been an enormous number of anti-civil rights riders on bills in this term, including the attempt to defund Planned Parenthood and NPR and PBS. Those things matter, and there are enough Republicans outside the Teaparty willing to grandstand on those issues that it greatly complicates budget negotiations in general.
No, they’re not going to stop the debt limit from being raised, but there are an awful lot of other ways to retaliate against Democrats and tighten the noose that will get enough Republican and Blue Dog support to be real threats. Obama is threading a very fine needle on a moving train in a war zone with bombs exploding all around. He needs good lighting and steady hands. And we don’t need to be jostling him.
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odanu commented on the blog post Former Cheney Aide: Last 100 Years of Progressive Reforms All a Mistake
Over and over, we need to keep framing these libertarian ideas as neo-feudalism. Libertarianism is inherently incompatible with democracy, not to mention the prosperity of a nation. We need to keep emphasizing the social capitalism and human capital issues of a well regulated economy that allows for upward mobility, a strong safety net for citizens, and security in later years.
Too many people are snowed by the very attractive idea that they will be lords of the manor in the new libertarian world order, because they ‘deserve’ it, when we all know that in a real feudal society, there are very few lords and a whole lotta serfs. And you ain’t no lord, no matter how many Renaissance festivals you’ve been to.
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odanu commented on the blog post Vote for Obama in 2012 Because… He’s Obama
I can’t afford to be out. I’ve seen the list of opponents, and as much as I am disappointed in some of what Obama has done, I absolutely can’t afford to allow my disillusionment to keep me from voting for him, and definitely against the grab bag of wingnuts and Christianists and authoritarian corporatists that are lining up on the right to run against him.
No, he hasn’t been an ideal president, but at times watching his presidency has been like watching a basketball player play the game with his hands tied behind his back. There’s a whole lot of forces acting on our country to keep it from being what it should be, and he’s fighting against many of them, and there has been no respite since the day he was elected.
So yeah, be angry at Obama. Hold his feet to the fire. Demand that he stand up the House and get a real budget passed. But do what you can to ensure that the White House does NOT go to one of those GOP opponents, because that will put the nail in the coffin.
