Link to this week’s Bill Maher’s “New Rules”: http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=92950884623&h=ldNkp&u=fvTBz&ref=nf
Maher argues (I suggest he’s right on), that liberal or progressives are not in power. Obama is Center right and the right is a bunch of crazies.
Obama:
Weak on regulation of the financial industry – Defends “Anti-gay/Defense of Marriage Act” – CIA still can do rendition and torture – Pulls a Cheney and will not release the visitors logs to the Whitehouse – no public listing of toxic Coal Ash dumps (too bad if you live by one) – no single payer health insurance and probably no “Public option.”
If there was going to be any chance at “read change” and Obama is not willing or can’t do it now… then who and when?
…There is no left in this county.
“Give these people a voting day so they can have the illusion meaningless choice – meaningless choice so I can go like slaves and say, ahhh, I voted.”
— George Carlin
Brad Schjoth
6:44 pm on June 20th
As much as I admire Mr. Maher and agree with many of his thoughts, I simply can’t in this instance. The true left hasn’t existed in this country for a long, long time, but to say Obama has come up short on those specific issues is a bit over-the-top and inflammatory. Give him time, sir, give him time.
While the “left” may not truly exist any longer according to Maher, the conservatives would have you believe otherwise. After all, we are living in a socialist, communist nation now, aren’t we? Obama is the new Marx, no?
But in all seriousness and honesty, the left hasn’t existed for a long time, and for liberals that really isn’t a troublesome issue. Clinton was far from a leftist, and he is one of the more revered presidents the left has had in decades. The fact is, no true leftist will ever be elected in this country, and no far right-wing candidate will ever see this nation’s highest office either. The slinging of words like “socialist” and “communist” are ridiculous and pretty naive, as all presidents fit within a small range on the landscape of the political spectrum. No one is too radical either way, and that’s how you have a shot at getting yourself elected. Ask Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich how operating outside that narrow range works out.
Mike Wall
7:49 pm on June 20th
What do you mean by “far”?
Cheney et al certainly were about as far to the right as anyone can come without falling onto “David Duke” territory.
Clinton and Obama are turning out to be center-right. There is not left at all. The only way you can call C&O left is compared to what? Cheney, Bush, Hitler? I guess that is what constitutes “left” in this county- if you’re not Hitler.
Again, the question is simple. What did Clinton or Obama given the “left”? I can tell you what they have given the “right”:
NAFTA,
CAFTA,
ending wealth fare,
putting 2 million more blacks in jail mostly over bullshit drug laws,
—keeping rendition,
and keeping Don’t ask , don’t tell.
50,000 troops put ¼ million contractors in Iraq Escalating a war in Afganistain and bring into Pakistan.
I could go on…
And I can tell you what Cheney et al have given the right. Most of wish the big O is keeping intacked.
So I say again – if we can’t get nationalized healthcare like every other industrialized nations in the world now, when will it ever happen?
The answer is never.
Brad Schjoth
12:47 am on June 21st
While I can accept many of your points, I still think patience is the greatest virtue we can have at this point. As of yesterday, Obama has been in office for a total of five months. Undoing what transpired over the course of eight torrential years is work enough, not to mention the economic situation and multiple wars he has inherited.
I know it may feel a bit lazy to sit back and let things take their course and let this administration work through the big issues, but I think they simply need more time from the American people.
Hillary Clinton attempted to garner support for universal health care over 15 years ago, and she was swiftly rejected and shut down. Expecting the Obama administration and the democrats in Congress to correct the financial crisis, end the Iraq War, and make good on their numerous other campaign promises (some of which they have already done) they ran on within the span of five months is unrealistic.
I know the American people are restless and antsy, and believe me I’m with on this completely in my hope that these reforms get passed, but I honestly can’t expect them to pull it off so soon. When the first year of this term is up, and we look back retrospectively, I think we’ll be pleased with what this president has accomplished–at least in comparison to the previous one. That’s my prediction.
Mike Wall
1:38 pm on June 21st
All I ask from an Obama defender is that when we end up NOT getting universal health care and we are in Afghanistan for another 10 years (as reported by Whitehouse peeps – making it a total of an 18 year war), that they stop believing anything really ever changes and that this system is fixed – has nothing to do with justice – but a perpetuating soul sucking, innocent killing machine designed to keep a few fat cats happy.
As long as people latch onto the “hope” of change, you are enslaving yourself and worse everyone else with a religious like fever of some afterworld – where everything will be better therefore no need to really worry, someone father figure knows better and is always working on your side.
Our worship of all governments is a futile as the masses passively working towards the mythical afterlife.
And if Universal Health Care actually does happen, I’ll gladly eat some crow.
Brad Schjoth
4:13 pm on June 21st
I’m in total agreement. I heavily supported Obama during his campaign and will continue to support him in his presidency as long as he makes due on his promises. If he can’t do that, I will gladly jump ship. It is ignorant for folks to blindly follow a man who can’t produce what he said he would. If Obama lets the voters down who put him in that office, I know there will be quite a large group who will be forgiving only because he has that “(D)” after his name.
I, however, will not. I may be one of the most liberal people I personally know, but I won’t make excuses for someone simply because he belongs to my party. He has to produce and he has to fulfill his promises. I’m willing to give him time, but I certainly won’t be an apologist once my final grain of sand has fallen.
My only hope is that our political system isn’t a complete utter failure, and that there is still something positive within it.