The American Public gets another “D”.Polling is as much a measure of the awareness, intelligence, and knowledge of those being polled as a measure of the subject of the poll. Polls are proof that the public can be counted on to perform badly.
Words that I have come to live by:
No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people. Attributed to H. L. Mencken.
According to a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, 41 percent of respondents approve of Obama’s performance as president, tied for the lowest point in his presidency. His approval rating on foreign policy sits at 37 percent, setting a new low.
A majority of voters — 54 percent — also said that they don’t believe Obama “is able to lead the country and get the job done,” compared with 42 percent who said they think he can. (Read more: http://www.politico.com/…)
Read the poll and several themes emerge from the poll takers:
1) Obama is not getting the things I want through Congress and I am unhappy about that.
2) Obama has let the Middle East get out of control and I am unhappy about that.
3) Obama really hasn’t done much lately and I am unhappy about that.
4) The Media message is that Obama is not doing his job and I am unhappy about that.
5) I am really very busy with my life and I do not have the time or energy to keep up on current events.
John Adams wrote that the most important duty of a citizen is to stay informed. Being knowledgeable of how government works and participating in the Republic’s life are essential tests of a democracy. Our public fails those tests regularly.
Studies of how much Americans understand the workings of the government at all levels show that most have only the vaguest idea of how bills become laws. Thus Obama’s support among Hispanics has eroded because HE has not gotten immigration reform through Congress.
Studies show that most Americans have only a rudimentary grasp of American History, of the role of leaders, of movements in political thought and social policy, or even of those they regularly vote for.
Oddly, nationwide surveys find that the coaxial and digital revolutions and attendant changes in news audience behaviors have had little impact on how much Americans know about national and international affairs. In fact, as compared to 25 years ago, the knowledge base has shrunk in no small part to the amount of misinformation absorbed by many for whom very simple formulas with a visceral edge are far more appealing than the nuanced approach that serious study requires.
So what has Obama done?
In 2009, Obama promised to “double this nation’s supply of renewable energy in the next three years.” Since then, wind capacity has tripled and solar capacity increased 16-fold. He likewise called for “a market-based cap on carbon pollution,” which is exactly what the new power-plant regulations would create.
Health-care reform has been the most controversial initiative of Obama’s presidency. Conservative opponents of national health insurance, and left-wing critics who object to government subsidy of private insurance, can still object philosophically to Obamacare’s objectives, but there is no doubt that he is achieving them. Obama time and again defined two major goals for health-care reform: tamping down rising medical costs, and expanding access for those who couldn’t afford it. The uninsured rate is dropping significantly in states that have adopted the full ACA program and medical inflation has fallen to its lowest rate in half a century.
The response to the great recession included an $800 billion stimulus, a bank reorganization, the Dodd-Frank financial regulations, and the auto bailout. None of these measures completely satisfied anybody, but the failure of any of them might well have triggered a deep, Great Depression–like meltdown.
Obama’s education reforms, while significant, have had a more modest effect. His race-to-the-top grants, tucked into the stimulus, unleashed a wave of standards-based reform nationally. He has made more modest progress in bringing accountability and broader access to pre-Kindergarten and college education.
And, in foreign policy, he has taken the neocon fingers off of the trigger. Leaving Iraq when the Iraqi government would not agree to the most basic of provisions in a Forces of Arms Agreement; putting forth the extra effort in Afghanistan which the Bush administration would not/could not do while demanding the kind of government there that seems likely to cooperate with the U.S. after the draw down; refusing to rush in with a sizeable military commitment in Libya, Syria, Egypt, Iraq and making much greater use of diplomatic, cultural and economic pressure points in general (think Russia and Urkaine) has made the U.S. a more trustworthy player in the world’s affairs.
There is a LOT more.
President Obama is Progressive.
Here Are 245 Accomplishments So Far
With thanks to http://pleasecutthecrap.com/…
It’s 2014, and once again, we have a very important election ahead of us. Yet, there are a lot of very loud progressives who have done nothing since President Obama was elected five years ago but complain, because he’s not perfect. They claim that he’s no progressive.That’s a lie. What do these folks think “progressive” mean? The root word is “progress,” and we’ve seen a hell of a lot of progress since January 20, 2009. We have a national health care plan, for the first time in our history. We recovered from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression in quick order; we would be well on our way to a full recovery, except that Republicans in Congress are blocking everything anyone in the Democratic Party proposes, out of fear that the first black president may actually look good. Yet, with all of that blockage of progress, some progressives still spend all of their time going after Obama and Democrats.
In addition to health care and the economy, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is history. Same-sex couples are getting married and enjoying the same benefits of other married couples. The marijuana prohibition is frittering away. The stock market has more than doubled. Manufacturing is starting to come back from Asia. The auto industry is not only whole again, but they’re producing a record number of hybrid and electric cars, and we’re on pace to double average vehicle gas mileage by 2020, even as the government both reduces our dependence on foreign oil and makes record investments in developing renewable energy sources.
Name a Republican – ANY Republican – who can boast of such a record, and perhaps then, you can complain about Obama not being “progressive” enough. He is as progressive as he can be, given that progressive complaints helped give him the current Republican House – A Republican House who can’t pass a universal gun background checks law that more than 90% of Americans support, including most gun owners. If you blame Obama or the minority Democratic Party for anything bad, you don’t understand how politics works. If you want progressive government, you can’t help elect the opposite to office.
That’s what makes this list so important. Every time someone complains that Obama’s not progressive, send them the link, or print it out and hand it to them. Every entry I started this list in late 2011, with about 140 entries. And you can see how it’s grown. And it’s grown despite the fact that Republicans are blocking everything. Given the obstacles, this President will leave a hell of a legacy. If we want to win elections – and in a democracy, that has to be our main goal – we have to make people want to vote for us. That means accentuating the positive, and talking about how great we are, especially compared to the alternative.
Is President Obama perfect? No, he’s human. Does he deserve some criticism? Of course (the sequester is a great example). But does he deserve the level of criticism that’s been leveled at him by self-proclaimed “progressives”? Hell no. He’s compiled a STELLAR record, given the circumstances.
Pass this list around to everyone you know, especially those who whine that Obama has done nothing. Then keep being positive, and encouraging people to vote. We can’t allow 2014 to be like 2010.
Here’s What He’s Done
Returned The Executive Branch To Fiscal Responsibility
1. Within his first week, he signed an Executive Order ordering an audit of government contracts, and combating waste and abuse. http://1.usa.gov/…
2. Created the post of Chief Performance Officer, whose job it is to make operations more efficient to save the federal government money. http://n.pr/…
3. On his first full day, he froze White House salaries. http://on.msnbc.com/…
4. He appointed the first Federal Chief Information Officer to oversee federal IT spending.http://www.cio.gov
5. He committed to phasing out unnecessary and outdated weapons systems. To that end, he also signed the Democratic-sponsored Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act, which attempted to put a stop to waste, fraud and abuse in the defense procurement and contracting system. http://bit.ly/… http://bit.ly/…
6. Through an executive order, he created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. http://bit.ly/…
Prevented a Bush Depression and Improved the Economy
7. Pushed through and signed the Democratic-sponsored American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as “the stimulus package.” The bill passed, even though only three Republicans voted for it. In a major departure from the previous administration, he launched recovery.gov, a website that allows taxpayers to track spending from the Act. http://1.usa.gov/… http://1.usa.gov/…
8. The Bush-led Great Recession was costing the economy nearly 800,000 jobs per month by the time President Obama took office. But by the end of his first year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy by 3.5%. http://reut.rs/…
9. Not only did he completed the massive TARP financial and banking rescue plan, he also leaned on the banks and others, and recovered virtually all of the bail-out money. http://1.usa.gov/… http://bit.ly/…
10. He created the Making Home Affordable home refinancing plan. http://1.usa.gov/…
11. Oversaw the creation of more jobs in 2010 alone than Bush did in eight years. http://bit.ly/…
12. Along with Democrats, and almost no Republicans, implemented an auto industry rescue plan, and saved as many as 1 million jobs. http://bit.ly/… Many are of the opinion that he saved the entire auto industry, and even the economy of the entire Midwest. http://bit.ly/… This resulted in GM returning to its place as the top car company in the world. http://lat.ms/…
13. Doubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency. http://bit.ly/…
14. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act giving the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud in every corner of the financial system, and create a bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the financial fraud that led to the economic meltdown. http://abcn.ws/…
15. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which was designed to to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices. http://1.usa.gov/…
16. Increased infrastructure spending after years of neglect. http://bit.ly/…
17. Signed the Democratic-sponsored and passed Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, expanding on the Making Home Affordable Program to help millions of Americans avoid preventable foreclosures. The bill also provided $2.2 billion to help combat homelessness, and to stabilize the housing market. http://bit.ly/…
18. Through the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, he and Congressional Democrats provided tax credits to first-time home buyers, which helped the U.S. housing market recovery. http://bit.ly/… http://bit.ly/…
19. Initiated a $15 billion plan designed to encourage increased lending to small businesses. http://1.usa.gov/…
20. Created business.gov, which allows for online collaboration between small businesses and experts re managing a business. (The program has since merged with SBA.gov.) http://www.business.gov
21. Played a lead role in getting the G-20 Summit to commit to a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis. http://nyti.ms/…
22. Took steps to improve minority access to capital. http://bit.ly/…
23. Signed an Executive Order instructing federal agencies to review all federal regulations and remove any unnecessary and/or burdensome regulations from the books. http://1.usa.gov/…
24. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, saved at least 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors that would have otherwise been lost. http://1.usa.gov/…
25. Dismantled the Minerals Management Service, thereby cutting ties between energy companies and the government. http://nyti.ms/…
26. Along with Congressional Democrats, provided funding to states and the Department of Homeland Security to save thousands of police and firefighter jobs from being cut during the recession. http://bit.ly/…
27. Used recovered TARP money to fund programs at local housing finance agencies in California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan. http://on.msnbc.com/…
28. Crafted and signed an executive order establishing the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability to assist in financial education for all Americans. http://bit.ly/…
29. China’s largest manufacturer, Foxconn, is building a large plant in Pennsylvania http://cnnmon.ie/…
30. Worked with Apple Computer to get them to build more product here, and thecompany is building two large plants to manufacture products here; one in Texas http://zd.net/… and one in Arizona http://bit.ly/…
31. Oversaw increase of manufacturing jobs by more than 500,000 since 2010, and created an institute to invest in more manufacturing jobs in the technology fields of the future. http://nyti.ms/…
32. Ordered all federal contractors to pay a minimum wage of $10.10 per hour, leading the way to a national increase. http://wapo.st/…
33. Ordered the completion of the International Trade Data System, a digital trade record book, by 2016. This move will streamline and simplify the process through which small- and medium-sized businesses set up the export of US goods. http://bit.ly/…
Brought Much-Improved Transparency and Better Government
34. Signed an order banning gifts from lobbyists to anyone in the Executive Branch. http://bit.ly/…
35. Signed an order banning anyone from working in an agency they had lobbied in previous years, and put strict limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House. http://nyti.ms/…
36. Held the first-ever first online town hall from the White House, and took questions from the public. http://bit.ly/…
37. Became the first to stream every White House event, live. http://1.usa.gov/…
38. Established a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities. http://www.serve.gov
39. Provided the first voluntary disclosure of the White House Visitors Log in history. http://1.usa.gov/…
40. Issued an Executive Order on Presidential Records, which restored the 30-day time frame for former presidents to review records, and eliminated the right for the vice president or family members of former presidents to do the reviews. Provides the public with greater access to historic White House documents, and severely curtails the ability to use executive privilege to shield them. http://1.usa.gov/…
41. Improved aspects of the Freedom of Information Act, and issued new guidelines to make FOIA more open and transparent when processing FOIA requests. http://1.usa.gov/…
Wall Street Reforms and Consumer Protection
42. Ordered 65 executives who took bailout money to cut their own pay until they paid back all bailout money. http://huff.to/…
43. Along with Congressional Democrats, pushed through and got passed Dodd-Frank, one of the largest and most comprehensive Wall Street reforms since the Great Depression. http://bit.ly/… http://bit.ly/…
44. Through Dodd-Frank legislation, created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau http://1.usa.gov/…
45. Created rules that reduce the influence of speculators in the oil market. http://bit.ly/…
46. Fashioned rules so that banks can no longer use YOUR money to invest in high-risk financial instruments that work against their own customers’ interests. http://bit.ly/…
47. Supported the concept of allowing stockholders to vote on executive compensation. http://bit.ly/…
48. Endorsed and supported the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 that would close offshore tax avoidance loopholes. http://bit.ly/… http://bit.ly/…
49. Negotiated a deal with Swiss banks that now permits the US government to gain access to the records of criminals and tax evaders. http://bit.ly/…
50. Signed the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, which closed many of the loopholes that allowed companies to send jobs overseas, and avoid paying US taxes by moving money offshore. http://1.usa.gov/…
51. Established a Consumer Protection Financial Bureau designed to protect consumers from financial sector excesses. http://bit.ly/…
52. Oversaw and then signed a Democratic bill constituting the most sweeping food safety legislation since the Great Depression. http://thedc.com/…
53. Through the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, extended the False Claims Act to combat fraud by companies and individuals usingmoney from the TARP and Stimulus programs. http://bit.ly/…
54. Set up rules for banks in handling legal marijuana money. http://nyti.ms/…
Enhanced Civil Rights and Anti-Discrimination
55. Along with Congressional Democrats, advocated for and signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which made it a federal crime to assault anyone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. http://bit.ly/…
56. Pushed through, signed and demanded the Pentagon enact a repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy that forced soldiers to lie in order to be eligible to fight for their country, and put our troops at risk by disqualifying many qualified soldiers from helping. http://bit.ly/… http://bit.ly/…
57. Extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. http://1.usa.gov/…
58. Appointed more openly gay officials than anyone in history. http://bit.ly/…
59. Appointed first openly transgender Cabinet Official in History. http://bit.ly/…
60. Changed HUD rules to prohibit gender and sexual orientation-based discrimination in housing bit.ly/9RxEnP
61. Changed his mind and publicly expressed support for same-sex marriage. http://bit.ly/…
62. Issued a Presidential Memorandum reaffirming the rights of gay couples to make medical decisions for each other. http://1.usa.gov/…
63. Wrote and signed an Executive Order establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies evaluate the effect of their policies and programs on women and families. http://bit.ly/… http://1.usa.gov/…
64. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which restored basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. This was after the GOP blocked the bill in 2007. Only 5 Republican Senators voted for the bill. http://bit.ly/…
65. Signed two executive orders that mirror provisions of the Paycheck Fairness Act, because the GOP Congress refuses to pass it. It makes is possible for employees to talk about their salaries without retaliation, and orders salary data collection. These measures will make it harder for employers to pay women less. http://huff.to/…
66. Expanded funding for the Violence Against Women Act. http://1.usa.gov/…
67. Under his guidance, National Labor Relations Board issued final rules that require all employers to prominently post employees’ rights where all employees or prospective employees can see it, including all websites and intranets. http://1.usa.gov/…
68. Advocated that United Nations adopt a policy supporting gay rights worldwide. http://lat.ms/…
69. Issued an order requiring hospitals to allow visitation by same-sex couples. http://reut.rs/…
70. Appointed Kareem Dale as the first ever Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. http://1.usa.gov/…
71. Helped Democrats in Congress pass and signed the Civil Rights History Act. http://bit.ly/…
72. Established the White House Council of Native American Affairs, to improve government-to-government relations with Native American nations. http://1.usa.gov/…
73. Formed a commission to examine and make recommendations for fixing the broken voting system. http://wapo.st/…
74. As soon as the Supreme Court invalidated the Defense of Marriage Act, he moved to extend federal benefits to same-sex couples. http://wapo.st/…
75. At a press conference August 9, 2013, gave up a small measure of executive power, promising to create adversarial process in FISA regarding NSA surveillance. http://1.usa.gov/…
76. Shattered another glass ceiling by naming Janet Yellen chair of the Federal Reserve beginning Feb. 1, 2014. http://usat.ly/…
77. Appointed several prominent gay athletes and others, and plans to show US government’s commitment to gay rights to anti-gay Russia. http://on.cpsj.com/…
78. Ordered a review of capital punishment policies after several botched executions. http://nyti.ms/…
Major Improvements in Foreign Relations, American Status Around the World
79. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any previous president during his first six months in office. http://bit.ly/…
80. As he promised, he gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in Cairo early in his administration.http://nyti.ms/…
81. Helped to restore America’s reputation around the world as a global leader that does the “right thing” in world affairs, at least according to the rest of the world. http://bit.ly/… http://bit.ly/…
82. Re-established and reinforced our partnership with NATO and other allies on strategic international issues. http://1.usa.gov/…
83. Closed a number of secret detention facilities. http://nyti.ms/…
84. Improved relations with Middle East countries by appointing special envoys. http://1.usa.gov/…
85. Pushed forward the first realistic Middle East peace strategy in more than a decade, without abandoning the two-state solution. http://wapo.st/…
86. Pushed for military to emphasize devlopment of foreign language skills. http://bit.ly/…
87. Offered $400 million to the people living in Gaza, called on both Israel and the Palestinians to stop inciting violence. http://bit.ly/…
88. Refused to give Israel the green light to attack Iran over their possible nuclear program, and thus avoid another war that Republicans wanted. http://bit.ly/…
89. Worked with Democratic Congress to make donations to Haiti tax deductible in 2009. http://huff.to/…
90. Established a new U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. http://1.usa.gov/…
91. Issued Executive Order blocking interference and helping to stabilize Somalia. http://1.usa.gov/…
92. Established new, more reasonable policies in our relations with Cuba, such as allowing Cuban-Americans to visit their families and send money to support them. http://n.pr/… http://nyti.ms/…
93. Ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay. It was Republicans (and, unfortunately, progressive Democrats) who prevented follow through. http://bit.ly/…
94. Ordered a review of our detention and interrogation policy, and prohibited the use of torture, or what Bush called “enhanced interrogation.” He ordered interrogators to limit their actions to the Army Field manual. http://bit.ly/…
95. Ordered all secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere to be closed. http://bbc.in/…
96. Released the Bush torture memos. http://bit.ly/…
97. On his second day in office, he signed a detailed Executive Order that banned torture, reversed all Bush torture policies, and put the United States in compliance with the Geneva Convention. http://1.usa.gov/… http://nyti.ms/…
98. In response to the emerging “Arab Spring,” he created a Rapid Response fund, to assist emerging democracies with foreign aid, debt relief, technical assistance and investment packages in order to show that the United States stands with them. http://bit.ly/…
99. Ended the F-22 program, saving $4 billion. Though the single-seat, twin-engine, fighter aircraft cost $358 million each, and the military had 187 built, the F-22 never flew a combat mission. http://slate.me/… (Just as an aside, that “fiscally conservative” Republican Party fought to keep it.)
100. Passed the Iran Sanctions Act, to prevent war and encourage the Iranian government to give up their nuclear program. http://1.usa.gov/…
101. Ended the Iraq War. http://tgr.ph/…
102. Worked to keep our withdrawal from Afghanistan on track, despite GOP opposition.http://reut.rs/… Reiterated that commitment in 2014. http://nyti.ms/…
103. Authorized and oversaw a secret mission by SEAL Team Six to rescue two hostages held by Somali pirates. http://bit.ly/…
104. Through United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, helped negotiate a peaceful split of Sudan into two countries, this allowing for the creation of an independent South Sudan. http://reut.rs/…
A More Realistic Approach to “Defense” and National Security
105. Created a comprehensive new strategy for dealing with the international nuclear threat. http://1.usa.gov/…
106. Authorized a $1.4 billion reduction in Star Wars program in 2010. http://1.usa.gov/…
107. Restarted nuclear nonproliferation talks and built up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols to where they had been before Bush. http://lat.ms/…
108. Signed and pushed through ratification a new SALT Treaty. http://bit.ly/…
109. Negotiated and signed a new START Treaty that will lst until at least 2021. http://1.usa.gov/…
110. Through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), reversed the Bush Administration and committed to no permanent military bases in Iraq. http://bit.ly/…
111. Developed first comprehensive strategy with regard to Afghanistan and Pakistan designed to facilitate the defeat of al Qaeda and the withdrawal of most troops, as well as the rebuilding of Afghanistan. http://wapo.st/…
112. Returned our focus to Afghanistan, stabilized the country, and began the process of withdrawing our troops from the country. http://bit.ly/…
113. Negotiated a deal with Afghan govenment, to withdraw troops and military support, while assisting in rebuilding and modernizing of the country. http://bit.ly/…
114. Took steps to severely weaken al Qaeda and limited their ability to terrorize the world. http://yhoo.it/…
115. Negotiated and signed a nuclear nonproliferation treaty with India. http://1.usa.gov/…
116. Took decisive action to use NATO to limit the slaughter of innocents in Libya, so that the Libyan people could topple the despotic Khadaffy government and determine their own fate. http://aje.me/…
117. Got Egyptian President/dictator Mubarak to leave the Egyptian government to the people, to determine their own fate. http://f24.my/…
118. In 2011, reoriented American focus from the Middle East to the Asian-Pacific region by simultaneouly engaging China and crafting new alliances with Asian countries uncomfortable with Chinese behavior. http://bit.ly/…
119. Restored federal agencies such as FEMA to the point that they have been able to manage a huge number of natural disasters successfully. http://bit.ly/…
120. Authorized Navy SEALS to successfully secure the release of a US captain held by Somali pirates and increased patrols off the Somali coast. http://nyti.ms/…
121. Has repeatedly beefed up border security http://bit.ly/…
122. Ordered and oversaw the Navy SEALS operation that killed Osama bin Laden. http://bit.ly/…
123. Throughan executive order, established the Homeland Security Partnership Council, which will attempt to enhance the nation’s ability to “address homeland security priorities, from responding to natural disasters to preventing terrorism, by utilizing diverse perspectives, skills, tools, and resources.” http://1.usa.gov/…
124. Breaking with presidential tradition, especially recent tradition, instead of just attacking Syria in the wake of chemical weapons attacks on Syrians, Obama ordered a full report on the decision-making process, should he decide to order one. http://cbsn.ws/…
Returned Government to Treating Soldiers and Veterans with Dignity and Respect
125. Along with Congressional Democrats, not only reauthorized families of fallen soldiers to be able to visit when the body arrives at Dover AFB, but also provided funding for it. Ended the media blackout on coverage of the return of fallen soldiers. http://nyti.ms/… http://bbc.in/…
126. Funded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with an extra $1.4 billion to improve veterans’ services. http://1.usa.gov/…
127. Provided active combat troops with better body armor. http://bit.ly/…
128. Created Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program for military personnel, in order to improve the quality of their medical care. http://1.usa.gov/…
129. Put an end to the Bush-era stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan beyond their enlistment date. (personal note: my son will be in harm’s way for six fewer months with Obama as president, so you know I love this one.) http://nyti.ms/…
130. Along with Congressional Democrats, supported and signed Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which made more money available to enable better medical care for veterans. http://1.usa.gov/…
131. Along with Congressional Democrats, ushered through largest spending increase in 30 years for Department of Veterans Affairs, with money to go to improved medical facilities, and to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities. http://1.usa.gov/…
132. Created the Green Vet Initiative, which provided special funding to the Labor Department to provide veterans with training in green jobs. http://bit.ly/…
133. Initiated and signed a recruitment and employment plan to get more veterans into government jobs. http://bit.ly/…
134. Oversaw a $4.6 billion expansion of the Veterans Administration budget to pay for more mental health professionals. http://bit.ly/…
135. Signed the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, which ensures that spouses of military personnel who are forced to move because their spouse is posted for military duty will be able to avoid state taxes in their temporary residence. http://bit.ly/…
136. Issued an Executive Order to improve access to mental health care for veterans, military personnel and their families. http://1.usa.gov/…
Refocused the Federal Government on Education, Made Rational Reforms
137. Repeatedly increased funding for student financial aid, and at the same time cut the banks completely out of the process, thus us creating greater accountability. http://bit.ly/… http://bit.ly/… http://bit.ly/…
138. Reformed student loan program, to make it possible for students to refinance at a lower rate. http://nyti.ms/…
139. Created a rating system for colleges, so that those applying for student financial aid know better what they’re paying for. http://bit.ly/…
140. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , invested heavily in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education. http://1.usa.gov/…
141. Created the Race to the Top program, which encouraged states to come up with effective school reforms and rewards the best of them. http://bit.ly/…
142. Oversaw major expansion of broadband availability in K-12 schools nationwide. http://bit.ly/…
143. Oversaw major expansion in school construction. http://bit.ly/…
144. Also through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he put $5 billion into early education, including Head Start. http://1.usa.gov/…
145. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Post-9/11 GI Bill, also known as GI Bill 2.0 http://bit.ly/…
146. Oversaw expansion of the Pell Grants program, to expand opportunity for low and middle income students to go to college. http://bit.ly/…
147. Along with Democratic Congress, passed and signed Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provided an extra $12.2 billion in funds. http://1.usa.gov/…
148. Took major new steps to protec students from ineffective for-profit colleges through “gainful employment” measures, whereby schools have to demonstrate that its students actually find work to get federal aid. http://1.usa.gov/…
149. With First Lady Michelle Obama, passed the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, which will improve nutrition in schools and make children healthier. http://1.usa.gov/…
150. In his continuing effort to make college more affordable and accountable, will begin rating colleges with regard to affordability and value. http://bit.ly/…
151. Initiated a reform of federal job training programs, to make them more relevant to the current economy and the job market. http://1.usa.gov/…
Took an Adult View on Science, Technology and Health Care
152. Created a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making. http://1.usa.gov/…
153. Opened up process for fast-tracking patent approval for green energy projects. http://bit.ly/…
154. Eliminated Bush-era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, and provided increased federal support for biomedical and stem cell research. http://bit.ly/… http://ti.me/…
155. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, committed more federal funding, about $18 billion, to support non-defense science and research labs. http://nyti.ms/…
156. Signed Democratic-sponsored Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first comprehensive attempt to improve the lives of Americans living with paralysis. http://bit.ly/…
157. Expanded the Nurse-Family Partnership program, which provides home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income expectant mothers and their families, to cover more first-time mothers.http://bit.ly/…
158. Obama EPA reversed research ethics standards which allowed humans to be used as “guinea pigs” in tests of the effects of chemicals, to comply with numerous codes of medical ethics. http://bit.ly/…
159. Conducted a cyberspace policy review. http://1.usa.gov/…
160. Provided financial support for private sector space programs. http://bit.ly/…
161. Oversaw enhanced earth mapping, to provide valuable data for agricultural, educational, scientific, and government use. http://bit.ly/…
162. Along with Democrats in Congress, ushered through and signed a bill authorizing FDA to regulate tobacco. http://on.msnbc.com/… As a result, the FDA has Ordered Tobacco Companies to Disclose Cigarette Ingredients and banned sale of cigarettes falsely labeled as “light.”
163. Through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, provided $500 million for Health Professions Training Programs. http://bit.ly/…
164. Increased funding for community-based prevention programs. http://bit.ly/…
165. Oversaw a 50% decrease in cost of prescription drugs for seniors. http://bit.ly/… http://1.usa.gov/…
166. Eliminated the Bush-era practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug companies on price. http://bit.ly/…
167. Two weeks after taking office, signed Democratic-sponsored Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act, which increased the number of children covered by health insurance by 4 million. http://bit.ly/…
168. Urged Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross for raising premiums 39% without explanation. Democratic Rep. Waxman responded by launching a probe, and Anthem Blue Cross put increase on hold for two months. http://yhoo.it/…
169. Ushered through and signed Affordable Care Act, which expanded health insurance coverage to at least 30 million more people, ended many common insurance company practices that are often detrimental to those with coverage. He also established healthcare.gov, so that taxpayers could keep up with developments. http://www.healthcare.gov/
170. Through ACA, allowed children to be covered under their parents’ policy until they turned 26. http://nyti.ms/…
171. Through the ACA, provided tax breaks to allow 3.5 million small business to provide health insurance to their employees, and 29 million people will receive tax breaks to help them afford health insurance. http://nyti.ms/…
172. Through the ACA, expanded Medicaid to those making up to 133% of the federal poverty level. http://nyti.ms/…
173. Through the ACA, health insurance companies now have to disclose how much of your premium actually goes to pay for patient care. http://nyti.ms/…
174. Provisions in the ACA have already resulted in Medicare costs actually declining slightly this fiscal year, for the first time in many years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The increase in 2011 was 4%, which is very low compared to the average 12% annual inflation rate during previous 40 years.http://1.usa.gov/…
175. Created the HIV Care Continuum Initiative, to strengthen the government’s ability to respond to the continuing domestic HIV epidemic, after years of Republicans weakening the government’s ability to deal with the crisis. http://1.usa.gov/…
176. Expanded space exploration and discovery options to include more players. http://1.usa.gov/…
177. Through the Connect America Fund, pushed through and received FCC approval for a move of $8 billion in subsidies away from telephone landlines to assist lower-income rural families in accessing broadband. http://lat.ms/… http://bit.ly/…
178. In the wake of the West Fertilizer tragedy, in which an entire small town was devastated by an explosion at a fertilizer plant, in part because Republican negligence let the company do whatever it wanted, formed the Chemical Safety and Security Working Group, to work on measures to prevent another such event. http://1.usa.gov/…
Strengthened the Middle Class and Families, and Fought Poverty
179. Worked to provide affordable, high-quality child care to working families. http://bit.ly/…
180. Cracked down on companies that were previously denying sick pay, vacation and health insurance, and Social Security and Medicare tax payments through abuse of the employee classification of independent contractor. http://nyti.ms/…
181. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , cut taxes for 95% of America’s working families. http://bit.ly/…
182. Tax rates for average working families are the lowest since 1950. http://bit.ly/…
183. Extended and fully funded the patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax for 10 years. http://bit.ly/…
184. Extended discounted health coverage under the COBRA health insurance law for the unemployed from 9 months to 15 months, and he’s also extended unemployment benefits more than a few times. http://aol.it/… http://nyti.ms/… http://bit.ly/… http://bit.ly/…
185. Provided a $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps). http://nyti.ms/…
186. Signed an Executive Order that established the White House Office of Urban Affairs. http://wapo.st/…
187. Included the Buffet Rule in his 2014 budget proposal, thus trying to fulfill a campaign promise, to make sure tax rates are fair between the rich and the middle class. http://1.usa.gov/…
188. Used the fiscal cliff negotiations to extend for five additional years the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which provides tax credits to families for college-related expenses, thus saving those families up to $10,000. http://onforb.es/…
189. Increased protections for those who are unemployed and are seeking a government job. http://1.usa.gov/…
190. Updated and modernized overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) http://1.usa.gov/…
Concrete Steps to Improve The Environment and Address Our Energy Needs
191. Fast-tracked regulations to allow states to enact fuel efficiency standards that exceeded federal standards. http://nyti.ms/…
192. Fast-tracked increased fuel economy standards for vehicles beginning with the 2011 model year. It was the first time such standards had been increased in a decade. http://politi.co/…
193. Oversaw establishment of an Energy Partnership for the Americas, to create more markets for American-made biofuels and green energy technologies. http://bit.ly/…
194. Obama EPA reversed a Bush-era decision to allow the largest mountaintop removal project in US history. http://bit.ly/…
195. Ordered the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances. http://1.usa.gov/…
196. Ordered energy plants to prepare to produce at least 15% of all energy through renewable resources like wind and solar, by 2021. http://reut.rs/… (Republicans are trying hard to kill it.)
197. Oversaw the creation of an initiative that converts old factories and manufacturing centers into new clean technology centers. http://bit.ly/…
198. Bypassed Republican opposition in Congress and ordered EPA to begin regulating and measuring carbon emissions. http://bit.ly/…
199. Obama EPA ruled that CO2 is a pollutant. http://bit.ly/…
200. Doubling federal spending on clean energy research. http://bit.ly/…
201. Pushed through a tax credit to help people buy plug-in hybrid cars. http://bit.ly/…
202. Created a program to develop renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that will produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. http://1.usa.gov/…
203. Reengaged in the climate change and greenhouse gas emissions agreements talks, and proposed one himself. He also addressed the U.N. Climate Change Conference, officially reversing the Bush era stance that climate change was a “hoax.” http://bit.ly/… http://bit.ly/… http://nyti.ms/…
204. Fully supported the initial phase of the creation of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide. http://bit.ly/…
205. Required states to provide incentives to utilities to reduce their energy consumption. http://bit.ly/…
206. Improved siting, review and permitting stations for power plants, in an attempt to seriously improve the nation’s electric grid. http://1.usa.gov/…
207. Following the neglect of Bush’s eight year reign, he reengaged in a number of treaties and agreements designed to protect the Antarctic. http://bit.ly/…
208. Created tax write-offs for purchases of hybrid automobiles, and later he and Democrats morphed that program into one that includes electric cars. http://bit.ly/…
209. Established a quadrennial review of our energy infrastructure, to encourage a modernization of the grid, and to encourage the transition away from fossil fuel use. http://1.usa.gov/…
210. Mandated that federal government fleet purchases be for fuel-efficient American vehicles, and encouraged that federal agencies support experimental, fuel-efficient vehicles. http://bit.ly/… http://1.usa.gov/… http://1.usa.gov/…
211. Got BP to cough up $20 billion to establish Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, to reduce the need for taxpayer funds to be used for compensation and clean up. http://wapo.st/… (Note: it took 20 years to get $1.3 billion for the Exxon Valdez spill. )
212. Oversaw and pushed through an amendment to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 authorizing advances from Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. http://1.usa.gov/…
213. Actively tried to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to eliminate the liability limits for those companies responsible for large oil spills. http://nyti.ms/…
214. Became the first President to simply say “Climate Change is a fact,” and set up the first federal government protocols for dealing with the impacts of climate change. http://1.usa.gov/…
215. Initiated Criminal and Civil inquiries into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. http://nyti.ms/…
216. Asserted federal legal supremacy to bar Texas from authorizing new refinery permits on its own. http://bit.ly/…
217. Set up new, stricter standards limiting power plant emissions. http://1.usa.gov/…
218. Strengthened the Endangered Species Act. http://bit.ly/…
219. Strengthened protection for wildlife, and expanded enforcement of laws against wildlife trafficking. http://1.usa.gov/…
220. Obama EPA improved boiler safety standards to improve air quality, and save 6500 lives per year. http://bit.ly/…
221. Through the EPA, attemped to take steps to severely limit the use of antibiotics in livestock feed, to increase their efficacy in humans. http://bit.ly/…
222. Through new EPA regulations, he created a pretext for closing the dirtiest power plants in the country, by limiting emissions of mercury and other toxic gasses. http://bit.ly/…
223. Increased funding for National Parks and Forests by 10% http://bit.ly/…
224. Announced greatly improved commercial fuel efficiency standards. http://1.usa.gov/…
225. Announced a huge increase in average fuel economy standards from 27.5mpg in 2010 to 35.5mpg starting in 2016 and 54.5 starting in 2025 http://1.usa.gov/…
226. Issued an Executive Order to facilitate investments in industrial energy efficiency that will help create jobs, while strengthening US manufacturing. Increased efficiency could save businesses $100 billion over the next decade. http://1.usa.gov/…
227. Through an executive order, set up the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, which will to oversee Gulf Coast restoration efforts in the wake of the 2010 BP oil splll. The money to fund the restoration efforts comes from fines against BP. http://1.usa.gov/…
228. Through executive actions and bypassing the ineffectual Rublican Congress, announced the most comprehensive plan to combat climate change in a generation. http://bit.ly/…
But That’s Not All…
229. Expanded trade agreements to include stricter labor and environmental agreements such as NAFTA. http://bit.ly/…
230. Oversaw funding of the design of a new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History, which is scheduled to open on the National Mall in 2015. He protected the funding during the recent budget negotiations. http://on.fb.me/… http://bit.ly/…
231. Oversaw and passed increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. http://bit.ly/…
232. Nominated Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Justice in the court’s history, and the women represent only the third and fourth women to serve on the court, out of a total of 112 justices. http://huff.to/… http://bit.ly/…
233. Appointed the most diverse Cabinet in history, including more women than any other incoming president. http://bit.ly/…
234. Eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education, and rescinded the global gag rule. http://bit.ly/… http://bit.ly/…
235. Loosened the rules and allowed the 14 states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves without federal interference. http://huff.to/…
236. Signed national service legislation, increasing funding for national service groups, including triple the size of the Americorps program. http://bit.ly/…
237. Signed an Executive Order that will speed up deployment of a more comprehensive broadband infrastructure. http://1.usa.gov/…
238. Signed an Executive Order creating jobs immediately by instructing them to reduce the time needed for review and permitting of infrastructure projects. http://1.usa.gov/…
239. Signed a bill that provided $4.3 billion in additional assistance to 9/11 first responders. http://bit.ly/…
240. Signed an Executive Order pledging support for efforts to end the global problem of violence against women and girls. http://1.usa.gov/…
241. Signed the Claims Resolution Act, which provided $4.6 billion in funding for a legal settlement with black and Native American farmers who had been cheated out of government loans and natural resource royalties in the past. http://1.usa.gov/…
242. To help those communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy, issued an executive order setting up the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, and asked Congress to approve $60 billion in supplemental assistance to aid in storm recovery. http://1.usa.gov/…
243. Produced 23 Executive actions designed to make it easier for law enforcement to identify those who shouldn’t have guns, thus helping them enforce the law. http://on.wsj.com/…
And Did You Know?
244. Despite the characterizations of some, Obama’s success rate in winning congressional votes on issues was an unprecedented 96.7% for his first year in office. Though he is often cited as superior to Obama, President Lyndon Johnson’s success rate in 1965 was only 93%. http://n.pr/…
And of course…
245. Despite the odds, became the first black president and was reelected by a wide margin.
People today seem not only to lack the factual data of history but the concept that history is a continum of events often falling like dominos on a shaking board. For example, had Bush One defeated Clinton, would Bush Two have ever run? For example, few realize that it was Hoover working during the Truman Administration who so vastly increased the power of the Executive Branch.
Yes, the small facts that posters get wrong irk the hell out of me but missing the larger picture along with some of the ironies just sets me off.
When I was in High school in the 1970’s I took a required Civics class that gave me a basic understanding of how governments work. I’ve lived in Washington D.C. my whole adult life and I have a pretty good understanding of how government operates. Do they still teach civics classes? It should be a required course for all high schoolers. The complete stupidity of the American people astounds me. Have you heard that Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal is currently talking up a ‘hostile takeover’ of the American Government. Now? This is coming from the same part of the country that brought us Operation American Spring a couple months ago. Apparently the GOP has lost all faith in the voting process despite their (current) control of the House of Reps.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/22/bobby-jindal_n_5519158.html
JJ, if I lived in Louisiana I would either vote him out or move out of that place.
Talk about patriotism, that ain’t it.
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” Joseph Goebbels
When people are more knowledgeable about current events watching the Comedy Channel than some news channels you know something is going on. The GOPT purposely have suppressed anything good that Pres Obama has done and twisted everything else into being a direct result of malfeasance by him. Many people don’t read past the headlines or able to read anything longer than a tweet, so this falls right into what the GOPT wants. There is a reason the GOPT are so against education.
So are the people just lazy and not examining issues more thoroughly, being purposely mislead for political purposes, not interested or too burned out on on-gong political shenanigans to care anymore, or too busy trying to keep their heads above water? Probably any one of the above in different situations. Regardless, the lack of an informed electorate is a dangerous thing.
The right has done very little to help the country since Obama took office (how long is their list of accomplishments?) with their goal of doing only what will promote their party (more specifically, their party’s donors).
There is not a thing here with which I do not agree completely.
I suggest that your list of reasons for the political illiteracy reflects a number of often-interrelated causes- each suppporting the other.
Have we run into each other before here at the Planet?
You have a strong grasp on the realities and a good way of putting it to “paper.”
I want to note that one of the ironies of our political environment is that the Right loves to associate Obama and his Allies with Hitlerian governance when it is they who have embraced so much of what made the fascist state operate.
Murf,
As much as I dislike the GOTP, the way they are presents a larger problem. They keep their electorate in the dark with their lies. They run their election campaigns with money almost completely provided by billionaires and corporations that might but almost certainly do not have any allegiance to this country. A major American party run this way opens the door for a political takeover by a foreign power. The way the GOTP operates, this could happen right under their noses with the GOTP completely unaware, or if they heard about it they would probably refuse to acknowledge it since they are much more interested in staying in power than in benefiting the country.
Most people would call this a national security issue.
NWGuy, well said and spot on.
Welcome to the Planet, btw.
“Our times are indeed dire, and foretold, and unfortunately there is little we can do to forestall the immediate crisis that confronts us.
However, we find ourselves at this moment in history for very simple reasons.
As I have said before, I am not religious. And yet I have found justice, compassion, and wisdom in the thoughts and writings of many historical religious, philosophical, and political figures.
And one of the saddest realities we face today is that so many of these wise men and women have already delivered most all the answers we seek.
Peace. Justice. Humility. Compassion. The willingness to stand for good when all others stand against it.
These are not new answers my friends, but amongst the oldest recorded. And when we abandon our most precious treasures of wisdom, we will suffer their warning.
But hope can never be lost. And there are times when suffering gives way to new understanding, and new opportunities to right the wrongs of the past, and boldly forge a more just and prosperous future for all.
I cannot help but hope that this is one of those times.
May the light of compassion always bless our great nation.”
SearingTruth
A Future of the Brave
Positive thinking and a philosophical foundation are great ports in the storm, but I will continue to ask you the key question: So what then, in practical, action oriented terms, needs to be done?
“Practical or Principle.
They are two different ideologies.
One of unforeseen horror, the other unimaginable peace.”
SearingTruth
A Future of the Brave
And a lot of ground in between.
Gentle friend MurphTheSurf3, sadly there is none.
ST
“I find myself constantly wondering what cherished American principle we will abandon next.”
SearingTruth
A Future of the Brave
In my experience this is far from true. Black and white thinking is a dead end.
Gentle friend I’m ill and can’t respond as fully as I would like.
I’m just hoping that others and you have read the graphic novel, or seen the movie, The Watchmen.
I am Rorschach, instead of Adrian Veidt, or even more cruelly, Dr. Manhattan.
That is my short answer.
I will respond more fully when I can.
ST
“I did not fear the problems.
I feared the plan.”
SearingTruth
A Future of the Brave
“A principle, sacrificed, is rarely resurrected.”
SearingTruth
A Future of the Brave
Progressives believe that principle can triumph, literally rise from the ashes, if enough work for it.
I consider the Civil War’s crusade for freedom, i.e. the Battle Hymn of the Republic, won in battle and then lost in the aftermath during Reconstruction as Jim Crow returned virtual slavery to the Old South, and then was re-fought in myriad battles in the courts, in protests, in legislatures, in elections, in education etc — I suggest to thi very day.
Gentle friend MurphTheSurf3, I believe they have been misled.
The American Constitution should not be left to the whims of hope, or time.
We must stand and defend it.
Whenever it is threatened, and before we can no longer do so.
ST
“An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it.”
Mohandas Gandhi
A Future of the Brave
As always Murph, great discussion. I admit that while I am disappointed that we haven’t seen The Rock Obama, his list of accomplishments is impressive.
We no longer have a free press (if we ever did) but corporate ownership with no real editorial boards that keep their personal feelings out of it.
Americans have largely not been as involved as we should be, if we are to be a government by the people. I vote in every election, regardless. That should be changed within our constitution, to make voting compulsory. Otherwise we the people has no real meaning.
Compulsory voting does not mean responsible voting and that is very significant. I used to favor the idea of required voting but then I read the studies from Norway, Sweden and Denmark at how those forced to vote so often create “little monsters” in protest votes. Fortunately their Parliamentary system mutes the power of the unaffiliated.
I think that what is needed is a return to a sense of responsible citizenship such as that which emerged in the wake of WWII.
But, as you point out the corporatization of media (and the Big Money corporations behind those corporations) sullies all sources of information.
I always thought that the word compulsory had little to do with the word liberty.
We must always be careful of the ones that would do the compelling.
Well, at least not discouraged…
It has its own narrowing impact…yes.
Compulsory does not mean informed or responsible. In fact in some of the countries with mandatory voting there are regular crusades to undo the law because, it is argued, forcing people to vote actually increases the number of uninformed voters.
We don’t have responsible voting now. But some change to the House is necessary. And if the Ds don’t hold the Senate, I may lose my mind.
I think the highwater mark of responsible voting may have been post WWII, the era of the Vietnam War and the civil rights crusade…..in between and after, malaise….
I wouldn’t make voting compulsory. I think we should take the example of newly democratic nations Iraq and Afghanistan. In Afghanistan particularly, they value their right so highly they risk death to place their vote, and the Taliban are threatening to kill those who vote, and are doing so in some cases. It’s that enthusiasm that we need to instill in our own citizens. The GOTP are behaving very much like the Taliban in their efforts to discourage voting. It’s completely un-American.
Murph, my friend, thank you, once again, for putting things into proper perspective.
More and more, I am starting to see the Right not as an enemy to be feared but as whiners trying to stand against the inevitable. There was a time when Conservative complaints led to actions that could not be overcome.
Even on points of cultural privilege,” the tide is turning. Donald Sterling will be out of the NBA. The Washington NFL team will change its name. Marijuana will be legal. Smoking will no longer be cool.
Clinton/Castro will be the next administration.
Today, with each victory – gay rights, education, energy, the economy, etc. – the GOP has been reduced to the old talking points against the President. Making a comeback are such classics as: Muslim, terrorist, socialist, not a real American, does not understand, “unique,” dangerous, and so forth. And now we can add Dinesh D’Souza’s latest rant comparing the US to child molesters and Obama as bent on revenge.
I am waiting for someone to reintroduce “terrorist fist bump” into the lexicon…
Hey Jim, well said. The cultural advancements we are seeing really are quite amazing for a baby boomer to see. We can still remember they old ways of the 50s and 60s and 70s.
I think social and cultural changes and advancements are an inevitability in the human race. They are slow in coming, but I believe, in a free society, they are unstoppable. This is something the GOPTP just refuse to admit. They’re unwillingness to change and their habit of clinging to old ideas will be their downfall.
Their lust for money and power is a blinding one. I think they’ve always been a little myopic, as a political party, but now, they just can’t see at all, or refuse to see.
Political dirty tricks is pretty much all they have left. The bad thing for progressives is that the GOPTP are very adept at such dirty tricks.
Funny part is that they are correct about Obama. He is changing the paradigm. He is resetting the “default” switch.
That is exactly why I voted for him…
Likewise, my friend!
doing what FDR did, governing without Congress….
and inviting them to step up anytime they feel moved to do so…..
brilliant…
and the American Public says he cannot govern and have lost their faith in him….when Carter face a similar mindset in Congress (although far less rabid) he basically wilted.
O does not wilt.
Would you mind if I posted this as is at Daily Kos? I think a lot more people should see it.
I would be honored Murph! I feel the same way!
I just published your reflection here at http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/06/22/1308805/-Sunday-Morning-Hope-The-Tide-is-Turning-Against-the-GOP
Just republished this in concert with the return comment from Kilgore Trout
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/06/22/1308805/-Sunday-Morning-Hope-The-Tide-is-Turning-Against-the-GOP
Very cool Murph! Thanks for the link.
I don’t know if we can ever completely rid ourselves, as a society, of this massive, propaganda spewing, apathy generating monster called the “media,” but I do believe we can lessen it’s strength and maybe reverse some of it’s harmful effects.
How, you may ask? Well, that’s surely a big question, with more than just a single answer, but I think one way is to dilute the cynicism. Just as president Obama hammered home in his first presidential bid, hope, hope, hope. We need to help encourage people, lighten the doom and gloom with positive facts. Help others see, that haven’t seen, the good things that are happening.
I used to think, and say, that hope is a hollow emotion. That may well be true in an empirical sense, but what I’ve learned over these last five or six years is that hope also helps lighten the darkness. It’s been said that sunshine is a good disinfectant, and I think hope may have that same property. The less than rosy thing about hope is that it requires concrete action.
This is what you’ve done with this article. It may just be a pebble tossed, but pebbles tossed tend to create ripples! We, as a society, could use all the positive ripples we can get!
I just published your reflection here at http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/06/22/1308805/-Sunday-Morning-Hope-The-Tide-is-Turning-Against-the-GOP
Thanks, man… 🙂
Enjoyed your article Murph; however, I have to ask the following question: How often do pollsters have to get it wrong before serious minded people begin to realize that many of these polls, the majority of them, are no better than the “News Stories” we get from Media these days, orchestrated to manipulate public opinion.
I am working with a statistician right now in examining the structure of the poll, the polling sample groups, and the questions. This is not my strong point but our initial analysis show that the polling sample does not represent the voting population groups as they were in 2012 and the polling appears to lean toward residents in red states.
I have come to believe that ALL news organizations today have their feet firmly planted on the ledger “books” on the “bottom line”. Drawing clicks, viewers, readers, respondent is the key to getting ads and that is the source of most of their revenue.
I remain deeply suspicious.
Murph, the great and quaintly avuncular Walter Cronkite warned of the mixture of real news reporting and entertainment. Dan Rather said it well when said that the news division of the major networks (there were only three then) operated independent of profit margins. They weren’t expected to show a profit, because before greed became paramount, the networks were content to reap the (very large) profits from their sitcoms, dramas and documentaries.
Sadly that is no longer the case. The “game,” of politics has been seen as a huge profit generator. It’s like a new sport. Monday Night Football with only two teams, the redshirts and the blueshirts. The rules of play are nonexistent. There are no yard lines, hell there aren’t even goal posts. The game itself is the only important thing. And those covering the game are the biggest winners.
Agreed. The bet of network now, in my experience, is Al Jazeera America. I wonder how they do it?
Another thing President Obama has done is that he has improved the situation in this country. He inherited a bloody mess, he kept the economy from collapsing, he ended the recession. In broad strokes, he completely changed the canvas for LGBT and health care in this country. On the other hand, look at GWB’s legacy. He inherited a healthy economy, staged two invasions, one of them under false pretext, and left the economy in a bloody mess. Grinning all the way. Obama is president of a country where a huge number of people consider themselves conservative and another huge number don’t have a clue what’s going on, except what the latest incendiary headline told them. It’s a miracle he got anything done at all.
It is a miracle, GreenChica.
What I remember quite clearly is that President Obama said that he wanted to try to bring change to America, and that he couldn’t do it alone. He pointed at the crowd and said he needed the help of the American people who voted for him, you could do it together. Where is everybody?
Then the next year some decided they felt betrayed and didn’t vote in 2010, and thanks to them the Repubs got a foothold, so the ones still complaining must obviously have no financial problems because they know where their next meal is coming from, and have adequate healthcare so are not afraid to become sick, so why care if the Teapublicans continue to try to drag down and are bent on dividing the country.
I’m tired of reading how he let people down. It’s those people who didn’t vote in 2010 to prove some non existent point who let him and the millions of sane and caring Americans down.
As it say in the header of a link I posted down the page “Please Cut the Crap”.
I remember that too, Kalima. I think his point was that our country is not a dictatorship. Obama can’t just sail in and start arresting the previous administration for war crimes or change the immigration laws. He has no choice but to work within the system. By definition, the presidency IS the system. By the way, I’m not really new — I’m just escribacat with a new name (due to security concerns).
Green Chica……ah hah….operating with that nom de plume….
I am sure you have your reasons as I have mine.
BTW…it is clear that you have not been your regular World Net Daily reading because if you had you would know that Obama is in fact a dictator, AND, at the same time, totally ineffective. If you were a right thinking Republican you would understand this apparent paradox.
Ah, I wondered about that burro with the barrel! 😉
“Where is everybody?”
I am doing a lot of blogging at Daily Kos and while I enjoy it I also find myself regularly irritated at the “look down your nose at the President who has not really measured up.” attitude.
They have not learned from 2010.
excellent insights, Kalima.
Very down to earth and very real summation. Best lines:
“Grinning all the way.” “A huge number don’t have a clue what’s going on, except what the latest incendiary headline told them.”
In this you cast the great difference between Obama and Bush-
I believe that Bush generally had very little understanding of what was going on around him and thus could grin as he did. Remember the images of Bush as Mad Magazines
[img]http://www.aonghascrowe.com/storage/alfredw.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1360111412030[/img]
Obama knows all too well and he intend to act on what he knows…..
I remember, being horrified by watching W speak at some republican love fest. He was actually joking about not finding WMD. He pretended to look under the dais and around the chairs, chortling, “no WMD there, no WMD over here….hehehehe!
I wanted to fashion the noose for him, then and there.
At about 5 minutes….
Glad you posted this video. Everybody should see this (with barf bags at their sides).
Another great article Murph. You set up the mind-set of those being polled perfectly. Although my close friends in SF in particular are all pretty smart people, I’ve actually been told my a few that I know more about current U.S. Politics than “the average Joe” to quote one. Well that scared the chit out of me! How could I, living in Australia know more than those who live there? Your list of reasons tells the story.
My number one go-to site when I was posting on HP was “pleasecutthecrap.com” to counter all those, both GOPers and progressives who either were so ignorant of what Obama had accomplished or just didn’t/wouldn’t give him credit for ANYTHING!
I NEVER once got a response to the facts listing Obama’s accomplishments. They simply don’t want to KNOW the truth. For such a great country it beggers belief.
Australia is extremely apathetic about politics and voting is compulsory. Very few take an active role in knowing who or why they are voting for a particular candidate. That’s how they have ended up with Tony Abbott as Prime Minister whose budget is about to hurt the most vunerable of society. (Separate issue!).
Again, great article Murph!
Thank you.
Of equal interest to me is that the same list provokes those on the far left to label Obama as weak, a sellout, a trojan horse….this is the same crowd that having pushed him into office in 2008, then walked away in disgust because he wasn’t moving fast enough or making changes deep enough in 2010 leaving him with a totally unmanageable Congress.
The global shift to conservative governments is not coincidental. Well planned, well financed. A key is an ignorant and unconnected electorate.
Agreed Murph. It makes my blood boil that those on the far left don’t feel that they have any responsibility to support Obama in his efforts. They want a ONE person miracle maker and if all their needs are not met in a split second they turn their backs, thus giving the opposition even more ammunition to spew their lies.
Agree also about the global shift to conservative governments. Quite unnerving. Cameron, Harper, Abbott to name but a few. Indeed, financed by the those who have unlimited funds and those that have the power of the media in the form of Rupert Murdoch.
Interesting that folks on the Left — who criticize the Right for being slaves to religous dogma — continue to demand that Obama be their messiah.
Two things he said in 2009 stay with me:
1. “This is a big ocean liner. It’s not a speedboat. It doesn’t turn around immediately.”
2. “You see, the challenges we face will not be solved with one meeting in one night. It will not be resolved on even a Super Duper Tuesday. Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
Patience it seems, now eludes the American public. We were in such a world of hurt at the end of 2008, that I think some people thought the President was gonna wave his magic wand in 2009 and make all right with the world.
FDR once noted that the same people demanding that he fix a problem complained later that he did not fix it fast enough…
They did-
I remember musing that Obama was being set up on the left and on the right.
The GOP on one hand declaring him to be a despotic dictator and then on the other a feckless and vacillating non-leader…
and so many on the Left stand by in silence…accepting the mutually exclusive…
Ignorance on the part of conservatives and liberals, lack of engagement on the part of conservatives and liberals, lack of connection to current event on the part of conservative and liberal…..
leads conservatives to vote in record number
and liberals to not bother.
2010….there ya go. How the Obama administration was nearly derailed by unhappy progressives, and weak minded liberals.
“If only we could turn back time, before madness gripped us.”
SearingTruth
A Future of the Brave
There have been other madnesses in other times but in this case – it is a madness planned for and financed by the elite, the wealthy, the powerful seeking to undermine any progressive initiative with the unwitting collaboration of an uninformed and disconnected electorate buying into a false narrative.
Murph, further proof that the public holds Obama to a very high standard, while expecting W to simply not choke on a cracker.
Seriously though, part of Obama’s poll numbers are tied directly to Congress’ miserable rating. While logically people sort of know that Congress is the main obstacle to concrete legislation to improve our country, their activity has cast a pall over the entirety of the federal government, causing many Americans, especially casual follower of our political process to say “a pox on both your houses”.
Which is exactly what the GOP wants. There has been no electoral consequence for their obstructionism and scorched-earth tactics, so why would they care what their approval rating is?
The polling for Congress is as low as it has ever been and yet that never seems to enter into the discussion
Obama is clearly dragged down by Congress but this is not acknowledged in the public discussion – indeed we see leaders of the GOP in both houses crowing about the President’s numbers knowing that they will not be challenged by the truth in the mouths of the media sock puppets.
Your third paragraph lays out the purposefulness of this scheme, laid out on the first day of the Obama administration, bankrolled by Big Money and dependent on an ignorant and unengaged electorate.
Megyn Kelly asks Dick Cheney TOUGH questions!! http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/06/19/1308038/-Pigs-Fly-Megyn-Kelly-slams-Cheney?detail=email1#
I saw that too, Beatlex. As I said elsewhere — did someone put something in her drink? Very out of character for her!
The next day, she took a piece out of Dinesh D’Souza. Maybe she’s trying to get fired…
D’Souza is a dick, with the intellectual heft of a termite. He is however, a pretty good parrot.
Indeed.
Sadly Murph,the American electorate is uninformed and have notoriously short memories.And of course there are stupid ones.Love the cartoon!
Uniformed, distracted, easily fooled, worried, anxious, looking for easy answers, simplistic, unengaged, disconnected….
damn that UFO!