Congressman Justin Amash mocks President Obama

[David Krout]

As President Obama prepared to issue a statement of the situation in Egypt, Justin Amash tweeted: ""He'll pick Mubarak to "establish" "independent" review panel.""

https://twitter.com/repjustinamash/status/368003747722452993

[leveymg]

1. If only there were such an articulate, effective critic among the Democrats, I'd campaign for himher

The first Democrat with any chance of being elected who stands up for civil liberties and against wars and regime change agendas abroad gets my committed support for President in '16.

Hillary disqualified herself with her glorious campaigns in Libya and Syria and the disasters that have followed regime change and support for the Saudi jihad across the Mideast.

[KoKo]

2. How will we know, though?

We just elected one twice...who promised to do much of what you are talking about.

They can promise and give nice speeches, but where is there a Democrat that we could be assured would follow through on their promises. A Democrat who could run with a enough of a track record that could be scrutinized for clues that they would, live up to what they promise.

Dennis Kucinich (age and experience) is someone I would trust...but, there's no way he could be elected. And, if by some miracle he was elected by the people, I doubt that the Military, Industrial, Media Complex would allow him to Govern. The Clintons and Obama with their charismatic personalities and strong backing from MIC/Wall Street have pretty much sucked the air out of the space for anyone new to get traction. Any Dem Candidate without charisma wouldn't have a chance of inspiring Dems to get out to vote in the way they did for Obama.

Besides Hillary...who? And, I'm with you. I could not vote for her.






.

[leveymg]

3. It may have to be someone from outside the Dem career track- Sanders, Krugman, Reich, Steiglitz

or some other public intellectual. I can't think of many elected pols who have both the stature and trustability who might contend for the nomination from the Left. There are a few Senate progressives or populists that might get my support - Boxer, Brown, Harkin, Wyden. I would contingently support any of the members of the Democratic Progressive Caucus:

Co-Chairs

Keith Ellison

Raúl Grijalva
Vice Chairs

Judy Chu

David Cicilline

Michael Honda

Sheila Jackson-Lee

Jan Schakowsky
Whip

Barbara Lee
Senate Member

Bernie Sanders
House Members

Karen Bass

Xavier Becerra

Earl Blumenauer

Suzanne Bonamici

Corrine Brown

Michael Capuano

Andre Carson

Matt Cartwright

Donna Christensen

Yvette Clarke

Emanuel Cleaver

Steve Cohen

John Conyers

Elijah Cummings

Danny Davis

Peter DeFazio

Rosa DeLauro

Donna Edwards

Sam Farr

Chaka Fattah

Lois Frankel

Marcia Fudge

Alan Grayson

Janice Hahn

Rush Holt

Michael Honda

Steven Horsford

Jared Huffman

Sheila Jackson-Lee

Hakeem Jeffries

Eddie Bernice Johnson

Hank Johnson

Joe Kennedy III

John Lewis

David Loebsack

Alan Lowenthal

Ben Ray Lujan

Carolyn Maloney

Jim McDermott

James McGovern

George Miller

Gwen Moore

Jim Moran

Jerrold Nadler

Rick Nolan

Eleanor Holmes Norton

Frank Pallone

Ed Pastor

Chellie Pingree

Mark Pocan

Jared Polis

Charles Rangel

Lucille Roybal-Allard

Linda Sanchez

Jose Serrano

Louise Slaughter

Mark Takano

Bennie Thompson

John Tierney

Nydia Velazquez

Maxine Waters

Mel Watt

Peter Welch

Frederica Wilson

[KoKo]

4. Robert Reich would be an interesting one.

He does have those early ties to Clintons.

[leveymg]

5. I don't think of Robert Reich as a Clinton apparachik.

Reich served in the Clinton Administration, but he's progressive and independent enough so I could support them.

Please don't get the wrong impression. I am not against the Clintons, just some of their policies, particularly Hillary's strong streak of neoconservatism and regime change activism. On most domestic social policies, they have both been good liberals. On economic and trade policy, she's probably a degree or two to the Left of Obama. But, it's the Mideast that seems to be blowing up, and a lot of that is her work (and that of like-minded liberal hawks and allies in the national security apparatus), and it is not a good thing they've created.

[KoKo]

6. Yes...I remember his split with Clinton over Labor policy

and he's been even more vocal in years since about some of the Clinton policies. I meant that he has some positive name recognition from those years which would be helpful to him in Dem Circles because of the early Clinton years which might get him donors. He'd need money from the Dem Power Brokers. Obama's funding is now mostly from Wall Street. Clintons might still have some money connections who aren't Goldman-Sachs who would like to see a return of the Dem Party to more pro-labor policies.

My complaint with Hillary is not only ME Policy...but, the TPP Trade Agreement. I think she's still convinced that NAFTA worked and that Trade Agreements are good for American workers.

[leveymg]

8. Who else, as a feasible alternative, could you support?

[KoKo]

9. I'm hoping someone "out of the box" will come forward in the next years.

I don't know who it could be. I fear that it could be some "celebrity" or someone from Wall Street that will capture Democratic Imagination and sail through. I think we will still be looking for another Obama or Clinton and I don't see it in the list of those in Dem Politics now who can capture that. I'm sick of the "Celebrity Dem" that we always think is a populist. Think of John Edwards, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama.

I have no idea. I'm pretty gloomy about the next three years and figure it will be a Republican's turn..because that's how things go after eight years of one party we get the other. Maybe there will be a Fusion Candidate or an Independent from somewhere that's a surprise that will capture both parties interest. But, given how far Dems have moved toward the Right and the Right even further toward the TeaParty, it's not likely that any candidate of that type would be as Progressive Left as I've become in the past ten years.

Who knows....

[leveymg]

11. It sounds like what you're describing (and fear) is Michael Bloomberg

Maybe there will be a Fusion Candidate or an Independent from somewhere that's a surprise that will capture both parties interest

And, if he brings any charts to the debate, you'd better believe they will be professionally-created and interesting to look at, unlike this defective prototype:

[leftstreet]

13. omg is Admiral Stockdale still around?

probably not

[leveymg]

14. We're unlikely to hear the questions, "Who am I? Why am I here?" ever again.

A priceless moment. Thank you Admiral.

[KoKo]

15. I didn't want to say anything...to encourage any vibes that way...

but...yes.

"Stop and Frisk" can be overlooked...with expensive marketing and re-Branding. Plus...he used to be a DEM "GASP"....... And, no trouble with financing...IOWD's he will be seen as "Independent." He speaks well...handles himself well...Knows EVERYONE.., even owns his own Media so no "Swift Boating, He's a Muslim, He Plays Around" problems! .... shudder

[leveymg]

16. I'm not trying to encourage anyone that way, either.

But, if he did run, I bet he would have no problem capturing anywhere from 1/5 to 1/3 of the popular vote, without even really trying. 34% could make him President Bloomberg in an evenly split election. Morsi won that way.

If he ran, he could pretty much dictate his terms and set off a bidding war between the other two candidates as the cost of his withdrawal and eventual recommendation. I'm sure he knows that, too. Just threatening to run might be the best investment he ever made.

[KoKo]

21. We shall see...

He might be acceptable to some TeaPartiers. Republican and Neo Lib Dems would probably find him acceptable. Any Republican up-and-comer would probably be thrilled as his VP. It would depend on how much the Bush family wants Jeb in there for 2016. So...it would be tricky for him how to navigate to run as a Repug.

Still leaves the Democratic Party "Third Way" with a challenge. Do they put someone up who appeals to Liberal Left if Bloomberg runs as a Repug...playing the to the Wall Street Crowd? Or, could Bloomberg decide to pre-empt and declare early as an Independent and play both Repugs and Dems against each other as to which candidate they run against him. Would the Libertarians and Indies along with disillusioned Dems and TeaPartiers find Bloomberg appealing enough that it could throw both parties into disarray with early pre-primary polling going heavily his way.

I'm just running through ideas here... throwing stuff out.

[leveymg]

22. He would position himself as the most centered candidate characterizing the others as extremists.

That would probably cause a convergence of all three at the center-right - CRASH!, which would further alienate and depress the votes of the Left and the Right, to Bloomberg's advantage.

Bloomberg could well win under that scenario if the Democratic candidate doesn't remain resolutely Progressive, holding onto the base and the 10-15% of the Obama vote who were the alienated voters who turned out in '08 (and again largely in '12) for him.

[KoKo]

23. Here's some of the problem with just doing Statistics this far ahead....

the problem is that the 2016 election could be significantly influenced by the new Voter restrictions in many states. We have to wonder will Bloomberg (and our Dems) be able to organize at the local precinct level to get out and protect the voters? A Candidate who get's Overwhelming Support as an Indie...might run into trouble with the Rammed Through...NEW Voting Rights Legislation in many of our States..(including North Carolina) that went BLUE for Obama in 2008...and RED after that.

The problem going forward into 2016 is that Democratic voters have had to deal with ALEC /American Legislative Council and other RW forces like the Koch Brothers money targeting states that would be BLUE...until they came in...and we were let down by our Democratic Machine from Tim Kaine...and since.

We here in My State are now dealing with this. Won't get into more...but, it's a crisis for us. It's NC..and you've probably seen the Protests Against all this posted on DU.

It's going to be interesting how both the Republicans and Democrats manage to weave their way through this new "Restrictive Voting Legislation" ...as they move forward to 2016. Things have moved way beyond what we dealt with before in past elections into something "Different." So...in that landscape I can see ..that Bloomberg would have a problem qualifying in my state to get on the ballot.

Even Qualified Dems might have a problem getting on that Ballot here.

[leveymg]

24. The 2016 General is going to be a mess, even without a strong 3rd Party candidate.

I can see another election going to the Supremes, and it's another question mark as to who and what that will be in 3 years.

And, then, there's the Electoral College system. It could be that no candidate gets 270 votes, and it goes to the House of Representatives for a state-based polling based upon which candidate (of the three candidates) controls each State delegation and which has a majority of the 50 state delegations: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/faq.html G-d only knows how that could turn out.

What happens if no presidential candidate gets 270 Electoral votes?

If no candidate receives a majority of Electoral votes, the House of Representatives elects the President from the 3 Presidential candidates who received the most Electoral votes. Each state delegation has one vote. The Senate would elect the Vice President from the 2 Vice Presidential candidates with the most Electoral votes. Each Senator would cast one vote for Vice President. If the House of Representatives fails to elect a President by Inauguration Day, the Vice-President Elect serves as acting President until the deadlock is resolved in the House.

[KoKo]

25. True...there's so much that's "up in the air" going forward.

It gets into uncharted territory...because of all that's happened in these past few years...building off of what went before with Bush II.

We have to see how it goes. But, keeping ahead of things is very worthwhile. It will be very interesting to see our speculation...going forward. How it plays out. Particularly for those of us engaged who watch this and are involved. (How I wish...I could sometimes just pull away...but..doesn't happen)...

[1StrongBlackMan]

26. I thought you said …

The first Democrat with any chance of being elected”?

Why not just draft Kucinch? Certainly he can be forgiven for his fox adventure.

While I like a support the Progressive Caucus’ policy positions … There is not a single one, at this point, that has a shot at winning the Democratic primary (not even Grayson); though I do believe, if they were to survive, it would make for an interesting General Election!

[Pretzel_Warrior]

19. better stay on the safe side and elect a Republican, then, eh?

[leftstreet]

7. ouch

[ProSense]

10. So now teabaggers mocking the President is OK?

Does this asshole realize that the situation in Egypt is not a joke?

WTF?

[JI7]

12. of course it's ok among other teabaggers

[Cha]

18. It's only okay with those who don't care who it is

"mocking" PBO.. just as long as they're mockin'.

Please see post # 17.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

20. some people are fucking drug addled

since I am not allowed to use the "r" word.

[Cha]

17. Stupid.Tea Party, Amash (R-MI) deny entry to townhall meeting; Senior citizens and reporters forced

to leave.

Rep. Justin Amash held a townhall meeting sponsored by a Tea Party group on Saturday, but a group of senior citizens and two reporters — including this one — were denied entry to the event.

The traditional purpose of a townhall meeting is for an elected official to meet with his constituents in public, giving the people a chance to ask questions and engage in dialogue with their representatives. But neither the organizers nor Amash apparently wanted to hear from or speak to a group of concerned senior citizens — even at a time when the fate of Medicare is being debated in Congress.

About eight senior citizens arrived at the Prince Conference Center on the Calvin College campus for a chance to question Amash concerning his voting record in regards to eliminating Medicare.

In Comment Section..

catbyte (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-23-11 02:44 PM

Response to Original message

12. Justin Amash is a Teabagger piece of shit
The only reason he got elected is because of this area and he had an R behind his name. Many mainstream Republicans campaigned for the Democrat but it was not to be. Now we're stuck with this waste of oxygen.

Diane
Anishinabe in MI

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4860542

[freshwest]

27. Good find. Since when is a teabagger's word gospel? The OP needs a better source for the complaint.

We've already got video and a transcript of what Obama has said about this going on over there. Amash is just as bad as Paul Ryan.

[Cha]

28. But, but, but, Amash made a mock of Pres Obama so

he's all headbangers and shit.

[freshwest]

29. 'All headbangers and shit...' Bwahaha! Another RWNJ hero!

Swooning at Lyin' Ryan!

And just for funsies:

http://betterthanvoodoo.com/category/the-world-of-politics/