Obama, the new Presidential Slumlord for America’s Rich

[wcepler]

What can we logically conclude from Obama's appointments, interviews, etc., to date?

Well, it ain't good. First, it's heart breakingly obvious that many of his most critical appointments are MILITANTLY anti Palestinian and anti Muslim. Ergo, so much for his b.s. campaign promises about a diplomatic approach to the Middle East. In short, it looks like it's going to be samo, samo war mongering for the next four years.

And it WILL be for only four years, because Americans are fed up with Presidential (and now Presidential Elect) lies to the skies. We've been down that road with the corporate fascism and religious fanaticism of Bush. Also, we should NEVER forget that it's a matter of objective, historical record that Prescott Bush (Bush's treacherous grandfather) tried to engineer a German coup d'etat in America during the 30's, but FDR stopped it in its tracks. Ironically, the dufus grandson may have done much better, since America is now crawling with WW2 type fascists and our Constitutional Republic is in ruins. We should also remember that much of the Bush Family fortune came from secret "deals" the Bush's made with the Nazis.

However, back to Barack Obama and the astounding discrepancies between what he promised he would do (over and over again during the primaries and the Presidential campaign) and the VERY RIGHT WING direction of his upcoming presidency.

Perhaps the biggest problem in America is that we are now saddled with two political parties, BOTH of which are very far to the right of what the exit and political polls overwhelming indicate is an American electorate mostly made up of progressives, moderates, and independents. Indeed, this was precisely the political base (again the demonstrable MAJORITY of the country) which elected him.

Thus NEITHER party is even close to the will of the American people.

Meaning? Clearly our fundamentally ONE dem/pug party political system is manifesting the will of:

(1.) A national/international tiny cabal of multimillionaire and multibillionaire Greek God like elites,

(2.) The Israeli lunatic fringe of right wing fanatics who do NOT represent the will of the complex state of Israel, even though these are exactly the people and American special interest groups the Clinton's have been licking the boots of for decades, plus

(3.) Palin-type religious fanatics and Third Reich loving skinheads who, once again, do not even minutely represent the will of the United States of America.

So, where is Obama in all of this? Alas, it's really nonsense to think the jury is still out on that question since Obama has morphed into Bill Clinton and the self same DLC Clinton machine that puked out the 2006 Congress of right wing dem traitors.

And this DLC Clinton machine, in turn, is a puppet of national/international elites and extremist Israeli right wing fanatics who have been dictating American foreign policy for the last eight years via the neocon cablal. Perhaps we should call Obama's recycled neocons the neo-neocons.

It's really very simple. Somewhere along the line, perhaps well before the primaries, the factual evidence to date (e.g., appointments, interviews, etc.) indicates that Obama sold his soul to the elites, neo-neocons, and the DLC Clinton machine.

The one exception is his appointment for Attorney General who must be giving nightmares to racist southern sheriff's (and Godspeed to that!), but what about all the rest of us? What about the working class? What about the middle and lower classes? It's almost an agony to watch Obama's emerging policies about the economy because:

(1.) His "team" is mostly made up of the same slobs, crooks, and greed heads who set up things to make this recession possible IN THE FIRST PLACE (nearly all Clinton appointees), and

(2.) He seems to be infinitely more compassionate to the Wall Street, car company, and even oil company CEO's and their underlings, than to us poor slobs, i.e., "main street" America. But, but, but . . . aren't these exactly the people who have already locked in "retirements" in the tens of millions? FDR dealt with something like this, and he took back around 90% of the money from these parasites feeding on the labor of the working Americans. Well, the FDR comparison to Obama is now a literal obscenity. RDF, maybe, i.e., Republican/Democratic/Fraud.

It's been said that politics in America has degenerated into a war/campaign between businesses and thus "elections" are really advertising campaigns between two businesses. Indeed, this is almost certainly the most accurate way to describe the real world of American politics. The convincer is the self evident truth that "adverting" has NOTHING to do with communicating information and facts, but exactly the contrary, since it succeeds in getting you to buy their soap to the precise degree that it deludes you into believing things that are totally false so you will buy junk which you neither need nor can afford.

From this perspective, Obama is simply the soap his adverting machine tricked us into buying. Would McCain have been worse? Almost certainly, but that doesn't change the fact that the Obama "soap" isn’t cleaning ANYTHING.

For the record, this is also the view of the one person in America who has seen ALL THE WAY THROUGH American politics for decades. Of course, we're talking about the genius/conscience of America, Noam Chomsky, who has been excommunicated from the national media because even 85 IQ CEO's sensed that Chomsky was 100% percent in touch with reality -- and still is. Hence, he terrified fascist/elites because evil best functions in a Heart of Darkness. Well, Chomsky kept turning on the lights. And even during his death rattle (still very far away if we're lucky) he'll still be the voice of objective truth about both America and the social/political dynamics of the entire planet.

The Obama bottom line is grim. Its here we go again with chronic presidential lies and "choosing the lesser of the evils" and having to "make the best of things".

But "choosing the lesser of the evils" and "making the best of things" is CRAP. Isn't that exactly what Obama's adverting machine convinced us Obama would end? Wasn't the Obama soap advertised that it would be the soap of "change", and isn't that EXACTLY (and only!) why we voted for him in the first place? Weren't we brainwashed into believing that Obama would be the incarnation of the idealism, rationality, and morality of the MAJORITY of American citizens and voters?

However, no matter how you spin it, the guy's turning out to be totally just the new Presidential slumlord in the American Dictatorship of the Rich.

Ugh.
*********************************************************************

W. Christopher Epler (Bill)

<http://theliberationofrealism.blogspot.com/>

[Pirate Smile]

1. You are pathetic.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Man, he's something isn't he?

I mean, he hasn't been sworn in, hasn't one Presidential power, hasn't begun one initiative and already he's the Antichrist.

Presumably he got that done before breakfast as well.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Oh, fer fucks sake...

:eyes:

[countingbluecars]

4. Yuck

This article stinks.

[tabatha]

5. So if Clinton set it all up for the recession

Bush had eight years to take it down.

[Tarheel_Dem]

6. Surely, you must realize that you're in the minority...right? The last

Gallup polls I saw said something like 70% of Americans approve of Obama's appointments to date. And an even larger number (80%) approve of his selection of Hillary as SoS. You're either a troll with an agenda, or part of the disappearing "activist left" whose agenda is the destruction of the two major parties. Either way, YAWN........!!!

[bluestateguy]

7. I swear I'm not going to be able to put up with all the whining here from the purists

I sense that I'll be out of here on January 20.

[Tarheel_Dem]

8. Same here, and it's a real shame because I've come to think of DU as home.

But the hourly attacks have become so tiring, that I'm finding myself logging in with a lot less frequency. It seems we haven't even been given a chance to revel in our victory, and Obama hasn't even taken the oath of office yet? Sad........

[silverojo]

17. I third that emotion

It's like...WTF? We win, and we still aren't supposed to celebrate?

Radical asswipe far-left idiots like these are what give Dems a bad name.

[Jim Sagle]

21. Don't hold back, tell us what you REALLY think.

;)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. Seems like the Republicans don't hold a corner on the lunatic fringe market.

I'm already sick of this shit.

[Baltoman991]

10. Well,

I can't logically conclude anything you've said about Obama but what I can logically conclude is that your post is the biggest pile of garbage I've read anywhere in a long long time.

[johnlucas]

11. Keep speaking, whether they like it or not

Whether you're part of the populational majority or the populational minority, keep speaking out how you feel regardless of the protests and dismissals from those who can't stand your words.

The time to speak out is immediately. Someone called it "the fierce urgency of now".

There is a 4th branch of government & it's the most important branch.
THE PEOPLE.
THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.

All politicians fold when they lose popular support. If popular support sustains its ebb, the politician will have no choice but to concede.

The People make up the vast numbers but the reason they don't have power is because they are divided amongst themselves over stupid issues of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, religious identity, regional location, general appearance, you name it. They'll fight their hearts out over goods sold on Black Friday instead of the government that threatens to suppress and oppress them. And sadly the only way to begin to get people on the same page is when they have nothing to lose. As long as most people have their security and status they simply don't have the will to unite and push in one direction. Rare are those people who can at least acknowledge the reality of the times even when they have some comfort.

Whether Obama intended to or not, he WILL push forward a Progressive agenda and he will do it because of the pressure put on him by The People. People like you and me.

Keep shouting out and show your displeasure with his decision because it is the only way to keep him honest. I have faith in NO politician. They are human beings and human beings left to their own devices are liars and deceivers. Only under pressures do humans do the right thing. The Hope is that Obama will be more susceptible to the voices of the people than others would be. Prove that theory right and get louder.

John Lucas

[Ian David]

13. Self-delete. n/t

[stillcool]

14. I agree with everything you say..

I think people are ready and waiting to become involved any way they can, but..I myself would like to have a President first. Unfortunately, starting to attack Obama the day after the election, just turned me off, and leaves me less open to anything some have to say. As a matter of fact, it turns me off of politics in general. I mean, why bother? I could be wrong, but I don't think that's the way to 'unite' people so they actually have a voice. What does complaining on DU about a Cabinet pick do? Is that something that people think they can change? Now, the money that Paulson wants is something I am writing to my Congressman, and Senators about. If more people were to do something like that, perhaps the voices of the people would be heard. But I guess that's a waste of time, in comparison to all the good that comes from complaining about what might happen in the future.

[undergroundpanther]

16. I have no faith in politics

Lost it long ago.BUT I can bite at these parasitic politicians fuckers heels until they CHANGE something..or else if they oppress the people(read not rich)too much they will drag out,the guillotine to fix the hegemony problem getting in the way..of our survival and well being.I don't think people will put up with endless fascist type crap,right wing"centrists with a "D" next to their names or injustice and theft forever.The rich can pay their part or face the wrath of the people in whatever form it takes ,that removal of waste who are the rich ,and they have deserved the wrath and then some for generations.
The people will be forced to make a choice lead themselves,lick rich people's boots for crumbs from their masters table or languish in ever increasing squalor, whimpering in a state of apathy until they are starved, jailed or otherwise screwed into oblivion.

[islandmkl]

12. you are a great example of democracy at work..

i totally disagree with your premises and conclusions...

but, it is good that you can express them and create some discourse...

or, on the other hand, you are merely causing some flame-war...but, i expect you will follow all the response posts with your detailed plan for who should be appointed to do what and the means that will allow them to accomplish what you desire...

don't stop criticizing...but, at the same time, offer your own design for correcting the problems we face, as opposed to looking backward and assigning failure...

[wcepler]

20. right wing dems didn't elect Barack Obama

The explicit and implicit message of the piece is simply that Obama's appointments (plus, interviews, etc.) to date are very right wing. More specifically, DLC right wing dems, the same DLC dems who were the 2006 Congress of dem right wing traitors who agreed with EVERYTHING Bush told them to do.

Why is it so outrageous to expect at least some appointments more to the left? The fact that that isn't even considered, both by most of the comments and by Obama himself, is a tragic proof that America is still ruled by very right wing politicians.

How could it be more simple?

[blue neen]

15. IMHO, you truly need to find a way to get some joy in your life.

Such severe constant negativism is not really healthy.

[MasonJar]

18. In the first place Hillary Clinton was the first person I ever heard say

that there should be a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and that the Palestinians should have their own state. She was railed against and derailed by the GOPers who hate all things Clinton. This was way back in Bill's first term. That is just one point you have wrong in the above assertion which is full of misjudgements and misinterpretations of the facts.

[Jim Sagle]

19. You're progressing well. This time you mentioned something besides Israel.

;)

[wcepler]

28. J Street is the political arm of the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement.

Jim, please once and for all educate yourself about sites like J Street

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/2747/t/3251/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=499.

Here's their agenda:

About Us
J Street is the political arm of the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement.

J Street was founded to promote meaningful American leadership to end the Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Israel conflicts peacefully and diplomatically. We support a new direction for American policy in the Middle East and a broad public and policy debate about the U.S. role in the region.

J Street represents Americans, primarily but not exclusively Jewish, who support Israel and its desire for security as the Jewish homeland, as well as the right of the Palestinians to a sovereign state of their own - two states living side-by-side in peace and security. We believe ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is in the best interests of Israel, the United States, the Palestinians, and the region as a whole.

J Street supports diplomatic solutions over military ones, including in Iran; multilateral over unilateral approaches to conflict resolution; and dialogue over confrontation with a wide range of countries and actors when conflicts do arise. For more on our policy positions, click here.

J Street will advocate forcefully in the policy process, in Congress, in the media, and in the Jewish community to make sure public officials and community leaders clearly see the depth and breadth of support for our views on Middle East policy among voters and supporters in their states and districts. We seek to complement the work of existing organizations and individuals that share our agenda. In our lobbying and advocacy efforts, we will enlist individual supporters of other efforts as partners.

*****************************************************************************************************

There's a plethora of such sites on the net that I assume because they don't agree with you, are anti Israel. Apparently you think most of Israel is anti Israel.

Wake up. Many of us have very personal (and private) reasons for opposing the Israeli lunatic fringe right wing precisely BECAUSE we support Israel. Figure it out.

And please, please don't play amateur psychologist about deeply personal matters unknown to you.

[Jim Sagle]

31. J Street's fine. But it has no relevance to your post or my response.

But if it keeps you off the streets, it's all good.

[wcepler]

33. J Street

It has 100% to do with your (as always) presumptuous remarks. You shoot in the dark at things that aren't even there. Well, at least we both respct J Street and that's something.

[PumaJ]

22. Wow, have you considered therapy?

Or perhaps outright psychiatric treatment to assist you in being liberated from your paranoid delusions? Life can't be too fun for you living with such a distorted view of the world. I would think that such a view would be quite anxiety provoking.

Gee, I really feel for you.

[Shiver]

23. Hmmm

Far right...Obama has lied to us... yadda yadda yadda, something about Israel, blah blah blah... skip to the bottom...

Yep, nothing new here. Thank you for sharing your views, but I must respectfully disagree; the President-Elect has not yet begun to govern, and thus, I feel no urgent need to throw him under the bus. I often wonder how I can manage to be as far left as I am, yet retain rational, logical thought processes. Seriously, all your knee-jerking must be giving you arthritis...

Points for the sheer vitriol you manage to spew, however. Excessive anger is unhealthy, you know - have you considered yoga? :hi:

[wcepler]

24. ad hominem trash

It's less anger than extreme disappointment (it's win/win for everyone if people keep their goofy projections to themselves). And I'm totally baffled that so many people (at least based on many of these vulgar, vitriolic responses) can't seem to put it together that just because he hasn't been confirmed yet, doesn't mean he hasn't already made MOST of his key appointments. Jeez, that should be see spot run easy to understand. But, why am I surprised since the bedrock of our current political system is la la land denial, which is now and always been the life blood of the extreme right wing.

The guy hasn't just been killing time, you know, until his inauguration; he's already set up most of the infra structure of his administration! Duh. So if we don't comment now, what good will it do to say anything after that fact? NOW IS THE ONLY TIME for feedback that the direction of his appointments continue to be VERY right wing.

You see, that's the real issue. Neither Obama nor most of the above commentators want anything to do with a progressive/moderate presence in government. Dear God, the man's appointments are nearly all VERY right wing dems, even though it was liberals, moderates, and independents who elected him.

And, as always, all the tedious ad hominem trash has nothing to do with the real issues of America.

Thank God, many other sites have responded very positively to this piece and most of them have SEVERAL very similar pieces. So, if you think the "progressive point of view" is going to be trashed into oblivion -- think again! We're still here and believe me you ain't seen nothing yet! Do you really think irrational, vulgar name calling will stop the inevitable formation of a Progressive Party in America. In your dreams.

[Shiver]

25. So suddenly, I'm not a progressive?

You claim that I don't want a progressive voice in government? You don't know me, buddy, and I would appreciate it if you didn't make accusations you can't back up. My comment about your anger is because anger is very present in the tone of everything I've seen you write.

You think you and you alone represent the progressive point of view? That you are the final arbiter of whether or not Obama is progressive or not, whether the people who have responded to this post are progressive or not? That just because we don't agree with your overwhelmingly negative outlook, then we have lost all "progressive cred"? The responses seem vulgar and vitriolic because that is the reaction your OP is inviting. You strike a tone indicating that anyone who doesn't agree with you completely has nothing but worthless opinions; that may have not been your intent, but it is there regardless.

By all means, speak up if you are upset! Let your voice be heard, but remember, people will be more inclined to listen if you provide your argument in a sightly calmet and rational manner. Your OP gets your point across, but it's overshadowed by the tone. Furthermore, you seem to be focusing too much on the Cabinet, who merely implement the policies set forth my the president. The important posts are the ones who help him develop that policy, the posts that don't require the Senate to confirm. Such as:

- Melody Barnes, from the Center for American Progress, has been appointed head of the Domestic Policy Council.

- Patrick Gaspard, of SEIU, has been appointed Director of the Office of Political Affairs. This is the same position Karl Rove held.

- Ellen Moran, from EMILY's List, has been appointed Director of Communications.

- Phil Schiliro, former Chief of Staff for Rep. Henry Waxman, has been made Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs (Congressional Liason)

- Mona Sutphen, Deputy White House Chief of Staff.



Those are the first names that come to mind, all progressives, all with greater access to the President than the Cabinet. I'm sure if I put some effort in, I could find more. These are the people who help develop the policy that the Cabinet enacts.

Personaly, I think it's the beginnings of a brilliant strategy - moving the center to the left. The Cabinet is made up of those who seem to be moderate, centrist, center-right people (although I personally think there will be an even balance by the time it's complete). More importantly, however, the people he's appointing for every position have a reputation for getting things done, regardless of personal ideology. By having progressive and liberal policies enacted by a 'centrist' Cabinet, it will make the very ideas "centrist" - thus moving the center to the left, and making it far easier to enact even stronger progressive legislation.

That's how I'm seeing things, at least. I apologize for the name calling in my first post, it was unnecessary.

[wcepler]

27. let's stick to the issues

Physician, heal thyself. My response was simple and non aggressive, so wherever you're coming from is a total mystery to me. You talk about how people should speak frankly, and then give me sermons (which I in NO way did to you) about how I should express my political values.

And I honestly see little sign that Obama is moving things to the left. Exactly the opposite, beginning with his chief of staff.

I'm not in the least challenging your progressive stance. Indeed, I actually hope you're right, but enough with the presumptuous and patronizing sermons, ok? Such tedious highhandedness cancels out any discussion of issues.

I could say more, but the last thing I want to do is get pulled into psychological one up games.

[wcepler]

30. not MORE right wingers

Thank you for the apology. I should have done that before. But you must understand that my upsetness is mostly that of frustration and disappointment. Of course I'm angry too (since I feel betrayed), but if that was the main thing that came across, that's counterproductive, since I mostly wanted to deal with Obama's right wing appointments.

In fact, this whole business is exceedingly difficult for me to write about, since I passionately believe these last eight years were years of limitless evil. Maybe I'm still so under the influence of fighting the psychopathic Bush fascists (I wrote pieces attacking them 2 or 3 times a week), that I abhor the thought that the right wingers (dem this time) are once again having their way with our country.

Your list of non right wing appointments gives me hope.

Bill

[LaurenG]

26. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think that some people just don't get it

I'm thinking you're one of them. We are sinking up to our necks in economic failure and you're mad at him for Palestine and trying to figure out a way to make sure thousands of people keep their jobs?

We'll be damn lucky if he can figure out a way to pull us out of Iraq and reset the economy in the next four years.

You should run for office so it'll be all good - just the way you like it...mkay.

[alarimer]

29. There are going to be a lot of disappointed people in the next few years.

He is not going to end the occupation of Iraq. He is going to escalate the conflict in Afghanistan (THAT will probably be his Viet Nam). Also not going to repeal the Bush tax cuts on the filthy rich. Etc. Etc.

Not a lot to like so far from my perspective. If we are not out of Iraq and Afghanistan completely in four years, I am not voting for him again.

[FrenchieCat]

32. Boring!

You are talking the next election, when he hasn't even served one day in the term from this election.

You are talking about what he is not going to do in the future, when you have fucking no idea what he is going to do, because your ass can't foretell the future.

You probably didn't vote for him this time, considering how quick you are writing him off before he is even sworn in.

[ShortnFiery]

34. It's like what some Kiddy Porn loving and burned-out Rock Star would croon ...

Meet the New Boss ... :(

That is, The United States of America has morphed into a two-party right wing duopoly.

We get to vote in order to give "the illusion" of a democratic republic.

BTW, I hope that I'm wrong to worry but I fear we've reached the full realization of a Corporate RULED - Plutocracy.