President Obama's biggest problem is he won't take a stand.

[ej510]

Bush always stood for something. It hurt the american people, but he stood for what he wanted.

[MNDemNY]

1. He seems to be standing quite firm....right alongside the big corporations.

Gobama

[DevonRex]

2. I must have missed the speech. nt

[ProSense]

9. How can you argue with someone who uses Bush as an example? n/t

[Proud Liberal Dem]

18. Should "Godwin's Law" be amended to include Bush too?

n/t

[DevonRex]

20. You can't. nt

[tabatha]

31. You're kidding, right?

[ProSense]

37. About? n/t

[Pirate Smile]

3. No. His biggest problem is a recurring problem - it is called "The Senate".

[iceman66]

88. +1000

[Oregone]

4. He stands for a new age in politics...

Not one riddled by the Washington gridlock of the past. A new age of bipartisanship and compromise; an age of working together to accomplish whatever legislation that is the bastard child produced by the corporatists raping the centrists.

[ProSense]

5. Obama Demands: The Bill I Sign Must Include Public Option

Obama Demands: The Bill I Sign Must Include Public Option

Blows your theory.

[MNDemNY]

10. Hold that thought until after next week.

If he repeats that, without hedging, you are correct. If not, then what?? I predict he will fold, not only on the public option, but also on the issue of "pre-existing conditions" . I hope you can mock me for being wrong, but I think otherwise.

[RaleighNCDUer]

28. Since Pelosi says there will be a public option or there will be no bill,

and Obama says the bill he signs must have a public option, I'd say the public option is still on the table. And not only on the table, but at least two legs of the table, as well.

What that PO will look like is a different matter, but I don't think a bill will come out of the House without a PO, and if it should, Obama will send it back.

[ej510]

13. This is where you are wrong. He wil except some watered down version; which isn't a true public

option. We know what type of bill will come out of the senate.

[ProSense]

17. What? Your OP claimed that his "biggest problem is he won't take a stand." n/t

[polichick]

15. Do you think he'll repeat that on Wednesday? nt

[MNDemNY]

21. Not a snowballs chance in hell.

[polichick]

25. That's what I would guess - but I surely hope I'm wrong. nt

[MNDemNY]

27. Hope...it's all we got.

[Milo_Bloom]

32. Old News-- That story has changed 3 times since then.

[Davis_X_Machina]

6. He really can't take a stand.

If he takes a stand for the public option, the Blue Dogs and Senate Dinos dig in their heels -- he doesn't get a bill.

If he doesn't ask for it, the House Progressive Caucus digs in its heels -- he doesn't get a bill.

If he asks for it, and doesn't get it, he's been defeated, which is bad enough, but of necessity defeated by members of his own party.

I'd tap-dance around the topic like mad if I were in his shoes. And you would too. As would anyone with an ounce of sense.

[phleshdef]

8. No matter what he does, its gonna be a lose/lose situation. Thats whats sad about it.

[Davis_X_Machina]

11. He will be savaged here regardless, that's for sure.

Should have elected Kucinich, I'm tellin' ya.

[DevonRex]

14. This place has been worse than Freep. nt

[MNDemNY]

19. Yup. if you want a Democratic Administration, you have to elect a "Democrat". Maybe next time.

[lyonn]

30. "Dig in your heels" - funny, I just used that term in a comment

to the President via Move On. He truly must walk a fine line. I fall in the category of pushing for the public option. It's hard to get a point/sale across if you don't appear to believe in your product.

[ej510]

34. He has never been firm on the public option. He needs to be firm.

[lyonn]

44. Hey, if Obama makes a strong case for the public option

during his speech I will be thrilled. The guy is no dummy, if he gets enough positive reinforcement he will do it. That is what I believe he wants. We have no real knowledge about the forces ($$$) against him. The idiots on the right are pandering to the idiots in our masses - sheesh, scary. I am surrounded by them and have no illusions about changing their minds.

But, if you don't set the record straight, or at least give it your best shot, about the false bs from the right and explain the values of the public option and how it will save "people" money in the long run due to keeping the insurance companies from raping the people, as they have for years, it will only get worse. We will all be using the Emergency Rooms instead of the poorest of poor.

[Skittles]

7. HELLO

THAT IS HIS M.O.

[MNDemNY]

12. Right, the chess game.

[Skittles]

23. honestly

if congresscritters on both sides of the aisle were decent, it might work - but with proven assholes like the repukes, who clearly care more for their party than for their country, it is a fucking disaster

[QC]

70. A chess game far too ingeniously subtle for shitheads like us to comprehend.

That's what I've been told, anyway.

[MNDemNY]

73. We need to sit down and STFU.

[QC]

77. No. That is a very unfair thing to say.

We are allowed to giggle over photo threads, just like before.

It's just that commenting on policy and such should be left to Those Who Know Better.

[ej510]

79. After all this Obama playing chess.

[QC]

83. Playing three-dimensional chess while turning an aircraft carrier around, no less. n/t

[Milo_Bloom]

35. Yeah and his M.O. has been a failure thus far.

Or maybe I missed the part where the majority of the stiumulus didn't go to giant corporations.

Read Matt Tiabbi's Rolling Stone article http://www.rollingstone.com/nationalaffairs/index.php/2009/08/19/matt-taibbi-on-health-care-reform-sick-and-wrong/

and learn about how M.O. already doomed health care reform to fail.

[lyonn]

64. Ouch, Tiabbi is quite impressive

Watched the 3 videos in this article. He makes all kinds of sense. When he is on the talk shows he is cut off just as he is making a strong point, now I know why. Now I have this sinking feeling, we may have been had again by Corporate America.

[QC]

71. He used to be very popular here, but all of a sudden he is a tool of Satan.

I wonder why that might be?

[ej510]

72. We are suppose to follow blindly.

[QC]

75. He didn't know that he was supposed to stop questioning the establishment

last Jan. 20 at noon Eastern.

Pity someone didn't tell him.

[ej510]

78. lol! Obviously.

[Jennicut]

16. Most ridiculous argument ever...Bush stood for what Cheney wanted

Bush was a stooge for the first 4 years...and clueless in the last 4 of his Presidency.

[ej510]

22. I hope proves me wrong. I am praying I am wrong, but I do not see it.

[Jennicut]

26. Fine but don't compare it to Bush. A unitary executive put in place

by strings pulled by the VP is NOT what we need right now. If he comes out with stronger leadership in his speech then we shall see...and stronger leadership is required right now. But hyperbole is not needed.

[ej510]

39. So you are telling me Bush did everything he and Cheney wanted unilateraly? That's bullshit the

republican congress passed damn near everything he wanted with democratic help. He made unilateral moves and he made alot of them, but congress was our biggest failure. Bush asked and received. In alot of cases he demanded and received.

[Jennicut]

48. Cheney sat in on the Rethugs meetings...he most likely bribed and threatened them

And yes, there are bad seeds in the Dem side too. But Cheney believed in the theory deeply that the President should control the Congress.

[Frustratedlady]

24. I still think he is waiting for the public to demand the public option...

That way, he can still be following the will of the people and damn the Repugs.

I think we forget how frustrating and confusing it must be for any president to have everyone pulling at them under normal circumstances. The Obama presidency is, by far, not normal circumstances. The Repugs have choreographed a backlash like we've never seen. Their "disruptors" are probably on the biggest payroll list of the present time...insurance company employees...Repug hires...who knows?

We DO know he is under an enormous amount of pressure and it isn't pressure aimed toward one direction. It is all over the place. Health care, death panels, paid abortions, you name it. They've exaggerated and lied their way to the extreme and it's all aimed at Obama.

Beck and Bachmann are almost to the point of being labeled certifiably nuts.

I still have faith in Obama and his administration. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt.

[lyonn]

38. It's hard for the public to get over the roar of the media

I so agree with you, we need to let Obama know we are behind the pubic option. How to do this? I sign petitions. Hey, it worked on an FCC battle during bush's era. One of the few battles the dems won......

[Frustratedlady]

46. I sign every one I see and also wrote Grassley a scathing email.

I let him know he was embarrassing Iowans and that I was beginning to wonder if he was coming down with some serious illness.

He'll reply by snail mail. Should be interesting.

[lyonn]

66. Alright! I'm impressed Lady!

[kenny blankenship]

82. MOAR BLAME TEH VICKTUM PLZ!111

The American public is as much for healthcare reform with a public option as it has been for anything. I think icecream and blowjobs may have higher polling numbers but that's about it.

Stop blaming the people for the corruption of our leaders.

[Frustratedlady]

90. What did I say?

[Buzz Clik]

29. LOL!

[ej510]

33. Wrong republicans passed damn near everything Bush wanted yet I failed, please!

Let's just hope I am wrong.

[Buzz Clik]

36. "Obama won't take a stand"

That comment is beyond stupid.

[ej510]

40. Really?

[Buzz Clik]

41. Yes,

[ej510]

42. Please explain?

[Buzz Clik]

43. Obama has not taken a stand? How many times per week is it necessary...

... that we post Obama's accomplishments in the very short time he's been in office.

Read. Retain.

[ej510]

45. Like I said please explain?

[Buzz Clik]

47. Here's one:

He said definitely that he will not pursue criminal charges against Bush and Cheney for torture.

He said we'll be out of Iraq's cities in combat roles in 5 months and no combat in Iraq at all in 16 months. He's on track.

Now, piss off.

[polichick]

49. You're using his unwillingness to bring criminals to justice as an...

...example of "taking a stand"???

[Buzz Clik]

54. I chose that one specifically to annoy this troll.

He's done a helluva lot of good in a short time, and I'm really annoyed at the continuous flow of "what's he ever done" bullshit at DU.

[CakeGrrl]

50. You argue that Obama won't take a stand, yet you point out that

CONGRESS handed Bush everything he wanted.

Are you blaming Obama for the fact that he has so much opposition in Congress? Are you saying it's his job to tell those so-called Congressional Democrats what to support because there's no way they would know what their constituents want otherwise?

It's not rocket science to know that the President has mentioned a public option as part of a reform bill. If they can't do that in Congress, it's because they have their own (personal, selfish, greedy) reasons for not doing so.

[ProSense]

51. Now you're being disingenuous. You were given a definitive response

here.

[polichick]

52. You ignored my question. Do you think he'll repeat this on Wednesday? nt

[ProSense]

56. Wait, you're going from agreeing with the OP to asking me question about him taking a stand, again?

Since Obama has maintained his position all along, I fully expect him to do just that.

[polichick]

59. Where did I agree with the OP? nt

[ProSense]

63. Tacitly

here

[polichick]

65. That's quite a stretch. I'm suggesting that the example is questionable. nt

[Scarsdale Vibe]

53. SS privatization, immigration reform, Harriet Miers. Bush was ineffectual from day 1 of second term

He would have been irrelevant in his first term if it weren't for 9/11. Bush got his big tax cut through, Obama got the stimulus through. If Obama gets health care reform he will have been a more effective leader in his first year than Bush was in eight. Everything the Republicans "accomplished" during the Bush years was a direct result of fearmongering after 9/11.

[Thrill]

55. BINGO!! This is one of the biggest reasons for his approval ratings drop

in my opinion.

No one likes a weak President. Even those who disagree with you, can respect you if you stand for something. In too many of these big issues he wants to play both sides instead of clearly taking a strong stance.

We saw it with the torture stuff, issues with the GLBT community, and healthcare

[Buzz Clik]

58. I guess you've missed all his speeches on health care. He took a stand on torture...

... you just didn't like it.

I agree that we're still waiting for a satisfactory response to DODT, but to claim he hasn't taken even one stand on any issue is blatant, willful ignorance.

[ProSense]

61. " he wants to play both sides instead of clearly taking a strong stance" Your opinion, but

you're wrong

Clear as can be: Stand with the President

[Buzz Clik]

57. I support the notion that once a thread reaches a threshhold of "unrecs", it should be locked.

When an OP is specifically designed to annoy, it serves no other purpose.

[ej510]

68. I was a big donor during his campaign. I phone banked and knocked on doors.

I have rarely posted anything negative about the President maybe you weren't here during the primaries, because I was I donated to Tinklinberg during the General election I participated in rep. Wexler's conference calls. I have no agenda, but I am disappointed. It should be ok to disagree with the President.

[ProSense]

80. And now you've posted nonsense. n/t

[Buzz Clik]

84. Yeah, well, we can be anyone we want to be on an anonymous bulletin board.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

60. Attacking Obama, complimenting Bush.

Could you be any more transparent?

[ej510]

69. Complimenting Bush? Did you ignore the part where I stated "hurt the american people"?

[Amos Moses]

74. You were very clear on that but it will be ignored.

Don't bother trying to reason with these cultists.

[ej510]

76. I know. All they want to see is Bush pushed through his agenda.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

81. Did I ignore it? Yes.

Fluff of the "I'm a lifelong democrat but..." variety.

[opihimoimoi]

62. WTF??? Bush STOOD FOR ARROGANCE< DELUSION< AND EVIL

Obama won't take a stand? Are you nuts?

fucking brown shirt ankle biter

[Cha]

67. Fuck that asshole bush and fuck his puppet meister

cheney while you're fucking at it.

[depakid]

85. Obama's biggest problem on the domestic front is that no one fears him

The perception is that his administration is full of wimpy conciliators who won't step up and hold people to account- much less retaliate.

[polichick]

86. True - unfortunately "nice" doesn't play well in DC. nt

[ej510]

89. Nice gets you trampled in DC.

[iceman66]

87. No.

His biggest problem is that not enough so-called "Democrats" in Congress, especially the Senate, are willing to stand with him. The biggest stumbling blocks on the road to health care reform are members of our own party!

In contrast, the Repugs, with very few exceptions, voted in lockstep with the Bush agenda for 8 years.

[ej510]

91. He's closer to the blue dogs than he is to the progressives. He calls himself a New Democrat

(corporate democrat).

[DailyGrind51]

92. Obama accustomed to deferring to his political "elders"

Throughout his political career, Barack Obama apprenticed with power brokers, like Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. He learned from his defeat by former Black Panther and present day Congressman Bobbie Rush to defer to his elders and "go along to get along". The only problem is that he IS the "bull-goose in the barnyard" now and doesn't have to answer to anyone, but US.

[freddie mertz]

93. It looks bad, but the jury is out till the speech.

If he endorses the trigger, or otherwise weakens the public option, he will lose my support.

Why not just support the bill from Ted Kennedy's committee?