The differnce, Bill Maher, between Obama's "celebrity" and Bush's smugness

[question everything]

is that Bush had a Republican Congress that did everything that he asked for, while Obama has a Democratic Congress where each member has to prove that s/he is independent and would torpedo Obama's plans and ideas just for the sake of getting a headline in the local paper.

[chimpymustgo]

1. Oka, I just posted on Maher too. Obama needs to push for his policies. He's got the numbers

behind him. If not now, when?

[question everything]

3. He got the numbers only on paper

Look at the stimulus package, look at the changes for the "cash for clunkers" that was modified to include Hummers, look at all the members who do not support pollution control and who want private insurance to stay in the game... and a lot more.

[atreides1]

2. "... just for the sake of getting a headline in the local paper."

Or fill their pockets with lobbyists money!!

[rpannier]

4. Yeah that is a problem

DUMB-ya's policies were a give-away to corporations so it was easy for the republikkans and 'dead dog democrats' to vote for them.

[question everything]

5. I just realized that Maher also wrote his closing comments as an op-ed

in the LAT

Enough with the Obamathon

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-maher12-2009jun12,0,7966784.story

(snip)

Obama needs to start putting it on the line in fights against the banks, the energy companies and the healthcare industry. I never thought I'd say this, but he needs to be more like George W. Bush. Bush was all about, "You're with us or against us."

(snip)

And we need to marry the good ideas Obama really believes in with that Bush attitude and Bush certitude. I'd love for Obama to come out one day and say, "Jesus told me to fix healthcare." Or, "History will decide whether stopping the polar ice caps from melting and drowning us all was a good thing."

In conclusion, Bush was a jerk, but he never cared about being seen having a burger with Dick Cheney. He picked up the phone in the White House and said, "I'm the president, bring me a burger." And they'd say, "Sir, this is NORAD. Would you please stop ordering burgers with the red phone?"

I'm glad that Obama is president, but the "Audacity of Hope" part is over. Right now, I'm hoping for a little more audacity.

[Yavin4]

6. That's The Downside to a 50-State Strategy

You have to include some pols who are hostile to your agenda, but will share your party label.

[question everything]

7. I would hesitate to condemn it

In contrast to the Republicans, we are proud to have a variety of opinion. But one has to wonder what kind of a game they are playing. Are they counting on Obama campaigning for them when it is time for re election? Will their Republican rivals point out that they don't even agree with their own President?

People like that think that they are so smart to play it both sides. But if the White House will start telling these people, who think that they can bring pork to their constituents because they have the D after their name, that this game is over, perhaps they will get the message.