Roger Ebert said it all:

[impik]

Health care reform and now consumer protection, both fought tooth-and-nail by the Republicans. Historic progress by Obama.


http://twitter.com/ebertchicago/status/18627260604

[vaberella]

1. I don't care about Ebert, but I agree with this statement. n/t

[Beetwasher]

2. Haven't You Heard? There Are "Historic" Things That Are BAD!!!

So don't assume this is a "good" "historic" thing. :sarcasm:

[impik]

3. It's historic sell-out!!!!!!!!!!

Toughest consumer protection ever!!! SELL-OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[Oregone]

6. Policy critics would be more appropriate

I mean, we don't use language like "whiners" and "cheerleaders" anymore, right?

[villager]

7. Ever notice that people who use the word "whiners" do the most whining -- by far?

n/t

[elocs]

11. The thing is, how might one legitimately complain about whiners

without appearing to be a whiner? :shrug:

[Oregone]

12. First you must prove the premise that the subjects are "whiners"...

And not legitimate complainers themselves. By merely accepting this premise without proof, its very hard to "complain" about them baselessly without appearing like a "whiner" yourself.

[elocs]

20. Can a legitimate complainer be taken to be a whiner? Is there a line that may be crossed?

I've found that complainers, legitimate or otherwise, can be dismissed as being "whiners". This is a subject that should merit a lot of discussion and "whiner" does need a specific and usable definition. and not simply be used as a term of dismissive derision.

[villager]

13. You mean, without whining about it...?

Over and over again...? ;-)

[gateley]

17. Not in my case. I never whine. I just have a headache. But nice broad brushstroke. nt

[villager]

19. We're agreeing: "Whiners" is too broad a brushstroke!

More suitable to an AM Radio talk show host!

[Oregone]

5. Why do people still want to call it "health care" reform?

[stevenleser]

8. Why do you want to control other people's thoughts and opinions and words? n/t

[Oregone]

9. Isn't labeling it "health care" reform doing just that?

Im not the one applying Orwellian labels to legislation here

[liberalmuse]

10. I thought Twitter was a joke, but let me tell you..

I love 'following' Ebert. The man is a font of information - I also follow some others he RT's. What a beautiful man.

[craigmatic]

14. Historic yes but still not nearly liberal enough for me.

[depakid]

16. It didn't have to be "liberal" it just had to solve problems- which it didn't

There were four problems to solve- and the legislation solved none of them- but instead engaged in a dog & pony show.

The legislation will not stop Wall Street speculation in derivatives, the financial system will still be dominated by a few "too big to fail" banks doing just that, the ratings agencies will still operate with inherent conflicts of interests, and CEO's and executives will still get exorbitant pay and bonus incentives to take high stakes, systemic risks.

Even the purported consumer protection agency has been placed under the auspices of the Fed, whose job it is to protect ad regulate banks not consumers- and some of biggest offenders in loan origination scams, e.g. the auto industry are exempt.

I'm sure some will use the argument that a quarter of a loaf is better that no loaf, but as we saw with the stimulus, if it doesn't get the job done- then Americans will still have to live with the consequences of failed policy.

[craigmatic]

18. You're right they should've reinstated Glass-Stegall and broke up the too big to fail companies.

[Bluenorthwest]

15. Roger goes after the Republicans

with precision, be it long form or the shortest of all. He's no fool.

[saltpoint]

21. Good post, impik. Some while back I got tired of

hearing some folks of our household's acquaintance ridiculing Roger Ebert, as I'd come to read his reviews more regularly and appreciate him quite a bit.

After a short while I realized I was reading one of the best living writers we have on film and culture -- and then was delighted to discover that politically, he often goes after the right-wing crazies with great skill.

Roger Ebert is where it's at.

Recommended.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

22. He's great.

I read his website religiously, and I've seen a good part of his "Great Movies" list.

[saltpoint]

23. Yes. He just doesn't steer people wrong.

And he's funny, too. He goes after people like Bill O'Reilly like nobody's business.

:hi:

[tomp]

24. wow, that was convincing.

NOT! obama = fail.