"Obama Says He'll Really Fight For The People...Next Time" Jim Hightower

[in_cog_ni_to]

<snip>
So, Obama shouldn't be playing budgetary patty cake with John Boehner and Co. in the backrooms of Washington. Instead of negotiating over how much of FDR's New Deal to throw out the window, he needs to FDR-up, get out of Washington and rally the majority to go after the greedheads and screwballs. If he'd lift his vision from budget numbers, he'd see that America's great economic urgency is not the deficit, but creating good, middle-class jobs to get America moving again, moving upward — and moving together.

Today, we are a dangerously disunited society. Elite CEOs and big investors are grabbing all the gains, leaving the vast majority mired in recession and facing falling incomes. Since the recession technically "ended" 18 months ago, corporate profits have zoomed, sopping up an unprecedented 88 percent of America's economic growth. Meanwhile, only 1 percent of the growth that we all help to produce has gone to wages and salaries, which is the source of income for about 90 percent of us.

Yet those same CEOs say they won't invest in new jobs or raise wages until consumers start buying again. That's like saying, "The beatings will continue until morale improves." Hello, the consumers CEOs are waiting on are the workers whose jobs and wages the CEOs won't increase.

You see, despite the GOP's ideological claptrap about corporate executives being "job creators," it is ordinary Americans who actually create jobs by spending from their paychecks. People who are out of work do not tend to be — how shall I put this? — "robust consumers." Since consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of our country's economic growth (and, in so doing, creates America's jobs), the dogma of deliberately destroying the purchasing power of middle-class wage-earners is disastrous — like trying to cure a headache by chopping off your head.<snip>

http://www.nationofchange.org/obama-says-hell-really-fight-people-next-time-1312385607

[hifiguy]

1. You can always depend on Jim Hightower

for the unvarnished TRUTH. :thumbsup:

[Melissa G]

15. ....except when he endorses Kinky Friedman

There are many of his previous supporters that are still not forgetting his help for Perry with that endorsement. :eyes:

edit to say this article is typically good Hightower prose.

[Freddie Stubbs]

26. Or Ralph Nader

[Melissa G]

36. I missed that. Did Hightower actually Endorse Nader? n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

37. He was a co-chairman of Nader's 2000 campaign

[liberation]

42. Damn! You mean he didn't support Lieberman instead! What an awful liberal!!!

[Enthusiast]

59. Yeah! What was he thinking?

:rofl:

[Freddie Stubbs]

72. Hightower supported Nader before Lieberman was nominated for VP

If fact, he actually gave the nominating speech for Nader at the Green Party Convention in June of 2000.

[Melissa G]

65. Yeah, I think I'm remembering that now

I think I conveniently forgot. Other members of my immediate family were also Nader supporters. Those Nader folks made Blue Travis County (Austin) tip for Bush.:puke: It was deeply offensive.

[Jackpine Radical]

58. Yeah, Hightower & Willy Nelson.

Willy would support ANY good Texas stoner for political office. I don't know what Hightower's excuse was.

[FedUp_Queer]

51. Anyone miss Molly Ivins?

[hifiguy]

57. At least once a week I think of what Molly would be saying

about the klown-kar parade that this country's politics have become. I miss her a lot. And Ann Richards, too.

[Enthusiast]

61. Molly Ivins?

http://www.creators.com/opinion/molly-ivins/molly-ivins-december-24-2000-12-24.html

[Bluebear]

71. Can you imagine?

[gkhouston]

70. OMG, yes. n/t

[amborin]

2. K&R

[texanwitch]

3. I am sure he will.

:sarcasm:

Go Jim.

[RagAss]

4. And the layoffs will start again this fall.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. It's going to be bad.

1.8 million more out of work. WTF are we suppose to do? Is this where those bootstraps come in handy...even when NO ONE is hiring? What good are bootstraps then? :grr:

[Horse with no Name]

9. Hanging ourself? It is the least we can do when we become a burden

on the rich by utilizing the benefits our tax dollars secured.

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. Oh yeah! Multi-purpose bootstrap!

:(

[WinkyDink]

31. Move to where the jobs are: Nicaragua; VietNam; the Phillippines; .....

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. And, this time he'll take larger marshmallows to throw at them.

[KoKo]

8. He's going on a Bus Trip to Promote Jobs August 15th. Hopefully

that trip will light a fire under his butt.

I'm always hopeful...I try to be....anyway.

[bertman]

43. On a bus trip where he will be assiduously shielded from the REAL effects of his

disastrous capitulations to the right wing. He'll be asked the 'hard' questions, then he will give his "I am going to fight for you" speech.

Who will believe it now? Only the True Believers.

Too little too late.

[FedUp_Queer]

48. Dude...just for you...

Got a beautiful bridge. Priced to move. Across from City Hall, downtown New York City.

http://www.dailydesktop.eu/details.php?image_id=41704&sessionid=20b0a8c78e75ae795911d43709fddd92

Gorgeous.

[KoKo]

7. Thanks and a REC....I'll read it later. ..but anything from Hightower..is worth the read...even

if it's later. Thanks.

[myrna minx]

11. K&R n.t

[hvn_nbr_2]

12. And Lucy will hold the football for Charlie next time too. nt

[Bluebear]

13. Not one "ignored" response. Funny thing.

[stevedeshazer]

14. +1 for Jim Hightower.

Good stuff, love that guy.

[Ignis]

16. Make it a double.

:kick:

[Hotler]

17. k&r For Jim. eom.

[Clear Blue Sky]

18. Great. Tell that to my 401K plan which just lost a chunk today.

[w8liftinglady]

19. Jim always tells it like it is...he is a GOOD TEXAS DEMOCRAT!

K and R!

[treestar]

20. Why is he not blaming the Republicans?

Why is it always a matter of the President "fighting?"

Disappointed in him, another lazy person.

[yurbud]

23. If a cop opens the jail cell door to let Charles Manson out and he goes to

kill someone else, doesn't the cop share some of the blame?

Obama has bent over backwards to enable the GOP even when Democrats had control of both chambers of Congress.

As Democrats, we theoretically could have some control over his actions. We have no control over Republicans.

[treestar]

25. That is why we need a Democratic Congress and President

Analogy fail, because Charles Manson and the cop are not equal as Congress and the President are.

[FedUp_Queer]

55. Really? Congress and the president are?

Riddle me this, Batman. Let's supposed one out of 535 members of congress wants to address the American people in prime time. Probably not going to happen. Now...let's supposed one of out one president wants to address the American people in prime time...or hold a news conference...or whatever. I have a feeling one ALWAYS has a bully pulpit or forum to speak. One can draw crowds wherever he goes. One is a magnet for news coverage. Really, in these days of mass media, the president really has more power to persuade...and it is a crime not to use it...unless, of course, this fictional "president" isn't actually used to using this thing we call the bully pulpit.

[WinkyDink]

30. Who is President, again?

[treestar]

39. Who is the benign dictator then?

You may as well put it that way.

Do you blame Presidents for everything? Did you blame Bush for everything, too?

[Myrina]

44. Umm yes, actually we DID blame Bush

n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

45. Seriously? OF COURSE WE DID! He is why we're in the situation we're in! He did NOTHING right

and couldn't even string 3 words together to make a coherent sentence. He was blamed for everything and deservedly so!

[Buns_of_Fire]

54. Blame Shit-fer-Brains? Sure did. Still do. nt

[sabrina 1]

60. We blamed him for everything he was responsible for.

We assumed he had power, being president of the US.

Should we treat a Democrat differently? Does a Dem President have less power than a Repub?

[BulletproofLandshark]

34. Why are you not blaming Obama?

Oh that's right, you never do. Or will.

It IS possible to blame both, you know.

[treestar]

38. Well I am a Democrat

Very odd that on this board you are demanding I blame the Democrat rather than the Republicans.

[in_cog_ni_to]

46. Not all Democrats Walk On Water. Zell Miller comes to mind. n/t

[FedUp_Queer]

53. Bingo.

We need to be just like Republicans. Never criticize ourselves and always blame everyone else. Oh...I get it...you're Obamus of Borg, resistance is futile. Sorry, man. I know I (and scores of others on where) will look at the facts and say what they honestly believe. Here's an idea: rather than criticize people for doing their patriotic duty and calling out the President when he's wrong, why don't you try and inform us all of where he's right. Tell us why our criticisms are unfounded, or, if they aren't, help us figure out what to do. Truth is truth. Wrong is wrong. It doesn't matter if Bush does, it Obama does or whoever. It is always wrong to spy on people with a warrant. It is always wrong to go to war with people who didn't harm us. It is always wrong to take from the poor and give to the rich. It is always wrong to torture. It is always wrong to tell a country's citizens they have no to right to seek redress from their government when their government wrongs them. It is always wrong to continue to allow the powerful (people and corporations) to continually rub their collective heal in the back and eye of the poor, working and middle classes.

[treestar]

67. does this ranting have any basis in fact

Because I am not seeing it.

[FedUp_Queer]

69. Then you aren't paying attention.

Let me break it down for you:

It doesn't matter if Bush does, it Obama does or whoever. It is always wrong to spy on people with a warrant. It is always wrong to go to war with people who didn't harm us. It is always wrong to take from the poor and give to the rich. It is always wrong to torture. It is always wrong to tell a country's citizens they have no to right to seek redress from their government when their government wrongs them. It is always wrong to continue to allow the powerful (people and corporations) to continually rub their collective heal in the back and eye of the poor, working and middle classes.

1) Obama is continuing to spy on Americans without a warrant.

2) Obama has gone to war with Libya, Yemen and Somalia (I, for one, haven't seen Libyan, Yemeni or Somali tanks, troops or plans near New York...maybe they are near where you are).

3) Obama signed the Bush tax cuts into law.

4) In the lawsuit Jewel v. NSA, the Bush administration asserted a state secrets privilege in a motion to dismiss. After Obama took office, his justice department went further asserting in a motion to dismiss that the government is completely immune from suit from its own citizens whom the government spied on without warrants.

5) Obama, in a slap at the poor, middle class and working class appointed people to his deficit commission who want to cut social security. Consistent with the commission, he recommended that in his "compromise" over the phony debt limit crisis. Of the spending cuts that Obama agreed, $900 billion over 10 years, only $350 billion are in defense spending while $550 are from domestic spending (and he continues wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with ever-increasing military budgets).

6) No fight for employee free choice act.

But you're right, I'm just ranting. No truth here. Move along, nothing to see here. Just keep repeating the mantra Obama is a liberal. Obama is a liberal.

[Enthusiast]

64. LOL!

:rofl:

[treestar]

68. Hahahahahaha

Do you even know how our system of government works?

[BulletproofLandshark]

66. Reading comprehension has never been one of your strengths. n/t

[FedUp_Queer]

50. Exactly.

I'm sure you can tell me what President O(GOP)bama has been fighting for. By the way, to say Jim Hightower has not been fighting demonstrates your "neophyteness." A Texas progressive who has been fighting IN TEXAS from the left all his life. You'd probably say that about Molly Ivins if she were alive, too.

[William769]

21. K&R.

[pam4water]

22. "Bases are loaded and Casey's at bat..." Or "He's going the distance he going for speed.

Because he's racing and pacing and plotting the course...
He's going the distance......aaaahhhhh aaahhhhh.....

^
|
v

The sun has gone down and the moon has come up,
And long ago {repuks} left with the cup.
But he's driving and striving and hugging the turns,
And thinking of someone for whom he still burns.

No trophy, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no line-
He's haunted by something he can not define.
Bowel shaking earthquakes, of doubt and remorse.
Assail him impale him with monster truck force.
In his mind he's still driving-still making the grade.
{We're} hoping in time that {our} memories will fade.
.
.
.
"

Cake He's Going The Distance

[jannyk]

24. k&r

[timefortherevolution]

27. The profits for these corporations are coming from overseas.

That's why they don't care if Americans have jobs or not.

[Ichingcarpenter]

28. I met him when he was Agricultural commissioner in Texas

Along with the future Governor of Texas, Anne Richards at the same time.

[in_cog_ni_to]

32. I'm jealous! I adored Ann Richards...cool lady and Hightower is just a GOOD people. n/t

[Ichingcarpenter]

41. Yes, I was the vice president of Acorn at that time

and my brother was the County Judge and she was a county commissioner

but that was long ago and far away, when liberals had voices
and weren't marginalized.

Acorn?...... good grief......we did some good shit back then in the South.

[WinkyDink]

29. It is by now past obvious that this President will not be one Hightower can support.

[DeSwiss]

33. K&R n/t

[MissDeeds]

35. K&R

[on point]

40. Beep Beep Beep...

[dotymed]

47. Of course, they ALL know this.

The more I watch this political Kabuki, the more I am convinced that there are many other things that they know and will not tell us. I know, I sound like another conspiracy nut, but the way things are going, the best that America can hope for is a Soviet style meltdown.

Our politicians, regardless of their party, are voting against what the majority of their constituents want. There are less than a dozen politicians who vote the will of the people. All of the rest are voting for their pocketbook, It really makes me wonder what they know. It must be very important if they are willing to (if elections actually are legitimate) risk losing their elected position if the people open their eyes and take note of their votes.

Maybe it is the coming of an epic planetary event. I am sure that whoever spoke of it would be killed. Whatever it is, these "peoples representatives" are willing to throw the people under the bus. I hope it IS just greed.

If that is the reason for the treason (an old rapper?), the masses will eventually make them pay. I DO wonder if there have been any improvements (maybe underground) to that large parcel of land in Argentina that Bush/

Cheney/ Rice and who knows who else purchased at the end of "W's" reign? I know there is a company who specializes in building interlocking pods (fancy and strong) that can be joined together to make under-

ground cities. Complete with schools, hospitals, ventilation and more amenities than the average person could afford. You can buy space in these cities and if you have a needed skill, the price is discounted or free

to the person with the right skill-set.

History has taught American politicians how to deal with bad economies, they could do that and become heroes. That is why I am beginning to believe that there is more to this than meets the eye. Here is a piece; http://boingboing.net/2010/10/07/luxury-underground-c.html

about one underground city, but the link that I was given a couple of years ago, is no longer valid. It was very technical and with the interlocking pods of housing, hospitals, theaters.., anything you can name, coupled with

the depth that they could withstand, the capacity of these cities were only limited by the space and buying power of the occupants.

[emsimon33]

49. If Obama was moving his lips, then he is lying.

The lips are the tell.

[L0oniX]

52. I don't want to die from holding my breath.

[blkmusclmachine]

56. "Tomorrow, tomorrow, it's always A DAY AWAY....."

n/t

[woo me with science]

62. Strong K&R

There's always a next time on the horizon...

[Bluebear]

63. Any minute now!