I am sorry but I am having a hard time abt the Geithner "disobeyed me"

[truedelphi]

Story.

I cannot for the life of me imagine an Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt, or a John F Kennedy, or a Lyndon Johnson, or a Jimmy Carter letting an appointee know that a great deal more was needed in terms of having a bank being placed under more direct supervision, and telling an appointee that more regulation was needed, and that subordinate refused to obey, and any of those Presidents letting it slide.

I cannot imagine any of those men letting it slide if the bank in question, Citibank, happened to be a major beneficiary of the US taxpayers in their TAARP and their Federal Reserve Loan assistance.

Hells' bells, I cannot even imagine Richard Nixon letting this happen.

When Obama "hopes" people will vote for him in 2012, he has to know that a lot of the fulfillment of that hope depends on the change he has delivered.

And more and more people are pulling the curtain away from the Wizard. And discovering the Corporate infused logos all over the chair that the Wizard is sitting on.


But both Dennis Kucinich and Issa chaired a House Committee in the same time frame, and again and again those two men had discussions about how all that needed to happen to get the US economy back in place was to

1) Not offer huge Bailouts to the Biggest Banks and Financial Firms

2) Follow the same careful steps that were followed in the wake of the 1980's S & L crisis.
The laws were on the books, and what those laws required was that monies needed to prop up the economy be released to the state chartered banks, and that those banks would be required to disperse that money to the communities surrounding those banks. SO every region in the nation would have had a bank that gave its community members loans.

3) reinstate Glass Steagall.

This wasn't rocket science. Glass Steagal came about in the aftermath of the First Great Depression, and it kept our economy safe, but making sure that Banks were not casinos offering only the croupiers any possibilities of winning.

Instead we have seen this President's men offer over Nine Trillion bucks and more to the biggest Financial Players, who have:

1) created the mess in the first place, ruining the economy
2) not offered real repayment, but instead artificial payments of "investment papers," rather than hard cold American dollars
3) are currently creating a second, and even more serious, destruction of the economy

Meanwhile the Middle Incomed are told repeatedly via the Corporate Owned media that the reason everything in this country has gone to hell is because of the elderly getting checks from Social Security - a fund that has its own funding, paid into by the recipients, and which currently holds a 2.1 Trillion dollar surplus.

[ThomWV]

1. Let me be the first to K&R this very good post.

[banned from Kos]

2. Geithner was vindicated by the $12 billion taxpayer profit he made on Citi.

for the Taxpayers who funded TARP.

Only in a remote corner of Blog-Land do people actually think a Morgan or Wells Fargo gobbling up the remnants of Citi would improve the economy - it would not.

Plus - Obama has not been quoted on this speculation.

So why do you want a bigger Morgan or Wells Fargo? What is magic about breaking up Citi?

Geithner was successful - that is what is pissing people here off.

[roguevalley]

4. I want a subordinate fucker to OBEY THE BOSS. What the hell?

Fire him. NOW! Oh wait. This is Obama... I suppose he's still reflecting and evolving.

[Fumesucker]

5. The administration certainly wasn't shy about firing Shirley Sherrod..

But then she was some kind of left wing agitator, not a Very Serious Person like Timmeh Geithner.

[dotymed]

43. Any appointee that the corporo-fascists fear,

are immediately fired. Vann Jones, Elizabeth Warren.... The pro-financial fascists are secure in their positions and profits.

[tblue]

53. Every night in my dreams, I see you, I feel you...

We are on a sinking ship and there aren't enough lifeboats for us in steerage.


AAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!

[me b zola]

10. President Devo

He seems to be devolving.

[sabrina 1]

9. Who said anything about 'bigger' we are talking about either

nationalizing it or breaking up all these too big to fail monstrosities. The system has failed. It's laughable to say Geithner succeeded, he is a crook and a failure. And he needs to be fired, this entire bogus Ayn Randian system eliminated and start all over again with system of economics that works. Not the giant casino where a limited number of people get to gamble with our money, and they're not even good at it.

End Global Capitalism, it has destroyed every economy it's poisonous tentacles have reached into.

[louslobbs]

11. +1 n/t

Lou

[banned from Kos]

12. "End Capitalism" - you and Cynthia McKinney can bask in your

8-10% voter adoption.

I will support either Senator Gillibrand or someone like her in 2016. You are lost politically - I hate to tell you.

[sabrina 1]

14. I know you work hard at being 'edgy' but, really, it's not working.

I hate to tell that you especially since you put so much effort into it.

Did Cynthia McKinney collapse the economy of the world or something? Odd to mention someone who has zero to do with the topic, so maybe I'm behind on what she's been doing lately? Otherwise I think your mind is wanderging out somewhere in left field ~

[chervilant]

29. Actually,

sabrina, I think you could wade through the depths of his intellect without getting the tops of your toes wet...

[Enthusiast]

37. No doubt.

[coalition_unwilling]

22. Thanks to Dems like you back in the 40s and 50s, there exists today no

credible hard left alternative to the proto-fascism slowly destroying the social contract. Yes, Dems like you back in the 40s and 50s, working with Repukes, relentlessly hounded socialists out of public life and out of the Dem Party. Today, when they are needed more than ever, they do not exist. Fascism succeeds when there is no extant hard left to fight it.

Thanks a lot.

You and your capitalist types have allowed more Americans to live in poverty today than at any time since the Census Bureau started tracking the metric.

So thanks a lot . . . for nothing. Dem Socialists will make huge gains in the 2012 election cycle. Personally, I'm now hoping the Dems go the way of the Whigs of 1858, since they no longer represent anything remotely like a working class agenda.

No need for you to reply. I'm putting you on Ignore for your condescending and patronizing bullshit.

[inna]

34. pretty disgusting post

(typically, i'm afraid)

:thumbsdown:

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[saras]

48. Yes, but American voters are STUPID!!! Is that what you use as a definition of success??

By that definition the tea party was a vast success, as were the presidencies of Reagan and Bush Jr.

[JDPriestly]

75. So true, Sabrina 1.

[girl gone mad]

17. The Citi bailouts did not earn a profit.

[banned from Kos]

20. Once again you are wrong - yet I still like you!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/07/AR2010120700091.html

Please note that I am a liberal who wants the best for us all.

[girl gone mad]

26. No, I'm not wrong.

In order to show a "profit" on the TARP bailout, Geithner had to make a deal which let Citi off the hook for $38 billion in taxes they owed.

http://articles.businessinsider.com/2009-12-16/wall_street/30049026_1_citigroup-shares-tax-credits-federal-tax-law

Surely you can do some simple arithmetic.

$10 Billion - $38 Billion != profits for the US government

[banned from Kos]

84. Yes, you are wrong. Accounting 101 lesson for you - An NOL

(Net Operating Loss) is not a tax due. It is a credit for past losses available to any company but cannot be transferred to another company. Citi had no transfer in ownership to another company - period. TARP should not cancel an NOL out.

[girl gone mad]

89. Bwahahahaha!

I'd love to get a loan from you. I promise to pay you back with money I steal from your wallet over time, and we can call it even.

It's a great deal for you, just like the losing winning Citi loan that you like so much!

[Hatchling]

50. Liberal?

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. ...

[banned from Kos]

83. BullShit - I am a garden variety liberal ---- Definition

"Liberalism (from the Latin liberalis, "of freedom")<1> is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights.<2> Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but most liberals support such fundamental ideas as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights, capitalism, free trade, and the freedom of religion."

(Wikipedia)

You see the "capitalism, free trade" there?

You're a socialist - not a liberal.

[Hatchling]

91. Never said I was a liberal. nt

[Hawkowl]

21. Fine. Let's elect Geithner President

:wtf: Obama is even weaker than I possibly imagined by putting up with this shit.

[fasttense]

36. If Geithner was so successful than why are we on the edge of a second dip?

Geithner's job was NOT to take care of his banking buddies. It was to take care of the American people.

The anti-trust laws have NOT been repealed. They are still on the books. The remaining banks/betting houses are in violation of those laws.

I blame Obama for allowing Geithner to blow him off.

[defendandprotect]

3. KR BACK LATER --

[Octafish]

6. William K. Black puts things into perspective. And these things are very, very ugly.

Black follows the wonderful Lisa Epstein at about the 5:07 mark:

"Fire Geithner. Fire Holder. Fire Bernanke."

Thank you for an oustanding OP and thread, Truedelphi.

[Donnachaidh]

40. Isn't this just the ULTIMATE *the dog ate my homework* excuse from the leader of the free world?

Jaysus H. Christ on a Cracker -- I read all this stuff about how Geithner disobeyed Obama -- WTF?

And yet we get the *don't primary Obama because the Crazy will win in 2012* -- REALLY?

AS IF the *crazy* has not already infected the uppermost offices of the government NOW?

:puke: :wtf: :grr: :nuke: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[chervilant]

85. Is Obama 'one of them'?

We've allowed perpetrators and predators that are abusive and dangerous to take over and infiltrate the very fabric of America. They've violated our constitutional rights, and we need to wrest whatever we have left of the American Democratic Republic out of the hands of these criminals.

Lisa Epstein, Foreclosure Hamlet Blogmaster here.

The only part of Ms. Epstein's quote with which I take exception is "we've allowed." We the People, the vast Hoi Polloi, have long maintained a fundamental expectation of honesty and integrity among our various business and banking leaders (despite decades of comedy fodder about dishonest business people). We've only just recently become aware of the ubiquitous fraud among the vile hedonists who've usurped our media, our politics and our global economy.

The good news is: WE WILL NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THEIR DARK NIGHT!!!

[truedelphi]

98. Thank you for your comments.

I love your paragraph that you show where you take exception to Ms Epstein:

The only part of Ms. Epstein's quote with which I take exception is "we've allowed." We the People, the vast Hoi Polloi, have long maintained a fundamental expectation of honesty and integrity among our various business and banking leaders (despite decades of comedy fodder about dishonest business people). We've only just recently become aware of the ubiquitous fraud among the vile hedonists who've usurped our media, our politics and our global economy.

Ands I agree:

The good news is: WE WILL NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THEIR DARK NIGHT!!

[soryang]

44. Why Nobody Went to Jail: William Black

Geithner, Holder, and Obama are basically protecting thousands of criminals in the financial sector who issued and sold millions of fraudulent mortgages and other financial instruments. They are so corrupt they have zero credibility.

In this thirty five minute interview, Prof. William Black, PhD, describes the financial crime, "the greatest in the history of the world," and the obstruction of justice inside the US government. This is one of the best overviews of what went on both in the financial sector and inside the government by one of the best qualified persons in the world to discuss it. Details of the requirements of a proper investigation and the obstruction of such an investigation by the Bush and Obama administration are discussed.

This is an audio file:



http://www.financialsense.com/financial-sense-newshour
Sep/14/2011
William Black: Why Nobody Went to Jail During the Credit Crisis
The FBI is no longer chasing white collar criminals

[Overseas]

51. Thanks for excellent interview.

[2banon]

63. +1

:thumbsup:

[newspeak]

69. and to think that the S&L heist was once considered

the biggest heist. A bunch of damn leeches sucking on the host (taxpayers). We are the ones that have to pay for the times WE are bilked. I am so tired of the blatant corruption and no rule of law, no justice. We just have mostly greedy, devoid of conscience repugs saying publicly how it's our fault we don't have a job, how we lost our home, how we have no adequate medical care. Wages have been slipping for awhile, medical and drugs have gone way up in price along with health insurance, and many who had decent jobs are no longer employed. And yet, the leeches will make sure they get the last damn drop while they bet on our misery on wall street, bet on that which they created.

The shock doctrine was introduced in central and south american countries and now it's our turn. Will we learn? These are not americans who practice such devious shite on their fellow americans. To bring down a country for economic gain for themselves, I see them as traitors-traitors to the country, traitors to the american people.

[chervilant]

86. plus a gazillion + 50 million times infinity!! n/t

[truedelphi]

97. Thanks for your posting of this link.

William Black: Why Nobody Went to Jail During the Credit Crisis
The FBI is no longer chasing white collar criminals

I hope to be able to watch it tonight.

[Overseas]

52. Thanks for great clip.

[defendandprotect]

7. Obama is finished -- and no one -- including Dems -- are looking to keep our economy "safe" -- !!!

It's over -- and it was over in 1980's -- but we didn't figure it out and shirley

Democrats weren't telling us what was going on --

Gov. Mario Cuomo I recall gave a few hints telling us it was actually S&L theft and

embezzlements -- and think it was at least 800 billion? And probably more?


Back in 1978 Dems colluded with the GOP to break the tax code for the benefit of the rich --

with Democrats in FULL power -- and long before Reagan --


And we've had more than 20 years of Koch Bros. DLC influence over the party -- and its

candidates -- including presidential candidates!!


What's left of it -- anyone actually know?


The more we vote for the "lesser evil" the further we move the Dem Party to the right --

and the Congress to the right --


We need two new candidates for 2012 -- candidates who aren't pre-bought and pre-owned by

corporations -- like the criminal Pfizer and Chevron who have also been financing the DLC!


Two candidates who are anti-war and will shut down these immoral and illegal wars --

Two candidates who will extend MEDICARE TO ALL -- and begin to put America back on her feet!


And from there, I think it's about time we begin acknowledging Global WArming --

shutting down oil rigs and nuclear reactors!


Perhaps save ourselves from even more misery than is already headed our way!



:hi:

[truedelphi]

15. In a truly sane world, in 2012, we'd have

Ron Reagan Jr facing off Robert Kennedy Jr.

But both these men witnessed their fathers being shot, so it won't happen.

And the Powers that Be, that control both parties from the top on down, wouldn't let it happen anyway.

[dameocrat67]

32. if i was looking to be represented by the sons of politicians

i would agitate to legalize nobility.

if it is hopeless why bother posting here.

[truedelphi]

96. This guy had what it takes, except for

The LameStream Media not giving him respect...

And he sure wasn't Fortune's favored son:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFabLp-Jcbg&feature=related

I love it when he answer one question with: Becuase I read it!

[Chan790]

42. If RFK Jr. were ever the Dem. nominee...

I'd honestly be compelled to vote Republican. He's a crackpot.

[Lorien]

30. Amen! nt

[LiberalLovinLug]

58. I agree. And don't call me shirley!

Sorry, I just had to ;)

:hide:

[Safetykitten]

8. A most excellent post.

[xchrom]

13. Recommend

[unkachuck]

16. K&R....n/t

[emilyg]

18. k r

[TheKentuckian]

19. Thank you for laying that out so well and so concisely.

Preach!

[bluesmail]

23. Oh man, you've said what needed to be said in one Online Post.

I always read your postings because they are the truth, no matter what anyone else says, they are The Truth. What that a$$ and his wife Wendy (cute name, huh)? did to destroy Glass/Steagall the most important Act of the 90's, (I meant whatever year it was enacted, I'm going for the 30's), well it makes me want to retch. The Gramms. Oh man.

[markpkessinger]

24. If this is really true . . .

. . . then it's hardly any wonder so many people view him as weak. I mean, if he'll let his own subordinate walk all over him like that -- and not only let him get away with it, but actually plead with the guy to continue as Treasury Secretary, then I gotta say he is really pathetic.

Excellent post, btw.

[banned from Kos]

25. its complete bullshit - watch Fox News for more of the same

But who am I to say?

Just a skeptical Dem - that's all.

[chervilant]

31. hmph

Go to Ignore, Go directly to Ignore. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.

[markpkessinger]

35. It certainly wouldn't surprise me if this was Fox-generated BS ...

... bgut at this point, at lest, I can'[ be sure. Mind you, I thought Geithner was one of the worst possible choices the President could have made for Treasury Secretary (actually MOST of the people he tapped for his economic team were disastrously poor choices, so nothing would really surprise me either way.

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bertman]

27. If you think the President gives orders about breaking up the Big Banks you're living in fantasyland

or doing some seriously killer drugs.

NOBODY gives orders to break up the Wall Street gangs. THEY GIVE THE ORDERS TO THE PRESIDENT.


Come on now. We all know the President of the United States is just a front man for the PTB. That has been true since that tragic political object lesson that was taught on November 22, 1963.

But it is FUN to think that a President could actually change something that is terminally wrong with this country. It is also HOPEFUL. And A PIPE DREAM.

[Enthusiast]

38. If President Obama was who we hoped he was,

leading up to the 2008 election he would have been severely "swift-boated". He wasn't.

[truedelphi]

70. He did say a lot of enticing things -

His progressive message of Hope And Change - LaCrosse WI, Fall 2008:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrVmOKvk-ag

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlwKVm_2O2I&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F9nELTmChg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1msiTxJTANM&feature=related

I said yesterday that if during Campaign 2007-08, you watched the RW channels occasionally, then you saw that the Talking Heads would critique Hillary Clinton for one of her actions or statements. If someone said, "Well, that Obama guy does or says the same thing," there would be silence until the moderator spoke up and said, "Well Barack Obama is a special person and we need to give him his chance."

This included Hannity and even those to the Far Right of Hannity. So yeah, if Obama wasn't going to further the agenda of the Far Right, Powers that Be, then he would have been "swift boated."

(I see that now, I didn't see it then.)

[midnight]

28. K&R Can you imagine the idea that social security is contributing to the deficit?

[soryang]

45. This is the next grand larceny by the corporate elites

[tblue]

55. They have tried every which way to get their grubby paws on it

They can't stand not having it. You bet it's in their sights. And do I trust this president to protect it? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[inna]

33. great post, kr#68

[truedelphi]

71. Thank you, inna.

Your writing always impresses me, and has for a long time.

[orbitalman]

39. K & R

[Honeycombe8]

41. You've misunderstood the situation. Obama didn't "order" Citibank be closed.

Geithner didn't "disobey," and Obama has never said "Geithner disobeyed me."

He asked Geithner to take a look at it & consider closing Citibank, apparently. Geithner did.

This isn't a story to me at all. Would be like you asking your mechanic to check out the brakes, which he did, and determined they didn't need to be replaced. The mechanic didn't "disobey" you.

[truedelphi]

99. Your analogy of a mechanic would be apt only if

The mechanic worked for the Mafia, and he did get asked to check the brakes.

So he checks them, and the brakes were fine. But he told you they weren't.

And he pulled out the good brakes, and sold them off to the chop shop that a friend of his owned, and then he got back to you, He sez, "You not only needed brakes, you need an engine, a muffler, and about $ 9,000 worth of other work," and you agreed, because the other mechanic's shop in town was even worse.

Meanwhile the owner of the chop shop has some brakes and and whole lot of other stuff, while you get the bill and inadequate parts.
############


Nine to thirty trillions of dollars is missing. And the people who have pulled off the biggest heist in history have been appointed, promoted and listened to by Obama?

Meanwhile the various fixes that were supposed to bleed Main Street dry, but only once, are not working, and we are about to face full fledged emergency, big huge market crash number two.

So here's the question - do the appointees work for the President or does the President work for them?

[Marnie]

49. Yup what the article said and more.

Obama didn't have my vote in 2008 he got it by default.

Obama doesn't have my vote for 2012, he will have stop lying and start producing.

One of the first things he and the Democratic party must do is to start supporting local and state level candidates in a serious monetary and overt campaigning way, immediately. That's where the TeePeers came from, the PTA, the school board, the city councils and mayors.

If they don't it won't matter if Obama is reelected becasue the Republicans will control the country and Obama will control exactly nothing.

Obama treats the problems of this country and of the world like a physician in the '50s treated cancer. You cut off the diseased part, like say Medicare and Social Security. After the legs and a kidney, a chunk of the gut, and a lobe of the liver and another lobe of the lung are gone, there is nothing left to remove that will not totally disable the patient.
That's Obama's strategy, give the Republicans one leg, then a chunk of the liver, then and then and then...

Then you get Osama, and Mubarak and Gadaffi, but who replaces them except America supported diseases (dictator toadies) and the cancer of war and corruption remains.

Even the disgusting excrement Nixon was more progressive that that. Eisenhower certainly was.

[spooked911]

54. is there a link for this quote? I can't seem to find one

thanks

[truedelphi]

64. A book written by Ron Susskind lays out the details.

Kpete had some of the important information about it here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1950065

Also it was being talked about on NakedCapitalism.com all day yesterday.

[spooked911]

82. ok, thanks!

appreciate it.

[awoke_in_2003]

56. an appointee disobeying LBJ...

would probably have been lucky to see the next sunrise.

[rubberducky]

57. After reading through the posts here it`s so easy to see why people are leaving DU.

I used to read this site every day, but just can`t take it anymore. The HATE for our president on this site is so, so sad. What a freaking mess my demo party has become. Not satisfied with anything, everybody wants thier pony. What a freaking mess this next election will be, and the BIG money on the right wing will sit back and smile that the left died by a circular firing squad.

[LiberalLovinLug]

59. what about the Commander of that firing squad?

Does he get no blame for the circular formation? Especially when he had all his soldiers all lined up, eager and orderly when he started his job? And what if this commander in chief, and his appointees, were the most guilty about firing on their own base? What kind of example is that?

[ooglymoogly]

67. +1 nt

[truedelphi]

73. Like Robert Scheer says in his column yesterday -

One betrayal too many...
I think to myself: Does Obama thnk only Corporations vote?

I think: He really must or he wouldn't do the things he has done.

From another DU'ers post today (With Robert Scheer in the header)
Space permits only one example, that of General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt, whom Obama selected to head his “Jobs Council of leaders from different industries who are developing a wide range of new ideas to help companies grow and create jobs.” Was that some cruel joke? GE under Immelt has grown and created jobs, but they are abroad rather than in our own troubled country. As a result, by the end of last year, only 134,000 of GE’s workforce of 304,000 were based in the United States; the remainder—and 82 percent of the company’s profit—were sheltered abroad.

####

If the Democratic Party leaders and most important officials are all only for the rich, and the Republicans are only for the rich, WTF does the avaerage Middle Inocmed voter do?

If the choice is between one: corruption and insider deals, and two: corruption, insider deals and out and out batshit-burn-the-witche-and-gays crazy, I suppose people will vote against the nut jobs.

But for many people, they won't bother. And I am thinking I may be better off simply buying a gun for when the day comes (being a witch) rather than bothering with voting inside a plutocracy, where the machinery is hackable.

[awoke_in_2003]

60. I made no mention of Obama...

or Geithner, I made a comment on the idea of an appointee disobeying LBJ.

[truedelphi]

76. Sorry about that, awokein2003 -

My post was supposed to have been a response to Rubber Ducky above you.

Sometimes the "treeing" of responses doesn't work correctly. (Although I hae been known to occsionally mis-aim the response. Possibly I need bi-focals.)

[awoke_in_2003]

87. "Possibly I need bi-focals"...

I am beginning to feel your pain. I have had 20/15 vision my whole life. 5 months ago, fonts under 8 pt were becoming unreadable for me. I finally broke down and got the eyes checked. I had the choice to get bifocals (clear over prescription) or some readers. I got the readers for now.

[Pisces]

61. Couldn't agree more. This site is close to Free Republic in its Obama bashing threads.

[JDPriestly]

80. The Obama bashing threads are due to Obama's bashing of Democratic

ideals.

What does being a Democrat mean to you?

What does "Democrat" stand for in your opinion, Pisces?

Can you honestly say that Obama represents what you consider to be Democratic ideals?

Because I can't.

Obama has not had the courage to stand up to the military expansionism of the Department of Defense.

He has not had the courage to stand up for our rights under the Bill of Rights.

It's hard to understand why anyone would believe that Obama is a Democrat. Just what has he done that was Democratic as opposed to Republican?

There is a list of accomplishments, but many of them could easily have been "accomplished" by Eisenhower or even Nixon, and some by Reagan. There is very little if anything of the traditional Democrat in Obama. Obama does not really support the rights of unions. He pays lip service to unions, but does nothing to really assist their struggle.

[Pisces]

92. I read his books and listened to him on the campaign trail. I knew he was a moderate who wanted

to reach out to the other side and gain consensus. Anyone who read his books would know this about Obama. I got what I voted for, however, Obama did not get the Congress that would have helped him realize his aspirations.

Democrats do not vote in the midterms. It is a historical fact, and unfortunately we had lunatics from the TeaParty hijack the Repukes.

I am what the majority of my friends would classify as a screaming liberal, except on this board. It should be humorous to me, but I generally feel sick that so many would rather have a repuke in office in order to see Obama fail.

[Doctor_J]

94. I am confused

If you listened to him on the campaign trail, you heard, "Any health care reform that i sign will include a public option", and "We do not torture", and any number of things that he's reneged on. So why do you now claim that he never said these things?

[Pisces]

95. You are confused. He said he wanted a public option, not that he would veto any plan that did not

include a public option. He also said that he would work to gain consensus and that he would take good ideas from any side of the aisle. He also said he would not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. I heard many things, but most of all I heard a pragmatic, intelligent adult running for office.

Seems to me you preferred the dumb cowboy who said " You're either with us or against us" . There is a candidate you can support just like him "Perry" Good luck with that.

[ooglymoogly]

66. Perhaps that is a wise move for you. nwat

[JDPriestly]

79. Obama takes advice and picked his cabinet from a very narrow

segment of the Democratic Party -- the most rightward leaning segment.

I have heard (Thom Hartmann) that Geithner was a Republican before he was and Independent. I would love to see any evidence that Geithner is even a Democrat.

Yet Obama ignores us real, life-long Democrats -- those of us who still believe in the ideals of the FDR and Kennedy eras.

It is a very sad day for the Democratic Party. Obama has split the Party with his pandering to the Republicans.

He is Chicago School when it comes to economics. And the Chicago School is diametrically opposed to everything that Democrats have stood for since 1932.

Obama is the outsider, not we who hold to traditional Democratic ideals.

[Doctor_J]

93. A lot of the mess the party is in is because our leader sides with the Republicans

a lot more than he does lifelong Dems. He had the Repukes by the short hairs in early 2009 and instead of rallying the huge number of people who voted for "change", he continued the Bush presidency that everyone voted against. The problem is the president, not us.

[Hubert Flottz]

62. Geithner wants Obama to fail...

Obama needs to fire Geithner yesterday.

[Demeter]

65. Nobody Buys It

And I'll bet dollars to doughnuts Little Timmy is ripped, too. They don't pay him enough to be a fall guy for a President.

[truedelphi]

72. Those upping the ante by "occupying" Wall St sure don't

Buy it.

the way I see it:

You are either the President, and you bave an understanding of the economy, and you lay out clear, bold visions and expect your Demoratic Congress to get behind you, or you are the puppet of those who are using your Speechifying talents.

Yes, we got ourselves a President whose strongest statement in Summer of 2009 was "Well, the public option is just one tool of many tools that Congress has at its disposal. And I can not offer up my ideas until they finalize their plan. There is a strict separation of powers" And blah blah blah.

I almsot barfed the night that Jon Stewart played the video of the President saying that.

What had happened to that bold young man with the great ideas and the firmness with which he said them? He ran for the Illinois Senate seat back in 2004.

No one has seen that guy since after Nov 5th 2008.

[JDPriestly]

81. The bit about separation of powers would be believable, but Obama

could have used the promise of Democratic Party funding for the 2010 election to swing the votes of conservative hold-outs for a better, cheaper health insurance reform -- for single payer or non-profit insurance providers.

There is no excuse for his cop-out to the insurance companies. He had a Democratic majority. He just did not discipline it. I have always been impressed with the conduct of Obama's children. But somehow, I doubt that their obvious sense of self-discipline was fostered by Obama. Rather I think that Michelle is the one with the gumption, the standards, the one who set the example of a disciplined adult for her children.

Obama seems to sway with the wind.

The symbol for Democrats is the donkey, an animal known for its stubbornness. Obama is not stubborn and no Democrat.

[MissDeeds]

68. Too late to rec

but I can still kick. Important and spot on post.

[JackRiddler]

74. Another kick is well deserved.

[truedelphi]

77. Thank you.

I enjoy your posts and am grateful you liked this one.

[Raine]

78. K & R ... ops too late to rec

but I would if I could.

:kick: :thumbsup:

[Quantess]

88. Too late to recommend.

[stranger81]

90. Geithner is basically a check on Obama, installed in the administration by Goldman Sachs

and the other financial industry players who are Obama's primary contributors.

If Obama fires Geithner, or even tries to rein him in, he risks having that financial support thrown to Romney/Perry/insert R here.

Firing someone like Shirley Sherrod is easy -- it pisses off exactly zero donors.

But make no mistake about it . . . . Tim Geithner & friends ultimately have the last say on this country's economic policy, not the President.