Obama just made history (again)

[Proud Public Servant]

Don't know if anyone's still following this but, believe it or not, votes from the election are still being counted (NY and HI have yet to certify their results). And sometime recently, Obama crossed the 51% mark. That makes him the first US president since Eisenhower to get 51% of the vote in two successive elections. So there's your fun fact for the day.

[samsingh]

1. and yet he still doesn't seem to want to claim his mandate

[bluethruandthru]

3. I'm thinking that's because he really doesn't want to do many of the things he said to get elected.

I really wish I didn't feel that way, but all the evidence seems to point to the fact that Obama really wants to cut social security. I'm not sure why. He's a smart man and I'm sure he knows that the fastest, easiest way to bolster social security is to increase the cap.
I also can't figure out why he even lets social security be brought in to any discussion about the deficit since I'm sure he realizes that SS is in no way responsible for it.
I'm just sick about the way things have turned out.

[Skidmore]

6. The inauguration hasn't even happened yet and

the new congress has not been seated. Can you save your pissing in the cornflakes until we get into the next legislative year already?

[rosesaylavee]

11. +1000

Agreed. Thanks for saying it.

[AllyCat]

14. Oh, cool! Does that mean they can't pass legislation that will hurt us

until the inauguration? I didn't know that. At least we have a few more weeks to wait until our seniors and future generations get thrown to the curb!

[tblue]

30. No, we are not to complain about the 2nd term

until the 2nd term begins. Ok then, let's talk about the 1st term. But if the election already happened and POTUS is still in the 1st term, do we still have to wait until the 2nd term? Oh these rules! I'm so confused. What are we allowed to do and when?

[bluethruandthru]

57. Guess I didn't know the 'rules'!

I wish there was a handbook or something!

[leeroysphitz]

80. What you are NOT allowed to do is to state obvious

facts if they happen to contradict the sham world view some have painted for themselves.

[Amonester]

89. You are allowed to write to the President and tell him to raise the cap.

Not to propose cuts to anything.

If you're not writing him (and millions like you), what kind of pressure (or absence of) will he get?

[xtraxritical]

107. I did that in November.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments

[SammyWinstonJack]

45. heh.

[rhett o rick]

18. "Sit down and shut up", What?? Is this Rahm? Democrats dont sit down and shut up for anyone. nm

[Skidmore]

29. No.

Must you be so obtuse? The current congress is still working on its legislation. At least let something be in hand by the next congress to see what direction it takes. No actions yet have been discussed or taken for the President or anyone else to act on. Just grousing for the sake of grousing is counterproductive and ridiculous.

[rhett o rick]

36. You make a good point. Congress is still working on legislation which makes them fair game for

lobbying, critiquing, and criticizing. You apparently call discussing what the president is doing as "grousing". He offered up SS benefits cuts. I think we have a right to complain.

I dont think it is "obtuse" to object being told to hold comments until after the election or now apparently after the inauguration.

[Skidmore]

40. I was addressing your claiming the mandate complaint.

In what way do you expect him to do this in a lame duck congress which is still hell bent on obstruction? Why not pile on that congress for maximum impact for recognizing that mandate. Otherwise, the push for follow-through on mandate begins in earnest in January.

[rhett o rick]

53. I never mentioned mandate, but since you did, why must we wait for Jan to "push for follow-through

on mandate?" The mandate demonstrates the will of the people which exists now, not just after Jan. Besides doesnt he still have political capital from his last mandate?

[bvar22]

39. The "current congress is still working on its legislation",

AND
the current President is still making public appearances bragging about his willingness to cut Social Security.
THAT makes him "Fair Game" too.

"But David, as you know, one of the proposals we made was something called Chain CPI, which sounds real technical but basically makes an adjustment in terms of how inflation is calculated on Social Security. Highly unpopular among Democrats. Not something supported by AARP. But in pursuit of strengthening Social Security for the long-term I'm willing to make those decisions."--- President Obama, MTP, 12-30-12


[font color=firebrick][center]"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will STAND UP for Working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone [/font][/center]
[center][/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]


You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their rhetoric, promises, or excuses.
[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]

[samsingh]

102. i'm fine with the 400k ceiling. In fact, i'll save more on taxes because of it. But the committment

was 250k. A strong message is to stick with what you've committed to and go to the people in the midterms if the repugs don't fall into line.

bush ran the country like a dictator - he had even Democrats vote in favor of invading Iraq WITH fabricate evidence, a loss in popular support which Gore won, and another fabricated 3 figures lead in florida.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

20. "The inauguration hasn't even happened yet"

No kidding, but if you notice, the media acts as if Obama is still in trouble for things he did during his first term.

You know,...like not coming into the White House through the servant's entrance...

[BlancheSplanchnik]

34. +1 gajillionskadillionbillionzillion. n/t

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

43. Post of the year for telling it like it is!!!

[malaise]

32. Ditto n/t

[cui bono]

67. Because suddenly when he is sworn in he will become a new person?

It might be too late to save SS by then. He already got the mandate, why should he wait to use it? Does it have a use date of "only to be used during the actual second term"? That's just silly. He's already in power, nothing magically changes after he is sworn in. The people have spoken and they voted for certain things that he promised and they expect him to keep those promises now as well as during his second term.

It's not okay for him to cut SS now and then say he didn't do it in his second term so he gets a pass.

[Skidmore]

103. He'll have a different congress to work with for one. Hopefully one which is

less obstructionist. Where have you people been or do you just automatically discount the role the legislative branch has in our government? The President is not a king or a dictator and has no such powers you ascribe to him. Get yourself an eighth grade civics text and learn the basics of the structure of our government and how laws are made.

Two Years Ago, John Boehner promised to be "Laser Focused on Jobs and the Economy" So what has the GOP House been up to?

House Bills passed:
46 Bills on Abortion
113 Bills on Religion
73 Bills on Family Relationships
36 Bills on Marriage
72 Bills on Firearms
604 Bills on Taxation
437 Bills on Govt Investigations

Bills attempted and failed to be passed even by the GOP:
33 attempts to Defund Obamacare.....Failed
15 attempts to Cut Funding for Planned Parenthood......Failed
3 Attempts to Cut Funding for VA Hospitals.......Failed.

GOP blocked bills:
Blocked bill to aid Small Business
Blocked Unemployment extension
Blocked Bank Reform Bills
Blocked Campaign Finance Reform and open Contributions Law
Blocked MULTIPLE Jobs Bills
Blocked Infrastructure Bill
Blocked Ending Tax Breaks for companies that Outsource Jobs
Blocked Wall Street Reform
Blocked Energy Legislation
Blocked Mine Safety Bill
Blocked Oil Spill Liability Cap increase
Blocked Bill to lower Oil Company Tax Breaks
Blocked Bill to impose charging American Oil Companies on Oil achieved in the Gulf

Number of TRUE Jobs Bills even allowed to come to a vote in the House....NONE.

[TinkerTot55]

75. Thanks, Skid!!

Pithy and to the point....
but you made me spew tea on my keyboard!!!!!!!
Can you give a "SPOILER ALERT: SPEW-WORTHY COMMENT FOLLOWS" warning next time??
TYVM.

[samsingh]

101. he's already President

and he has an incredible mandate. Being patient has always been a losing proposition for the left.

i'm a huge Democrat and a huge Obama fan. I can have my expectations. He's big enough to hear us.

[Dustlawyer]

12. That is b/c he owes favors! You do not get to the Presidency of the U.S. w/o owing favors!

This is why we need true Representative Government so that the President and Congress are answerable only to us, not the special interests! Help me in urging COMPLETE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM in every post, on every site until we take back our government! This should be OWS only issue b/c it takes away Wall Streets considerable power over our government! Who is with me?

[timesamillion]

27. I'm not crazy about OWS, but

Little steps first?

http://wh.gov/U3ed

[demwing]

37. But things have not "turned out" have they?

Things are still in process.

And as things are still in the process of turning, perhaps your sickness is more attributable to your internal inputs, rather than to some imagined outcomes.

[bluethruandthru]

58. Well, it "turned out" that Obama actually said he was willing to cut social security.

Whether it actually happens or not isn't what sickens me. It's just the fact that he says it.

[demwing]

61. Did it really turn out that way?

Is that what Obama really said?

Can you cite the quote?

[bluethruandthru]

65. Here it is...

"But David, as you know, one of the proposals we made was something called Chain CPI, which sounds real technical but basically makes an adjustment in terms of how inflation is calculated on Social Security. Highly unpopular among Democrats. Not something supported by AARP. But in pursuit of strengthening Social Security for the long-term I'm willing to make those decisions."--- President Obama, MTP, 12-30-12

[demwing]

90. Are you going to pretend that chained CPI is unanimously seen as a cut?

I believe Speaker Pelosi agrees.

Pelosi wrapped both her arms around it Wednesday, insisting she does not regard it as a "cut."

"No, I don’t," she told reporters. "I consider it a strengthening of Social Security, but that’s neither here nor there."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/19/nancy-pelosi-social-security_n_2333285.html

[cui bono]

96. We're not the ones pretending. There's been plenty of info posted about how it works.

I can't explain it properly in my own words tbh. Benefits are cut because of it.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022039420
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022018686


Pelosi is just covering her ass. Did she explain how it doesn't cut benefits?

[demwing]

104. Which only prove the point

that there is no agreement as to whether Chained CPI is a cut. The claim--based on this "evidence"--that Obama has said he wants to cut SS, is a joke.

[cui bono]

68. Seriously?

I'm sorry, but are people just posting here for no reason other than to defend Obama even when they have no clue about what's going on?

How can you possibly still think Obama didn't say he would cut SS? It was in a press briefing on Dec. 18 and ABSOLUTELY confirmed yesterday on MTP.

Please, if you're going to post something try to keep up. I simply cannot believe how people just want to deny that PBO offered up SS cuts. It is truly astounding.

[demwing]

91. Yes, seriously, and slowly so certain people can keep up.

Chained CPI is not unanimously seen as a cut. See my post 90.

[obama2terms]

44. Actually SS is now off the table. Obama is desperate to avert any possible crisis

I highly doubt he even wanted to put SS on the table. Once he realized there was going to be no deal either way he just quit talking about it. It was just desperation..... Although it's not over yet, next up debt ceiling!
Here's a link:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/30/gop-backs-off-social-security-income-change/

[catbyte]

52. Wow, Happy New Years, Debby Downer bluethru.

Let's give him just a little bit of a chance. Wow. The Freepers stalking this site must just love talk like this.

[cui bono]

69. Yeah, especially when they read all the posts denying that Obama ever offered to cut SS.

[Number23]

85. "The Freepers stalking this site must just love talk like this." Nail meet hammer.

Though I have never been convinced they were two separate groups to begin with.

[samsingh]

106. i get that feeling as well

i really hope he doesn't move against the weed legalization in some states

[pnwmom]

59. Oh yeah. That's why he told Boehner, "you get nothing."

Because he's not aware that he won.

[SoCalDem]

79. As long as there is a republican majority in the house, he cannot really claim much

Their ONE goal is to stop any legislation that is "claimable" by him... even if it harms the nation..

[deutsey]

86. Yep, someone should really let him know about this.

:-\

[Buzz Clik]

2. Very cool!

Does he have support of 51% of those on DU?

It might be close. He certainly loses the vote of the uninformed, the misinforming, and those generating fake angst.

[cui bono]

71. No, he has close to complete support of the uninformed and misinforming.

They are STILL - TO THIS DAY - denying he ever offered to cut SS.

And apparently they don't know that he expanded Bushco's warrantless wiretapping, is killing hundreds of innocent people with drone attacks, appointed Wall Street representatives to his cabinet, appointed a Monsanto CEO to run the EPA, said it's okay to assassinate American citizens without a fair trial, refuses to investigate and prosecute for the housing crisis while allowing the banksters who created the mess to force their victims out of their homes, many times illegally... surely they would be against all of this if they only knew about it.

Yes the list goes on and on but the "uninformed" and "misinforming" would rather just blindly support a man rather than defend the people of this country and the constitution.

[Buzz Clik]

77. ... and he never put an end to DADT

or reduce our presence on Iraq, or push health care, or support gay marriage.

Sounds like there are a lot uninformed people bouncing around this place.

[yellowcanine]

4. The question of course is why votes are STILL being counted almost 60 days later.

In a developed country which can issue a speeding ticket or a red light ticket or collect tolls automatically why the HELL can't we get vote counting right? It is called paper ballot scanning technology folks. By using paper ballots more people can mark ballots at the same time, reducing lines and reducing the need to have people standing in line way after poll closing times. Also there is a paper trail for recounts. And also there is no reason why there cannot be a digital record of all eligible voters - all voter registration could be same day with the showing of a picture ID. No need for provisional ballots except for persons lacking a picture ID.

[lunatica]

8. You're preaching to the converted

[BumRushDaShow]

10. Hurricane Sandy. n/t

[Historic NY]

33. We went for re-inventing the wheel here computerized elections, punch card, touch screens...

and all kinds of crap when the old systems seems to work better. I think we should go back to purple fingers we inspired overseas. We look like a third world Banana Republic to these developing democracies, preaching voting while discuraging it at home.

The main thing is here we conspire to discourage the vote...why else would they go through thousands of hours of plotting and passing nonsense statehouse bills and rules to keep people from actually voting. The FEDERAL government is responsible for FEDERAL elections, under the US constitution. They need to say enough if the state won't do it right then in the very least the FEDERAL government should step into running FEDERAL elections. There should be one standard not 50, 51, 52, or whatever distinctly different ones. The states are over stretching their rules, beyond constitutional bounds in determining who votes & how they vote. We have seen several half-hearted attempts by the government with various election laws & funding but in the end they let the states over-reach (especially in Federal elections).

See Florida - (again) 49000 left standing online w/o a vote

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-12-29/news/os-discouraged-voters-20121229_1_long-lines-higher-turnout-election-day

[TinkerTot55]

83. Counting the Vote.....

So if President Obama has at least 51% of the vote total so far, imagine the real total if millions hadn't been disenfranchised??
It truly boggles the mind.

[seabeyond]

5. interesting. fun to hear. thanks. nt

[lunatica]

7. Yup. He's leaving a legacy of firsts.

It's tension filled and a nail biter, but still exciting times to live through.

I must say, I have a lot of American history in my life's memories, not learned in textbooks. I guess it's been an exciting time to live in all my life.

[brooklynite]

9. Vote Fraud! ACORN! New Black Panther Party!

(in all fairness, it must be hard for RW'ers to push this meme, because it requires believing that Mitt Romney actually was a GOOD candidate who should have won).

[Coyotl]

13. That other guy, what was his name, what is he getting?

[underpants]

23. 47%

it is actually 52 - (oh the irony) 47%

[Proud Public Servant]

26. Technically

51.06% - 47.26%. You can legitimately round down to 47, but I don't think you can round up to 52.

[yorokmok]

24. Forgotten! nt

[cui bono]

72. He's getting unfriended on Facebook faster than you can say jackrabbit.

Wonder what his friend total is down to now? I remember a post about it a month or so ago. Maybe it was the "likes" that were going down. I don't see a friend count on there. I don't know, I don't use FB.

[Tarheel_Dem]

15. He just keeps doing "firsts", and I love it!

[RFKHumphreyObama]

99. Precisely

And proving the haters and whiners wrong every time

[mtasselin]

16. give up

When I saw the head line that Obama made history, my first thuoght was what did he give the repugs now.

[CakeGrrl]

17. Sadly, you've found company with

a few stalwart preemptive defeatists,

Keep on looking for the worst!

I'm happy to rec this news and I'm VERY glad this man is POTUS at this time.

[RC]

19. +10

Too bad they won't allow us to voter for Liberals for President anymore.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

21. Awesome news. Too bad others decided it necessary to come shit all over this thread. nt

[flamingdem]

22. I was rec # "47"!

happy new year

[AtheistCrusader]

25. Well, this thread turned to shit in a hurry...

Ugh.

[alcibiades_mystery]

31. Our pseuo-progressives are very angry that their predictions didn't come true

and that they seem to have no constituency, since progressive base constituencies voted for Obama in even greater numbers than in 2008!

So they're having a two month temper tantrum.

Poor babies.

[Bad_Ronald]

28. Wait until he cuts SS. That'll be another historic first.

[sellitman]

42. Enjoy you stay here

[Bad_Ronald]

46. Enjoys yours too.

Did you hear that echo?

[pnwmom]

63. When is that going to happen?

Not even the Rethugs want to be associated with that.

[Duval]

35. Great news!! n/t

[NYC_SKP]

38. Clearly, the results of the secret ACORN actions!

We DID IT!



K/R

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

41. And yet the Corporate Media's dead silence on this issue

is deafening but shouldn't be a shock. They pushed for a horse race. This outcome would force them to admit that they were wrong. It ain't happening.

p.s. Mitt Romney ended up with 47% of the vote. No reportage on that either because it doesn't comport with their meme that the race was 50-50!!

[another_liberal]

47. Give credit where credit is due . . .

Give credit where credit is due, the President owes it all to his opposition. If the Republicans had not been such scary-stupid, knuckle-dragging fanatics, he would have had a much tougher time of it.

[JDPriestly]

48. Great news.

And yet another reason he should stand firm on raising the taxes on the high brackets and leaving Social Security and Medicare alone.

People are willing to stand behind him if he keeps his campaign promises.

[Bad_Ronald]

50. "People are willing to stand behind him if he keeps his campaign promises."

There are some people who will stand behind him regardless.

[BumRushDaShow]

54. And there are some people who will attack him regardless. n/t

[Bad_Ronald]

56. Fair enough. I won't utter a peep if/when he cuts my SS and/or medicare benefits.

But once a Republican enters office again, look out!

[cui bono]

73. There you go, now you're starting to understand the rules.

Also, when he really does something that warrants criticism, like offer to cut SS, you're supposed to say he never did it. Even if when there's video of him saying he did, you just keep denying it.

[JDPriestly]

70. The person who stands behind a politician regardless is worse than the politician who doesn't

keep campaign promises.

[Sheepshank]

49. Decisive indeed!!!

all the wobbly talk about losing voters, was media and troll created....I knew it!!!!

[bowens43]

51. And yet he still does what the baggers tell him to do

[CakeGrrl]

62. Example?

[haydukelives]

74. chain CPI

[pnwmom]

64. Right. That's why he told Boehner, "You get nothing." nt

[great white snark]

76. +1

Boy this news irks some to no end...and I kinda enjoy it.

[NoGOPZone]

55. I hadn't known that St. Ronnie didn't make 51% his first time

Another part of his legacy that the right tries to hide.

[Proud Public Servant]

60. Yup. Hard to do

With a strong third-party candidate in the race. Clinton never made 51%.

[haydukelives]

66. and to thank us

he will likely CUT Social Security benefits.
color me confused.

[great white snark]

78. His job isn't to thank you.

Whatever the end has to go through the house.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

81. K&R nt

[RedstDem]

82. Obama and Eisenhower are pretty evenly matched too

'cept ole Ike was to Obama's left.

kind of a shame aint it!

[Number23]

84. The attempts to even turn this bit of news into an "OBAMA BAAAAD!!1one" thread

Should make every single person on this web site shake their damn heads.

I hope that everyone has bookmarked this thread so that the next time the chronic Obama malcontents do their "exactly WHERE are these anti-Obama people that everyone keeps talking about?" and "I've never, ever, EVER seen any unfair criticism and besides, we're just doing our duty as red-blooded Americans to shit on everything the man does" wide-eyed innocent role, they can be sent right here to see the deranged, pathetic foolishness for themselves.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

100. You said it better than I could Number23

[nilram]

87. rec #201: woohoo!

[Number23]

92. 212 now! Very, very impressive

[politicasista]

88. Kick

Last edited Tue Jan 1, 2013, 01:37 AM - Edit history (2)

[grahamhgreen]

93. Now maybe he can look at the polling data and represent the majority

Of Americans by not starving seniors, cutting big war, and even a public option!

[DallasNE]

94. Are You Sure?

I know that Nixon didn't but what about Reagan? And I know that Obama is the first Democrat since FDR.

[Proud Public Servant]

98. Reagan got close

But Anderson siphoned off enough votes in 1980 to keep him just under 51%.

[DallasNE]

105. I Came Up Blank On A 3rd Party Candidate In 1980

Forgetting about Anderson, who took most of his votes from Carter.

[AAO]

95. You'd think he was a Kenyan muslim terrorist baby killer by the "airwaves".

We need to get ourselves some new media.

[steve2470]

97. k&r nt