I want to congratulate the Obama Administration

[BlueToTheBone]

for coming to work every day and staying as focused as possible. I don't know if I could come to work everyday and face the barrage of hatred and criticism that comes at them at every level.

They are patriots all and I salute them.

[woo me with science]

1. How about making this a substantive thread,

instead of just more vague talk about "patriotism"?

How about filling this thread with all the positive policy that has come out of this administration, and that is proposed for the next term?

One thing I have noticed: All the critical threads reference actual policy and efforts by this administration. Here we are in June of an election year, and I cannot find one positive thread about this administration on GD or Politics that references actual substance. It is all merely threatening that Republicans would be worse, or attacking Democrats who express anger, frustration, or dismay at corporate, right-wing, or neocon policies coming from Democrats.

How about making this thread substantive? What is this President proposing to help the 99 percent, that should inspire and encourage Democrats? What are all the important changes on the agenda, and how do we see the administration fighting for them?

[BlueToTheBone]

2. Thanks for the comment

I just read a story about how the mean ole EPA is doing dastardly things like regulating soot. Damn them.

You are so right that there are no positive threads and I for one am grateful there is something standing in the way of the barrage of hate that floods the airwaves.

I'm getting Medicare this next month and I'm getting my first complete physical in probably 15 years. Thank you ACA. I'm sorry that Medicare for All hasn't passed yet, but I hope with a second term with a Democratic Congress it will.

[JDPriestly]

10. Has Obama actually stated that he will veto any bill that cuts Medicare?

Actually, his insurance reform bill cut the funding to Medicare quite a lot but no one has explained to us what that will mean for those of us now enrolled in the program. We have asked our congressman quite directly for an answer on that and have not received one.

Something Obama has done that is good is to gain the confidence of governments around the world.

Another thing that Obama has done that is good is to support GLBTs in the military and gay marriage.

Further, Obama did sign a health insurance reform bill for what it is worth. It is a lousy bill in many respects, but it is a lot better than nothing which is what Republicans would give us.

In spite of his poor record, I am working for Obama's re-election, and here is why:

If Romney is elected, who will become Secretary of State, to Secretary of Labor, or be appointed to the Interior, Labor, Energy or Education Departments? Who will be appointed as our representative to the United Nations?

I can tell you who. Republicans. And what does that mean? There will be quite a large proportion of totally insane, extreme right-wing people running our government.

Obama's trade representative is reprehensible. Can you imagine what Romney's would be like?

So, that is why we have to get out the vote for Obama and vote for him ourselves, because Obama will choose most of his aides from among self-identified Democrats who are, if not much more likely to urge better policies than a Republican, at least not likely to push us once again into a tar pit of debt and war.

[MannyGoldstein]

29. I believe that the President instructed Dem negotiators to propose raising Medicare eligibility

age to 67.

That's the starting offer.

[woo me with science]

30. I wish extending Medicare were even visible on the horizon at this point, but

Last edited Fri Jun 15, 2012, 09:46 PM - Edit history (2)

it certainly isn't as of now. Even Democrats, when they talk about Medicare these days, talk about cutting benefits or raising the eligibility age, not extending Medicare to more people. That includes the President, who *started out* by offering cuts and an age increase at the debt ceiling debate last April. Extending Medicare seems the opposite of what President Obama has in mind to do.

As for ACA, it was a gift to the insurance companies and it entrenches the for-profit health insurance companies into our system. I wouldn't quarrel with any individual who is grateful that ACA will ensure coverage of a pre-existing condition or insure a young person who would otherwise be ineligible - these are good things and much needed. However, they do not even begin to make up for the fact that ACA simply does not solve the problems it was advertised as intended to solve: spiraling costs and the access to AFFORDABLE health care. In fact, it entrenches these problems by entrenching the for-profit health insurance vultures into our system and guaranteeing them universal access to our wallets. It mandates that *every single American* purchase an outrageously overpriced, even unaffordable, corporate product for their *entire lives.*

Think about that. What a coup for the one percent. This sort of mandate to buy is unprecedented. And it was the goal all along for the insurance companies who helped write the legislation.

And as a result, we have nothing on the horizon that will seriously address the real problem here: that insurance companies have assumed the role of avaricious middlemen who suck obscene profits from Americans' suffering and illness by positioning themselves between us and our doctors.

We were promised at the time the ACA legislation was passed that it would be possible to improve it later, but note that we have heard absolutely nothing along those lines since then. There has been no mention of further changes, except for some recent reports that actually go the *other* direction, either limiting benefits or decreasing access to help through the plan.

I would love to hear word about plans from our Democratic representatives to fight to extend Medicare to MORE people instead of fewer. I'd love to hear about plans to fight to expand benefits instead of cutting them, or to lower the age of eligibility instead of increasing it. However, all signs suggest that they plan to go in the opposite direction. I would also love to hear about how ACA will be improved to *seriously* curb costs and ensure that Americans do not have to fear bankruptcy from one major illness.

I would love to hear it.

[joshcryer]

35. It's always possible to improve the ACA later. You have to vote to do that.

And voting is bad, of course.

[woo me with science]

38. Who ever said voting is bad?

Josh, you know I've never written that voting is "bad" or that people shouldn't vote, or even that voting is unimportant. I have written that it's not enough anymore, which I strongly believe for reasons I have explained to you many times in other posts.

Yes, the skyrocketing costs and corporate health insurance stranglehold on Americans desperately need fixing. I wish we had Democrats talking about that desperate need, instead of about austerity, cutting Medicare, and increasing the Medicare age of eligibility.

Obviously my requests for substance here upset you, because you begin by baiting and putting inflammatory, inaccurate words in my mouth. Your other post I found incoherent, as I don't know what proposals you are talking about, and the rolling smilies show that it's intended to bait, too.

Not interested in this kind of exchange, so you go have fun.

[joshcryer]

39. Your entire post sends the message the reform is not viable.

Reform is only possible if we vote in progressive congresspeople to actually pass legislation that we care about. The democrats, before they lost the House, voted down AUMF. The Senate, typically, shot it down.

I'd be happy to have a critical discussion with you, but you come to the table with your conclusion, you don't really appear to want to have a discussion like that. Otherwise, why waste my time? I mean, we go look at the "Third Way" post (which I'm no longer responding to) which links a Huffington Post article and quotes a title that the Huffington Post actually removed because the fucking trade agreement doesn't give corporations more power. The narrative isn't being run by liberals, and we bite when the conservatives (ie, Scott Walker funded Huffington Post) try to manage the narrative. I had no desire there to correct the nonsense (if you notice I was arguing about other even more trivial things) because people come to these discussions with their minds made up. Why try? It's more entertaining to go in other directions. And yes, politics is entertaining, if it wasn't I wouldn't bother.

[Voice for Peace]

6. sounds like a job for woo me with science

[woo me with science]

27. Looking for help on this one.

What are the plans for next term? I mean the major proposals for helping the 99 percent, rolling back the police/surveillance state, holding banks accountable, promoting peace and improving our relationships with other countries...

The big stuff....

[Voice for Peace]

28. You probably know way more than I do

but the cleveland speech is a good start: http://www.shallownation.com/2012/06/14/president-obama-cleveland-ohio-campaign-speech-video-june-14-2012-cuyahoga-community-college/

[woo me with science]

32. Thank you for the link.

Bookmarking it now to read.

[Tarheel_Dem]

13. Substantive? Why? You're usually conspicuously absent from such threads.

[woo me with science]

26. Wow.

That's rich, coming from you.

[Tx4obama]

18. You are free to start up your own thread with what you want to say at any time ...

IMHO - criticizing folks for what they post or omit in an OP is a bit rude don't ya think?

[woo me with science]

25. Actually,

it's only considered rude to ask for policy substance on Republican message boards. They tend to focus on flags and stuff..

In my experience, Democrats welcome requests for substance.

[Skittles]

20. AW WOO ME

don't solicit THE LIST

[woo me with science]

23. ...

Yeah, I've seen that. I'm interested in what the plans are for next term....You know, for really taking on the banks, helping the 99 percent, rolling back the police state....

You know...the big stuff.

[Skittles]

42. riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigt

we may as well all ask for literal ponies!!!!!!!!

[woo me with science]

44. Why do you hate America?

I trust that Obama will roll back the police state. I'm sure he merely misheard and thinks the police departments are being given scones.

And I think instead of "spy center," he heard "pie center."

[SemperEadem]

24. here

http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/

[woo me with science]

31. Thank you for the link.

I do have that one bookmarked already, along with several versions of "the list," but thank you for reminding me of it.

What do you think are Obama's most important proposals for next term that will seriously help the poor and the middle class, roll back the police/surveillance state, and promote peace, reduce tension, and improve our relationships with other nations?

[joshcryer]

34. Oh, hahaha! I didn't see this post when I made mine! Yes! The list! A perfect-self caricature!

Obama's job proposal is half a billion dollars. I think that's important. It hasn't a chance in hell of passing without congress. Good luck with that.

I'll fucking note that of all your "important proposals" only one of them actually applies to the bottom 95% here and now in the real world.

One.

[SemperEadem]

40. I"m quite sure

that what I think really doesn't matter a jot to you--you're just looking to argue.

[joshcryer]

33. Uh, it would be dismissed as "the list."

Last edited Fri Jun 15, 2012, 10:33 PM - Edit history (1)

Then the "big four" issues would be trotted out by the petite bourgeoisie (if not full on bourgeoisie) about how 1) Obama is blowing people up without due process 2) Obama is bankrolled by wall street 3) Obama is continuing the drug war 4) Obama is spying on everyone.

That's all most privileged people care about, because they have absolutely no political insight about real issues that matter to the people in the bottom 95%.

[JayhawkSD]

3. And what, precisely, would be their alternative?

Not coming to work? Coming to work and playing Pinochle instead of tending to the nation's business? Crying?

[BlueToTheBone]

5. You named a few. n/t

[emilyg]

9. LOL

[oldhippydude]

4. well i will tell you..

as an old white hetero sexual male... i salute them for taking the lead on marriage equality.... the time had come and the administration was ahead of public opinion in black churches, and in many states... have you noticed how many laws are falling apart now that its "cool" to be against them..

that was team Obama in action with Joe Biden firing across the bow.. any law that diminishes any man diminishes me!!

[Wounded Bear]

7. Sorry, had to fix your last line.

any law that diminishes any person diminishes me

No offense intended.

[oldhippydude]

8. none taken

i sure would not want to piss off a wounded bear

[BlueToTheBone]

15. If we learn to use gender neutral,

then we women get a chance. Thanks for not being offended and I hope you'll be able to remember...I know old hippies can learn new tricks!

[bigwillq]

11. That's what they were elected to do.

If one can't take the heat, find a new job.

edited: Elected and selected

[BlueToTheBone]

14. No one in the SS office or DMV

or EPA (except the head) or any other government branch employee elected. They just get up and go to work and get slammed for being there. I would find that very hard.

[bigwillq]

16. I didn't get from your OP

that you were talking about those workers.

I agree with you on that, but were you really talking about them in your OP?

[BlueToTheBone]

17. Yes, indeed. I was just thinking

about how hostile workplace environment (slurs and slings from the right) must drain the people who get up everyday and work to keep our lives from crumbling.

[bigwillq]

22. Don't like your job, get a new one.

If one chooses to stay at their job for whatever reason, then they must deal with people of all types, including the a-holes. I do it at my job, and I am sure a lot of other folks do too.

[Tarheel_Dem]

12. Thank You!

[freshwest]

19. He and they are more mature than most. I respect their hard work, which the paid critics don't.

[MrTwister]

21. That's a good point actually. They hated Clinton too

but even the regressives admitted he was an American.

[pasto76]

36. theyve made it possible for gays to serve in my army without fear of being persecuted

my army is stronger for it.

[BlueToTheBone]

37. And that is a really big deal!

[ailsagirl]

41. I hope they know how much we appreciate, respect, and support him

I'd hate to think that all they hear is complaining and, unfortunately, vitriol.

[BlueToTheBone]

43. Me too. n/t