General Discussion

Octafish

(55,745 posts)

49. MacArthur tells it like he sees it.

Thu Dec 15, 2011, 10:46 AM

Dec 2011

Increasingly, I'm seeing it, too. The most recent example:

After stating he would veto the defense bill because of its superduper anti-Bill of Rights provisions, President Obama caved and signed it. Andrew Cohen gives us a quick read on what he sees:

5 Quick Thoughts on the White House Decision Not to Veto Detainee Measure: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/12/5-quick-thoughts-on-the-white-house-decision-not-to-veto-detainee-measure/250019/

Question: What would cause the president to say one thing and do another, again? Russ Baker has a clue:

The Military and Those Strange Threats to Obama: http://whowhatwhy.com/2011/12/13/the-military-and-those-strange-threats-to-obama/

Thank you for the heads-up, Karmadillo. It's not just my Democratic Party or who is "electable." The nation has a major problem with who can and who can't be President and what he or maybe some day she can and cannot do once in office.

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President Obama Richly Deserves to Be Dumped [View all] Karmadillo Dec 2011 OP

Interesting - but who do you recommend? GoneOffShore Dec 2011 #1

Dennis is about the only one speaking out these days. Fire Walk With Me Dec 2011 #4

Dennis has proposed some pretty attractive ideas. LoZoccolo Dec 2011 #6

What an indictment you just made of the broken system, unintentionally I'm sure, we live under. sabrina 1 Dec 2011 #18

Well said! New7up Dec 2011 #135

If Dennis Kucinich looked like Josh Brolin would he have gotten further? Mimosa Dec 2011 #206

joke, big joke. dennis wouldn't last a month once they started in on him. okieinpain Dec 2011 #229

Ah, but he has been active in his government roll. Fire Walk With Me Dec 2011 #25

Good to see you recycling your DU2 material. Union Scribe Dec 2011 #29

Yes. With the Citizen's United decision in place, only candidates sanctioned by the 1% Zorra Dec 2011 #122

Very true, judging from what I saw from inside the Kucinich campaign in 2004 Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2011 #150

Unintentionally, you know, you just described Obama's 2008 presidential platform... RandomKoolzip Dec 2011 #240

Dennis and Sanders I trust completely. emilyg Dec 2011 #32

He knows better than to mess with an incumbent Democratic President Freddie Stubbs Dec 2011 #78

Huh? New7up Dec 2011 #136

Raul Grijalva texshelters Dec 2011 #119

when someone says that it's a strong clue that they don't know enough about individual congress cali Dec 2011 #127

I haven't seen anything posted here, AFAIR. Fire Walk With Me Dec 2011 #237

Dennis is viewed as an eccentric crackpot banned from Kos Dec 2011 #151

Only by the far right. sabrina 1 Dec 2011 #152

DK is fine as an obscure House member - he is just not presidential material. banned from Kos Dec 2011 #157

He IS presidential material and was the most popular candidate for that office sabrina 1 Dec 2011 #161

Well, I don't want to argue but you wrote your post with passion and conviction. banned from Kos Dec 2011 #179

Ditto. The Tim Russet/UFO debate is all the tape u need to hang him. zonkers Dec 2011 #209

Post removed Post removed Dec 2011 #20

He sure does sound like a thoughtful man.. midnight Dec 2011 #36

Al Gore Octafish Dec 2011 #52

Agreed on all points. ThomWV Dec 2011 #72

Al Gore is Mr. DLC himself. Remember its the Clinton machine that spawned the "Blue Dogs". Erose999 Dec 2011 #74

Blue Dogs were in existence long before Clinton. He just did more. LiberalFighter Dec 2011 #245

whack job, really? themadstork Dec 2011 #59

so, why is dennis a "whack job?" newspeak Dec 2011 #97

If Dennis was serious DonCoquixote Dec 2011 #121

Yes, the MSM did everything possible to make Dennis lok like an ass. dotymed Dec 2011 #144

other nominees are: Hulk Dec 2011 #106

What, or who is stopping them? sufrommich Dec 2011 #107

Elizabeth Warren, Howard Dean, Jerry Brown, Mark Udall, Barbara Boxer... mckara Dec 2011 #128

I'm with you on Howrd Dean Ned_Devine Dec 2011 #142

Those are viable choices. And electable if there was a chance of them running. GoneOffShore Dec 2011 #148

well, of course there's no chance- every single pol you mentioned supports Obama , even Bernie. Capn Sunshine Dec 2011 #214

In order to express dissatifaction with Obama, Kermit the Frog will do Jack Rabbit Dec 2011 #129

+1 nt ooglymoogly Dec 2011 #154

This would never happen, but thescreaminghead Dec 2011 #133

See bankrupcy "reform" and get back to us. TheKentuckian Dec 2011 #162

Rocky Anderson bonnieS Dec 2011 #149

Yes The Justice party ecoalex2 Dec 2011 #184

Yes swilton Dec 2011 #247

Kucinich speaks for progressive democrats. sabrina 1 Dec 2011 #155

I'm a fan of Bernie Sanders RyanPsych Dec 2011 #174

Sanders is not a Democrat Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Dec 2011 #196

There Must be someone who won't be a chameleon like Obama ecoalex2 Dec 2011 #178

I would vote for Russ in a heartbeat. n/t nebenaube Dec 2011 #221

Yeah, good luck with that...nt SidDithers Dec 2011 #2

Well, him or Kermit are bound to split the party! n/t Bolo Boffin Dec 2011 #175

Why ProSense Dec 2011 #3

Nice strawman DesMoinesDem Dec 2011 #24

I can only ask, Did you vote for him. olegramps Dec 2011 #143

Yep DesMoinesDem Dec 2011 #195

Obama has succeeded in killing a lot more of our dedicated enemies than Bush did. olegramps Dec 2011 #250

Wrong war Union Scribe Dec 2011 #30

It does get confusing with so many going on... midnight Dec 2011 #35

Name them. The Doctor. Dec 2011 #84

You too... The Doctor. Dec 2011 #88

what does that have to do with anything? Skittles Dec 2011 #109

Yawn. Harper's becoming obsolete, needs attention? nt babylonsister Dec 2011 #5

it's not as if the author doesn't know what the result of that would be bigtree Dec 2011 #7

oh, I don't know paulk Dec 2011 #19

who's your Humphrey? bigtree Dec 2011 #37

the Democratic Party isn't going to nominate anyone outside of the establishment, actually paulk Dec 2011 #46

For, at least the last 2 1/2 years,many of us on DU and elsewhere have been dotymed Dec 2011 #147

You need to read a little history. ooglymoogly Dec 2011 #156

Careful! The Doctor. Dec 2011 #86

And we all know what happened to McCarthy. n/t Bonhomme Richard Dec 2011 #8

This is one huge pile of steaming bull shit Motown_Johnny Dec 2011 #9

we ended up with Nixon because the Democratic elites screwed McCarthy. provis99 Dec 2011 #15

I'm not slurring liberals, I am slurring that article Motown_Johnny Dec 2011 #31

McCarthy never had a snowball's chance in hell. Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Dec 2011 #198

You are eliding so much history with the statement that "after this challenge coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #28

Wow... Motown_Johnny Dec 2011 #39

You allege that, because McCarthy mounted his challenge to LBJ, we ended up coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #44

Very well said. nt hifiguy Dec 2011 #61

my point is Motown_Johnny Dec 2011 #62

Since you're fond of referencing Wikipedia, I'd like to point you to another Wikipedia article: coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #65

Bravo for the voice of reason here. Hart2008 Dec 2011 #222

+1 Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Dec 2011 #201

Bingo. ....almost every credible poltiical scientist now argues that Humphrey would have defeated MADem Dec 2011 #98

Exactly right. Zoeisright Dec 2011 #40

Your grasp of the political history of 1968 is hifiguy Dec 2011 #60

agreed Motown_Johnny Dec 2011 #63

+1 n/t jaysunb Dec 2011 #211

+1 n/t FSogol Dec 2011 #66

Under this reasoning, if Gingrich had a "(D)" after his name, would you support him? AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2011 #71

Obama is doing a damn fine job of being a President GinGrinch himself. NDAA, the continuing of Erose999 Dec 2011 #77

LBJ lost the presidency by pushing civil rights legislation through congress, ending the nearly 40 Warren Stupidity Dec 2011 #153

Gingrich will not be the nominee ooglymoogly Dec 2011 #160

It's all about what John R MacArthur wants to happen. Hidden deep in his mind. LiberalFighter Dec 2011 #246

I'm kinda unhappy with Obama & the current batch of Dems. I've made no secret of it. Jackpine Radical Dec 2011 #10

/thread. boxman15 Dec 2011 #21

At what point does a primary become inevitable? EOTE Dec 2011 #57

How 'bout voting for the lesser of two evils & then Jackpine Radical Dec 2011 #70

I don't think that's worked at all these past 30+ years. EOTE Dec 2011 #90

I guess I'm looking outside "politics as usual" to find my agents of change. Jackpine Radical Dec 2011 #91

+1 n/t jaysunb Dec 2011 #212

Well said IMO! Exactly what is/will happen. RKP5637 Dec 2011 #254

This message was self-deleted by its author Maven Dec 2011 #112

the election of 1968 is a great example in no small part because nixon won. unblock Dec 2011 #11

Wake up people ...they don't give a fuck about us. Poor people don't finance political campaigns. L0oniX Dec 2011 #12

If all poor people voted it would be a slam dunk for the dems every four years and we would still demosincebirth Dec 2011 #16

Not necessarily, as we were reminded in 2000 and probably again in 2004 sad sally Dec 2011 #22

It can be done (nt) T S Justly Dec 2011 #13

BS spanone Dec 2011 #14

Lol, BS to what? In '68, Gene and Bobby showed it can be done (nt) T S Justly Dec 2011 #17

This isn't '68 OhioBlue Dec 2011 #26

No, but the landscape is the same - unpopular U.S. military offenses, mass civil uprisings ... T S Justly Dec 2011 #38

The landscape isn't remotely the same onenote Dec 2011 #67

Well (and factually) said. n/t jaysunb Dec 2011 #213

Lazy, lazy, lazy... brooklynite Dec 2011 #23

The dude must be smoking a lot of something OhioBlue Dec 2011 #27

Do you remember who was actually elected that year? LiberalAndProud Dec 2011 #33

Humphrey could have been elected if he would have chosen to oppose the war, or say that he did. AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2011 #75

How do you know this? LiberalAndProud Dec 2011 #82

How? An application of logic and common sense. AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2011 #92

All I know is that the rightward slide has been inexorable. LiberalAndProud Dec 2011 #104

I was in high school when robert kennedy was killed newspeak Dec 2011 #101

Humphry was a good man, but he would not take a public position contrary to the war hawks. AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2011 #114

Said the spider to the fly frazzled Dec 2011 #34

No, thanks. Name a challenger and I'll work even harder to support President Obama. NYC Liberal Dec 2011 #41

If he has overwhelming support Occulus Dec 2011 #68

x2 Absolutely right. AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2011 #76

I'm not speaking for anyone else; only for me. I haven't said "Do you want President Newt." NYC Liberal Dec 2011 #103

This seems to be different he has the "overwhelming support of the liberal base of the party" AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2011 #115

He does... nt NYC Liberal Dec 2011 #120

right or wrong, good or bad - there is not even a .00001% chance that it is going to happen Douglas Carpenter Dec 2011 #42

If I could recommend a reply, it would be this one. I will wish with you. LiberalAndProud Dec 2011 #110

Real turds are more productive than this article. nt BootinUp Dec 2011 #43

I'm open to it. joshcryer Dec 2011 #45

Dumping an incumbent Democratic president, who has high approvals ratings... MrScorpio Dec 2011 #47

. ProSense Dec 2011 #48

MacArthur tells it like he sees it. Octafish Dec 2011 #49

Funny--When someone asked me why I thought O had shown no interest in taking on the MIC, Jackpine Radical Dec 2011 #255

Interesting how little changes over time sharp_stick Dec 2011 #50

Don't Compare Obama To The Almighty. Compare Him To The Alternative. DemocratSinceBirth Dec 2011 #51

Halfway between right and wrong is still wrong. Occulus Dec 2011 #85

Halfway Between Newt Gingrich Or Mitt Romney Is Still Fascism DemocratSinceBirth Dec 2011 #87

Any point between those two is just crazy Occulus Dec 2011 #227

You Do Know The Next President Will Be Barack Obama Or His Republican Opponent DemocratSinceBirth Dec 2011 #248

I prefer to compare him.. sendero Dec 2011 #203

This thread deserves to be dumped. tallahasseedem Dec 2011 #53

This is TRIPE old tripe and odorous...fuck this dude opihimoimoi Dec 2011 #54

unfortunately, the party leadership will only run who they want fascisthunter Dec 2011 #55

I've predicted for a while he won't be the nominee. BlueIris Dec 2011 #56

Whatever. This billionaire trust fund baby tool... jefferson_dem Dec 2011 #58

LOL. dreams die hard, don't they.... dionysus Dec 2011 #64

He does, but there is no alternative. The only person who can beat him isn't interested. Tatiana Dec 2011 #69

"Granted, there are big differences between 1968 and 2012" ProSense Dec 2011 #73

I dunno about the primary challenge, but Obama does remind me of Carter in some ways. bemildred Dec 2011 #79

Stupid is as stupid does. MjolnirTime Dec 2011 #80

Here's the deal ProSense Dec 2011 #83

I don't think it bolsters any new anti-Obama sentiment. MjolnirTime Dec 2011 #100

+1 dionysus Dec 2011 #102

This message was self-deleted by its author Bunny Dec 2011 #81

Kick Obama Out? JGug1 Dec 2011 #89

Indeed he does. K&R Tierra_y_Libertad Dec 2011 #93

While I largely agree with this Carolina Dec 2011 #94

Don't you Know You Can't Post That on DU3? MineralMan Dec 2011 #95

but iread that DU3 was Big Brother "stifling dissent" and "censoring"! dionysus Dec 2011 #96

Guess not... MineralMan Dec 2011 #99

Dump Johnson gave us Nixon. Yeah, great plan. nt mistertrickster Dec 2011 #105

Johnson and Humpty gave us Nixon with their war. Tierra_y_Libertad Dec 2011 #132

The war that was widely popular in 1968? mistertrickster Dec 2011 #163

Anyone who was voting against the war wouldn't, and didn't, vote for Nixon or Humphrey. Tierra_y_Libertad Dec 2011 #169

Sirhan Sirhan Gave Us Nixon NashVegas Dec 2011 #191

Yep (nt) T S Justly Dec 2011 #235

There simply is no good solution to Obama.... samplegirl Dec 2011 #108

Ah, the wee whiff of W wafts through the bog. Efilroft Sul Dec 2011 #111

That about sums it up - and I wholeheartedly agree. nt gateley Dec 2011 #123

K&R (n/t) a2liberal Dec 2011 #113

As an Arizona voter texshelters Dec 2011 #116

This article texshelters Dec 2011 #117

We must do like the republicans nineteen50 Dec 2011 #118

This is the polar opposite of a cranky Tea Party rant against Romney. JohnnyRingo Dec 2011 #124

Please explain to me SixthSense Dec 2011 #125

Let me save a couple thousand words: JohnnyRingo Dec 2011 #189

+1000 n/t jaysunb Dec 2011 #218

Good Lord, those pictures should say it all Number23 Dec 2011 #225

good one. "no one except Fox News promised he would be a liberal dream once in office" certainot Dec 2011 #186

Well said ! n/t jaysunb Dec 2011 #220

According to Turley the ONLY pro-civil liberties candidate is the LIBERTARIAN Ron Paul! alp227 Dec 2011 #126

While replacing obama may or may not be a good idea with a more liberal democratic cstanleytech Dec 2011 #130

there may never be a better point SixthSense Dec 2011 #134

Well I believe our best choice is to cstanleytech Dec 2011 #137

my beliefs here are SixthSense Dec 2011 #139

Its not that Obama has refused solutions because he has its that the republicans stonewall him and cstanleytech Dec 2011 #158

What's the excuse for the first two years then? SixthSense Dec 2011 #166

Yup they controlled them but not enough to totally block the republicans from cstanleytech Dec 2011 #172

ROFL Scurrilous Dec 2011 #131

This message was self-deleted by its author cstanleytech Dec 2011 #138

I guess Karmdillo samplegirl Dec 2011 #140

+1 blkmusclmachine Dec 2011 #141

MMhmm just vote Republican save the drivel Veracious Dec 2011 #145

If he votes for the NDA, I won't vote for him. n/t Atypical Liberal Dec 2011 #146

Which is a vote for Romney bjobotts Dec 2011 #171

Or Ron Paul. Or nobody. Atypical Liberal Dec 2011 #241

Where's the "rec" button? nt Deep13 Dec 2011 #159

Where's the un-rec? otohara Dec 2011 #182

I remember the "Clean for Gene" movement. annabanana Dec 2011 #164

The point about Eugene McCarthy zentrum Dec 2011 #165

Not good enough to actually be in Harper's of course. gulliver Dec 2011 #167

you noticed that too... dionysus Dec 2011 #180

Eugene McCarthy's protege and heir: Darcy Richardson 2012- The only game in town to dump Obama Hart2008 Dec 2011 #168

Who? Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Dec 2011 #205

The Progressive Democrat running for President of the United States of America! NT Hart2008 Dec 2011 #215

Like all presidents huh bjobotts Dec 2011 #170

If Obama gets a primary challenge, the GOP wins LuckyTheDog Dec 2011 #173

You know this for a fact??? Psychic, I guess nt HarryPowell Dec 2011 #192

Historical perspective (nt) LuckyTheDog Dec 2011 #239

Third time Ill be able to vote for president Charlemagne Dec 2011 #176

Pretty Much... K & R !!! WillyT Dec 2011 #177

yeah, better stay home and not vote certainot Dec 2011 #181

Yes he is otohara Dec 2011 #183

"i can't believe all the recs, must be a lot of folks not paying attention.... or trolls..." Number23 Dec 2011 #202

There's nothing wrong with DU Cali_Democrat Dec 2011 #223

And you say this as someone who obviously knows 99% of the population? Number23 Dec 2011 #224

Keep in mind that over 70% of Americans thought Saddam was behind 9/11 at one point Cali_Democrat Dec 2011 #226

"Overall, Americans are dumber than a sack of hammers." Number23 Dec 2011 #230

cali dem is right- there's a difference - the US is aggressively misinformed starting with a radio certainot Dec 2011 #232

rat wing radio has a big say on those percentages you both talk about. certainot Dec 2011 #231

Unfortunately, he'll be running against a Republican Warpy Dec 2011 #185

No he doesn't warrior1 Dec 2011 #187

I say, yes HarryPowell Dec 2011 #188

Agree 100%. REC. nt bertman Dec 2011 #190

Nostalgic for Eugene McCarthy? Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Dec 2011 #193

And it got us that s--thead Nixon! 47of74 Dec 2011 #194

Somewhat disappointed that this post has so many recs. tabatha Dec 2011 #197

Go for it...Primary this President...or let him lose for lack of support... Ivywoods55 Dec 2011 #199

This is probably the dumbest damn thing I have EVER read Number23 Dec 2011 #200

The ProSense Dec 2011 #207

I agree wholeheartedly! Ivywoods55 Dec 2011 #210

PERFECTLY said, Prosense Number23 Dec 2011 #216

Give Me A Break cyberspirit Dec 2011 #204

Well said. n/t ProSense Dec 2011 #208

+1000 ellisonz Dec 2011 #217

All I can say is canetoad Dec 2011 #219

MacArthur - another blogosphere backseat whiner. CakeGrrl Dec 2011 #228

Stupid article, stupid suggestion BklnDem75 Dec 2011 #233

My first thought on reading article was remembering that McCarthy didn't get nominated... Mimosa Dec 2011 #234

K & R Raksha Dec 2011 #236

McCarthy was a perennial joke like Nader. This is fringe nonsense bullshit. Find the planet. RBInMaine Dec 2011 #238

Smart for Hillary Right-Of-The-Isle Dec 2011 #242

But you support Rick Perry, so why should YOU care? n/t jenmito Dec 2011 #243

What did it get us back then? LiberalFighter Dec 2011 #244

many of the recs are from people who NEVER post ecstatic Dec 2011 #249

BTTT Scurrilous Dec 2011 #251

OK I give = ? grantcart Dec 2011 #252

BTTT: Back To The Top. Scurrilous Dec 2011 #253