Jackpine Radical (41,328 posts)
Obama Makes Bushism the New Normal
By Dan Froomkin, The Intercept
03 September 14
n a lot of ways, we’re worse off today than we were under George W. Bush.
Back then, Bush’s extremist assault on civil liberties, human rights and other core American values in the name of fighting terror felt like an aberration.
The expectation was that those policies would be quickly reversed, discredited — and explicitly outlawed — once he was no longer in power.
Instead, under President Barack Obama, they’ve become institutionalized.
There will be no snapping back to a pre-Bush-era respect for basic human dignity and civil rights. Thanks to Obama, it’s going to be a hard, long fight.
In some cases, Obama has set even darker precedents than his predecessor. Massively invasive bulk surveillance of Americans and others has been expanded, not constrained. This president secretly condemns people to death without any checks or balances, and shrugs as his errant drones massacre innocent civilians. Whistleblowers and journalists who expose national security wrongdoing face unprecedented criminal prosecution.
Louisiana1976 (3,229 posts)
1. And we won't get much of a change, if any, under a Hillary administration because Hillary is to the
right of Obama. What we need is a real progressive Democratic candidate for 2016.
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Response to Louisiana1976 (Reply #1)
Wed Sep 3, 2014, 04:56 PM
underthematrix (892 posts)
8. You might want to tune into Scandal starting 9/25 on ABC
Shonda Rhimes is an amazing writer. I believe in the S2 season, there was an episode called Defiance. It was about election rigging. But that wasn't the big deal. The real big deal was this monologue by character, Cyrus Beene, chief of staff to the President:
1. “You know what our electoral process is! It’s magical! It’s like believing in Santa Claus, or the Tooth Fairy, or the Easter Bunny. Magical. As long as they believe. What you’re doing is telling the people that the shiny presents and the bulging stockings on Christmas morning are just mom and dad staying up all night to do the work. You’re telling them we’re Santa! We’re the Easter Bunny! We’re the Tooth Fairy. You’re taking the magic away. You’re ruining Christmas morning. And the whole republic is gonna come crashing down because you’re not tough enough to do what needs to be done.†—Cyrus Beene
As I was listening/watching this monologue, I could not believe it got past the censors. It is the best description of US the political/election process evar. Why do we have all the drama in between elections? To sell shit. America's economy is DEPENDENT on con-sumerism. To keep it afloat, the US needs America to buy shit; especially shit we can't afford.
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Wed Sep 3, 2014, 05:07 PM
Star Member shireen (7,733 posts)
11. ah, the word police ...
they probably didn't understand what was really being said. All they heard was Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny.
I remember that line. Good stuff!
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Wed Sep 3, 2014, 05:29 PM
underthematrix (892 posts)
16. LOL! That's what I'm thinking too
NightWatcher (25,111 posts)
2. You think Presidents matter?
Seriously, you think they call the shots, Hell, even give the ok?
I worked in the quasi gov/private sector when Clinton sat in office and worked the transition into shrub. It was seamless, there were no changes. Those who called the shots didn't change. They don't even work in the government.
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Wed Sep 3, 2014, 04:11 PM
Star Member rhett o rick (38,417 posts)
5. I don't think this line of thinking gets enough air. I agree that those that call the shots don't
change from president to president. I think it was a conscious decision to allow Obama to win in 2008. Granted stealing from the public became slightly harder but the Power That Be are patient.
I believe that when Obama was elected, or before, the NSA/CIA Group, had a talk with him and explained how much to everyone's benefit, and especially his, it was if he, the President, didn't start dicking around with the Security State. The same with the economy.
NightWatcher (25,111 posts)
6. Obama is a beer vendor at the SuperBowl
The owners don't care. He has little outcome on their game.
I'm not saying Obama is powerless, he matters a great deal in a lot of other ways, but in the domestic/military/industrial complex, he's a bit player.
Enrique (25,012 posts)
7. he got promoted recently
http://www.theonion.com/articles/obama-promoted-to-senior-vice-president-of-america,17321/
NEW YORK—A statement from America's National Headquarters revealed Thursday that, after just two years heading the Executive Branch, President Barack Obama has been promoted to Senior Vice President of American Affairs.
Obama, whose work on health care reform reportedly caught the eye of the nation's higher-ups, has eagerly accepted the more prestigious new position and will join the 12 other members of the American Affairs division starting Monday. He replaces outgoing SVPAA Tom Coleman, who was promoted in February to Chief Administrative Officer of America's North Atlantic Branch.
Pending final approval from the National Board of Directors, Friday will be Obama's last day as President of the United States.
"Barack is clearly a go-getter and one of our brightest up-and-coming talents," Vice Chairman of America Bill Donaldson was quoted in the statement as saying. "His work in the financial and international sectors shows promise and a capacity for handling some of the more difficult issues this country faces. He is young and this will be a lot of responsibility for him, but we're excited to bring him to headquarters and watch him grow."
Doctor_J (30,022 posts)
12. Spot on - this was all part of the plan by the real shot-callers
"Fascism not being assimilated quickly enough - let's have a smart, black "Democrat" enact phase II".
Just look around DU for proof.
underthematrix (892 posts)
3. I find it astonishing that you do not realize a lot of the
terror threats are homegrown wingnuts. We need the NSA, the Patriot Act and all of those other privacy invading tools. There is a segment of the American public who has not respect for the law or our duly elected gov't. They and the wingnuts they elected have maintained a consistent intense campaign to discredit and undermine our gov't. Most are GOP members of the Congress, non-demoninational family owned churches and businesses with wingnut CEOs. I'm so sick of these people that side from voting, I'm promoting everywhere I go the need to buy used, recycle or share.
Sopkoviak (30 posts)
4. How often is a government program, bureaucracy
Or mandate ever allowed to expire?
They just seem to feed on themselves and grow without review or justification.
I can only think of 2 off hand...
Prohibition and the national 55 mph speed limit, but that's because they were roundly ignored and ridiculed.
I suppose there might be others.
Dont call me Shirley (1,493 posts)
14. Uh, remember all the bush implants put in key positions before he left office?
Remember all the GOP obstructionism to anything Obama? The Caucus Room meeting?
It's not ALL Obama's fault, so stop Obama blaming for everything that's wrong in this country!
FiveGoodMen (14,801 posts)
15. Obama hasn't done much to get rid of those guys
And he's put similar people in power himself.
And that IS Obama's fault.
underthematrix (892 posts)
17. Actually, President is one man, yes President but one man
He doesn't make people's children stupid or low-performing. Parents do that all on their own. He doesn't make us buy things we don't need or could buy used or not buy at all. We are our enemy. How many of us have credit cards, or investments in the very industries we believe are controlling our lives? And it definitely isn't President Obama's fault that we are the most politically stupid people on the planet. Some people don't know there are three branches of government and that laws must be enacted, funded and implemented under administrative rules. One of the fears of the President's people was the magical thinking of some folks who believed once the first AA President was elected everything would magically change. Really it doesn't work that way. The world is a very complex place and for some reason people just don't seem to get that.
Dont call me Shirley (1,493 posts)
18. He has nominated judges and other positions which the GOP continue to filibuster
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Wed Sep 3, 2014, 06:04 PM
Star Member former9thward (11,372 posts)
20. Not any more.
There was a rule change in the Senate in November, 2013 which ended the filibuster of judges. Obama has now appointed more judges than Bush during the same time period.
Capt. Obvious (5,376 posts)
25. Oh please, Obama is powerless
He can't do anything because he never had a supermajority in both chambers for more than a couple of days.
VanillaRhapsody (11,838 posts)
26. Please Capt' Obvious...
prove otherwise!
geek tragedy (40,474 posts)
29. oh look another lazy-ass "Obama=Bush" clickbait article. nt
CK_John (6,693 posts)
Is the WH getting the best info/advice from all the agency heads??? IMO no.
For the last 30 yrs graduates from colleges such as Pat Robertson's law school were steered into gov departments, EPA,DOD,CIA,NSA,State,IRS.
Their training was to side track regulations, and put a silent hold on decision making. Rep Michele Bachmann came from the IRS.
Others like Mel Gibson followed and is sending out hundreds of operatives every yr.
Remember it's the process of government that controls our lives.
Who's the Boss?
Quote
CK_John (6,693 posts)
Is the WH getting the best info/advice from all the agency heads??? IMO no.
For the last 30 yrs graduates from colleges such as Pat Robertson's law school were steered into gov departments, EPA,DOD,CIA,NSA,State,IRS.
Their training was to side track regulations, and put a silent hold on decision making. Rep Michele Bachmann came from the IRS.
Others like Mel Gibson followed and is sending out hundreds of operatives every yr.
Remember it's the process of government that controls our lives.
Who's the Boss?
underthematrix (892 posts)
17. Actually, President is one man, yes President but one man
<snip>
Some people don't know there are three branches of government
...and some just don't care.(http://www.fireandreamitchell.com/wp-content/gallery/obama-satire/pharoahobama.jpg)
Puttmos I, Emperor of Denial
Dummies puts up some big conspiracy org chart in that post. :mental:
Before the fall brings us down, before the election season begins in earnest with all its nastiness and vulgarity, before the next batch of stupid scandals and gaffes, before Sarah Palin tries to convert her movie into reality and Joe Biden resumes his imitation of an embarrassing uncle and Newt and Callista Gingrich creep us all out, can we just enjoy Obama for a moment?
Before the policy choices have to be weighed and the hard decisions have to be made, can we just take a month or two to contemplate him the way we might contemplate a painting by Vermeer or a guitar lick by the early-seventies Rolling Stones or a Peyton Manning pass or any other astounding, ecstatic human achievement?
Because twenty years from now, we’re going to look back on this time as a glorious idyll in American politics, with a confident, intelligent, fascinating president riding the surge of his prodigious talents from triumph to triumph. Whatever happens this fall or next, the summer of 2011 is the summer of Obama.
There is a segment of the American public who has not respect for the law or our duly elected gov't.
Jackpine Radical
CK_John (6,693 posts)
Is the WH getting the best info/advice from all the agency heads??? IMO no.
For the last 30 yrs graduates from colleges such asPat Robertson'sHarvard, Yale and Princeton law schools, were steered into gov departments, EPA,DOD,CIA,NSA,State,IRS.
Their training was to side track regulations, and put a silent hold on decision making. Rep Michele Bachmann came from the IRS.
Others like Mel Gibson followed and is sending out hundreds of operatives every yr.
Remember it's the process of government that controls our lives.
Who's the Boss?
Old, but good:
http://dailycaller.com/2011/07/13/yes-lets-just-enjoy-obama-for-a-moment/
That's awesome, Big Dog. H5. :whistling: :yahoo: :fuelfire:
That was from the Daily Caller?!?!?!
Huh.
Politico, daIlY kOOk or one of those truly retarded sites like Mother Jones or alternet, sure, but Daily Caller?
Huh.
Sopkoviak (30 posts)
4. How often is a government program, bureaucracy
Or mandate ever allowed to expire?
They just seem to feed on themselves and grow without review or justification.
I can only think of 2 off hand...
Prohibition and the national 55 mph speed limit, but that's because they were roundly ignored and ridiculed.
The Feds collected an excise tax on telephones to fund the Spanish American War. They stopped collecting that tax in 2006. 106 ****ing years.