The Politics of Destruction vs. The Politics of Surrender
Don't blame Barack Obama for serial backtracking, whether on health care or for continuing an civil liberties policy. Don't blame Senate Democrats for tanking on a "public option." It doesn't matter whether the issue is big, as in health care, or relatively small, as in my corner of the world when the government caved in to big-time telecommunications lobbyists.
Democrats do what they do because it's in the DNA of the party. Some times some Democrats can see the true value of the party, in standing up for big progressive ideas and fighting for them. But most of the time, they fold like a weak poker hand when the opposition kicks up a storm. Would Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) and the rest of the "centrists" really oppose a public option of the insurance industry wasn't spending millions of dollars? Would the White House fold up on negotiating lower prescription drug benefits if the big pharma lobby wasn't spending millions to pressure them? Would health care even be in danger if members of Congress weren't threatened by goons sicced on them by the other side, or by nut-jobs who don't want "socialism" but would scream if their Social Security was cut off?
Democrats talk a good game. Obama talked the best game of all during the campaign. Remember that night in Denver: "Change should not come from Washington, change must come to Washington." Well, Obama and his team came to Washington, but change didn't. Obama won because people believed his call for change. Whether that was the real Barack Obama or whether the real Obama is a deal-making, practical politician doesn't really matter. People believed. And now he's letting everyone down, in a big and disappointing way. Those big ideas are falling by the wayside, and it's a shame, because people support them.
Obama is making the same fundamental mistake that Bill Clinton made. He is allowing the Republicans to control the debate and to strip away the mandate that he won in the election. He's letting the thugs and the lies take over. He's letting the lobbyists, even the lobbyists who are responsible for many of the problems we now have, take the upper hand through a combination of their inside game and their thuggery and their media allies. He and his team need not only to bolster themselves, but to make certain that even the most conservative and recalcitrant Democrats know the dangers of not getting behind a popular president, and of letting fail programs which could help their constituents. The great irony is that many of the rural legislators who oppose Obama in any number of issues have the greatest number of their constituents at risk and who could be helped.
The other side doesn't have any solutions, and they don't care about a result. They want to destroy the Obama program. Democrats let them. The Senate Democrats and the Blue Dogs can make all the concessions in the world and the Republicans still won't vote for a health care program. But Democrats don't get that. They would rather take out popular and common-sense ideas from their legislation in order to compromise -- weakening themselves, and their bills.
My corner of the world is telecommunications. In recent weeks, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has been engaged in a process of trying to define how to spend $7.2 billion in stimulus funds to advance the deployment of high-speed networks to connect people to the Internet. One part of the plan will fund a map of where broadband is deployed and where it isn't. The telephone companies through their proxy, a group called Connected Nation, has been fighting the disclosure of information from the start. The administration was confident they had all the rules and guidelines in place to keep the integrity of the program.
Then, a high-powered group of industry executives went in to NTIA to complain. And guess what? NTIA folded. They consider that they cut themselves a good deal, but there was no reason to cut a deal at all. NTIA's job is to protect the public interest, not to make a deal to compromise their program. For the last eight years, the telecom industry ran telecom policy, and ran it into the ground. Now, we have a chance to fix that, and the government is showing weakness right off the bat. The future does not look good.
The telephone companies made news when they said they wouldn't apply for stimulus funds to build out networks although they were making noises about doing just that back in March, when the Obama team helped push through Congress some progressive telecom policies in the stimulus bill.
That was then. Now, the lobbying groups are back in control. The telecom groups are once again asserting themselves. The health insurance lobby and the big pharma lobby are taking back their issues. Chicken Democrats are letting the very people who caused the problems in health care or finance get away with once again dictating policy through idiocy of the hoary "socialized medicine" threats, even when none of the people involved would think of giving up Social Security or Medicare, or would object for an instant about paying less for drugs. Why should an uninformed Pennsylvania woman be hailed as a heroine for telling Arlen Specter she doesn't want America turning "into Russia, turning into a socialized country?"
It's the British who have come to the aid of the Democrats in the health care debate. After weeks of attacks against their National Health Service (NHS), a national program that doesn't resemble anything being proposed here, the government came out in defense of their a program with wide acceptance in the United Kingdom.
When the Investor's Business Daily trashed the U.K. system, saying Professor Stephen Hawking wouldn't stand a chance of survival under the British system, it was Hawking and other U.K. stalwarts who reminded the U.S. that Hawking is British and owes his life to NHS. The British are amazed at the demonization of their program, an integral part of the national culture.
Why aren't Democrats doing that? Why are they folding to every big industry and to every stupid argument? Because they are Democrats. That's what they do. It's the politics of destruction versus the politics of surrender. Someone will come out on top, but there are no winners.
Follow Art Brodsky on Twitter: www.twitter.com/artbrodsky
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I think it is becoming painfully obvious that Obama is not a leader but rather a conciliator. He's certainly no FDR and some comparisons that were made of him to FDR at the beginning of Obama's term seem outrightly laughable now.
Every now and then, some person or another makes a statement that goes something like this, "Man, if only had the money, I would leave the United States." Then many people will pipe in, "Well If you really want to leave this country that bad, I'll give you the money!" I have never actually seen or heard of anyone really give anyone the money to leave.
On my own behalf, I would like to say now, If I only had the money, I would leave these United States!!! Now all I have to do is sit back and wait for the offers of money from the many dismayed readers. Europe, with all your highly successful social programs, politicians that are held accountable, and superior health-care systems...
will the "public option" cover spine-enhancement procedures? if so, it is a MUST. must these demos cave in to every cry by thr repugs?
These Rethuglicans and Democants share more likenesses than differences. What a disgrace!
From the very beginning, Obama has wafled and vacillated, showing no real commitment. Opponents saw this as a weakness and exploited it. Let's face it, Obama is not a leader.
The MSM is conducting the debate. If you would spend at most 2 hours watching CNN, you would quickly find that Jessica Yellin, Dana Bash, and John King are dedicated to play down anything from the democrats and the left and to inflate anything from the wingnuts. However the big question is, WHERE IS THE LEFT IN ALL THIS?
Obama lost when he failed to control the debate and the cretins in his own party. I first thing Obama should have done on 1/20 is kick Harry Reid out of office, he is a light weight punching bag who garners no respect in either party. Obama had a royal flush and folded is hand to a pair of 2's
My first memory of anything political was when Jimmy Carter became president - My family was excited. I was 6 years old. I have always voted Democrat - usually proudly. But Damn. This bunch is not making it easy! I mean come on, haven't they ever heard of party unity? Don't they know that this is important on a bunch of different levels? And where's the strategy? I guess I can see where being calm and rational while the other side screams and flails around works with a cranky 2 year old, but the media machine doesn't get tired and go to sleep, it goes on and on, and the People are panicky and impatient. I would have been more impressed if they could agree on what they are trying to achieve.
I am a progressive who supported Obama and other Dems in prior elections. But it is abundantly clear that inspite of the advantage the Dems have in both houses and the presidency, they are not dancing with them that brought them. This may be the final straw for me. I intend to sit out all the elections from here on out since even when it took all this energy and time to get the Dems into power, a filibuster proof Senate and a president that ran on progressive ideas, they fold at the slightest opposition from the Rethugs and special interests. So to teach the Dems a lesson they must learn, I will not support nor vote for any Dem even though it guarantees the ReThugs win and I hope you join me. With the ReThugs in power, we know that things will get even worse than they are now. And we also know it will get much better for the rich, the well connected and the corporations. Therefore, things must get much worse before they can get better. It may not happen in my lifetime but my grandkids or their kids may benefit. When the average American, Joe the Plumber and silly Sarah Baracuda types get it such that the lies and distortions no longer work, then there will be the right opportunities for progressive ideas to win. Until then, stop voting for Dems. Obama apparently is not the leader we were hoping for and is a big disappointment.
Agreed! If Obama and the Dems cave in to the corporations and the Republicans I'm finished with the Democratic Party. Let it wither and go the way of the Whigs. No money, no door to door, nothing, nada. It may well have to get much worse for the "average" American before they realize they've been played for dupes.
So you call anyone you disagree with a "Rethug"? Maybe these people are just Americans -- Republicans, Democrats, and Independents -- who are expressing their First Amendment rights. Disrespecting those you disagree with will only unite them and make them more determined.
Hog wash.
I agree with your sentiments but not your solution. I urge you to write to Jane Hamsher, founder of firedoglak
The only way we will ever get a third party is if it is created by incumbent politicians. There are enough progressive Dems - and Green Party members - throughout all levels of government to establish a strong minority Progressive party. As a separate entity with a strong, vocal presence, even if a minority one, MSM will not be able to marginalize the party as fringe lunatics. Once the people get a chance to hear what progressives stand for, the party will quickly grow into a force to be reckoned with, a true voice of the people, not the corporations.
"Obama is making the same fundamental mistake that Bill Clinton made."
None of this is happening by mistake.
Obama isn't the only one allowing the radical rightwingnuts to dominate the conversation, apparently C-span is in on it too.
All weekend C-span had overwhelming coverage of a radical right conference. Most people are home from their job on the weekends (at least those that have survived the bush generated recession).
It's funny, but sad that this conference kept saying these radicals wanted prosperity for us, when, while in office, all they could do was everything but give us prosperity. The man who the supreme court elected and his friends did manage to get our troops showers that electricuted them and food not fit to eat and crappy equipment!
Only today, Monday, did C-span decide to cover a common sense conference held by Netroots Nation. This doesn't help erase the propaganda spewed all weekend!
I know - I saw Newtster on there yesterday and wondered why he gets time to spew his krap on C-SPAN??
The name calling from the left, such as referring to anyone who disagrees with you a "right-wing nut," is completely unproductive, and is driving people away from the Dem Party. Most of us who are moderate/i
Been to a town hall meeting lately?
You know what, that's tough. The right wing nuts don't respond to civil discourse. That has been the problem with Democrats and Independants all along. We tried talking to them in a civil manner while they screamed and flailed and carried signs comparing us to Hitler. The time for civil discourse is over. It is time to deal with Republicans on their level. It is time for name calling and hurling invectives and screaming and shouting. It is the only thing that middle america seems to be moved by anymore. This is borne out by the fact that since the town hall meetings, "Independants" in a recent poll are feeling even more negative about health care reform than they were. So clearly screaming works and that is what I say we all start doing!
What's to respect??
Moderates/
not one, not one repug congressperson has given up his/her socialized medicine insurance package they get at very low cost to the gov't. So please, these conservatives cry over giving to others what they take and take and take.
This is one thing that is bothering me where is the grass roots support for President Obama i don't see minorities or the strong independent support from the various walks of life coming out for the president are they in the back ground and less plentiful or is it a silent majority. I guess the real question will be answered at the next election.
Were still in shock from watching all the vacillating the president is doing. Until Obama mans up and stand up to the repubs he is on his on. Besides he does not need his base anymore and that is why he works so hard to get the approval of the repubs who by the way are already questioning the co op. He might be a brilliant man but he is looking like a slow learner.Th
This isn't the same man. Screw him.
52% is nowhere near a mandate. The sub-prime mortgage mess was why many dems where swept into office, which was obviously a problem that both parties didn't try hard enough to stop, and most Americans understand that now. The timing of the economic meltdown last September was a gift to dems that they are now squandering by pushing a far left agenda. By the way, most American's are either moderate (40%) or conservative (40%), and only about 20% identify as liberal. This comes from a recent Gallop poll and that is the same breakdown they've seen for the last 30 years, yet many dems think that the country has suddenly turned majority liberal. I’m one of the 40% moderate/i
Yet most Americans will admit that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, GI Bill, veteran's health care, student grant/loan programs, etc. are indispensable to our national well-being. I'd like to see Conservatives take a real stand against "Big Gov't" and opt out of these programs.
What is it that the Conservatives are offering the American people, anyway? I don't hear any solutions for our health care, energy, education or economic problems. If government doesn't step in and clean up this mess, who is? Big corporations like Enron, AIG, and Citbank?
Alternative ideas for health care -- allowing interstate competition between health insurance companies, tort reform for frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits, health care dollar accounts that would force doctors to be up front about their pricing and patients to be more selective in what they let a doctor do...would you like me to go on? And it's interesting you called me a "conservative" when I clearly stated I was a moderate/i
"If he fails, the whole notion of responsible government in America is at risk."
The notion has been gone for a LONG TIME! How's that for cynicism?
We are a fascist corporatocracy. It doesn't matter who gets elected into office. They will pacify us just enough to keep us from revolting and taking our country back.
We shld go even further and stop exempting business for paying a portion of their employees health care. After all these people dont like government so why shld the government be responsible for any subsidation of their private plans. Their company cld still offer them insurance they wld just prbly pay the full cost of it instead of the subsidized amt. This wld save the nation about 250 billion annually. And it wld allow the yokels to have a clear concious bcz the government has no connection to their hlthcare at all.
I hope you follow through with your beliefs and stop supporting the troops, stop driving on the interstates, stop mailing letters through the post office, stop only eating foods approved by the FDA, etc.
I understand favoring limited government, but opposing anything that people in the Govt. propose based on ideological stances like "limited government" is silly because you clearly think that a lot of what they Govt. does is necessary. We should be discussing programs based on their merits rather than "conservatism" vs. "socialism" because I'm sure you support massive Govt. controlled tax and spend programs like our military.
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The anger is ramping up because it's getting worse. At first it was forgiveable, because the things he promised were ideological, and he didn't really promise them outright. He talked about moving past racism, he talked about changing the rest of the world's view of America, he talked about changing Washington. He HAS at least taken a halfhearted stab at these things without actually accomplishing them, and we all knew he couldn't really do it all in one term.
But now it's specific things he's not delivering on. Health care is a specific problem. DADT and DOMA are specific problems. Foreclosures are a specific problem. And he keeps folding on them, again and again. The only uncompromised win he's gotten so far is Sotomayor and he really didn't have anything to do with it beyond her nomination - SHE earned that one for him.
It's really scary, because if Obama fails, I'm not sure this nation can survive an ideological disappointment of that magnitide. A lot of Americans voted for Obama as a kind of "last hope" for decency and responsible governance. "Please Barack, bring us back from the Bush/Cheney brink of gross cynicism". If he fails, the whole notion of responsible government in America is at risk.
It's getting to the point were many will begin looking at immigrating to countries whose populations want to live in the 21st Century, not the 19th Century. It's really stunning to see how infantile large swaths of the American public are but then they have been well indoctrinated by the corporate media.
Sorry Danube, your incredible shrinking BushBuck Social Security monthly stipend wouldn't support you for a week at European food prices.
And the verb is "emigrating". We're already here.
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