Arianna appeared on the Wednesday edition of MSNBC's 'The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell', sharing her views on President Obama's role in the nation's debt ceiling deal.
"I think he needs intense therapy, to explain to himself first of all why he did what he did, because there is no rational explanation. There is no economic explanation," explained Arianna.
When it comes to Obama's reelection chances, Arianna added that the deal made no political sense.
"If this was all intended to convince the Independents that he's the most responsible grownup in the room, they're more upset by the deal than Democrats are -- and Democrats are going to stay with him. They're not going anywhere."
In Arianna's eyes, the most important figure going into 2012 is unemployment. Even with a debt deal in place, "there is absolutely no prospect at the moment that would make us believe that unemployment number is going to be below 9 percent. Now that is really the greatest fear for The White House."
WATCH (via MSNBC):
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
The President Surrenders on Debt Ceiling - NYTimes.com
Debt Ceiling Deal Reached To Avert Default (LATEST UPDATES)
What's the debt ceiling, and why is everyone in Washington talking ...
The Debt Ceiling, Explained : Planet Money : NPR
How Does the U.S. Debt Ceiling Work and Why Does it Matter? | PBS ...
http://revcom.us/a/241/raymond-lotta-debt-ceiling-debate-en.html
Comments welcomed.
.
"The good ol' days" is a perspective, and is deeply subjective, and may not be shared by all as such.
I think our President of The United States of America (let us not forget!) is very aware of three precious things: 1) the precarious position our country is in, on many different issues and 2) that we must remain united. 3) to remain united, and to safeguard while we are in a vulnerable state, we're all going to have to sacrifice something for the greater good of the whole. In addition, he is obviously aware that in 'steering off-course' one of the things we've realized is the (over) power (given and then taken) of the corporation. And that is going to be our biggest challenge—because this is at the heart of money and its problems.
Just the same, if it is to be unfortunately so—Obama wouldn't be the first President mounting a re-election campaign to make a costly decision.
I might also add that I think it is difficult to understand some of Obama's positions because he is actually on the leading edge—the perspective that he takes makes space for ALL perspectives.
This is difficult for many of us to have awareness of. It cannot be argued that our country is divided again—Divided in such a way that our differing perspectives appear polar opposites. When in fact we are all holding onto our historical core values, because they inform how we experience, live, and create in and for culture. Individuals and groups are possessive by nature; we hold tight to all we consider dear. What sense does it make to even think that initiatives will fly when 40-60% of the nation is either for or against them?
Obama is in a lose-lose situation...if he vetoes their recommendation, the pentagon would take a big hit and he would get blasted by the republicans night and day, on every channel for gutting defense spending and not supporting the troops while fighting 3 wars. If he doesn't veto it, the country will face massive cuts in every other part of government. Which poison will he pick?
The only way to get republicans to the table and negotiate in good faith was to have a massive tax increase as a trigger...and that didn't happen. This is game, set, match for the republicans.
Anyone have a competing/different scenario they would like to share?
The democrats and Obama should have demanded a very robust jobs bill included in the negotiations and any deal without it should have been vetoed. It would have been nearly impossible for republicans to attack it. I think the republicans have Obama right where they want him and if I'm correct unemployment will continue to creep up and Obama's approval numbers will continue to fall all the way to the next election. It goes back to James Carville's famous quip...It's the economy, stupid.
If a republican wins in 2012 I really hate to see what's in store for our country. Something will have to give eventually and that something may be very ugly. Watching what these republican governors are doing in their states sends a cold shiver down my spine. They are not looking out for American workers, they're only looking out for America's wealthy.
Why can't you just choose to not read my long and boring comments? I've read a lot of crazy stuff on message boards but I've never told anyone to stop. I have a brain and if something isn't interesting I move on. It's pretty simple to do...you should try it.
Now the U.S. Government has to FEAR that Banks will stop all lending and SHUT DOWN the U.S. Economy if they do not get their way .
If I were the President I would declare a State of Emergency .
There is NO WAY that I would tolerate Banks or any Corporations dictating terms to the U.S. Government or the American People .
I would shut down their operations and kick all Forgein Banks out of the Country in a heart beat. Goldman Sachs would repay the U.S. Government for the Mexican Bailout because they got all that money !
If a republican wins in 2012 I would really hate to see what's in store for our country. Something will have to give eventually and that something may be very ugly. Watching what these republican governors are doing in their states sends a cold shiver down my spine. They are not looking out for American workers, they're only looking out for America's wealthy.
The DLC-controlled Democrats aren't forcing filibusters, and Obama isn't taking to the bully pulpit because it might actually work to get Democratic voters' legislative agenda made into the law of the land and do good for the People. And that's not what Obama and DLC-controlled Democrats are there for. They are there to do the work of the transnational corporations, and preventing that are the liberals.
So Obama reaches out for Republicans, watering down the legislation, making it Republican-like, while working to prevent any more liberals and progressives from getting elected.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, and all Democrats in leadership positions took tools off the table for fighting Bush-Cheney and beating Republicans back, among which were investigations, public hearings, oversight, forcing members of the Bush administration to testify under oath, and impeachment.
There's rarely a majority in Congress to pass anything at all until a campaign has been mounted to sell it. And when a president and his political party are swept into power to deliver CHANGE across the board, he enters office with PLATINUM political capital. Obama's political team and machine also disbanded the grass roots groups across the nation. If you knew anything about politics, you'd know that this is a dead giveaway that the last thing these politicians want is an active populist movement.
Come the 2012 election, I'm voting for candidates who are willing to use all of the power and tools of their offices to achieve the average American citizens' ("the Common Good") objectives. My votes, my money, and my shoe leather won't be spent on any candidate from the DLC-controlled Democratic Party.
From Huffington Post July 18, 2011
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/18/obama-campaign-fundraising_n_901569.html
"Obama's campaign pulled in 47 percent of its contributions from donors giving less than $250, an indication that the president still has the support of the donor base that drove him to victory in 2008. '
Democrats also have refused to exercise the discretion that Senate Rule 22 allows: Making Republicans actually filibuster, instead of just threatening to do it.
Rule 22 gives the SenateMajorityLeader the discretion to actually make the call. Filibustering is hard on those soft, pampered bodies. HarryReid has refused to make them do it, letting them merely threaten. Reid should. Americans love reality TV. 'Survivor-Washington, DC'.
The few times Reid has forced Republicans to actually filibuster, when Democrats have really needed whatever the issue was (like when Jim Bunning threatened to filibuster over extending unemployment benefits), Republicans caved.
Reid lets them merely threaten. Still. All that talk about changing filibuster rules, and nothing has come of it. Senate rules can be changed at any time, and not just at the start of a new Congress - It can be done at any time (see page 6 - http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/45448.pdf ).
Nor is there just one way (or even two or three or more ways) for Democrats to get bills passed despite Republicans' obstructionistic tactics. But first they have to want to do it, with the fierce urgency of now (don't click on that link, don't watch it, if you aren't prepared and can't bear to have your cherished illusions about Obama destroyed).
KEEP READING