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The weak man without a core straddles the middle and angers everyone.
Posted on 12/21/2009 9:28:10 PM PST by STARWISE
Promising change after eight George Bush and Republican dominated years, Barack Obama won the most sweeping non-incumbent victory in over 50 years along with congressional Democrats gaining large House and Senate majorities.
In addition, at 56.8%, voter turnout was the highest since Richard Nixon's "secret plan" to end the Vietnam war and his "Southern" and "law and order" strategies beat Hubert Humphrey and independent George Wallace in 1968.
On election night, the mood celebrated hope for progressive change, an end to imperial wars, and a new day for America. When word came around 10PM, expectant thousands in Chicago's Grant Park erupted with chants of "yes we can," hoping Obama would make a difference at a time of deepening economic duress.
In its November 4, 2008 editorial titled, "The Next President," The New York Times called it "one of those moments in history when it is worth pausing to reflect on the basic facts," then listed some:
* for the first time, Americans elected a black president;
* his triumph was "decisive and sweeping, because he saw what is wrong with this country, (and will change direction) to regulate the economy fairly, keep the air clean and the food safe, ensure that the sick have access to health care, and educate children to compete in a globalized world;"
* he "committed to ending a bloody and pointless (Afghan) war (and) restore Americans' civil liberties and (the nation's) reputation around the world;"
* he must now "prevent an economic collapse fed by greed and an orgy of speculation (by) impos(ing) control, coherence, transparency and fairness," in contrast to George Bush; and
* he "now needs the support of all Americans (to help him deal with the) many other urgent problems that must be addressed."
Endorsing his candidacy early on for a socially liberal new beginning, Nation magazine editor, Katrina vanden Heuvel, looked for a "transformational presidency, (a) new era of possibility, a historic opportunity for a progressive governing agenda and a mandate for bold action....Tonight we celebrate," she said.
Campaigning, he offered change, a new course, sweeping government reforms, addressing people needs, and "ensur(ing) that the hopes and concerns of average Americans speak louder in Washington than the hallway whispers of high-priced lobbyists," the same ones he said wouldn't run his administration, but would "have a seat at the table," and why not given their large contributions to him and other Democrats.
Little wonder that a year later hope is now disillusion, frustration, and anger over promises made, then broken with an awakening knowledge that change won't come unless growing millions demand it.
A Man of the People or Machine Politics
Obama rose through the system, a man James Petras calls "the greatest con man in recent history" in comparing him to Melville's Confidence Man: "He catches your eye while he picks your pocket." He talks change but delivers continuity.
He's a highly skilled demagogue doing Lincoln one better through his campaign and early months in office by fooling enough of the people to matter.
Connected to the fringes of Chicago politics, he served three terms in the Illinois Senate from 1997 - 2004. After a failed 2000 congressional race, he became a US senator in 2004, then used his position for a successful presidential bid.
While "cordial, (but) not close" to Richard Daley, he endorsed his reelection, and called his connection to former fundraiser, Antoin "Tony" Rezko, "a bone-headed mistake," after he was indicted and convicted on federal corruption charges.
Also troubling was his "political godfather," Emil Jones, Jr., former Illinois Senate president, who was tainted by an "ethical cloud."
His chief fundraiser is Penny Pritzker, some describe as America's most powerful woman and one of the richest as heiress to part of the Pritzker fortune. Believed over $40 billion, most of it is grandfathered in tax-free offshore trusts. Only the little people pay taxes as a prominent scafflaw once said.
An October 2008 Bloomberg "Power of Penny Pritzker" article stressed the enormous influence she wields in Democrat party circles as a fundraiser extraordinaire, and, according to Warren Buffet, she's the person to call when you want to "get the job done."
Bloomberg largely credited her with getting Obama elected and mentioned her connection to the subprime meltdown. Called by some the "subprime queen," she was one of its originators when she ran the failed suburban Chicago Hinsdale-based Superior Bank.
With $2.3 billion in assets, it was from predatory lending, sloppy bookkeeping, overstating securitized assets, and suspected fraud kept hidden until regulators closed it in July 2001.
Behind the scenes, Pritzker has clout in the administration without headlines because of her connection to Wall Street and other powerful interests.
The Illusion of "Yes We Can"
As a senator, Obama's voting record told all, that he supports power, not progressive change, but few took the trouble to check it:
* he backed Homeland Security funding that, like the Patriot Act, violates constitutional rights by centralizing militarized law enforcement under the executive;
* he voted to reauthorize the Patriot Act in July 2005 and did again recently as president; more on that below;
In her book "The Twilight of Democracy," Jennifer Van Bergen said the 2001 act (still the law) gives:
"tremendous powers to central authorities, undermine(s) civil liberties, and enable(s) suppression of opposition. (It's the) mainstay of government oppressive power (as it) authorizes and codifies a near-absolute and permanent invasion of (our) private lives, sets vast precedents in immigration law....dissolves....human rights (civil liberties, and erects) a massive law enforcement apparatus (targeting) immigrant(s) and citizen(s worldwide)."
This act alone gives the executive unchecked power, erodes due process, free association, and the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.
It eviscerates fundamental Bill of Rights freedoms, ones Obama voted to sacrifice and does as president by agreeing with Congress to extend three Patriot Act provisions set to expire at year end - to let government operate roving wire taps, search any person's business, personal, and library records by authorization of a national security letter, and spy on foreign nationals with no known links to terrorist designated groups.
*snip*
In Obama's America, only the privileged have rights, not people of color, the poor, and growing numbers going hungry, without jobs, and other life's essentials his budget allocations won't fund.
Rest @ link
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The weak man without a core straddles the middle and angers everyone.
I know a metrosexual hermaphrodite when I see one. Who gives a crap what he thinks??
I do. The guy is great and I have emailed him several times telling him I believe he deserves the Medal of Freedom.
He has written several remarkable pieces on depleted uranium and his “Imperialism 101” would benefit a lot of people here. When about the Federal Reserve all I have to do is link to his 5-part piece on it: http://www.populistamerica.com/how_the_federal_reserve_runs_the_us
He reads books and talks to people that write books. Here is his view of one most praised books of the last few years called “Web of Debt”= http://www.opednews.com/articles/Abolish-the-Fed-and-Return-by-Stephen-Lendman-091202-487.html
Here is Lendman on his radio broadcast talking to Russ Baker that wrote “Family of Secrets - The Bush Dynasty, The Powerful Forces That Put it in the White House, and What Their Influence Means for America”:http://216.240.133.177/archives32/Chossudovsky/2009/11/Chossudovsky_1_112509_100000.mp3
Lendman is magnificent and as far as I am concerned I read everything of his I can.
Powerful forces put Pres. Bush into the White House?
Would that be more powerful than the forces of
George Soros’ billions (who made it his mission
to defeat Pres. Bush but couldn’t in 2004) and the
hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal foreign
campaign donations for Obama?
You know, that Obama .. the one who did the submissive
genuflect in front of the Saudi king? More powerful
than the cabal of conspiracy in the smitten press and
their lies, shields and obfuscation about the truth about
Obama before the election ? That powerful ?
I was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. Raised in a modest middle class family, attended public schools, received a BA from Harvard University in 1956 and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of PA in 1960 following 2 years of obligatory military service in the US Army. Spent the next 6 years as a marketing research analyst for several large US corporations before becoming part of a new small family business in 1967, remaining there until retiring at the end of 1999. Have since devoted my time and efforts to the progressive causes and organizations I support, all involved in working for a more humane and just world for all people everywhere, but especially for the most needy, disadvantaged and oppressed. My efforts since summer 2005 have included writing on a broad range of vital topics ranging from war and peace; social, economic and political equity for all; and justice for all the oppressed peoples of the world like the long-suffering people of Haiti and the Palestinians. Also co-hosting The Global Research News Hour, occasional public talks, and frequent appearances on radio and at times television.
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He's a true blue "progressive."
I read the entire piece and don’t see the U.S. “war on Islam” being sanctioned by Obama. In fact, the opposite.
I don’t where he gets half the junk he wrote,
but it’s emblematic of how badly the 0 has
angered his base.
The people of Haiti truly suffer.
The Palestinians like to kill people, and themselves.
Well written April. You're correct. The following links are new and what our nation (and the people within it) are experiencing every single day. I clue you, George W. Bush's name is NOT on these job losses. When those Obama voters lose their jobs, they're going to be less than impressed with what he's done for them and their state, no matter what their politicians have been promised by his regime:
Tuition increases, job cuts possible to meet Mississippi budget
The Mississippi Legislature meets January 5 to begin the task of cutting over $800 million from the 2011 state budget.
Among the items under consideration include eliminating 3,600 state jobs, and cutting both state agencies and education by 10 to 12 percent.
Lingle (Hawaii) plans more job cuts, tax shifts
Gov. Linda Lingle said Monday she plans to balance the state’s budget over the next two years by cutting $1.2 billion in expenses, mostly through the elimination of nearly 1,900 state jobs.
I've been to Haiti and have seen firsthand that the people there are definitely impoverished. It's not easily forgettable.
So you cannot point out where he is wrong in all the things he says. Do you agree with him that the federal government as it exists is bogus?
If Lendman is not magnificent just who is?
I feel bad for black Americans that this guy was elected. I don't even feel he is a true representative of black America.
LOL ...
Yes.
poodle, is anyone ever wrong is ALL things they say? That doesn’t make your guy magnificent by any standard, unless you’re a progressive too.
I met a lot of Haitians during the boatlifts in the early 90s. (activists). It’s the most impoverished nation in the western hemisphere.
Obama has let everyone down. The left more so because we already knew somewhat to expect
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Reality is hitting the hypnotized. We knew ..
a year before the election. We were pounding the
keys with our extensive research, faxing, emailing,
yelling from the rooftops .. wake up, America!
“None are so blind as those who *will* not see ..”
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