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Obama Too Smart, Too Black for Declining America |
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Sunday, 24 October 2010 19:45 |
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Richard Gwyn begins: "Barack Obama has to be one of the smartest, eloquent, calm and cool and psychologically well-balanced (think of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush or Richard Nixon) American presidents of modern times."
US President Barack Obama listens intently at the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in Oslo Norway, 12/10/09. (photo: Susan Walsh/AP)
Obama Too Smart, Too Black for
Declining America
By Richard Gwyn, The Toronto Star
24 October 10
 arack Obama has to be one of the smartest, eloquent, calm and cool and psychologically well-balanced (think of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush or Richard Nixon) American presidents of modern times.
He's also one of the toughest, although he neither sounds it nor looks it. Shrewdly, and surprisingly candidly, an aide has recently described him as "the most unsentimental man I've ever met." Ruthlessness comes easily to Obama, that's to say, which is what it took for him to beat a presidential nomination rival as tough as Hillary Clinton.
And yet his popularity is dragging down toward 40 per cent and by all the omens his Democrats are about to get trounced in the November congressional elections.
Obama does have some serious problems. He's black.
Unquestionably, a lot of Americans hate their national leader being black, and, worse yet, a black who is the smartest man around. It's a variant, incomparably uglier, of the widespread loathing of John F. Kennedy for making people feel bad by being so handsome and sophisticated, sort of a presidential Clark Gable.
Then there's the economy. The lack of jobs is serious and perhaps even more so is the widespread insecurity among those who do have jobs. A double-dip recession is a real prospect.
Yet the truth - admittedly a near-irrelevancy in politics - is that Obama headed off a near-depression caused by Bush and corporate greed and arrogance and stupidity, and by his stimulus package brought the economy back at least to consciousness.
Included in this was financial regulatory reform and reform of the auto companies (it's working unexpectedly well). Also health-care reform.
Now he's attempting a second stimulus package. It's been blocked by the Republicans, who are insisting that planned tax cuts be extended to the wealthy (incomes above $250,000) as well as to the middle class.
This blockage of a second stimulus is being cheered on by the populist Tea Party movement. Go figure that, other than that many Tea Partiers undoubtedly can't stand the fact that he's black.
This is the point. Obama's problem, which indeed is sizeable, doesn't reside in himself, although he needs to learn the art of faking sincerity that Clinton, with his "I feel your pain" pitch. was so good at. Obama's problem resides in America. It's become a near-dysfunctional society.
The Tea Party, which is a genuine grassroots movement, confirms it. It stands for "freedom." No more big government. No more meddling in people's lives. But instead, Sarah Palin.
That a sizeable number of people should want Palin for president is irrefutable evidence their society has gone dysfunctional. She's a third-rater, except in demagoguery (and in faking sincerity). Paris Hilton would do the job as well, probably better.
Why should this be so? My guess is that Tea Party members and a lot of others, including that Florida evangelical minister who wanted to burn the Qur'an, even though it would have put a lot of American soldiers at risk, have actually got onto something important.
That something is that the U.S. today is clearly in decline. This shouldn't be exaggerated. Americans have an astounding capacity for resilience. Once there was humiliation in Vietnam. Once all the experts were saying Japan was about to become No. 1. Both are now history.
The U.S. will always be powerful and wealthy. But it will never again bestride the world like a colossus towering above all others. It will be, rather, a big guy in a crowd.
America's conceit of "exceptionalism," or of being better than anyone else and fundamentally different from all other societies and countries, can no longer be sustained. It's exhausted its quota, a very large one indeed, of bright, confident mornings.
Obama's problem thus is stark and simple: He's the right guy at the wrong time.
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Reject the Neo-American "Insurgents" on November 2nd |
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Thursday, 21 October 2010 11:33 |
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"The Democrat have a long way to go, and many of them continue to be part of the problem, but if we let the 'insurgents' return to power things will only get worse. Say 'no' to the Republicans on November 2nd, and then turn the heat up on the Democrats November 3rd."
Voters during the 2008 elections, 11/04/08. (photo: AP)
Reject the Neo-American "Insurgents"
on November 2nd
By Scott Galindez, Reader Supported News
21 October 10
Reader Supported News | Perspective
 n November 2nd Americans will be going to the polls in a very important election. Despite what the Republican Party and their misinformed followers in the Tea Party tell you, President Obama is not on the ballot.
No matter who wins this November, Barack Obama will still be our president. We will still be a nation at war. We will still have high unemployment. Millions of Americans will still be losing their homes. Bigotry based on race, religion, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation will still divide us.
On November 4th, 2008, millions of Americans rejoiced at the election of our nation's first African-American president. Below the surface, a racist segment of our nation didn't share in our joy. Instead, a fuse was lit that led to the ugly political climate that we now face.
Let us face the ugly truth: It is not the policies of Barack Obama that fuel much of the hate directed at him, it is the color of his skin. Two years ago a majority of Americans rejected racism at the polls, we should be proud of that. In just under two weeks the "insurgents" will attempt to turn the clock back and return us to an America ruled by fear. I intend to use the word "insurgent" in the same negative light that the warmongers use it to describe Iraqi and Afghan people resisting change in their country. They too believe they are doing the right thing. The "insurgents" in Iraq and Afghanistan are fueled by strongly held beliefs that are not that different from those who believe Obama is a "Muslim," or is not an American. Thank god (or whatever higher power you believe in) they have not resulted to violence to achieve their goals.
While many of us are disappointed at the pace of change, it is not an excuse for staying home and letting the forces of hate win this November.
The "insurgents" will not end the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. The wars have not ended as fast as we would like, but the next time Congress takes up the issue do we want John Boehner setting the parameters for debate?
Do we want Elizabeth Warren to lead the new Consumer Protection Agency? If the Republicans control Congress there won't be an agency for her to lead. The "insurgent" leaders support the banks, even though they spout their populist rhetoric against them.
Do we want people all over America stopped by police because they look Latin and might be here illegally? The "insurgents" do.
Do we want gays and lesbians to continue to be discriminated against both while serving our country in the military and when trying to start a family with a loved one? The "insurgents" do.
Do we want our children to continue to be bullied for being gay, or brown, or black? The "insurgents" do.
Do we want sick people to lose their health insurance, or be denied altogether because of pre-existing conditions? The "insurgents" do.
Do we want women to make less money than men for the same work? The "insurgents" do ... well, not all of them, but I'm betting the Koch Brothers didn't like the Lilly Ledbetter Act. Of course the mama grizzlies might have liked it, but I'm betting their right-wing husbands wish they were still at home, barefoot and pregnant.
Do we want Muslims, or anyone who looks like a Muslim, to live in fear? The "insurgents" do.
Do we want to abandon the unemployed, who struggle to find work while the companies that we bailed out make huge profits? The "insurgent" leaders do.
I could go on and on, and I urge you to add to this list. No, I am not saying that all the "insurgents" are bad people, but they are being led and used by people who do not have their best interests at heart. The Rush Limbaughs, Glenn Becks and Sara Palins of the world want us to turn back the clock.
The Democrats have a long way to go, and many of them continue to be part of the problem, but if we let the "insurgents" return to power things will only get worse. Say "no" to the Republicans on November 2nd, and then turn the heat up on the Democrats on November 3rd.
Scott Galindez attended Syracuse University, where he first became politically active. The writings of El Salvador's slain archbishop Oscar Romero and the on-campus South Africa divestment movement converted him from a Reagan supporter to an activist for Peace and Justice. Over the years he has been influenced by the likes of Philip Berrigan, William Thomas, Mitch Snyder, Don White, Lisa Fithian, and Paul Wellstone. Scott met Marc Ash while organizing counterinaugural events after George W. Bush's first stolen election. Scott will be spending a year covering the presidential election from Iowa.
Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.
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Dems Come Alive! |
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Wednesday, 06 October 2010 19:08 |
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Michael Moore begins: "Ok! We're halfway through the week and we're off to a great start. Last week I gave the spineless Dems five friendly suggestions for things they could do on the off chance they were interested in winning the midterm elections on November 2nd ..."
President Barack Obama speaking on the economy in Ohio, 09/08/10. (photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)
Dems Come Alive!
By Michael Moore, OpenMike Blog
06 October 10
A Follow-Up From Michael Moore
 riends,
Ok! We're halfway through the week and we're off to a great start. Last week I gave the spineless Dems five friendly suggestions for things they could do on the off chance they were interested in winning the midterm elections on November 2nd:
1. Deliver a blunt, nonstop reminder to the American people about exactly who it was that got us into the mess we're in.
2. Declare a moratorium on home foreclosures.
3. Prosecute the banks and Wall Street for the Crime of the Century.
4. Create a 21st century WPA (hire the unemployed to rebuild America).
5. Pledge that no Dem will take a dime from Wall Street in the next election cycle.
So how are we doing 5 days later? Not bad! It turns out that at least some of these ideas were so simple even elected Democrats could come up with them!
1. Dems have started running tough, killer ads that have balls and SAY WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID. Check these out:
In the California Senate race, Barbara Boxer is going after Carly Fiorina on the outsourcing Fiorina did as CEO of HP.
Rep. Tim Bishop of Long Island, New York hits his GOP opponent Randy Altschuler on how HIS business sent jobs overseas.
Richard Blumenthal half-nelsons his Connecticut Senate opponent (and former WWE CEO) Linda McMahon who said we should consider cutting the minimum wage and then lied about having said it.
Jeez, it's like they wanna win! More of these, please - NOW!
2. Foreclosure Moratorium fever among the Dems has amazingly swept the nation in the last week!
Democratic Attorneys General all over the country are now demanding moratoriums for their states: California (Jerry Brown, now running for Governor), Connecticut (Richard Blumenthal, now running for Senate), Delaware (Joe Biden's son Beau), Massachusetts (Martha Coakley, who probably wished she'd done this earlier since she lost the special Senate race in January to Scott Brown), Illinois (Lisa Madigan), Texas (Greg Abbott - a Republican!) and Colorado (John Suthers - another Republican!). And so is Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley (at the urging of Rep. Elijah Cummings, who you may remember from 'Capitalism: A Love Story').
Meanwhile, the Attorneys General of Iowa, Ohio and North Carolina are opening probes into the mortgage industry. And the banks are feeling the heat - GMAC, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America have already suspended foreclosures in 23 states (with Detroit's Rep. John Conyers, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, calling on them to extend it to Michigan and the rest of the U.S.).
Wells Fargo? Citibank? Are you paying attention? Now's the time to do something good so you can later mention it to the sentencing judge.
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona has called for a nationwide foreclosure moratorium, and Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey says that may be necessary.
And it goes on and on. Check the special section on my website that I'm updating every day as more and more Democratic officials announce they will no longer allow banks to kick families out of their homes.
3. Prosecute the bastards! Looks like that's what they're maybe finally going to do. Check out this stunning letter sent to Attorney General Holder yesterday by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and 30 other members of congress (PDF):
"... we urge you and your respective agencies to investigate possible violations of law or regulations by financial institutions in their handling of delinquent mortgages, mortgage modifications, and foreclosures.... The excuses we have heard from financial institutions are simply not credible three years into this crisis.... It is time that banks are held accountable for their practices that have left too many homeowners without real help."
According to the New York Times, banks will likely face a "wide range of government investigations" for years. Judges may ask for them to be indicted for perjury or obstruction of justice. The Justice Department could prosecute banks for mail and wire fraud, or for making false statements to the government. And the SEC could open civil investigations.
Now we need to hear the Justice Department announce their investigation.
And look - Larry Summers is gone. Great move! The people's advocate, Elizabeth Warren, is in - genius move! If that's the direction Obama is now heading in, then these bankers may be shaking in their Salvatore Ferragamos.
So, not a bad start, Democrats (20 months late)! Just four weeks to go and I'm feeling that maybe, just maybe, we may prevent the All Souls Day Massacre. The pundits, who are essentially tools for the Corporate States of America, may have to eat a lot of crow. And if the Dems escape death's door, they had better not let this nonsense happen again.
So, President Obama and Congress, let's get busy on ideas #4 (WPA jobs) and #5 (pledge to take no further campaign money from Goldman and their friends).
C'mon everybody - there's at least 3 million of you reading this (including the 700,000 of you who are my Twitter followers and my 300,000+ close Facebook friends). Let's pressure the Dems to quit cowering and kick some butt - NOW!
Tell them it's easy and to repeat after us:
• Stop the foreclosures!
• Prosecute the banks and Wall Street and war profiteer corps!
• Remind the public 24/7 who created the mess!
• Announce a real jobs program!
• Promise not to take Wall Street's dirty money!
• Win the election!
Simple!
Do it!
Yours,
Michael Moore
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
MichaelMoore.com
P.S. On a different subject ... One of the most moving, hopeful and powerful documentaries I've seen this year (or any year) opens at the Quad in NYC on Friday. It's called, "Budrus," and it's about a town by that name in the West Bank. The Palestinians in that town (and many of their Israeli neighbors on the other side of the Wall that's being constructed) come up with a way to totally undo the Israeli Defense Forces: pledge to defeat the occupiers by never firing a bullet, never throwing a stone, never causing any harm to their Jewish brothers and sisters. Whoa! What happens next is so effed up, so incredible, you have to see this movie to believe it. The film is brilliant. It won the top Founders Prize for nonfiction film at my film festival this summer. It will soon be coming to other cities. Do not miss it!!!
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Democrats Can Pull Off the Mother of All Upsets |
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Friday, 01 October 2010 20:26 |
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Michael Moore: "If you're of a mindset that believes a return to 2001-2008 would be sheer insanity, then you probably agree we've got no choice but to save the Democrats from themselves."
Portrait, Michael Moore, 04/03/09. (photo: Ann-Christine Poujoulat/Getty)
Democrats Can Pull Off the Mother of All Upsets
By Michael Moore, OpenMike Blog
01 October 10
Five Ways the Democrats Can Avoid a Catastrophe and Pull Off the Mother of All Upsets
 he election is one month from tomorrow and, yes, it looks hopeless. November 2nd - the day the Dems are expected to crash and burn.
Sadly, it's a situation the Democrats have brought upon themselves - even though the majority of them didn't create the mess we're in. But they've had over a year and a half to start getting the job done to fix it. Instead, they've run scared ever since they took power. To many, the shellacking they're about to receive is one they deserve.
But if you're of a mindset that believes a return to 2001-2008 would be sheer insanity, then you probably agree we've got no choice but to save the Democrats from themselves.
Memo To: President Obama and the Democratic Party Leadership
From: Michael Moore
Subject: 5 Things Dems Can Do to Turn It Around by November 2nd
1. Immediate Wall-to-Wall TV Ads, Internet Videos, and Appearances Hammering Who the Hell Put Us in the Misery We're In.
We Americans have very short attention spans (Quick: Who Won the Oscar for Best Picture last year? The World Series? Exactly.). People need to be reminded over and over that it was the REPUBLICANS who concocted and led the unnecessary invasion of two countries, putting us in our longest war ever, wars that will eventually cost us over $3 trillion. Bush and Co. also caused the biggest collapse of our economy since the Great Depression. I don't know a single person in Hollywood who wouldn't shoot and produce those spots for you for FREE. Dems: Do not pull a single punch on this. Quit being a bunch of wusses and let the bastards have it! The public will be astonished that you've found your courage and your spine. We expect you to be Muhammad Ali, not Ally McBeal.
2. Indict the Criminals.
Announce that the Justice Department will seek indictments against both those who caused the economic collapse and those who became war profiteers. Call it for what it is: organized crime. Use the RICO statutes. Use the basic laws that make fraud of any kind a crime. Get in the face of those who stole the billions, make them pay for it - and the people will love you. We want Dirty Harry, not Dirty Dancing.
3. Announce a Moratorium on All Family Home Foreclosures.
Last month (August) there were more home foreclosures than in any month in U.S. history. Worse than any month in the worst year ever, 2009. The bleeding hasn't stopped - it's only gotten worse. And now, this week, two of the largest crime organizations who are throwing hundreds of thousands of people out of their homes (GMAC and JPMorgan Chase) have been forced to momentarily stop doing this. It turns out, they don't really have the paperwork to prove they actually own these houses! It's madness. So if you do one thing for the middle class this week, do this. It will take an hour of your time to draw up the decree and issue it. We'd rather watch "It's a Wonderful Life" than "Poltergeist."
4. Announce a New 21st Century WPA.
"Who's hiring? THE GOVERNMENT IS HIRING!" Put together a simple plan to hire enough people to repair our roads, fix up our aging schools, and rebuild our infrastructure. Fund this by taxing the richest 1% who have more financial wealth than 95% of Americans combined! Unemployment will drop to 5%. Can you pass it? Well, you sure can't unless you try! And as you're trying, announce that you will force the Republican senators (who until now simply have had to say they "intended" to filibuster in order to kill a bill) to have to actually filibuster! Make them stand on the floor of the Senate and read from the phone book 24/7. They won't last a day. And America will see them for who they really are.
5. Declare That No Democrat Will Accept ANY Wall Street Money in the Next Election Cycle.
Pick a day in the coming week. Have all your fellow Democrats in Congress stand in front of the Capitol (with President Obama) and pledge that if America allows you to retain control of Congress, none of you will take a penny from Wall Street for the 2012 election. Instead, promise to accept donations of only $2, $5 and $10. You will also pledge not to take a job as a lobbyist or lawyer for ANY corporation for ten years after you leave Congress. The message will be a powerful one to the average American fed up with corrupt political hacks. Act like Honest Abe, not Fast Freddie - and see what happens.
And here are two bonus suggestions: Use what sense of humor you have and go after these candidates and their agenda with all the hilarious ridicule they deserve. And quit complaining about "the base" not doing enough to help you. You want help? Do something this week to earn it. I've offered five suggestions. I'm sure the rest of "the base" has a few more.
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