Obama has played the Republicans like a damned fiddle, yet we are worried about his technique

The Republicans talked all their mess about reducing the deficit, President Obama called their bluff and went big, they didn't want to go as big as he did.

It should be pointed out Obama only said he was open to looking at entitlements. He never said he wanted to, he said it had to be considered and even then conventional wisdom points to his being focused on saving money through efficiencies and not necessarily cuts to benefits.

He did however say he wanted to new revenues mainly by closing tax loop holes and let the Bush tax cuts expire. Which is what we wanted, right?

Obama UNDERMINED, House Speaker John Boehner by meeting him more than halfway, but asking to close loopholes and to let the Bush tax for the wealthy expire. He has also portrayed himself as an adult and rationale, unfortunately many folks on our side don't appreciate that.

So today, Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are looking for a way out of this fight. They are willing to give him his debt ceiling.

While our base is still freaking out over a deal that hasn't happened,many of our members of Congress are looking to protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Meanwhile the Republicans, whose tea party base had drawn a line of no increase in the debt limit, find themselves looking for a way increase the debt limit.

This is far from over, but Obama is playing the game very well and I hope his critics on the left take notice.

Obama was held accountable for what Rev. Wright said, then lets hold Bachmann accountable for pledges she signed

Via Jack & Jill Politics (J&JP) and the Huffington Post comes news that Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) has signed a pledge known as the "The Marriage Vow-A Declaration of Dependence upon Marriage and Family."

There are a number of offensive statements in this pledge which is filled with homophobic, anti-choice and anti-divorce rhetoric, but what stands out for me is a blatantly racist, and more importantly incorrect assertion that Black children were better off during slavery:

Slavery had a disastrous impact on African-American families, yet sadly a child born into slavery in 1860 was more likely to be raised by his mother and father in a two-parent household than was an African-American baby born after the election of the USA’s first African-American President.

As J&JP points out, this statement is flawed because as anyone who knows anything about slavery knows, slave families were routinely broken up as a result of sales and many children born into slavery were conceived by rapes carried out by the masters.

By signing this pledge Bachmann, a sitting member of Congress and potential GOP candidate for President, has put herself on the record of embracing a historical fallacy and endorsing the belief that Blacks born into the slavery were better off than Blacks born during President Obama's first term.

Will the national media hold Bachmann accountable for this? Will they hold her accountable for a pledge that she signed, the same way they held Obama accountable for controversial statements his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, made?

I expect the media to be consistent and in this case, they need to challenge and press Bachmann, who wants to be president of this fine country on why she signed this pledge and if she truly believes that Black children were better off during slavery.

Barack Obama 2012 Campaign Launch Video - "It Begins With Us"

I am in, enthusiastically, without equivocation!

Bill Clinton and Blago's racist comments were more racist, but the media/GOP will only focus on Reid

In the last 72 hours we have learned that three Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, former President Bill Clinton and Rod Blagojevich, disgraced former Governor of Illinois, have all made comments about President Barack Obama that involved race.

Reid's comments are the least offensive of the three, however because he is the Senate majority leader and therefore the only one who has something to lose he is the one that the media and the GOP will focus on and put in the hot seat.

Clinton and Blagojevich have no power, no official standing so their comments cannot be leveraged/manufactured for political theater, even though what they said was much worse.

Reid used racially insensitive language as he PRAISED Obama, while both Clinton and Blagojevich made racist comments while attacking Obama.

Lets look at the three comments and tell me why Reid is the one getting the heat.

Reid on Obama as paraphased in the book Game Changers: "He [Reid] was wowed by Obama's oratorical gifts and believed that the country was ready to embrace a black presidential candidate, especially one such as Obama -- a 'light-skinned' African American 'with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one,' "

Clinton on Obama to the Sen. Ted Kennedy: "a few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee."

Blagojevich on Obama: It's such a cynical business, and most of the people in the business are full of sh** and phonies, but I was real, man — and am real. This guy, he was catapulted in on hope and change, what we *hope* the guy is. What the f***? Everything he's saying's on the teleprompter. I'm blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived. I saw it all growing up.

Looking at Reid's comments you might actually view them as more of an indictment of the electorate, the majority of which is white, rather than a criticism or insult of President Obama.

The media and the GOP are not interested in any kind of productive discussions on race and racism, they care more about instigating political theater. If the media showed any kind of understanding of race and racism Harry Reid wouldn't be the one on the hot seat today.

Reid's remarks were racially insensitive and Lott's were simply racist

This morning on Meet the Press, while interviewing GOP Chairman Michael Steele and DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, David Gregory, most likely reading straight from a script provided to him by The Weekly Standard, asked why President Barack Obama has forgiven Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) for racially insensitive remarks, but demanded that then Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) resign in 2002, for his praise of late Senator Strom Thurmond's (R-SC) campaign for president on a segregationist platform.

Steele, who recently used the phrase "honest Injun," didn't hesitate to call for Reid's resignation as majority leader.

There is a BIG difference between praising a segregationist in public like Lott did, and Reid's making, in private, a racially insensitive comment while praising and welcoming the candidacy of the man who would go on to become the first African American President of the United States.

Reid's choice of words shows that when it comes to race and discussing African Americans he is very unenlighted. THIS DOES NOT MEAN HE IS RACIST, it just means this guy, who it should be pointed out enthusiastically campaigned for Obama, has a long way to go when it comes to learning how to discuss race. His heart is most likely in the right place, his mouth and vocabulary? Not so much.

Lott on the other hand made a point say that if Thurmond had been elected president in 1948 "we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years."

As pointed out earlier Thurmond ran on a segrationist platform and on the campaign plan remarked "all the laws of Washington and all the bayonets of the Army cannot force the Negro into our homes, our schools, our churches."

When Gregory, The Weekly Standard, Steele or anyone else advances the notion that there is any comparision between what Reid's and Lott's comments they show themselves either to be ignorant or worse, they show themselves as folks who will seek to exploit discussions of race as a launching pad to provoke racial division.

"Afro-Leninism?" Really? As man screams that ton CNN Convince me the tea baggers aren't racist, go ahead I dare you.

Watch this CNN video and at :49 in, a visibly angry and deranged man screams the following into the camera:

"This is AFRO-LENINISM!
Coming to you in a silver platter!!
By Barack Hussein Obama!!!
He ain't my president, people!!!"



There is a venom and an anger that has been directed towards President Barack Obama since the election that oozes with racism and the folks reinforce that. The tea baggers and their tea party movement is all about racism. The tea party movement is nothing but a modern version of the lynch mobs of the Jim Crow era.

Hat tip to Julius Civitatus @ DU

Lady compares Obama to Hitler gets PWNED by Barney Frank

Gabe Gonzalez: Don’t Compromise Mr. President

Don’t Compromise Mr. President
Administration officials mused this weekend about surrendering the public option and giving into the insurance industry. Gabe Gonzalez muses on what a sad move this would be.







Gabe Gonzalez . Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009
National Director, Campaign for Community Values
Center for Community Change

Administration officials mused this weekend about surrendering the public option and giving into the insurance industry. Gabe Gonzalez muses on what a sad move this would be.

I watched the news shows last Sunday, and like everybody, I saw the trial balloons being floated by the Administration around health co-ops. Like many involved in this struggle, I watched with some dismay as it appeared the President backed off his commitment to a public plan. And I kept thinking about my last trip to the hospital, just the week before.

I was visiting my mom. It wasn't a big deal, scheduled surgery on her knee. She's doing fine, but while I was in her room I saw an amazing discussion between her and her nursing aide.

People talk a lot to their aides. They count on them. Aides provide comfort and help. And sometimes they need help, too. This particular aide found out that my mother used to work for the Employment Department. Very quickly, the aide asked mom if she knew about other state programs. When mom answered yes, she asked about support for poor families, specifically, amazingly, she asked about Medicaid. Who was eligible, how you got it, and whether the aide, a mother of two, the only breadwinner in the house, qualified.

My mom was taken aback. This woman worked at a hospital after all. Mom asked about professional courtesy, asked about income and other supports, and then, quietly, but with some determination, told the aide how to get the help she needed for her two boys.
-snip-

Click here to continue reading "Don’t Compromise Mr. President"

Gabe Gonzalez is the National Director for the Campaign for Community Values at the Center for Community Change. The Campaign for Community Values brings together hundreds of diverse grassroots groups to win real victories for low-income communities, challenge the "on your own" mentality of the right and build a new politics for the common good.

Obama didn't take their guns as promised by conservative media, so now we have an armed resistance to health care reform

"We will forcefully resist people imposing their will on us through the strength of the majority with a vote," said “Chris” the man seen sporting a hand gun and an AR-15 rifle in Phoenix, AZ as folks gathered to protest for or against health care reform as they waited on President Barack Obama who was in town to address the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention. “Chris” was only one of a dozen people who were armed according to Talking Points Memo.

Last week William Kostric showed up to protest outside of a health care town hall meeting Obama was holding in Portsmouth, NH, was photographed with a gun strapped to his leg and held a sign that read “It is time to water the tree of liberty” which many people believe to be a reference to Thomas Jefferson’s quote "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." (Windy City Watch 8.12.09).

These are not common and responsible gun owners exercising their Second Amendment rights, but political terrorists acting in a provocative manner in an effort to intimidate some and to taunt local and federal law enforcement officials. This is armed resistance in search of a cause.

Conservative media figures such as Glenn Beck, Ann Coulter, Mike Gallagher, and G. Gordon Liddy have been stoking fears of some gun owners by warning that President Obama was going to take their guns away (Media Matters 4.09.09). There have been a number of reports of people buying up as many guns as possible and stockpiling loads of ammunition as a result of this fear mongering.

Despite these warnings Obama has not taken their guns, as a matter of fact he recently signed a bill that would allow guns in national parks so it is safe to say he has expanded the rights of gun owners.

So what do you do if you have been worked into a frenzy about President Obama taking your guns and he didn’t do it? What do you do if you have prepared for an armed resistance by hoarding guns and ammo but there is no gun grab to resist?

You make up a reason, an excuse to take up arms and take to the streets. You target health care!

Only in America can an attempt by the President and Congress to make sure that EVERY CITIZEN is given access to affordable health care be met with armed resistance.

Let’s look at the quote from “Chris” again "We will forcefully resist people imposing their will on us through the strength of the majority with a vote."

Say what? These folks “forcefully resist” change that an overwhelming majority of Americans voted for in November of 2008?

Kudos to local authorities, the Secret Service, FBI and ATF in showing restraint in dealing with these kooks. not escalating any kind of confrontation with them, and not giving Second Amendment advocates any red meat to complain about, but enough is enough. If not addressed immediately this will only get worse.

Last week it was one guy with a gun, yesterday it was 12, who knows how many will show next time. President Obama has the best security of anyone in the world, but I fear further tolerance of these provocative acts will eventually lead to a violent confrontation between these political terrorists and those of us who have peacefully exercised our “strength of the majority with a vote."

Video of two different guys with guns at Obama event

At 1:24 into the video the white guy with the gun interviewing the Black with the gun says "we got a good looking young Black man with an AR-15" as if that makes it ok. If video does not load below click here for video.



Meanwhile kudos to the Brady Campaign for saying this has got to stop.

Gun Responsibility:Leave Loaded Firearms At Home When Attending Presidential Events

Washington, DC – Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, released the following statement on reports that a man was carrying what appeared to be a loaded assault rifle and a sidearm to President Obama's speech in Phoenix, Arizona today:

"Bringing loaded firearms to any Presidential event endangers all in attendance. Even though our weak national and state gun laws may allow this dangerous behavior, we should use a little common sense.

"Individuals carrying loaded weapons at these events require constant attention from police and Secret Service officers, thus stretching their protective efforts even thinner. The possibility that these weapons might be grabbed or stolen or accidentally mishandled increases the risks of serious injury or death to all in attendance.

"The National Rifle Association and other 'gun rights' groups need to send a message about 'gun responsibilities' to their members and all gun owners. Loaded weapons at political forums endanger all involved, distract law enforcement, and end up stifling debate. Presidential protesters need to leave their firearms at home - no exceptions."
-end-

Another man shows up at an Obama event "strapped"

From the Arizona Republic: Police: No incidents reported as crowd awaits Obama in Phoenix
Police are reporting no arrests or calls for medical assistance

by John Faherty - Aug. 17, 2009 09:55 AM
The Arizona Republic

-snip-
One sight was perhaps a little un-nerving to those in charge of making sure everybody remains on their best behavior.

A man, who decided not to give his name, was walking around the pro-health care reform rally at 3rd and Washington streets, with a pistol on his hip, and an AR-15 (a semi-automatic assault rifle) on a strap over his shoulder.

"Because I can do it," he said when asked why he was armed. "In Arizona, I still have some freedoms."

Two police officers were staying very close to the man.

"What he is doing is perfectly legal," Detective J. Oliver, of the Phoenix police department said. "We are here to keep the peace. If we need to intervene, we will intervene at that time."
-snip-

Prof. Gates arrested for talking back to cops in own home, Kostric allowed to wait on POTUS with gun strapped to leg

On Tuesday, August 11, a man, William Kostric, shows up to protest President Barack Obama in Portsmouth, NH with a loaded gun strapped to his leg, holding a sign that carried what many consider to be a threatening message. Police and Secret Service agents made the determination that under the circumstances (local gun laws) Kostric would be allowed to remain in his position alongside other protesters awaiting the arrival of President Obama’s motorcade.

On Thursday, July 16, Harvard Professor, Henry Louis (Skip) Gates was arrested in his own home after Cambridge, MA police responding to suspected break-in call, charged him with disorderly conduct for getting into a verbal altercation with Officer James Crowley. The arrest was controversial because Gates was arrested after providing identification that proved he lived at the address and was in the house lawfully. Charges against Gates were eventually dropped but not before the situation quickly escalated into a heated debate about race and racial profiling.

In both situations law enforcement officials used their discretion in deciding whether or not either man needed to be taken into custody. It should be pointed out that these two events happened in different jurisdictions. Its very likely that the Cambridge police may have arrested Kostric had they been given the responsibility of protecting President Obama and that Portsmouth police as well as Secret Service agents may have left Gates home without taking him into custody had they responded to the suspected break-in.

Who knows? But the contrast between the handling of the two incidents is extremely unsettling for many of us concerned about race relations in this country, the safety of the first African American president, who has received more death threats than any other in our nation’s history, and the increasing ugly tone in our country’s political discourse.

The fact that a Harvard professor of one race can be arrested in his own home for exercising his First Amendment rights while a man of another race who is exercising his First and Second Amendment rights while waiting on the President, is left alone raises many questions that fuel the debate of racial profiling and how people of different backgrounds are treated by law enforcement.

Kostric was not just a citizen exercising his First and Second Amendment rights. He wore that gun for a reason and the slogan on the sign he was holding was meant to send a message. The sign read “It is time to water the tree of liberty” which many people believe to be a reference to Thomas Jefferson’s quote "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

It should be noted that Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh wore a shirt with the same slogan when he was arrested. It is baffling how anyone cannot see Kostric’s gun and this sign as anything but a provocative act intended to intimidate some or incite others to violence.

Many of us believe that an American citizen born of middle eastern decent, who was also a practicing Muslim would not have been allowed to protest former President George W. Bush with a gun strapped to his leg and holding a sign with a threatening slogan.

Law enforcement has discretion in these situations lets just hope they start employing a consistent standard so that we can all have confidence in their actions.

TMZ: Obama's burger run creates new jobs/owner needs to hear Obama's "flow". . .

. . .before naming burger after him.
Obama's Buns Stimulate Burger Business

Posted Jun 11th 2009 12:00PM by TMZ Staff

Barack Obama holds the power to stimulate the economy with the tip of his tongue -- and in the case of a burger joint in Virginia, his tongue literally quadrupled their business!!!
-snip-

Click here for full TMZ post

Right wing ditz Elisabeth Hasselbeck gets PWNED by Jesse Ventura on THE VIEW

Right wing ditz Elisabeth Hasselbeck just got PWNED by Jesse "The Body" on THE VIEW. During a discussion on torture Ventura schooled Hasselbeck who tried her best to use the issue to attack Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and of course President Barack Obama. Ventura was having none of it.

We may update this post a few times after watching Ventura's mastery over and over again today.

UPDATE #1: She wants to send Obama to jail for having the Somali pirates killed? This lady is crazy!

Obama's ND speech: The reviews are in

Chicago Sun-Times:
"Obama's spirit of civil discourse -- 'open hearts, open minds, fair-minded words' -- is a good formula not only for getting stuff done, but for getting along.

The sooner we denounce and abandon the ways of the haters and the professional shouters, the sooner we will become better neighbors, better friends, better opponents."

Click here to continue reading Even foes should appreciate Obama's call for mutual respect

EJ Dionne in the Washington Post:
"It was hard to square that message with the rage directed toward Obama and Jenkins by their detractors. Yet in raising the stakes entailed in Obama's visit, the critics did the president a great service.

By facing their arguments head-on and by demonstrating his attentiveness to Catholic concerns, Obama strengthened moderate and liberal forces inside the church itself. He also struck a forceful blow against those who would keep the nation mired in culture-war politics without end. Obama's opponents on the Catholic right placed a large bet on his Notre Dame visit. And they lost. "

Click here to continue reading Obama Confronts Foes With Faith

Bill Press in the Huffington Post:
"In the end, 2009 Commencement Exercises at Notre Dame ended up making a great day for America, a great day for the University of Notre Dame, but a sad day for the Catholic Church.

How ironic. In the end, it took a non-Catholic to tell Catholic bishops what their faith is all about."

Click here to continue reading Obama Wins One For The Gipper

Poor Newt Gingrich, had to sit next to Al Sharpton and call a Black man named Obama Mr. President. . .

. . .ain't life grand. Think about this, Newt gets an audience with BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! Yet he has to share that audience with Reverend Al Sharpton, what self respecting hate mongering conservative would dare hang out with Rev. Sharpton. How does that humble pie taste Newt?

Gingrich on Obama:

Gingrich: Obama Waging "War on Churches"

Gingrich: Obama weak like Carter

Newt Gingrich Blasts Obama over Iran

It looks like we will be avoiding Side Street Grille in Hamden, CT

Of course it wasn't meant to be racist. . .yeah right. I am sure all of the Side Street Grille's African American patrons took part in the fun. We understand this is America and we can make fun of the president and while the mere act of making fun of the president is not racist, playing into racial stereotypes is.

The New Haven Register: NAACP blasts bar's pimped-out Obama

Published: Wednesday, May 13, 2009

HAMDEN — A cardboard cutout of President Barack Obama that appeared to depict the commander-in-chief as a pimp has drawn the attention of the NAACP.

The life-size image, which was accessorized with gold teeth, a pink woman’s hat, Mardi Gras beads, a hair pick and ornate rings, was taken down Tuesday from its perch behind the bar at the Side Street Grille on Whitney Avenue, four days after a black patron noticed and first complained. He contacted the NAACP this week after he returned Monday and saw it still on display.

“I was appalled when I saw the actual picture e-mailed over to me,” said Scot X. Esdaile, the NAACP state president, who said the display crossed any line of political parody. “The thing is a negative racial stereotype,” he said. “I don’t know of any negative racial stereotype aimed at George Bush.”

Bob Severino, owner of the bar, which is located near the Quinnipiac University campus, said Tuesday that the cutout was simply a joke and nothing more. He bristled at what he called strong-arm threats of pickets if the cutout wasn’t removed.
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Note to Michael Steele: Obama was not laughing w/you, but at you for the minstrel show you've become

Since everyone is doing their analysis of the White House Correspondents Dinner and I had to do mine. After watching President Obama crack on Michael Steele I realized how pathetic the first Black chairman of the GOP has become.

"Michael Steel is in the house tonight, or as he would say in the 'hizzy'. . .whassup!" Obama joked.

While the first Black President of the United States does have a certain flavor and swagger (CNN's Kyra Phillips should notice that even though I am Black I spell and pronounce it correctly), he is also redefining the way America views Black men, Steele on the other hand plays to a lot of stereotypes of Black men.

I am not sure who Steele is trying to appeal to when he calls people "baby," and pledges to be "off the hook." Some of us Black folks do talk like that. I will acknowledge using slang and my "Blackcent" when appropriate. . . you know when I'm kicking back with friends, around the water cooler, talking trash with my college buddies, when I am trying to entertain my "non-Black" friends in other informal situations, WHEN I DON'T EXPECT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY! Is Steele auditioning to host "106th and Park" or is he the chairman of the GOP?

Steele should understand that there is nothing wrong with keeping it "real," however I doubt he knows what "real" is.

Calling Ed Henry, you have been served by the POTUS

AP:

Obama defends delay in response to AIG bonuses

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is defending his decision to wait a few days before expressing his anger over the bonuses paid out to executives at troubled insurer AIG.

Critics questioned why the president seemed days behind the populist anger over the $165 million that were distributed at the company bailed out with federal tax dollars.

Said Obama: "It took us a couple of days because I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak."

-snip-

THE TODAY show calls out President Obama for getting called out on 60 MINUTES for giggling?

Let's get ready for another MANUFACTURED controversy. On the TODAY SHOW, Meredith Vieira just pointed out President Obama got called out by Steve Kroft of 60 MINUTES for his uneasy giggle during his interview las night. Does ANYONE really believe that President Obama is laughing at the financial crisis and not taking it seriously? Come on folks, as Obama said during the primary SILLY SEASON is over.