Did President Obama Learn the Wrong Lessons from Health Care Reform?

Revival:The Struggle for Survival inside the Obama Whitehouse,  Richard Wolfe's recently released assessment of the inner workings in President Barak Obama's first two years in the White House, confirmed what myself and other Progressives have always suspected. It also implies Obama has never understood that passage of the health care reform bill was no referendum on the bills popularity. Wolfe describes a White House "fracture" involving "survivalists lead by Rham Emanuel, and "revivalists" such as Valerie Jarret. Survivalists pushed for compromise, while revivalists stood by ideals expressed in the election campaign. None of this was surprising, but I find it alarming that the President has apparently learned the wrong lessons from failures in these first two years. Most alarming is Wolfe's description of an administration which viewed it's ability to pass health care reform as a comeback following a stunning Democratic loss in Massachusetts which gave the senate seat left open by the death of  lifetime universal health care proponent and liberal lion, Edward Kennedy, to Republican Scott Brown.  Brown defeated the state's Democratic Attorney General, Martha Coakley.  Does the White House really believe the passage of health care reform after this Democratic defeat was more than it was perceived by Progressives? Is it their contention that passage of a health care bill reflected an unexpected comeback by the President, and do they really fail to see how poorly it's passage was actually perceived?  Yes, Progressives rallied around the bill that was finally passed; But we did so based on promises like the ones that got a yes vote out of Dennis Kucinich. Promises that Democrats would build on this reform and eventually come away with a strong public option. Promises which had to be made because Democrats had compromised so much, they initially lost the support of those House Progressives who had insisted on some form of a public option or Medicare buy in.  They were now forced to convince the biggest proponents of health care reform to vote yes on a version which lacked both.  The health care reform bill that passed wasn't popular with Americans; polls have shown Americans wanted greater reform. As a result, it's passage was not the result of it's, or it's creators, overwhelming popularity. The final bill, The Affordable Care Act, was only passed through reconciliation and it in it's final form, was basically Bob Dole's Republican health care overhaul circa 1996.  Passing it was no big comeback by President Obama: It was more like settling for what little his administration had to offer after many Democratic concessions.  The President continues, not only to be a poor judge of his Republican opponents, he continues to misread public sentiment if he doesn't understand the lessons of the health care reform battles.  If he continues to listen to the survivalists who seem too willing to compromise, rather than the revivalists who believe in the ideals that made Progressives proud to elect him, President Obama will only have himself to blame when another angry electorate throw him and the rest of the Democrats out in 2012. If the 2010 mid-term elections crop of Republicans is any indication, God help this country if they do.

What Would You Do If the Michelle Bachman Teabagger Cult Actually Win in 2012?

Teabaggers such as Michelle Bachman, Louie Gohmert, Steve King and Joe Walsh have no intentionof raising the debt ceiling.  Their sole purpose is to create a worldwide calamity.  This is when we are all in more than economic trouble.  This has always been their plan.  Anyone who's payed any attention to The Fox News Show" talk show hosts such has Glenn Beck have been predicting worldwide chaos and have done everything in their power to make sure it happens.  Pray for President Obama to avert this catastrophe.  Howerever what if the next president isn't Obama? What if Michelle Bachman is the next American President???
The civil liberties of Liberals, Gays and lesbians (LGBT), artists, Muslims, Jews, those of color, the poor or anyone who disagrees with the teabagger far right agenda of Michelle Bachman, are in serious jeopardy.  With the exception of those tokens, used for appearances only, such as Clarence Thomas, Herman Cain, Alberto Gonzalez, Micheal Steele or the phony Democrats paraded on "The Fox News Show", the type of government Michelle Bachman, Herman Cain, Allen West, Scott Walker and those powerful billionaires the Koch brothers and Rupert Murdoch and the other less than .1%  who finance it, has been seen before and has always resulted in millions of deaths and imprisonments, I guarentee a government lead by these people's ideas are what would definetly qualify as a form of  Fascism (please look it up, google it or for a thorough history of how it is obtained try The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich)  It will not include those it considers "unAmerican" (as Bachman has referred to those who disagree with her)  It will happen here if we do not fight it with everything we've got. Nothing is more important. If these few who care nothing about this country but love to tell you how much they do (to fool you) succeed. Our chants of   U.S.A, U.S.A U.S A. will be nothing more than a resemblance of the Germans chants of Heir Hitler, Heir Hitler..

I would like to ask my readers ( as minuscule amount as they may have): 

What would you do if Michelle Bachman & Co. actually gained majority control of our country (this United States of America)?
Please answer honestly in the comments section bellow.  I will give you my own answer in my next post.  Thank you in advance for your bravery in even considering this possibility! Keep in mind who has control of the so-called "football" as well as makes her Commander and Chief of the Armed Forces.

Teabagger Wants to LOWER the Debt Ceiling???

The "Tea Party Caucus" of the Republican Party proved beyond a doubt, it hasn't a clue what a debt ceiling is. On Andrea Mitchell Reports today, Paul Broun (R-GA) announced he has introduced a bill to lower the debt ceiling! Andrea Mitchell asked him if he understood that the debt ceiling  needed to be raised to pay for expenditures already incurred by previous congresses (like maybe the last Republican Congress under that deadbeat spendoholic George W. Bush).  Isn't attempting to lower a debt ceiling like trying to lower the bill you just incurred over the fancy dinner, you've just enjoyed, complete with a few bottles of Don Perigon.

Dylan Ratigan PLEASE STFU!

Why Do Americans Keep Coming Back For More Republican Lies

Please read this post in "A World of Progress" by Vertigo. I only wish I had written it. It captures almost everything I've been thinking for a long time especially in these last couple of years. Why are most of our fellow citizens so easily manipulated by the simple messages given to them by the very same people who have screwed them over and over again?  If your brother -in-law continued to borrow money, each time promising to pay you back (with interest), yet each time he never pays back a dime, would you willingly hand him over an even bigger "loan". Of course not. Than why do we fall for the same song and dance the Republicans have been performing for 30 years. Supply Side Economics, Trickle Down, Lasiez fair-Cut taxes on the rich and it will all come back to us. Santa Claus is real and rich people just love to give their money away in order to help the economy. We have wasted 30 years believing a lie meant only to put more money in fortunate peoples pocket.
A World of Progress does an excellent job capturing how some politicians have been doing some very fat cats bidding for decades at the expense of American greatness.

I urge you to please read this article. It is right on the mark!
Vertigo | A World of Progress

Green Pistachio Ice Cream: News Corpse » Fox News On Hacking Scandal: Move Al...

Green Pistachio Ice Cream: News Corpse » Fox News On Hacking Scandal: Move Al...: "NewsCorpse Update: Fox News still in denial over Murdoch News of the World scandal! Watch: News Corpse » Fox News On Hacking Scandal: Move ..."

News Corpse » Fox News On Hacking Scandal: Move Along, Nothing To See Here:

NewsCorpse Update: Fox News still in denial over Murdoch News of the World scandal! Watch:

News Corpse » Fox News On Hacking Scandal: Move Along, Nothing To See Here:

VIDEO- Stephen Colbert: “Fox News’ Motto- ‘We Don’t Touch It, You Decide’”

Watch Fox News trying "Not" to deal with the News Corpse Scandal:

VIDEO- Stephen Colbert: “Fox News’ Motto- ‘We Don’t Touch It, You Decide’”

Bin Laden Planned Attack on President Obama on 9/11/11

According to evidence seized by the CIA following the killing of Al Queda leader Osama bin Laden, bin Laden had planned an attack on President Obama on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, 9/11/11.  Luckily we now have a President willing to go after and bring to justice those who plan and carry out the type of horrendous attacks which occurred in the United States on 9/11. The CIA released the following information reported by CBS News:

Via CBS:

Before Osama bin Laden died at the hands of U.S. Navy SEALs in May, his terror wish list reportedly included attacking the United States on the upcoming 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and shooting down President Obama’s helicopter or plane while the president was in the air. [...]
[I]ntelligence gathered during the May 2 raid on bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan revealed that the al Qaeda head discussed with his operations planners a wide array of potential attacks against the U.S. and senior American officials.

Rupert Murdoch Accepts Chief Executive Rebekah Brooks Resignation

Rebekah Brooks, the 42 year old chief executive of News International and former editor of the British newspaper News of the World has resigned her post.  She gave this press release following her resignation being accepted by both Rupert and his son James Murdoch.

Via The Guardian:

At News International we pride ourselves on setting the news agenda for the right reasons. Today we are leading the news for the wrong ones.
The reputation of the company we love so much, as well as the press freedoms we value so highly, are all at risk.
As Chief Executive of the company, I feel a deep sense of responsibility for the people we have hurt and I want to reiterate how sorry I am for what we now know to have taken place.
I have believed that the right and responsible action has been to lead us through the heat of the crisis. However my desire to remain on the bridge has made me a focal point of the debate.
This is now detracting attention from all our honest endeavours to fix the problems of the past.
Therefore I have given Rupert and James Murdoch my resignation. While it has been a subject of discussion, this time my resignation has been accepted.
Rupert's wisdom, kindness and incisive advice has guided me throughout my career and James is an inspirational leader who has shown me great loyalty and friendship.
I would like to thank them both for their support.
I have worked here for 22 years and I know it to be part of the finest media company in the world.
News International is full of talented, professional and honourable people. I am proud to have been part of the team and lucky to know so many brilliant journalists and media executives.
I leave with the happiest of memories and an abundance of friends.
As you can imagine recent times have been tough. I now need to concentrate on correcting the distortions and rebutting the allegations about my record as a journalist, an editor and executive.
My resignation makes it possible for me to have the freedom and the time to give my full cooperation to all the current and future inquiries, the police investigations and the CMS appearance.
I am so grateful for all the messages of support. I have nothing but overwhelming respect for you and our millions of readers.
I wish every one of you all the best.
Rebekah

Brooks has been at the forefront of what may be an international scandal involving News of the World and it's parent company Newscorp alleged hacking of what some have estimated to be at least 5,000 private cell phones, including a murdered 13 year girl 's voice messages, leaving police and her family to believe she may have still been alive. Interesting enough, "The Fox News Channel" owned by Rupert Murdoch has barely addressed the scandal in any of it's reporting or conservative talk shows.  The Wall Street Journal, also owned by Murdoch, did give the story front page coverage the day after the 168 year old News of the World folded however, along with The New York Times and Washington Post.

Video: Chris O'Donnell on How Republicans Were Out Smarted By the President

All of us on the left should have kept in mind President Obama's decisive leadership when he overruled some of his advisers, who felt the stakes were too high and the outcome too uncertain, and made the decision to finally bring to justice the worlds most wanted terrorist Osama Ben Laden.  Maybe we have misjudged the President in many respects all along.  The Last Word's Lawrence O'Donnell explains how Obama's cool but calculated demeanor is exactly what makes him a great President:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Chris O'Donnell has not always been one of my favorite political talk show hosts.  Yet at a time when political pundits pretend to be experts on any given political subject and love to pontificate about and predict over issues they know as much about as the average guy on the street, O'Donnell's real life experience as Chief of Staff in the United States Senate during events such as the debt ceiling crisis has given him the insight much needed in order to truly understand the inner workings of our political system.

Crazy Congressman Steven King Compares DODT to Debt Ceiling

Crazy Tea Bagger Republican Congressman Steven King of Iowa appeared on Hardball today with Chris Matthews and stunningly compared raising the debt ceiling with the opinions given made by military leaders on "Don't ask Don't Tell" during Congressional hearings.  Of course Peter King, downplayed the disaster which sane political leaders would occur according to experts from everyone in economics to the Better Business Bureau.  King laughingly compared his own "expertise" to the fact that he has talked to those who agree with his crazy ideology to the fact that he's raised a family. Obviously, he gets most of his "expertise" from those brainiacs like Michelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin.

MSNBC, Please Get Rid of Dylan Ratigan

When will MSNBC get rid off that egotistical asshole Dylan Ratigan.?  He continues to give Republicans exactly what they want every time he blames "Washington" or "both parties" for everything from the fight over the new energy saving light bulbs (enacted by Georgie Bush) to the debt ceiling fight.  I agree Democrats should have fought harder for a better deal in the Health Care debate and during the Franklin-Dodd Finacial deal but listening to Ratigan you'd have thought Democrats did nothing but share a bed with Wall Street and the GOP .  Republicans really don't give a damn what party these lazy pundits blame as long as they blame government because isn't that the point.  Government is bad. And that's all the no nothing public hears.  Especially when Dylan Ratigan says it because man that guy loves to hear himself talk, using every word he's ever heard to make himself sound like he knows what he's talking about.

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Midnight Snack - Black Eyed Peas "Where Is The Love"

This song is one of their oldest hits-shot in 2003 during the Bush II Administration.  There was a great deal going on during that tumultuous time - including a war Americans were purposely lied into.  I love the message of this song and I think it's timeless.  One of the best groups ever: The Black Eyed Peas.
Enjoy
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