( h/t Scholars and Rogues )
Looking back not only at the decade, but where I was 10 years ago, it really amazes me at times that the country isn't more screwed up than it already is.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
The Magic Of Jesus
Of all the suggestions on how to regain the favor of the American public after having multiple sexual trysts, I'm thinking that this one has just won the award for greatest use of the Bible:
Because as conservatives know, the more people know that you love Jesus, the more women you can fuck.
Because as conservatives know, the more people know that you love Jesus, the more women you can fuck.
Where Were You On The Night Of The 18th?
Since being reported in the Washington Post, conservatives are rallying around Jim DeMint, claiming that he has suddenly been justified in his stonewalling of Barack Obama's intended head of the TSA Erroll Southers. The report shows that Southers gave an inaccurate statement regarding an incident that occured 29 years ago.
Conservatives seem to think that remembering any and everything that you did 20 years ago is a prerequisite to holding any form of governmental office. However, one would think that remembering taking protected/personal information about someone from a federal database would be something a person would remember. But then again, the average American isn't likely to find themselves in front of a congressional panel partially made up of people that are there to ensure that you don't get the appointment that you have been nominated for.
Even after Southers' correction was given to Liberman and Collins, conservatives are claiming that he's not suited for the position because of what he did 20 years ago. There's no mention of his prior record as counter-terrorism expert. The reason is that he ability to perform the job isn't what matters, it's all about one incident that conservatives claim would potentially happen again. But after 20 years without incident, wouldn't one think that Mr. Southers had learned his lesson?
But back to conservatives claiming that Jim DeMint is somehow the hero in all this. Ed Morrissey over at HotAir says that he did the entire US a BIG favor, so his obstructionist stance really hasn't hurt the agency, even though it actually has. This is to be expected.
Conservatives are now shouting for Obama to name another appointee and to basically start the entire confirmation process all over again. And guess what, that means that it's going to be even longer before the agency has any form of leadership. And considering Republicans verifiable history of obstructing literally every person that Obama appoints to any and every position in his administration, are we supposed to believe that if Southers is removed from consideration that DeMint - or any other Republican Senator - is going to not going to continue their obstructionist tactics? No matter who is in the position, Republicans are going to find a way to put a hold on the process, thereby leaving an agency that they claim needs leadership without any.
Southers, a former FBI agent, has described inconsistencies in his accounts to Congress as "inadvertent" and the result of poor memory of an incident that dates back 20 years. He said in a Nov. 20 letter to key senators obtained by The Post that he had accepted full responsibility long ago for a "grave error in judgment" in accessing confidential criminal records about his then-estranged wife's new boyfriend.
His letter to Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.), chairman of the Senate homeland security committee, and Susan Collins (Maine), the ranking Republican on the panel, attempts to correct statements about the episode that were made in a sworn affidavit on Oct. 22 and have been reported.
Conservatives seem to think that remembering any and everything that you did 20 years ago is a prerequisite to holding any form of governmental office. However, one would think that remembering taking protected/personal information about someone from a federal database would be something a person would remember. But then again, the average American isn't likely to find themselves in front of a congressional panel partially made up of people that are there to ensure that you don't get the appointment that you have been nominated for.
Even after Southers' correction was given to Liberman and Collins, conservatives are claiming that he's not suited for the position because of what he did 20 years ago. There's no mention of his prior record as counter-terrorism expert. The reason is that he ability to perform the job isn't what matters, it's all about one incident that conservatives claim would potentially happen again. But after 20 years without incident, wouldn't one think that Mr. Southers had learned his lesson?
But back to conservatives claiming that Jim DeMint is somehow the hero in all this. Ed Morrissey over at HotAir says that he did the entire US a BIG favor, so his obstructionist stance really hasn't hurt the agency, even though it actually has. This is to be expected.
Conservatives are now shouting for Obama to name another appointee and to basically start the entire confirmation process all over again. And guess what, that means that it's going to be even longer before the agency has any form of leadership. And considering Republicans verifiable history of obstructing literally every person that Obama appoints to any and every position in his administration, are we supposed to believe that if Southers is removed from consideration that DeMint - or any other Republican Senator - is going to not going to continue their obstructionist tactics? No matter who is in the position, Republicans are going to find a way to put a hold on the process, thereby leaving an agency that they claim needs leadership without any.
Non-White Screeners
Perhaps he intends to have them "marked" in such a fashion where they are recognizable?
The very concept of "profiling" has it's foundations in racial stereotyping, period. And, as the bulk of Muslims in the world aren't white, it's not a grand leap of logic to state that this process would have directives to primarily stop people that don't fit the traditional caricature of "American".
So how can you tell if someone is Muslim in order to put them through additional screenings and strip-searches in airports? Is there some sort of secret set of questions to be used just like in Blade Runner when they tried to find out who's a Replicant and who isn't?
But here's the part that causes me to question this style of information mining - why 18-28? Is that some secret age-window that terrorists can only attack from? Is that a special demographic that has been determined by intelligence agencies? Is there just a 10 year shelf life for suicide bombers in radical Islam?
I'm not sure if Julie Banderas is showing and actual honest response or if this is just concern-trolling or her attempting to inject some form of "balance" into the discussion. I'm guessing it's a healthy does of the former and just enough of the later for Fox execs to claim that this wasn't a practice endorsed or condoned by the network.
In the end, this is about stopping any person at the airport that has dark skin. Period.
The very concept of "profiling" has it's foundations in racial stereotyping, period. And, as the bulk of Muslims in the world aren't white, it's not a grand leap of logic to state that this process would have directives to primarily stop people that don't fit the traditional caricature of "American".
So how can you tell if someone is Muslim in order to put them through additional screenings and strip-searches in airports? Is there some sort of secret set of questions to be used just like in Blade Runner when they tried to find out who's a Replicant and who isn't?
But here's the part that causes me to question this style of information mining - why 18-28? Is that some secret age-window that terrorists can only attack from? Is that a special demographic that has been determined by intelligence agencies? Is there just a 10 year shelf life for suicide bombers in radical Islam?
I'm not sure if Julie Banderas is showing and actual honest response or if this is just concern-trolling or her attempting to inject some form of "balance" into the discussion. I'm guessing it's a healthy does of the former and just enough of the later for Fox execs to claim that this wasn't a practice endorsed or condoned by the network.
In the end, this is about stopping any person at the airport that has dark skin. Period.
Misplaced Admiration
Still trying to wrap my head around this USAToday/Gallup poll that shows that Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin are essentially tied for the "Most Admired Woman In America" title.
The woman hasn't finished anything since her stint as Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. She quit her elected job as Governor in order to take credit for writing a book that someone else wrote for her and then toured the country trash talking Obama and any and everyone that asked her a valid question she couldn't answer.
If this is the new high-water mark in conservative political action then I don't see 2010 being that bad of a year for Democrats.
The woman hasn't finished anything since her stint as Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. She quit her elected job as Governor in order to take credit for writing a book that someone else wrote for her and then toured the country trash talking Obama and any and everyone that asked her a valid question she couldn't answer.
If this is the new high-water mark in conservative political action then I don't see 2010 being that bad of a year for Democrats.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Shorter Jed Schlackman
Conspiracy Theory Of The Year
Secret government agents are out to kill Beck, Dobbs, and Limbaugh with uber-special lazer rays that no one can detect! It's probably some space alien or some kind of genetically engineered creature that is controlled by ACORN.
Secret government agents are out to kill Beck, Dobbs, and Limbaugh with uber-special lazer rays that no one can detect! It's probably some space alien or some kind of genetically engineered creature that is controlled by ACORN.
Greatest Healthcare Insurance PSA Ever
I wonder what Limbaugh's healthcare experience was like. Oh, look, a press conference:
Not to get overtly conspiratorial, but one can almost see this as a publicity stunt in order for Limbaugh to claim that America has the best healthcare system in America. That aside, he certainly used this opportunity to conflate two divergent topics: Healthcare and Healthcare insurance.
The one overriding factor of this presser is Limbaugh's assurance that he was NOT given preferential treatment during the entire ordeal. For lack of a more appropriate way of putting this, I call complete bullshit. Let's see the average American call the front-desk of their hotel and have immediate security detail and EMT service within minutes. It won't happen. Even calling for an ambulance to come get you takes time that many people not having the luxury of celebrity around them precious time.
More to the point, aside from the real fact that the doctors and hospital staff knew who they had on their hands, Limbaugh is comfortable and willing to extol praise in this situation because he can afford the care he received. He is outside the field of understanding when it comes to the reality of the cost of healthcare. And that is what makes him think that cost and care are one and the same.
Not to get overtly conspiratorial, but one can almost see this as a publicity stunt in order for Limbaugh to claim that America has the best healthcare system in America. That aside, he certainly used this opportunity to conflate two divergent topics: Healthcare and Healthcare insurance.
The one overriding factor of this presser is Limbaugh's assurance that he was NOT given preferential treatment during the entire ordeal. For lack of a more appropriate way of putting this, I call complete bullshit. Let's see the average American call the front-desk of their hotel and have immediate security detail and EMT service within minutes. It won't happen. Even calling for an ambulance to come get you takes time that many people not having the luxury of celebrity around them precious time.
More to the point, aside from the real fact that the doctors and hospital staff knew who they had on their hands, Limbaugh is comfortable and willing to extol praise in this situation because he can afford the care he received. He is outside the field of understanding when it comes to the reality of the cost of healthcare. And that is what makes him think that cost and care are one and the same.
Women Of The Decade
It's been said that behind every great man there is a woman. More often than is given credit for, behind every great action there is a woman as well. And it is for that reason that I have come up with the list of some of the greatest women of the decade. Granted, this is strictly in the realm of music, movies, and pop-culture, so no offense is meant to any women within alternate categories.
1 - Cate Blanchett
From a cold-hearted mother willing to sell her daughter in The Shipping News, to The Queen of the elves in LOTR, to THE Queen Elizabeth, and even Bob Dylan, Cate Blanchett is my pic for actress of the decade.
2 - Kari Byron
No one makes science or myth-busting more entertaining and fun than Kari. She's a nerd icon and can handle her own against any challenge that the boys often aren't up to.
3 - Sarah Silverman
Her absurdist/controversial/existential humor makes stands out as a pioneering force in comedy. What more can be said.
4 - American Ferrera
No longer the Rubenesque girl that she portrayed in her debut film "Real Women Have Curves", she is the "every-girl" icon in Ugly Betty that has shown us that image isn't always everything when it comes to women in the modern age.
5 - Alison Krauss
One of the most overlooked women in modern musical history, Alison Krauss made a name of herself amongst the bluegrass enthusiasts in America as fronting the group Union Station but virtually flew under the radar outside of the Nashville-set. That being said, simply being recognized as a household name doesn't make you a great artist. Her true power shined in 2007 when she joined with Robert Plant to record one of the greatest albums of the decade - Raising Sand
6 - Christiane Amanpour
A titan of a female journalist amongst a gaggle of hacks. Often far more honest and hard-hitting than most, which often ends with her being labeled as controversial. A true voice within the journalism community that shows that women are equally as powerful.
1 - Cate Blanchett
From a cold-hearted mother willing to sell her daughter in The Shipping News, to The Queen of the elves in LOTR, to THE Queen Elizabeth, and even Bob Dylan, Cate Blanchett is my pic for actress of the decade.
2 - Kari Byron
No one makes science or myth-busting more entertaining and fun than Kari. She's a nerd icon and can handle her own against any challenge that the boys often aren't up to.
3 - Sarah Silverman
Her absurdist/controversial/existential humor makes stands out as a pioneering force in comedy. What more can be said.
4 - American Ferrera
No longer the Rubenesque girl that she portrayed in her debut film "Real Women Have Curves", she is the "every-girl" icon in Ugly Betty that has shown us that image isn't always everything when it comes to women in the modern age.
5 - Alison Krauss
One of the most overlooked women in modern musical history, Alison Krauss made a name of herself amongst the bluegrass enthusiasts in America as fronting the group Union Station but virtually flew under the radar outside of the Nashville-set. That being said, simply being recognized as a household name doesn't make you a great artist. Her true power shined in 2007 when she joined with Robert Plant to record one of the greatest albums of the decade - Raising Sand
6 - Christiane Amanpour
A titan of a female journalist amongst a gaggle of hacks. Often far more honest and hard-hitting than most, which often ends with her being labeled as controversial. A true voice within the journalism community that shows that women are equally as powerful.
Year Of The Conspiracy Theorist
In Part IV of my "best of the year/decade" series, we take a look at how the conservative movement embraced conspiracy theory as fact and made not only a laughing-stock of themselves, but somehow managed to take away the mantle of "lunatic-fringe" from the likes of Alex Jones.
1 - Orly Taitz
View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
Since she burst onto the scene, I've often asked myself how someone so completely unglued from the fabric of reality is not only allowed to practice law but has the mental capacity to do so. It is, for that same reason, the many of the members of the tea-bagger movement are seen as just as crazy and ill-informed as she is, considering they cite her claims as fact.
But it isn't just Taitz or the tea-baggers that continually espouse this assertion that Obama was not born in the US. Rush Limbaugh, one of the leaders of the conservative movement, gives voice to this inane prattling:
2 - Obama is the Anti-Christ
Conspiracy theories that involve the Bible and politicians are not new in the least. I can still remember people insisting that Reagan was the Anti-Christ because of the numerical value of his name.
Many cite the fact that this has some relative truth to it simply because it comes from the Bible. However, there are many passages within the Bible that are so vague, so lacking in context, that they could mean anything. After all, the entire book of Revelations was allegedly written by a man marooned on an island and was hallucinating.
3 - Obama is a Muslim
This has got to be one of the most crystal-clear examples of how racism and xenophobia were part of the campaign against Barack Obama and not just used as conspiracy theory. Also, it is the video above - actually the 13 second sarcastic response to the allegation - that birthers and religious paranoid delusional reference as a "confession" that Obama is in fact a Muslim.
4 - Beck's Communist Art Project
Of all the conspiracy theories that Beck puts forward on literally a nightly basis, this one has got to be one that has got to be one of his best. And by that, I mean his craziest. Well, the FEMA concentration camps were a good one, but he back-peddled on that one while he was trying to pass it off as fact - he just didn't have the courage at the time to listen to the voices in his head like with the art one.
Keith Olbermann had a nice response to this, I thought:
5 - Census workers are coming for you
This bit of conservative paranoia was brought to us from someone whom is almost as crazy as Orly Taitz and somehow managed to get elected to Congress.
In this one, we get a two-fer. Beck and Bachmann, in the initial throws of the "warn on ACORN", claim that they have control over the 2010 Census and that within the form there is information that will be used against you - perhaps placing you into one of Beck's FEMA camps.
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Conspiracy theory within the Republican party and it's voters has become the new fact, just as the fringe-conservative has become the traditional conservative. Not in my lifetime has a group of people been so willing to insist that their very freedoms, their liberties, and life own lives are in danger. And while some will cite the theories behind Sept. 11th and many actions that George W. Bush took during his two terms as President, those were never embraced as fact the way that conservatives are reacting now to Barack Obama.
Yes, the "Truther" movement was most certainly anti-Bush, it was - and continues to be - roundly rejected by liberals/progressives within the Democratic party. Aside from that, there were really no conspiratorial movements on the Democratic side, or at least none that were given such a monumental platform as those espoused by the modern conservative movement.
1 - Orly Taitz
View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
Since she burst onto the scene, I've often asked myself how someone so completely unglued from the fabric of reality is not only allowed to practice law but has the mental capacity to do so. It is, for that same reason, the many of the members of the tea-bagger movement are seen as just as crazy and ill-informed as she is, considering they cite her claims as fact.
But it isn't just Taitz or the tea-baggers that continually espouse this assertion that Obama was not born in the US. Rush Limbaugh, one of the leaders of the conservative movement, gives voice to this inane prattling:
2 - Obama is the Anti-Christ
Conspiracy theories that involve the Bible and politicians are not new in the least. I can still remember people insisting that Reagan was the Anti-Christ because of the numerical value of his name.
Many cite the fact that this has some relative truth to it simply because it comes from the Bible. However, there are many passages within the Bible that are so vague, so lacking in context, that they could mean anything. After all, the entire book of Revelations was allegedly written by a man marooned on an island and was hallucinating.
3 - Obama is a Muslim
This has got to be one of the most crystal-clear examples of how racism and xenophobia were part of the campaign against Barack Obama and not just used as conspiracy theory. Also, it is the video above - actually the 13 second sarcastic response to the allegation - that birthers and religious paranoid delusional reference as a "confession" that Obama is in fact a Muslim.
4 - Beck's Communist Art Project
Of all the conspiracy theories that Beck puts forward on literally a nightly basis, this one has got to be one that has got to be one of his best. And by that, I mean his craziest. Well, the FEMA concentration camps were a good one, but he back-peddled on that one while he was trying to pass it off as fact - he just didn't have the courage at the time to listen to the voices in his head like with the art one.
Keith Olbermann had a nice response to this, I thought:
5 - Census workers are coming for you
This bit of conservative paranoia was brought to us from someone whom is almost as crazy as Orly Taitz and somehow managed to get elected to Congress.
In this one, we get a two-fer. Beck and Bachmann, in the initial throws of the "warn on ACORN", claim that they have control over the 2010 Census and that within the form there is information that will be used against you - perhaps placing you into one of Beck's FEMA camps.
-----------------------------------------------------
Conspiracy theory within the Republican party and it's voters has become the new fact, just as the fringe-conservative has become the traditional conservative. Not in my lifetime has a group of people been so willing to insist that their very freedoms, their liberties, and life own lives are in danger. And while some will cite the theories behind Sept. 11th and many actions that George W. Bush took during his two terms as President, those were never embraced as fact the way that conservatives are reacting now to Barack Obama.
Yes, the "Truther" movement was most certainly anti-Bush, it was - and continues to be - roundly rejected by liberals/progressives within the Democratic party. Aside from that, there were really no conspiratorial movements on the Democratic side, or at least none that were given such a monumental platform as those espoused by the modern conservative movement.
Friday, January 1, 2010
5 Big Things Obama Did Wrong In 2009
One common misconception that conservatives have about liberals/progressives is that we don't hold our leadership accountable, that we follow them blindly like mindless creatures of habit. And while that glaring piece of projection tells us more about Conservatives than they would care to admit, it should be pointed out that during Obama's first year as President, those that voted for and supported him throughout the year have let it be known that we are holding him accountable.
Michelle Malkin took a break from her daily, metaphorical ping-pong-ball show that usually delights her mouth-agape followers to claim that is was in fact the Democrats, not the GOP, that were breaking apart like the chips at the bottom of the bag. All that piece did was reveal that Malkin and her ilk prefer the paranoid, conspiratorial, shouting rather than substantive debate on issue - which was precisely what Democrats were engaging in with one another. However, Malkin seems to think that by saying "no they're not" that that makes it true. Sad to say that some people believe her, but these are the same people that think that Interpol is going to come to their homes with a census worker and take away all the books written by conservative authors and put them in FEMA concentration camps.
But let's get back to the topic at hand - things Obama has done wrong this year. In no particular order, here we go:
1 - He's sending more troops to Afghanistan
This isn't the first troop increase of Obama's presidency. Back in March, he put through orders to increase troop levels that were originally requested back when Buch/Cheney were still in office. That request sat idle for 8 months until Obama implemented it, and then was accused of "dithering" by Dick Cheney and conservatives had a new toy word to play with on television.
The reason that Obama's second troop increase is wrong is because of where we are in that area of the world. We are in a place that has a massively corrupt government and a military force that is far away from being prepared to take on the task of securing their nation on their own. We don't need to get sucked into "nation building" like we did with Iraq. But more so than that, those that we are fighting have moved into other countries, have began to reconstitute in many ways and we are literally inches away from dropping the ball because we are putting too sharp a focus on a place that has a rich history of bringing failure to occupying forces.
There was a time when I thought that putting more effort into Afghanistan was right. Not so much that it would require putting more boots on the ground, but focus more on targeted strikes, and the utilization of Special Ops. But I'm not even sure that that is what is needed anymore.
The one things that makes me think that a complete pullout would do us more good that staying and injecting more troops is that we lose perspective on other areas, like Yemen. Conservative war-hawks think the one and only solution is preemptive strikes and an occupying force that takes over a nation in order to destabilize it so private American interests can come in a wreak economic and socio-political havoc in order to "win the hearts and minds" of that country's people. That tactic has never worked to benefit the US so why do they think it will now?
Focus more on national security and get the hell out to Afghanistan right now. And for those conservatives that may be reading this, take a look at your history and find out what Reagan did after the terrorist bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut : he got us the fuck out of there.
The only caveat that Obama has offered is what appears to be an exit strategy within the next calendar year, but that may appear to be subject to change.
2 - He didn't repeal DADT
One giant piece of conservative legislation, that was enacted by a Democratic president, is Dont' Ask, Don't Tell. On it's face, it appeared to be a way for gays to serve in the military without the fear that they would be discovered. But the reality was much more sinister - they were denied their own identity and ability to serve their country openly and proudly. And for that reason, DADT should have never been put into place to begin with.
But there is a slippery slope with this sort of legislation. One of the main problems that people have with politicians is that they sometimes make decisions based solely on the how one thing or another will harm or benefit them politically. Many within the conservative Republicans operate on this platform more so than those within the Democratic party. From benefiting special interest groups and ensuring that big business holds power over the American public, Republicans are certainly not the ones to be pointing fingers when it comes to thinking politically instead of thinking of the American public.
Obama's primary weakness is that he is far too eager to try and reach out to people that are against him politically. This has been seen in literally every piece of legislation that he has signed off on. And to that point, it is beyond me why he would not just simply repeal this with only Democratic support. After all, the Republicans have shown time and again that the entire time Obama sits at the desk in the Oval Office that they have absolutely no desire to hear, or even consider, one thing he says. And if Obama isn't doing away with DADT, then it's a political move that is going to gain him no points.
3 - He didn't repeal DOMA
Rather than repeat my statements on DADT, it's far easier to understand that DOMA and DADT have not been removed for the same reasons which they were implemented to begin with.
4 - He seemed to have caved on the Public Option in healthcare reform
Far too many things have been stated about proposed healthcare reform that simply aren't true. From the death-panel meme, to rationing, to doctors across the country suddenly deciding to stop practicing medicine is this passes, conservatives have muddied the waters to such an extent that one can hardly penetrate the surface with any facts. One fact, thought, is indisputable - Barack Obama campaigned on a Public Option in healthcare reform.
It appears that Obama is simply eager to get some semblance of healthcare reform passed as quickly as possible, with the ability for it to be amended later on to include such things as a robust public option, to makes improvements along the way. But this has even been a topic of discussion of late - can it even be amended?
The only thing that gives me pause when considering the fact that Obama has completely scrapped his initial plan is that he can still use the line-item veto if he so chooses. Not only that, but the completely abhorrent Senate version of the bill still has to be put through conference and combined with the Congressional bill that is light-years away better.
Since this was such a key portion of his platform for election to begin with, I find it hard to understand why he seemingly has removed it as an option all together. Again, could this be because he is hoping to gain some Republican support? If so, he's fooling himself into thinking it's going to work.
5 - He called for and hoped for bipartisanship all year
This could arguably be Obama's biggest mistake since gaining the office of the President. In his inaugural speech, he famously said that he would "extend a hand if you would unclench your fist". A great line and a great ideal to hold, but when the opposition has both fists not only clenched but flailing around like a rabid monkey, what good is bipartisanship?
From many people's point of view, simply believing that the members of the Republican party have even the tiniest desire to work with Obama is not only naive, but utterly ignorant. Not only that, but responding to the likes of Fox"News" and even going on their network to do an interview does nothing but validate their reactionary blathering.
Far too many within the conservative movement are banking on the fact that 2010 will be the start of their come-back, that they will regain control of both houses of Congress with landslide victories. Mathematically this is plausible, but is a goal that isn't as easily attainable as they appear to have convinced themselves it is. Rather than extending his hand, Obama should have taken the stance that if Republicans were going to obstruct any and everything for whatever paranoid, delusional, reason they could, that they were of no benefit to the American public and simply gone on without them.
In this country, we still - for the most part - operate on a system of "majority rule". That's how elections are won, and that's how important decisions are made in everyday life. In Congress, it's called "reconciliation". Conservatives call it the "nuclear" option. Within those halls in Washington, it would seem that a majority means nothing - that you must have a "super-majority" to get anything done. Why is this? What good is having more seats than the other party if you can't use them or refuse to use them.
Obama should have, but he needs to, remove any and all preconceived notions that he can have bipartisan support for his plans. The Republican party, in many respects, has won several battles, but the metaphorical war has yet to be completed. And if Obama continues to think that Republicans will work for him then he is fooling himself.
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There are certainly more things to be written about, but these five things have harmed Obama and the Democratic party in more ways than they might first realize. His presidency and the party which supports him are not lost, there is time to rebuild, reorganize, and regain ground that was lost. It's been a tough year and there are surely to be tough days within the next three years, and that's all the incentive that Obama should need to be a more effective leader for his party and this country.
Michelle Malkin took a break from her daily, metaphorical ping-pong-ball show that usually delights her mouth-agape followers to claim that is was in fact the Democrats, not the GOP, that were breaking apart like the chips at the bottom of the bag. All that piece did was reveal that Malkin and her ilk prefer the paranoid, conspiratorial, shouting rather than substantive debate on issue - which was precisely what Democrats were engaging in with one another. However, Malkin seems to think that by saying "no they're not" that that makes it true. Sad to say that some people believe her, but these are the same people that think that Interpol is going to come to their homes with a census worker and take away all the books written by conservative authors and put them in FEMA concentration camps.
But let's get back to the topic at hand - things Obama has done wrong this year. In no particular order, here we go:
1 - He's sending more troops to Afghanistan
This isn't the first troop increase of Obama's presidency. Back in March, he put through orders to increase troop levels that were originally requested back when Buch/Cheney were still in office. That request sat idle for 8 months until Obama implemented it, and then was accused of "dithering" by Dick Cheney and conservatives had a new toy word to play with on television.
The reason that Obama's second troop increase is wrong is because of where we are in that area of the world. We are in a place that has a massively corrupt government and a military force that is far away from being prepared to take on the task of securing their nation on their own. We don't need to get sucked into "nation building" like we did with Iraq. But more so than that, those that we are fighting have moved into other countries, have began to reconstitute in many ways and we are literally inches away from dropping the ball because we are putting too sharp a focus on a place that has a rich history of bringing failure to occupying forces.
There was a time when I thought that putting more effort into Afghanistan was right. Not so much that it would require putting more boots on the ground, but focus more on targeted strikes, and the utilization of Special Ops. But I'm not even sure that that is what is needed anymore.
The one things that makes me think that a complete pullout would do us more good that staying and injecting more troops is that we lose perspective on other areas, like Yemen. Conservative war-hawks think the one and only solution is preemptive strikes and an occupying force that takes over a nation in order to destabilize it so private American interests can come in a wreak economic and socio-political havoc in order to "win the hearts and minds" of that country's people. That tactic has never worked to benefit the US so why do they think it will now?
Focus more on national security and get the hell out to Afghanistan right now. And for those conservatives that may be reading this, take a look at your history and find out what Reagan did after the terrorist bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut : he got us the fuck out of there.
The only caveat that Obama has offered is what appears to be an exit strategy within the next calendar year, but that may appear to be subject to change.
2 - He didn't repeal DADT
One giant piece of conservative legislation, that was enacted by a Democratic president, is Dont' Ask, Don't Tell. On it's face, it appeared to be a way for gays to serve in the military without the fear that they would be discovered. But the reality was much more sinister - they were denied their own identity and ability to serve their country openly and proudly. And for that reason, DADT should have never been put into place to begin with.
But there is a slippery slope with this sort of legislation. One of the main problems that people have with politicians is that they sometimes make decisions based solely on the how one thing or another will harm or benefit them politically. Many within the conservative Republicans operate on this platform more so than those within the Democratic party. From benefiting special interest groups and ensuring that big business holds power over the American public, Republicans are certainly not the ones to be pointing fingers when it comes to thinking politically instead of thinking of the American public.
Obama's primary weakness is that he is far too eager to try and reach out to people that are against him politically. This has been seen in literally every piece of legislation that he has signed off on. And to that point, it is beyond me why he would not just simply repeal this with only Democratic support. After all, the Republicans have shown time and again that the entire time Obama sits at the desk in the Oval Office that they have absolutely no desire to hear, or even consider, one thing he says. And if Obama isn't doing away with DADT, then it's a political move that is going to gain him no points.
3 - He didn't repeal DOMA
Rather than repeat my statements on DADT, it's far easier to understand that DOMA and DADT have not been removed for the same reasons which they were implemented to begin with.
4 - He seemed to have caved on the Public Option in healthcare reform
Far too many things have been stated about proposed healthcare reform that simply aren't true. From the death-panel meme, to rationing, to doctors across the country suddenly deciding to stop practicing medicine is this passes, conservatives have muddied the waters to such an extent that one can hardly penetrate the surface with any facts. One fact, thought, is indisputable - Barack Obama campaigned on a Public Option in healthcare reform.
It appears that Obama is simply eager to get some semblance of healthcare reform passed as quickly as possible, with the ability for it to be amended later on to include such things as a robust public option, to makes improvements along the way. But this has even been a topic of discussion of late - can it even be amended?
The only thing that gives me pause when considering the fact that Obama has completely scrapped his initial plan is that he can still use the line-item veto if he so chooses. Not only that, but the completely abhorrent Senate version of the bill still has to be put through conference and combined with the Congressional bill that is light-years away better.
Since this was such a key portion of his platform for election to begin with, I find it hard to understand why he seemingly has removed it as an option all together. Again, could this be because he is hoping to gain some Republican support? If so, he's fooling himself into thinking it's going to work.
5 - He called for and hoped for bipartisanship all year
This could arguably be Obama's biggest mistake since gaining the office of the President. In his inaugural speech, he famously said that he would "extend a hand if you would unclench your fist". A great line and a great ideal to hold, but when the opposition has both fists not only clenched but flailing around like a rabid monkey, what good is bipartisanship?
From many people's point of view, simply believing that the members of the Republican party have even the tiniest desire to work with Obama is not only naive, but utterly ignorant. Not only that, but responding to the likes of Fox"News" and even going on their network to do an interview does nothing but validate their reactionary blathering.
Far too many within the conservative movement are banking on the fact that 2010 will be the start of their come-back, that they will regain control of both houses of Congress with landslide victories. Mathematically this is plausible, but is a goal that isn't as easily attainable as they appear to have convinced themselves it is. Rather than extending his hand, Obama should have taken the stance that if Republicans were going to obstruct any and everything for whatever paranoid, delusional, reason they could, that they were of no benefit to the American public and simply gone on without them.
In this country, we still - for the most part - operate on a system of "majority rule". That's how elections are won, and that's how important decisions are made in everyday life. In Congress, it's called "reconciliation". Conservatives call it the "nuclear" option. Within those halls in Washington, it would seem that a majority means nothing - that you must have a "super-majority" to get anything done. Why is this? What good is having more seats than the other party if you can't use them or refuse to use them.
Obama should have, but he needs to, remove any and all preconceived notions that he can have bipartisan support for his plans. The Republican party, in many respects, has won several battles, but the metaphorical war has yet to be completed. And if Obama continues to think that Republicans will work for him then he is fooling himself.
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There are certainly more things to be written about, but these five things have harmed Obama and the Democratic party in more ways than they might first realize. His presidency and the party which supports him are not lost, there is time to rebuild, reorganize, and regain ground that was lost. It's been a tough year and there are surely to be tough days within the next three years, and that's all the incentive that Obama should need to be a more effective leader for his party and this country.
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