The Obama Administration thread

[Dr. Blutarsky]

Long live Obama!!!

He postponed his speech which was due Feb 2nd just for the LOST Premiere

They need a Tivo in the White House!

Can he sign an executive order, forcing House Republicans to watch it and re-enact it after the speech?

Hell appoint a LOST Czar to handle it. 

[Mr. TRash]

Posted by: freedom78 Be honest.  Mr Trash is your second identity, isn't he.
     If you're refering to D's second identity you're wrong, Mr. TRash is actually a stage name I performed under for 7 1/2 years.

As for the lost issue.  I think that Obama should be on the same time, but different channel and we'll see what americans are actually more interested in.

[sandman]

it's funny hearing Reid bitch about filibusters, considering the Dems used the same strategy in the early years of Bush's term. wasn't he the one that read an entire book to waste time? they're all frauds.

[freedom78]

Posted by: freedom78 Be honest.  Mr Trash is your second identity, isn't he.
     If you're refering to D's second identity you're wrong, Mr. TRash is actually a stage name I performed under for 7 1/2 years.

Yeah, I was completely kidding.  

it's funny hearing Reid bitch about filibusters, considering the Dems used the same strategy in the early years of Bush's term. wasn't he the one that read an entire book to waste time? they're all frauds.

The Dems filibustered about a dozen of Bush's court nominees, some of whom were later confirmed due to the efforts of the so-called Gang of 14 , when Republicans threatened to do away with the filibuster (a common threat from the majority party over the years).  If memory serves (and it usually does) one of these nominees was such a poor judge as to have been publicly censured (or some other criticism/punishment) from her colleagues.  Given his nomination of Harriet Myers, Bush should be lucky the Senate felt the need to confirm ANY of his nominees.  While I can't deny it was used by Dems during the Bush admin, it seems only minimally comparable to requiring a filibuster-proof majority on every issue. 

Now, as for the bitching...yeah, they all do it.  It's a vicious cycle of bitching about the filibuster.     

[Smoking Guns]

Either tonight is a "red flag" for Obama, or no blacks showed up to the polls cause he is already in the White House and apathy has set in.  The spin coming form MSNBC is amazing. 

[Bodhi]

What happened is a good part of this country got excited about an unqualified inexperienced guy they knew nothing about, and now they are having serious buyers remorse.  Tonight is nothing compared to the slaughter that is going to take place this fall.  Obama's numbers are lower than any other President in his first year in history, and if he, Reid and Pelosi want to continue to push this bullshit healthcare plan down the countries throats against our will they will all be out of a job soon too.  Blaming the past administration for all of your problems only works for so long.    MSNBC can spin it any way they want, but the bottom line is this country is not happy with the job he has been doing for the past year, simple as that.  So they vote out the democrats to give him less power.  If Obama does not take a turn to the center Clinton 94' style, he might actually be in trouble in 2012 despite the Republicans lack of a candidate.

[sandman]

Either tonight is a "red flag" for Obama, or no blacks showed up to the polls cause he is already in the White House and apathy has set in.  The spin coming form MSNBC is amazing. 

i was stunned last night. i haven't been paying real close attention and didn't realize he actually had a shot at winning. i didn't see many articles or any recent polling data online this week. a republican has actually won the open senate seat in Mass. wow! a few months ago that seemed impossible. 

and yes, the spin coming from MSNBC was amazing. Maddow was talking about how dirty of a campaign Brown ran. and then went on and on for minutes about 1 reported polling phone call that somehow was meant to make coakley look bad. it was pure desperation, and quite boring.

when i eventially flipped back Dean was on there and he was the only person on that station that had anything insightful to say. he said democrats need to be democrats and not go towards the center. he also criticized the party for playing the blame game. i believe his exact quote was "people who blame are losers!" it was pretty funny.

[pilferk]

What happened is a good part of this country got excited about an unqualified inexperienced guy they knew nothing about, and now they are having serious buyers remorse.  Tonight is nothing compared to the slaughter that is going to take place this fall.  Obama's numbers are lower than any other President in his first year in history, and if he, Reid and Pelosi want to continue to push this bullshit healthcare plan down the countries throats against our will they will all be out of a job soon too.  Blaming the past administration for all of your problems only works for so long.    MSNBC can spin it any way they want, but the bottom line is this country is not happy with the job he has been doing for the past year, simple as that.  So they vote out the democrats to give him less power.  If Obama does not take a turn to the center Clinton 94' style, he might actually be in trouble in 2012 despite the Republicans lack of a candidate.

2nd lowest.  Reagans were 2 points lower.

I don't think this is buyers remorse.  IMHO, it's MA's referendum on healthcare. That's the way the Repubs played it, that's the way they sold it to the voters.  Considering they HAVE a VERY similar plan in place (a plan the new Senator VOTED FOR while in the State Senate, and supports to this day), pay for it out of their state taxes, and generally polling indicates they LIKE the plan, I do find it somewhat odd they voted AGAINST giving it to the rest of the country.  And I find it disturbing that the Dems were unable to portray that to their advantage.  Again, the Repubs have proven they're much better at getting their message out, and selling their bill of goods, than the Dems are.  What's interesting is that, after 8 years of going through the same sorts of things, voters are still susceptible to their pitch. 

The funny part here is that the healthcare bill (and a whole lot of other Senate legislation) has been a LOT more centrist than it could have been, because they were catering to the super majority.  IF voters (and you're talking about liberal democrats, on a ratio of 6-1 vs Repubs in MA) think this is going to make the Dems more centrist...they're very wrong.  It likely could have the exact opposite effect.  It could also backfire on the Repubs (though it very well might not, too)...because the Dems can quickly turn the perception into them being the "evil obstructionists" preventing ANYTHING from being done.  I have my doubts on the Dems political savy being high enough to do it, but it's possible.  II could also lead the Dems to exploring the "nuclear option"....an idea I HATE, but is certainly possible with their majority...and them eliminating the philibuster in the Senate.

I actually think the frustration level here is in the inability to get things done and the focus, so early in the administration, on healthcare.  I've said it in earlier posts:  There seems to be a (growing) feeling that there were more pressing issues to deal with, and they are spending an inordinate amount of time, making an inordinate number of "compromises" (aka pork) on ONE issue of many.  I can't say I disagree with them.  I actually think THAT'S the message the MA voters were sending, here. 

[Smoking Guns]

They are sick of the lies, pork, promises, earmarks, etc.....  Voting for the Repub. is a giant "FUCK YOU" to the Democratic party calling them out on all their effing shit.  Pelosi and Reid are NOT helping.

[D]

Mr Trash and I are not the same. U can check the IP's.

All I can say is, at least Bush had an unpopular war to blame for his low ratings.

[pilferk]

Mr Trash and I are not the same. U can check the IP's.

All I can say is, at least Bush had an unpopular war to blame for his low ratings.

Which isn't much different than an "unpopular" economy, is it?

Except for the fact that, lets face it, Obama isn't remotely responsible for the shape of the economy.  You can argue he's not doing enough to combat it....that's fair.  But he's trying to clean up a mess he didn't exactly make.

Bush made his OWN mess.

[pilferk]

They are sick of the lies, pork, promises, earmarks, etc.....  Voting for the Repub. is a giant "FUCK YOU" to the Democratic party calling them out on all their effing shit.  Pelosi and Reid are NOT helping.

Except, well...there's actually (apparently, if you believe the Budget office) LESS of that going on than there was when the Repubs were in power.

[sandman]

independent voters are letting their voice be heard - VA, NJ, and MA. they are not happy with the Dems' (both the administration and congress) performance in the last year. i think they are unhappy with the proposed healthcare bill (who isn't???), but i think they may be just as angry about unemployment.

the dems seem to be in disarray right now, but at least they are finally getting the point that people are pissed off. so they have a few months to figure out their strategy, communicate it, and get some things done. all of which will help them come away in good shape in november. the pressure is on, cause if their response is not clear, things could turn out worse than expected.

[superstarmc]

Newsflash democrats: blaming the last Administration is no longer working, find a new tactic for your own good.  People are not voting republican in the bluest of blue states becuase they are angry at republicans.  They're angry as he'll becuase your tone deaf to your own supporters.

[pilferk]

Newsflash democrats: blaming the last Administration is no longer working, find a new tactic for your own good.  People are not voting republican in the bluest of blue states becuase they are angry at republicans.  They're angry as he'll becuase your tone deaf to your own supporters.

They're just plain angry...and the dems are now the ones in power, so that's who they're going to be angry with.  Because they want solutions (and rightly so).

And I agree....the DEMS shouldn't play the blame game with anyone, they should just offer up some solutions.  That's what they started with last January, but the political infighting reared it's ugly head (again) and they've gotten away from it.

But that doesn't mean WE (as voters, and as part of this discussion) shouldn't point out when a spade is a spade. 

The condition of the economy is, largely, due to Bush's policies, and the policies of the former administration.  Obama certainly doesn't get a pass, because there is certainly an argument to be made that this administration has not focused enough on unemployment and economic indicators...and transferred it's focus TOO quickly to other social issues (like health care).

There was more "pork", in Republican legislation, than there has been (so far) in the Dem passed legislation.  That's according to the Congressinal Budget Office....and is a pretty surprising statistic when you consider the Stimulus package AND the proposed health care bill....though maybe the health care bill isn't factored in since it hasn't, officially, been signed into law.

And just in case your comments were directed at me....you'll want to further investigate my party affiliation (or lack thereof).

[superstarmc]

pilferk, they're not directed at you.  It's just gets old hearing Obama and Gibbs blaming someone else all the time when all three branches of goverment is being held by Obama's own party, both houses of congress since 2006.

[Vicious Wishes]

Obama constantly blaming Bush for everything is getting really old.  Is everything Bush's fault? No. Is everything Obama's fault? No. They both share responsibility.
But everytime I hear our President blame the previous administration for what he inherited, it makes me think of someone buying a used car, when they know about it's MANY problems, yet they buy it anyway.
Obama knew what he was 'inheriting'. He campaigned vigorously, spending millions of dollars for the job.
He talked a hell of a game, but he never really had that much experience.
Growing pains are to be expected, but I think he's trying to do too much too fast.

[Smoking Guns]

This country is on the verge of a revolution if the Reps and Dems don't get their shit together.  You guys do realize most of the folks never had a real job.  The are parasites of society with everyone in their back pocket.  They don't relate to you or I.  Most of them born with a silver spoon, what the fuck do they know about the real world? 

[The Dog]

This country is on the verge of a revolution if the Reps and Dems don't get their shit together.   

I HOPE you are right.  one way or another, this is what we need.  A fuckin' revolution.  The status quo is not going to get us to where we need to be, to where the people want us to be.  The reps had 8 years, they failed, Obama has one just one, yet it's looking like "more of the same" so far.  I hope he can turn it around.  I am not holding my breath that he will.

we need a legitimate, non crazy, non tea bagging 3rd party to either take over or make the reps/dems wake up and get their crap together.

The fact that i have family members who are true blue dems, who were willing to take a bullet for Obama when he was running for POTUS, who now say they would have voted for Brown in MASS if they had the chance b/c the health care bill is totally watered down and a complete joke tells you that the dems are not in good shape. 

[sandman]

voters are hand-cuffed right now. all we can do is swing back and forth between 2 parties that we know are out for themselves. there is simply no other recourse. no one is thrilled to be voting republican - everyone knows they will screw us again.

they had several years to do all their cash-grabbing. the dems have done the same in recent years. it's just back and forth. and what are all those republicans doing that got voted out? probably working for the people they gave earmarks to when they were in office, and getting paid very well for it.

but IMO, the majority of the voters are to blame. the ones that vote their party lines no matter what. there's a huge chunk on both sides that are constantly hoping "their party "wins and gains control. THEY are the ones that make this ugly system possible. THEY are the ones the ENABLE the scum bag politicians to screw us cause they know no matter what, they got your vote.