Populist Reform of the Democratic Party

MannyGoldstein

(34,589 posts) Thu Jun 11, 2015, 07:45 PM Jun 2015

Thoughts: Why is Pres. Obama shoving the TPP down our throats? [View all]

I can't recall a Democratic President ever hustling so hard to do the opposite of what Congressional Democrats and the conscious Democratic base wants.

I'm guessing that it's some combination of a promise made to one or more rich patrons that want to be even richer, and wanting to be in the record books with a trade deal larger than NAFTA. I don't think he's the type that worries about how much cash he'll make after he leaves office.

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Thoughts: Why is Pres. Obama shoving the TPP down our throats? [View all] MannyGoldstein Jun 2015 OP

Is it possible that he believes in the benefits or jaysunb Jun 2015 #1

That is possible Trajan Jun 2015 #5

Well, he has a different perspective Scootaloo Jun 2015 #9

Of course his perspective as the black child of a (edit) single mother and community organizer is...nothing? Fred Sanders Jun 2015 #15

That was then, this is now Scootaloo Jun 2015 #18

His small wealth was earned by hard work and sacrifice. He could easily have made much much more. Fred Sanders Jun 2015 #19

I don't resent him his wealth. I resent him the fact that it seems to be blocking his view of us. Scootaloo Jun 2015 #30

This, exactly this! ^^^ green917 Jun 2015 #51

Obama is doing this out of personal greed?? Out of future money prospects? I disagree. Fred Sanders Jun 2015 #71

However, he is surrounded by advisers who are corporate cheerleaders... Human101948 Jun 2015 #102

Most of his childhood was spent living in his grandparents house, no? MannyGoldstein Jun 2015 #21

Yes. His white mother's white mother and father. hedda_foil Jun 2015 #52

Of course having a good education and advancing oneself to minor wealth through hard work and Fred Sanders Jun 2015 #81

fwiw "white" single mother truebluegreen Jun 2015 #29

I so agree. All of it. RiverLover Jun 2015 #44

I stand corrected on that. Single white mother, no father figure. Same point. Fred Sanders Jun 2015 #72

"...black single mother..."? That rhetorical flourish must have seized control of the keyboard. n/t xocet Jun 2015 #35

President Obama's Mother - Ann Dunham - WAS NOT BLACK. Raster Jun 2015 #38

His mother was white and was married to his father when he was born, as I'm sure you know. hedda_foil Jun 2015 #49

Not fer nuttin, merrily Jun 2015 #91

Nice fairytale. BeanMusical Jun 2015 #64

That group exists, its called GD. JoePhilly Jun 2015 #76

Indeed. But there appear to be multiple Obama Bashing groups......not that it matters a wit. Fred Sanders Jun 2015 #80

GD and many other forums are the places on this board for posts like the ones you merrily Jun 2015 #94

I cannot believe that. He acknowledged the damage done by NAFTA. Enthusiast Jun 2015 #67

Sure, twice elected community organizer/intellectual that is the single body standing in the way of out and out Fred Sanders Jun 2015 #73

I won't go with your words in my mouth. The GOP does not say the same. Enthusiast Jun 2015 #75

Please see Reply 94. merrily Jun 2015 #95

Great point and great graphic. merrily Jun 2015 #92

reminds me of the full court press he ran to strengthen social security...oh wait. never mind nt msongs Jun 2015 #2

+1,000,000 .... Trajan Jun 2015 #7

Well he did offer a Social Security cut in a budget Omaha Steve Jun 2015 #20

He put cuts to Social Security AND Medicare on the table without being asked. merrily Jun 2015 #93

Yup, like when he went to the mat for a "robust public option" in the ACA... (n/t) thesquanderer Jun 2015 #24

this is different. back then, we were told he simply didn't have the votes.. frylock Jun 2015 #36

Well...He fought his ass off to keep his promise to end Bush tax cuts for billionaires... raindaddy Jun 2015 #39

Chained CPI was going to strengthen Social Security! Enthusiast Jun 2015 #77

But weaken its recipients, who do not have enough to eat as it is. merrily Jun 2015 #96

This is such a good question, Manny. Along with that I wonder over and over, enough Jun 2015 #3

It's obvious to everyone except the few remaining swooners PSPS Jun 2015 #10

Yep 840high Jun 2015 #16

Would a speech about it really help? merrily Jun 2015 #97

because he needs it to be a done deal DonCoquixote Jun 2015 #4

yep. nt antigop Jun 2015 #6

"...she needs it to be a done deal...." truebluegreen Jun 2015 #32

I glady thank ye DonCoquixote Jun 2015 #84

It would be interesting to see her try truebluegreen Jun 2015 #85

her main strategy is to duck everything DonCoquixote Jun 2015 #86

I have thought for a long time that the biggest danger to us truebluegreen Jun 2015 #88

How is TPP moderate for a Democrat? How is putting Social Security and Medicare on the table merrily Jun 2015 #106

You mistake me. truebluegreen Jun 2015 #108

Thanks. Quotaton marks make the difference. merrily Jun 2015 #110

The Party needs it to be a done deal. And then the primary will distract from it merrily Jun 2015 #105

Sadly, this sounds the most plausible. navarth Jun 2015 #53

Bingo DeadEyeDyck Jun 2015 #79

+1 merrily Jun 2015 #98

Because the world is engaged in economic warfare? Gregorian Jun 2015 #8

+1 GeorgeGist Jun 2015 #25

+1,000 n/t RufusTFirefly Jun 2015 #41

The best possible reason I can imagine is the "Compassionate Globalist" 99th_Monkey Jun 2015 #11

It's a global leveling down of wages for the benefit of the rich. ananda Jun 2015 #60

I think you've pretty much nailed it 99th_Monkey Jun 2015 #66

My guess is it's about sweatshops/slave-shops, and China. jeff47 Jun 2015 #12

he cannot possibly be that stupid Skittles Jun 2015 #40

+1 Well said. truebluegreen Jun 2015 #48

I think he just hasn't looked for the loopholes. jeff47 Jun 2015 #74

Obama does not strike me as a man who misses major details Skittles Jun 2015 #89

I'm not saying he is. jeff47 Jun 2015 #116

He and his advisors can't see the pitfalls, but DUers can? merrily Jun 2015 #99

No, we just assume there are pitfalls because there always have been. jeff47 Jun 2015 #115

He's basically a believer in multinational corporatism dreamnightwind Jun 2015 #87

He's a New Democrat. merrily Jun 2015 #100

Yes, and check out the origin and designer of DLC/PPI site, blew my mind dreamnightwind Jun 2015 #109

When I said Bernie was responsible, I meant he started the House Progressive Caucus, merrily Jun 2015 #111

Oh, that makes more sense then dreamnightwind Jun 2015 #113

Money and power. Each is seductive and addictive. In combination, look out. merrily Jun 2015 #114

Interesting points... KoKo Jun 2015 #117

Rec'd ibewlu606 Jun 2015 #13

So. sheshe2 Jun 2015 #37

He is, and has been, a corporate whore! green917 Jun 2015 #58

? ibewlu606 Jun 2015 #69

Please see Reply #94. merrily Jun 2015 #101

In order to understand the President's desparation to pass TPA FlatBaroque Jun 2015 #14

Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2015 #28

Good night. I must say I am impressed with your memory though. uppityperson Jun 2015 #54

Quite a charge that I hate to agree with. Duppers Jun 2015 #31

All he would have had to tell Kennedy was that he FlatBaroque Jun 2015 #42

Senator Kennedy did not endorse Obama until after Kennedy warned the Clinton merrily Jun 2015 #103

Thank you! Duppers Jun 2015 #112

Re QE. Came across this.. Duppers Jun 2015 #34

Yeah, thanks. FlatBaroque Jun 2015 #45

Before TPP, the hardest I've seen Obama campaign for anything is Michael Bennett. denverbill Jun 2015 #17

Saw that. truebluegreen Jun 2015 #33

Sen. Mary Landrieu green917 Jun 2015 #59

Yep. He is not doing it for us. salib Jun 2015 #22

Don't know.... daleanime Jun 2015 #23

One possible answer: Penny Pritzker Thespian2 Jun 2015 #26

And they are getting what they paid for. zeemike Jun 2015 #47

Exactly!!! Thespian2 Jun 2015 #68

Because corporate campaign contributions have absolutely no influence on him RufusTFirefly Jun 2015 #27

It's just bizarre...and either he's not hearing what the rest of us think or SoapBox Jun 2015 #43

I'm guessing the latter dflprincess Jun 2015 #46

I don't dismiss the possibility that someone has shown him both a carrot and a stick. GoneFishin Jun 2015 #50

It never really pays to try to guess why politicians are the way they are. Jakes Progress Jun 2015 #55

A man's gotta plan for retirement. Phlem Jun 2015 #56

I think it's mainly about pushing back against China (and Russia) starroute Jun 2015 #57

This is the explanation that makes the most sense to me. drm604 Jun 2015 #61

I have wondered if it has to do with the upcoming Supreme Court ruling ALBliberal Jun 2015 #62

Kick and R BeanMusical Jun 2015 #63

Why waste the energy, aspirant Jun 2015 #65

Great post, Manny marym625 Jun 2015 #70

This message was self-deleted by its author olddots Jun 2015 #78

Economic competition against China Martin Eden Jun 2015 #82

This message was self-deleted by its author Corruption Inc Jun 2015 #83

This ^ DebbieCDC Jun 2015 #90

Ego BeyondGeography Jun 2015 #104

Wait until next week. I don't think it will end badly. I think we are seeing major kabuki. merrily Jun 2015 #107