Populist Reform of the Democratic Party

BeyondGeography

(40,166 posts)

104. Ego

Sat Jun 13, 2015, 06:57 AM

Jun 2015

It's the last big piece of legislation on his plate and the first that would have passed with bipartisan support. Ironic that it would be the Democrats who denied it to him in the end, but they were right to do so. Not so much for the particulars of the treaty but for the way the entire process was handled. The levels of secrecy were absurd, and he didn't do enough until it was too late to get Democratic votes because he knew he didn't need that many. The exchanges with Warren were another misstep.

He has been Ahab with this bipartisan thing all along. I'm glad this particular aspect of his presidency has apparently ended badly for him because it never made sense. It was good for his image and made him more electable, but it fell apart when it came to legislating. Republicans were never going to work with him on anything remotely progressive and the country has moved a few ticks to the left in the meantime. But, still, he stuck with it. He was always working to make good on that 2004 keynote theme but the stars were never going to align.

The promise to rich donor thing is lame, Manny. You did get the last part right though. It was never about personal financial gain, it was about his own isolated view of his legacy.

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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