President Obama Attacks Congress for Delaying His Nominees — Is He Right?

“…some might argue that there’s also something to be said about combating policy arguments with better policy arguments.”
Who might say that? You might say that? Why don’t you say that? It’s a good point! Take credit for it.

Malarkey. His party is in control of Congress……anything that fails in Congress, is the fault of his own party, and no other.

For many Democrats, the answer is yes. They argue that GOP obstructionism and the desire of certain Republican senators to unfairly assail Berwick as a sort of death panel advocate drove the President to make the recess appointment.
==========
Possibly. But they can do that anyway, and the hearing provides a way for Berwick to actually **address those accusations**.
We could say, the Republicans were going to use the Elena Kagan hearings to assail her anti-military actions at Harvard.
And they did!
But *she* used the hearings to defend her actions. And to joke around and make herself likable.
And Democrats used the hearings to bring up other issues.
Letting the American people hear what very important appointees have to say is one of the benefits of the hearings.

Thank you Sir for helping Our Democracy move forward all congressional puppets on the right can say is scripted for them by their party NO common sense or free will left to any of them understand the Threats to them from whoever is the party leader are lethal—notice how many have primary challenges like mc Cain & other’s.
We must be seeing republican Purity test at work. Know that President Reagan would have never passed it for sure.
NO is not an acceptable word in a Democracy all they know as they continue to screw up is how to have tactics & ploys for political game playing & to live in the past status quo.
Bush always like recess things done when he was in office.
George W. Bush made 171 recess appointments, of which 99 were to full-time positions.
Anymore you can do for us the People while they are gone we Thank you for this is the 21st century use all Tools available to you as Our President Please!
We do not need each appointment to turn into a spectacle of choosing to use Lies/Misleading & Distortions to stall; many are too important positions of need now not to be filled honestly.
We the people seem unable to convince congress all we really deserve, need & want are truths & facts getting the work that we pay for done by Honoring their Oath of Office.
Nothing we can do to change the Past, but, everything we do now can change our Future.
showmestategalMO in the Heartland home of President Harry Truman

Democrats control the congress, and the administration’s failure to nominate candidates that present a compelling enough argument to peel off a couple of Republicans to confirm their candidates shows weakness on the part of the Democrats and underscores their basic inability to actually ACT in a bi-partisan manner.
Strip away their claimed justifications, and what you are left with are nominees that wouldn’t likely survive the hearings because Republicans promised to ask hard questions about candidates prior statements and positions!
This is a monumental admission of weakness on the Democrats part – Republicans are being ‘blamed’ for doing their job, vetting nominees – I say keep it up Republicans!

It’s like I’ve been sayin’: When Obama says “transparency”, he really means “invisibility”. He really means we are going to do as we please and you will not know the real story, ever.
Vladimir Obama and his Congressional Dogs must be disempowered. The healthiest way will be by voting Dems out in November.

Giving a recess appointment to someone because your team members won’t bring him up for a hearing and they won’t do that because the questions from the other team might be tough and create some controversy before the election?
Yet, you blame republicans.( what happened to BOOOSH, can’t you somehow blame him)?
Honestly, how in Gods creation can anyone come up with so many pathetic excuses?

It seems “winning over the hearts and minds of the people” is a respectful exercise strictly limited to overseas operations..here at home we are simply told to shut up and grab our ankles…again and again and again…

It wasn’t so long ago that the big story was that the GOP was broken and would never be able to block anything that the new administration wanted to do. The Super Majority headed by Reid and the Lower House headed by Pelosi was supposed to be the exlcusive haven and machinery for the executive branch.
Maybe the people have spoken, we want some level of D.C. gridlock.

The Obama rhetoric of late seems to be setting up the same old scenario.. get your talking points together, send ou the suit and tie reptiles out to spout them.. then jigsaw together the GOP conspiracy and blame game picture.
This is politics as finger pointing usual.

Obama has rushed this appointment of Dr. Berwick through(again-closed doors) while the Senate and most of the people are home for the Holidays without going through Confirmation hearings because of the “Doc’s” self-professed support of RATIONING health care. There, again goes Obama’s pledge to be accountable and transparent. What a sham!!! Ole Doc. wants to cut $500 billion OUT OF MEDICARE , Iam sure the seniors are going to LOVE that! What a socialist pair of idiots!!!

what a big cry baby!

Really is anyone surprised at this?? Obama is a spoiled egotistical brat who if he doesn’t get what he wants he finds a way to strong arm or bully. He can’t go through the normal channels because not one of this liberal nominees would get through easily. Maybe if he nominated somone who was mid-stream he wouldn’t find such resistance.

So Obama is lying again. Why are we not surprised.

Obama is so intellectually dishonest. And there is just nothing intellectual about John Kerry.

“NO is not an acceptable word in a Democracy”
Somebody does not know the difference between a democracy and a dictatorship.

Nephron,
I guess earlier I was being impulsive in my use of descriptives. But the Republican filibustering has reached record proportions in the last couple of years, with cloture being invoked at least 70 times and over 130 motions filed for cloture against filibusters during 2009. Most of us are familiar with the repeated objections and blocking attempts the GOP has attempted with nominees. Both are repeated and thoroughly predictable behaviors, so I’m okay about calling them mean-spirited.
Maybe Berwick shouldn’t have been rushed through with a recess appointment; because for one, it could have drawn attention to the “healthcare reform” bill. I find it to be a deliberately long document at around 2,000 pages that forces tax and individual subsidies on a bad product that receives little oversight for the hundreds of millions of dollars it gains. I’m okay with his opinions on exercising less costly and more conservative patient care, but wouldn’t have minded the added attention drawn to healthcare.

He is Campaigner in chief
He is Fund-raiser in chief
He is BS in chief
He is FINGER POINTER IN CHIEF
he is not COMMANDER IN CHIEF
Hey, you MAIN STREAM MEDIA, did you wake up? I will show you my vote on 2010. Don’t think we are THAT stupid.

“Berwick’s calls for reform ‘seem to target many of the aspects of the system that concern conservatives, notably its tendency to let experts and bureaucrats tell patients what’s best for them’”
“But Republicans were not delaying or stalling Berwick’s nomination.”
Obama lied about Republicans delaying the confirmation process and appointed Berwick without allowing time for even one hearing… Hmmm…

Obama lied about Republicans delaying the confirmation process…
where did he lie? Do you have a quote?
Obama said, ““It’s unfortunate that at a time when our nation is facing enormous challenges, many in Congress have decided to delay critical nominations for political purposes.”
I agree with him, and Jake points out that 2 of 3 appointments have been held up– as have endless others. Where does Obama specifically lie about Berwick?
He made a general statement.
If you have a critique based on facts, make it, but lying or distorting yourself doesn’t build up much cred when it comes to calling out “liars.”

pmama, you will defend Obama till the death wont you?

Obama Bypasses Senate For New Medicare Czar…
‘Expert on Rationing’…
FLASHBACK: ‘Health care plan must redistribute wealth’…
Did White House oversell appointee?…
Dem leader blasts end run…
MO Lt. Gov. Sues Feds Over Health Care…
The takeback of America begins in Nov…prepare for investigations of this radical left wing extremeist
Obama VS America

Thanks Jake for being one of a rare breed of ethical and fair journalists left in the mainstream media.

“President Obama Attacks Congress for Delaying His Nominees — Is He Right?” – ABC News
I don’t even have to read the article to know that NoBo is wrong.
Just because ABC news questions NoBo’s veracity in the headline means the Prez is wrong and or lying once again.
What a dufus our president is.

The more salient question is:
Does this despicable man KNOW anyone who is NOT a damable communist?
Obama is the worst president in history.

I am as sick of the weakling cowardly press as I am of our lying, slimeball president.

Get the point? (I doubt it)
Posted by: tjp612 | Jul 7, 2010 4:55:39 PM
What you don’t get is that I don’t care if people like you read them. At all. Its not ALL ABOUT YOU, believe it or not. Or your like-minded pals. I’m well aware you’re representing for the epistemic closure of the right wing (see blogosphere debate that started with an article by libertarian-leaning Julian Sanchez, and upon which several bloggers weighed in.) — and that you refuse to read anything you assume you’ll disagree with. Based on that alone, its pretty clear I don’t comment for your benefit.
I post what I post, and I think micromanagement by those who claim to be independent-minded and liberty-oriented is rather ironic.
Get it yet?
I doubt it.
But anyone interested in another perspective can check out the four pieces mentioned in my posts at 4:32:13 PM and 4:13:53 PM
Yes, they’re from progressives and liberals. As my screen name suggests, I lean progresseive. lol.
The good argument to mention here, for any one who cares about good arguments, is that brought up by commenter, Maybee at 1:53:10 PM; I understand Maybee’s argument but also think that there are reasons mentioned in the Jonathan Cohn piece I brought up that make this an important appointment to get rolling and on the job: Not only must CMS prepare to deliver coverage to millions of new Medicaid recipients. It must also re-engineer Medicare itself, so that it pays for services in ways that foster better, more efficient care.

Today is one of those infuriating days that I feel I have been lied to by the Obama administration. Obama’s distortion of the facts regarding his recess appointment is the smoke that proves there is a fire.
Will the press call him on it, or let it slide?
Isn’t it important that these insincere words came directly from Obama!?

Berwick believes in the redistribution of wealth just like Barack.Obama did not want to bring this up for the country to once again see.He also did not want to have remind people how much the majority of the country despises Obamacare.

Progressive Mama,
Good call. You have to remember that these far-right wing radical Republican terrorists don’t really think for themselves. They can’t read beyond a 5th or 6th grade level, if they can read at all. They’ll only say whatever they are told to say by the radical Community Organizers on Fox News and AM Radio such as Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, etc.
It’s pretty funny to see these children call people like Obama a communist or even a socialist. It really shows a lack of command of the English language. But, I suppose these kids need to feel like they are in some kind of club. They just want acceptance by their extreme fringe far-right wing buddies.
Wouldn’t you want that, too? I know I would if I were a loser in life. I know I’d be looking to blame everybody for my own faults and shortcomings. But, alas, I’m a successful progressive and don’t feel the need to play the blame game. You wonder why these people blame the government? It goes along with their lack of ability to take responsibility for their own actions. The “party of personal responsibility” is nothing more than the party of blame everybody else for their own issues.
Although the centrist democrats are in charge, hopefully, the policies that they implement, although far from progressive or liberal, will prevent a second Great Republican Depression. Only time will tell.

“lack of command of the English language”-like the pronouncing “corpsman” as “CORPSEMAN”?Or claiming that an videotaped beheading “electrified the world”?C Lee,even if everything in your rant was true,it would still be immaterial to the central question posted by this blog-how can Obama claim obstruction with the Berwick nomination when no hearings were held,no views presented,no vote taken?

This recess appointment fits perfectly with government and media in the Obama age. Every American will be intimately affected by the decisons Mr. Berwick will make, but none of us will be provided with the opportunity to hear publicly how he intends to implement and manage our health care. Our congressional representatives will not vet him and,in so doing, the majority party will conveniently avoid any direct responsibility for approving his appointment or signing off on his intentions for our healthcare. The reason for their doing so is, of course, that his views and plans will not survive public scrutiny. This is quite obvious and you and your employer surely know that.
All in all, a perfect sea of decisions which will affect us all made by administrators of who we know nothing, led by an unvetted public servant implementing a deeply unpopular national healthcare plan. And most discouraging of all – the media, ABC and you will play your part in this charade by sinply refusing to inform the public or raising any serious questions about how our goverment is functioning.
Deeply, deeply corrosive for all involved.

Not his fault, he inherited this whole delayed appointments thing from Mr. Bush…
Didn’t the Dems actually go through with some “Congress in Session” phony baloney to keep Mr. Bush from doing exactly what Mr. Obama is doing..?
Come to think of it, didn’t Mr. Obama support that phony baloney?
Does that make Mr. Obama phony baloney?
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose…

Somebody needs to call the WAA-mbulance.
I love it how the Democrats use the very same tactic when the opposing party is in office and hypocritically decry it when it’s used on them.
What a bunch of babies. Don’t dish it out if you can’t take it.

100 percent rite. he has taken the perfect step. but he must need to be patient.

Nobody who knows about Obama’s past is surprised about this appointment through the back door (transparency, anybody?) of more redistribution in the name of healthcare. This President and his admin have done more to undo individual liberties than I could have conceived could happen in this short a time. Checks and balances be damned! It is terrifying to see this great country reduced so quickly to mediocrity (or less). You can keep your hope and change–this President is a collossal failure across the board.

Former Alaska Gov. Plain was brutalized by the Press for talking about the possibility of ‘ death panels’.’
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Yes, she’s a liar eager to disinform and fearmonger- or dumb as a box of rocks and duped herself, take your pick. And her new youtube ad is superficial, slogan-filled, empty-headed and content-free (as well as lacking in diversity or charm)— she’s absolutely politically ambitious looking at making a run for President.
In regards to patient-centered healthcare, which is what Berwick advocates, you can’t really be fiscally responsible AND opposed to many of the types of reform he supports.

We only insist that the involvement be limited to the state and local governments, unless appropriate (read: specified in the constitution).
——-
When do you insist on that?
Only when a Dem is president?
What a bunch of crap.
Conservatives who vote for Republicans do not stand for small government, a strict interpretation of the government or fiscal responsibility.
They stand for social close-minededness and conserving the atatus quo in terms of power relations and inequity.
Give us a break.
lol.

Yes, listen to progressivemama, whose job it appears to be to troll ABC’s comment threads and spout endless praise for Obama, and to deride his detractors.
Don’t vote GOP, even though the Democrats have plunged the country into and have assured it will remain in the worst economic shape in decades, with plans to double down on that as well. Don’t worry. Bid Daddy Government will fix everything. Just vote for more of the people who progressivemama tells you to.
Don’t vote GOP, becuase they might do evil things like restrain useless and wasteful government spending, putting a roadblock to Obama’s spend-spend-spend-spend agenda that has yielded nothing but high unemployment and unsustainable and unprecedented debts for every American..
Don’t vote GOP, and you’ll soon have lots of redistributionists with guns and handcuffs telling you you must now do things you never had to do before – for the “greater good,” of course. And the greater good is whatever the Democrat party decides is the greater good that particular day. The GOP is the party of mandatory and forceful wealth redistribution, transferring private property from the “haves” to the “have nots” as a matter of near-religious ideological devotion.
Don’t vote GOP. Just allow the most corrupt, irresponsible, profligate, partisan Congress in recent memory to keep doing what it’s doing, to keep rubber stamping the most destructive big-government agenda since Jimmy Carter’s malaise days, becuase that Congress is doing such a great job in every way imaginable that you can’t even wrap your little wingnut minds around it.
Don’t vote GOP, becuase when your health premiums start to shoot up next year, you can blame the, er, GOP minority for passing the health care bill against the public’s will that caused the increases and that will eventually ruin the health care system (only to replace it with…blank out).
I could go on – this Administration has given us all so much material to work with in such a short time – but you get the idea.
By all means – keep pulling that lever for Hope-get the government you deserve and that you vote for.

The conservatives are the counter-culture now.
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lol.
Not as long as they vote for Republicans and pass on Koch-funded type talking points, and they typically do. Catch a clue: Boehner Invites Lobbyists To Help Form GOP Agenda In Intimate Meeting At His Office

Yes, listen to progressivemama…
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I don’t care one way or another, but on the “troll” and Obamabot b.s. I say: Prove it…. list out 20 times I’ve “praised Obama” and derided others on the basis of their comments about Obama specifically.
20 times each, if I do it “endlessly” — if its “my job”– it should be no problem. lol
Truth is you can’t because that’s not my deal, and rather than my job, politics is my hobby. My deal is that I don’t like the GOP, to put it mildly. I’m not big on either party, but I can’t stand the GOP in particular. They are a failure and they have no good ideas, solutions or integrity. I think conservatives are phoney baloneys– and any who may have principles are selling out the failed GOP anyway because they feel they have no choice and/or are duped. But my real deal is that I love this country. I don’t want it destroyed by the duped and less-than-bright nut jobs and the nefarious greedy neocons on the Right.
All regardless of Obama.
Though he’s doing a much better job than McCain would have, imho. And I voted for him– and I think he is who he said he is, and he’s doing all right. Not perfect, and his admin needs some tweaks.
But yes, we agree on this much: don’t vote GOP.
The GOP sux.

“Not as long as they vote for Republicans and pass on Koch-funded type talking points, and they typically do.”
I dunno, progmama…they’re a lot less tiresome than you and the rest of the Obamatards continuously regurgitating your SOROS-funded talking points.

progressive mama | Jul 7, 2010 4:32:13 PM
Perhaps to you its unfortunate, but the SENATE has the duty and obligation under the Constitution to “advise and consent” … and the Senators are obligated to review and discuss the nominated candidate, not rollover because the president wants his appointee.
This provision applies regardless of the political party in control.

He stood before the nation and accused the Republicans of delaying the Berwick hearings when the Democrats are in total control.
———-
Out of curiosity, do you have a quote on him specifically accusing the Republicans of delaying the Berwick hearings, or did he say in a general statement that it is unfortunate “that at a time when our nation is facing enormous challenges, many in Congress have decided to delay critical nominations for political purposes.”
And do you disagree with the post thatthe claim is reasonably true for the other two nominees given recess appointments today– and for many other nominees?
I agree.
The GOP is a failed party. Boehner has to meet in private with lobbyists to come up with an agenda.
Pathetic.

“When do you insist on that? Only when a Dem is president?”
I do so consistently. Are you presuming that I am a Bush apologist? His policies of unchecked spending and federal expansion, while dwarfed by Obama, were met with equivalent disdain by many conservatives.
“They stand for social close-minededness [sic] and conserving the atatus [sic] quo in terms of power relations and inequity.”
You seem to be projecting views upon me that I do not entertain. The government should have very little involvement with regard to social issues- it’s not the business of the government, particularly at the federal level. There are some politicians who claim to be conservatives, but use their position to push a religious social agenda at the federal level that I consider distinctly misguided.
I am dissatisfied with some Republicans almost as much as I am with most Democrats. Unfortunately, until a better option is presented I will vote for what I judge to be the better, albeit imperfect, alternative.
“What a bunch of crap”
“Give us a break.”
Your dismissive attitude is ironic in the context of your accusations of close-mindedness.

Are you presuming that I am a Bush apologist?
————
No, but given your response in light of my qualifier, I’m presuming you vote Republican regardless of your stated principles and despite their failings. If not, good for you, maybe you’re stated principles do count for something. Truth is I’ve seen no evidence that conservatives actually push to put any of their rhetoric into action– on small government and fiscal responsibility. Most do not. If you are actually a conservative, can you see that?
There are a lot of faux conservatives out there, which is why I followed up my “what a bunch of crap” venting with a qualifier: “Conservatives who vote for Republicans” as in “Conservatives who vote for Republicans do not stand for small government, a strict interpretation of the government or fiscal responsibility.”
I do know fiscal conservatives who vote libertarian and constitutional conservatives who voted for the dude Rand Paul supported after getting ticked at Barr (forget his name.)
The Republican party’s track record on social close-mindedness, growing government and big deficits is pretty clear– and the data is readily available for verification (as is their dismal track record when it comes to job creation, poverty and shrinking versus growing the middle class.)

I do indeed vote Republican, unless there is a chance that a true conservative or libertarian could win. While the GOP’s thirst for federal expansion is inexcusable, it is insignificant compared to that of the left.
While I would enjoy witnessing conservatives putting their “rhetoric” to action, there are substantial challenges to this. Creating small government from big government is a daunting task, as government grows with tremendous hysteresis. Entitlements create dependants. Trimming them implies taking away “necessities” from people who will vote to protect them. It also means that people who pay for something (Medicare, Social Security, etc) their entire career will never see the benefits- not a very palatable notion. Of course, this is already being considered with the current leadership entertaining the idea of “progressive” Social Security benefits. “Progressive” in this context is code for: “everyone pays, but if you were prudent enough to prepare for retirement, you get nothing back.” In addition, when unelected bureaucrats, deeply entrenched in administrative positions, are empowered to craft policy, reversing the breadth of federal authority is nearly impossible.
So why do you consider it a complete abandonment of principles for conservatives to vote for Republicans when their views do not align perfectly?
I noted your displeasure regarding Bush’s “torture” of presumed enemy combatants, but what is your opinion of Obama authorizing the targeted assassination of a US-born citizen? I assume, based on your expectation of rigid adherence to principles, that you consider the remaining Obama supporters faux-progressives.
Are progressives that desire a single-payer health care system faux-progressives for supporting the current Democrats in congress?
You also criticize the GOP-led expansion of government and deficits (as do I). Is this acceptable to you under progressive leadership? If so, why do you detest it only under GOP leadership? If not, do you criticize Obama for doing it?
With respect to job-creation, where is the “readily-available” evidence of the dismal Republican track-record? Unemployment declined sharply under Reagan and rose substantially under Johnson and Carter. Obviously, the drivers for unemployment are too complex to draw a causal relationship simply from the correlation of incumbent executive party to unemployment rate. Regardless, the Obama strategy to tax and spend for “job creation” is an obvious farce to anyone unwilling to suspend basic logic and reason. Sequestering funds from the economy, then distributing it back as “stimulus” (minus the obligatory administrative overhead) is hardly a way to keep businesses growing, unless you consider non-productive government administrative jobs “business.”

progressive mama wrote:”Yes, she’s a liar eager to disinform and fearmonger- or dumb as a box of rocks and duped herself, take your pick. ”
.
Lets see… she didn’t hang out with a bunch of radical communists growing up, didn’t have her house purchased for her by Tony Rezko, didn’t listen to Rev. Wright for 20 years, didn’t have her mind filled with “progressive” MUSH at Haahvaad with all the rest of the snot-nosed overeducated collectivists. Looks like you’re the one who was DUPED.

progressive mama wrote:”I also wasn’t found wanting on the ethics front after taking on a public role, or quit my job halfway through my term. And I wasn’t the one who told the whopper of the year last year according to fact checkers.”
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But you blindly defend, …The One…, who has done all of the above, and more, and yet castigate Palin for supposedly doing these same things.
.
“But, hey, logic or the appropriate use of analogy isn’t a strong suit of yours… that’s fine. Maybe try again, and stick a little closer to something you can do correctly when making a case– well, if you’re going for making sense. Otherwise, carry on with your crazy talk.”
.
Analogy: Palin ethics? oBama shady real estate deal with Rezko, selling of his Senate seat which it looks like he was hip-deep in getting his gal Val into the spot, etc, etc, etc.
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Analogy: Palin quitting her job halfway through her term. oBama using his time as a US Senator to run for President and quitting early.
.
Apparently Ezra Klein doesn’t teach these concepts since that’s who does your thinking for you.
.
“I stand by what I said: Yes, she’s a liar eager to disinform and fearmonger- or dumb as a box of rocks and duped herself, take your pick. From her speech in Texas recentlty, a real doozy: ”
.
You should listen to …The One… sometimes sans teleprompters. Its absolutely embarassing. Don’t just rely on what Ezra tells you to think. Listen… look around… you are being duped. The truth will run you over one day and it won’t be pretty.

Posted by: dfloyd | Jul 8, 2010 4:21:36 PM
dfloyd, I didn’t get a chance to answer your questions about progressives and Obama which I think are fair, but I think there’s a good article at The Nation (which, yes, is progressive) from July 7th that gets at what you’re talking about, that the system is more or less rigged against progressivism, just as I tend to think its rigged against true conservatism as you see it.
Its called “Kabuki Democracy: Why a Progressive Presidency Is Impossible, for Now” (by Eric Alterman) You can read it if you really want a good look at the issues you raised, or a couple of them, anyway.

You mention the GOP interaction with lobbyist as if it is a unique characteristic of theirs. The left is equally beholden to lobbyist, particularly unions and lawyers.
——-
The left or the Democrats? And where did I claim any uniqueness. The insinuation was that they are worse, the more evil of two evils, to use a cliche. What I said is that the Republicans are pathetic and dependent on lobbyists. They are meeting with lobbyists to set an agenda. They don’t have one– they have no good ideas or solutions after having contributed to many of the problems the nation faces. Of course, its not really surprising that Boehner would set it up given that when the Senate began work on a jobs bill, Republicans huddled with corporate lobbyists. When the House began work on Wall Street reform, Republicans huddled with industry lobbyists. When Congress worked on health care reform, Republicans huddled with insurance lobbyists and used their talking points during the floor debate. When the Senate moved forward on an energy/climate bill, Republicans huddled with energy lobbyists.
They have no solutions or ideas. They are dependent on lobbyists for ideas. And many of them– GOP party standbearers either in office or running for office– are hella crazy.
Pointing your finger at the left and saying but, hey, them, too, I think, doesn’t change the situation. Are you okay with the Republicans being beholden to special interests? And nuts to boot? Does the left being beholden to unions, in your opinion, make putting profits and campaign cash over people all right with you if its a Republican doing it?
That’s how it sounds. Like hey,everybody is looting, so that makes it the right thing to do, and I’ll support my tribe in doing the same thing, because why not. Change is too difficult and I can still mouth my rhetoric regardless of facts.
—-
Are you outraged that the Obama administration is doing the same, despite his claim to be independent from lobbyists?
———-
Outraged or disappointed?
Disappointed, but not particularly surprised– and people on the left are working on it, as a matter of fact, pressing.
Meanwhile, the false equivalencies between Bush and Obama lessen your argument and make you sound like a Bush apologist, trying to hide it because you know its a crazy position, but not quite being able to.
I see (and can tell) you didn’t get very far in the article.
Ah well. I recommend it to anyone actually interested in the relations between progressives and Obama, and so on: “Kabuki Democracy: Why a Progressive Presidency Is Impossible, for Now” (by Eric Alterman)