Prez Obama Falls Short on Keeping Promises

Obama still protecting torturers (1.00 / 3)

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. is considering assigning a prosecutor to investigate whether government personnel tortured terrorism suspects after the attacks of Sept. 11, a Justice Department official said Saturday.

(Attorney General May Open Interrogation Inquiry, NY Times, 07/11/09)

But not to worry because Obama, as he has oft stated, wants to "look ahead" rather than behind. So all you good Nazis who were only following orders will still get a free pass for your torturing.

I bring this is not because this was a broken campaign promise ... it wasn't, isn't and won't be. Obama consistently held this position. I bring this up because this is the Obama so many people who call themselves political progressives voted for.

How's that feet to the fire thing working out?

It's about community ... RAMABAHAMA DOT NET (only it is still under construction ... isn't that life?)

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by: Rama Schneider @ Sun Jul 12, 2009 at 04:36:21 AM CDT

And Who Else? (4.00 / 1)

So just who "should" we have voted for, Mr. Ramabama, according to your best judgment? Kucinich? Not a chance he'd carry Dems, progressives and Independents, and we'da been lookin' at John McCaint and Sarahnara Q. (for Quitter) Palin in the White House, Ugh. Gravel? ditto. Edwards? Yeah, impeachment City for his affair, depending on whether he'd lie to Congress about it. Hillary??? Ran to the right of every other Dem candidate and was particularly vicious during the campaign, which itself was not well run (a preview of her Administration, no doubt, backbiting and chaos). Don't think so. NADER???? Nah -- he enjoys being the ranting, railing outsider too much to ever actually do the job, even if he could win -- and there is no chance of that. Hell, given a choice of Nader and McCaint, I'da stayed home.

So, what'd you do Mr. Ramabama? Besides complain, I mean.

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by: Aurora Borealis @ Sun Jul 12, 2009 at 14:42:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'm not in the habit of just complaining ... (2.00 / 1)

I'm an active participant in my community and politics. So much for that bullshit line.

I don't vote solely for the immediate election. I can influence office holders with my vote, but once they're in office I have precious little sway over them ...

unless ...

the office holder wannabes understand my vote is dependent upon their actions and results and what they say they're going to do.

I use my vote and financial and volunteer time carefully.

I didn't vote for Obama. I ended up voting for Nader as a protest vote because McKinney wasn't on the ballot in Vermont.

Do I think there's a huge difference between what a McCain presidency and an Obama one offer? No. Obama is just as much a big war guy, big corporation guy, Wall Street panderer, big government secrecy and surveillance coveter, pro mountain top for coal remover and nuclear power booster as McCain ever was and is.

The major difference being Republicans are in a rush to get us to hell in a hand basket, while the Democrats are happy to do so at a slower pace.

You see, in my opinion any good progressive threw their vote away on Obama. The Obama that finished the presidential campaign was a far cry from the Obama that gave such a rousing speech at the Dem '04 convention ... that guy I could have voted for.

In my opinion as long as people keep voting for Dems out of fear of Reps, then the war machine and other big corporations will win out over people.

But I can tell by the tone of your retort above that you're not really interested in what I have to say or why I say it .. you're interested in berating those who'll follow a different path. You'd make a good Republican.

It's about community ... RAMABAHAMA DOT NET (only it is still under construction ... isn't that life?)

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by: Rama Schneider @ Sun Jul 12, 2009 at 15:18:27 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

a huge difference? (4.00 / 2)

Rama -- I share your frustration with some big time Dems; but seriously, after all the disappointments, there is one issue that makes the choice a no-brainer -- the Supreme Court

having said that, we have not always been satisfied with Dem appointments but the alternative is truly frightening; you think the current crew is bad? add a vote for Roberts and many of us are headed to Vancouver

so go ahead and be righteous when Obama screws the pooch but let's not kid ourselves about the choice

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by: Doug Hoffer @ Sun Jul 12, 2009 at 19:48:30 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Righteous? (0.00 / 0)

No, I'm being pragmatic. Voting for one candidate just because I really don't like another has never worked out for me ... never.

Doug, I know you don't need a primer on the Supreme Court, but for the sake of this conversation I'm going to point out Supreme Court seats are given out with the direct participation of the US Senate.

Dems sure have one a good job keeping those like Roberts and Thomas off, haven't they? And Obama has shown a propensity for pandering to progressives, so we can expect a good progressive justice from his administration, right?

NOT ... to both the above.

20, maybe 15, years ago I would have sounded very much like you, Doug. I could be proven wrong in my assessment of Obama and the Dems and where they're heading. I hope I am proven wrong. But after so many years of disappointment and bad governance, they're going to have to prove me wrong.

The pooch ain't gettin' screwed, it's being eaten alive ... and from my perspective folks are standing by the roadside watching it happen.

It's about community ... RAMABAHAMA DOT NET (only it is still under construction ... isn't that life?)

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by: Rama Schneider @ Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 04:20:32 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

In other news ... (4.00 / 2)

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. is considering assigning a prosecutor to investigate whether government personnel tortured terrorism suspects after the attacks of Sept. 11, a Justice Department official said Saturday.

The National Meteorology Center will be convening a special meeting to determine whether water is wet.

I just love the wording of that first sentence, since it is a fact that the US waterboarded detainees and it is a fact that waterboarding is torture.

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by: Advocatus Diaboli @ Sun Jul 12, 2009 at 14:49:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Good Nazis? (0.00 / 0)

Jeez Rama, I usually keep quiet on your comments, but what king of douchebaggery is that?

You can read more of JD Ryan at five before chaos. But why would you want to?

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by: JDRyan @ Sun Jul 12, 2009 at 20:12:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

"Douchebaggery" as compare to what? (0.00 / 0)

Torture? Covering up for torturers? Pandering to torturers?

If that's the alternatives, feel free to call me Mr. Douche.

It's about community ... RAMABAHAMA DOT NET (only it is still under construction ... isn't that life?)

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by: Rama Schneider @ Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 04:21:53 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well... (0.00 / 0)

Calling all of us Nazis, "douchebaggery" is actually being kind.

Lemme ask you something, as although protest votes make you feel good about yourself, they accomplish zip. Considering, apart form your nuance-free perspective on the current political situation, that there are still real substantive differences between the two choices, what of people who(such as myself) found stopping a the prospect of a Republican president more important than any other consideration? Are we still Nazis, or perhaps just downgraded to Italian fascists?

You can read more of JD Ryan at five before chaos. But why would you want to?

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by: JDRyan @ Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 07:50:10 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

JD, I really don' think you're into torture .. (3.00 / 1)

so I'm assuming you didn't bother with actually reading what I wrote ... unless, of course, I'm wrong and you really are one of those who were "only following orders".

I don't think I'm wrong.

As to those "such as yourself": I encourage you to do what you believe is the right thing. I've never dumped on anybody for voting for a Democratic politician out of fear of what the Republicans would do. I have only stated time and again I think that's the wrong approach ... period.

And I challenge you to find a quote with context to show me wrong on the last statement.

And finally on that protest vote thing: one vote by itself doesn't accomplish anything, but I also don't believe a majority of votes for the wrong candidate (even one not a Republican) accomplishes anything either ... unless your sole or primary reason for voting was to vote against Republicans ... in which case you succeeded nicely.

I will simply continue to push people to vote for real, not perceived, change. Someday I might be in the majority ... or I might not ... doesn't matter ... I will continue to do what I believe to be the right thing.

It's about community ... RAMABAHAMA DOT NET (only it is still under construction ... isn't that life?)

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by: Rama Schneider @ Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 08:09:55 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

For Rama (0.00 / 0)

Sleeping While Awake (?)

it must have been
that recurring dream,
all you have to do is vote

and like magic
everything changes,

the wars and injustice
go poof,
away away

what power

please wake me
in time to vote again,
last time
I must have overslept

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by: PeteySweety @ Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 14:28:47 PM CDT

voting (0.00 / 0)

I voted for Obama.  I crossed that X in the ballot square because I did not want McCain or any more Republicans in there, knowing full well that Obama's lofty rhetoric would run into the usual wall of DC and the lobbyists and that he would also make many mistakes.  I voted for Obama because of the historic moment, the first black president.  My vote was both for history and to keep out the Republicans.  For the first time since I began voting way back in the Nixon era, when the voting age got lowered to eighteen, I feel that my vote actually accomplished something other than just the lesser of two evils.  In America, that is a miracle.  

When you wake up each morning look around you.  It might be the last time you get to do it.  

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by: Watercloset @ Tue Jul 14, 2009 at 10:37:56 AM CDT