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    Boyce Watkins: You’re Making A Complete Damn Fool of Yourself

    By Wattree on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 3:58am |

    Beneath the Spin * Eric L. Wattree

    Dr. Boyce Watkins: You’re Making A Complete Damn Fool of Yourself

     

    Dr. Watkins, every time you open your mouth these days you seem to have something uncomplimentary to say about President Obama. You always seem to be implying that he's not doing enough for Black people. You don't seem to understand that it's not the president's job to go house to house passing out gift baskets. It's the president's job to try to create an environment where we can help ourselves, and it's our job to organize the community to establish the political clout to assist him in that effort. But I have yet to hear you address that side of the equation at all - or at least, not with the same kind of energy that you're constantly attacking President Obama.  The entire agenda of you and your ilk seems to be promoting a culture of whining, begging, and complaining. You're telling the people what they WANT to hear - that everything is everybody else's fault - instead of what they NEED to hear - that we're bringing some of these problems on ourselves by failing to address important issues in the community.
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    I don’t know why so many of you so-called Black scholars don’t seem to understand that there are some things that even the president can’t do - and signing a bill abolishing ignorance is at the very top of that list. That's what it would take to accomplish some of the objectives that you and your counterparts are criticizing President Obama for. That’s also what lets me know that much of the ranting and raving that many of you so-called Black intellectuals are doing is disingenuous at best, and a form of unbelievably stupid "bligotry" (Black on Black bigotry) at worst.
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    The president can’t just wave a magic wand and instantly make everyone upwardly mobile. It doesn’t     work that way. There’s an educational process that goes along with upward mobility, and that goes for whether the person is Black, or White. While there are many in the Black community who have the skills to hit the ground running, there are others who need to be trained, motivated, and refocused in order to simply maintain a job that pays high enough wages to lift them out of poverty, even if a job was given to them.
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    But it seems that you'll never be satisfied until the day that Obama throws is fist in the air and says, "This is what I'm going to do for my people." That's what causes me to question the validity of your claim to be intellectuals. Because if you were indeed the intellectuals that you claim to be, certainly you would have considered the ramifications of Obama setting such a precedent. Think about it - if President Obama sets a precedent of saying, "This is what I'm doing for Black people," what are you going to say when the next White president comes into office and says, "This is what I'm going to do for White people?" He'll call it the "Obama Doctrine." So clearly, what you're demanding can only be characterized as poorly thought through at best, and absolutely boneheaded if viewed less charitably. 
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    In addition, with all of your "education" it would seem that you would understand simple eighth grade civics. The United States Constitution gives the United States House of Representatives SOLE control over government spending. And as I assume you’re aware, the House of Representatives is controlled by the Republicans, so Obama can't do anything for anyone without getting the Republicans to go along with him. Yet, all of your guns are aimed at this one lone Black man instead of the Republicans who are trying to abolish the Voters’ Rights Act, obstruct everything that the president is trying to do for the people as a whole, and who are leaving no stone unturned to reinstate Jim Crow and drag America back into the 19th Century. Why is that?
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    I know you’re not stupid, but you’re not saying a mumbling word about these fascists who are, literally, the domestic enemy of not only Black people, but ALL poor and middle-class people in the United States. You're purposely making it sound like all the president has to do is go in his pocket and throw some change our way, but he's just being heartless and stingy. Please explain to me why you're misleading the people like that.
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    People like yourself are even trying to blame the prison industrial complex on Obama. Don’t you know enough about state’s rights to know that’s a local issue that you should be taking up within each state? And even if you don’t understand that, I would think that simple common sense would suggest that if you’re worried about Black people being used to support a prison system for profit, instead of running all over the country blaming it on President Obama, your time would be better spent by anchoring down in the community and educating young Black people to the need to adopt a lifestyle that won’t lead to getting busted. I mean, with all of your tremendous intellect, did that ever even occur to you? I haven’t heard a word on the subject.
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    Boyce, people like yourself are spewing millions of words about what Obama’s not doing, but what are you doing? It seems to me that if you were serious about your concern for the poor, instead of holding televised seminars and book signings, you’d be in the community with your sleeves up helping to upgrade the skill sets of those who need it - or at the very least, helping to promote the idea of how important it is to doing so. 
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    That’s what Barack Obama did. As the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review, when Obama graduated from law school he could have gone to work as a law clerk for the Supreme Court, or pursued wealth by going into any one of the top law firms in the country. He could have also tried to make a name for himself by running all over the country on a bus chasing sound bytes, selling books, doing lectures, and trying to coin phrases and sound profound. But he didn't do that. Instead, he went quietly back into the community and went to work helping people to get their heaters fixed. That's the way to show that you care. You, on the other hand, have been all over the internet trying to SELL knowledge to poor Black people for $40 plus tax. If you have knowledge that you think will help the community, why not just give it to them?  Why cause even more hardship by forcing them to come up with money that they don't have?
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    I’ve  been very reluctant to put you on blast like this - I even took the time to warn you that it was coming if you continued your counterproductive nonsense - but you, and other Black people of your ilk, have become so disgustingly reflective of 19th Century Uncle Toms that the urge to speak out just became overwhelming. And I'm sure that many others are going to follow suit, because it seems that some of you people just can’t stand to see another Black man move forward, and watching that attitude being played out with such disingenuous self-righteousness makes me want to throw up every time I even see a picture of either you, Tavis Smiley, or Cornel West - and it's not just me.  I've spoken to other Black people who told me that they find your attitude, literally, sickening, because it's so petty.
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    Thus, while you can continue to try to hide behind your self-righteous rhetoric, and claim that all you’re interested in is the best interest of the Black community, the only people you’re fooling is a handful of your fellow backward-thinking followers and yourself. The vast majority of the Black community see what you’re about very clearly - just like White bigots, it’s simply killing you that Barack Obama is President of the United States instead of the White House butler. You see it as diminishing your accomplishments, and the fact is, it does. But that’s not the president’s fault, it’s yours. So hating him for his success is counterproductive. You still Have time. Put your brain cells to work searching for an idea to revolutionize the world instead of putting all your energy into hating. Because regardless to how much energy you spend hating Obama, at the end of the day, he'll still be President of the United States, and you'll still be insignificant.
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    So Boyce, you should sit down, read a little history, and take inventory of yourself. Because the fact is, people like you, Tavis Smiley, and Cornel West are not only undermining the Black community by making it easier for White bigots to demonize the first Black President of the United States, but you’re also embarrassing the community by making complete damn fools of yourselves, and thereby, undermining the credibility of legitimate Black scholars and intellectuals.  

     

    Here’s What President Obama Has Done For America

     

     Returned The Executive Branch To Fiscal Responsibility
    1. Within his first week, he signed an Executive Order ordering an audit of government contracts, and combating waste and abuse. http://1.usa.gov/dUvbu5

    2. Created the post of Chief Performance Officer, whose job it is to make operations more efficient to save the federal government money. http://n.pr/hcgBn1

    3. On his first full day, he froze White House salaries. http://on.msnbc.com/ewJUIx

    4. He appointed the first Federal Chief Information Officer to oversee federal IT spending.http://www.cio.gov

    5. He committed to phasing out unnecessary and outdated weapons systems. To that end, he also signed the Democratic-sponsored Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act, which attempted to put a stop to waste, fraud and abuse in the defense procurement and contracting system. http://bit.ly/hOw1t1 http://bit.ly/fz8GAd

    6. Through an executive order, he created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. http://bit.ly/hwKhKa
     

    Prevented a Bush Depression and Improved the Economy

    7. Pushed through and signed the Democratic-sponsored American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as "the stimulus package." The bill passed, even though only three Republicans voted for it. In a major departure from the previous administration, he launched recovery.gov, a website that allows taxpayers to track spending from the Act. http://1.usa.gov/ibiFSs http://1.usa.gov/e3BJMk

    8. The Bush-led Great Recession was costing the economy nearly 800,000 jobs per month by the time President Obama took office. But by the end of his first year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy by 3.5%. http://reut.rs/i46CEE

    9. Not only did he completed the massive TARP financial and banking rescue plan, he also leaned on the banks and others, and recovered virtually all of the bail-out money. http://1.usa.gov/eA5jVS http://bit.ly/eCNrD6

    10. He created the Making Home Affordable home refinancing plan. http://1.usa.gov/goy6zl

    11. Oversaw the creation of more jobs in 2010 alone than Bush did in eight years. http://bit.ly/hrrnjY

    12. Along with Democrats, and almost no Republicans, implemented an auto industry rescue plan, and saved as many as 1 million jobs. http://bit.ly/ibhpxr Many are of the opinion that he saved the entire auto industry, and even the economy of the entire Midwest. http://bit.ly/gj7mt5 This resulted in GM returning to its place as the top car company in the world. http://lat.ms/zIJuQx

    13. Doubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency. http://bit.ly/eYD4nf

    14. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act giving the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud in every corner of the financial system, and create a bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the financial fraud that led to the economic meltdown. http://abcn.ws/g18Fe7

    15. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which was designed to to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices. http://1.usa.gov/gIaNcS

    16. Increased infrastructure spending after years of neglect. http://bit.ly/f77aOw

    17. Signed the Democratic-sponsored and passed Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, expanding on the Making Home Affordable Program to help millions of Americans avoid preventable foreclosures. The bill also provided $2.2 billion to help combat homelessness, and to stabilize the housing market. http://bit.ly/eEpLFn

    18. Through the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, he and Congressional Democrats provided tax credits to first-time home buyers, which helped the U.S. housing market recovery. http://bit.ly/dZgXXw http://bit.ly/gORYfL

    19. Initiated a $15 billion plan designed to encourage increased lending to small businesses. http://1.usa.gov/eu0u0b

    20. Created business.gov, which allows for online collaboration between small businesses and experts re managing a business. (The program has since merged with SBA.gov.) http://www.business.gov

    21. Played a lead role in getting the G-20 Summit to commit to a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis. http://nyti.ms/gHlgp5

    22. Took steps to improve minority access to capital. http://bit.ly/f9xVE7

    23. Signed an Executive Order instructing federal agencies to review all federal regulations and remove any unnecessary and/or burdensome regulations from the books. http://1.usa.gov/Lpo5bd

    24. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, saved at least 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors that would have otherwise been lost. http://1.usa.gov/ez30D

    25. Dismantled the Minerals Management Service, thereby cutting ties between energy companies and the government. http://nyti.ms/bw1MLu

    26. Along with Congressional Democrats, provided funding to states and the Department of Homeland Security to save thousands of police and firefighter jobs from being cut during the recession. http://bit.ly/g0IKWR

    27. Used recovered TARP money to fund programs at local housing finance agencies in California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan. http://on.msnbc.com/i1i8eV

    28. Crafted and signed an executive order establishing the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability to assist in financial education for all Americans. http://bit.ly/eyqsNE

    29. China’s largest manufacturer, Foxconn, is building a large plant in Pennsylvania http://cnnmon.ie/1k7LT4S

    30. Worked with Apple Computer to get them to build more product here, and thecompany is building two large plants to manufacture products here; one in Texas http://zd.net/1nkpt2O and one in Arizona http://bit.ly/1mXY5Vg

    31. Oversaw increase of manufacturing jobs by more than 500,000 since 2010, and created an institute to invest in more manufacturing jobs in the technology fields of the future. http://nyti.ms/1egyXrV

    32. Ordering all federal contractors to pay a minimum wage of $10.10 per hour, leading the way to a national increase. http://wapo.st/1iaU5kd
     

    Brought Much-Improved Transparency and Better Government

    33. Signed an order banning gifts from lobbyists to anyone in the Executive Branch. http://bit.ly/fsBACN

    34. Signed an order banning anyone from working in an agency they had lobbied in previous years, and put strict limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House. http://nyti.ms/gOrznV

    35. Held the first-ever first online town hall from the White House, and took questions from the public. http://bit.ly/gVNSgX

    36. Became the first to stream every White House event, live. http://1.usa.gov/kAgOP5

    37. Established a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities. http://www.serve.gov

    38. Provided the first voluntary disclosure of the White House Visitors Log in history. http://1.usa.gov/hQ7ttV

    39. Issued an Executive Order on Presidential Records, which restored the 30-day time frame for former presidents to review records, and eliminated the right for the vice president or family members of former presidents to do the reviews. Provides the public with greater access to historic White House documents, and severely curtails the ability to use executive privilege to shield them. http://1.usa.gov/gUetLb

    40. Improved aspects of the Freedom of Information Act, and issued new guidelines to make FOIA more open and transparent when processing FOIA requests. http://1.usa.gov/gjrnp2
     

    Wall Street Reforms and Consumer Protection

    41. Ordered 65 executives who took bailout money to cut their own pay until they paid back all bailout money. http://huff.to/eAi9Qq

    42. Along with Congressional Democrats, pushed through and got passed Dodd-Frank, one of the largest and most comprehensive Wall Street reforms since the Great Depression. http://bit.ly/hWCPg0 http://bit.ly/geHpcD

    43. Through Dodd-Frank legislation, created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau http://1.usa.gov/j5onG

    44. Through Dodd-Frank, the Executive Branch fashioned rules that reduce the influence of speculators in the oil market. http://bit.ly/MDnA1t

    45. Fashioned rules so that banks can no longer use YOUR money to invest in high-risk financial instruments that work against their own customers’ interests. http://bit.ly/fnTayj

    46. Supported the concept of allowing stockholders to vote on executive compensation. http://bit.ly/fnTayj

    47. Endorsed and supported the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 that would close offshore tax avoidance loopholes. http://bit.ly/esOdfB http://bit.ly/eG4DPM

    48. Negotiated a deal with Swiss banks that now permits the US government to gain access to the records of criminals and tax evaders. http://bit.ly/htfDgw

    49. Signed the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, which closed many of the loopholes that allowed companies to send jobs overseas, and avoid paying US taxes by moving money offshore. http://1.usa.gov/bd1RTq

    50. Established a Consumer Protection Financial Bureau designed to protect consumers from financial sector excesses. http://bit.ly/fnTayj

    51. Oversaw and then signed a Democratic bill constituting the most sweeping food safety legislation since the Great Depression. http://thedc.com/gxkCtP

    52. Through the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, extended the False Claims Act to combat fraud by companies and individuals usingmoney from the TARP and Stimulus programs. http://bit.ly/SLTcSa

    53. Set up rules for banks in handling legal marijuana money. http://nyti.ms/1b80o2K
     

    Enhanced Civil Rights and Anti-Discrimination

    54. Along with Congressional Democrats, advocated for and signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which made it a federal crime to assault anyone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. http://bit.ly/gsMSJ7

    55. Pushed through, signed and demanded the Pentagon enact a repeal of the discriminatory "Don’t Ask Don’t Tell" policy that forced soldiers to lie in order to be eligible to fight for their country, and put our troops at risk by disqualifying many qualified soldiers from helping. http://bit.ly/fdahuH http://bit.ly/mZV4Pz

    56. Extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. http://1.usa.gov/g2RLCj

    57. Appointed more openly gay officials than anyone in history. http://bit.ly/g1lA7D

    58. Appointed first openly transgender Cabinet Official in History. http://bit.ly/58zUp7

    59. Changed HUD rules to prohibit gender and sexual orientation-based discrimination in housing bit.ly/9RxEnP

    60. Changed his mind and publicly expressed support for the right to enter into a same-sex marriage. http://bit.ly/JsiFKp

    61. Issued a Presidential Memorandum reaffirming the rights of gay couples to make medical decisions for each other. http://1.usa.gov/aUueGT

    62. Wrote and signed an Executive Order establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies evaluate the effect of their policies and programs on women and families. http://bit.ly/e1puTk http://1.usa.gov/rFfqMM

    63. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which restored basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. This was after the GOP blocked the bill in 2007. Only 5 Republican Senators voted for the bill. http://bit.ly/fT3Cxg

    64. Expanded funding for the Violence Against Women Act. http://1.usa.gov/dSbI0x

    65. Under his guidance, National Labor Relations Board issued final rules that require all employers to prominently post employees’ rights where all employees or prospective employees can see it, including all websites and intranets. http://1.usa.gov/qu2EhQ

    66. Advocated that United Nations adopt a policy supporting gay rights worldwide. http://lat.ms/pQe1RS

    67. Issued an order requiring hospitals to allow visitation by same-sex couples. http://reut.rs/llNJek

    68. Appointed Kareem Dale as the first ever Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. http://1.usa.gov/fi5IY0

    69. Helped Democrats in Congress pass and signed the Civil Rights History Act. http://bit.ly/th0JC8

    70. Established the White House Council of Native American Affairs, to improve government-to-government relations with Native American nations. http://1.usa.gov/1cIEeEv

    71. Formed a commission to examine and make recommendations for fixing the broken voting system. http://wapo.st/16K0D

    72. As soon as the Supreme Court invalidated the Defense of Marriage Act, he moved to extend federal benefits to same-sex couples. http://wapo.st/1avDjue

    73. At a press conference August 9, 2013, gave up a small measure of executive power, promising to create adversarial process in FISA regarding NSA surveillance. http://1.usa.gov/1dQmnyQ

    74. Shattered another glass ceiling by naming Janet Yellen chair of the Federal Reserve beginning Feb. 1, 2014. http://usat.ly/1gqMBfk

    75. Appointed several prominent gay athletes and others, and plans to show US government’s commitment to gay rights to anti-gay Russia. http://on.cpsj.com/1fckN9h

    Major Improvements in Foreign Relations, American Status Around the World

    76. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any previous president during his first six months in office. http://bit.ly/hZycda

    77. As he promised, he gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in Cairo early in his administration.http://nyti.ms/dKvY4g

    78. Helped to restore America’s reputation around the world as a global leader that does the "right thing" in world affairs, at least according to the rest of the world. http://bit.ly/h743y7 http://bit.ly/ho4TCr

    79. Re-established and reinforced our partnership with NATO and other allies on strategic international issues. http://1.usa.gov/e7QuDj

    80. Closed a number of secret detention facilities. http://nyti.ms/rpUc9l

    81. Improved relations with Middle East countries by appointing special envoys. http://1.usa.gov/tiGAGe

    82. Pushed forward the first realistic Middle East peace strategy in more than a decade, without abandoning the two-state solution. http://wapo.st/1avyste

    83. Pushed for military to emphasize devlopment of foreign language skills. http://bit.ly/AxUCLV

    84. Offered $400 million to the people living in Gaza, called on both Israel and the Palestinians to stop inciting violence. http://bit.ly/9axfWh

    85. Refused to give Israel the green light to attack Iran over their possible nuclear program, and thus avoid another war that Republicans wanted. http://bit.ly/xVmSZK

    86. Worked with Democratic Congress to make donations to Haiti tax deductible in 2009. http://huff.to/6YkAVY

    87. Established a new U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. http://1.usa.gov/eX28DP

    88. Issued Executive Order blocking interference and helping to stabilize Somalia. http://1.usa.gov/hxdf8U

    89. Established new, more reasonable policies in our relations with Cuba, such as allowing Cuban-Americans to visit their families and send money to support them. http://n.pr/hY3Kwa http://nyti.ms/emQBde

    90. Ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay. It was Republicans (and, unfortunately, progressive Democrats) who prevented follow through. http://bit.ly/eW6CVF

    91. Ordered a review of our detention and interrogation policy, and prohibited the use of torture, or what Bush called "enhanced interrogation." He ordered interrogators to limit their actions to the Army Field manual. http://bit.ly/g6MTuC

    92. Ordered all secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere to be closed. http://bbc.in/h6N9ax

    93. Released the Bush torture memos. http://bit.ly/hWJ5z0

    94. On his second day in office, he signed a detailed Executive Order that banned torture, reversed all Bush torture policies, and put the United States in compliance with the Geneva Convention. http://1.usa.gov/dL6Zve http://nyti.ms/hzWWys

    95. In response to the emerging "Arab Spring," he created a Rapid Response fund, to assist emerging democracies with foreign aid, debt relief, technical assistance and investment packages in order to show that the United States stands with them. http://bit.ly/zfmGv9

    96. Ended the F-22 program, saving $4 billion. Though the single-seat, twin-engine, fighter aircraft cost $358 million each, and the military had 187 built, the F-22 never flew a combat mission. http://slate.me/PYzmzT (Just as an aside, that "fiscally conservative" Republican Party fought to keep it.)

    97. Passed the Iran Sanctions Act, to prevent war and encourage the Iranian government to give up their nuclear program. http://1.usa.gov/wLtNjb

    98. Ended the Iraq War. http://tgr.ph/ru0tyS

    99. Worked to keep our withdrawal from Afghanistan on track, despite GOP opposition.http://reut.rs/1cIOsF1 Reiterated that commitment in 2014. http://nyti.ms/1exnmRF

    100. Authorized and oversaw a secret mission by SEAL Team Six to rescue two hostages held by Somali pirates. http://bit.ly/y8c9Fz

    101. Through United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, helped negotiate a peaceful split of Sudan into two countries, this allowing for the creation of an independent South Sudan. http://reut.rs/qzE0Tj
     

    A More Realistic Approach to "Defense" and National Security

    102. Created a comprehensive new strategy for dealing with the international nuclear threat. http://1.usa.gov/gDX1nE

    103. Authorized a $1.4 billion reduction in Star Wars program in 2010. http://1.usa.gov/gLFZl2

    104. Restarted nuclear nonproliferation talks and built up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols to where they had been before Bush. http://lat.ms/gkcl3i

    105. Signed and pushed through ratification a new SALT Treaty. http://bit.ly/f3JVtw

    106. Negotiated and signed a new START Treaty that will lst until at least 2021. http://1.usa.gov/cI1bC4

    107. Through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), reversed the Bush Administration and committed to no permanent military bases in Iraq. http://bit.ly/hk73OJ

    108. Developed first comprehensive strategy with regard to Afghanistan and Pakistan designed to facilitate the defeat of al Qaeda and the withdrawal of most troops, as well as the rebuilding of Afghanistan. http://wapo.st/ee4Xcs

    109. Returned our focus to Afghanistan, stabilized the country, and began the process of withdrawing our troops from the country. http://bit.ly/lNXUna

    110. Negotiated a deal with Afghan govenment, to withdraw troops and military support, while assisting in rebuilding and modernizing of the country. http://bit.ly/K362an

    111. Took steps to severely weaken al Qaeda and limited their ability to terrorize the world. http://yhoo.it/n5lXs6

    112. Negotiated and signed a nuclear nonproliferation treaty with India. http://1.usa.gov/aHp0Cn

    113. Took decisive action to use NATO to limit the slaughter of innocents in Libya, so that the Libyan people could topple the despotic Khadaffy government and determine their own fate. http://aje.me/qAh4Sj

    114. Got Egyptian President/dictator Mubarak to leave the Egyptian government to the people, to determine their own fate. http://f24.my/efvgNZ

    115. In 2011, reoriented American focus from the Middle East to the Asian-Pacific region by simultaneouly engaging China and crafting new alliances with Asian countries uncomfortable with Chinese behavior. http://bit.ly/RGlMDi

    116. Restored federal agencies such as FEMA to the point that they have been able to manage a huge number of natural disasters successfully. http://bit.ly/h8Xj7z

    117. Authorized Navy SEALS to successfully secure the release of a US captain held by Somali pirates and increased patrols off the Somali coast. http://nyti.ms/efBO7B

    118. Has repeatedly beefed up border security http://bit.ly/mMYB4i

    119. Ordered and oversaw the Navy SEALS operation that killed Osama bin Laden. http://bit.ly/jChpgw

    120. Throughan executive order, established the Homeland Security Partnership Council, which will attempt to enhance the nation’s ability to "address homeland security priorities, from responding to natural disasters to preventing terrorism, by utilizing diverse perspectives, skills, tools, and resources." http://1.usa.gov/VJjLXO

    121. Breaking with presidential tradition, especially recent tradition, instead of just attacking Syria in the wake of chemical weapons attacks on Syrians, Obama ordered a full report on the decision-making process, should he decide to order one. http://cbsn.ws/184RFgu
     

    Returned Government to Treating Soldiers and Veterans with Dignity and Respect

    122. Along with Congressional Democrats, not only reauthorized families of fallen soldiers to be able to visit when the body arrives at Dover AFB, but also provided funding for it. Ended the media blackout on coverage of the return of fallen soldiers. http://nyti.ms/glqN66 http://bbc.in/gWSSkA

    123. Funded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with an extra $1.4 billion to improve veterans’ services. http://1.usa.gov/huhqfo

    124. Provided active combat troops with better body armor. http://bit.ly/hzSv2h

    125. Created Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program for military personnel, in order to improve the quality of their medical care. http://1.usa.gov/f4yaxW

    126. Put an end to the Bush-era stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan beyond their enlistment date. (personal note: my son will be in harm’s way for six fewer months with Obama as president, so you know I love this one.) http://nyti.ms/e2YQ7Q

    127. Along with Congressional Democrats, supported and signed Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which made more money available to enable better medical care for veterans. http://1.usa.gov/fN4ur1

    128. Along with Congressional Democrats, ushered through largest spending increase in 30 years for Department of Veterans Affairs, with money to go to improved medical facilities, and to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities. http://1.usa.gov/gY8O3x

    129. Created the Green Vet Initiative, which provided special funding to the Labor Department to provide veterans with training in green jobs. http://bit.ly/epwUQY

    130. Initiated and signed a recruitment and employment plan to get more veterans into government jobs. http://bit.ly/b48coi

    131. Oversaw a $4.6 billion expansion of the Veterans Administration budget to pay for more mental health professionals. http://bit.ly/gjzTxX

    132. Signed the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, which ensures that spouses of military personnel who are forced to move because their spouse is posted for military duty will be able to avoid state taxes in their temporary residence. http://bit.ly/1Gh0NX

    133. Issued an Executive Order to improve access to mental health care for veterans, military personnel and their families. http://1.usa.gov/TP7PVZ
     

    Refocused the Federal Government on Education, Made Rational Reforms

    134. Repeatedly increased funding for student financial aid, and at the same time cut the banks completely out of the process, thus us creating greater accountability. http://bit.ly/gYWd30 http://bit.ly/e9c7Dr http://bit.ly/eEzTNq

    135. Reformed student loan program, to make it possible for students to refinance at a lower rate. http://nyti.ms/dMvHOt

    136. Created a rating system for colleges, so that those applying for student financial aid know better what they’re paying for. http://bit.ly/14Dn7UL

    137. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , invested heavily in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education. http://1.usa.gov/gGRIAr

    138. Created the Race to the Top program, which encouraged states to come up with effective school reforms and rewards the best of them. http://bit.ly/NHtZ7L

    139. Oversaw major expansion of broadband availability in K-12 schools nationwide. http://bit.ly/fNDcj3

    140. Oversaw major expansion in school construction. http://bit.ly/fYwNrV

    141. Also through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he put $5 billion into early education, including Head Start. http://1.usa.gov/tzT2Rr

    142. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Post-9/11 GI Bill, also known as GI Bill 2.0 http://bit.ly/hPhG7J

    143. Oversaw expansion of the Pell Grants program, to expand opportunity for low and middle income students to go to college. http://bit.ly/hI6tXz

    144. Along with Democratic Congress, passed and signed Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provided an extra $12.2 billion in funds. http://1.usa.gov/dQvtUe

    145. Took major new steps to protec students from ineffective for-profit colleges through "gainful employment" measures, whereby schools have to demonstrate that its students actually find work to get federal aid. http://1.usa.gov/jkzQe2

    145. With First Lady Michelle Obama, passed the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, which will improve nutrition in schools and make children healthier. http://1.usa.gov/GAXkSk

    146. In his continuing effort to make college more affordabl and accountable, will begin rating colleges with regard to affordability and value. http://bit.ly/14Dn7UL
     

    Took an Adult View on Science, Technology and Health Care

    147. Created a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making. http://1.usa.gov/g2SDuw

    148. Opened up process for fast-tracking patent approval for green energy projects. http://bit.ly/j0KV2U

    149. Eliminated Bush-era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, and provided increased federal support for biomedical and stem cell research. http://bit.ly/h36SSO http://ti.me/edezge

    150. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, committed more federal funding, about $18 billion, to support non-defense science and research labs. http://nyti.ms/fTs9t7

    151. Signed Democratic-sponsored Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first comprehensive attempt to improve the lives of Americans living with paralysis. http://bit.ly/fOi2rb

    152. Expanded the Nurse-Family Partnership program, which provides home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income expectant mothers and their families, to cover more first-time mothers.http://bit.ly/jRRRJc

    153. Obama EPA reversed research ethics standards which allowed humans to be used as "guinea pigs" in tests of the effects of chemicals, to comply with numerous codes of medical ethics. http://bit.ly/bKgqdS

    154. Conducted a cyberspace policy review. http://1.usa.gov/gmbdvC

    155. Provided financial support for private sector space programs. http://bit.ly/fn8ucr

    156. Oversaw enhanced earth mapping, to provide valuable data for agricultural, educational, scientific, and government use. http://bit.ly/dNTRyP

    157. Along with Democrats in Congress, ushered through and signed a bill authorizing FDA to regulate tobacco. http://on.msnbc.com/fiKViB As a result, the FDA has Ordered Tobacco Companies to Disclose Cigarette Ingredients and banned sale of cigarettes falsely labeled as "light."

    158. Through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, provided $500 million for Health Professions Training Programs. http://bit.ly/ecQSgA

    159. Increased funding for community-based prevention programs. http://bit.ly/frMPG3

    160. Oversaw a 50% decrease in cost of prescription drugs for seniors. http://bit.ly/e5b1iq http://1.usa.gov/fVNkt9

    161. Eliminated the Bush-era practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug companies on price. http://bit.ly/fOkG5b

    162. Two weeks after taking office, signed Democratic-sponsored Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act, which increased the number of children covered by health insurance by 4 million. http://bit.ly/fDEzGv

    163. Urged Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross for raising premiums 39% without explanation. Democratic Rep. Waxman responded by launching a probe, and Anthem Blue Cross put increase on hold for two months. http://yhoo.it/e8Tj9C

    164. Ushered through and signed Affordable Care Act, which expanded health insurance coverage to at least 30 million more people, ended many common insurance company practices that are often detrimental to those with coverage. He also established healthcare.gov, so that taxpayers could keep up with developments. http://www.healthcare.gov/

    165. Through ACA, allowed children to be covered under their parents’ policy until they turned 26. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V

    166. Through the ACA, provided tax breaks to allow 3.5 million small business to provide health insurance to their employees, and 29 million people will receive tax breaks to help them afford health insurance. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V

    167. Through the ACA, expanded Medicaid to those making up to 133% of the federal poverty level. http://nyti.ms/ekMWpo

    168. Through the ACA, health insurance companies now have to disclose how much of your premium actually goes to pay for patient care. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V

    169. Provisions in the ACA have already resulted in Medicare costs actually declining slightly this fiscal year, for the first time in many years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The increase in 2011 was 4%, which is very low compared to the average 12% annual inflation rate during previous 40 years.http://1.usa.gov/oMxpTh

    170. Created the HIV Care Continuum Initiative, to strengthen the government’s ability to respond to the continuing domestic HIV epidemic, after years of Republicans weakening the government’s ability to deal with the crisis. http://1.usa.gov/1iLED0t

    171. Expanded space exploration and discovery options to include more players. http://1.usa.gov/13qmZpm

    172. Through the Connect America Fund, pushed through and received FCC approval for a move of $8 billion in subsidies away from telephone landlines to assist lower-income rural families in accessing broadband. http://lat.ms/vhRUEs http://bit.ly/129V3SY

    173. In the wake of the West Fertilizer tragedy, in which an entire small town was devastated by an explosion at a fertilizer plant, in part because Republican negligence let the company do whatever it wanted, formed the Chemical Safety and Security Working Group, to work on measures to prevent another such event. http://1.usa.gov/18kHSlA
     

    Strengthened the Middle Class and Families, and Fought Poverty

    174. Worked to provide affordable, high-quality child care to working families. http://bit.ly/fNfidS

    175. Cracked down on companies that were previously denying sick pay, vacation and health insurance, and Social Security and Medicare tax payments through abuse of the employee classification of independent contractor. http://nyti.ms/fOGLcj

    176. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , cut taxes for 95% of America’s working families. http://bit.ly/eSEI4F

    177. Tax rates for average working families are the lowest since 1950. http://bit.ly/f74pD8

    178. Extended and fully funded the patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax for 10 years. http://bit.ly/eFeSdP

    179. Extended discounted health coverage under the COBRA health insurance law for the unemployed from 9 months to 15 months, and he’s also extended unemployment benefits more than a few times. http://aol.it/evtVxD http://nyti.ms/emrqKJ http://bit.ly/hOtIpg http://bit.ly/fTT7kz

    180. Provided a $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps). http://nyti.ms/gfLqyM

    181. Signed an Executive Order that established the White House Office of Urban Affairs. http://wapo.st/eWECA8

    182. Included the Buffet Rule in his 2014 budget proposal, thus trying to fulfill a campaign promise, to make sure tax rates are fair between the rich and the middle class. http://1.usa.gov/19PkdQo

    183. Used the fiscal cliff negotiations to extend for five additional years the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which provides tax credits to families for college-related expenses, thus saving those families up to $10,000. http://onforb.es/17zYg3u
     

    Concrete Steps to Improve The Environment and Address Our Energy Needs

    184. Fast-tracked regulations to allow states to enact fuel efficiency standards that exceeded federal standards. http://nyti.ms/e8e94x

    185. Fast-tracked increased fuel economy standards for vehicles beginning with the 2011 model year. It was the first time such standards had been increased in a decade. http://politi.co/hiaPKM

    186. Oversaw establishment of an Energy Partnership for the Americas, to create more markets for American-made biofuels and green energy technologies. http://bit.ly/lZp73y

    187. Obama EPA reversed a Bush-era decision to allow the largest mountaintop removal project in US history. http://bit.ly/lP3yEL

    188. Ordered the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances. http://1.usa.gov/g3MTbu

    189. Ordered energy plants to prepare to produce at least 15% of all energy through renewable resources like wind and solar, by 2021. http://reut.rs/fV155p (Republicans are trying hard to kill it.)

    190. Oversaw the creation of an initiative that converts old factories and manufacturing centers into new clean technology centers. http://bit.ly/mjnq2R

    191. Bypassed Republican opposition in Congress and ordered EPA to begin regulating and measuring carbon emissions. http://bit.ly/froaP5

    192. Obama EPA ruled that CO2 is a pollutant. http://bit.ly/iQTSNN

    193. Doubling federal spending on clean energy research. http://bit.ly/iN0sCE

    194. Pushed through a tax credit to help people buy plug-in hybrid cars. http://bit.ly/j8UP5Y

    195. Created a program to develop renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that will produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. http://1.usa.gov/fgfRWq

    196. Reengaged in the climate change and greenhouse gas emissions agreements talks, and proposed one himself. He also addressed the U.N. Climate Change Conference, officially reversing the Bush era stance that climate change was a "hoax." http://bit.ly/dX6Vj3 http://bit.ly/fE2PxK http://nyti.ms/hfeqvv

    197. Fully supported the initial phase of the creation of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide. http://bit.ly/eJ6QOO

    198. Required states to provide incentives to utilities to reduce their energy consumption.http://bit.ly/lBhk7P

    199. Following the neglect of Bush’s eight year reign, he reengaged in a number of treaties and agreements designed to protect the Antarctic. http://bit.ly/fzQUFO

    200. Created tax write-offs for purchases of hybrid automobiles, and later he and Democrats morphed that program into one that includes electric cars. http://bit.ly/glCukV

    201. Mandated that federal government fleet purchases be for fuel-efficient American vehicles, and encouraged that federal agencies support experimental, fuel-efficient vehicles. http://bit.ly/h5KZqy http://1.usa.gov/fLWq5c http://1.usa.gov/hmUSbk

    202. Got BP to cough up $20 billion to establish Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, to reduce the need for taxpayer funds to be used for compensation and clean up. http://wapo.st/ds2BxT (Note: it took 20 years to get $1.3 billion for the Exxon Valdez spill. )

    203. Oversaw and pushed through an amendment to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 authorizing advances from Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. http://1.usa.gov/yTRYVo

    204. Actively tried to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to eliminate the liability limits for those companies responsible for large oil spills. http://nyti.ms/bxjDi3

    205. Became the first President to simply say "Climate Change is a fact," and set up the first federal government protocols for dealing with the impacts of climate change. http://1.usa.gov/1b7V67B

    206. Initiated Criminal and Civil inquiries into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. http://nyti.ms/bVuB7a

    207. Asserted federal legal supremacy to bar Texas from authorizing new refinery permits on its own. http://bit.ly/ww8eMd

    208. Strengthened the Endangered Species Act. http://bit.ly/hscjsH

    209. Strengthened protection for wildlife, and expanded enforcement of laws against wildlife trafficking. http://1.usa.gov/1fce1Ai

    210. Obama EPA improved boiler safety standards to improve air quality, and save 6500 lives per year. http://bit.ly/jYH7nt

    211. Through the EPA, attemped to take steps to severely limit the use of antibiotics in livestock feed, to increase their efficacy in humans. http://bit.ly/fBuWd2

    212. Through new EPA regulations, he created a pretext for closing the dirtiest power plants in the country, by limiting emissions of mercury and other toxic gasses. http://bit.ly/rQCIgA

    213. Increased funding for National Parks and Forests by 10% http://bit.ly/fbJPjY

    214. Announced greatly improved commercial fuel efficiency standards. http://1.usa.gov/oQiC1K

    215. Announced a huge increase in average fuel economy standards from 27.5mpg in 2010 to 35.5mpg starting in 2016 and 54.5 starting in 2025 http://1.usa.gov/qtghsW

    216. Issued an Executive Order to facilitate investments in industrial energy efficiency that will help create jobs, while strengthening US manufacturing. Increased efficiency could save businesses $100 billion over the next decade. http://1.usa.gov/WsIgbx

    217. Through an executive order, set up the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, which will to oversee Gulf Coast restoration efforts in the wake of the 2010 BP oil splll. The money to fund the restoration efforts comes from fines against BP. http://1.usa.gov/Rxjb29

    218. Through executive actions and bypassing the ineffectual Rublican Congress, announced the most comprehensive plan to combat climate change in a generation. http://bit.ly/13lXhET
     

    But That’s Not All…

    219. Expanded trade agreements to include stricter labor and environmental agreements such as NAFTA. http://bit.ly/etznpY

    220. Oversaw funding of the design of a new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History, which is scheduled to open on the National Mall in 2015. He protected the funding during the recent budget negotiations. http://on.fb.me/fD0EVO http://bit.ly/ff5Luv

    221. Oversaw and passed increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. http://bit.ly/dFb8qF

    222. Nominated Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Justice in the court’s history, and the women represent only the third and fourth women to serve on the court, out of a total of 112 justices. http://huff.to/eOChg6 http://bit.ly/i02wgP

    223. Appointed the most diverse Cabinet in history, including more women than any other incoming president. http://bit.ly/dX6vNB

    224. Eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education, and rescinded the global gag rule. http://bit.ly/eCFAI1 http://bit.ly/f92drF

    225. Loosened the rules and allowed the 14 states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves without federal interference. http://huff.to/eQfa7j

    226. Signed national service legislation, increasing funding for national service groups, including triple the size of the Americorps program. http://bit.ly/idgQH5

    227. Signed an Executive Order that will speed up deployment of a more comprehensive broadband infrastructure. http://1.usa.gov/M7rVpe

    228. Signed an Executive Order creating jobs immediately by instructing them to reduce the time needed for review and permitting of infrastructure projects. http://1.usa.gov/GHxaYt

    229. Signed a bill that provided $4.3 billion in additional assistance to 9/11 first responders. http://bit.ly/o7cWYS

    230. Signed an Executive Order pledging support for efforts to end the global problem of violence against women and girls. http://1.usa.gov/MHTRVU

    231. Signed the Claims Resolution Act, which provided $4.6 billion in funding for a legal settlement with black and Native American farmers who had been cheated out of government loans and natural resource royalties in the past. http://1.usa.gov/dGppUa

    232. To help those communities devastated by Hurricane Samdy, issued an executive order setting up the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, and asked Congress to approve $60 billion in supplemental assistance to aid in storm recovery. http://1.usa.gov/134L7hl

    233. Produced 23 Executive actions designed to make it easier for law enforcement to identify those who shouldn’t have guns, thus helping them enforce the law. http://on.wsj.com/SX9xaZ
     

    And Did You Know?

    234. Despite the characterizations of some, Obama’s success rate in winning congressional votes on issues was an unprecedented 96.7% for his first year in office. Though he is often cited as superior to Obama, President Lyndon Johnson’s success rate in 1965 was only 93%. http://n.pr/i3d7cY
     

    And of course…

    235. Despite the odds, became the first black president and was reelected by a wide margin.

    .

     .
    Eric L. Wattree
    http://wattree.blogspot.com/
    [email protected]
    Citizens Against Reckless Middle-Class Abuse (CARMA)
    .
    Religious bigotry: It's not that I hate everyone who doesn't look, think, and act like me - it's just that God does.
     
     

    Comments

    "when Obama graduated from law school he could have gone to work as a law clerk for the Supreme Court, or pursued wealth by going into any one of the top law firms in the country...Instead, he went quietly back into the community and went to work helping people to get their heaters fixed. "

    Not quite - he worked 6 months on a voter registration drive to help Carol Moseley Braun, then joined U of Chicago Law faculty, plus joining a law firm focused on Civil Rights issuues and got on numerous local boards.

    "The 29-year-old law student made it clear in his initial interview with Miner that he was more interested in joining the firm to learn about Chicago politics than to practice law."


    by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 4:28am

    Given that Obama was editor of the Harvard Law Review, Wattree is correct that he had multiple options. In fact the University of Chicago recruited him by offering him time to write his first book. Obama focused on voter recruitment prorams like Project Vote. He let people like Jesse Jackson and Bobby Rush take credit for work that he had done.

    Again, there is no question that the law review editor would have had options, he made a personal choice. 

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_life_and_career_of_Barack_Obama


    by rmrd0000 on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 8:58am

    "Wattree is correct that he had multiple options." - thank you for pointing out the part that I didn't disagree with. That really changes my whole comment, no? He worked 6 months on getting out the vote for a major candidate and getting connected to the local Chicago political world and taught law at a University and worked for a civil rights law firm.


    by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 12:19pm

    Here is the full context of Obama's activity from Wikipedia

    Obama directed Illinois Project Vote from April to October 1992, a voter registration drive, officially nonpartisan, that helped Carol Moseley Braun become the first black woman ever elected to the Senate.[52] He headed up a staff of 10 and 700 volunteers that achieved its goal of 400,000 registered African Americans in the state, leading Crain's Chicago Business to name Obama to its 1993 list of "40 under Forty" powers to be.[65][66][67] Although fundraising was not required for the position when Obama was recruited for the job, he started an active campaign to raise money for the project. According to Sandy Newman, who founded Project Vote, Obama "raised more money than any of our state directors had ever done. He did a great job of enlisting a broad spectrum of organizations and people, including many who did not get along well with one another."[67]


    by rmrd0000 on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 12:31pm

    Does that sound anything like "But he didn't do that. Instead, he went quietly back into the community and went to work helping people to get their heaters fixed. "?


    by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 3:01pm

    So that is what irritates you? Seems a trivial issue.

    After Columbia, 

    After four years living in New York City, Obama moved to Chicago to work as a community organizer. He worked for three years from June 1985 to May 1988 as director of the Developing Communities Project (DCP), a church-based community organization originally comprising eight Catholic parishes in Greater Roseland (Roseland, West Pullman, and Riverdale) on Chicago's far South Side.[49][51][52] During his three years as the DCP's director, its staff grew from 1 to 13 and its annual budget grew from $70,000 to $400,000, with accomplishments including helping set up a job training program, a college preparatory tutoring program, and a tenants' rights organization in Altgeld Gardens.[53] Obama also worked as a consultant and instructor for the Gamaliel Foundation, a community organizing institute.

    After Harvard Law, Obama worked for a firm focused on Civil Rights issues.He served as a member of the Woods Fund which supported nonprofits in Chicago. He also served on the board of the Joyce Foundation which also funded projects aimed at the poor. He could have taken advantage of far more lucrative opportunities available to a law review editor.  Do you think heating was not an issue for the nonprofits serving the poor in Chicago. 

    It would seem that the law degree allowed more opportunities to help. Are you bothered by poetic license, or are you arguing that Obama did nothing?


    by rmrd0000 on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 3:37pm

    "Are you bothered by poetic license" - I'm bothered by the continual distortion of facts. When the GOP does it, you're none too thrilled. Me, I don't like the BS from any corner.


    by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 3:53pm

    You are being silly. Did Obama take a less lucrative route? Yes.

    Did Obama physically install or repair heaters? No.

    Was that the true implication of what Wattree wrote? No.

    Did he work with organizations that aided the poor? Yes.

    Was working with these organizations a good thing. Yes.

    Wattree implied that Obama took a less lucrative option. Obama did take a less lucrative option. He used a writer's prerogative. The image was of Obama using his position to aid the community, a positive action. You apply concrete thinking and call the writing a distortion and imply that Obama did something negative.

     


    by rmrd0000 on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 4:14pm

    "imply that Obama did something negative." - no I did not. It just wasn't the Robin Hood action Wattree portrayed it as.


    by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 4:46pm

    But given the options available to the editor of the Harvard Law Review, it was a financial sacrifice. That was the message of Wattree's post.


    by rmrd0000 on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 4:49pm

    RM, Don’t let Peracles (sic), get under your skin. Nothing is free, and you’ve been given the gift of exceptional intelligence, so people like Peracles (sic) are one of the burdens you must bear in return for that gift. The contemplative must always endure the pestilence of mediocrity. You have to understand, he can’t help himself, because the petty is forced to view life through a microscope in order to find their virtue. He's on a personal mission to pad his self-esteem. So why should you accompany him on a private expedition where he's going to be examining every pebble and crevice in an attempt to validate himself?  Eventually the pettiness of it can drive you crazy. You just have to learn to ignore him - and with just a little bit of practice, you can become quite good at it. A rose, which is unique, doesn't have to debate the thorn, because all it's going to bring to the table is the commonplace. It's like trying to get through to a kid who regardless to what you say, simply asks, "Why?" It can go on forever, and it's the closest thing to talking to yourself that you can get.


    by Wattree on Wed, 04/23/2014 - 4:42pm

    Actually, I find him amusing. I'm ignoring him because his sole purpose is to divert attention from the thrust of your post. I went through a great round of hilarity when he was confused on the name of the attorney for Rosa Parks. I couldn't keep myself from laughing. He was so full of himself, it was hard for him to admit a major error. Here, he is worried about Obama getting credit for some heaters, the major points of the post are of no interest to him. He only wants to disrupt.


    by rmrd0000 on Wed, 04/23/2014 - 5:03pm

    I know, RM.

    .

    That's his M. O. At this point if he ever said anything relevant I'd think it was someone trying to impersonate him. I post on the Breitbart site from time to time as well (just so they can get a whiff reality every now and then), and there are a lot of people like that over there. They're obfuscators. They use it as a remedy for cognitive dissonance whenever they're confronted with a reality that they don't want to face up to.

    I think Peracles (sic) is suffering from cognitive dissonance as well, but there's an entirely different reality that he doesn't want to face; I’ve run into it many times before. I’ve found excessive hubris to always be a tell-tale sign, and the level of hubris spewing from this guy is unbelievable. I think he means well, but what he wants to believe about himself, is in violent conflict with his actual emotions, and I bring it out in him. So he doesn't know whether he wants to be frustrated with himself, or furious with me for refusing to fit into the box that he has so desperate a need to place me into. That's why in spite of the fact that he ostensibly disagrees with everything I’ve said for the past two years, he hangs on to every word that I write. The man is obsessed.

    But I’m flattered, because it reminds me of the way many Republicans feel about Obama. They simply do not want him to be who he is, because he doesn’t fit into the box they had prepared for him. I'll never understand the mentality of people who can't feel secure unless others fit into their view of reality - it's as though their self-esteem is based on who another person is. Go figure it.


    by Wattree on Wed, 04/23/2014 - 8:24pm

    I do see a shift coming from Democrats.Landrieu is actually going to mention Obamacare. A NYT poll suggests that Democrats running for the Senate are in better shape than predicted. Plans are in progress to combat Republican voter suppression. There is a ray of sunshine.

     


    by rmrd0000 on Wed, 04/23/2014 - 9:26pm

    "hard for him to admit a major error" - major error? I think backing the security state over a whistle-blower revealing massive government malfeasance is a major error. pissing about over who was an attorney 60 years ago is Trivial Pursuits. But guffaw all you want, glad I bring a little pleasure in life, however trivial.

    (and yes, Wattree's messing up the timescale is a fairly minor error - but it just undermines the point he tried to make)


    by PeraclesPlease on Thu, 04/24/2014 - 1:11am

    "We didn't yet have the power to change state welfare policy, or create local jobs, or bring substantially more money into the schools," [Obama] wrote. "But what we could do was begin to improve basic services at Altgeld--get the toilets fixed, the heaters working, the windows repaired." Obama helped the residents wage a successful campaign to get the Chicago Housing Authority to promise to remove asbestos from the units; but, after an initial burst of activity, the city failed to keep its promise. (As of last year, some residences still had not been cleared of asbestos.)


    by Wattree on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 7:20pm

    I had actually forgotten that from "Dreams From My Father" 

    I think he is just looking to pick a fight over nothing because he dislikes you.


    by rmrd0000 on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 7:30pm

    No, you just have crap memories and I'm correcting you, odd since you love Obama so much.

    Altgeld Gardens was before Obama went to Harvard, not after.

    Wattree's mixing up Obama as a community worker, with Obama coming out of his law degree & settling in Chicago. Not a huge deal.

    Here's more on Altgeld Gardens if you're interested, including 1 interesting woman who's something like an Erin Brackovich tracking asbestos illness through the compound.


    by PeraclesPlease on Wed, 04/23/2014 - 1:47am

    It is interesting that all but one appreciates your post.

    On a more serious note, the GOP will become more desperate over time. This summer the National Action Network will be training volunteers  to become educators to encourage prospective voters how to avoid the pitfalls of the GOP voter suppression program. The GOP uses voter ID as cover in efforts that include decreasing polling places, limiting voting days and even locking restrooms at polling places. The GOP is very open about wanting only White Conservatives to cast votes in elections. They celebrated the evisceration of the Voting Rights Act.

    On the educational front, Conservatives attacked Affirmative Action while celebrating Legacy Student Programs, When Texas moved to allow the upper ten-percent of graduating Texas high schools in a race neutral manner, Conservatives contested that move as well. The desire is that only White Texans benefit from Texas institutions of higher learning.

    The battles will go on. Along the way, it is important to reflect on some of the good that has happened. Again, thanks for the post.


    by rmrd0000 on Wed, 04/23/2014 - 8:13am

    I commented on 1 fairy tale-ish line that detracted from the post. Didn't discuss the post overall.


    by PeraclesPlease on Wed, 04/23/2014 - 11:20am

    I can't get the formatting right on my iPad, but here is a graph noting that deportations of immigrants has not gone up under Obama. Deportations have gone down. 

    http://www.newrepublic.com/sites/default/files/u36457/deportations_graph...


    by rmrd0000 on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 9:01am

    Holder and Obama have made changes in federal sentencing laws and in eligibility  for Presidential clemency.


    by rmrd0000 on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 10:52am

    Glenn Greenwald came to the United States and wasn't killed by jack-booted masked thugs.


    by rmrd0000 on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 11:51am

    LOL


    by trkingmomoe on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 4:41pm

    Thanks for this list.

    I think we need to spend more time on some of the positive things that have been done.  Some of this was long over due.  The media spends too much time chasing the bat shit crazies around for sound bites.  I did a search this week end to find news worthy positive things to put in the news section here at Dag.  We need to talk more about the struggles of the poor and about the mess the GOP has made of our education.  I am tired of seeing gun toting psychopaths dominating the news as if they are heroes of some important cause. I am impressed with the way the government backed off of the mess in Nevada.  They have Bundy's cattle off the desert and confined to the ranch now.  The estate will eventually have to pay the fines. The media and the GOP didn't get their bloody shoot out.  

    I am impressed with the pressure that the Koch Bros. are now facing with the push for solar power and green energy that has been worked on this spring. There should be some more announcements on programs for that in the near future from the Obama administration this will bring jobs.  I know the EPA is working on getting the power companies to clean up their emissions.  Growing hemp is going to be a big deal also in bio fuel and moving away from GMO corn.  Better for sustainable agriculture in the future and will have a good impact on the economy and environment.  We have a decade of lost time in this field to make up for this. 

    Look at what this administration has done to defeat some of the culture wars.  He is laying the ground work for the ending of income disparity.  We will see that shift and corrections on that paradigm in the next 2 election cycles.  There is a growing interest internationally to end tax havens. The leadership will come from the USA on this. We are moving that way. 

    Most importantly look at the steps that are currently in place to end the war on drugs. Breaking the hold that has had on minority communities will swing this country away from that immoral thinking and Jim Crow like attitude. It will also reunite families and give these communities reasons to vote.   

    The conservatives backlash has had since 1980 to raid the treasury, ruin the economy and hurt the general population of this country.  Fixing it will not happen in a short time. 


    by trkingmomoe on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 6:09pm

    What is predictable from the media is the identification of a maverick Republican with new ideas to drive the party and the country forward. McCain was a maverick. Ryan was the bold budgetary maverick. Now the media is building up Rand Paul after Rubio and Cruz went bust. 


    by rmrd0000 on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 6:37pm

    The media seems to like to saddle up the goats for the GOP 2016 rodeo. The country is moving along with out the corporate held main stream media and the GOP.  


    by trkingmomoe on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 6:46pm

    Wall Street Reforms and Consumer Protection

    41. Ordered 65 executives who took bailout money to cut their own pay until they paid back all bailout money. http://huff.to/eAi9Qq

    42. Along with Congressional Democrats, pushed through and got passed Dodd-Frank, one of the largest and most comprehensive Wall Street reforms since the Great Depression. http://bit.ly/hWCPg0 http://bit.ly/geHpcD

    43. Through Dodd-Frank legislation, created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau http://1.usa.gov/j5onG

    44. Through Dodd-Frank, the Executive Branch fashioned rules that reduce the influence of speculators in the oil market. http://bit.ly/MDnA1t

    45. Fashioned rules so that banks can no longer use YOUR money to invest in high-risk financial instruments that work against their own customers’ interests. http://bit.ly/fnTayj

    46. Supported the concept of allowing stockholders to vote on executive compensation. http://bit.ly/fnTayj

    47. Endorsed and supported the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 that would close offshore tax avoidance loopholes. http://bit.ly/esOdfB http://bit.ly/eG4DPM

    48. Negotiated a deal with Swiss banks that now permits the US government to gain access to the records of criminals and tax evaders. http://bit.ly/htfDgw

    49. Signed the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, which closed many of the loopholes that allowed companies to send jobs overseas, and avoid paying US taxes by moving money offshore. http://1.usa.gov/bd1RTq

    50. Established a Consumer Protection Financial Bureau designed to protect consumers from financial sector excesses. http://bit.ly/fnTayj

    51. Oversaw and then signed a Democratic bill constituting the most sweeping food safety legislation since the Great Depression. http://thedc.com/gxkCtP

    52. Through the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, extended the False Claims Act to combat fraud by companies and individuals usingmoney from the TARP and Stimulus programs. http://bit.ly/SLTcSa

    53. Set up rules for banks in handling legal marijuana money. http://nyti.ms/1b80o2K
     


    by Wattree on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 7:26pm

    We will see more of this in this term.  Problem is with the House.  It will be hard to pick enough of them off in this election cycle because of gerrymandering.  Because of all the effort Obama has made we will see the GOP loose ground in 2016.  


    by trkingmomoe on Tue, 04/22/2014 - 10:45pm

    I agree, TRK.  But I'm hoping that even with gerrymandering many Republican voters will begin to see the GOP's malevolent agenda and vote their own best interest. I intend to start breaking down how the GOP is distorting the tern "socialism" to get people to vote against their own interest. Education is the key. One of the publications that I write for is among the most conservative in the country, but every week I get email from conservatives who are beginning to see the light. The publisher told me that I've even "corrupted" his wife. He told me that he had planned to do an editorial challenging one of my articles, ". . . "but I don't want to sleep on the couch, so I'm giving you a pass." 


    by Wattree on Wed, 04/23/2014 - 8:31am

    Republicans have lost the majority of women. That is for sure. 


    by trkingmomoe on Wed, 04/23/2014 - 10:16pm

    I think the fact is that the only thing that the GOP stands for is White Supremacy. Jonathan Chait  notes the problem in his column. Ta-Nehisi Coates notes that free-loading Nevada rancher Bundy is a racist who can still count on support from the GOP. People see their country diversifying and the core fear is that the new majority will do to them what they are doing to minorities.

    The snipe hunt for voter fraud, Benghazi, the IRS committee follies and the repeated votes to repeal Obamacare are covers for attempting to trash the Black guy in the White House. Patriotism has fallen by the wayside.

    Media acts as GOP stenographers so accomplishments of the administration remain hidden.


    by rmrd0000 on Thu, 04/24/2014 - 10:51am

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