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Ear to the Ground

Obama Assails Court Decision

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Posted on Jan 23, 2010
AP / Alex Brandon

In his weekly radio address, President Obama showed his dismay at the Supreme Court’s decision to remove corporate campaign finance limits, warning of a pending deluge of special interest money into our democracy—a subject he knows quite well as he continues to fight for health care reform. —JCL

Reuters:

Obama’s broadside was triggered by a 5-4 ruling by the court’s justices on Thursday that removed long-standing campaign finance limits and allowed corporations to spend freely in campaigns for president and Congress. In the ruling, the court’s conservative majority said the limits had violated corporations’ constitutional right to free speech.

The ruling is expected to unleash a flood of money into this year’s congressional elections. Obama’s fellow Democrats face a struggle to retain control of the Congress amid voter unhappiness over double-digit unemployment, a record deficit, political gridlock in Washington and other matters.

“This ruling opens the floodgates for an unlimited amount of special interest money into our democracy,” Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address.

“It gives the special interest lobbyists new leverage to spend millions on advertising to persuade elected officials to vote their way—or to punish those who don’t. This ruling strikes at democracy itself,” Obama said.

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By drkaza12, January 27, 2010 at 11:39 am Link to this comment

Litl Bludot;“Obama was your agent of change, and you can’t recognize that you were wrong
and that he is implementing the very policies, with even more effectiveness, than
Bush”, Litldot please.

Litldot you thinking I’m a liberal is like me considering you a member of the RNC, both sinful but merely missing the mark, and while I agree with Chris Hedges, and even you, in his article we started this albeit toothless diatribe with a majority Republican Court abusing their position at the bench.

Where we crossed, which for you was me attacking you, but for you, trying to pry open my delusionally affected eyes, is your hyperbole about President Obama being a Fascist corporate double agent; this is ridiculous’, and exacerbate rather than solves anything.

Litl Bludot; the revolution may not be televised, but it will undoubtedly be on the internet. Unfortunately it will come with the misguided shrill of those who only see things as they choose to believe them, through the lens of their own contempt.

Litl Bludot; we are not alone in experiencing the affects of our thoughts and effecting the thoughts we experience, any delusion is a shared delusion.

Report this

By Litl Bludot, January 27, 2010 at 9:52 am Link to this comment

drkaza12

Here’s where you fit in.  Hedges puts it well.

“The fiction of democracy remains useful, not only for corporations, but for our
bankrupt liberal class. If the fiction is seriously challenged, liberals will be
forced to consider actual resistance, which will be neither pleasant nor easy. As
long as a democratic facade exists, liberals can engage in an empty moral
posturing that requires little sacrifice or commitment. They can be the self-
appointed scolds of the Democratic Party, acting as if they are part of the
debate and feel vindicated by their cries of protest.”

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/democracy_in_america_is_a_useful_fictio
n_20100124/

Report this

By Litl Bludot, January 27, 2010 at 9:39 am Link to this comment

drkaza12, your delusion is not just your affair.  There is no real opposition to
corporate rule possible when the titular agent of change is actually carrying out
even more corporate, antidemocratic, antiplanet policies. 

Obama was your agent of change, and you can’t recognize that you were wrong
and that he is implementing the very policies, with even more effectiveness, than
Bush. 

Moreover, you attack people who recognize the fraud and who try to open your
eyes.  In other words, just to make it a bit more clear, you are now, at this
moment, allied with the corporations agains the people, democracy, and the
survival of the living planet.  You are.  Think about it, if your personality allows it.

Report this

By drkaza12, January 27, 2010 at 9:15 am Link to this comment

Litl Bludot; While I’m no great fan of the President’s, I’m still concerned about you, and your ilk polluting the internet with your hyperbole; it demeans discourse. To suggest that the President is a fascist double agent is absurd. That he is a three Card Monte triangulating change shill is rich, and while I’m in favor of criticism it must be pointed to be effective, and yours not only misses the trees it isn’t even in the forest.

As I suggested before read Reinhold Niebuhr to understand President Obama, and while you do this I’ll remain delusional, and comatose welcoming Cornell West plea to a brother lost, over your spoiled little blusplot radical conflagrations with my lips tightly sealed, at least a bit thankful we’re sort of on the same team.

Report this

By Litl Bludot, January 27, 2010 at 6:50 am Link to this comment

responding to drkaza12.  My comment did not defend Republicans or their
party, as you seem to understand.  Giving you the benefit of the doubt.

Republicans have been against every conceivable positive program in my
lifetime: unionization, social security, medicare, let alone single payer
healthcare.  Hell, they’ve been against public education.  They are the party of
the rich, the corporations, the military industrial prison complex.

My point is that the Democrats have become the stealth party of the above. 
Their leader is the ostensible Harvard educated, community organizer,
constitutional professor, “agent of change”, but who is in reality serving as the
fascist corporate double agent.  I am putting this in the simplest terms I can.
Obama is the current triangulator par excellence.  He’s the current political
leveraging champion.  He gets more money leveraging you than anyone else
can.  He’s their guy. Sorry to have to tell you this, but you are living in a fantasy
world, and being played for a sucker.  Wake up!

Report this

By drkaza12, January 26, 2010 at 11:10 am Link to this comment

Commune115; that’s not idealogical, that’s Vegas, playing the odds. It’s time to smell the bacon and fried potatoes, or pototoes, whatever.

Report this

By drkaza12, January 26, 2010 at 9:07 am Link to this comment

Litl Bludot; this is exactly the obfuscation the GOP promotes. Corporatism or fascism is what the Supreme court by this new ruling has just ushered in, and exactly what Obama has condemned. How you got your wires crossed is not my concern, but you lathering the internet with bullsh%t is.

Litl Bludot; obviously you don’t understand anything about President Obama so I’m compelled to mention his enthusiasm is not centered in getting elected; that attribute is most often found in the phogbounds within the GOP. To understand our President you have to read Reinhold Neibuhr, who was definitely not a nazi, but a man of the highest quality and character.

If you find it difficult to believe me, that the GOP is filled with phogbounds and scoundrels, try looking up Lee Atwater’s plea to the GOP right before he died. While this may not convince you, it is historically conclusive that he was not only the voice of the GOP, but a notable phogbound and Machiavellian.

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By ryan, January 25, 2010 at 9:35 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

are you serious you pussies? you honestly this that this will allow corporate influence within the US? Pull your heads out of your asses. This is 2010, not the early 1900’s when the rich heavily influenced federal decisions.

Report this

By Litl Bludot, January 25, 2010 at 4:44 pm Link to this comment

Hedges comments on the topic, from Common Dreams, also found at Truthdig

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/25

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By Reginald Morris, January 25, 2010 at 10:31 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

This ridiculous ruling is proof that there is no love between Robert’s and Obama. The President was one of the few who opposed Robert’s endorsement to the court, and this ruling is a reminder of his vote, and how his reelection in 2012 is in peril, and viewed by a conservative majority court.

It is also a slap in the face to any populous movement in this country. Union’s for instance whose political contributions will be two tears in a bucket compared too multi-national corporate sponsorship now that the bumpers are off finance reform. Them and the Populous derision of the Tea-baggers for anything Obama , for whom this ruling is too well hidden in plain sight for them to see.

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By RobertinWestbury, January 24, 2010 at 6:51 pm Link to this comment

God the anti-Obama bashing is tiresome on this site. 

It doesn’t matter what he does… It doesn’t matter what he says… It doesn’t matter what he doesn’t do….  he’s crucified right and left.  To the Right he’s destroying the country.  To the left he’s not doing enough or keeping campaign promises, but those critics on the left don’t seem to understand the political process or how he has to get everyone on board in Congress to get anything.  And getting anything includes compromises. 

Per this issue… what I’d like to see him or a group of Congresspeople do is begin forming and passing a constitutional amendment undoing what this nutty court just did. 

They need to act now before the increased money takes root…

Report this
de profundis clamavi's avatar

By de profundis clamavi, January 24, 2010 at 12:47 pm Link to this comment

We continue our Memorial Service for our departed beloved sister, Democracy.

Join me now in singing our next hymm . . .

O beautiful, for endless war,
though children are in need!
To pay for war, let children starve –
they cost too much to feed!
O Pentagon! O Pentagon!
Thy budget sacred be!
While children die, keep spending high,
on wars across the sea!

And now, let us pray as our Savior, Ronald Christ Reagan, taught us . . .

Our Free Market,
which owneth Congress,
Hallowed be Thy Name!
Thy Lobbyists come,
Thy will be done,
in Congress and the White House,
as it is in SCOTUS.
Give not to poor children any bread,
and forgive not their debts,
nor allow them to trespass lest they bother us.
And lead us not into compassion,
but deliver us from socialism,
for Thine is the Plutocracy,
and the Executive Suite,
and the Business Jet forever,
Amen!

Report this

By Big B, January 24, 2010 at 9:24 am Link to this comment

Sorry Diamond, I went to store and did not read your post until now. I ask you, what is the difference between prez Barry having a healthcare summit with only healthcare industry supporters, and the evil Dick Cheney and his energy task force?

Places and dates.

Stop drinking the Obama kool-aid and think for five friggin’ minutes will ya. Barry is Teddy Roosevelt in black face.

Report this

By FreeWill, January 24, 2010 at 8:30 am Link to this comment

Forget about the theatrics.  Bernanke is being confirmed for more fleece the people. What does that tell you? Prepare for the revolution people. The fascist state will soon be in full bloom and the great experiment with democracy is over.

Report this

By samosamo, January 24, 2010 at 5:51 am Link to this comment

o had his chance and to confuse this rather new aristocracy with
our long gone democracy is a good bit frustrating but not as
frustrating as to how the people will take it, meaning doing
absolutely nothing.

Report this

By kukai, January 23, 2010 at 11:46 pm Link to this comment

The United States of America is suffering from dementia, and the prognosis is not good.

My country, ‘tis of thee,
Stronghold of big money, of thee I sing;
Land where health care’s denied,
Land where our freedoms died,
From every mountainside
I hear “chi-ching”!

Report this

By ocjim, January 23, 2010 at 10:46 pm Link to this comment

What with the obstructionist Republicans staging a Machiavellian attempt to regain power by whatever means they have, our leadership’s myopia in dealing with whatever problems they can manage, Wall Street’s exhibition of greed and self-absorption, and the narcissistic people,we have the idiocy of ideologue judges who put another nail in the coffin of democracy. Anything else we can concoct to end democracy?

Report this

By ocjim, January 23, 2010 at 10:45 pm Link to this comment

What with the obstructionist Republicans staging a Machiavellian attempt to regain power by whatever means they have, our leadership’s myopia in dealing with whatever problems they can manage, Wall Street’s exhibition of greed and self-absorption, and the narcissistic people,we have the idiocy of ideologue judges who put another nail in the coffin of democracy.

Report this

By Litl Bludot, January 23, 2010 at 10:03 pm Link to this comment

It’s curious.  Obama did vote against the confirmation of both Roberts and
Alito.  But of course, what he said and did prior to being elected has turned out
to be nothing more than positioning for enthusiastic, progressive support to
get elected.  Afterwards, he gave the U.S. treasury away within 60 days, has
leveraged every supposed “reform” to the max, selling out the citizens of this
country to corporate fascism.  Sirota’s essay describes what the predictable
result has been.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/democratic_corporatism_brings_reagan_
back_from_the_grave_20100121/

In short, this is the nail in the coffin for what’s left of our republic, and he
knows it and helped to drive it in.  Corporations now own the government and
the main stream media.  Healthcare is gone, education is gone, infrastructure is
gone; going is the entire biosphere, with a backdrop of unending resource
wars, from Asia, Middle East, Africa, South America, and what’s left of the
oceans.  All in the name of THE MARKET.  Welcome to the end.

Report this

By rollzone, January 23, 2010 at 9:58 pm Link to this comment

hello. my opinion has been capitalism has no place in American politics. it makes little difference to me how much is involved. it is money thrown away. most people vote from subconscious instinct, irregardless of what are the facts. the political public relations machine is only too happy to take any politicians’ and/or other peoples’ monies. it is a redistribution of wealth among the wealthy: but did you think you were going to get a raise?

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By Commune115, January 23, 2010 at 8:36 pm Link to this comment

Obama received more Wall Street money than any of the other candidates during the elections. This is just more cynical b.s.

Report this

By Rodney, January 23, 2010 at 8:35 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Their really is no reason to hold election anymore. The highest bidder or corporate spender will control the President and congress. The only question is who will be the corporate whores running what use to be the world.s greatest democracy. They will ruin what’s left of America with their greed. The Corporate pimps of the Banks will challenge the corporate pimps of the insurance industry to put their whores in the congress the senate,.and attempt to out bid each other to control the biggest whore the President. The public will be paying the johns [corporate pimps] in the forms of higher premeimums without any pleasure. While the pimps get to keep all of the profits for themselves and away from the prositutes [the public].

Report this

By Steve E, January 23, 2010 at 7:35 pm Link to this comment

Ah, the theatrics have begun. Leading man, our one and only Barrack Obama.
What a spineless so and so.

Report this
screamingpalm's avatar

By screamingpalm, January 23, 2010 at 7:28 pm Link to this comment

“Big man, pig man
Ha, ha, charade you are
You well heeled big wheel
Ha, ha, charade you are
And when your hand is on your heart
You’re nearly a good laugh
Almost a joker
With your head down in the pig bin
Saying ‘Keep on digging’
Pig stain on your fat chin
What do you hope to find
Down in the pig mine?
You’re nearly a laugh
You’re nearly a laugh
But you’re really a cry

Bus stop rat bag
Ha, ha, charade you are
You fucked up old hag
Ha, ha, charade you are
You radiate cold shafts of broken glass
You’re nearly a good laugh
Almost worth a quick grin
You like the feel of steel
You’re hot stuff with a hatpin
And good fun with a hand gun
You’re nearly a laugh
You’re nearly a laugh
But you’re really a cry

Hey you, Whitehouse
Ha, ha, charade you are
You house proud town mouse
Ha, ha, charade you are
You’re trying to keep our feelings off the street
You’re nearly a real treat
All tight lips and cold feet
And do you feel abused?
You got to stem the evil tide
And keep it all on the inside
Mary you’re nearly a treat
Mary you’re nearly a treat
But you’re really a cry”


Pink Floyd- Pigs (Three Different Ones)

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By P. T., January 23, 2010 at 6:43 pm Link to this comment

In an effort to force American politics permanently to the right, the Republicans on the U.S. Supreme Court (who gave us George W. Bush in 2000) have seen to it that politics will become even more corrupt.

Report this
screamingpalm's avatar

By screamingpalm, January 23, 2010 at 5:01 pm Link to this comment

Hahaha quite the comedian. Thanks for the “spoonful of sugar” Mr. President.

For you sheeple who are naive enough to continue to accept Obama’s rhetoric, I have a sermon for you:

“Harmlessly passing your time in the grassland away;
Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air.
You’d better watch out!
There may be dogs about
I looked over Jordan, and I’ve seen
Things are not what they seem.

That’s what you get for pretending the danger’s not real.
Meek and obedient you follow the leader
Down well trodden corridors into the valley of steel.
What a surprise!
A look of terminal shock in your eyes.
Now things are really what they seem.
No, this is not a bad dream.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He makes me down to lie
Through pastures green He leadeth me the silent waters by.
With bright knives He releaseth my soul.
He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places.
He converteth me to lamb cutlets,
For lo, He hath great power, and great hunger.
When cometh the day we lowly ones,
Through quiet reflection, and great dedication
Master the art of Judo,
Lo, we shall rise up,
And then we’ll make the bugger’s eyes water.

Bleating and babbling we fell on his neck with a scream.
Wave upon wave of demented avengers
March cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

Have you heard the news?
The dogs are dead!
You better stay home
And do as you’re told.
Get out of the road if you want to grow old.”

Pink Floyd- Sheep

Report this

By jean Gerard, January 23, 2010 at 4:52 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Would it be possible to begin at once to put a “reverse spin” on this mean ball
the Court delivered into our court?  As in tennis, organize a powerful citizens’
movement (Campaign about Fair Elections—CAFE or some such) stating I
WILLL NOT VOTE FOR ANY CANDIDATE WHO TAKES CORPORATE FUNDING, NO
MATTER WHAT and of course tell why. (“I’m in favor of FREE speech, not PAID
speech” or “The Constitution upholds Free Speech, not Paid Speech”  etc.)

Encourage all candidates to agree as a matter of personal integrity (Song from
Civil Rights Movement “We Shall Not Be Moved” - “We will show you, We cannot
be bought” etc.)  Do advertising around this integrity issue.  Publicize who
accepts/does not accept corporate funding. Organize at neighborhood level,
giving reasons why this is THE CENTRAL ISSUE OF THE 2010 CAMPAIGN FOR
ALL PARTIES.  If it succeeds, it could then be used as the kick-off for a
campaign to get election reform enacted.  The Supremes might just have
unintentiionally handed us a very useful tool Turn the negative into a positive,
etc. etc.  Yes?  No?
  I know it’ss hard to see such happening in the present climate of widespread
citizen apathy—but, you never know.

Report this

By Beltwaylaid, January 23, 2010 at 2:37 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Assail away Mr. Lilly Liver.  Maybe you can be a
driving force for the people on this issue as you have
been on a fair system for healthcare for all.  May God
bless your Republicrat heart and hearken to the aid of
your certain stellar political career to come.

Guiltless Nader 08 voter

Report this

By diamond, January 23, 2010 at 1:49 pm Link to this comment

Big B, that B doesn’t stand for ‘brain’. These corporate bastards are not Obama’s ‘buddies’ and never have been. Anyone with a functioning brain can see what a disaster this decision by the Supreme Court is for democracy. Or what’s left of it. And look at the judges: most of them are conservatives to their bone marrow who will always support the corporations against the people, as they always have, long before Barack Obama was even born. Either you just hate politicians in a completely ignorant way or you’re a conservative yourself who wants to portray Obama as a secret weapon of the right. He’s not and that’s probably the real reason you hate him so much.

Report this

By Miko, January 23, 2010 at 1:36 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

That last clause should read “a subject he knows quite well since the majority of the money is going to his team.”

Back when Hillarycare was on the table, most of the money was going to the Republicans, since the corporate interests wanted that bill defeated.  Now most of the money is going to the Democrats, since the same interests view the bill as about the biggest gift to them imaginable.

Obama: “This ruling opens the floodgates for an unlimited amount of special interest money into our democracy.”

Not so.  Corporations will only contribute the amount of money they expect will return maximum ROI to them.  Since it’s likely that this is the amount of money they’re already contributing currently, I don’t expect the total amount of money to change.  The ratio of campaign ads to lobbyists might change, but the total amount of money spent will likely be constant.

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By Big B, January 23, 2010 at 10:56 am Link to this comment

This just leads the way for Obama’s corporate buddys to spend countless billions on his 2012 re-election campaign. They never had a better friend than ‘ol Barry in WH,(well, unless you count Cheney)

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Samson's avatar

By Samson, January 23, 2010 at 10:18 am Link to this comment

Obama says lots of things.  The question is, what is he going to do about it?

My guess is that the guy who just took $28 million from ‘health care’ corporations to make sure that any ‘health care reform’ was very corporate friendly is simply going to put out the money sack and try to rake in as much of this cash as he can get his hands on.

What you won’t see is Obama leading any real drive to change this court ruling.  He’ll throw a few words out like this for the suckers who believe him, then he’ll start raking in the cash with both hands.

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By cleanx, January 23, 2010 at 9:36 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

There is nothing anyone can do to change it.  It’s done.  Easy to come out now and make a speech to the have not exploited paeons against something, decrying it with clever words, but that decision is a done deal.  Pretty safe to feign concern, and risk aversion, as seems to be the habit of Obama.

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