Monday, February 22, 2010
Smiley Vs. Sharpton: Obama & The Black Liberal Agenda. Bookerista Perspectives
"Tavis Smiley, a prominent U.S. black liberal journalist, and Rev. Al Sharpton, a prominent U.S. black liberal Democratic activist, are having a pissing contest over how much U.S. President Barack Obama has - or has not - advanced a black liberal agenda. Mr. Smiley appeared on the "Tom Joyner Morning Show" to slam black liberal leaders for giving President Obama a pass. Rev. Sharpton later called into the show to take issue with Mr. Smiley's comments. Mr. Smiley later called into Rev. Sharpton's radio show. Bookeristas weigh in on the catfight."
Climategate: The World’s Biggest Story, Everywhere but Here
"It’s been called the 'biggest scientific scandal in history.' It has everything to earn Pulitzer consideration: lies and misconduct in high places, political implications, even massive financial transactions that may or may not be legitimate or even legal. It’s big news … as long as you read the Telegraph, the Guardian, the London Times, or even major Indian papers.
"It’s no news at all if you read the U.S. mainstream media."
"It’s no news at all if you read the U.S. mainstream media."
What Americans Don't Understand about Obamacare
Here is a short list of what we specifically don't understand:
How will our health care system improve by giving a $300-million payoff to Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu in Louisiana in exchange for her vote?
Three hundred million was the price tag for Landrieu's "yes" vote on the 3,000-plus-page Obamacare bill. This may improve the health of Senator Landrieu's reelection prospects, but not the health of our nation.
What is positive about exempting Nebraska from having to pay future Medicare costs but making other states foot the bill?
Democratic Senator Ben Nelson was the final Democratic senator holding out support for the bill. After closed-door negotiations, Senator Nelson provided his full support. The reason for Nelson's sudden change of heart? His state was given a special exemption and would not have to pay the projected billions of dollars in additional Medicare costs that Obamacare would create.
Why are labor unions singled out from all other Americans and given an eight-year pass on paying taxes, while non-union workers have to pick up the tab?
In another closed-door negotiation, this time with Big Labor bosses and lobbyists, union members were exempted from paying the dreaded "Cadillac tax" on premium health care plans until 2018. In dollar terms, this would save union workers over $60 billion, while the rest of us have to come up with an additional $90 billion over the same time period.
Why should taxpayers be forced to pay for elective abortions?
After being repeatedly reassured by you, Mr. President, that taxpayer-funded abortions would not be included in your health care bill, why did your Secretary of Health and Human Services brag to the pro-abortion lobby that the Senate version of Obamacare includes taxpayer-funded abortion? How does this improve our health care system?
How does putting the federal government between Americans and their doctors improve anyone's health?
The Senate version of Obamacare would make Americans enroll in a "qualified health care plan" and then dictates that doctors may receive compensation under such plans only if they perform procedures allowed by the federal government.
How does a closed-door legislative process help us understand the complexities of Obamacare?
If health care is a "complex issue" that requires clear explanation to the American people, then how does it help when all of the explaining is being done to lobbyists behind closed doors?
Mr. President, what we don't understand is why a bill that is so good and necessary requires secrecy, bribes, and lies to ensure its passage. Why do you feel the need to hide the bill from us? Why do your biggest supporters need their palms greased before they come on board with your plan? Why do you tell us one thing about the cost of your bill, only for us to find out later that you understated the actual cost by over 300 percent?
In short, Mr. President, why should we believe anything you tell us about health care anymore?
How will our health care system improve by giving a $300-million payoff to Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu in Louisiana in exchange for her vote?
Three hundred million was the price tag for Landrieu's "yes" vote on the 3,000-plus-page Obamacare bill. This may improve the health of Senator Landrieu's reelection prospects, but not the health of our nation.
What is positive about exempting Nebraska from having to pay future Medicare costs but making other states foot the bill?
Democratic Senator Ben Nelson was the final Democratic senator holding out support for the bill. After closed-door negotiations, Senator Nelson provided his full support. The reason for Nelson's sudden change of heart? His state was given a special exemption and would not have to pay the projected billions of dollars in additional Medicare costs that Obamacare would create.
Why are labor unions singled out from all other Americans and given an eight-year pass on paying taxes, while non-union workers have to pick up the tab?
In another closed-door negotiation, this time with Big Labor bosses and lobbyists, union members were exempted from paying the dreaded "Cadillac tax" on premium health care plans until 2018. In dollar terms, this would save union workers over $60 billion, while the rest of us have to come up with an additional $90 billion over the same time period.
Why should taxpayers be forced to pay for elective abortions?
After being repeatedly reassured by you, Mr. President, that taxpayer-funded abortions would not be included in your health care bill, why did your Secretary of Health and Human Services brag to the pro-abortion lobby that the Senate version of Obamacare includes taxpayer-funded abortion? How does this improve our health care system?
How does putting the federal government between Americans and their doctors improve anyone's health?
The Senate version of Obamacare would make Americans enroll in a "qualified health care plan" and then dictates that doctors may receive compensation under such plans only if they perform procedures allowed by the federal government.
How does a closed-door legislative process help us understand the complexities of Obamacare?
If health care is a "complex issue" that requires clear explanation to the American people, then how does it help when all of the explaining is being done to lobbyists behind closed doors?
Mr. President, what we don't understand is why a bill that is so good and necessary requires secrecy, bribes, and lies to ensure its passage. Why do you feel the need to hide the bill from us? Why do your biggest supporters need their palms greased before they come on board with your plan? Why do you tell us one thing about the cost of your bill, only for us to find out later that you understated the actual cost by over 300 percent?
In short, Mr. President, why should we believe anything you tell us about health care anymore?
Matthews: We're Learning Obama Can't Change Things With Just The Power Of His Personality
CHRIS MATTHEWS: You know, if he says what he really believes, Savannah, based upon your reporting over there, would it be popular? That's the key question. Can he be a populist when the country is so anti-government, anti-liberal, anti-spending? The things he wants to do. If he were truly honest, would the public want to hear it?
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, NBC WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think that he is a practical president. I think that there's a lot of tension and frustration. I hear it all the time. Why doesn't he just get in there and crack skulls? Why can't he be like LBJ and get Congress in line? Come on, you have the Democratic majorities. He is a consensus builder. This is his core identity. He ceded a lot of the healthcare reform bill to Congress, and perhaps that's why some people view it as a left of center product, because he wasn't in there dictating the terms. But, I mean this is the reason he ran for president. It goes back and we all know the story. He feels that he has some ability to bring people together. And they're very frustrated that he hasn't been able to execute that.
MATTHEWS: Okay, this is a key question. Helene, you're at the White House, too. Last question here: How can you be a man of, a leader of the progressive movement, really do things that enlarge the role of government in the healthcare field for example, and in financial regulation, and still make the country in this Kumbaya, we all get along mood? If you change, it bothers people.
HELENE COOPER, NEW YORK TIMES WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I think that, that is so much at the center of why Obama, President Obama is having so many problems right now. There's he, there's this fundamental belief that he can change, that the power of his personality and the power of his oratory can change people and that just doesn't happen. There's this over-reliance I think at the White House that if the President gives a very big speech, or if he comes out there, that his, that he can persuade people and he can do it. And at the same time you don't have anything changing at the bottom of the way Washington works.
MATTHEWS: He promised change, and yet what he said what the change was...
COOPER: But you can't just do it with the power of your personality.
MATTHEWS: Well, we're learning that.
Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/02/21/matthews-were-learning-obama-cant-change-things-just-power-his-person#ixzz0gHUVbSAo
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, NBC WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think that he is a practical president. I think that there's a lot of tension and frustration. I hear it all the time. Why doesn't he just get in there and crack skulls? Why can't he be like LBJ and get Congress in line? Come on, you have the Democratic majorities. He is a consensus builder. This is his core identity. He ceded a lot of the healthcare reform bill to Congress, and perhaps that's why some people view it as a left of center product, because he wasn't in there dictating the terms. But, I mean this is the reason he ran for president. It goes back and we all know the story. He feels that he has some ability to bring people together. And they're very frustrated that he hasn't been able to execute that.
MATTHEWS: Okay, this is a key question. Helene, you're at the White House, too. Last question here: How can you be a man of, a leader of the progressive movement, really do things that enlarge the role of government in the healthcare field for example, and in financial regulation, and still make the country in this Kumbaya, we all get along mood? If you change, it bothers people.
HELENE COOPER, NEW YORK TIMES WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I think that, that is so much at the center of why Obama, President Obama is having so many problems right now. There's he, there's this fundamental belief that he can change, that the power of his personality and the power of his oratory can change people and that just doesn't happen. There's this over-reliance I think at the White House that if the President gives a very big speech, or if he comes out there, that his, that he can persuade people and he can do it. And at the same time you don't have anything changing at the bottom of the way Washington works.
MATTHEWS: He promised change, and yet what he said what the change was...
COOPER: But you can't just do it with the power of your personality.
MATTHEWS: Well, we're learning that.
Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/02/21/matthews-were-learning-obama-cant-change-things-just-power-his-person#ixzz0gHUVbSAo
AP: Democrats worried about Obama track record
"In interviews at the National Governors Association's weekend meeting, several Democratic governors faulted the White House for losing the communications war against Republicans over what Obama has accomplished in his first year.
"'We fought back only sporadically and pretty ineffectively,' Rendell said, adding that 'right out of the box, we lost the spin war' on the $787 billion economic stimulus bill passed in 2009.
"Several Democratic colleagues agreed, and lamented that voters thought Obama focused too much on overhauling the U.S. health care system. Others fretted that Obama may appear to be out of touch with the concerns of Americans.
"'I think he's got more work to do on that,' said Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, an Obama friend and ally."
"'We fought back only sporadically and pretty ineffectively,' Rendell said, adding that 'right out of the box, we lost the spin war' on the $787 billion economic stimulus bill passed in 2009.
"Several Democratic colleagues agreed, and lamented that voters thought Obama focused too much on overhauling the U.S. health care system. Others fretted that Obama may appear to be out of touch with the concerns of Americans.
"'I think he's got more work to do on that,' said Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, an Obama friend and ally."
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