Obama's first 100 days of hope and change
Naomi Klein:
Hopebroken and hopesick, Obama fans need a new start
All is not well in Obamafanland. It's not clear exactly what accounts for the change of mood. Maybe it was the rancid smell emanating from the US treasury's latest bank bailout. Or the news that the president's chief economic adviser, Larry Summers, earned millions from the very Wall Street banks and hedge funds he is protecting from re-regulation now. Or perhaps it began earlier, with Obama's silence during Israel's Gaza attack.
Whatever the last straw, a growing number of Obama enthusiasts are starting to entertain the possibility that their man is not, in fact, going to save the world if we all just hope really hard. This is a good thing. If the superfan culture that brought Obama to power is going to transform itself into an independent political movement, one fierce enough to produce programmes capable of meeting the current crises, we are all going to have to stop hoping and start demanding.
Your thread title wouldn't be sarcastic would it, unionist?
Thank you for posting that Klein piece - loved it.
I was skeptical/cynical etc. from the start, so I haven't really had any expectations dashed, however I do empathize with Americans who are "hopebroken' and 'hopesick' - to a point. I know that so many were extremely anxious to be rid of Bush and really believed all of the promises. Once Rev. Wright (Obama's pastor of 20 years) was thrown under the bus, I knew for certain that this guy was not going to be about any significant change. I found it hard to believe that people did not see through him at that time. With all of his talk about invading Pakistan, etc. - his continuation of Bush's war policies was a give in. It is really, really, really too bad! I think Canada probably would have left Afghanistan for sure had a real hope and change President taken power and left that "war theater".
It is almost worse than the Bush years. At that time, one could hope of a credible, principled and effective challenger in 2008. Now that person has come, has been elected and I don't really see any hope anywhere.
Your thread title wouldn't be sarcastic would it, unionist?
Moi?
Pas de quoi.
Is anything being done about the new frikking babble?
This formatting nonsense is ridiculous!
It is almost worse than the Bush years.
Oh please. On domestic issues, Obama has done some good things. I think he's blowing a golden opportunity to remake the economy, but I'm hoping there's a method to his deliberativeness. There will be "invasion" of Pakistan. Obama said during the campaign that he was commited to Afghanistan, so there should be no surprise that he would try to cut off support coming from Pakistan for the Taliban. I think he should have, and should, move faster to get all combat troops out of Iraq, but I'm not surprised that he's taking a slower course.
Oh please. On domestic issues, Obama has done some good things. I think he's blowing a golden opportunity to remake the economy, but I'm hoping there's a method to his deliberativeness. There will be "invasion" of Pakistan. Obama said during the campaign that he was commited to Afghanistan, so there should be no surprise that he would try to cut off support coming from Pakistan for the Taliban. I think he should have, and should, move faster to get all combat troops out of Iraq, but I'm not surprised that he's taking a slower course.
John Pilger has a rather different take:
All over the world, America's violent assault on innocent people, directly or by agents, has been stepped up. During the recent massacre in Gaza, reports Seymour Hersh, "the Obama team let it be known that it would not object to the planned resupply of 'smart bombs' and other hi-tech ordnance that was already flowing to Israel" and being used to slaughter mostly women and children. In Pakistan, the number of civilians killed by US missiles called drones has more than doubled since Obama took office. [...]
Perhaps the biggest lie - the equivalent of smoking is good for you - is Obama's announcement that the US is leaving Iraq, the country it has reduced to a river of blood. According to unabashed US army planners, as many as 70,000 troops will remain "for the next 15 to 20 years". On 25 April, his secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, alluded to this. It is not surprising that the polls are showing that a growing number of Americans believe they have been suckered - especially as the nation's economy has been entrusted to the same fraudsters who destroyed it. Lawrence Summers, Obama's principal economic adviser, is throwing $3trn at the same banks that paid him more than $8m last year, including $135,000 for one speech. Change you can believe in. [...]
In advertising terms, Bush was a "brand collapse" whereas Obama, with his toothpaste advertisement smile and righteous clichés, is a godsend. At a stroke, he has seen off serious domestic dissent to war, and he brings tears to the eyes, from Washington to Whitehall.
I left out the part about Aghanistan and some others. Read it, please.
I was happy with Obamas noon hour presser on Chrysler. He gave the Hedge Fund a good drubbing. While it isn't much at least people will start to get upset at hedge funds instead of the workers who aren't at fault.
President Barack Obama proposed raising about $190 billion over the next decade by outlawing three offshore tax-avoidance techniques used by U.S. companies such as Caterpillar Inc. and Procter & Gamble Co.
Obama’s plan also would make it riskier for Americans to stash money in tax-havens...The proposal, combined with a $60.1 billion plan to limit many expense deductions for American companies that take advantage of laws allowing them to defer tax on foreign profits and a $43 billion crackdown on abusive foreign tax credits, would be the biggest tax increase on U.S. corporations since 1986. Obama also would shift the burden of proof to individuals when the IRS alleges assets are being hidden in certain offshore bank accounts, the White House said in a statement.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a4.7CIfqd5h0&refer=home