Just like Bill Clinton did. And when Clinton got one, he gave us:
- the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999, and
- NAFTA
The combination of which resulted in the meltdown of '08,
and thus the chronic "recession for the 99%" slash "boom for the 1%"
economic debacle which we are hopelessly mired in right now.
The recession/boom which ends in an American Banana Republic.
Or the North American Hunger Games, whichever metaphor you prefer.
Today's Cromnibus vote proves that as a Lame Duck, President Obama's shiny new Republican Congress will be a bonus for the next two years, especially with a couple of his own NAFTA-on-steroids "free" trade deals just about ready to drop.
The reason many of us avid supporters of Obama freaked out right after he won in '08 was because he immediately shitcanned his Progressive Reformer campaign advisers and policy wonks and began staffing his administration with exactly the Clintonites who had not only engineered, but championed both the FSMA and NAFTA. (Think: Larry Summers & Rahm)
We knew at that time, before Obama was even sworn in, that we had bought a Trojan horse, a Progressive Reformer with a Clinton Corporatist in its belly, and thus we, all of us, were well and truly fucked. |
The Corporate Democrats need a Republican majority because it more effectively allows them to use the
Rotating Villain ploy to fool Progressives and the Democratic base into continuing to support said Corporate Democrats. (A task which both the "mission" and zeitgeist of this site proves is an easy one...)
The Rotating Villain has just been used to pass the Cromnibus, chock-full-o-terds.
From Liberty Equality Fraternity and Trees' rec list diary:
Henry Waxman (CA-33) apparently voted for it and then changed his vote at the last minute when it was no longer "needed."
This of course, is just one example from today's vote.
Here's another, from a while back, courtesy Taibbi:
Bernie Sanders had put forth a proposal in the Senate to put a 15 percent cap on credit-card interest....The measure got beat pretty soundly, but the Colorado delegation provided a comic asterisk to the defeat. Both of the state's Democratic Senators, Michael Bennet and Mark Udall, initially voted "no." But right before the vote, i.e. once it became clear that the bill had no chance of passing, they both switched sides and joined 31 other Senators in voting "yes."
(Please note that both of the video links cited in the piece that prove this happened are dead, and so is the link to the C-Span page. I can't find the video anywhere online. Fascinating. Maybe Sirota still has a copy.)
The Rotating Villain is SOP for Corporate Democrats. And it still works beautifully. But it's way easier to use and much more convincing in a Republican Congress. The Democratic President can sign toxic neo-liberal bills and then shrug his shoulders and say, "Whateryagunnado? Republicans in charge. Bipartisanship."
This can't happen in say, a George W administration with a Republican Congress, because the Democratic base is out for blood and paying close attention, and thus almost all of the Democrats will be obliged to oppose the Republican President. Therefore:
Barack + Republicans + Corporate Democrats > W + Republicans |
This principle is why Michael Moore called Bill Clinton
"One of the best Republican Presidents we've ever had".
Establishment Democrats and the assailants of "Purity Trolls" who dominate the DKos community are currently rending garments and crying crocodile tears over passage of the Cromnibus. Diaries by the faithful trying to convince us that we just "won" are currently on the rec list:
"Elizabeth has won, yippee!" and "Wall St. Weeps, we won, yippee!".
(Snarky title distortions all mine.)
It might just be me, but these "consolation prize" diaries always seem to pop up here immediately after Corporate Democrats take a giant dump all over Progressive Reformers with yet another big legislative win...
Even if we acknowledge that there is chickenshit chicanery afoot, there's always this:
"We can't primary them because they'll inevitably win the primary anyway and a challenge will just weaken them, both by wasting resources and by fine-tuning attacks the Republicans can then use in the General."
Sound familiar?
It's the credo of DKos.
|
If you think it isn't, go back and look at the treatment of Ray Pensador, David Sirota, Cenk, FDL, et al.
Ask any of us who've long and consistently argued for an all out war on the Corporatist Democrats who, while championing our social causes (which have zero impact on the profit takers btw), betray not merely Progressives, but the entire Democratic base. Nay, the Corporatist D's betray the vast majority of Americans, who polls prove agree with Progressive Reformer policies (as long as no one says the words "Liberal", "Democrat", or "Obama" when asking the poll questions...).
We all know this. Elizabeth the Lonely says this all the time. The American public overwhelmingly supports the fixes that Progressive Reformers champion. Policies which both strengthen our Democratic process and re-establish the American Dream for lower and middle income Americans.
So, why do the Democrats keep betraying us? It simply can't be electoral politics, because, for example, a $15 minimum wage is massively popular, even amongst Republicans. Breaking up the big banks and perp walking criminal bankers are both wildly popular, and could thus virtually guarantee electoral success. Had this happened after '08, I would posit that the already critically wounded post-W GOP would have fractured into pieces after a Democratic drudging in '10, thus giving Democrats electoral dominance for at least a decade.
It's simple.
The Corporate Democrats are not on our side.
They are our enemies. |
They give us gay marriage and take away our retirements.
They give us women's health rights, and allow bankers to steal our homes.
They give us outrage at civil rights offenses and then enable The Corporate Crusades, an endless "war on terrrism".
If they could all get away with it and still win elections, Corporate Democrats would openly treat us with exactly the same contempt as Cuomo showed Zephyr Teachout. What was it Rahm said about Liberals, again?
Please tell me, given the tactics and strategies that are permissible within this community, at which future election cycle will these methods bear fruit? In '16 after Hillary the Inevitable wins? '18? '20? Fill in the even numbered year ad infinitum?
We know Progressive Reformers cannot dictate Democratic actions now, so, using the tools and methods tolerated on DKos, when will Progressive Reformers be Democratic party leaders?
When will the Elizabeth Warrens become the dominant driving force within your party, if you you keep doing things the way the establishment Democrats on this site insist that you do them?
The gates have not been stormed. They've been reinforced.
Now stop simpering about the gutting of the middle class and start gearing up to get Hillary the Inevitable elected in '16.
Hill-a-ree!
Hill-a-ree!
Hill-a-ree!!!
You're such a good little DKoser!
Here, have a yummy snack.
This diary is a rework of a comment I posted yesterday.