I've been debating about whether to write this..
I'm tired and have a 9 month old baby that doesn't sleep - ever (he is sleeping now - he's woken up about 4x since I started writing this, so we shall see if I get to finish - but anyway)...
I decided to write it for him...cause it is his future that is being effected by this decision...
This is him:
Now - before I continue, unfortunately, I do think the Democrats are going to cave (ironic how I only have to use that term when I'm referring to the democrats relationship with the president, not the republicans) to the president (no matter how "mad" they seem right now), but that they have to is just mind-numbingly sad to me - because of what it will mean long term...debt, cuts in much needed services, and a stronger Republican party (even as they nearly fall off the face of the earth with how far right they are now)...
The ONLY thing that can stop it is to make your voice heard. Call EVERYBODY that represents you - and the leadership...even Republicans (believe it or not, a lot of Republicans arent exactly happy about the deal either)...
To lay out the problems (and there are literally no saving graces to this bill)...
- Obama is saying that tax cuts (supply-side economics/voodoo economics) works by agreeing to this deal...it doesn't, and it never has. The worst thing about this is that Obama KNOWS this, the people know that Obama knows this, and he seems even weaker by pushing so strongly for something that he even says he doesn't believe in...
- If this "compromise" hadn't have happened...the Democrats are in a stronger position than Republicans even in the new year...we do have the White House (even though the person in it doesnt think that matters)...if we actually draw a line in the sand, the Republicans will budge BECAUSE ALMOST NO ONE IS ON THEIR SIDE IN THE ISSUE!! They have unemployed in their districts, they actually do have to answer to them if a fight gets drawn out enough for the people to pay attention.
- The most loyal people are the base of the party...as Republicans realize this and have moved further and further to the right, they have gotten stronger - even though they are literally becoming absurd, because their base is so solidified...as Obama moves further away, he hurts what the word liberal stand for...I'm as strong a liberal as there ever was, I donated time and money last election, I talked to friends and encouraged them to vote, I talked to other friends and gave them reasons to vote for the Democrat - and they did..., why would I do it this time around (and why would millions of others like me?)
- This "compromise" will kill Social Security...and that will destroy the democratic party (ironically - only a Democratic president could do this, cause if a Republican president had even suggested it, the democrats in Congress would have raised holy hell to stop it). If the amount going in is reduced, then the "only logical" thing to do (according to Republicans - who are the big ole meanies who hold everything hostage until they get their way) is to cut benefits...which means that by the time my son gets to be of retirement age, there will be no funding for it...
- He chose to run. Bush had an (average) 50% approval rating - not because he was a good president (he wasn't), but because he appeared to be a strong leader. Leaders lead, leaders fight for what they believe it, and if Obama cant figure that out, then he shouldnt have run for president.
- I'll make this the last one...because he needs to take this to the people...this White House has the worst problem with messaging that I have ever seen (which is all the more sad because I thought that would be Obama's biggest strength), on this message, we win, and we win big...the democrats were stupid not to run on this in the mid-terms, but now that is over and this is real life - so go out there, talk about the Republicans holding us hostage, but instead of "giving in" (oh my gosh, he must have realized how horrible that came across - didnt he?), say how you are going to fight and stand up to the hostage takers...cause thats what America wants/and NEEDS right now more than ever...