Brent Nyitray
Fairlington Blade
Let the mutherfuker burn!
jnc4p
Kevin S. Willis
Michigoose
lmsinca
markinaustin
Arcanaut
novahockey
quarterback
ScottC
yellojktI remember saying to someone, can’t remember who, that once the 2012 election drew closer that Obama would begin his renewed appeal to the base. After the trouncing over the debt limit deal and faltering polling numbers, he would return home again. Well, it’s begun. I’m hoping it’s because he believes his own populist rhetoric and it’s not just a slick campaign maneuver, but according to the headlines over the past week or so, he’s got his groove back. If this is too controversial, I’ll put up a food post tomorrow, unless FarilingtonBlade beats me to it. I’m testing the waters.
Obama throws class warfare charge back in Gops face
Greg Sargent:
This has to be the clearest sign yet that Obama has taken a very sharp populist turn as he seeks to frame the contrast between the parties heading into 2012. During his remarks this morning, Obama directly responded to Republicans accusing him of “class warfare,” but rather than simply deny the charge, he made the critical point that the act of protecting tax cuts for the rich is itself class warfare, in effect positioning himself as the defender of the middle class against GOP class warriors on behalf of the wealthy.
Matthew Yglesias:
The biggest news out of today’s deficit plan from President Obama probably isn’t the plan itself but an ancillary veto threat. We’ve long known that the White House favors higher taxes on the rich, and also that it’s willing to consider agreeing to some very right-wing notions about Medicare spending as part of a grand bargain to get it. Today, though, the president is clearly stating for the first time that he will veto any plan from the super committee or elsewhere that cuts Medicare benefits without raising taxes on the wealthy.
Steve Benen:
As for the substance, and the president’s call for tax fairness, it’s hard not to notice the president is playing a strong hand. Republicans believe the mere mention of “class warfare” is supposed to stop any and all conversation, but Obama is delivering a popular, sensible message that will very likely resonate with the American mainstream. What’s more, he’s sending a signal that he’s not afraid of GOP talking points on this.
Speaking of Political Animals, I still am one.
Filed under: Obama | Tagged: Buffet Tax, veto threat |
All Things in Moderation 
My view is it's waaaay to early to tell whether this is a new "real" Obama or just a trial run to see what messages/tone resonate with enough voters for him to win re-election.I've seen a lot of faces of Obama in the last 3.5 years. I expect to see more over the next 8 months, after which we'll get Obama the Incumbent.
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Yes, you're probably right. I do think the number of recent headlines, and I only highlighted a few from today, indicate a change in his offense. Whether it lasts, or accomplishes a thing, remains to be seen.
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This is the Obama that I voted for.I still think (and only time will tell), that we will see a lot of it in 2012-16.
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I left a link in the Dump, "Well there's always a first time."My question is, what evidence do you have that he will live up to your expectations?
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@Troll–at the moment, not much unfortunately. But hope springs eternal, and a President in his second term is in a far different place than a President in his first one, even if both houses of Congress end up being in the opposite party's camp (not that I expect that to happen, but I think that's more likely than Obama losing in the end).
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I think he wins the Presidency again, it's a lock, but I think he loses the senate along with the House still be in Republican hands. If that's the case, what legacy will he want to leave? It seems to me that if he wants to leave with a positive legacy, and do anything in his second term, he'd have to work with a Congress that is decidedly to his right. To me, that means he moves to his right, not left. Think about Bush after '06. Minimum wage, fired Rummy, Immigration / Amnesty. What are the Republican initiative going to be in 2012 if they take the Senate (let's say with close to a 60 vote majority) and keep the House?
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McWing, I think he wins also and the Senate will probably change hands as statistically the odd are in the R's favor re those running for re-election. I'm still pondering over the House and all those new Tea Party endorsed reps. I believe it's possible they may have mis-interpreted their so called mandate and may face a bit of a backlash next year. Legacy wise, he's still a work in progress.
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I think the senate will change hands, but it's not going to be a filibuster proof majority.
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Kevin, I should have been more careful in my statement. I think the R's will have 56-57 seats in the Senate.
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I just read over at the Plumline that it's official, the Army has officially ended DADT. Maybe that will be his legacy, or one of them.
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McWing: Yes, you should have been more careful! Your rounded numbers caused me much consternation. 😉
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Rhetorical attacks on "tax cuts for the rich" as "class warfare" presuppose that a higher tax on the rich is required as a matter of justice in a fundamental sense, and indeed that the money belongs as a matter of justice to other people — "the poor" or "the middle class." It is propagandistic, it is fair to say. It is false equivalency.I am watching the ABC report on this right now, and the level of misinformation and distortion (and just plain BS) is astonishing. They took Obama's characterizations at face value and explained that the super-rich pay a lower percentage than the middle class because of "loopholes and special breaks." That's as specific as the got. Then they just moved on to say that Republicans oppose raising taxes on the rich to make the pay the same rates on their income, because it would hurt the economy.Can anyone explain why this isn't pure propaganda, since it completely fails to inform the public of the basic facts?
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qb, it's been a long time since I've seen a news organization get the basic facts right. Unless it's an in depth investigative report they essentially repeat headlines or talking points. It's why so many people are mis-informed about the issues.You won't like Obama in campaign mode any better than you've liked him in presidential mode, just the way it is. Those of us on the left though appreciate the fact that he at least appears willing to embrace the middle class. It's been a rough decade. The rhetoric around "class warfare" is always a touchy one.
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Well, it looks like the Internet is overloaded but good, possibly over Obama's speech, because i can't get in to Wikipedia for "The Do Nothing 80th Congress, can't get into US History.com for the same, can't get into WAPO at all, can't get into Msn.com.The model that Obama will use from now on is Truman and the 80th. Republicans refused to do anythinf about anything because they expected to win in '48 and begin rolling back the New deal. War production having shut down the economy was in recession, but returning G.I.s were marrying and looking for places to live, (That housing crisis was a nasty one), but didn't find lots of jobs waiting because all the stay homes and the women in the work force were also looking for work as Industry returned to peacetime production.The democrats didn't believe Truman could be reelected and toyed with trying to get Eisenhower to accept the nomination. And Truman went out and thumped Dewey, and got a twelve seat majority in the Senate and a 93 seat in the House. Obama has one asset Truman didn't have, the likelihood of a rabid teaser as his opponent. Truman faced Dewey/Warren, not exactly the kind of ticket that sends inspiration up republican Spines, but not given to making bizarre and outrageous mistakes. When Boehner and McConnell give Obama a true do nothing Congress when the country needs so many things done, and Obama, as good a stump man as Truman ever was, Visits 57 states and 60 State capitols, and hangs "Do Nothin 112th" on the Republicans, he gets back the House with lots of seats to spare and a filibuster proof Senate.
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Hi cef,I'm happy to see this Obama. I've been worried that he's lost too many on the left but I think if he displays the willingness to fight for the middle class and not give too much away, he'll win handily. I agree the House might be in play because I really believe the Tea Party has lost some support. I think the Senate might turn towards the Republicans, not 60, but a few more seats than they have now simply because the number of Dems running outweighs the Republicans. Suddenly Liz Warren for the Senate has become a national election IMO.
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