In 2008 I voted for Obama. In 2012 I am voting for Obama to vote against Romney and the Republicans:
- Romney is a shameless liar. On top of that he will not make more than two years of his tax returns public. If he wins it will set the bar for president to a new low. As president he would be dangerous: I would not even buy a used car from him – why on earth would I trust the whole country to him?
- Romney has no character:
- He puts his money in banks overseas to avoid paying taxes, making the rest of us pay his fair share.
- He lived in a mansion in France during the Vietnam War, letting others fight and die for his country.
- He will say anything to get elected, meaning he stands for nothing and thinks the ends justify the means.
- Republicans do not care about America: During the debt ceiling crisis the Republicans knowingly did harm to the country’s credit rating in order to make Obama a one-term president. People like that should not even be in Congress.
- Voter suppression – the war on democracy: Republicans are trying to stop people from voting – voter ID laws, limiting early voting, putting up frightening billboards, etc. They cannot be trusted to make our laws or appoint judges to the Supreme Court. People have fought too long and too hard for the right to vote.
I am not happy with Obama but Romney would be worse: In most of the ways that Obama is bad – drones, Guantanamo, doing little about the War on Drugs, the apparent crackdown on the Occupy movement, assassinating American citizens, support for Israel, etc – Romney would be the same or worse. Obama these past four years has been way more like Bush than I would have liked, but Romney, with all his former Bush advisers, would be worse.
- Even where I think I agree with Romney it is hard to tell: I am against Obama on things like abortion and same-sex marriage – but Romney’s back-and-forth positions on these things reads like an Onion article. Because deep down he stands for nothing but becoming president.
- I want to help Obama win the popular vote: I live in the blue north-east which Obama is expected to carry. But he could win the electoral college vote and lose the popular vote – something we would never hear the end of.
- Romney is only for rich white people. Certainly not for blacks and Latinos – or even most white people.
There are four choices:
- Vote for Obama,
- Vote for Romney,
- Vote third party or
- Not vote at all.
The voter suppression stuff makes it clear that voting matters, that not voting at all is in effect voting Republican.
Since my aim is to stop Romney and the Republicans, voting third party will not be as good as voting for Obama and other Democrats, the only ones who have a chance of stopping them.
See also:
- Romney 2012
- Barack Obama for president – what I said in 2008
- Obama is like a different person – what I said in 2011
I am voting for Obama, but voting against Romney is only a secondary or tertiary bonus. I want Obama to win, and I want his policies to succeed. This economic crisis is not my first rodeo (I was in Korea during the 1997-98 economic collapse) and Obama has handled it extremely well, while also finally doing something about healthcare.
Another secondary reason is that I do not want to reward the people who have engineered such a vile smear campaign against the president, simultaneously a reflection of their own racism and a sign of their ability to use racism as a blunt weapon against him.
Finally, the Christian in me wants to put an end to the unholy conservative-Christian alliance that runs counter to Christ’s values.
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I am voting for Obama the 2nd time around as well for all the reasons you listed and more. Plus, I am rabidly pro-choice. Women must have the right to their bodies no matter what and access to family planning services. Republicans are in complete opposition to that. I am also unhappy with Obama for the many of the reasons you cited. In fact, I have voted a straight Democratic ticket this time around. I hope that if Obama wins this second term that the Republican party will implode. They suck and they’re evil and insane.
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I already voted for Obama for a 2nd term. Yeah, Obama could have done better in his first term. I don’t know how much of his failed promises have to do with Congressional obstruction and the politics of Washington but Im willing to give him the doubt. All candidates exaggerate there promises to get elected. At least I know the policies the President does make good on will benefit me in the long run. I know for a FACT that Mitt Romney’s policies will be a net negative for the average American.
Also, Im not upset about Obama like a lot of people seem to be. I guess that’s because I was fortunate enough to find a job shortly after graduation. I was only technically unemployed for a month or so. Life and the economic has been easy on me, I guess…
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I’m voting for Obama as well. I did vote for him on last Friday. It was the last day for early voting. So to avoid the insanity tommorrow I voted early. The Rethuglicans are evil and insane.
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Interesting that Abagond opposes abortion and same-sex marriage.
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Voting for Obama again this time around! How soon we forget. All of the entanglements that blowed up during his 1st year; the economic crash, wall st, auto industry, hurricanes, Bp oil spill. He could not just start working on his ‘change’ for all these things getting in the way. He finally of all presidents did something about healthcare; thinking of the little man (main street) instead of wall st. Killed Osama Bin Laden and other terriosts heads. Yes drones are a smart way to counter the enemy instead of putting our troops in harm’s way. He did not bend over to kiss the Republican’s A$$, and because he didn’t they stone walled him and attempted to bully him and make him a 1 term president. As far as abortion goes, he never said he was in favor of abortion or in favor of same sex marriage, but he supports the fact that gov. cannot tell a woman what to do with her body; and he is a president of all the people, even gays and he supports their right to marry who they choose. That is one thing I don’t agree with him on, but NOBODY agrees 100% with anything. Abortion goes back to the sixties in Roe v wade? If you listen to the Republican lies you would think Obama authored a Bill or something for abortion. Laying that at his feet also. But he is a man of integrity, a class act, a true family man, and he WILL be honest with you, as far as he can unless it involves national security or the like.
Romney, what can I say other than he and his partner Lying Ryan would do anything, say anything, to get in office.
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Point #1 about Romney refusing to share his tax returns is not a strong argument because it allows people like Donald Trump on the other side to demand that Obama reveal is college transcripts and birth certificates. This type of back-and-forth strategy could spiral out of control real fast.
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I just hope there is no questions regarding the winner. If it is Obama let it be a clear cut obvious win and not by the skin of his teeth type of win. I’m not watching anything until it’s over on Nov 7 th. No repeats of Gore vs. Bush, where the news commentators were back and forth about the winner.
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I’m voting for Romney
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@ Kushibo, are you white? Because wow, that’s big of you, fighting racism. I think that it’s a leap. @ Abagond, why are you against abortion? I can not see your reasoning? I agree with all your other post (I am a mixed race black woman) but this seems a bit off the mark, because, women do get raped, abused etc as you know due to your post that cover aforementioned issues. Also, marriage helps economically. If two people are gay and marriage helps them in turn helping society, why not?
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Kfennec wrote:
I’m not sure what you’re getting at. WHAT is big of me? What difference would what I said make whether I’m White or not?
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im new but um i voted for obama and i don’t think abortion is right however as president you need to have boundaries when it comes to religion and government. in the bible when ppl asked jesus if they should pay taxes he said give to ceasar what is his and give to the lord what is his.with romney i think he will run the country based on his religious beliefs. its weird to me that abortion is so easy access whereas a hysterectomy isn’t. if u go to the clinic to get an abortion no questions asked but if u want a hysterectomy they tell you they won;t do it until u have kids and its like well i don’t want any kids that;s why i want one so i won;t have to choose to end its life or not.
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Excellent Mr. Abagond
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[…] In 2008 I voted for Obama. In 2012 I am voting for Obama to vote against Romney and the Republicans: – MORE – […]
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[…] See on abagond.wordpress.com […]
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I can understand voting for the lesser of the two evils, but some guy in the comments actually said that Obama handled the economic crisis “extremely well.” How did he do that? By hiring the people who caused it in the first place to fix it?
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I am also voting for Obama.
And while I do have some of the same reservations about him as Abagond does, I also believe he’s not nearly as bad as Abagond makes him out to be, and is a far, far better choice than the alternative.
For one thing, the person elected president in 2012 will very likely seat one or two Supreme Court Justices over the next four years. The impact the Justices have is far more reaching than the limited powers of the President, who has to work in tandem with the House and Senate in order to affect legislation. The Court? Not so much. Additionally, they serve for life. While the policies supported by a President can be overturned and vetoed, the Court’s decisions last for generations. Do we really need another court filled with the likes of Thomas, Roberts, Alito, and Scalia?
Obama repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and supports marriage equality. I’m not gay, but I do believe in the promise of America, and of its possibilities. As such, I don’t think we need to be in the business of regulating consensual adult relationships. Finding love is hard enough, and if people are lucky enough to find someone who loves them, who supports them, and wants to help them fulfill their potential, why should that be a concern of anyone outside the consenting parties? Why should they be denied rights and privileges based on who they’re coupled with? This is about human rights, clear and simple. A president willing to enforce rights for some, will likely protect rights for all. The converse is also true. Those who would suppress rights for some, would probably do it to everyone.
Next, the Obamas are one of the best representations of Black family life I’ve ever seen. Barack is a devoted husband and father, and Michelle is a no-nonsense, ride or die wife and mother, and probably the most kick-ass First Lady (outside of Hillary, and maybe Eleanor Roosevelt) there ever was. Malia and Sasha seem like well-adjusted, bright, happy children, and Mrs. Robinson is the granny-glue holding it all together. Underneath it all, I get the sense that Barack and Michelle are just regular folks. They’re the very embodiment of the Horatio Alger myth that has long captivated Americans — particularly those in the right wing who love to rhapsodize about boot straps and hard work and rising from humble origins to lives of upper-class respectability. For that alone, you’d think conservatives would honor them more, if only because the Obamas are proof of their oft-repeated mantra. In a time of Basketball Wives, World Star Hip Hop, and Tyler Perry minstrel shows, the Obamas are the land of normal in a sea of crazy.
I am a woman. In 2012, I cannot fathom any woman supporting a party with such warped, outmoded attitudes regarding rape, abortion, family planning, women’s health, women’s pay and other issues as spouted by this breed of Republicans.
I am Black. How could any self-respecting person of color support a party that wants to ban ethnic studies, encourage racial profiling, label people “illegal,” eliminate Affirmative Action, suppress votes, and keep the White House “white,” while praise worshiping States Rights and Confederate flags, and yodeling about how Blacks were better-off during slavery, and thus should be grateful for their American experience?
I am the 47%. I work two jobs, and have a small business on the side. I am a contributing member of society. I pay income taxes, payroll taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, and a host of fees that support my being in America. I am the product of a long line of public servants, including teachers, nurses, librarians, police and fire officials, construction workers, postal workers, and military personnel who have worked thoughtfully and tirelessly to maintain a “civil” society for us all.
I am a capitalist. When Barack Obama assumed the presidency in January 2009, the stock market was as follows:
DJIA (Dow Jones) January 20, 2009, closed at 7949.09
NASDAQ January 20, 2009, closed at 1440.86
S&P (Standard and Poor’s) January 20, 2009, closed at 805.22
DJIA November 5, 2012, closed at 13112.44
NASDAQ November 5, 2012, closed at 2999.66
S&P November 5, 2012, closed at 1417.26
The Dow and S&P have nearly doubled in value, and NASDAQ has done even better. This essentially means a lot of people have gotten rich during the Obama presidency. While I’m not one of the rich, clearly something Obama is doing has a positive impact on the money markets.
As for the rest, well, I’ll just quote someone wise and far more succinct than me:
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Rereading my post it does seem overly down on Obama.
He has done plenty of good, like avoid a depression, which is huge, kill Osama bin Laden and get the first sort of universal healthcare ever passed in America. The healthcare thing is not great (no public option), but tons better than what went before. Hopefully it can be made better over time as the Republicans ride off into demographic extinction.
Also, Obama has been a much better president these past four years than Romney would have been – who was opposed to the auto bailout, wanted to gut FEMA, would have kept us in Iraq and would have done nothing about healthcare or the banks.
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@ Legion
In the past I have voted for Ralph Nader (Green) and, in New York races, for the Socialist Workers Party. I would never in a thousand years vote Libertarian. I was going to do a post on Jill Stein (Green), but Sandy screwed that up. Stein is someone I might have voted for if I was not voting for Obama.
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@ lifelearner
Me too. If Ohio is close enough it could get super ugly and drawn out.
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Excellent list. It applies equally to Obama. Yes, he is for rich white people. Who do you think funds his campaigns?
Obama is for black people? How? By any indicator imaginable, black people, and indeed all people, are worse off than we were four years ago.
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@ Kfennec
I do not want this post to get derailed, but suffice it to say that as a Catholic I believe it is morally wrong.
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@ silverfiddle
That needs a post of its own, which I hope to write sometime this week. But for now:
Blacks are worse off, but most of it was Bush’s doing by letting the banks run wild and what came out of that (blacks losing half their wealth in the subprime crisis).
Obama has proved he is not just a Republican in Democratic clothing, that he is not just for rich white people, by getting his healthcare passed. Not in the form he would have liked, due to the Republicans, but something that is way better than anything any president has done in the past 40 years.
In terms of red meat for his base, Obama seems to have paid more attention to gays, women and Latinos than to blacks. Red meat for blacks would be jumped on as not only racist but as historical revenge against whites. The right would go utterly nuts and nothing else would get done. It would be “Obama hates white people”, game over. The paradox of being a black president. Arguably, Hillary Clinton could have done more for blacks.
As to Romney, there is no way he is going to be better for blacks than Obama. Romney does not care about black people, to coin a phrase. Also, a Romney victory would strengthen the Tea Party.
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Abagond, I also voted for Obama to vote against Romney. I couldn’t think of one valid reason to vote for Romney(I can’t even say he’s against abortion.) and the race is so tight that not voting would help him get elected.
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This post really needs more objectivity and informed opinion…so here is some…
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/max-keiser-barack-obama-is-clueless-mitt-romney-will-bankrupt-the-country-8269633.html
It could also do with a lot less self delusional, Black apologetic reasoning!
if you look around there are people who will publicly tell you how endemically corrupt the financial industry (Wall Street) is with its ties to Congress and the White House.
Obama either knows this or is a naive fool. Regardless of which it is he unfortunately is neither a man of courage or nor principle. Which is why you would be hard pressed to name one thing he has changed over the last 4 years in power which African-Americans could be proud of to support him?
This is why I can compare this Presidency to a chess game. Obama may be King (President) but are the rest of the pieces serving him or their own interests? And given the majority of pieces on the board are pawns (the rest of us) do we really have that much power (say) in this game?
Remember the campaign phrase this time 4 years ago?
“Change we can believe in ?”
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Couldn’t have said it better.
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Why is it whenever a black accomplishes somthign is always a but in it. President Obama did this But it wasn’t that great. But if the things the President Obama did was done by a white person it would be different. All of his accomplishments has to have a disclaimer in it, no wonder the election is so close. With Supporters like these who need enemies.
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“I am not happy with Obama but Romney would be worse: In most of the ways that Obama is bad – drones, Guantanamo, doing little about the War on Drugs, the apparent crackdown on the Occupy movement, assassinating American citizens, support for Israel, etc – Romney would be the same or worse. Obama these past four years has been way more like Bush than I would have liked, but Romney, with all his former Bush advisers, would be worse.”
*********
Once upon a time, I would have not counted you as among those who buy that same uncanny bridge in Brooklyn – the one that’s sold every four years during the month of November in the U.S.
IMO, your reasoning does not justify voting for the other side of the SAME coin. If the coin is rotten, corrosive and corrupt, turning it heads up and tails down does not add an iota of value or merit to an otherwise dead, decomposing, worthless currency.
I wonder though, if you would offer this same reasoning/rationale/logic, as stated above, eye to eye to your Creator?
Just saying … : /
.
.
(If voting – in the USA – could really CHANGE things, it would be rendered illegal.)
Kwamla is right on all counts!
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I voted for Obama three hours ago *smile* because of his stance on education. He didn’t replace NCLB like many lazy educators/administrators wanted him to; instead he revised it and those changes still hold people accountable but gives them the supports they need to be effective…
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its nice to see people giving Obama credit – because of him 50 million people are able to receive health insurance that were not before. This comes into place 2014. Wait for it people. The economy will boom and the government will be able to pay off the debt more effectively. When people are given the chance to succeed, they do. Instead of creating a permanent underclass, lets look out for our people because they deserve it, poor or mentally ill. Say “no” to permanent corporate rule.
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@ Matari
Thank you for your more aware comments in this sea of apparent comatose sleeping and self-delusion ..
“…IMO, your reasoning does not justify voting for the other side of the SAME coin. If the coin is rotten, corrosive and corrupt, turning it heads up and tails down does not add an iota of value or merit to an otherwise dead, decomposing, worthless currency.
Surely Abagond and other happy to vote for Obama commentators cannot be that objectively blind to not see this? This is what makes the figure of a Black US president so powerful in the eyes of an eager to believe hypnotised captive African-American audience. They just can’t see the strings behind the puppet (Obama) ?
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Abagond writes:
“Red meat for blacks would be jumped on as not only racist but as historical revenge against whites. […] It would be “Obama hates white people”, game over. The paradox of being a black president.”
– – –
My thoughts exactly.
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I already voted for Obama!! now just waiting for the news that he WON! a 2time. Love Michelle Obama!!! yeah.
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@ Kwamla,
They just can’t see the strings behind the puppet (Obama) ?
:
:
:
Do you not think that is a little patronizing?
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Welcome to my world! Ok, ok, I know, I know. Not from the US so I should STFU. But this it the only voting strategy I know of: not vote for someone, but AGAINST someone else. This is simply the way things go, I suppose.
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Oh, and another thing: good or bad, Obama couldn’t do much in 4 years after the mess Bush left behind. You simply can’t make much changes in 4 years. Bush was “after me, the flood”.
Ok, ok… STFU-ing now.
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Republicans up to their usual tricks:
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Call me crazy, but nowadays, it won’t really matter who wins. Both candidates favor the hyper-avarice rich and powerful who pimp the government as their personal whores.
At thins point I wouldn’t blame anyone for NOT voting. I really don’t. It’s no longer about the general society, the poorer population. It’s about money, power and those who want more of it even if they sacrifice this nation.
It’s funny because most of the time the ones who love to question your love for America are republicans. Yet, they have shown that they don’t care about America. Democrats are not known for being openly confrontational about one’s hollow patriotism, but they are known for paying lip service while bending over backwards for, yet again, the powerful and overprivileged.
So, the question I ask myself is this, why should anyone support either parties if they’ve proven they don’t care about you unless you have at least a seven-figure income?
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I will say this, one of things I find that’s ‘good’ about Obama’s term is that White America’s true colors have shown themselves. The racism that they deny having for so long has emerged. It’s still isn’t as bad as it was during the Civil Rights Era. But we now see a better image of their internal disdain and fear of people of color.
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Winner winner, chicken dinner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go sob into your pointy white hood, Mittens!
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YES!!!
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OBAMA WINS!!!!!!!!
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Now the real work begins.
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OBAMA WINS!!!!!!!!!!!
*High fives Abagond* =D The American people did it. Popular vote and electoral vote. Obama won!
Woooooooo!
Huggggee.
On other amazing note: Marijuana legalized in Colorado, Washington
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/07/potheads-rejoice-marijuana-initiatives-pass-in-two-states.html
*blazes in support*
XD
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Honestly my reasons for voting Obama were similiar to Abagond’s; more of a voting against the republican party than a vote for Obama.
That being said, its still pretty awesome he won.
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President Obama’s victory speech any second now.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/cvplive/cvpstream2
Tonight is goood man. Yes Obama you did it again!!! You are the leader of this world. For better of worse, people are looking up to you. People are beyond proud of you.
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@ JT
Hey…lemme hit that. 🙂 Out here in California, we have shops everywhere. Big ups to Colorado. The people have spoken!
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*passes a nice fatty to darqbeauty*
Tap that sh#t! Obama’s done it again for peets sake!!! woooo. XDXDXD
BTW anyone else see how boring Romney’s party looked and how fun Obama’s looks? I would so rather be at Obama’s party any day of the week.
Oh i think Obama’s coming out soon. Have to trip out on the awesomeness of this night. lol.
*inhales*
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Obama’s victory cover of the Washington Post for tomorrow:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/?Post+generic=%3Ftid%3Dsm_twitter_washingtonpost
Love the tear photo. Abagond it would be interesting to hear your opinion of that photo after the election madness. I think it could be viewed in two entirely different ways. Positive and negative.
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I think Obamas victory was important for one reason alone: it is possible to break down walls. Black man in the White House? Who would have known that ten years ago? Nobody. Healthcare? Not what it could have been, but since Nixons (republican) regime decided to privatise what used to be among the best healthcare systems in the world, it is better than nothing.
Small steps, yes. but also huge. If he had the backing of congress and senate you would see some real advacement.
The biggest problem are the old Wall street bankers inside the government. As long as those guys are behind the scenes, things do not get overhauled. Lets wait and see.
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2008 – New Nigga, Same Shit.
2012 – Same Nigga, Same Shit.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_sm_election_20121105/
http://www.truthdig.com/podcast/item/20090820_chris_hedges_on_the_illusion_of_health_care_reform_the_war_in_afgh/
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@ JT
Kwamla
They just can’t see the strings behind the puppet (Obama) ?
JT:
Do you not think that is a little patronizing?
What I think is patronising is the way the vast majority of the American people are treated: Forcefully indoctrinated to believe their participation in a rigged election game makes a difference…
In fact its beyond patronizing…Its total callous indifference and is analogous to the countries former historical relationship between a plantation slave and his/her master. When the master allowed the slaves Sunday off work so they could attend church to worship another aspect of the same master (Jesus)
Of course this time this master looks just like them!!!
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@ Legion
“…Surely Abagond and other happy to vote for Obama commentators cannot be that objectively blind to not see this? [this=Matari’s point about a pointlessness of voting for The Democrats who are just another camp in the same business party as The Republicans…”
On the contrary Legion I was in a clear thinking state of mind when I wrote this. Perhaps slightly in a more helpfully informative one in order to offer comment.
Incidentally I’d leave Abagond to articulate or to comment on his own views. Which he is more than capable of doing when he so chooses (even if its not that often). Speculation about this tends to lead to unnecessary debates and confusions.
Whereas your own views about voting for any candidate in these types of elections are, perhaps, far more transparent than you’d like to admit:
“…A person who is voting this way needs to realize something though: voting lesser evil every four years is not a long term solution to the wants and needs of the American electorate:..”
Was there really ever any doubt about who would win?
And what exactly has been achieved by preventing the other guy from gaining entry into the White house?
Is it one less fear or worry about who is doing the shafting (manipulation and control) of the American people?
But of course lets wait another 4 years and see what sweeping changes Obama has up his sleeve!!!
In the meantime….lets all go pat ourselves on the back and celebrate Obama’s victory!!! (Only those who took part in the voting process of course….!!!)
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Big Up to the Americans who spoke loud and clear to the Republicans!
They haven’t been listening in the last 8 years, so hopefully now they will clean out their ears and start making some needed changes in their party.
and stop being selfish and holding up progress in the Congress
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OBAMA in the HOUSE for another 4 years!!! Hopefully, there can truly be bipartisanship this go around and not the nonsense that was his first term working with the house and senate. Only time will tell. On CLOUD NINE, right about now! 😀
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Kwamla:
“Of course this time this master looks just like them!!!”
@ Kwamla,
Call me a naive college boy like some have but i think that 93% of the Black voting population are smarter than to buy that. If Obama did not have policies that were at least semi-appealing – and more than that – that were more appealing to the Black population than Romney or Mccain than they would not come out in en masse in support of Obama in both elections (93% pro-Obama – 7% con-Obama). If Obama was truly apathetically or acting contrary to Black interests, do you really think the Black population would actually rally around him like they would? I don’t. I think I can give them a bit of credit. They would sit on their hands and do nothing for this election or vote Romney. But clearly that hasn’t happened with record Black turnout:
“African Americans made up a record 13%; more than nine of 10 backed Obama… ”
http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20121107/NEWS01/121107003/USA-TODAY-ANALYSIS-Analysis-nation-moving-further-apart-?nclick_check=1
Blacks support Black leaders that support them. Therefore, they support Obama. If you do not share this opinion you are a (statistically) an outlier amongst the Black American electorate.
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Abagond:
Black people who voted for Obama need to chill with the celebration ish. Ya’ll didn’t do jack, Obama got a second bite of the apple because of spanish folk and whitewomen. He will spend the next 4 years kissing their ass, not those of black people. The black vote in the democrat party means nothing, ya’ll voting for spanish folk who are just as racist as the white-americans you bitch about…Ditto! Yeah, ya boy won fair and square, but this country and black folk especially are gonna suffer the next 4 years…Laugh Now Cry Later!!!
Tyrone
Obama Hater
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Abagond:
Black people are voting for other folk, when will we understand this as a people? Our vote has been neutralized by spanish folk. Voting for dems is voting for Espana…Reality Check! 50 million so-called hispanics and counting. Democrats don’t need the black vote anymore, thus, have no incentive to represent the interests of blacks in the US anyway. Abagond, your vote for Obama was pointless. Come on blackman, think about what you’re saying Abagond? 4 more years of misery for this country, just to spite white folks. Is it really worth it? What benefit do we get out of it? Obama didn’t win re-election because of us, he won because of others. Their behinds he will kiss, not ours…Peep Game!
Tyrone
Aquarius Vision
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Reblogged this on The Corn Dealer's House and commented:
Great, MR. President. I hope you continue to be a beacon of hope and admiration. Now, do your job getting ppl back to work.
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@Tyrone did you not notice the narrow margins in a lot of these states. Obama needed every single vote to win this election.
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I am so glad President Obama won!
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@ Peanut, yea, my parents country (south america) is very ethnically diverse.
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@Peanut
It happened here while I’m here visiting family in the UK (well, there were quite a few indifferent people, but more people were happy or unhappy than I assumed there would be). More displeased reactions than pleased ones it would seem, though that might just be in this particular area.
As for my own opinions on the election… well, I’d voted early for Obama, but frankly I cannot for the life of me decide whether I’m truly content with him or not. I simply feel like Romney would have dragged this country into the abyss and felt like anything was better than that.
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@Abagond
Please consider doing this anyway, or at least about the Green party. It is not easy to find a lot of information about it, and it would be nice to see your take about the Candidate, the party, and the problem with getting 3rd party candidates on the ballot.
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One thing that surprised me about this election was you don’t really know who would vote for someone.
Guy I work with was basically one of those hardcore anti-obama types, same things along the lines that he’s a kenyan muslim communist etc….and yet end of the day he voted for Obama.
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^ Because Romney is friggin scary! LOL
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@ satanforce
You probably won’t often find me saying this but those were excellent links you provided in understanding what Obama is really about. Particularly the 2nd audio…
@JT
You would do well to look at those links…At the very least they may provide you with alternative perspective not so very easy to come by concerning the nature of power in society and Obama’s role in this.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of Americans are like deluded sheep. But to be fair so too are much of the Western worlds…But this will change….
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@Kwamla.
I still think you’re crazy. Just Crazy Awesome – but still crazy.
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@ satanforce
I take that as devilishly fiendish and outrageous compliment then!
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@ Kwamla
Where in the world did I say I was happy to vote for Obama? Right in the post I said, “I am not happy with Obama”. If you compare this post with the one I wrote in 2008 you will see a completely different tone, as has been pointed out. THEN I was happy to vote for him. THEN maybe I was hypnotized. But not now. Further, I doubt that few blacks in America in 2012 still are, if they ever were.
Chris Hedges and David Swanson, who featured in the videos and audios linked to above, are white. I agree with much of what they say, they even repeat some of my points, but they see Obama strictly in policy terms – how much he has helped or hurt their agendas. That is a privilege they have as white men. So when Obama, for example, has his Americanness questioned, it does not hit home with them. It is just an odd piece of news. They do not live in a society where they are doubted at so many levels because their race. They do not experience racial shame or pride when a white president, much less Obama, does well or badly. That whole level of the Obama presidency flies right past them.
That said, I do agree with Swanson and Hedges that change has to be based on movements, like the civil rights movement, that no president is going to magically do what you want.
Even so, some presidents are much worse than others. Gore, for example, probably would not have taken us into Iraq and would have done something about global warming. Reagan was far worse for blacks than Carter. Etc.
So while voting is not some kind of wonder cure, it does matter and it does make a difference.
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@ Mira
By all means say whatever you want. It certainly has not stopped Kwamla.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/republican-reckoning-defeat_n_2090510.html?ir=Canada&utm_hp_ref=canada
Nothing like a circular republican firing squad to make me gleeful. Hahaha.
Have to enjoy it now because before we know it a new and improved republican v. 3.0 that they run in 2016 will be before us. If i had to make a wager id say it will still be missing an integrity chip…
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@ JT
Please post a new link to the picture you mean. Not sure what you mean by looking at that link.
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@ Jefe
I will post on Jill Stein.
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@ Abagond,
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/article/233630/70/Pres-Obama-sheds-rare-tear-before-Election-Day
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82 GREAT THINGS BY DEMOCRATS
Can anyone name ten for Republicans?
Credit for most of this information goes my friend, a great mind, and his terrific site
(Ray Dubuque— http://www.liberalslikeChrist.org )
1. social security act
2. GI bill of rights
3.unemployment relief act
4.national industrial recovery act
5.national housing act
6.federal communications act
7.national labor relations act-wagner act of 1935
8.fair labor standards act (min wage & max hours laws)
9.public works adm-works progress adm
10.civilian conservation act
11.Tennessee valley (power) authority
12.rural electrification act
13.full employment act
14.permanent school lunch program
15. Truman ended segregation in armed forces
16.veterans emergency housing act
17.public health service act
18.marshall plan
19.peace corps
20.aid to dependent children program
21.small business investment act
22.establishment of arms control and disarmament agency
23.consumer drug protection laws
24.equal pay act
25.manpower development and retraining act
26.clean air act
27.mental health and mental retardation act
28.college and vocational education act
29.civil rights act
30.voting rights act
31.mass transportation act
32.omnibus poverty act (office of economic opportunity, vista, job corps and public assistance programs)
33.war on poverty
34.head start (for pre-school children)
35.land conservation fund
36.permanent food stamp program
37.appalachia regional development act
38.elementary and secondary education act
39.higher education act
40.older Americans act (Medicare and Medicaid)
41.law enforcement assistance act
42.immigration reform act
43.freedom of information act
44.clean water restoration act
45.coal mine health and safety act
46.child protection
47.federal ethics code
48.civil service reform
49.creation of superfund (cleanup of toxic waste)
50.secretary of health joseph califano(fight tobacco health threat)
51.votings rights act extension
52.highway and mass transit funding bill
53.civil rights restoration act
54.head start expansion
55.Americans with disabilities act
56.major tax increase on the wealthy to fight deficits created by Reagan and Bush
57.family medical leave act
58.attempted to extend/or improve health insurance coverage for millions of Americans
59.restoration of democracy to haiti
60.restoration of peace to bosnia
61.promotion of peace in south Africa
62.promotion of peace in northern Ireland
63.promotion of peace in Israel and Palestine
64.increases in minimum wage
65.promotion of spending on inner-city schools
66.opposition to abolition of safety net for the poor
67.protection of social security and medicare
68.promotion of justice for victims of racism
69.protection of children from cancer inducing tobacco industry
70.constantly frustrated efforts to enact thorough campaign finance
71.appointment of many minorities and women to cabinet positions
72.resolution of long-standing black farmers discrimination issues
73.leadership role in nato’s campaign to stop ethnic cleansing in kosovo.
74.major efforts to challenge the dangerous proliferation of guns in America
75.ameri-corps
76. pay their way party—
1960 to 1980—National Income grew 418%–Debt grew 210%
1980 to 1992—National Income grew 102%–Debt grew 300%.
Democrats pay their way-Republicans party of spend and borrow-our kids pay Tomorrow
77. party for strong defense—carter increased defense spending by 50%–
Nixon-Ford cut Army troops by 41% and Reagan-Bush cut by 11%
Republicans fought WWII Draft. Heil!
78. Party of Integrity—Reagan had more(137) charged with crimes than cumulative total for all presidents of 20th century.
79. vacation with pay
80.trade union schools—forerunner to community colleges
81.worker retirement pensions
82.veterans administration
I retrieved this from http://www.smirkingchimp.com/user/1089/xtrack
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@ Kwamla,
I read the Chris Hedges article. I did not listen to the interview. Personally, and not imposing my view on anyone else (not that I could if i wanted to but i digress …) but I don’t see the person he is describing as president Obama. I see him describing someone else. Someone callous, calculating, murderous, etc.
That is not who i see when i see president Obama. I think president Obama has a huge ego but that does not make him a sociopath. One can be narcisstic without being destructive. And if we are going to turn towards his domestic/foreign policy to call him destructive … maybe. But i think Abagond already addressed this. You have to judge not just based on his absolute progressive-ness – but judge him based on his marginal progressive-ness (relative to his predecessors). At the very beginning of his term what did he do? Signed a nuclear de-activation policy that cut down the number of nuclear weapons substantially from both the US and Russia. The hugest threat to the world, and something that a Republican would not even consider. What did he do after that? Court the Muslim world through a compelling appeal for liberalism. What happened then? Arab Spring. Improvements in democratic governance in Egypt, Libya, and who knows where else looking forward.
Obama has contributed much more than these two policies but if we just looked at his willingness to approach and engage non-traditional groups like the Russians and the Muslim communities of the world, then we have someone who is leagues ahead of the rest who would never even concieve of either.
Moreover, this world is run by ruthless realpolitikers … if Obama tries to be anyone’s byotch by playing by values/ethics/abstract ideals that noone else cherishes, all he does is diminish the tools available to him to enforce security measures on otherwise chaotic countries.
That is not going to work (based on previous governance attempts e.g. Woodrow Wilson). If you want to rescind the national interests approach of governance fine…but don’t expect the world to follow along behind you when they have everything to gain and you have everything to lose. To expect that would just be foolishness.
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@ Kwamla,
Did you know that people with HIV were not even allowed to travel into the US before President Obama? They had to have extenuating circumstances to do so. People that Chris Hedges described give no consideration to people who are suffering or in lower castes. President Obama has repeatedly demonstrated that he cares.
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What i don’t understand is the anti Obama rhetoric coming from black guys???
Lots of threads i have been to, including facebook had lots of black men in resistance to Obama….
I can certainly understand being critical of Obama–as you would with any other leader–even when you are a die hard supporter, but no one seems to be getting down to the real reason of having only harsh words for Obama..
You could vote for a black man who is by no means perfect, who is dedicated to raising a healthy black family and who seems to genuinely support basic human rights (even if he can or can’t deliver on this) or you can vote for a white man who gives about two shits about the plight of the black family or anyone else’s family other than his own…
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@ Abagond, JT and phoebeprunelle and anyone else passionately enthralled by Obama’s hypnotic glow. Not that I could convince you this is not the case otherwise.
This is about politics and with that comes manipulation and control. This is all this game is about. Anyone involved in a position of power at this stage either knows this is politically naive.
I have nothing against Obama as a person. As a family man with a beautiful, intelligent Black wife and children. He is in fact a great orator and certainly knows how to give moving speeches which speak inclusively to ALL of Americans (not just white) , as he did in his recent acceptance victory speech. This is a testament to his own personal power. Something no other US President before him has ever managed to convincingly achieve. He is skilled, he is clever and he shows he knows exactly what he is doing. So why after 4 years of promising “Change you can believe in” is it still only really a matter of hope and expectation that he will eventually deliver this?. While in the meantime embarrassingly convenient to turn a blind eye to what he actually is doing and has already achieved during this time?
This is beyond Obama becoming the first officially elected Black president to serve two terms. Its beyond having a Black president in the White House. Its about the policies, the programs for REAL change and actions which speak towards challenging the real inequalities and injustices we all know millions of Americans face regularly on a daily basis. This is what people like Malcom X and MLK were eventually killed for!!!
Not because they were Black. But because they were Black AND for what they stood for. Uncompromising Justice and Equality for ALL.There is a big difference there..!…And it doesn’t matter where you are within or outside the system you can still make a difference (and be seen making a difference) in any power structure.
If Obama stood for anything positive about changing the present unequal and unjust systems in American society would he really have the top businesses of Wall Street backing him? Would they even be working to have him financially re-elected again?
@Abagond
Which is more important to you: ?
The unquestionable worth of Obama as a true American President? As a faithful and true African-American elected President?
OR
The polices he sets out and endorses on behalf of his Democratic party?
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until obama addresses the war on drugs and a just us system that warehouses black men in prison for profit he is just another democrat who at least pretends not to be my enemy still if one has to choose its better to get shot in the leg than the head
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I do think people here understand the “nature” of American politics.
And anyone who believes Obama isn’t under the watchful eye of big brother like MLK and Malcolm is sadly mistaken….
Cheney himself alluded to this fact (perhaps by mistake) during an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. I mean after all, he is still a black guy.
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Or vote for a third party candidate, along with 6 million others, so that the winning establishment party has to listen to your demands.
Do you like that TV show “Boss” on STARZ! It’s about a callous, calculating , murderous Chicago politician who, oh never mind. The Hedge’sinterview is very good, I advise that you listen to it.
Correlation does not mean causation. I would think that rising food prices (example, half of all Egyptians rely on free bread in the morning), increased government corruption and military oppression. I think that Mohamed Bouazizi’s humiliation and subsequent self-immolation was a greatercause of the Arab Spring than an ObamaTalk.
Of course. Because a nuclear exchange between the US and Russia can occur ANYTIME NOW!!!! Maybe next, Obama can reinstute G.I. JOE. Because knowing is half the battle.
LOLWUT!!???
OK. This how I see it. Obama cannot be blamed for being a stunning mediocrity. The modern Anglo-American education system creates system managers- people who can only maintain the current system, not system architects who can envision new economic and social systems, and put them in place. As such, the American head of state, like the Jamaican one, is merely a figurehead and a party mascot. He keeps the wheels greased, and he gets the campaign contributions.
Focusing attention on the actions of the American president is a waste of time. He makes no decisions, all his bills are written by his corporate sponsors (any bankers arrested yet?) and his actions predetermined by his viziers (SecDef, SecTres, FedReserve). In act, I don’t believe there is such a person as Barack Obama. He seems more like a carefully constructed bundle of archetypes dreamed up by some ad agency or political operation. This does not mean that he is all fake of course, just that, like Ronald Reagan, he usually is a an artificial personality for public purposes. In otherwords, as far as policy goes, he is mostly irrelevant.
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Yeah that’s an option as well.
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YEESSSS!!!!! How completely you have embraced the Satanforce!! Today, Abagond’s blog. Tomorrow………?
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Well I can see both abagond’s point of view and that of people like Kwamla and Legion.
Obama by being up there will inspire some blacks to look beyond their everyday limitations. However, beyond that point of inspiration, I think Romney and Obama are the same. They just appear different. On the big issues, issues of foreign policy, taxation, economic reform etc, they are the same. Obama carried on what Bush did, he never really changed anything. The Economy hasn’t collapsed not because they fixed it but because they kicked the can down the road.
The Democrats and Republicans are essentially one party masquerading as 2. They play the public, they get you to believe whatever illusions they weave.
If you look at facts, I doubt Black people are better off under Obama than they were under Bush. Maybe they might feel better but in terms of actual employment, education, incarceration etc the figures are still as bad and maybe even worse.
So in one way Abagond is right, Obama inspires but in another, kwamla is right, in terms of actual results, tangible real world results, he is a liar. Says one thing and does another. Furthermore, he is a liar with charm which makes him close to a sociopath or maybe even a psychopath.
But don’t get me wrong, the problem ain’t Obama, it doesn’t matter who is President. That position is a lie for the public.
http://antiwar.com/blog/2012/11/07/obama-bombs-yemen-hours-after-winning-reelection/
I don’t know about you, but to me, someone who orders drones to fly into countries and blow up people because they are suspected of being whatever with no regard to any kind of due process of law is a scary person. Not to mention all the other stuff chris hedges mentioned. And amongst all that he still has time to smile and laugh like he is having the time of his life? That is the definition of an out and out psycho. But hey, at least he is our black psycho.
Better to have a black one up there than a white one.. Wait, does that make any sense??
On issues of foreign policy, riddle me this, how much does the government spend or how many laws are passed to supposedly stop those maniacs who hate us all, compared to how much they spend to eradicate poverty, heart disease, cancer etc which kill waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more people per year than terrorism. War is money and it’s the only game in town nowadays and Obama is playing it to the max – turned america into a lean mean killing machine.
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^But are not most of the world leaders who go down in history books (using that term lightly) exhibit classic signs of narcissism…and other various personality disorders…
I still don’t get the harsh rhetoric against Obama when other leaders have not always done what was right and human beings as a whole don’t “always” do anything.
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And talking about Libya, they lied to you. He lied to you. Obama is on a warpath with Africa. The motherland. Has anyone here heard of Africom?
http://www.globalresearch.ca/u-s-escalates-military-penetration-of-africa/31416
“The First Black U.S. President, who in 2009 lectured Africans [8] that “corruption” and “poor governance,” rather than neocolonialism, were the continent’s biggest problems, has made the U.S. military the primarily interlocutor with African states. Functions that were once the purview of the U.S. State Department, such as distribution of economic aid and medical assistance, are now part of AFRICOM’s vast portfolio. In Africa, more than anyplace in the world, U.S. foreign policy wears a uniform – which should leave little doubt as to Washington’s objectives in the region: Africa is to be dominated by military means. Obama’s “good governance” smokescreen for U.S. neocolonialism is embedded in AFRICOM’s stated mission [9]: “to deter and defeat transnational threats and to provide a security environment conducive to good governance and development.” Translation: to bring the so-called war on terror to every corner of the continent and ensure that U.S. corporate interests get favorable treatment from African governments.”
Also anyone ever see this video on youtube?
What a tyrant. How many tyrants you know who ride around the streets with their heads popping out their car?
In short Barack is serving the elite. When they say “american” interests, it doesn’t mean you, the average joe on the street, he is signing laws that are stripping you of every single right you had, instead they mean the elite. Banksters and corporate bigwigs.
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By all means say whatever you want. It certainly has not stopped Kwamla.
You see, I’m torn here. On one hand, USA has such a power all over the world that presidential elections can potentially affect everyone, not just USians. Also, US problems and issues are often presented as global issues we all should care about. So yes, I am somewhat familiar with these elections.
On the other hand, I really hate when outsiders try to teach you about your politics or when they offer their opinion on your culture. People do that all the time about my culture and my part of the world so I know how annoying it is. I don’t want to do that to others.
That being said, Romney embodies so many traits I dislike (to put it mildly), so I must say I was ok to hear Obama won.
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@ phoebeprunelle,
“^But are not most of the world leaders who go down in history books (using that term lightly) exhibit classic signs of narcissism…and other various personality disorders…”
I don’t know if you’ve heard of the term “wake up”. Well… that is partly what it refers to. You have answered the question, yet you don’t contemplate what it means.
Why is it most world leaders display signs of narcissism and other various personality disorders? What does it mean? How did we get to this point where such qualities are required to lead?
Do you know what it means to be a narcissist or have a personality disorder? It usually means one does not take into account the impact of their actions on other people. It means someone can act in a reckless way that endangers others. It means that someone see’s other as objects rather than people. AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE LEADING US! In every country around the globe!!
For example have you read about the personality traits of a psychopath or a sociopath?
– Glibness and Superficial Charm
– Grandiose Sense of Self
– Pathological Lying
– Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
– Shallow Emotions
– Need for Stimulation
– Callousness/Lack of Empathy
– Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
– Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
etc etc
All these and others come together to form a psychopath. A creature who is here to use and abuse you for their own pleasure and yet you stand and defend it?? WOW! Hey I ain’t accusing anyone but the best way to know one is to see the trail of real destruction they leave behind and proceed forward like it’s just another sunny day in the park.
Have you heard of the Mask of Sanity?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mask_of_Sanity
“Cleckley describes the psychopathic person as outwardly a perfect mimic of a normally functioning person, able to mask or disguise the fundamental lack of internal personality structure, an internal chaos that results in repeatedly purposeful destructive behavior, often more self-destructive than destructive to others. Despite the seemingly sincere, intelligent, even charming external presentation, internally the psychopathic person does not have the ability to experience genuine emotions. Cleckley questions whether this mask of sanity is voluntarily assumed intentionally to hide the lack of internal structure, or if the mask hides a serious, but yet unidentified, psychiatric defect.[3]”
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^where did i say i stand for and defend it?
I asked why the spotlight on Obama if the rest of the world leaders (in the present and the past) are guilty of it?
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I assumed you were defending him by saying words to the effect, “So, what? Others have shown the same traits as well”
My mistake. To answer your question, I think right now the spotlight is on Obama because 4 years ago he made promises that not only did he not deliver on, he went in the opposite direction of. In some cases, to deadly effect in terms of human cost.
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I have to say I am blown away by the politically aware contributions now posted here by: Wilson, satanforce and Legion.
On the basis of those contributions alone this post could have easily been entitled:
Why I am NOT voting for Obama
And it would have made perfect sense!
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@ JT
It was his last speech of his last campaign so I can see him shedding a tear or two! It had to be a sad moment for him.
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@ Legion
Thanks for the Nader link.
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@ Kwamla, Legion, Wilson, Satanforce, etc:
So am I right to conclude that none of you would have voted in this election?
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@solesearch
Yes, i noticed that as well. Obama won the electoral college. It’s funny how dems love the electoral system when they win, not so much when they lose. I know i’m outnumbered on this blog, it’s cool. Black liberals react the same way when a donkey wins…things are gonna improve, rainbows and unicorns, and so forth. I used to fall for the same ish when i was voting for dems back in the day as an Independent. Preachers and others would bombard radio-stations with ads urging us to vote for this or that candidate, but nothing changed. I got tired of doing that election after election. At some point, black people have to stop being stupid, Seriously! Folk can vote for who they want. However, if the results are the same, move in another direction. Abagond and other blacks on this blog are hoping to be right in their perception of Obama, i don’t see it.
Tyrone
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@Abagond
Would I have voted in this election, if I could have?
I would have had voted for the Green Party candidate Jill Stein.
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@ abagond
Nope I wouldn’t have voted. I am happy though that a black man got voted in again. It is an inspiration. I am sad though because very few people realize it doesn’t matter who wins.
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@ Abagond,
I agree with Tyrone’s sentiment…
“…Preachers and others would bombard radio-stations with ads urging us to vote for this or that candidate, but nothing changed. I got tired of doing that election after election. At some point, black people have to stop being stupid, Seriously! Folk can vote for who they want. However, if the results are the same, move in another direction. Abagond and other blacks on this blog are hoping to be right in their perception of Obama, i don’t see it…
If I could have… I definitely would NOT have voted. Its a fallacy we’ve been brainwashed to believe carries individual, independent, personal power. If the system was set up fair and democratically this might be true. But we all know its not! And financial corruption plays a big part in this.
The truth is this is a corrupt and duo-monopolistic system. Which is why voting for any candidate other than the preferred two appears a wasted vote. This is fundamentally undemocratic but its built into the system.
The only way to challenge such a system, like any game, is to withdraw your participation. Its participating by voting which perpetuates this unfair system not non-participating or not voting.
The whole game of the Republicans vs the Democrats then becomes a charade…an illusion of opposing views because the status quo generally remains the same regardless of which party gets into power. Again, inequality and injustice is built into this political system so who ever gets in charge is simply in charge of administering the status quo.
And Barak Obama is doing, and will continue to do, a fine job in this administrative role!
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I would have voted for this guy:
https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRlUj-V9AdRAIFs5zEsW8uUlrqcwAPyzhD7EaKvbge_rA_vyXxiCw
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Well I did not vote again and he got elected again.
But Whats really interesting is the numerological symbolism and how its independent and parallel to my life ,black peoples lives and everyone’s life.
I ,they ,we won!
And it may indeed be inevitable.
I feel a sense of glory and grandeur – like that genie from The Thief Of Baghdad when released from the bottle he was imprisoned for years – Free ,free ,free at last
I shout even though Obama’s reelection (as the 44’th american president) allegedly has nothing personally to do with me(and I didn’t vote for him(or against him).
Its probably due to the knowledge and power I’ve gained after a long struggle during the same time.
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Kwamla,
Your fortitude in persistently/continually breaking down what should be clearly obvious to all, except perhaps the very young, is to be commended. I envy your patience and willingness to explain what amounts to: 1 + 1 = 2 … or said another way: the republicans and democrats’ agendas have little to nothing to do with the benevolent welfare or good of the common people – anywhere! The so-called 2 party system is morally inept. It’s culture, methods and ways are increasingly evil.
It’s plain to me that too many regulars HERE are literally believing much/most of the countless lies spun by the mainstream press (propaganda machine). I’m utterly astounded that so many *seemingly* intelligent people, especially Abagond, are indeed not seeing what is directly in front of them.
Kudos to you, and Wilson, plus a couple of others here that have eyes to see. Good luck with your collective attempts to enlighten/assist those whose vision is undoubtedly/injuriously impaired. I wish the scales would fall from everyone’s eyes.
Unfortunately, when all is said and done, we all see what we want to see – according to what we are invested in – the truth or attractive sounding self-serving/self-interested fairy tales.
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@ Matari
Thank you for your comment which I found very rewarding and refreshing!
As you have succinctly put it yourself:
“…Unfortunately, when all is said and done, we all see what we want to see – according to what we are invested in – the truth or attractive sounding self-serving/self-interested fairy tales…”
The truth we see is determined by what we’ve invested ourselves into believing. That investment can be in our own best interests Or someone else’s best interests.
And you’re right this should be as simple to work out as 1+1=2! But its not! Which is why we can easily end up serving the collective interests of others rather than ourselves.
So to put this again in more simpler terms:
(This is a rhetorical question directed at EVERYONE commenting NOT you Matari!)
Question:
Whose interests is it to have Barak Obama elected as President in the White house on a second term?
Answer:
Is it in our collective best interests or someone else’s best interests?
Now repeat the same question to yourself again this time replacing Mitt Romney in place of Obama:
Question:
Whose interests is it to have Mitt Romney elected as a new President in the White house?
Answer:
Is it in our collective best interests or someone else’s best interests?
If you receive conflicting answers to both questions then you’re having difficulty with that 1+1=2 simple equation!
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Yea, matari, kwamla and others. It is pretty pathetic to see people get worked up every 4 years as if something is changing with the presidential election. I wish everyone was this inspired for their local politics. That is a wash too but if regular folk were going to have any shot of realizing their interests through the politics game it would be through organizing at local levels and asserting control from that level up.
If folks reallÝ want things movements must happen, just don’t be cowed like the recent occupy fledgling movement.
So funny seeing people celebrate and cry when some stranger who is going to screw them wins the election.
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One question, do you think that somewhere between Canada and Mexico, somebody has decided to vote for Obama, because of Chris Rock’s explanation that Obama is very “White” in a US-context? Yes, he married a black woman,
I mean, it is obvious, but since some research showed that 30% of the Republicans managed to mistake the current POTUS for a Muslim, playing Captain Obvious might help some poor misguided soul…
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Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012. While there are always NDAA’s, this one has a nasty little surprise.
It authorizes the military to indefinitely detain american citizens if they are merely suspected of being a terrorist or sympathizer. No warrant, no trial. How is this determined? One vague explanation is having more than 7 days worth of food in your home. Sound logical? Rational even?
The whole point of the… ahem, “constitutional” restraints on the American justice system is that it is, in fact, wrong to imprison people indefinitely on suspicion of a crime without a fair trial proving their guilt. What the NDAA would make permissible is a gross disregard for basic human rights to freedom and security—rights which are inviolate in the absence of proof of wrongdoing publicly established in a court of law.
Think about it. How many black men and women have been killed by police or people just for the hell of it? How many murderers have gotten away with it by using outright lies? Black people can be killed on a mere suspicion. How many black men and women have been incarcerated?
And you’re only voting for Obama on issues such as voter ID laws and taxes when he’s giving white people lawful freedom to go to town on every single one of us?
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http://www.blackbluedog.com/2013/01/news/the-gap-between-blacks-and-whites-is-larger-under-obama-than-bush-or-any-other-president/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-gap-between-blacks-and-whites-is-larger-under-obama-than-bush-or-any-other-president
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Why did Abagond vote for Obama??? Gee, I don’t know. Probably because he’s black. You can write your 500 words and pretend to have an argument, but at the end of the day you only see things in black and white, purely as a racial issue. Romney=white=EVIL BIGOT. Obama=black=CARING HUMANITARIAN GOOD GUY. What a joke.
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@Billy Crush
Thanks for making it obvious you’ve never read a damn word Abagond has written.
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Obama is trying to eliminate the white man for years to come by letting more and more illegal in the country. Obama won’t be around to see it but he is trying to get back at white people for slavery.
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@ Fred
Oh please. Obama has deported over a million people, including one of my relatives.
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The obvious question here Abagond is whether, given what you know now about his term in office, you regret voting for him? Or would you still have done so based on this post?
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@ Kwamla
I am even more disillusioned with Obama now than when I wrote this post 20 months ago, but I would still vote for him as the lesser of two evils.
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@abagond
” I would still vote for him as the lesser of two evils.”
He was never the lesser evil.
“Barack Obama… the most effectively evil politician in American political history.”
http://www.blackagendareport.com/clinton_no_worse_than_obama
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There is no “lesser” evil in American politics. There is only two sides of the same evil. They will encourage you to fight over which side of the coin is facing up every four years. But only to keep you from replacing the old coin with something else.
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i beg to disagree. there are different degrees of evil, as well as different brands. Obama represents the epitome of a particular brand. it’s a brand we don’t see very often. at least not in presidential politics. its a brand that’s quite prevalent in the lower echelons. Obama is the epitome. his performance impeccable.
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sorry… I had meant to add after it’s a brand you don’t see very often…That’s why it fooled and continues to fool a lot of people.
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That being said, Barack Obama has indeed turned the Democratic Party, which actually used to be a genuine lesser evil, into something whose evil rivals that of the Repugblicans.
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@nomad
He is indeed the more effective evil…so nonchalant and bland appearing. He can fool you if you are not attentive.
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@Nomad and Afrofem
Whilst Barack Obama can be an effective evil (I am not an Obama apologist) what I having been reading about the Republicans and the Koch brothers makes him look like the lesser evil.
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@ nomad
I saw that piece by the Black Agenda Report. It, like much of their recent commentary about the election, is on point. In 2008 I called Hillary Clinton a snake. She was and is. What I did not understand at the time, though, was that Obama was a snake too, just better at it.
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“They will encourage you to fight over which side of the coin is facing up every four years. But only to keep you from replacing the old coin with something else.”
.
I agree!!
Amerikan politics works exactly like Amerikan racism.
They both serve to keep REAL CHANGE from occurring by having those with the least power work against their own best interests.
This old trick should have died hundreds of years ago! It only works because they still have the people’s minds on lock-down with a host of crap.
People are permitting themselves to be lulled into a comatose (unresponsive/inactive) state! Each generation becomes more lax than the preceding one.
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EXACTLY
There is no significant difference between Obama, Bush, Clinton or Romney All any of the would do is change the sheets on the same old dirty bed. One wears blue, the other wears red and the kabuki goes on for the fools to take sides! Oohhh I like the red one! Oh no! I like the blue one!! Mine is better!
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@taotesan
The Republicans and one of their funders, the Koch brothers, are pretty fearsome. However, don’t let that snake charmer, Obama, fool you. He tends to do his dirty deeds undercover, while they trumpet their ugliness for all to see.
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@abagond
I really appreciate your honesty, man. He fooled me too. And I’m mad as hell about it.
“Ohhh I say and I say it again! You been had! You been took! You been …hoodwinked! Bamboozled! Led astray. Run amuck! This is what he does!!!”
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV7yx2y3TtY&w=560&h=315)
You;ve been hit by! You’ve been struck by! A smooth criminal!
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