2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumWe desperately needed a lifeline from our President
today. Didn't happen. Feeling low. How can he just accept this new administration? Depressing. Feel he gave up on us.
lastone
(588 posts)Very disappointing...
libtodeath
(2,892 posts)The shots at fort sumter were just not as clear so he had to stand back.
shadowrider
(4,941 posts)Cancel the election?
Call for a new election?
Impose Martial Law?
Deny the electors their vote on the 19th?
Any one of the above, and civil war 2 would start.
NanceGreggs
(27,835 posts)... had he done all of the above, it still would have been the wrong thing to do.
treestar
(82,383 posts)They would then be criticizing that and talking about the "optics."
Hekate
(94,641 posts)...and not be "in the sunshine" looking "elite." Because the man who has taken almost no time off in 8 years is not entitled to a winter vacation in his home state (he IS stateside when he is in Hawai'i) with his family -- even though his entire job comes with him wherever he goes.
I can't even.
ALBliberal
(2,843 posts)Educate the country in the constitutional obligations of the EC
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)dionysus
(26,467 posts)Set a nasty precident? Try some unconstitutional move that noone with any power will support?
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)Everybody's like "why not?" He's leaving anyway... without logically thinking what is to follow.
The GOP is too happy to have all three branches.
Obama was right to tell the media and public to ducking wake up and pay attention to what is going on
redstateblues
(10,565 posts)uponit7771
(91,754 posts)libtodeath
(2,892 posts)plus fight against voter suppression.
Dream Girl
(5,111 posts)It wouldn't have made an iota of difference yesterday
libtodeath
(2,892 posts)TheFrenchRazor
(2,116 posts)PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)24601
(4,013 posts)Earth Bound Misfit
(3,556 posts)Tarheel_Dem
(31,443 posts)the "allies" he's been forced to endure these past eight years. Nothing he does is ever good enough, and he probably won't miss it very much.
treestar
(82,383 posts)It was the same when they'd demand why he wasn't doing something about some matter related only to state power.
Tarheel_Dem
(31,443 posts)whole "co-equal" branches of government thingie. Thankfully, no POTUS is a king/dictator. Hopefully, we're all about to learn the limitations of executive power in real time, these next four years.
dionysus
(26,467 posts)Tarheel_Dem
(31,443 posts)treestar
(82,383 posts)He follows the law.
The first time Orange Hitler does something wrong will be interesting. Obama may be free then to call that out. Will the media pay any attention?
madamesilverspurs
(16,042 posts)Obama understands the Constitution, comprehending its powers AND limitations.
But I bet there are days when he wishes he didn't.
.
JI7
(90,524 posts)ALBliberal
(2,843 posts)Last edited Fri Dec 16, 2016, 09:18 PM - Edit history (1)
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)triron
(22,240 posts)for what happened. Not taking responsibility for letting Russians corrupt our election and put their own candidate into office.
Hekate
(94,641 posts)Or are you saying he simply pointed out the fact that the media and the electorate caused this fiasco?
ALBliberal
(2,843 posts)Last edited Fri Dec 16, 2016, 09:19 PM - Edit history (1)
beloved by so many of us. We yearn for leadership.
Hekate
(94,641 posts)...who spoke hatefully about his every word and deed. In my considered opinion, Barack Obama is better than we deserved.
brush
(57,489 posts)He said during the news conference that he was determined to play it straight and not make it appear that he was favoring either side.
That was why he didn't make it known during the final weeks that Russia hackers were working to elect Trump.
Sorry, I was gobsmacked by that since not revealing that to the public allowed the Russian hackers to to do just what he was trying to avoid doing favoring their side.
WTF, WTF, WTF!
WE SHOULD BE FAVORING FUCKING OUR SIDE. It's not tiddlywinks, it's politics. We gotta stop being the nice guy. It's like Leo Durocher said, "nice guys finish last."
The repugs would have been yelling from the rooftops if some entity was hacking them to favor Clinton.
WTF, WTF, WTF!
ALBliberal
(2,843 posts)Cohesion and messaging and ability to stand up!!!!
JHan
(10,173 posts)but ..."I Told him to "cut it out" .." ?
I can't even.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)brush
(57,489 posts)It went unnoticed and was never really heard by the pubic.
And it didn't emphasize that Putin was actively working to get Trump elected.
Also, remember McConnell threatened to blast any real mention of it as being partisan and putting a thumb on the scale for Clinton, which is why he stressed that he was trying to play it straight to not seem to favor either candidate.
I wished he had told turtleman to go fu_k himself and leaked it all over the airwaves, especially after the Comey debacle to counter that.
KPN
(16,101 posts)is that all it takes for the GOP to carry the day? Threaten? So Democratic Party-like.
brush
(57,489 posts)to election day.
I don't like it either.
KPN
(16,101 posts)seems pretty namby-pamby to not reveal it because McConnell would call it partisan. The Rs are still calling it partisan sour grapes after the fact. My point was that the Democratic Party always seems to, well, wimp out and roll over. The result: common people keep getting screwed, democracy in ruins.
brush
(57,489 posts)bettyellen
(47,209 posts)With the emails and the "DNC scandals" were also promoted by lefties. Lots of people on "our side" were duped into stabbing Dems in the back.... and now we are falling for it again w Obama. They have turned some of us into useful idiots.
brush
(57,489 posts)JudyM
(29,517 posts)They are about to pillage and plunder just as Putin has. We may very well just watch.
Hekate
(94,641 posts)brush
(57,489 posts)it got buried in that media storm.
Hekate
(94,641 posts)And she still managed to get 3 million more votes than Mad King Donald in his golden tower. Yet he is going to be president.
brush
(57,489 posts)The fact that it was known Putin was helping trump's campaign should have been repeated over and over and over after it got loss in the trump crotch grabbing audio storm.
Perhaps it should have come from the White House since McConnell, Trump nor certainly weren't going to expose an increasinly clear case of treason.
Playing fair to not seem to be trying to influence the election is one thing, but when you know the other side is not playing fair at all, in fact using a foreign government to influence the election, then you have to re-evaluate and throw the original hands off policy out of the window.
triron
(22,240 posts)femmocrat
(28,394 posts)I knew he wouldn't do anything bold and daring, but I thought it was a total let down. After it was over, I wondered why he even bothered.
For those who say, what did you expect.... a few words to those who are still hurting might have been welcomed. This election tore apart families and communities and is putting a dark cloud over the holidays for many dedicated democrats. Telling us that we didn't pay attention to the intel reports or that we didn't focus enough on the issues was insulting. WE did, it was the media who let us down.
And what I really expected was something more forceful, like I have issued a stern warning to Putin and I have accepted Comey's resignation. Wishful thinking.
jodymarie aimee
(3,975 posts)spot on
femmocrat
(28,394 posts)I got blasted on FB for saying it was a letdown.
jodymarie aimee
(3,975 posts)We expected him to ride in like the cavalry and save us and he didn't. He kind of said, you made your bed, not deal with it. I was dashed and went right back to Nov 9th emotionally. The Rs didn't cooperate with recounts and now all we've got left is Monday EC vote. For those who blasted you, tell them.....this is serious...wake up......our good and magnificent President let us down. With the wars, with TPP, now this.....he is still magnificent, but we are allowed to tell the TRUTH. We are now alone in a frightening new landscape. How can we win when Rs have all the weapons....I live in WI and we have had hell for 6 years now. We see it coming.
Nay
(12,051 posts)Guilded Lilly
(5,591 posts)I know there are things behind the scene that can't be exposed. I wanted a fierce confrontation. I wanted a miracle. I know a man with honor can't just suddenly become an unconscionable piece of crap asshole. But I am in a very weird place over all this twilight zone reality show drama. Breathe in and out and do my daily work and routine, but, there is something desperately wrong about this aura surrounding life. Obama will not be the President soon and the governing body will be shallow, ignorant buffoons and mean-assed anti-humanity capitalist thugs.
Justice's balance is so skewed that she is dragging her scales through the gravel pit on one side, looking desperately for a lift from somewhere.
High road failed. When compassionate humanity goes against cold blooded hate mongering lowlife traitors, it's always a massive battle. Having a heart in that kind of fight gives your soulless opponent a huge target. When you have a conscience, it is another chink in the battle armor. But mixed in among my high road mentality, I now have a passionate animosity towards lots of people. Cretin supporting variety. Spineless variety. Ignorant variety. F'ing cheaters. Republicans. Period.
Cheaters quite often DO win. And that is hard to accept.
Hope can be dashed.
Women will be chattle again. We have to refight on the same scum infested battlefields.
I still have seething anger brewing right next to the incredulous pain, I will still do what I can to resist and plow onward...but that seems like precious damn little in the scheme of things.
I am weary from losing to pieces of filth.
This treachery has enormous and far reaching consequences other than just another term of gawd damned obstructionism. This cretinous clod could cause irreversible damage. Serious destruction of our nation....and the earth.
And I can't wrap my brain or my heart around what to fucking do.
femmocrat
(28,394 posts)You put into words what so many of us are thinking and feeling.
Guilded Lilly
(5,591 posts)ALBliberal
(2,843 posts)Feel most everything you feel. Will it be enough to lead our own honest lives and be examples to others? Enough to keep fighting the good fight in local government and otherwise? Who knows. Hoping that these efforts we can control will be enough.
Guilded Lilly
(5,591 posts)to live the best we can.
I have plenty of fight in me. I'm stubborn. I use my soapbox quite readily. I sign petitions, I write emails. I openly encourage women to be independent and strong. I also believe in Karma even though it often takes longer than I would want! I certainly don't want to tempt karma biting my own ass but...
Damn.
I wish someone with real power used it to...flatten the assholes! They win too much.
Shaking my head.
dflprincess
(28,471 posts)and they probably could and should be exposed but just as LBJ and Dirksen let Nixon get by with treason and Pelosi took impeachment "off the table" it's all being done to "protect" the public and for the "good of the country".
Only it's not protecting us and in the long run it's not good for the country.
Not for a minute do I believe that the vote itself wasn't hacked especially in the areas that have no paper backup (the areas that, strangely enough, were the ones Hillary tended to lose.) And don't get me started on Michigan.
It's just the path of least resistance so, just as they did in 2000, the Democrats will roll over and let the election be stolen. They've had 16 years to work on a solution and couldn't be bothered because it's more important to pretend that our elections are open and honest than for the elections to actually be open and honest.
If the signers of the Declaration had been as cowardly as today's leaders we'd be singing "God Save the Queen" today. Though that might not be all bad - at least we'd have health care.
triron
(22,240 posts)We seem to be getting more unpopular with these views on DU lately
Nay
(12,051 posts)refuse to fight all the "little wars" like the ones over voting machines, voter suppression, sending money to state Dems so they can win against teabaggers, etc, they will lose the big war. And they have. In no sane country would an imbecilic, narcissistic monster like Trump win anything except a ticket to jail, but here we are.
And yes, I wish we'd never become 'free' of Britain, because we'd be so much better off now it's not even funny. Canada (I'm a citizen of both Canada and US) is an idyllic paradise compared to this godawful place.
former9thward
(33,424 posts)Still fighting the Revolutionary War. Wow...
Nay
(12,051 posts)joining the Daughters of the American Revolution. I went to a few meetings, had my genealogy reviewed and found to be in order, and then . . . went to a few local meetings. If you want to meet a bunch of RW, teabagging, douchey fascists, go to a DAR meeting! These women, back in the day, would have personally hanged anyone who said one word against the Crown! In one meeting, a discussion was held about how people who burned the flag were traitors and should be jailed. It was an eye-opener for me, a long-time ACLU supporter, to realize that things had done a 180 over the centuries, turning the 'revolutionaries' into de facto Loyalists.
If I were back in Rev days, I would have supported the Revolution. A couple of centuries on, I can see that, for this country, it may have been more beneficial to stay with England. That doesn't make me a Loyalist -- it's just a pragmatic, random observation that we might have been better off. It's not like we can go back and fix it.
dflprincess
(28,471 posts)one was even cited for "answering the call" at Lexington on April 19, 1775 (maybe he's the one who fired the "shot heard round the world" - ok, I don't really think that.)
My dad's sister belonged to the DAR but I've always said I wouldn't join an organization that Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from in protest.
I do, however, have a Grant Woods print in my living room that has always tickled me. It's titled "Daughters of the Revolution" and it does make me think of the local chapter (just update the clothes).
Nay
(12,051 posts)LisaM
(28,599 posts)I can't stress how important that was.
dflprincess
(28,471 posts)but it was intact in 2000 when the real voter suppression started and the Democrats did nothing about that. They didn't even try to raise awareness about and all that did was give the Republicans license to do more because they knew they'd get away with it.
tavernier
(13,258 posts)but Comey does not get a pass in my book.
Obama should have announced his "resignation".
La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)tavernier
(13,258 posts)At least Giuliani has proven himself to be certifiable.
La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)Nay
(12,051 posts)nominate, ffs. It's about PUNISHING THE TRAITOR who threw the election. If Comey is not removed, it sends a clear signal (as always) to the Pubs, collectively and individually, that they can do any goddamn thing and there will be no penalties. Until we start imposing penalties (even if only symbolic), we will keep on losing our shirts.
24601
(4,013 posts)the President.
tavernier
(13,258 posts)Under the Law, Presidents May Fire FBI Directors. ... Unlike the justices, who are appointed for life and cannot be fired but can be impeached by congress (which has happened only one time in American history) or cabinet officials who have no set terms, the FBI director is appointed to a single term of 10 years.
La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)of this election
Dream Girl
(5,111 posts)dubyadiprecession
(6,342 posts)What do you want from him if he doesn't have a democratic congress to support his legislation?
EVERYONE NEEDS TO TURN OUT TO VOTE EVERY TWO YEARS, LIKE IT'S 2008!
ALBliberal
(2,843 posts)Him to lay out the facts and educate the public on the purpose of the Electoral College. That's really the baseline that I was hoping for.
brush
(57,489 posts)The Electoral College came about as a racist compromise for the country's huge elephant in the room, white supremacy/the institution of slavery
The northern states had a huge population advantage of eligible voters, white male property owners only, so a deal was struck that the southern states could count their enslaved black people also, but they only counted as 3/5s of a person still being okay with the white supremacy, racism thing.
So the problem was swept under the rug again until the civil war when the race/slavery issue reared it's head again. There was the war and the Union won, problem solved right?
No, reconstruction happened but then the Union troops pulled out over another political comprise and then domestic terrorism (the KKK) arose and terrorized African Americans as Jim Crow was being established and the race issue was swept, unsolved, under the rug again for decades until the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s.
We moved forward as a nation but the problem still hasn't been solved completely and these Trump racist assholes want to take us back to the pre-civil rights era.
Something's going to have to give because AAs and other POCs are not going for that.
Makes one wonder if payback is going to befall us because we never dealt with the problem under the rug?
That question just leads me to this. The next fight for progressives should be getting rid of the Electoral College as it is a remaining vestige of a racist compromise that needs to go because it's still favoring the racists.
It needs to go.
Quayblue
(1,045 posts)in our political institutions huge a huge part in why all of this is happening.
Thank you for your assessment.
Hekate
(94,641 posts)And the Dems don't show up for the damned midterm elections and the Dems wonder why we ended up with a House and Senate full of Republicans.
Dream Girl
(5,111 posts)He can't. hands are tied, There's this thing challenged the Constitution that limited his ability to respond, not to mention civil peace. would have been nice if we had given him a dem congress in '10, '12''14...would have been great if we could have given him dem and state and local governments especially governors and legislatures. They are the keepers of the keys and that's where the battle needs to be fought
forgotmylogin
(7,676 posts)He's been a positive beacon for EIGHT YEARS for us. Don't forget that. He's one of us and is entitled to some rest. I hope he has a great vacation in Hawaii and recharges for 2017.
Megan Mullally was on Colbert and reported visiting the White House recently. In the receiving line she said "We really love you...we don't want you to go!" Obama replied "We're not going anywhere."
flamingdem
(39,916 posts)So he's keeping his powder dry and will be full time working for us, I bet
triron
(22,240 posts)bettyellen
(47,209 posts)triron
(22,240 posts)Sunlei
(22,651 posts)after 1/20 he will be in his new office. first on public agenda, redistricting (local) the states. He's still the president, after 1/20/2017.
And let him and his family have a well deserved break first.
flamingdem
(39,916 posts)to further prove their point. Government is useless, Democrats are out of control and to blame, blah blah
budkin
(6,849 posts)Obama the President was not Obama the candidate. He left us in the lurch over many issues, most notably the public option.
TonyPDX
(962 posts)redstateblues
(10,565 posts)If he had pushed for that there would have been no movement toward Universal Health Care.
vi5
(13,305 posts)..I think there was plenty he could have done in the past 8 years in terms of promoting a more aggressive tone and push back on the Republicans instead of enabling them as he did many times. He could have been a better and more aggressive negotiator. He could have sold his policies a little better than he did.
And I do think that his trying to be diplomatic and "bipartisan" along the way definitely emboldened Republicans to behave as they did and in some sense gave us what we have now which is a hot mess in the worst possible way.
But the fact is that the damage is done and at this point there's nothing he can do so expecting him to all of a sudden be aggressive and angry when he refused to do that over the past 8 years is silly and counterintuitive/counterproductive.
jalan48
(14,393 posts)dflprincess
(28,471 posts)SHRED
(28,136 posts)...you wouldn't understand.
TonyPDX
(962 posts)Don't bash Democratic public figures
I dared comment that President Obama fought for the TPP, and was admonished for that. Was tempted to delete my account and never darken these pages again. Instead, I appealed and my post was restored the following day. It is comforting to see that we can express sincere disappointment without being considered traitors to the objectives of our party.
I also wonder why he isn't passionately standing against the stated plans of his successor. As a candidate, he twice behaved differently.
HassleCat
(6,409 posts)Name a few federal buildings after famous Mexicans. Plant a whoopee cushion in the oval office.
ElementaryPenguin
(7,847 posts)The high road is not what we need right now. Sometimes to fight the dastardly - you need to get down and roll around in the mud with them. This seemed like his Lincoln moment - to save this country - and he doesn't seem to see that as a practical alternative. Perhaps it isn't. Presidents are not entrusted with fixing America permanently - just stewarding a 4 year term (or 2) of an administration that hopefully kept things together or perhaps even improved things. Then, like the relay race he described it as, the baton is passed to the next administration, etc... Trouble is, this next administration seems capable of burying that baton forever, ending American democracy.
Much as I HATE to say this - this situation makes me wish we had - for an outgoing President - rather than one of our thoughtful ones - one of our more ruthless ones - like a Lyndon Johnson, a Harry Truman, perhaps FDR - even Richard Nixon, for Chrissakes! - because I think one of them would have found some way (legal or not) to prevent the evil, cheating, Putin appointed Drumpf from taking office (at least not without engineering a revote, legitimate recount, or election audit, or serious legal challenge backed by all the CIA intelligence available). (remember - Anthony Kennedy does not always side with the right - even Roberts supported Obamacare - and one may have been persuaded to oppose Putin's pick!)
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)you can find his comment history here, even the transition is explained. trump remains "unfit", but it's the presidents duty for a smooth transition and Republicans can deal with their unfit president. He didn't 'give up on us".
Your Weekly Address
Speeches & Remarks
Press Briefings
Statements & Releases
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/weekly-address
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)Of the five stages of grief which is Acceptance. Before the misinterpretations start - we will never accept Donald Trump is President of the United States, however, the question to ask really, truly is what can be done about it.
The Electoral College is a Dog and Pony show. There is no way 37 Electors are going to bail. No way, no how. Thus, America is moving forward to the inauguration.
Unless something happens that prevent Trump/Pence from taking the Oath of Office on January 20, 2017,-- which is doubtful -- Trump/Pence will be installed. Frankly, in our mind, that is the beginning of the end of America, plain and simple.
Social Media/Activism/Etc. -- Does any of it actually help?
This is a reasonable question that has recently popped in our collective heads after the results of November 8th. Think about it. Black Lives Matter has been protesting the killing of Young/Middle/Old African-American Men and Women - plus minorities in General - since Trayvon Martin's murder.
Has the number of Minorities being killed by Law Enforcement REALLY decreased? How about the convictions -- as in lots of them?
Heck, the killer of Walter Scott in North Carolina who shot Scott in the back -- received a hung jury. Really? Hung Jury?
Next, yes, gas is down to about $2.50 or below in most places.
However, that is about to go right back up under Trump/Pence. The rises in crude oil will make George W. Bush Oil games feel like child's play. Let's just say "peak oil" on steroids -- but we all know "peak oil" does not exist, right?
Republicans only make real money in a RECESSION. The 2008 recession was bad but the RECESSION to COME of Trump/Pence will be worse. On top of that, it is likely we will be in either a cold/warm or hot war with China plus whoever else -- including ISIS, Al-Queda -- whoever feels like screwing with America that week, month, year.
Social Media is not helping. Lord knows the News is not. Reporting on every ridiculous tweet Trump makes like it is earth shattering news. Since when is Twitter, news?
Speaking of Free Press - maybe folks might want to familiarize themselves with what happen to Gawker recently - to know that the Free Press will NOT be free or open press under Trump/Pence. It's going to happen and since they are in control, nothing will be done about it.
Just look what just occurred in North Carolina were a Democratic Governor-Elect just had his upcoming powers and office duties taken away from him BEFORE he ever taken the Oath by the GOP.
This is only the beginning of crapola to come.
401K Ponzi Scheme, Social Security, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act -- Going, Going, Gone -- down the toilet or into the hands of folks that don't give a damn if you are forced to eat out of your cat's bowl if you reach 65-75 years old. In their mind, your usefulness at that age is done anyway so just die, quickly.
These are dangerous times. And sorry, there is not much to be happy about.
In fact, some are preparing for the worse. Not everyone will do the same as folks have the right to decide their own course - of course. But, those preparing for the worse are stepping back, preparing their finances in whatever way they can, removing or severely limiting social media, making safety preparation plans and more.
Many will think they are "cray-cray" but the situation we are in is "cray-cray" all around.
In many cases, if folks are history buffs, today's times are showing a strange similarity to what has been read about Reichstag -- and that should make anyone with an open eye -- prepare for whatever is ahead of the best way they can.