Comment on Entry: Obama's Uniformity of Interests, authored by pudge
1. Excellent! and certainly worthy of heavy thought. :)

...and, can you believe he sings and plays guitar to boot.. ha

Posted by Duffman at October 30, 2009 07:35 AM
2. Unity to Obama and the Democrats is agreeing with their position, while dissent is anyone with a differing view on a position. I'm not saying this attitude isn't also present on the right, but that is more of an exception rather than the rule.

@1~ If pudge needs his car washed or shoes shined, he'll let you know.

Posted by Rick D. at October 30, 2009 07:55 AM
3. The latest on his Enemies List - edmunds.com for having the audacity to speak about Cash for Clunkers in a way that might make people think that Obama is not really God.

If he isn't God, he was certainly sent by God to save the world. Sting said so.

Posted by Gary at October 30, 2009 07:58 AM
4. #2 :) Great...and I'll hire you; as you always seem to be looking for 'direction'. [Try to make yourself useful!]

Posted by Duffman at October 30, 2009 07:59 AM
5. Why hire me when you'd do it for free? Besides, my sense of direction is fine. How else could I recogize your eastbound nose firmly planted in a westbound posterior?

Posted by Rick D. at October 30, 2009 08:15 AM
6. Reading between the lines and noting recent actions, this uniformity in his mind leaves little room for dissent without retaliation. This has been evidenced by the repudiation of dissenters (ie. Insurance companies, Fox News Channel and those in opposition to his policies).

I am not alone for feeling less comfortable than if I heard the following ; (quoted from Pudge)

"I like conflict and discord. Not incivility, but argument and debate, expressions of disagreement, which often become heated and passionate. A lack of conflict and discord means that everyone agrees, or -- much worse -- are somehow prevented from disagreeing, either by force of government, or a lack of personal desire or will. It's bad no matter the cause. We necessarily will disagree, and we must speak out about our disagreement, which will result in conflict and discord. Without that, we lose liberty -- and quickly -- no matter who is in power, left, or right."

Posted by KDS at October 30, 2009 08:21 AM
7. I find it kind of amusing that the party of diversity is now promoting unity.

Of course their definition of diversity leaves a bit to be desired when it omits anything or anybody that disagrees with them.

Posted by deadwood at October 30, 2009 09:31 AM
8. Where are all the usual "Pudge Pouncers"? Could it be that even they cannot attack Pudge's eloquently stated position? Well, maybe Demo Kid can give it a try. He usually does.

Posted by katomar at October 30, 2009 10:14 AM
9. "we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord."

Ha, ha, ha!! What a joke. With the addition of Edmunds.com recently, these boobs are building an enemies list that would make Nixon blush.

Wasn't it Obama's buddy Rahm that said "never let a good crisis go to waste"? That sure doesn't sound like "hope over fear" to me.

What they really practice is just old fashioned gangland Chicago politics now writ on the national stage. Sweet.

Posted by G Jiggy at October 30, 2009 10:16 AM
10. Today the White House is pushing back against the AP for it debunking the President's claims of how many jobs he's created or saved. I suppose they'll go after that racist, Katie Couric, for CBS' blistering segment on the same topic last night.

The press is having a harder and harder time covering for this fraud.

Posted by Gary at October 30, 2009 10:25 AM
11. And I loved it when Obama said that he was a "uniter, not a divider"!

Oh, wait.

Posted by demo kid at October 30, 2009 10:31 AM
12. Wow "demo kid" that was a stinging comeback. Because of course, the best argument is "but he did it first!" ... That is, if you're a 5-year-old. The fact is that the Obama administration has clearly tried to, at the very least, publicly embarrass and discredit anyone who dared disagree with His Royal Highness, um, I mean the President; whether or not this has occurred in the past doesn't make it's current incarnation any less troubling.

Posted by Rebecca at October 30, 2009 10:42 AM
13. demo kid: Bush used similar rhetoric, sure, especially regarding the wars. Although I think that is more dissimilar than you imply: Bush was talking about the "divisiveness" rather than "disagreement."

But more importantly, Bush didn't take many actions to try to actually "encourage" people, by manipulating their circumstances (such as forcing them to by health care), to HAVE the same opinions.

Posted by pudge at October 30, 2009 10:43 AM
14. Little info if you think Gov health care is such a good idea.
************************************
In] August 1993, when Congress passed Clinton's Vaccines for Children program. The plan, promoted by the Children's Defense Fund, was to use federal power to ensure universal immunization. So the government agreed to purchase a third of the national vaccine supply (the President and Mrs. Clinton had pushed for 100 percent) at a forced discount of half price, then distribute it to doctors to deliver to the poor and the un- and under-insured. As a result: Where 30 years ago, 25 companies produced vaccines for the U.S. market., today only five remain, and there is only one producer for a number of critical shots. Recent years have brought shortages of numerous vaccines, including those for whooping cough, diphtheria and chicken pox.

PS. Only 4 firms are making the swine flu now.

Posted by Medic/Vet at October 30, 2009 11:12 AM
15. The next candidate for President who says that they are a uniter and not a divider (Bush 43) or nuances it like Hussein HopeandChange did - will not get my vote.

Posted by KDS at October 30, 2009 11:18 AM
16. #14 How prophetic! Right on schedule, The One is criticizing the few pharmas left for being slow to create the vaccine. Story here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE59T3YP20091030

Federal officials have slashed their estimates of how many does will be ready by the end of October from 40 million to 26 million. And of course, we will be giving some to foreign countries for free before we have what we need here. Who the hell does our government work for?

A preview of nationalized health care.

Posted by Gary at October 30, 2009 01:30 PM
17. Pudge, your paranoia is showing. The main reasons for health insurance mandates are to make it practical to prevent insurers from rejecting bad risks, and to prevent society from the moral necessity to treat the uninsured, largely in expensive emergency rooms.

And it's ironic to blame the Democrats for pursuing unity when -- regardless of what you think of the merits -- they have been far less unified than the Republicans in recent years.

It is true, of course, that anyone holding a popular opinion will want the minority to agree with him/her. I would never suggest that anyone should take that seriously.

Some people do deliberately seek antagonize people, use inflammatory language, and launch personal attacks, none of which is constructive. Fortunately, none of that is tolerated at SoundPolitics.

Posted by Bruce at October 30, 2009 03:19 PM
18. Bruce lives in a parallel universe.

Posted by KDS at October 30, 2009 03:55 PM
19. It's alright, Bruce, Obama said he's against mandates, so I'm sure he'll veto this.

What else can the government make you buy as a condition of citizenship?

Posted by Gary at October 30, 2009 04:07 PM
20. Bruce: The main reasons for health insurance mandates are to make it practical to prevent insurers from rejecting bad risks ...

Yes, I mentioned that reason, except I stated it more clearly: "taking your money to give to other people." They would not want the deliberately uninsured to be required to join if they, as a group, would cost them money. They want to force them into the system because they know those people will put in more than they take out.

Mandates are just about taking your money, pure and simple.


... and to prevent society from the moral necessity to treat the uninsured, largely in expensive emergency rooms.

Lie. Absolute, total, fabrication. If this were true we would allow people to opt out, signing a form saying they will be liable for all costs. This is, obviously, completely irrelevant to why they want a mandate.


And it's ironic to blame the Democrats for pursuing unity when ... they have been far less unified than the Republicans in recent years.

I never did that. Please learn to read. I never said anything about "unity" of the type you speak. I specifically mentioned -- exclusively -- Obama's mention of "unity of purpose." That is not about us all being happy with each other, that is about us all striving for the same goals, which, in his mind, are government ensuring that all Americans have health care, saving us from global warming, and increasing the amount of government control over society in myriad ways.

We have no "unity of purpose" -- what Madison called "uniformity of interests" -- whether we are "unified" or not.


It is true, of course, that anyone holding a popular opinion will want the minority to agree with him/her.

False. I certainly don't, whether I am in the minority or majority. I want people to form their own opinions based on their own examination of the issues.

I note, however, Bruce, that you did not rebut anything I said that supports my thesis: that Obama and the Democrats want to undermine dissent and disagreement by forcing us into the same situations, giving us the same interests, that we might share the same opinions. The closest you came was saying "nuh uh! that is not what we have mandates!" But disagreement isn't rebuttal.

Posted by pudge at October 30, 2009 04:15 PM
21. Well Gary, it is not a condition of citizenship, it is a requirement of residency, though you risk losing your rights as a citizen or resident if you don't fulfill that (villainous) requirement.

Posted by pudge at October 30, 2009 04:22 PM
22. #22 "by 'we' don't you think he meant the majority of americans that voted for him"

No.

Posted by Gary at October 30, 2009 05:41 PM
23. Since the inauguration, it has been less hope and unity and what we really have is summed up here:

http://www.thealaskastandard.com/content/were-governed-callous-children

Spoiled brats at the helm. I'm not condoning the last administration here.

Posted by KDS at October 30, 2009 06:04 PM
24. mike: first, what you are saying takes away from my point not at all: in such an event, he is still saying they want the country to have a "unity of purpose" we cannot have. They have chosen "unity of purpose" for the rest of us.

Second, it's even worse if what you say is true; every inaugural address before Obama's spoke to the American people, not just the people who voted for the President. I hope you're wrong ...


Posted by pudge at October 30, 2009 06:05 PM
25. So true. Isn't it odd that leftist academics and Harvard graduates praise uniformity when it is the debate which fuels progress?

Posted by Dan - Israeli Uncensored News at October 31, 2009 11:19 AM
26. To make this a real representative democracy, I'd like to see only those who pay Federal Taxes eligible to vote - that would fairness restore. I am all for the flat tax though and if that meant the only way to be eligible to vote, that would pass in a heartbeat.

As it is now, almost as many people who get income tax credit vote as those who pay taxes - which hardly gives incentive for voting for the fiscally responsible candidate.

Posted by KDS at October 31, 2009 02:36 PM
27. Sorry, I guess that means many folks you know (maybe yourself) would not be voting.

"disagreement for disagreement's sake (the GOP's present M.O.) impedes progress."

The Democratics did it all day long when they were in the minority. That politics. Now they are doing it on a large scale with Health Care and Cap and Tax, when a majority of the people and the opposition disagree with them. When shitty legislation results, impeding progress is the correct thing to do.

Posted by KDS at October 31, 2009 05:02 PM
28. disagreement for disagreement's sake

Which no one here does.


(the GOP's present M.O.)

False.


impedes progress

Good! Because what you think is "progress" is, to us, not. (And that we believe so, of course, shows that your claim that we disagree for disagreement's sake is false.)


if the republicans were the party of 'we can make it better and here's how'

The Republicans say that ALL THE TIME. But the Democrats lie and say they don't. They think that if you don't want to START with the Democrats' legislation and work from there -- that if you think the Democratic plan is fundamentally flawed and should be thrown out -- then you "don't have a plan" or "don't want to make things better."

Like most of what the Democrats say, it's a lie.

We believe -- strongly -- that the Democratic health care plan is REGRESS. It sends us -- very far -- backward down the path of societal evolution.


the dems didn't impede progress every step of the way.

No, but they tried. And if -- as the Republicans do here -- they really believed that the majority's form of "progress" was bad, then good! They should try to impede it. Absolutely.

Posted by pudge at October 31, 2009 09:04 PM
29. when progressives start acting in a civil manner like adults, they will start to be taken seriously but I won't hold my breath - looks like that will happen about when pigs fly...

Posted by KDS at October 31, 2009 10:10 PM
30. mike: yes, but actions speak louder than words, pudge.

Which is why the Republicans released a plan.

What would you have them do? Please enlighten us. And please don't say "try to improve the Democratic plan" because it's a stupid thing to say. It's like saying the Democrats should have tried to improve the Republican plan to partially privatize Social Security investing: they were AGAINST IT, and therefore worked to kill it.

That is how these things called "principles" work.


when the republicans start acting like adults

Which to you would be ... what? Agreeing with the Democrats?

You're being transparently stupid.

Posted by pudge at October 31, 2009 10:31 PM
31. The last time I looked, the reds control both houses of congress. To insist that republicans are blocking barry and are the party of "nein, nein, nein" when president teleprompter (the unqualied, incompetent empty suit) cannot unite his own party in support of his attempt at radical socialization, is strong evidence of the intellectual dishonesty displayed by the commie trolls on this web site.
I look forward to next tuesday, and the message it will send to president teleprompter and his legion of drooling leg-humpers.

Posted by Attila at November 1, 2009 07:54 AM
32. #31 "if the republicans were the party of 'we can make it better and here's how', instead of 'no! nein, nein, nein, nein, nein!' - the legislation wouldn't be so 'shitty'. the dems didn't impede progress every step of the way."

-

What??? You have the White House, the House, and 60 votes in the Senate and you're *still* blaming Republicans?

What... you can't govern without Republicans? By the way, when is Obama going to decide on when to decide about maybe sorta doing something about the war? Wednesday?

Posted by Gary at November 1, 2009 08:11 AM
33. Remember how president teleprompter repeatedly supported the war in afghanistan during the 2008 election campaign? He was not another in a long line of feckless liberal wimps when it came to national security, no sirree. How he repeatedly accused President Bush of fightiing the wrong war in Iraq. How president teleprompter installed his own military commander in Afghanistan during March 2009? How in August 2009 barry's handpicked military commander in Afghanistan said we are in danger of defeat unless he recieves more 40,000 more troops?
Poor, poor barry. Now its November, 2009 and the poor, overworked dear can't manage to get off the fence and make a leadership decision in support of our men and women in uniform. Hes too busy fretting over what the daily kos and moveon.org will say about him if he commits any more troops to afghanistan. What a profile in courage.

Posted by Attila at November 1, 2009 12:02 PM
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