ESK's Blog

ESK Commented on Health Debate Fails to Ignite Obama's Grass Roots by ESK

2009-08-17T12:34:31Z

My reference to ruckus I am using the word facetiously. They determine what's a "legitimate" story or what isn't. When it comes to purely political stories they almost always seem to choose a "ruckus." So I pretty much agree with your premise.

ESK Commented on Health Debate Fails to Ignite Obama's Grass Roots by ESK

2009-08-17T04:57:18Z

Thanks for the good thoughts. Armchair activists -I like that term. Hope you don't mind if I use it.

ESK Commented on Health Debate Fails to Ignite Obama's Grass Roots by ESK

2009-08-17T04:54:41Z

Right on target. Thank you.

ESK Commented on Health Debate Fails to Ignite Obama's Grass Roots by ESK

2009-08-17T01:58:03Z

Like I said on your post, you're only interested in hearing yourself or others with the same point of view. You'll never get anything accomplished that way. Now get out of my blog!

ESK Commented on No Public Option? Then Kill It by oleeb

2009-08-17T01:50:19Z

Think what you want. It looks like the only thing you have the balls to do is complain. Narrow left wing views are just as obnoxious as narrow right wing views. Same tactics. Call the other guy nonsensical or stupid and then declare victory. You are unable to accept that there are differeing points of view because you're too busy listening to yourself or others like you. I'm outta here. Happy now - you won - or so you think.

ESK Commented on No Public Option? Then Kill It by oleeb

2009-08-17T01:04:08Z

And it will be even worse if we do nothing at all.

ESK Commented on Health Debate Fails to Ignite Obama's Grass Roots by ESK

2009-08-17T00:53:41Z

Let me break it down for you. The Democrats significantly outnumber the Republicans in both congressional chambers. This you know. Therefore theoretically the Dems should be able to overpower the Repubs just by shear numbers. So why isn't that happening? Because the Dems have lots of differences amongst themselves. My points have nothing to do with what the Republicans say. Their tactics are designed to delay and ultimately kill healthcare (with a few exceptions). I only know what I see and the centrist Dems are going to have a lot to say with regard to what's in the final bill that is passed.

With regard to "satisfied, schamitisfied - I look at a situation and and try to fight for what I think can reasonably be achieved. You appear to be a dogmatic idealogue who wants to take an all or none approach, I think. Experience tells me that all or none tactics end in one of two ways, either in complete victory or in total failure. Myself, I'm much more in favor of a win win approach.

As far being part of the problem and not the solution - how do you know that? I've been organizing for health care reform for quite some time now; getting petitions signed, making phone calls, etc. What have you been doing, I mean constructively, besides complaining and being angry? And as for my kids, they know what I've accomplished, so I don't spend any time worrying about that.

ESK Commented on No Public Option? Then Kill It by oleeb

2009-08-16T23:41:04Z

The issue is not that you want to leave the Democratic party. That's your choice and I respect it. What I take issue with is your attitude. So whatever you do continue to support health care reform now, even it means some compromise. For this is not just about politics. People's lives and livlihoods depend on it.

ESK Commented on R.I.P. 'public option' by acanuck

2009-08-16T22:51:37Z

To quote the President - "In the end, this isn’t about politics. This is about people’s lives and livelihoods." Watered down is an arbitrary and relative phrase. Health care reform needs to happen, and we need to get it going now.

ESK Commented on R.I.P. 'public option' by acanuck

2009-08-16T21:53:04Z

Your way or the highway, is that the ticket? I had enough of that attitude with Bush/Cheyney. Whether it comes from the left or right, that attitude stinks.

ESK Commented on No Public Option? Then Kill It by oleeb

2009-08-16T21:47:26Z

"If this is true, then there's no longer any reason for progressives to pretend that the health insurance reform effort is worth supporting." Are you going to take your ball and go home?

"If he doesn't even have the balls to stick to his own public option plan then I move from the deeply disappointed column to disgusted." - By design, he has never totally defined how his version of a public option would work. But of course yo don't want to hear that. As you should know there are different versions of the public option in both the House and Senate bills. You also appear to think that the president is an omnipotent being. Infantile, utterly infantile.

ESK Commented on Health Debate Fails to Ignite Obama's Grass Roots by ESK

2009-08-16T21:36:02Z

Cutesey smugness will get you everywhere. Yeah right. C'mon, you're not one of those who will never ever be satisfied, are ya?

ESK Commented on Health Debate Fails to Ignite Obama's Grass Roots by ESK

2009-08-16T20:33:25Z

OK.... I am quite aware of when the discussion began. My point is that as with any debate it picks up steam and a much greater number of people become involved as you head into the stretch. As for your comment about "our accomodationist President" read up and you'll know why he left the public heavy lifting to the Congress. It has to do with Clinton's health care reform failure in 1993 because he tried to force a bill down Congress' throat. I think that the President has been directly involved for quite some time, just not as publicly as you'd like. He had a choice - bully Congress and risk getting nothing, or play it smart. He opted for playing it smart. And oh by the way it's the Democrats who pose the bigger obstacles right now, not the Republicans. Bottom line is that we're not going to get everything we want, but what we get will be huge in comparison with what we have now. But we'll always have some on either side of the fence who will never be satisfied.

ESK Commented on Obama To Meet With "Gang Of Six" Finance Committee Members On Health Care Tomorrow by Brian Beutler

2009-08-06T14:07:36Z

Let me guess, single payer or nothing. Take a chill pill and get into reality. You'll feel better. And oh by the way, stop listening to the mainstream media. They'll only make you feel worse. I like Lawrence O'Donnell but his meme on health care reform has been gloom and doom almost from the get go. Remember his point of reference - the 19994 failure of the Clinton health care plan. It either clouds his thinking or he's just trying to stir the pot.

ESK Commented on Obama To Meet With "Gang Of Six" Finance Committee Members On Health Care Tomorrow by Brian Beutler

2009-08-06T03:24:51Z

Here's what I think is going to happen tomorrow. Obama will use a tactic that he's used since his days as a community organizer. He'll let each of them have their say and he'll mostly listen. He'll do this knowing that the Republicans and he strongly disagree on the structure of health care reform. The Democrats in the room already know what his expectations are for them. He stated that pretty clearly today. What the Republicans will get is a say, but not anything substanitive. Without a say they would feel cornered. This could help defuse some of the inevitable criticism that will come the President's way from the Repubs. The tactic also serves the same purpose for the conservative Dems involved. He'll ask all of them to find common ground, but they won't because the Repubs don't want to. Bottom line - he wants to neutralize his opposition.

ESK Commented on Inhofe: The Birthers "Have A Point," And "I Don't Discourage It" by Eric Kleefeld

2009-07-27T16:28:06Z

The problem with the Republican Party is that they need a completely new base. That's the only way that idiots like Inhofe can be kept away from mainstream politics.

ESK Commented on Yet More Obama Secrecy: Won't Release Info On Visits From Health-Care Execs by Zachary Roth

2009-07-22T16:58:31Z

Let's not let the perfect get in the way of the good. We're at a point in health care reform where realistically, negotiations can't take place in public. You folks here demanding perfection from Obama need to take a chill pill. You're not always going to get your way. While not perfect, this is almost certainly the most transparent, inclusive, respectful and communicative administration in history.

ESK Commented on Emanuel: Obama 'Open To Alternatives' To Public Option by Brian Beutler

2009-06-24T22:00:02Z

How about you stay on subject - health care reform. And oh by the way, take a deep breath, and try, just try for as moment to be realistic and constructive instead of petulant and angry. We may just get more things done that way. I get really tired of people who just want to take their ball and go home when they don't get their way in the exact manner they want or at the exact moment they want it. We have a long way to go, so show a bit more patience. Sigh....

ESK Commented on Emanuel: Obama 'Open To Alternatives' To Public Option by Brian Beutler

2009-06-24T16:38:01Z

To all of you hyperbolic, hysterical nervous nellies on this thread - please take a chill pill and grow up. You respond to sporadic news reports emanating from an ongoing complicated negogotiation for health care as if it's gospel. Stop playing checkers and begin thinking in terms of playing chess. Obama's style has always been to encourage the opposition to speak, even if he disagrees with their point of view. That way, in the end they won't feel boxed in, and are more likely to be supportive. If you want a clue as to how Obama really feels about the public option then go to www.barckobama.com and click on Take Action for Health Care Reform. Support for a public option is front and center. It wasn't there three weeksa ago. Here's what it says:

President Obama has called for health care reform in 2009 that upholds three core principles. It must:

Reduce costs " Rising health care costs are crushing the budgets of governments, businesses, individuals, and families, and they must be brought under control

Guarantee choice " Every American must have the freedom to choose their plan and doctor " including the choice of a public insurance option

Ensure quality care for all " All Americans must have quality and affordable health care

Or better yet contact you representatives and tell them what you want or get more involved. Making angry comments on a blog will not get it done.

ESK Commented on Not Just State Secrets: Obama Continuing Bush's Stonewalling On Gitmo Cases, Lawyer Claims by Zachary Roth

2009-04-11T17:36:30Z

Either I didn't explain well enough or you're missing my point. What Bush and company did was undeniably unconstitutional. Their intent was to subvert the Constitution and the result was terrible. That is clearly not Obama's intent. The tool is the Constitution.

ESK Commented on Not Just State Secrets: Obama Continuing Bush's Stonewalling On Gitmo Cases, Lawyer Claims by Zachary Roth

2009-04-11T14:25:03Z

You know, I've come to believe that too many on the left are as impatient, cynical and perfectionist as those on the right are mean. Learn patience folks, and control your cynicism a bit. You'll live a lot longer. Think about it - is it not a possibility that making the corrections to the Bush administration's assault on the Constitution is a bit more complicated and time consuming than we know. But how could we know? The Justice Department side of this story is missing! The reporter apparently didn’t go after it. And for those who believe that Barack Obama is just a modified George Bush (and there's no nice way to say this), you have your heads up your ass. How a tool is used is entirely dependent on in whose hands it rests. Doing things the right way and the effective way so that the outcome is fair and resilient can take some time. Eighty some odd days is not a lot of time.

ESK Commented on Not Just State Secrets: Obama Continuing Bush's Stonewalling On Gitmo Cases, Lawyer Claims by Zachary Roth

2009-04-11T12:37:33Z

Where is the other side of the story? That is, is there a Justice Department side of the story? Look, I'm against the abuses of Guantanamo but there is a journalistic responsibility to try and get both sides of the story and report on it; even if the other side is a declination to comment. We don't know because it doesn't appear in this story. Folks, reporting a news story is not a public cross examination; it's first and foremost fact gathering. Hold your comments. You don't have enough info. Bad reporting here; nothing more than rabble rousing. More like a reader's opinion post rather than a news story.

ESK Commented on Anti-War Groups Compare Obama's Af-Pak Plan to Kennedy's Vietnam Escalation by Elana Schor

2009-03-29T02:59:40Z

Here's the thing folks - The Afghanistan portion of the region is only one part of the puzzle. The other part is Pakistan, and to some extent India. Pakistan currently has a weak unstable government. They also have a nuclear arsenal. They're being threatened internally by the Taliban, and by default Al Qaida. Afghanistan represents a weak link in the chain of controlling both the Taliban and Al Qaida radicals. The only potentially stabilizing military force in the area now is the US, and to a lesser extent, NATO forces. So they're the only ones who can push towards the Pakistani border against the radicals. The goal of defeating Al Qaida is real only to a certain extent. I believe that the administration has other goals in mind. The real goal is to neutralize Al Qaida, the Taliban and other radical Islamic group and keep them from acquiring a nuclear weapon. It's important to keep in mind that the only ones in the world today who have stated that they would detonate a nuclear device are radical Islamists. In a number of both Hezbollah and Hamas rallies it has been reported that there were those in the crowd carrying flags depicting a mushroom cloud. They mean it. This is a true threat to our security, should not be taken lightly, and only in some instances resembles Vietnam. But this region's problems cannot be solved just by militarily action. Afghanistan needs to become a bit more stable both economically and militarily; and India needs to give Pakistan some breathing room so it’s military can deal with the threat from its side of the border.

ESK Commented on When Outrage Becomes Outrageous by ESK

2009-03-18T16:23:56Z

No Ellen I'm not an astroturfer as you so "elegantly" put it. I'm real and you can talk to me directly and not in the third person. And oh by the way methinks you're a bit paranoid.

ESK Commented on Geithner's AIG plan by cmaukonen

2009-03-18T15:09:38Z

Well that was constructive and insightful.

ESK Commented on When Outrage Becomes Outrageous by ESK

2009-03-18T15:06:12Z

OK. So consider my post an op-ed and allow me to opine. But I did enjoy the analysis.

I do want to comment on one of your points - I don't agree that Treasury's actions and inactions to date have done little to alleviate those suspicions. The problem is that they haven't done a good job communicating what they're doing, so we don't really know. That information vacuum is being currently filled by too many opinions and not enough fact. I have to believe that, unless checked, the outrage will truly become outrageous.

ESK Commented on When Outrage Becomes Outrageous by ESK

2009-03-18T14:55:07Z

Agreed. Well said.

ESK Commented on When Outrage Becomes Outrageous by ESK

2009-03-18T14:53:01Z

Actually I think that people should raise hell about AIG, and I said that. The question to you is for how long and to what end? My issues with what you say are not stylistic; they're tactical and ultimately strategic. Let's all get this off our chests for sure. And yes that's about holding those in power accountable. But at some point becoming a part of the problem solving process becomes more important. Grassroots organizations come to mind. With respect, that will help focus our message to whoever needs to hear it in a more effective way than just screaming into the internet cloud.