General Discussion

EdwardBernays

(3,343 posts)

98. The truth

Mon Apr 18, 2016, 06:51 AM

Apr 2016

is that - just like with products - people are obsessed with brands in politics. People genuinely don't care very much about war profiteering or corruption, as long as they get theirs...

...and then when they their opponents are shown to be corrupt they unironically scratch their head and wonder how in the world thing have gotten so bad.

It's a symptom of just how lousy humans are at having any real sense of morality... and why hypocrisy is so casually ignored by true believer and beneficiaries of corruption.

Years ago I started this little campaign, locally in Boston, that was basically just t-shirts and stickers that read: Expect More From Your Leaders.

The idea - which is obvious I'm sure - is that we expect so little from anyone in a position of authority that we're part of the problem, a big - YUGE - part.

And my god, the hero worship that surrounds Obama is pretty sad... He's an OK President at very best, and half the time I think that's a very generous assessment.

Between his disastrous foreign policy, his corruption, his stalwart defence of the center-right, and his pretend populism I just... it's hard for me to be a big fan. He's better than Clinton, but dear god what a low bar that is.

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Locked in GDP. Senator Bob Graham: Obama is lobbying congress of behalf of Saudis... [View all] grasswire Apr 2016 OP

Isn't Graham trying to get the 9/ll documents released, and has been for years? brush Apr 2016 #1

Yes, Sentor Bob Graham has been trying to get the documents released for years. elleng Apr 2016 #4

No Obama Promised To Release Years Ago billhicks76 Apr 2016 #31

Do you have anything to back up such an outrageous statement. brush Apr 2016 #36

It's Called Hyperbolic Satire billhicks76 Apr 2016 #38

Reprisal homegirl Apr 2016 #42

Are You That Naive??? billhicks76 Apr 2016 #51

Conspiracy theory much? Cary Apr 2016 #56

Facts Not Theories billhicks76 Apr 2016 #66

Awesome Cary Apr 2016 #74

Tinfoil is bright with this one. trumad Apr 2016 #108

Ah Yes...Another Not So Bright Coincidence Theorist billhicks76 Apr 2016 #174

I appreciate your sincerity, your willingness to connect the dots senz Apr 2016 #82

What senz said. Scuba Apr 2016 #96

What senza and scuba said! Silver_Witch Apr 2016 #110

What they said. DemocracyDirect Apr 2016 #126

^^This^^ Dont call me Shirley Apr 2016 #163

You should then offer LanternWaste Apr 2016 #117

Am I that naive? homegirl Apr 2016 #119

Me too. It would be much less depressing to pretend that small airplane crashes and brain GoneFishin Apr 2016 #136

Why not wait and see what happens with the Saudi docs instead of making unfounded accusations? brush Apr 2016 #43

CNN Reported Obama Would Release Years Ago billhicks76 Apr 2016 #88

word stew, generated by a bot or a particularly short-circuited human MadLinguist Apr 2016 #67

The Bots Are The Ones Who Freak Out When One Questions 911 billhicks76 Apr 2016 #179

ain't nobody freaking out Mr Hicks 76. MadLinguist Apr 2016 #182

One comic to another bill JackInGreen Apr 2016 #107

Kathleen Harris died very suspiciously within a very short time after dimson seized power. lark Apr 2016 #131

Uh, Kathleen Harris is still alive... louis-t Apr 2016 #153

LOL trumad Apr 2016 #177

I was so brainless yesterday. lark Apr 2016 #181

*Breaking News* Obama Will Veto Bill billhicks76 Apr 2016 #180

Obama's handler, Bush Sr? I'd lay off the conspiracy sites and the acid if I were you. Nitram Apr 2016 #71

If I Called You Paid I'd Get Red-Flagged billhicks76 Apr 2016 #89

Or, for "little" people, like Dr. David Kelly, Ghost Dog Apr 2016 #103

People On DU As Blind or Afraid As Anyone Else billhicks76 Apr 2016 #130

Some, many; not all. Ghost Dog Apr 2016 #175

So the Saudi's know what's in these documents and the American people do not? YOHABLO Apr 2016 #48

Yup. That 9/11 was a Saudi government operation AgerolanAmerican Apr 2016 #59

Yep, Yep... MrMickeysMom Apr 2016 #63

Exactly! lark Apr 2016 #132

I stand corrected. Rex Apr 2016 #2

Was the reason it was locked because it was in GD:P? elleng Apr 2016 #5

This message was self-deleted by its author Rex Apr 2016 #7

Lots of silliness happening these days. elleng Apr 2016 #9

Too much of it imo, we better start pulling together as a team. Rex Apr 2016 #10

Yes. elleng Apr 2016 #12

And yes, this is something we can pull together. We need to jwirr Apr 2016 #133

I messed up in the locking post, it was locked for being in GDP when it's not about the primaries. tammywammy Apr 2016 #17

NP. I will retract my statement and I apologize. Rex Apr 2016 #23

"reveal" - good word keithbvadu2 Apr 2016 #45

Yes, the post-911 private flight carrying Saudis & bin Ladens senz Apr 2016 #79

"Saving the Saudis" (Vanity Fair, 2003) KansDem Apr 2016 #129

Thanks! Looks like a good read. senz Apr 2016 #141

...! Worth the read and reread... KoKo Apr 2016 #145

And remember, no planes were flying after 911. Dont call me Shirley Apr 2016 #164

IKR? Sure did seem scripted. They left just a little too fast. Rex Apr 2016 #120

IF that is your worst mistake of the day Omaha Steve Apr 2016 #25

Clinton's guy John Podesta, is a lobbyist for Saudi Govt. HooptieWagon Apr 2016 #77

Bingo..John Podesta is a Saudi Lobbysit. ReRe Apr 2016 #125

Since her campaign chair, Podesta, is a Saudi lobbyist.... HooptieWagon Apr 2016 #127

K&R Plenty of Opening Posts are locked in strange ways, here at DU lately... Jeffersons Ghost Apr 2016 #8

Hopefully it will stop once primary season is over. nt Rex Apr 2016 #11

yep, thanks nt grasswire Apr 2016 #16

It was locked for being in GDP. tammywammy Apr 2016 #19

So do we capitulate to the Saudi's. They literally own a good share of us. nm rhett o rick Apr 2016 #3

Right, they own a good share of us, elleng Apr 2016 #6

Maybe their 'stock' has fallen since the price dropped to the bottom of the oil barrel. Rex Apr 2016 #13

It will greatly disappoint me if our President balks at releasing the documents. floriduck Apr 2016 #21

Totally agree with everything you said. BeanMusical Apr 2016 #40

I read that if they pull ALL their money, it's still less than 1% of bond market. Turn CO Blue Apr 2016 #22

If your numbers are right, �� 'em. SusanCalvin Apr 2016 #61

If that's true dorkzilla Apr 2016 #92

Nationalize their assets Ferd Berfel Apr 2016 #37

When it comes to the Saudis, it doesn't seem to matter who is president n/t arcane1 Apr 2016 #57

Right, and that takes us back to the question of who actually senz Apr 2016 #83

It's an interesting question. One answer we can agree on is Enthusiast Apr 2016 #91

Thanks so much senz Apr 2016 #149

Let em threaten. Warren DeMontague Apr 2016 #14

.+1 840high Apr 2016 #15

I agree. They'll hurt their own econony as well, and I believe we can outlast them. brush Apr 2016 #20

BRING IT ON! SammyWinstonJack Apr 2016 #33

also see this grasswire Apr 2016 #18

From the sounds of it, wouldn't be the first time they helped finance an attack on the US. drokhole Apr 2016 #24

sigh grasswire Apr 2016 #26

The subtle threat here is that the Saudi's will pull their payolla to certain rhett o rick Apr 2016 #27

Subtle? They're being about as subtle as Trump is about women!! Major Hogwash Apr 2016 #29

Freezing their assets might be one solution... KoKo Apr 2016 #150

Not real surprising Old Codger Apr 2016 #28

I think it's being slow-walked because 2naSalit Apr 2016 #30

I don't think it will be released now. grasswire Apr 2016 #32

Plus, there's that election thing... MrMickeysMom Apr 2016 #64

Visit's a good reason. Add, 750B$ cash gone means a Bush style recession as an Obama legacy. Festivito Apr 2016 #68

I disagree hueymahl Apr 2016 #118

You're right, it's small. We seem to be on the same line of facts. Festivito Apr 2016 #156

Obama Answers To Bush Sr billhicks76 Apr 2016 #34

Face it. Hillary OWES the Saudis big time. grasswire Apr 2016 #35

Saudis OWN Hillary and John Podesta. HooptieWagon Apr 2016 #78

Not completely, but they are major shareholders. Fuddnik Apr 2016 #105

Preach sarcasmo Apr 2016 #178

Obama Bows to Saudi King . RATM435 Apr 2016 #39

Damn!! grasswire Apr 2016 #44

Kissing is ok? keithbvadu2 Apr 2016 #49

As long as you don't use tongue. LastLiberal in PalmSprings Apr 2016 #53

ewwwwww. blec. that photo gets me every time. nt restorefreedom Apr 2016 #86

If it's not on the mouth. nt thereismore Apr 2016 #115

I defended Obama back then. Now it seems a bit fucked up. nt thereismore Apr 2016 #114

An interesting coincidence EdwardBernays Apr 2016 #41

Yes grasswire Apr 2016 #46

^^^^^ INDEED ^^^^^ MrMickeysMom Apr 2016 #65

The money withdrawl would make a nice disaster capitalism routine. Festivito Apr 2016 #70

You known what makes me fucking nuts about this? dorkzilla Apr 2016 #94

The truth EdwardBernays Apr 2016 #98

Frickin Exactly! Duppers Apr 2016 #151

What dorkzilla said + 10000000000 onecaliberal Apr 2016 #159

Every time I read something about HRC or Bill, CrispyQ Apr 2016 #109

You're not alone. EdwardBernays Apr 2016 #124

Funny, everyone's dogging Clinton on this, but it's Obama who's held these up for 7 years. lark Apr 2016 #134

And EdwardBernays Apr 2016 #137

Most of them are in it together. lark Apr 2016 #142

Absolutely. EdwardBernays Apr 2016 #143

100% lark Apr 2016 #146

This is not EdwardBernays Apr 2016 #147

Sadly true. lark Apr 2016 #148

Recommend for Exposure... KoKo Apr 2016 #138

Standing U.S. Policy angrychair Apr 2016 #47

but we do bend over for dollars jeepers Apr 2016 #52

Has Sanders or Clinton responded to this? chknltl Apr 2016 #50

Sanders has. He said we won't be blackmailed by Saudi Arabia. I don't know if Clinton has spoken. DisgustipatedinCA Apr 2016 #58

Thanks. Maybe someone from Clinton DU... chknltl Apr 2016 #62

Yes, he did...n/t KoKo Apr 2016 #139

Hillary was asked by George Steffenopolis (sp?) ReRe Apr 2016 #69

Sounds non-committal so far. chknltl Apr 2016 #72

That's what I took away from the interview... ReRe Apr 2016 #73

"And I believe she said no, that she needed to read up or study on it." mac56 Apr 2016 #122

Obama will release the docs... dchill Apr 2016 #54

then he is helping to ensure a gop presidency. restorefreedom Apr 2016 #87

You sound like a pro-Trump troll, go to a right wing forum Democat Apr 2016 #90

trump has nothing to do with this restorefreedom Apr 2016 #104

Latest polls have Hillary beating all the GOP candidates Duppers Apr 2016 #152

they sound like the tbaggers with benghaziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii and emails saturnsring Apr 2016 #157

That's no doubt one of the reasons Al Jazeera America went down... MrMickeysMom Apr 2016 #55

I read an article saying the Saudis are planning to sell their oil reserves, still in the ground. HooptieWagon Apr 2016 #84

Well... MrMickeysMom Apr 2016 #85

You don't believe there was any Bush�Cheney involvement? Enthusiast Apr 2016 #95

Didn't say there wasn't... MrMickeysMom Apr 2016 #100

I agree, MMM. senz Apr 2016 #144

Well, our dear government, over the years, SusanCalvin Apr 2016 #60

***Arms Sales*** In 2010 **$60 billion in arms were sold to the SAUDIS!! Duppers Apr 2016 #154

SS questioning Michael Moore's presence across the street from the Saudi Embassy senz Apr 2016 #75

interesting grasswire Apr 2016 #76

Bush covered up for Saudis after 9/11. HooptieWagon Apr 2016 #80

What is disturbing is this administration has continued that coverup. EndElectoral Apr 2016 #112

Yes, it has. HooptieWagon Apr 2016 #113

Well that's what I wondered when seeing it in 2004. senz Apr 2016 #81

So for 28 pages, he's willing to relentlessly lobby congress. But when gay rights were involved, Betty Karlson Apr 2016 #93

Kinda like Universal Healthcare, or even it's little cousin Single Payer. Scuba Apr 2016 #97

And Clinton wants to give us more of the same? That's some mantle to don... eom Betty Karlson Apr 2016 #106

A $60Bn arms sale may have something to do with this. Duppers Apr 2016 #158

He's got his comfortable shoes on now. nt thereismore Apr 2016 #116

And his "comfortable walking shoes" to stand with the unionists while Wanker was stripping their Dont call me Shirley Apr 2016 #170

Just seize the properties jamzrockz Apr 2016 #99

This message was self-deleted by its author FreedomRain Apr 2016 #101

Release the Evil-revealin Crock O'Shiten (R) AxionExcel Apr 2016 #102

Complicity. Thousands of other documents. Documents need to be released not held hostage. EndElectoral Apr 2016 #111

apparently he's covering for someone grasswire Apr 2016 #135

LIHOP. Rex Apr 2016 #140

I have said year-after-year, that eventually something will come to light... Raster Apr 2016 #165

The realities of what really goes on with world leaders are probably mind blowing lindysalsagal Apr 2016 #171

If the Saudis are responsible, then we declare war on them, seize their property, and offer them NCjack Apr 2016 #121

If it was any country but the Saudis (or Chinese) threatening our economy SwankyXomb Apr 2016 #123

The Saudis can go fuck themselves. blackspade Apr 2016 #128

the 28 pages will be released on the same day that the Abu Garib photos will. which will be... Javaman Apr 2016 #155

Republican Senator Bob Graham .99center Apr 2016 #160

thank you for that grasswire Apr 2016 #167

Bob Graham is a lifelong Democrat... Dont call me Shirley Apr 2016 #172

Sorry about that .99center Apr 2016 #173

Recommended. Release the 28! panader0 Apr 2016 #161

Lobbying on behalf of the pnac gang?! The bush cabal?! Impeachment is off the table gang?! Dont call me Shirley Apr 2016 #162

But of course. And we are very close to nominating their newest member.... Raster Apr 2016 #166

and carries a bottle of hot sauce in her bag. nt grasswire Apr 2016 #168

We should seize whatever U.S. assets they own. LS_Editor Apr 2016 #169

Because by his own admission he is a Reagan Republican. On all matters of money or power GoneFishin Apr 2016 #176