Obama's Second Term

[Ian]

Coito - That last paragraph implies that speech wasn't already free enough in the US prior to Citizens United, or was in some danger of becoming less free. I could not disagree more. Your response also doesn't distinguish very well the difference between donating to a cmpaign and donating to a Super PAC. The latter, since Citizens United, can be done anonymously and with unlimited amounts of cash. Of course Super PACs and campaigns are not supposed to actually coordinate with each other, but anyone naive enough to believe that this does not happen should come and talk to me about a bridge I'd like to sell them in Brooklyn.

One good thing about Super PACs: networks and publications can charge them whatever the hell they want to for ad space, while campaigns get charged a minimum. This is one reason why conservative Super PACs, which utterly dwarfed liberal ones for contributions in 2012, didn't fully negate the cash advantage that Obama's actual campaign had over Romney's campaign.

[Coito ergo sum]

Coito - That last paragraph implies that speech wasn't already free enough in the US prior to Citizens United, or was in some danger of becoming less free.

No it doesn't. It states that Section 203 of the law in question was broad enough to cover media corporations, blogs, and the press.

I could not disagree more. Your response also doesn't distinguish very well the difference between donating to a cmpaign and donating to a Super PAC.

Donating to a campaign is limited. Donating to a PAC is different and is governed by rules governing PACs. Citizens United doesn't deal with those issues. Citizens United dealt with corporate, union and other associations' "independent expenditures."

The latter, since Citizens United, can be done anonymously and with unlimited amounts of cash. Of course Super PACs and campaigns are not supposed to actually coordinate with each other, but anyone naive enough to believe that this does not happen should come and talk to me about a bridge I'd like to sell them in Brooklyn.

Fair enough -- but, Citzens United had nothing to do with that, and striking down Section 203 did not mean that PACs and campaigns could now legally coordinate, and Section 203 is not the provision of the law that makes it unlawful for them to coordinate.

One good thing about Super PACs: networks and publications can charge them whatever the hell they want to for ad space, while campaigns get charged a minimum. This is one reason why conservative Super PACs, which utterly dwarfed liberal ones for contributions in 2012, didn't fully negate the cash advantage that Obama's actual campaign had over Romney's campaign.

Even assuming that is true, arguendo -- what does that have to do with Citizens United and what would upholding the law at issue in Citizens United do to fix it? Answer: nothing, because Citizens United didn't have anything to do with that.

[Jesus_of_Nazareth]

My bet is that he will recognise Palestine (hey, look - it's over there!)...........not sure what he will give the Israelis in exchange, maybe Iran (a week before he leaves office!).

On the economy he will muddle on through.......in 4 years time conditions will be ok enough for another round of economic short sighted stupidity by his successor (which in freemarket terms means the problems have been fixed).

In respect of Obamacare, after 8 years will be enough folk / companies by then who have vested interests to defend in the new status quo (likely the same people who objected to the change) - plus politically will become impossible to take healthcare away from people, even those who object on principle (personally I would have allowed folks to opt out of everything - Obamacare / Medicaid / Medicare, they and their objections would soon die off!).

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Quibbles aside, Citizens United is a bad idea. It's a scam by the fat cats to avoid contribution limits.

[jaydot]

be really nice if he got rid of cannabis prohibition and let us all light up in freedom.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

be really nice if he got rid of cannabis prohibition and let us all light up in freedom.

You might get to smoke a joint at my wake. That would be nice.

[Jesus_of_Nazareth]

In 4 years time the Americans will be choosing between "letting the woman drive" and "another darkie" in the oval office.....(and if the latter is a Republican odds are that he will be named Tom, and that his siblings will have had children).

[Coito ergo sum]

Quibbles aside, Citizens United is a bad idea. It's a scam by the fat cats to avoid contribution limits.

Well, other than it isn't, because you seem to fundamentally misunderstand what the case was about. You might try reading it.

[amused]

We are all Kenyans!

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Quibbles aside, Citizens United is a bad idea. It's a scam by the fat cats to avoid contribution limits.

Well, other than it isn't, because you seem to fundamentally misunderstand what the case was about. You might try reading it.

Nah, nothing you bring up is ever worth considering.

[Tero]

The fucking republicans are fucking angry. And that was just NPR.

And they have guns. How do they keep tea party nuts off Obama?

[amused]

The fucking republicans are fucking angry. ...

And they have guns. ...

Not for very much longer...

[JimC]

* Avoiding the fiscal cliff (actually, that's supposed to happen before his 2nd term begins, assuming the can isn't just kicked further down the road). Hopefully a long-term agreement can be reached, one that includes some tax increases as well as cuts to major spending areas (most notably defense). With the deficit going down and uncertainty towards future tax structures alleviated, the economic recovery will increasingly pick up steam.
* Fully implement the Affordable Care Act.
* Augment Dodd-Frank and make it tougher. It probably won't happen, but I can dream.
* Immigration reform legislation. Republicans will compromise on this, or they will wither away as a party.
* Minor tweaks to Social Security. Removing the upper limit of SS taxes taken from people earning six figures or more would keep the system going a very long time.
* Appoint a new Supreme Court justice. Maybe two.
* Withdraw from Afghanistan without risking collapse in Kabul and the Taliban returning to power (i.e. a redux of the withdrawal from Iraq).
* Keep an eye on Pakistan. The risk of that nation becoming a failed state/civil war is high - and they've got nukes.
* Manage impending economic problems emerging in China with respect to US-China trade relations.
* Invade Canada.

Invade Canada Tasmania...

It'll be a devil of a job, mind you...

[Coito ergo sum]

Quibbles aside, Citizens United is a bad idea. It's a scam by the fat cats to avoid contribution limits.

Well, other than it isn't, because you seem to fundamentally misunderstand what the case was about. You might try reading it.

Nah, nothing you bring up is ever worth considering.

...for you, because it takes actually thinking about an issue.

[Gawdzilla Sama]