"Forces Beyond Our Control Threatening Democracy", for Over 200 years

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So Obama gives his farewell speech and goes out with a tear in his eye. Then he gives Biden a stupid medal, because it is stupid now that Biden has it, and they both have tears in their eyes.

They're getting all choked up because they can't kill people anymore? Is that it? They can't send their video control drones off to get them some collateral damage? They can't live like royalty with their own special initialized linen? They're sure not getting choked up about the wars and hundreds of thousands killed and millions displaced, brutally evicted from their homes, during their eight year reign/war of terror.

In his farewell speech he warned that "forces beyond our control are threatening American democracy" He said, "what will keep the country together, is a sense of “solidarity.”

I'm getting tired of presidents "warning" us in their farewell speeches. Remember Ike's farewell address in 1961 when he warned about the power of the military industrial complex (MIC)? Ya, fifty six years ago and look at the MIC now. It's like, "hey, I lied my ass off for eight years but now I want to warn you, there are forces beyond our control out there. Beyond "our" control? That's you and me and Barack, everybody. That's heavy if you think about it. Beyond our control. Think about what that means. It means we're fucked.

So if those forces which are beyond our control, are threatening American "democracy" as he puts it, isn't it too late because it's beyond our control?

Then he talked about solidarity against those "forces beyond our control".

“There have been moments throughout our history that threatened to rupture that solidarity -- the beginning of this century has been one of those times,” he said. “A shrinking world, growing inequality; demographic change and the specter of terrorism – these forces haven’t just tested our security and prosperity, but they’re testing our democracy as well.”

What kind of democracy is he talking about? The one that he administered as President of the United States? The one that was proven to be a democracy fraud under his helm? Who is he trying to fool with this democracy talk? Himself? We don't live in a democracy. Doesn't everybody know that? Why do we keep talking like we do?

How can forces beyond our control threaten our democracy when we don't have a democracy? It makes no sense but that was the main theme of Barack Obama's farewell speech. I don't think it's going to go up there with the best of them.

He outlined three potent forces working to challenge American democracy that will require unity of purpose going forward.

-rising economic inequality and concern that government “only serves the interests of the powerful.”
-the growing tension over race and diversity in the country.
-American democracy is challenged by the fact that people are retreating further and further into their own respective “bubbles” of experience and opinion.

Unity of purpose for what and for whom? Should the 1% and the 99% get together and sing kumbaya? Should the duopoly pretend to work together like it pretends to work apart? Unity of purpose is the answer, for the Serfs, but it won't include the 1%, that's been settled. It sure as hell won't include the Democratic and Republican political parties, two appendages of the ruling class.

No word about the MIC, like Ike. Maybe we're supposed to combine all these farewell and other warning speeches into one big one to get the full picture. Ike's MIC speech, Wilson's Federal Reserve speech, Truman's CIA letter, and Obama's forces beyond our control speech. We should include JFK's secret society speech while we're at it. Even though it wasn't his farewell speech, it might as well have been.

Put them all together and what do you get? We don't live in a democracy, there are forces beyond our control. Obama is right.

Regarding national security and the fight against terrorism, Obama said the country has eliminated torture, worked to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center and killed terrorist Osama bin Laden. and no terrorist group has managed to pull off an attack on U.S. soil since he took office.

"Eliminated torture". Oop, there it is, Oop, there it is. The President of the United States said the "country" did torture. How about that, country? Crickets. Well, we all knew it anyway, why not say it. Why not say alot of things. Why not say what the "country" is doing illegally and immorally right now? It's out of our control anyway.

It's the Forces. Loose the Forces Luke, they're threatening democracy.

Obama mentioned George Washington’s 1796 farewell address, in which he cautioned against forces that aim to “weaken” the United States’ democratic aims.

“It falls to each of us to be those anxious, jealous guardians of our democracy, to embrace the joyous task we’ve been given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours,” he said. “Because for all our outward differences, we in fact all share the same proud title: the most important office in a democracy, citizen.”

We get all these Presidents and they all caution about forces weakening our democracy. They never do anything about it, they just hand it off the next president with a warning. Watch out for those forces man

And yet we don't live in a democracy and never have. Decisions have always been made by the rich and powerful. It makes me wonder about these warnings. It also makes me wonder what our Presidents think democracy is. We know Obama was and is a consummate liar, a war criminal, a tool of Wall Street and the MIC, and basically a fraud. He was awarded the Nobel Peace prize because of his rhetoric against nuclear weapons then authored a trillion dollar nuclear weapons modernization program. His eight years were filled with deceit, illusions, lies, and WAR.

Now he wants to warn us about the forces.

Here comes Trump doing basically the same thing. It's the Forces, they're out to get us, and him.

Just sit back and watch it unfold, it's all out of our control anyway.

[video:https://youtu.be/b24m6mCBn0E]

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Steven D's picture

Forces beyond our control is rather a fatalistic last missive, isn't it?

As always, thanks, Obama.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Big Al's picture

It's like, "the Aliens/Lizard People have us under their control, there is no use in resisting". Peculiar. I suppose he could be indicating how intractable our human condition has become, how institutionalized the power structure is, etc. Either way, phrasing it that way makes it sound like we're up shit creek without a paddle.

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Steven D's picture

An "I didn't fail, the system failed me (to the extent failure occurred)" speech.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

gulfgal98's picture

Obama knows his legacy is down the tubes. So he blames it upon forces beyond our control. He had his chances to do the right things and the power to do them. Yet every time, he had the chance to do what was right by the American people, he sold out to forces beyond OUR control, but not beyond HIS control. So now the Obama cat is in the litter box trying to cover up his shit.

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

coloradoblue's picture

needed to be one of two things. Either:

I'm sorry. I totally failed you. I'm sorry.

or:

Hahaha. You fucking idiots. You really believed that hope and change shit I laid out. God you're stupid. Now on to cashing in like a mofo.

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Dear Dems: You lost the WH, Senate, House, dozens of governors, state level SOS and AG and about 1,000 state legislative seats. Maybe...you're doing something wrong.

suggest that they have strong reason to believe that Trump will be able to rein them in.

Perchance we should be wishing him luck, instead of sneering at his lower class style (not you, Steven). I read that our strategists consider nuclear war survivable these days (for some). Nuclear war would make all our other issues irrelevant. It's a Very Bad Thing. Maybe (oh, shock!) Trump is our best hope right now (I was a lifelong and active Democrat until this primary).

Very ugly things are going on of late.

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divineorder's picture

so hard to believe he will do something about nukes. TOO RATIONAL! /s

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A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.

Alligator Ed's picture

This preciously sought medal is awarded to only the most hardened students of history (and reality) who can tolerate listening to a political speech for more than 3 minutes. It is well known, that most people who try to listen for longer usually vomit or go into a coma. I have tried to immunize myself to listen to political speech for several years now, but shrieking Hillary broke my immune system. I developed a case of hives hides after listening to each speech. Big Al, you are a better man than I, to listen to Obomber for 52 minutes.

Now as proof, which you have already provided that the Democratic party has lost its mind, this bears repeating:

"forces beyond our control are threatening American democracy"

.

Since all this self-destruction has been bipartisan, originating in the US of A. this means that DemocRATs and RepublicRATs have lost control of their actions.

In honor of your esteemed accomplishment in listening to the whole grueling diatribe speech, I am proud to dedicate this song to you:

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuUvC-Fnw1Y]

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Big Al's picture

I'd humbly accept except I didn't actually listen to it, just read enough of it to get the gist. I, like you, can't handle those voices in my ear. At least with the printed word, we can get it over with quick.

The two major political parties are how the ruling class manage/control the country and fight or negotiate amongst themselves.

Good song Ed. thanks

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divineorder's picture

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A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.

Russians beyond are control are threatening American democracy ! Well either way we wouldn't be good Americans if we didn't fear something, but I always thought the force was a good thing.

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snoopydawg's picture

This counterpunch article is a good read. The author ends it with writing that he will watch with great relief when Obama takes his final helicopter flight from the WH lawn because he can't keep up with Obamas's bullshit any longer.
For those who don't want to read my Tl:dr, the link to the article is at the bottom. I get carried away and go on and on. Smile
I feel the same way he does and when I finished reading this, I thought back to the night he was elected and seeing the smiles and tears of joy because we thought that our 8 year nightmare was over.
I would not believe that I too can't wait for him to leave office before he can do anymore damage to this country or other countries.
From the article

The lying neoliberal imperialist Barack Obama’s nationally televised Farewell Address from Chicago last Tuesday was a fitting monument to the deceptive, fake-progressive oratory he wielded so elegantly in becoming a national phenomenon and a U.S. President. As usual, his oratory was plagued by a deep disconnect between his words and his deeds.

Fake progressive indeed, yet I have seen countless commentary from people who say that they wish he could have another 8 years in office because He's been the best president since FDR, by golly and he hasn't had any scandals during his entire tenure.
I guess they are right unless you count how he has defied the war powers act and invaded and destroyed Libya on false pretenses.
Progressives used to think that was bad, but I guess it's only bad if a duffess like Bush does that.
Or if you can overlook his using drones in countries that we aren't at war with, have Tuesday meetings where he decided who he is going to kill next, or overlook that he killed an American without due process because he said that he was an eminent threat to our country.
How a person in another country thousands of miles away could be an eminent threat is beyond my mind. As was the person's son who Obama also dropped a bomb on and when someone from the media questioned why he was killed, they were told that the kid should have picked another father.
Like the kid had a choice of who his father was.
More from the article

“But, for all the real progress that we’ve made,” Obama the fake populist said three nights ago, , “we know it’s not enough. Our economy doesn’t work as well or grow as fast when a few prosper at the expense of a growing middle class, and ladders for folks who want to get into the middle class. (APPLAUSE)…stark inequality is also corrosive to our democratic idea. While the top 1 percent has amassed a bigger share of wealth and income, too many of our families in inner cities and in rural counties have been left behind…The laid off factory worker, the waitress or health care worker who’s just barely getting by and struggling to pay the bills. Convinced that the game is fixed against them.”

Well no shit Sherlock, haven't you been in charge for the last 8 years and are responsible for the above?
He's leaving Trump with more shit than Bush left Obama.
The Middle East is in flames because of his actions and the possibility of a war with Russia is very real.
Will Trump be able to stop it and bring those troops out of the countries that surround it, or will the people who he has appointed and the Deep State allow him to?
He too addresses where Obama talks about Washington's speech and the founding fathers and takes them apart too.
I too say to Barack to hit the road jack and thanks for letting down the millions of people who once believed that you were going to change the direction of this country instead of being responsible for the biggest income inequality since 1928 and not doing a damned thing to help the 99% of the people in our country and for destroying the lives of millions of people in the Middle East, Honduras and Ukraine.
If you are interested in reading this article about Obamas's farewell speech
http://www.counterpunch.org/2017/01/13/hit-the-road-barack-some-farewell...

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There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?

Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.

divineorder's picture

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A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.

Good morning thanks for the head banging ear worm Big Al.
I don't know what to do. I know what not to do. Thanks.

Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me (8 times)
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! (8 times)
Motherfucker!
Ugh!

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riverlover's picture

In like a winner, out like a bust. Should I have said Loser?

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

And they're off! (bells ring gates open)
http://www.defensenews.com/articles/pakistan-reveals-test-of-submarine-launched-missile

Mansoor Ahmed, a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard University's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and an expert on Pakistan’s nuclear program and delivery systems, said Babur 3 is a “significant milestone” in Pakistan’s effort to complete its nuclear triad.

http://zeenews.india.com/tags/babur-3.html

Here are five things to know about Babur-3

1- The range of the missile is 450 km (280 miles). Babur-3 could carry a nuclear warhead.

2- Babur-3 is a sea-based variant of Ground Launched Cruise Missile (GLCM) Babur-2, which was successfully tested earlier in December, last year.

3- The Babur-3 SLCM incorporates state-of-the-art technologies including underwater controlled propulsion and advanced guidance and navigation features, duly augmented by Global Navigation, Terrain and Scene Matching Systems.

4- The missile features terrain hugging and sea skimming flight capabilities to evade hostile radars and air defenses, in addition to certain stealth technologies, in an emerging regional Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) environment

5- Babur-3, a submarine-launched cruise missile, in a land-attack mode, is capable of delivering various types of payloads.

just in case anyone was wondering

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gulfgal98's picture

I just wanted to let you know how very right (about everything) you have been all along. I have not been commenting much lately because I have nothing to add to your excellent essays. You have been hitting them out of the park lately.

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

Big Al's picture

Appreciate that. Just doing my part.

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Wink's picture

better had they taken that bromance moment into the john. That's something we shouldn't have witnessed.

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the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.

terriertribe's picture

Whose control is it in? </snark> It would have been nice of him to let us know who to blame/fight/etc, apart from "not him." Yeah, I know he's not allowed, but I don't just play dumb on tv.

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Now interviewing signature candidates. Apply within.

no matter how confused the forces of evil become (nice Carlin quote) their permanent state of confusion and idiocy seems to be increasingly perilous to our little planet.

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Hillbilly Dem's picture

When I was young I saw "Hotel" starring Rod Taylor as the young energetic manager of a grand hotel, the St. Gregory, that may or may not survive. It was 1967, I was 13 and it was one of the first movies for grown-ups that I totally "got".

In the last scene, it's clear that it's done, the St. Gregory will die and cease to exist. Rod Taylor walks into the packed hotel bar and simply says "Ladies and Gentlemen, the drinks are on the house." He calls up to the penthouse suite and tells the Melvyn Douglas, the old man who owns the place, "Mr. Trent, you better get down to the bar, I'm giving away all our booze!"

I've been feeling a lot like Rod Taylor's character over the last 15 or 20 years, but never so much as now. As my old baseball coach used to shout at the equipment manager in a blow out, even if there were still some outs to get "Sack up the bats, Cookie. This one's over."

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"Just call me Hillbilly Dem(exit)."
-H/T to Wavey Davey

BernieOrBust's picture

For me, Obama/Biden have been a very mixed bag. A real Love/Hate relationship!!! LOL So many horrible, harmful, long lasting things have happened in the last 8 years, and at the same time there is so much to love and admire about them. The game they played is TOUGH!!! We have no idea of the stresses thrown at them 24/7/365. Not trying to make excuses, just keeping it real. At the same time, I'd like to think that had Bernie won 2016...which of course he should have.... he would handled those stresses in a much more peaceful, 99% oriented, environmentally conscious manner. SMH..... The Dems fuc*ed this one up real good! I just hope we are able to recover as a country from what Dump will wreak on it.

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