Obama isn't even trying to hide what he did for the banks

At Elite Gala With Ex-Bush Official, Obama Implores Wall Street to Thank Him for Making Them so Much Money

GrayzoneProject — Barack Obama urged bankers to thank him for helping make them so much money during his tenure as president. He also boasted of turning the US into the world’s largest oil producer.

Obama made his appeals for elite adulation at a lavish gala hosted by former Secretary of State James Baker and surrounded by wealthy Republicans in tuxedos.

His comments came just a few hours after he met with former Republican President George H. W. Bush at his home in Texas.

If there was any single event that captured Obama’s centrist, neoliberal capitalist politics, it was the former Democratic president’s oligarch lovefest in Houston on November 27.

At this sumptuous black-tie gala, Obama talked the 1,100 elite guests into raising a staggering $5.4 million, in just one night (at an average donation of nearly $5,000), for Rice University’s centrist, pro-corporate Baker Institute for Public Policy, which is chaired by Baker.

Baker joked that Obama would be getting paid ten percent of the $5.4 million in donations. It is unclear how much Obama raked in for his speech, but Baker’s exaggeration might not have been far off.

After begging for the gratitude of the ultra-rich, Obama and Baker rattled off a series of platitudes about the importance of “bipartisanship.” The Baker Institute described the event as a discussion of “political civility.”

“Have you checked where your stocks were when I came in office?”

In one of the most eyebrow-raising moments of the night, Obama pushed back against Wall Street executives who have criticized him. He told the bankers who crashed the global economy in 2008, and who were then bailed out by the US government, that they should have been grateful, because they still made money.

“Sometimes you go to Wall Street, and folks will be grumbling about, ‘Anti-business…’” Obama said. “And I say, ‘Have you checked where your stocks were when I came in office, and where they are now?’ What what are you talking, what are you complaining about?”

“Just say thank you, please,” Obama told the bankers. “Because I want to raise your taxes a couple percent to make sure kids have a chance to go to school?”

Obama also spoke proudly in the discussion of having increased US fossil fuel production each year he was in office.

“I know we’re in oil country, and we need American energy,” Obama said. “And by the way, American energy production — you wouldn’t always know it — but it went up every year I was president. And that whole, ‘Suddenly America is the biggest oil producer’ — that was me, folks people.”

Lamenting decline of US hegemony

In their discussion, both Obama and Baker lamented the decline in US imperial power across the globe. They agreed that the world cannot run smoothly without the United States as an international hegemon.

“People ask me often, John, what surprised me most about the presidency,” Obama said. “It is the degree to which the United States under writes the international order. It is not always in the obvious ways, but if there’s a problem around the world, people do not call Moscow; they do not call Beijing; they call Washington. Even our adversaries expect us to solve problems and expect us to keep things running.”

“And when you start getting dysfunction in Washington,” Obama continued, “that doesn’t just weaken our influence it provides opportunities for disorder to start ramping up all around the world.”

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The one where he said he wasn't black and he wasn't white, but rather both. I thought, "Here is the man to bring final racial healing." He could have been so much. He could have gone down in History like Washington, Lincoln and FDR. Instead, he was just another cheap Chicago politician. I'm sorry for him, but also for us.

He's super-rich now, but I wonder if he ever remembered the words of St. John(?). "What profit it a man to gain the whole world, but lose his own soul."

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I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

snoopydawg's picture

@The Voice In the Wilderness

in history, but instead he's going to be remembered as the president that could have been ...he had the mandate and people behind him to pass just about anything for the years the democrats held all branches. Instead this is how so many will remember him.

IMG_1234_7.JPG

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

dystopian's picture

@snoopydawg He had a mandate is right. He could have made sure the Democrats did not lose for the next generation. There were many options and ways available. He somehow passed on being a man of the people and for the people, it just slipped through his hands, I think because he was more interested in the Clinton Grift (TM) model, grabbing for the money.

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

@snoopydawg be great because his is not great.

One cannot be what one isn't.

His mealy mouthed appeals for attention are as pathetic as Clinton. Why won't these people go away?

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dfarrah

thanatokephaloides's picture

@The Voice In the Wilderness

I listened to his speech during the first campaign.

The one where he said he wasn't black and he wasn't white, but rather both. I thought, "Here is the man to bring final racial healing." He could have been so much. He could have gone down in History like Washington, Lincoln and FDR. Instead, he was just another cheap Chicago politician. I'm sorry for him, but also for us.

We could have done better with Chicago thug politicians, too. Al Capone recognized that ordinary working folks had a right to a decent life, even if they need help now and again to achieve it.

That's right. We would have been better off with Al Capone as President.

Shudder!!

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

lotlizard's picture

@thanatokephaloides  
The “baseball bats” Barack used to kill people were many, frequent, airborne, and remote-controlled.

“I’m really good at killing people” — what a dignified, presidential thing to say, so worthy of the office!

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thanatokephaloides's picture

@The Voice In the Wilderness

He's super-rich now, but I wonder if he ever remembered the words of St. John(?). "What profit it a man to gain the whole world, but lose his own soul."

Words were Jesus's. (Red type in a Red Letter Bible.)

Matthew (16:26) and Mark (8:36), to be precise, Captain:

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

-- Christian Scriptures, Matthew 16:26 (KJV) source

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

-- Christian Scriptures, Mark 8:36 (KJV) source

Smile

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

TheOtherMaven's picture

@thanatokephaloides

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There is no justice. There can be no peace.

@thanatokephaloides

Also, what was that movie (with Richard Burton?) that quoted the line and then added "bit for Wales?" A Man For All Seasons?

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I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

TheOtherMaven's picture

@The Voice In the Wilderness

the star was Paul Scofield.

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There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Amanda Matthews's picture

Out-grift The Clinton family.

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I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks

Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa

thanatokephaloides's picture

@Amanda Matthews

Barack Obama - the only person who could Out-grift The Clinton family

He's got a ways to go yet. (We are talking about the Clintons, after all.)

But give him some time.....

Wink

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

Amanda Matthews's picture

@thanatokephaloides
The Clinton Creature only got $265,000. The City of Chicago is shaking down the taxpayers to build him a shrine to the tune of $200 MILLION. Then there’s:

Barack and Michelle Obama each just sold a book in a joint deal that appears to be bigger than any previous presidential book deal in history. Reportedly, they are making $65 million, which is an unprecedented amount of money for a presidential memoir.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/culture/2017/3/2/1...

Obama has fooled the world and at the rate he’s going he’ll make the Clintons look like paupers in a very short time.

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I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks

Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa

thanatokephaloides's picture

@Amanda Matthews

I was unaware of the utter magnitude (maggotude?) of the Chicago scam.

Yeesh!!

Bad

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

Amanda Matthews's picture

@thanatokephaloides @thanatokephaloides @thanatokephaloides

Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law the legislature's budget on June 4, which included $174 million for road work in and around Jackson Park — where the 235-foot-tall building would be located — and another $50 million to renovate an above-ground rail stop two miles away.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/obama-presi...

Among them, per a Crain’s Chicago report, the Obama Foundation’s website, FactCheck.org and other sources:

• Estimated cost of project: $350 million.

• Site area, in acres: 22.

• Number of main buildings in complex: Three (Forum, Museum and Library), joined by the complex’s Plaza and Athletic Center.

• Height of main building: 235 feet.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=undefined&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwjx_LzGn5...

EDIT: I hit ‘save’ and somehow ended up with my stuff posted 3 times.
EDIT EDIT: forgot link

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I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks

Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa

@Amanda Matthews @Amanda Matthews @Amanda Matthews
because the State didn't pay their Medicaid bills. Good Riddance, Rauner. Rot in Hell.

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I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

Amanda Matthews's picture

@The Voice In the Wilderness
expendable. Not only our government but now also the middle class has begun to resent and resist the idea of taking care of the weak and/or defenseless. And our ‘betters’ would love to cull the herd faster.

A lot of this resentment is based on the feelings of insecurity which drives resentment. This is particularly relevant to the resentment for the ‘underclasses’ by the middle class. But for our ‘betters’, its pure greed and contempt.

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I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks

Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa

snoopydawg's picture

@Amanda Matthews

to come close to making the $2 billion that the Clintons have made since 1997 when Bill created theirs.

The Hill has an article about the whistleblowers who are blowing the whistle on the shenanigans of Bill, Hillary and Chelsea. As usual it says that the foundation uses its money to send AIDS drugs to Africa, helped Haiti after the earthquake and help some farmers somewhere over the pond.

Why hasn't the foundation helped people here after the many hurricanes such as the ones in Texas, or Katrina or the recent one in Florida? How is it that this noble family hasn't helped the people in Paradise, CA after their town burned down? Tens of thousands of people are homeless from natural disasters here in der homeland and yet I haven't heard anything about how the Clinton foundation has helped anyone.

The Hill article says that Bill has a hard time staying inside the lines and uses the money for his own personal use. Their foundation has been investigated numerous times and yet no one has ever found any problems with it. Maybe this is because of the people who have been in charge of the investigations. Comey took a look at it in 2005 and then Lynch's IRS took another look at it a few years later. "Problems? Nope. I don't see any problems with what they are using the money for."

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

@thanatokephaloides

Obama is 1000x worse than the Clintons. I can't think of a President we've had that I despise more and that includes Trump. Obama is a slimy, deceitful, arrogant, opportunistic, manipulative, self-serving, lying, thieving murderer who betrayed his voters and his country.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Amanda Matthews's picture

@dkmich

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I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks

Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa

dystopian's picture

Hey you bastards, you aren't hiring me enough dammit! I let you off the hook for destroying the nation's, and world's, economies, bailed you out with trillions of the little people's money, suckers, now where's my cut dammit! I haven't been booked by one of you vampire squid in a month.

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

snoopydawg's picture

@dystopian

live a comfortable life and do whatever my heart desires. I've never understood why people get so greedy.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

@snoopydawg @snoopydawg
A mental disease.

Like a rapist who gets off on the fear and humiliation and the pain. Commercial sex is readily available for those too ugly or creepy for free sex. It's not about sex. it's about domination.

Similarly, it's not about money, it's about domination. And one can't have enough until one has it all, ultimate power over everyone.

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I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

moneysmith's picture

"...surrounded by wealthy Republicans in tuxedos."

The perfect emblem of his awful presidency. What a loss for us all.

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Hell is empty and all the devils are here. William Shakespeare

thanatokephaloides's picture

“Sometimes you go to Wall Street, and folks will be grumbling about, ‘Anti-business…’” Obama said. “And I say, ‘Have you checked where your stocks were when I came in office, and where they are now?’ What what are you talking, what are you complaining about?”

We working-class 99%ers need to check our "stocks", too:


source

Diablo

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

You call Washington...

Like Hillary Clinton's friend in Honduras. He had a problem named Berta Cáceres that which disappeared most likely after a phone call to Washington...

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Deja's picture

@Dalum Woulu
Or so the story goes. Even NPR reported as much, which nearly caused me to run off the road into the ditch.

Another 'robbery gone bad'.

#RememberBerta

https://bertacaceres.org

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snoopydawg's picture

I have a page bookmarked that has the people who ran afoul of the Clintons and ended up dead. Just a coincidence though I am sure.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

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.

gulfgal98's picture

I did not particularly like Obama's portrait that was commissioned for the National Portrait Gallery but I DID think that the artist captured his character perfectly, like the snake in the grass that he is.

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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