DISQUS

tlsintx · 4 months ago

it strikes me as kind of pathetic that American citizens have to chain themselves together, cause a commotion in public and get arrested, just to get some action on a promise.

Congress and the Obama administration need to do what's right. right now.

timncguy · 4 months ago

That's the same position the white house professed for DADT, work to build support.

The question is, why did they include the need for building PUBLC support of DADT? It's already at 70% for gawd's sake. There is NEVER more than 70% support for anything.

I believe there is a similar level of support for ENDA and Hate Crimes legislation as well.

scottinsf · 4 months ago

What astounds me is that hate crimes legislation was supported by a majority of congress when it was previously passed (obviously).

Now that the democrat party has even larger majorities in both the senate and house and control the executive branch, support has apparently dwindled.

They want us to be good little Log Cabin democrats now. I won't play that game.

David · 4 months ago

I am so proud of these people, it makes my heart sing!! This is how it is done people!!! ACT UP is back after a long hiatus!! WELCOME BACK ACTIVISTS!! ACT UP LIVES!!!

aahpat · 4 months ago

If the ban does not reappear in the legislation in some backdoor way I am sure than Obama will find some way to administratively continue it.

I have ZERO trust or confidence in Barack Obama to be a humane and civilized human being where drug war policy is concerned.

offspring · 4 months ago

this is the type of protest that actually works

badger3k · 4 months ago

"I'm happy to take that statement at face value. What's the administration's plan for working with Congress to get the votes in the full House, and to get the needle exchange ban on the docket, and passed, in the Senate?"

Just like we are all happy to take his words that he will repeal DADT at face value. What! He didn't! I suspect (as I'm sure you do) that his "plan" will involve telling congress that it isn't his job to push for any plan, or to actually do anything to help push it through, since it would not be bipartisan to actually do his frikkin job.

More and more Obama is looking like another power-hungry, egotistical whackjob. He seems happy to continue down the road Bush laid, all in the name of "bipartisanship" - which means "I can do what I really want, and claim that it is wrong to actually support the things that the people voted me into office to support, the ones that I cynically used to get me into power."

While I am sure that Obama has been a voice of sanity over Crusty McCain and the Moosejaw Madam, he's proving himself almost daily to be another pathetic loser of a human being.

David · 4 months ago

Agreed. I am willing to go a few more rounds with the Great Obama (not), but I am losing patience and I don't want to hear from any h8rs. Every major stance he has taken for LGBT persons he has backstepped away from, always using some lame excuse!! We are not going to the back of the bus anymore!!! Once more time I will give him the benefit of the doubt, but this is it. It is do or be a one term president!! One more thing and I am going to actively protest his corrupt administration.

JustaLawya · 4 months ago

What do you think of all the "work with Congress" or "it needs to come through the legislature" rhetoric? Do you think it's good public policy/separation of powers or do you think it's a sign of fear to take a strong leadership position or a way to pass blame if things go wrong ("well Congress didn't do it, so it's not my fault?")

Can we square this with the DADT language we heard earlier?

John Aravosis · 4 months ago

Separation of powers! You made me laugh out loud on that one :-) No one said that the President should go to Congress and demand that he's the 101st Senator with a right to vote and sit on the conference committee. We're talking about whether the man is going to lobby Congress for his own agenda or not. Arguing separation of powers, which this administration is doing over and over again to justify its inaction, and outright flip-flopping on its promises, is pathetic and laughable (I know you're not arguing it). If that's Obama's argument, that he can't interfere with Congress, then why did he even take a position on health care reform? He can't influence the process, so why is he even talking about it? What "promise" did he make during the campaign on the issue if he doesn't have a vote in the Senate? Why did he comment on any issue other than war making and federal regulations, which are in his purview? Why did he lobby for the stimulus package? Did that violate the separation of powers? Why did Obama weigh in and tell Senate Democrats to permit Lieberman in the caucus? That one actually wasnt' any of his business, but he did it anyway.

It's actually rather sickeningly Orwellian for a Democratic president to argue that he must adopt Republican policies in order to save the rule of the law.

Indigo · 4 months ago

As soon as you called it "Orwellian" I intuited your point about what's going on. The Theologian in Chief has gone way past Animal Farm; he's at one with Big Brother. Greenpeace got it right: "We need leaders, not politicians."

JustaLawya · 4 months ago

I personally think it's keeping with the DC government worker motto: That's not my job =)

mtiffany · 4 months ago

What's the administration's plan for working with Congress to get the votes in the full House, and to get the needle exchange ban on the docket, and passed, in the Senate?

I thought the administration's plan would be to take a position on an issue based on the empirical facts rather than political expedience and palatability -- vis a vis Obama's own promise to "restore science to its rightful place." Unless of course Obama is going to once again tell us that he doesn't know what promise I'm referring to.

ndtovent · 4 months ago

I'm actually proud of ACTUP for this protest (I haven't always been). It draws even more attention to hiv prevention efforts, many of which have failed in recent years due in part to the public's 'prevention/information fatigue' and lack of funding -- AND laws such as the needle exchange ban.

David · 4 months ago

ACT UP is the MAIN REASON we have treatments for HIV/AIDS at all!! ACT UP actually got Reagan to sit up and take notice, even though nothing was done until George HW Bush!! Yes, during George HW Bush, who was obviously more compassionate than Reagan or his own son!! I was in ACT UP back in the 80's and early 90's and with them we would have gotten NOWHERE!! We laid down in the street, blocked the WH, Blocked the Capitol, protesting at every turn!! We need more people to come forward and volunteer for ACT UP. My generation, the original HIV/AIDS victims are now exhausted and many of us are dead! We need young people to step up to the plate and carry the torch once more!! Back in the day it was mostly gay people, but it would be great if people of all persuasions would volunteer to ACT UP!!! It does work!! If there are enough people to help!!! GO ACT UP!!!

Butch1 · 4 months ago

Perhaps, this administration and Congress responds well to demonstrations. When you constantly point out the flip-flops of the Obama administration from his promises on the trail, they do come off looking like political liars and it embarrasses them to be consistently put on the defensive. Who is running the show at the WH, Obama or Emanuel? Someone needs a reality check and needs to start looking at that "promises to the people if you elect me" list and soon.

Indigo · 4 months ago

" . . . because we want to work with Congress and the American public to build support for this change."
That's the argument used for not acting on DODT, for supporting DOMA, and for several more page two reforms that are being deferred. I don't buy it. I don't know why you say you're "happy to take that statement at face value." It's a smokescreen for inaction.

John Aravosis · 4 months ago

I was being vaguely sarcastic and trying to hang them with their own words.

Indigo · 4 months ago

Oh, okay. I missed that signal. Sorry.

John · 4 months ago

Obama certainly deserves his fair share of the blame. The president has passed the buck to Congress. He has continued to make contradictory statements. He has been overly cautious. And he has not provided the leadership necessary to get this agenda completed.

But sometimes I wonder if Pelosi's lack of gravitas actually hurts these causes. Watching her stutter her way through the weekly press briefing is painful. And when she does preside over the House, she has a tendency to timidly tap her gavel and say "order" in a whisper that the clerks sitting below her can barely hear. Good grief Nancy, you're the Speaker of the House, not a fifth grader giving a presentation before a critical teacher. It is possible that it is just strage fright and she's a tough, brilliant negotiator behind the scenes. But given Congress' lack of productivity, I doubt it.

kelly · 4 months ago

hey dummy - it is the congress job not the POTUS - he didn't pass the buck

John · 4 months ago

Right. Because no president would ever, ever, ever think of interfering in the legislative process. Perish the thought. Presidents are completely powerless in every way. They just sign stuff Congress sends them. It is a mostly ceremonial position. You know, like the Queen.

Give it a rest, Obama Centurions. Your incessant defense of the indefensible has not helped Obama's declining polls numbers. Nor has it gotten anything done. When it comes to national security, jobs, immigration, health care, energy, and gay rights, we've had nothing but six months of empty gestures and photo-ops from this White House.

John Aravosis · 4 months ago

Sure he did. He put the ban in his budget, which signals to congress that he wants it to stay.

JustaLawya · 4 months ago

Yes, but POTUS can put a lot of pressure on Congress, either by lobbying his own party or threatening to veto things that do not contain what he wants (or the even stronger threat. . ."I veto EVERYTHING until you pass what I want). Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton, and Bush 2 all used those tactics to great success.

JustaLawya · 4 months ago

UPDATE: Rep. Obey took the ban out of the appropriations bill in committee. It now needs to go back to the House floor for approval.

Anyone know if the Senate bill still has the ban?

John Aravosis · 4 months ago

I checked it, it's fine. Obey announced that they were removing the ban - i.e., doing what we want. They weren't removing the language from the bill.

David · 4 months ago

I am encouraged by this turn of events. It remains to be seen if it is REAL or is it PANDERING? It could be a move to pacify activists while not actually doing anything or changing anything....in other words are Nancy's words real or just lip service?

fiona · 4 months ago

I rather suspect that the brouhaha yesterday was completely scripted by AIDS activists who a) wanted to hurt the Obama administration b) wanted to make others believe they have an impact and c) KNEW FULL WELL IN ADVANCE that the bill was being voted on today.

There is no way if this vote had not already been in the works that the action taken yesterday would have resulted in such immediate effect.

Try your best, some of us do have intelligence.

Nevertheless, well played bit of acting!

David · 4 months ago

We don't want to harm anyone DEAR!!! We don't want to hurt Obama DEAR!! We want action on his promises DEAR!! We do have an impact DEAR, and we don't have to make others believe it DEAR!! Such an ugly amount of cynicism and hypocritical behavior DEAR!! From you that is!! Assuming motives is not intelligence DEAR!! Get lost DEAR!!

John Aravosis · 4 months ago

Yeah, that's what the AIDS activists were really doing. They weren't really fighting for people with AIDS, they weren't really quoting the actual Obama administration budget that does in fact propose continuing the needle exchange ban in direct contradiction of the president's own campaign promise - no, the AIDS activists were simply interested in hurting your boyfriend. I mean, our president.

KarenMrsLloydRichards · 4 months ago

"Fiona" is one of THE most annoying trolls ever on this site. It's good to have a few oppositional voices, but this one is incoherent ideologically and has a sneering tone which is unmerited.

aahpat · 4 months ago

The modern Democrats a reactionaries who will shift direction like a herd of antelopes if cornered.

Earlier this year I wrote a very angry letter to one of my senators, Bob Casey, about the fact that he had not yet supported Virginia Sen. Jim Webb's S-714 to establish a national criminal justice commission. I had written Casey a dozen polite letters and he always responded in the generic non-committal way that members of congress have boilerplate form letters for. But in this case I got aggressive and his office responded, literally, within a week calling me directly to tell me that the Senator was signing on to co-sponsor the legislation.

Aggressive protests will get immediate reactions from these Democrats. It is the nature of reactionary politicians.

fiona · 4 months ago

You are one ungrateful set of people, is all I know.

The President needs to put his decisions to the vote. As I said before, save your selves and try getting off drugs as well. Then you would not need this pathetic attempt to discredit all that has been done over the last few months.

Then again, maybe you could be responsible for your own sexual behavior so my tax dollars wont have to buy you needles?

David · 4 months ago

I bet not one the protesters even touches IV drugs!! Take your moral judgment and shove it where the sun does not shine!! It is brave people like these that are PATRIOTS!! It is protests like this that bring change!! Sex and needles are TWO different subjects. Apples and Oranges and shows how IGNORANT you are!! Most people who use IV drugs don't have SEX in the first place!! Bet your ignorant butt didn't know that did it? They are fighting for housing for people with HIV/AIDS as well. Leaving them on the street will just spread HIV quicker and faster than you can imagine. Just use Africa as an example! I certainly wish no one harm, but for once I wish you would have to live with AIDS for awhile and you would be protesting with them!!!

David · 4 months ago

So glad you are so perfect to sit in judgment DEAR!!! NOT NOT NOT!!! Ignorance is bliss, you must be completely blissed out in your blatent ignorance

mykelb · 4 months ago

Drug addiction is an illness, you git. If you had one inkling of the amount of time and money it takes to stop taking drugs (maybe you have great health insurance, hooray for you), you wouldn't high hat this issue with such ignorant aplomb.

aahpat · 4 months ago

?!?!

aahpat · 4 months ago

Hurray for the protesters!

Patriots, one and all.

Online activism is all well and good but it is an abstraction making it easy for politicians like President Obama to sneer at them. And in so doing marginalize the issues of the online activists.

Public protests and civil disobedience are real and cannot be denied or laughed at. In the streets, or the Rotunda, mass demonstrations of the people gives issues scale and intensity. Angry crowds of citizens lends immediacy and gravity to an issue that ten million emails to congress cannot impart.

ACT UP are American heroes who are willing to boldly go where drug war policy dissent needs to be heard, the United States Congress.

FunMe · 4 months ago

exactly!

Out of the blog and into the streets!

David · 4 months ago

Thank you very much for your thoughtful comment. You have articulated everything I am feeling at the moment!!

aahpat · 4 months ago

Its called squeaky wheel politics: the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Public protests are pictorial. Email campaigns are not.

The last thing the Democrats want is the impression that any thinking American dissents from the Democratic platform.

MikeMc · 4 months ago

Isn't this what you wanted to have happen? Why are you all still complaining? Are you normally this pissed off after a win? Your victory parties must f**king rock!!!

aahpat · 4 months ago

Just because a clause disappears in markup one day does not mean the clause is dead. Or that people should cease their passion for the issue.

MikeMc · 4 months ago

I'm not saying that you shouldn't be passionate about an issue. This just feels like sulking in victory. 6 months in you've decided that this President is a bust, so no matter what he does you'll trash him for it. I believe that you're passionate about this issue. I just believe that some posters real passion is their dislike of Obama

scottinsf · 4 months ago

Look, Obama asked his supporters (most of us were) to hold him accountable and push him where we saw necessary. He asked us to hold him to his word. We are doing that here. I'm not passionate about Obama. I am passionate about what he asked of me.

If you don't like our approach, fine. It really doesn't matter if you do. We'll be the squeaky wheel and you can be the malfunctioning electric car window.

MikeMc · 4 months ago

Wouldn't you fix a malfunctioning car window before you fixed a squeaky wheel?

aahpat · 4 months ago

LOL!

Typical distorted priorities of Obamabots.

With a broken window you end up all wet.

If the squeaky wheel is a sign of bad breaks your dead.

aahpat · 4 months ago

I have distrusted Obama since the primaries.

I have disliked Obama since Feb. when he started escalating and militarizing the Mexican border. When he asked for $400-mn supplemental for Plan Merida. And when he started planning for military troops on the border while telling us that he was not militarizing the border.

Your right, Barack Obama is a drug warrior and I do not like drug warriors in my government.

MikeMc · 4 months ago

Dude, you are crazy with a side a crazy! Where in my comments did I say anything about Obama being "drug warrior"? What does that even have to do with the original post? Jesus, try not to get hurt.

aahpat · 4 months ago

Since your insults and personal attacks are not discourse, debate or rebuttal, and since you are not intellectually capable of carrying a thought from point A to point B I'll leave this conversation now.

MikeMc · 4 months ago

Again, where in my comments did I say anything about Obama being a "drug warrior". What does that have to do with the original post? Are intellectually capable of answering these simple questions

aahpat · 4 months ago

You've got to be joking. You honestly do not see the connection between needle exchange for addicts and the war on drugs?

You carry compartmentalization to the point of absurdity. You must think your Barack Obama the way you parse.

aahpat · 4 months ago

At Huffington Post

Update: The battle is already on. Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) offered an amendment Thursday that Democrats in the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government accepted. It bans funding for distribution of syringes "in the District of Columbia within a thousand feet of a public or private daycare center, elementary school, vocational school, secondary school, college, junior college or university or any public swimming pool, park, playground, video arcade or youth center or an event sponsored by any such entity."

threadmonitor · 4 months ago

Bold type, like ALL CAPS, is sorta jarring on a thread and we prefer that you limit its use. Thanks.

aahpat · 4 months ago

It did it to highlight new negative topical news information.

threadmonitor · 4 months ago

I understand that, aahpat, and thank you for the new info. But the request and the reason for it still stand.

naschkatzehussein · 4 months ago

The story of the House overturning Obama's signing statement removing the IMF amendment from the supplemental military spending bill overwhelmingly and bipartisanly encourages me to think the Congress is growing a spine and will take its seat as an equal partner in the government. (Not too hopeful about the Millionaires' Club, aka, the Senate though.) I hope that was a sign that it is going to pass a needle exchange program and other things the WH is playing sly on.

canadian_seattlite · 4 months ago

hmmmm sounds like a strategy for the marriage equality/gay activists.... why aren't we shutting down the capitol????

FunMe · 4 months ago

Oh my gosh, I have goose bumps.

WOW!

These activists were so well organized. Even the carrying of the banner was done in such a nice way so that you did see what the words say.

Now if we could only have a mega protest like this for:

- repealing DOMA
- repealing DADT
- signing of ENDA

and more related to GLBT equality.

I congratulate and salute these fine men and women.
:-)

John F Kramarz · 4 months ago

Why doesn't NJ allow people to BUY syringes without a prescription. If I'm going to exchange them for FREE, I might first allow people to buy them with their own money, to save the state a few bucks maybe. What kind of message is that? "We won't allow you to buy these, but we'll give them to you free"??
Also, I want to find a needle exchange location and take a bushel of my daughter's insulin syringes and INSIST on being treated equally under the law, as a law abiding taxpayer, and get free fresh ones! (I currently pay for my own, $24 a box of 100)

caitifty · 4 months ago

Hi. I work for a needle exchange in California. We'd be delighted if you brought your daughter's used needles in for exchange. You wouldn't need to 'insist' on anything. We do exchange for diabetics all the time. And I agree with you completely that NJ should allow needle sales without prescription, both because it reduces the load on taxpayer-funded exchanges, and because pharmacies are available in more locations and for longer hours than most exchanges are, meaning someone is more likely to be able to get a clean needle and not catch/spread HIV or hepatitis C when they really need one.