Why is reality in the tank for Obama?

[HopeOverFear]

John Cole, by way of Bob Cesca:

I also think that there is a certain mindset among some people that if you are not spending every day dramatically freaking out that Obama sucks, you aren’t doing your duty as a citizen and aren’t thinking critically and are “just in the bag” for the President. There honestly seems to be a group of people out there who think that when the President tells them to “make him do something,” they don’t understand that he wants them to apply constructive pressure on him and on Congress, they think it is a license to scream and flail and yell “just words” and adopt Republican messaging frames. They think it is permission to have a hissy fit. And I don’t think it is being “in the bag” for Obama to point out those hissy fits.

For my part, I've always believed that being constructively critical and setting priorities in terms of what's important and what's not is more effective than ongoing hissy fits. For example, I rabidly supported the president during the campaign even though I admitted on several occasions (including my initial endorsement) that I disagreed on some issues like clean coal and telecom immunity. But when the Rick Warren thing came down, I thought it was a bad idea and was very critical of the president's decision. I think my criticism had more impact because of my support up to that point. If I had kept up that level of criticism beyond the inaugural, it would've just amounted to loud noises.

Yes, the president has made mistakes. No, I'm not a fan of Rahm Emanuel's style. Yes, I wish the president would stop repeating the memes he's attacking. Yes, I think the White House should be more aggressive with Wall Street. But the mistakes are far outnumbered by the successes -- the liberal successes and the leadership successes.

You've seen the list. This week alone was huge. Hate crimes legislation protecting the LGBT community, winning a major battle against the military-industrial complex, positive GDP growth and the technical end to the recession, independent economic analysis showing the stimulus has created or saved hundreds of thousands of jobs, the Senate and House reform bills and the public option (we haven't been at this stage since Medicare), etc. This is all empirical evidence and not bias from an "in the tank" observer. Reality, at least this week, has a pro-Obama bias.

Adding... This week in review from Matt Osborne:

Obama has ended the grant program for abstinence-only education, restored powers to the independent Intelligence Oversight Board, announced $3.4 billion in stimulus grants for smart grid technology, helped make electric cars a reality...

Man, he'd better stop acting like Bush or else.

edited to ass this amazing comment from Bob Cesca's post:

This John Cole touched on one of the very reasons why I'm absolutely impressed with President Obama: his professorial demeanor out sage-like outlook on criticism. No one seems to get that half the time he's trying to encourage actual thought, not attempting to dictate an intellectually dishonest narrative like GWB and the Republicons. Whenever we discuss how we, as supporters of our president (of course), can contribute to the national debate, it is actually his manipulating us in the manner of all good instructors. Too many people attempt to instruct the instructor because they've watched boneheaded swine media pundits prognosticate pretentiously. They are all akin to Brainy Smurf, and any of the people attempting to be like them are like Clumsy Smurf.

Now I'm not attempting to say that Obama is prescient, all-knowing, and omnipotent in regards to his political acumen. I'm merely saying that a lot of people do not realize that Obama's style is that of one presiding over a classroom. When you see GOPunks attempting to hog the spotlight in their uniquely peculiar way (basically lying and being a nuisance whenever the press is around), Obama sits back and waits for us to tell the assholes to stop interrupting the lesson being taught. When you see him taking rhetorical jabs in stride, think of the teacher that gets cursed out by a student whom he gives a failing grade. In the case of the GOPunks, he's informing them that their hijinks in the classroom will ultimately be their undoing, not verbally, but with gestures. The GOP, in all their stupidity, attempts to prove the teacher wrong and amplifies their rambunctiousness. Soon, the entire student body is aware of the nonsense perpetrated by the idiotic GOPunks, and chooses to ignore them. That is what is occurring now, despite what the swine media tells you from 6am to 10pm each and every day. That is why the GOPunks are in the process of "rebranding" itself as the "Conservative party," and publically having squabbles within its demented ranks.

[stray cat]

1. People like to rant and somehow feel it contributes to changing the world

[emulatorloo]

2. I tried to recommend but somebody "unrec'd" at the same time. Interesting to read that list

of things this week.

[firedupdem]

3. Rec'd! n/t

[BeatleBoot]

4. As Bill Maher pointed out so eloquently

What do we want?
Health Care!
When do we want it?
2016!

[grantcart]

13. was that before or after Maher the genius warned people that the H1N1 vaccine was not safe?

[BeatleBoot]

20. It was after.

If I recall properly.

[Gman]

5. The purists will not like this and they will unrec it

But I think it's great so K&R!

[mkultra]

12. the purists are a waste of bandwidth

They do nothing to help. They are just armchair activists.

[Gman]

52. That's for damn sure!

[JTFrog]

6. K&R

[HamdenRice]

7. Glad to K&R. It's true. Things are getting done at a pretty staggering rate

but it seems many people don't have a clear idea of how long politics takes.

By 2012, I think the ship of state will be completely righted from the disastrous legacy of Bush.

[treestar]

8. K&R

Obama really does have the teacher thing going. He must have liked teaching law students. If he had chosen to be a teacher he'd have been legendary.

[DUlover2909]

44. Something occurred to me about Obama and our country tonight.

Kids are trick-or-treating. The Obama's celebrated Halloween in the White House way. The wars are still going on, people are still unemployed, the economy is making a feable comeback, the biggest problems are still out there. But doesn't it just sorta seem like we at least have turned the tide a little bit? 8 years of GW can do a country bad, and even more years of repukelican congress people can't possibly help. I'm not satisfied yet with the state of our nation, but I feel like now we're in the right hands again. Is it possible that no catastrophe has happened since Jan 2009 simply because we now have steady hands at the wheel again?

[mecherosegarden]

9. k&R N/T

[liberalmuse]

10. Kick and fucking R.

More of this on DU, please! Thanks for sharing.

[mkultra]

11. yes. Wakeup leftnuts. Your rants are meaningless.

Call your congressman, write the WH. your incessant loud mouthing makes you look like teabaggers. Running your mouth 24x7 is NOT activism.

[JAbuchan08]

23. "Leftnuts?"

That's a pretty incendiary comment to write on an ostensibly "left" discussion board.

[jgraz]

38. Standard fare from that corporate apologist

Why do you think he named himself after a brainwashing program?

[mkultra]

55. grab a mop

[jgraz]

56. I see you managed to learn a new talking point.

And it only took ten months.

[mkultra]

57. yup, your turn.

[jgraz]

59. Sorry, I don't use talking points

I have an actual, functioning brain. You should try it sometime.

[mkultra]

60. good one. not very credible though

take so more time with it. you'll come up with one.

[grantcart]

14. Some people are going to be very embarassed trying to explain their words

to their grandchildren in 20 years.

[HopeOverFear]

15. oh shit...I said "edited to ass" instead of "edited to add"

:rofl: what can I say, folks? It was in the morning, and I was tired. Oh well. :shrug:

[SpartanDem]

16. I think he brings up something very important

that is there is a difference between valid criticism and mindless noise he brings up the recent flap about the gay bloggers 'I have no problem with people being mad that Obama has not issued a statement about the marriage equality issue in the state of Maine. I think he could and should do more, and won’t say a peep about people flaming the WH for not doing more....(but) I think you have serious issues if you point to an unsourced anonymous quote from John Harwood and then boldly announce to the world that the WH hates gays'. One criticism is legitimate the other is not and far too often the later is treated as being equally valid and this is especailly true if it comes frome someone as being to the left of Obama. I personally get the feeling that people who come up with or believe these types things are almost looking for a reason to feel betrayed.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

17. Well, they do say that "reality has a liberal bias"

Maybe that can help explain it? :shrug: While President Obama isn't perfect by any means nor immune to criticism, I do feel as though some people have been a bit unrealistic about what President Obama has or has not done, particularly by this point in his Presidency. I have my doubts as to whether or not anybody- here or elsewhere-would have accomplished everything that everybody seems to agree needs to have been accomplished by this point in time. I mean, it's not like President Obama is spending huge amounts of time at his ranch in Chicago while delegating his work to a bunch of lackeys and "yes-men".

[azmouse]

18. Many here on DU will never like Pres Obama because

he's not the blessed StDennis. ...and I say thank gawd for that!

GObama! :patriot:

[Cha]

24. Yeah, we have President Obama

and they have Dennis..and they'll be screaming for 8 lovely years of reality!

[change_notfinetuning]

34. That sounds like something Limbaugh or Hannity would say. That is pure

Republican logic. Criticism of Obama is out of love for the people of his country and what is best for Americans. No matter what you Republicans, I mean you and the Republicans think, this is not a game where we are rooting for one guy or another. This is not about who's right, but about what's right. It's about making this country live up to its potential and, by setting an example, the world too. This is about real people and how all of us are being affected. Commercial over - carry on with your cheers.

[Cha]

40. No, it doesn't..you're wrong.

[Bette Noir]

46. Hey, Kucinich is a good man.

He'll never be President-- he looks goofy on TV-- but I'm as glad to have him in Congress as I'm glad to have Obama in the White House.

[vaberella]

19. K, R'ed, and BM'd. Thanks for this HOF!! n/t

[impik]

21. He is a terrific president who in his first 9 months

did more than almost any other president in decades and decades. I can accept that some people on the Left just don't like him - That's life - But i have very little patience for twisting facts, fabricating stories and inventing themes. This man works his ass off to try and clean the horrendous mess that idiot left - So at least give him some freaking respect.

Thank you for this thread.

[azmouse]

25. Welcome to DU!

I like your post. :hi:

[impik]

29. Thank you :)

[treestar]

28. Welcome to DU

There are some people who just want to be doom and gloomers.

I am just happy that this country turned around. I remember being so depressed after the 2004 election.

It is appalling. Some here seem to want the economy to fail.

[impik]

30. Thank you, and

He's just getting started. By 2012, this whole nightmare will feel like different life. You'll see. I have an uncanny faith in this man. I'm not even sure why.

[AusDem]

33. +1

clearly he has not done things to please everyone on this discussion board, but what irritates me more than anything else is when people compare him to Bush.

its vile, disgusting, and most importantly, nowhere near the truth.

[ProleNoMore]

49. Many Think Obama Is Wonderful Personally, However, On Keystone Issues He Is Flailing

That issue for this one would be Health Care.

Have lived without health care many times the longest being five years.

Obama's promises and performance on health care reform is appalling and disappointing.

[Cha]

22. That's What I'm Talkin' About!

It's the Reality President..the Orwellian years are Over for 8 years, anyway.

[yowzayowzayowza]

26. K&R.

[Peacetrain]

27. Hope... A Big K&R. Thank you!!

Pulling this out of the OP... Can I get a witness :headbang:


"You've seen the list. This week alone was huge. Hate crimes legislation protecting the LGBT community, winning a major battle against the military-industrial complex, positive GDP growth and the technical end to the recession, independent economic analysis showing the stimulus has created or saved hundreds of thousands of jobs, the Senate and House reform bills and the public option (we haven't been at this stage since Medicare), etc. This is all empirical evidence and not bias from an "in the tank" observer. Reality, at least this week, has a pro-Obama bias.

[johnaries]

31. I could not agree more! Obama has disappointed me in some

things, but overall I think he is doing a great job! Huge K&R

[Sukie]

32. I just knew you guys had to still exist on DU!

I am so relieved to have found this positive thread that speaks of everything that Obama has accomplished in less than 1/4 of his term. He hasn't done everything we wanted yet, but by God, he has been up against some of the worst naysayers and detractors than any other president in history, yet he has done more, in one of the worst times, than any other president.

[Cha]

58. Oh yeah~ We're a strong force for

Reality! Thanks, Sukie:)

[Number23]

35. Wouldn't you just LOVE to know who was unreccing this thread??

I'd pay big $$$ to find out, though I think most of us already know.

[Fire1]

42. Don't we, though. n/t

[babylonsister]

36. Recommend! nt

[HughMoran]

37. It's nice to hear commentary from grown-ups for a change

Dear god - if the hissy-fit throwers knew how little respect they command with all the screaming that they do, they might consider dialing down the volume and dialing up the constructive criticism.

[Odin2005]

39. "Now come make me do it" --FDR

And that is not whining on message boards, that is getting involved in the primaries and fire up the grass-roots so we can replace the Blue Dogs with Liberals. The Netroots putting Obama into office was just the beginning, not the end, of the transformation of American politics.

The 2008 election awoke a sleeping giant, a collectively-minded youth generation of a kind that we have not seen since the 30s. Things are not going back to the way they were before.

The Armchair Purists need to get off their asses or shut up.

[Justitia]

41. I enthusiastically support my president. I don't always agree w/him, but I'm damned glad he's there

Yes, I want some (important, big) things done differently.

But I have not yet forgotten what it was like to wander in the GOP wilderness.

We are a long, long way from those days, with a long, long way yet to go.

[eridani]

43. Obama has done plenty of very good things.

On health care, unfortunately, we need BOLD, and we aren't getting it. Why do the good thinks Obama has done exempt him from criticism for selling us to useless shitstains who kill for profit?

[Hekate]

45. KnR. Thank. You.

:kick:

[Kind of Blue]

47. Thank you, HopeOverFear .

KnR.
Sometimes I think the emotional rush from the rage and outcry over Bush, from his stolen election and monstrous presidency, is just too hard to get over. It seems like an addiction to freaking out.

[uponit7771]

48. K&R

[timzi]

50. Obama Has Been A Wooden Indian On Health Care

Just say'in......

[annabanana]

51. I like being a student of the Perfesser. We could all

learn a thing or two from his teaching style.

[HopeOverFear]

62. He's Sidney Poitier in To Sir With Love

you ever seen that movie? :)

[Jennicut]

53. Great article but many are missing the point. Some people just want to cheerlead their particular

hero. Obama encourages discussion. Bush turned a blind eye to it. I like both Dennis K. And Obama. Both serve a function in Democracy and in the Dem party. I dislike the Conservadems for essentially being Rethugs. But watching very liberal to moderately liberal people fight each other on an every day basis is kind of like watching paint dry. Supporting one politician or journalist does not mean everyone else is crap.

[Skittles]

61. YOU get it, Jennicut

these fucking cheerleaders are the true embarrassment - they don't seem to get that Obama himself would depsise people like them

[Moosepoop]

54. Recommend! n/t