George Clooney should not be judging those of us who care deeply about issues.

[madfloridian]

I think his qualifications to do so are suspect. He doesn't have to worry about his future, whether Medicare and Social Security are there for him.

He doesn't know beans about the harm being done to public education.

I frankly believe his attitude is like that of way too many Democrats, and it is going to divide this party this year regardless of the outcome of the November election. It is the attitude that one does not criticize the president, no matter what that president does.

He said:

What about core Obama celebrity supporters Clooney and Winfrey? Far from being disillusioned with Obama,Clooney said recently: “I’m disillusioned by the people who are disillusioned by Obama.”

“Democrats eat their own,” the actor said. “I’m a firm believer in sticking by and sticking up for the people whom you’ve elected.” He went on to list the accomplishments of the Obama administration, wondering why Democrats weren’t selling them better.

“I’m Disillusioned By The People Who Are Disillusioned By Obama”

I disagree with him. To criticize a president is healthy, it shows we are paying attention to issues.

Teddy Roosevelt's words suit me better:

“To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”

Teddy Roosevelt quotes.

I recently wrote that I noticed that those who mocked me for being supportive of Howard Dean in 2003, no matter what.....are the very ones who are cheering Obama so fiercely. They are shutting out those of us who question the right wing policies often being put into place.

It is going to divide the party at a crucial time this year. It is tearing many of us apart who know we are going to speak out for issues of the people, and to point out that the WH has not been doing that.

It's ironic that so many who mocked me back then are even more devoted to a political personality. They judge me now not by my education journals, not by the stances I take, but because I question the policies of this administration.

I believe that as the election year of 2012 progresses, there will be added pressure not to speak out on pertinent issues. Our country is in deep trouble, and we in 2008 gave our party a majority to fix it. They had two years in which they could have turned around so many things, but they did not.

And we lost in 2010 to a group of uninformed people who actually stood up and spoke out loudly for their beliefs, confused and wrongheaded though those beliefs might be. That old canard of Bill Clinton, that it is better to be "wrong and strong" than "weak and right" really took hold. And that was a shame. Being "wrong and strong" is dangerous indeed.

We are judged now by loyalty to party leaders, not by quality of writing, not by standing for issues

I much prefer the approach toward dissent that Matt Damon has taken.

In a recent interview with Elle magazine, "We Bought a Zoo" star Matt Damon had some harsh words for President Barack Obama.

"You know, a one-term president with some balls who actually got stuff done would have been, in the long run of the country, much better," says Damon, a former Obama cheerleader.

"I've talked to a lot of people who worked for Obama at the grassroots level," he adds. "One of them said to me, 'Never again. I will never be fooled again by a politician.'"

Matt Damon bashes Obama

I have never said one way or the other whether I will vote for Obama or not. That is deliberate on my part because it is nobody's business but mine.

But I will continue in the best way I can to point out that he is destroying public education through his policies of education reform.

[No Elephants]

1. Just as an aside, "Damon bashes Obama?" "Former Obama cheerleader?"

Thank heaven writers don't use loaded phrases. :sarcasm:


Does this mean we won't be seeing Damon and Clooney in another "Oceans" sequel.


There are sub-groups within the Party, just as there are within any organization.

One of the groups believes you are a Democrat above all and that includes supporting Democratic officeholders, no matter what.

Another of the groups believes President Obama is a hero.

Another of the groups is believes that things are not great, but the we are stuck with two evils and you have to vote for the lesser of the two evils.

Another group puts principle above all else and is determined to stay home or vote third party or vote down ticket, but leave the top blank.

I don't think I will cover all the groups, but, IMO, the biggest group within the Party is simply not paying attention.

[girl gone mad]

2. Clooney is a cloistered rich man.

He should at least try to show concern for the people who buy tickets to see his films.

Bad form, Clooney.

[Whisp]

29. and Damon is just a poor boy

oiy, the inconsistencies are quite the entertainment value here in this thread.

some hollywoods pigs are more equal than other other hollywood pigs.

I'm not calling Damon or Clooney a pig, just like that Animal Farm line as it applies to soooo many things in life.

[progressoid]

3. I want this

to be on the front page of DU3. :hug:

[madfloridian]

5. I will never be on front page at DU3.

Such is the way of the world.

[ellenfl]

4. republicans beat dems because they are unified, not because

they have the best policies. criticize but support or we lose 2012 and all hope of not becoming a full-fledged fascist state. that's our only choice.

ellen fl

[madfloridian]

6. That's what I hear.

So I guess it is right. :shrug:

[madfloridian]

7. And one more thing.

I detect a lot of impatience in your post about my criticism. I am sorry you feel that way. However I think teachers in public school better realize that our own president and Sec. of Ed are bringing Bush's policies to fruition.

I will speak out. Others should. It seems too many of our party got too cozy with the GOP on too many issues.

When all they can offer us is that they are better than the other side, then I consider that a failure of sorts.

I have nothing to lose by standing up for what I believe. Not any more.

[Jakes Progress]

22. Yeah. To hell with principle.

As long as we win, what difference does it make what we do or stand for. Winning is the only thing that matters - right?

[No Elephants]

27. No, that is not why Republicans beat Dems. Not at all. It's about

things like election fraud, talk radio, money, Republican networks like Bohemian Grove, Republican control of almost all of our mass madia (with the tiny remainder being either pro-establishment or DLC), etc.

[krawhitham]

8. I agree with Clooney

We eat our own

The number one goal of the rethugs from the moment Obama was elected was to never vote for anything he wanted, PERIOD. Obama does not have a magic wand, he can not just snap his fingers and demand things change. He needs 60 votes in the Senate, which has been near impossible at times. He needs our support and many never bothered to give it, most believed their responsibility ended the moment they left the voting booth

If the professional left had spent the time and energy working on the 2010 elections instead of calling him everything but a white man they would have got about everything they wanted. But most idiots do not realize how government works, we never had a super majority so the WH had to get some Rethugs to vote our way, which meant some compromise. They managed that in the 1st 2 years because they only needed a couple votes. It took 60 years to get HCR but Obama got it. How was he thanked, the professional left bad mouthed him every chance they could. People are lemmings nothing more, and the more the professional left bitched the more the general population believed their shit. So instead of giving him the super majority he needed to make real changes in Washington they lost the House and almost lost the Senate. Now do get anything done we have to give away the farm, and some times we do just that, because democrats govern to make things better while the Rethung govern to win the next election.

If the professional left had been behind Obama and got the vote out in 2010 we could have tweaked HCR. Canada's HCR sucked when it was 1st started and they continually worked to make it better, we could not work to make it better because the professional left decided they would teach Obama a lesson and hurt us all while doing it.

Look at the list of accomplishments Obama pulled off in the 1st two years, it is amazing what all he got done

When you have both sides saying how bad Obama is the masses start to believe it,




You seem to be found of quotes here is one for you

"I am not a member of any organized party — I am a Democrat." - Will Rogers

[madfloridian]

10. Please don't use that term "professional left".

Gibbs used it as a term of disparagement.

He said:

"Gibbs told The Hill's Sam Youngman that the "professional left" would not be happy unless the U.S. had “Canadian healthcare and we’ve eliminated the Pentagon.”

That was insulting, it was meant to be that way.

I have usually been shown respect for my ability and given credit for having a pretty good amount of intelligence. Not any more.

Hubby and I supported Obama completely, and we donated large amounts to his campaign. If he can not withstand honest critique from those of his own party, then that worries me a lot.

I never have posted much about him. I post a lot about his policies, esp. those involving education privatization. I do that because I taught for over 30 years, and it is breaking my heart to see public school teachers treated with such contempt.

The party and the Obama supporters need to start treating those of us with honest sincere concerns with more respect. There should be no more of this us or them mentality going around here.

I have always been a Democrat since I was old enough to remember. I believe in unions, minorities, and public education among other things. I believe that our party has allowed itself to get way too comfortable with wealthy donors. They often look out for their needs over those of the average person.

Your paragraph about the "professional left" really says that we are not to criticize the president because he can't survive it. That is just not true.

It's a shame that we are judged now by many here only on whether we praise Obama, not on our contributions that are sincere and honest.

[krawhitham]

14. Call it like I see it, sorry if that bothers you

I thought that was your whole point? Saying what one believes

I guess you are only in favor of it when it is your opinion

You said a lot of things I did not like, you did not see me asking you to stop it did you?

[No Elephants]

26. At least Gibbs used it to mean those who are paid to be on the left, like

Olberman, Cenk, et al. He said "professional" in an attempt to distinguish the people he was criticizing from the people he hopes will vote for Obama.

Gibbs is an arrogant ass, but at least he used the word "professional" in a way that made some logical sense.

[tnlefty]

18. +one, and thanks...I haven't been on the internet at all in

days so I just found your post too late to rec.

I despised the bootlickers who couldn't/wouldn't see through Dimson's** destructive policies. I know that the non-crazy repubs would at least listen to me because I could criticize democratic policies that I didn't agree with either.

My recovering repug mother told me (about 18 months ago) that she'd been looking around and that she'd found Sen Sanders on a search for socialists. She liked him because in her words, "he just makes common sense". I just about had a stroke...she went from voting for Dimson** to asking me about Bernie Sanders.:rolf: WAY to go Mom!! :bounce: :bounce:

She always knew that I was a democrat who worked actively in my local party, but she respected that I could criticize the party of my choice. She actually attended the local Dem Women's Club luncheon with me last August.

Perhaps truth can help people see the way...thanks again mad. :hug:

[madfloridian]

19. Love the part about your mother.

Good for her. I find myself becoming more common sense and frankly more liberal as time goes on.

[tnlefty]

21. Clay Bennett, Pulitzer prize-winning cartoonist who is now at

the Chatt. Times/Free Press, was the guest and we had a great time!

When she asked me if I knew anything about Sen. Sanders I laughed and mentioned that his treasurer probably wonders about semi-frequently receiving checks from a woman in nowheresville, TN. She couldn't believe that I'd been sending Bernie small checks frequently over the years and she thanked me.

She's still recovering as she's not happy with the electeds in GA. I just got off of the phone with her a few minutes ago when I relayed to her something that I'd seen on Buzzflash about an editor of a small paper in Atlanta who wrote a column about the 3rd option would be to assassinate the President.

She was stunned and then quickly pissed. I remember her being very upset when JFK was murdered, and I was VERY young at the time. She stated that she felt insulted, and, "as much as you despised George Bush, you kept it to policy and never, never, used threatening language about him. Anyone who would write such as that should be in jail."

We agreed once again. And there are times when we play a game of 'who's crazier in your state', when some elected official or talking head does or says something either stupid/bigoted, or leaves sane people scratching their heads. :toast: I can't take all of the credit. She's currently married to a retired union plumber who arrived here from upstate NY many years ago, and I think she likes Soc. Security and Medicare, and she's always been pro-choice, so she's still recovering.

Now if the dems would stop pissing her off....:toast:

[madfloridian]

12. How condescending your words are: "You seem to be found of quotes"

There is almost no way to hold an high level conversation with someone who tries to put me down with 6 little words. I don't know if you intended to do so, but it came across that way.

[krawhitham]

15. one post ,4 quotes from 4 different people including yourself

You seem found of quotes

[madfloridian]

16. Fond.

Not found.

[Jakes Progress]

23. Of course you do.

And that is why we don't have universal health care, why our government is giving American schools over to corporate profit, we went to a war that bankrupted us financially and morally, we entered into a massive recessions by destroying unions and enriching the wealthy. And why we will slowly lose all the gains derived from the sweat and sacrifice of those "professional lefties" you hate so much.

So how do you support the president's education plan? Do you know what it is? Do you care? Or do you just nod and go along with whatever?

[krawhitham]

9. better Clooney link

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/george-clooney-ides-march-barack-obama-republicans/story?id=14685674#.TpJYtlAoy2s.twitter

[madfloridian]

11. You do realize that he made the bad guys in his movie Democrats?

How is that different than someone like me giving an honest opinion about his terrible education policies?

[krawhitham]

13. You realize it is a MOVIE right?

[madfloridian]

17. Oh, gee, no. A movie?

Just kidding. Hard to converse when someone assumes I am not very bright and talks down to me.

Actually it is more than just any old political movie. It is from a stage play written by a Dean staffer just after the campaign. A lot of liberties were taken, and the candidate became a composite....yet it comes off as Dean having done some things he did not do.

In my opinion poetic license can be taken way too far.

But there is a division in the party now, and Clooney personifies it. He does not want criticism of the president. I believe it is healthy and necessary, and so do many others.

The way you are talking down to me is pretty typical now of how things are becoming now. It's a shame really to divide us up like that into us vs them.

In fact if you want to read something interesting, read a post by Markos today at Daily Kos. I believe he would be banned here for it. Here you go.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/18/1056100/-SOPA,-and-the-idiocy-of-Democrats

See you on Twitter

[Jakes Progress]

24. Of course we realize. We didn't think you actually got ideas

from anything else. If it doesn't have celebrities most of the neo-democrats now infesting and eating away at the party wouldn't pay any attention.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

20. I like George, but --

I disagree strongly with him on this. I believe the days of "just pull the lever" Party politics are over -- and should be over. I have discovered that pure Party politics is dangerous to to country, and has gone a long way to destroying all we had gained in the last century.

Vote for the "D" even if he is anti-choice. Vote for the "D" even if he is a hawk. Vote for the "D" even if he eagerly ships jobs overseas. "Vote for the "D" even if he signs a bill allowing the indefinite detention of people.

Sorry, George, but I will not do that. Not any more -- because "just pull the lever" is how we got into this fucking mess.

[Jakes Progress]

25. I like him too. But here, he comes off as a dumb, out of touch douche.

[No Elephants]

28. I don't think he is a douche. He tried really hard to stop genocide.

And he made Good Night, Good Luck.

Many in show business do not use their megaphone for any political issue, lest they risk losing a nickel of the gross of their next venture.

I think he is simply where I was in 2008.

[Jakes Progress]

31. I didn't say he was a douche.

I said this behavior makes him come off looking like a douche. He looked good with what he did for Dafur. His Murrow pic was great and made him look smart and caring.

These statements don't show him that way. We were all a little loopy in 2008. We don't have any excuse to be that way now. His blind support of Obama goes agains this humanitarian and progressive feelings. He is out of touch if he still things this administration is furthering the kind of work that follows Clooney's motives in Dafur or Murrow's integrity.

You can't say douchy things and not look like a douche.

[KoKo]

30. No...he shouldn't. There's probably something in it for him as to why he's

speaking out so much these days. Follow the money or career advancement. Always seems to work...

But, why the hell should we care what these celebrities say. They always have skin in the game somewhere along the way. A few are clean but less and less so these days.