OK...Maybe I'm wrong.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

But it seems to me that there are so many threads where folks express their anger and disappointment with Obama because the man has not made the moves he said he would make.

The latest is the EPA story.

If he were carrying out the mandate he got from us, there wouldn't be any reason for us to be upset.

Or at least, a lot fewer reasons.

People are angry because they feel let down. And that means lots and lots of threads expressing that anger.

:shrug:

[Fresh_Start]

1. I feel screwed over, not just let down

but I'm insane I expect government to work for the people

[cyberpj]

172. Exactly. Courted, romanced, engaged, promised and then well-fucked. nt

Like one of those predatory widow-marriers you see on Dateline, etc.

We have all been taken to the cleaners by a liar.

[HopeHoops]

2. You're wrong and this thread makes me angry.

:evilgrin: :hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Oh yeah???

:hi:

:rofl:

[HopeHoops]

8. Yeah. Wait. NOW what?

:shrug:

[gkhouston]

12. I'm running right over to ATA to complain about it!! n/t

[HopeHoops]

18. Oh yeah, well, well, well... Well shit. I don't really know HOW to respond to that.

[gkhouston]

31. You won't have time. I'm demanding a purge of all the unfaithful.

:evilgrin:

[notGaryOldman]

50. Can I get a beer avatar?

Shit! I didn't see it on the list!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

51. That may be a custom avatar, and you need to have a star for that...

Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[gkhouston]

52. It's one of the standard avatars. Welcome to DU!.

Change your avatar to beer.jpg if you want it, and drink in good health. :toast:

[UnrepentantLiberal]

106. Just don't send me to Obama's new torture facility in Somalia

for rendition.

[gkhouston]

111. I'll do worse. I'll make you stay here and suffer with the rest of us. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. YUP... winnah

[MadHound]

4. Personally I wouldn't care if he wouldn't or couldn't address half of the agenda he laid out in '08.

I'm a political realist, despite what some folks say, and recognize in that in politics you're not going to get everything you want, when you want it. But a few, even a couple of big ticket items to hang one's hat on, please, you've got to give us that much.

But I think that what irks me the most is that he simply won't stand up and fight, even when the weight of the majority of the population is with him. Politeness and bipartisanship do have their place, but you've got to step into the ring once in awhile and duke it out for what you think is right.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. My thought exactly!

[FedUp_Queer]

193. I think you are both missing the point.

He IS standing up and fighting. It's just not what he said he'd fight for. Perhaps I'm just too damn cynical, but I came to the conclusion that the guy is doing exactly what he wanted to do. The most poignant thing for me is the proposed cuts to social security. So many gave is this "playing chess" meme and that he did because he knew the GOP would not accept it and he could point to their obstinacy. Then, I remembered the two main people Obama appointed to HIS "deficit commission" were two people who have been for cutting/privatizing social security for decades. When I realized that, it all made sense.

[FiveGoodMen]

11. "duke it out for what you think is right"

Suppose he IS doing what HE thinks is right.

[shanti]

53. that's the scary part

:(

[No Elephants]

133. +1 EXCEPT,

if he really thought what he is doing were right, why didn't he campaign on what he is doing? And why does he try to blame what he is doing on Republicans?

I think he's getting pretty much what he wants, except that he wanted everyone to buy that it's all the fault of the big bad Republican minority.

Okay, some people buy it, or say they do. But, I think he was assuming more people would.

[immoderate]

82. He's perfectly right if you imagine he's a secret Republican.

It explains everything.

--imm

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

166. +1

[krkaufman]

104. Then he's Right. n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

169. No reason to think otherwise, is there. He is fighting, for the rich and powerful and that ain't us

x(

[hulka38]

184. He tossed his moral compass a long time ago.

His "right" is how do I progress my political career without pissing of the powers that be.

[krkaufman]

103. That's the crux of it, for me

He just hasn't made any effort to fight, from what I can tell. One of his legacies will be the term "preemptive concession" -- from the inclusion of tax cuts in the stimulus, to precluding Medicare for all or even a public option from consideration in the health debate, he concedes Right Wing policies up front, over and over, and then when it comes time to negotiate the Republicans push further Right.

Given we needed someone to take swift action to turn the country around, Obama's Presidency will be looked back on as akin to Hoover's.

[No Elephants]

134. There already is an article entitiled Barack Hoover Obama, or something like that.

Been out a while.

[No Elephants]

135. There already is an article entitiled Barack Hoover Obama, or something like that.

Been out a while.

[lob1]

116. My understanding is he doesn't even have to fight about the

smog thing. Congress has nothing to do with it, it's his turf and he can do what he wants. I have no reason why he's completely reversed himself and betrayed the people he promised to fix this.

[truedelphi]

195. + 1. n/t

[defendandprotect]

129. This isn't some simple case of losing at politics ... it's the future of the party and the nation--!

To think that this is about some simple "anger" with Obama is completely

off the mark -- this is an uprising vs what has been going on for 30-40 years

in America!

[StarsInHerHair]

203. no snip him from the Democratic Party, I don't want the entire Party to go down with him

[defendandprotect]

204. After 20 and more years of Koch Bros./DLC infiltration and influence over the party....

we have to figure out what's left of the party that's worth saving --

For one, we are seeing ZIP opposition from elected Democrats to Obama's rightwing

corporate agenda --

Silence is also a message -- and we need to face that reality!



:hi:

[rhett o rick]

186. Well put. It would help if he just told us he was doing what he could to help us.

But his empty rhetoric is getting old.

[hlthe2b]

7. Exactly... and I am really tired of being berated just for expressing disappointment...

Damn it, I worked as hard as anyone to get Obama elected. Thousands of people that i canvassed believed me, when I assured them that his stated policies and positions were, indeed, those upon which we could judge him. I feel not only let down, but in many ways, betrayed.

Have I turned my back on him? Absolutely NOT. I will be out trying to get him reelected, because the alternative is unthinkable. But, he has made my job all the much more difficult and I am not going to deny this.

[SusanaMontana41]

55. That's a tough job this time.

Sending lots of respect your way. My son was one of millions in your shoes in 2008. He's so disillusioned that not only will he stay home during the campaign, but also he might stay home on Election Day 2012.

I'm not there yet, but almost.

[FredStembottom]

109. Hugs to you, hlthe2b.

The Harranguers do regular damage around here to people's morale.

All you did was observe what was happening and have the most appropriate reaction possible. Think of me and hundreds more at DU who support you in being rational. Speak up. Put the freaky, frenzied, irrational stuff on Ignore, if needed.

:patriot:

[Octafish]

9. Thank you for putting it into words, CaliforniaPeggy.

You have spelled things out, exactly. And, as always, you are most gentle in the presentation of your thoughts.

Personally, I would a use a stronger phrase. Instead of feeling "let down," I'd say I feel betrayed.

When I vote for a Democratic candidate for President, I expect to get a Democratic President.

It's not just truth in advertising, it's a matter of integrity.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. Thank you, my dear Octafish!

I normally want to avoid being inflammatory...

And you are so right: it IS a matter of integrity, and this is not happening.

I thought Democrats had integrity, and the President most of all. He should lead the way, set the example.

And he is NOT.

I am sick at heart...

[shireen]

72. betrayed

yes. a good word to describe how i feel too.

I didn't have particularly high expectations to begin with, but he's still managed to let me down.

[Ichingcarpenter]

182. She has a great way with kindness and gentleness stating our thoughts

I think Obama is a prisoner of the CIA/NSA, military/corporate industrial complex which now runs the agenda for foreign policy, domestic policies and environmental.

He doesn't run the show he is their figurehead and anyone else that comes along who has a chance to be elected either tows the line or is cast to the sharks as chum.

Petraus as CIA HEAD confirms that the military and the CIA are in control

[Harmony Blue]

10. This was a progressive victory (New EPA regulations)

but right now it will linger into limbo and may end up a defeat.

[Shandris]

14. To me, it would be unrealistic to expect every -- or even a vast majority -- of policy...

...promises to go intact without compromise. There's a limit to what one man can do, no matter what he promises.

HOWEVER...he has let MANY of the -most important parts- of policy initiatives go right by not only with compromise, but with downright caving without the -semblance- of a fight. Witness the immediate removal of Single Payer. Even though getting SP was probably unrealistic, it should have been the beginning of the conversation, not thrown out before the conversation began.

I don't think every 'cave' should be complained about. I think that that narrative gets out to the 'normal' people, and that's where they CONTINUE to get the perception that NEITHER side can do anything. We practically hand them that narrative on a silver platter, gift-wrapped. It doesn't make the perception TRUE, but it makes it the perception nonetheless. The speech? Not worth the amount of negative publicity it gave us as low-info voters heard this: "Democrats and Republicans (why are we always named first in those kind of examples?) clashed today over the schedule of the president's speech."

Pick your battles, my friends. We can't spread thin along the entire front, because in the trench it's difficult for an observer to see which side has a point.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

19. You do have some very valid points...

I could care less about the speech's timing...

But the big policy issues, as you stated. Damn, he could at least have tried. After all, even when the Republicans don't have the numbers, they STILL fight.

But damn it, there shouldn't be so many battles to pick from.

[JuniperLea]

32. He's not just president to liberals and progressives...

He's trying very hard to be a president to all, and to listen to all, and to educate all... and he's being chastised by all too, it seems.

SP would have been the first drastic boost in our economy we've seen in decades... so it had to go, donchano. There is no way this president can be seen as successful. Nope. Wouldn't be prudent.

[Rex]

35. I started to see that many months ago and am wondering

if he is trying to be the first POTUS in history to work with both parties and be completely nonpartisan. It would be a first.

[RaleighNCDUer]

58. Actually the first, and last, was Washington.

It's been all downhill ever since John Adams.

[RaleighNCDUer]

57. In which case it should have been the other side that killed it, not

our side.

By shutting it out before even starting the talks, our side in effect agreed that single-payer was wrong. Nevermind that it works in every other industrialized country in the world.

Of course he's not just president to liberals and progressives - but it would be nice to see him simply acknowledge liberals and progressives for a change.

[No Elephants]

137. The other side had no power to kill it. Only Obama did.

He heads the Executive Branch and this was a regulation of an agency of the Executive Branch that he halted.

(Word to those who believe or pretend to be believe that "independent" agencies are actually "independent" of Obama. They're not, just as we've been telling you.)

As for single payer, Obama said he favored single payer when he ran for Illinois legislature. However, when he ran for President, he said it was not possible to do in the U.S. because "we have all these systems in place."

That was untrue, of course. That untruth and ramping back up in Afghanistan were the two things he campaigned on that gave me a lot of pause. But I kept pushing them to the back of my mind.

And, after all, what did single payer really matter when he was promising a strong public option and no mandate? It would only be a matter of time before we got from public option to single payer, thought I.

[OnyxCollie]

124. He's also president to those who want to ruin the environment,

and to those who start wars of aggression to take natural resources, and to those who commit massive fraud that destroyed the economy.

They get a seat at the table. Liberals and progressives get a seat under the bus.


Did you do a lot of acid, JuniperLea, back in the hippie days?

[No Elephants]

152. Why do we have 2 major Parties and campaigns then? People voted for him for a reason.

And, no, he is not supposed to be the President of the right wing nuts.

[elocs]

174. A Republican president would not worry about being president to all,

but would do whatever needed to advance the agenda of the right.

Although I am sure that all the Republicans and those who did not vote for or support Obama appreciate how much he is looking out for them and how he is being president to all.

[defendandprotect]

130. This isn't some pettiness over Obama's infinite "caving" ... it's an uprising ....

and I'm amazed that is being missed -- !!

[Fearless]

15. My issue isn't if he succeeded or failed so much but that on so many issues he never even TRIED...

He caved on health care. He caved on torture and rendition. He caved on the wars. He caved on the EPA. Geithner. Duncan. Bernanke. He didn't even TRY to put up a fight for the ideals he campaigned on.

[No Elephants]

148. He did not cave on Geithner or Bernanke. Or Gates, for that matter. He WANTED them.

[Fearless]

168. That is the overall million dollar question too...

Did he cave or was it what he wanted. I don't know which one is more dangerous. I do know that both are very disappointing.

[ProSense]

16. There is no

balance. The really good positive environmental actions by the administration almost go ignored, but a rule postponement sparks complete outrage. The outrage over the rule is fine, but it can't be used to claim the President is ignoring the environment. In fact, the administration has taken some really significant actions.

[JuniperLea]

22. Exactly right, ProSense...

Most people are only going to look for that lost contact lens in the area that has the greatest amount of light shining on it, not where they think they dropped it.

The only thing Obama has absolutely failed at is managing OUR expectations... and it's really sad to think our projections are what we use to hold him accountable.

[RaleighNCDUer]

59. He has done some very good things -

so why can't he just keep on doing them? Why the postponement? Does he really believe the business communities' claims that the regs would slow the economy?

Sure, they're going to be working on the regulations in another two years anyway. But do you not put air in a flat tire just because you plan to buy a new tire next week?

And what guarantee is thee that he's going to be in office to oversee the new regs in two years anyway?

Passing up progress today, for some 'maybe' progress in two years is not progress.

[shireen]

77. mostly in the future tense

sure hope he doesn't go cutting those programs too.

And that clean air act part -- sounds impressive but when i clicked on the report to read more about it, i got the ol' '404'

Keep on spinning ....

[hlthe2b]

79. I'm not here to attack him, but neither can I 100% defend him...

Yes, he has done some good things re: environment.

However reversing his position on deep sea oil drilling--oopsie!

Then comes Deep Water Horizon spill which continues to be a horrific disaster, the magnitude of which we have no way of knowing, given how much has not bee reported or actively concealed.

Keystone Pipeline???? I surely am not thrilled to hear Obama bending in that direction.

Yet, he acknowledges concerns re: fracking.. His response? Organize a panel to study... Meanwhile, keep on fracking...

And, might I mention his administration's decision to defend the Cheney administration against attempts to legally expose details from his Energy Task force? Ahem, can we say accountability? Apparently, not

..... Not a horrific record, by any means, but hardly a stellar one, either.

[Divernan]

102. Your "list": smoke & mirrors proposals for future actions:2016, 2020, 2024

Fuel economy standards for 2014-2018
Fuel efficiency standards for 2017-2025

Benefits projected for the year 2020, like 20% increased efficiency projection for 9 years down the road - when Obama will be long gone from the Oval Office. I'd love to see a statistical breakdown of these pie in the sky, pulled out of the ass numbers.

"Ok - here's what we'll claim. 20% increased efficiency in 9 years. What we won't tell the suckers (voters) is that there will be only a 1% increase total for the first 8 years and then 19% increase in 2020.

And the beauty is we keep the environmentalists off industry's backs for 8 years, and in the 9th year,industry will pump up the campaign donations and we'll "delay" the final 19% increase because we need to do an updated study. My god how the corporate profits will roll in."

[No Elephants]

146. Please, Louise. Those are things that will not occur for years--if ever.

[Poll_Blind]

17. Everyone from my senator on down is wondering what the hell game he's playing at.

All Dems, all confused.

PB

[defendandprotect]

131. It's only "confusion" if we refuse to face the reality that this is a corporate president ....

more than likely delivered by 20 and more years of Koch Bros./Pfizer/Chevron control

over the party --

What you have to be wondering about is much borader --

i.e. -- "What's left of the Dem Party and is it possible to save it--"

"How urgent are our problems with this rigged capitalist economy and growing poverty

of citizens -- and lack of health care" --

and ...


"How urgent are our problems with Global Warming and the fact that the Congress is under

the control of the OIL and COAL industries?" --


Those are the questions -- this isn't "anger" -- it's an uprising -- and I'd suggest a

very long overdue uprising!

[bbgrunt]

192. yes. The DLC is the big wooden horse in our midst.

[No Elephants]

149. What's the confusion? Read the DLC website. It's all there.

[mulsh]

20. I knew Mr. Obama would not do exactly as I wanted when

I voted for him for President. The executive office is not a dictatorship. in spite of his predecessor's actions there are limitations to the office's powers.

even on issues where I feel disappointed such as completely shutting down Guantanamo and a rapid withdrawal from all wars I knew going in that what ever he promised would probably not come to fruition, at least very quickly. If he runs for president again I will enthusiastically support and vote for him. I will also expect him to continue to continue to do things I don't approve of.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

21. I am totally aware that he cannot do a lot of things without support

from the Congress.

And he has not had that, not very much anyway.

Still. I don't think he's even trying.

[JuniperLea]

23. You can't please all of the people all of the time...

But that is clearly what is expected.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

26. I'm sorry, but I disagree.

We knew he could not please all the people all the time. That's just ridiculous.

And he did say he was going to be President of ALL of us.

What gripes me is that he has bent over backward playing nice with the Republicans and allowing them to call the shots. This is unacceptable.

[JuniperLea]

28. Would you rather he was Bush in reverse?

Just as radical, but pushing through all of the liberal agendas without giving thought to what non-liberal Americans have to say?

This isn't just "our" country.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

33. No, of course not.

But he has already paid more than enough attention to the conservatives.

He's overdue in paying attention to us.

As I said, he is President to all of us...

[JuniperLea]

36. And the Republicans claim he's a socialist...

And an ultra liberal socialist at that. We know that isn't true either.

I think this is a perception issue and has nothing whatsoever to do with what Obama has done or hasn't done.

Good news about what he has done is posted here all the time, and those threads either sink on their own, or they are bombarded with rhetorical garbage and hatred to the point where they need to be locked. The end result is the same in either case: the negative gets a hell of a lot more attention than the positive.

[SwampG8r]

112. he is never going to prove to them he is not a socialist

they dont know what one is and believe you can tell them by sight
he could prove to me he is a progressive by standing up to a bunch of pricks that dont like him
i want to support the guy like i did in 2008 but he was giving me reasons to then
and "oh yeah....but the other guy is even worse" is the single least compelling arguement i have ever heard

[defendandprotect]

138. Americans want a system like Sweden's -- they'd be happy if he was a scocialist -- !!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1864249&mesg_id=1867794

[demgrrrll]

125. Wow is that ever true.

[defendandprotect]

139. This is a liberal nation -- the will of the people is being ignored ---

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1864249&mesg_id=1867794

And, as you can see, Ameridans would be happy if we were Sweden!!

[defendandprotect]

132. The RW corporate Republicans make a lot of claims which are utter nonsense ....

but delivered into living rooms by our Goebbels' style corporate press for their

own benefit!

That doesn't mean that either the RW or our press have any credibility!!

[No Elephants]

155. Baloney. It has everything to do with what Obama has done and not done.

[dawg]

44. Yes, yes I would.

As long as he was working within the legal limits of the system, that's exactly what I would want him to do.

If conservatives push with all their might when they are in office, and we take a more balanced approach, the country moves slowly and inexorably to the right. Is that what you want?

[JuniperLea]

48. So, you are in favor of a president ignoring a large segment of the population...

And you don't see how that makes you no better than they are?

[dawg]

49. They work to further enrich the powerful.

We (and our President) should work equally as ardently to enrich the powerless. And no, it's not the same.

[RaleighNCDUer]

65. By ignoring them he'd be helping them.

It is the right, not the left, that wants to end the Big 3. He should listen to them, even as they ask to commit financial suicide?

You really think that birthers and teabaggers deserve equal attention, no matter how pitifully wrong they are?

He DID listen to the right, and signed a stimulus that was 40% tax cuts - and now the economy languishes in the doldrums because of it.

He was NOT elected to continue the right's wrongheaded policies.

Don't YOU see THAT?

[xocet]

89. You are totally wrong on this point. It is perfectly okay to ignore the side with bad ideas.

It is not about being the better person. It is about implementing policy: i.e., reduction of carbon emissions versus "Drill, Baby! Drill!", prosecution of Bush et al versus not supporting the rule of law, etc.

Republicans do not care about being the better persons. They only focus on getting their way. Your criticism of the other poster shows that you believe that Republican ideas and policies are equivalent to progressive ideas and policies: this allows your critique to shift away from policy analysis to personal behavior. That is why you are totally wrong.

[Odin2005]

92. That segmment of the population is getting in the way of what HAS TO BE DONE.

They can go fuck themselves all I care, they are that 30% that always show up in polls that will never agree with us.

[quakerboy]

96. No, He should stop doing that

Actually, I am in favor of the president representing the majority of the people. Except in true issues of conscience. And possibly even then. So when a majority says "public option yes", then I feel the president should advocate and fight for that. If a majority says end the wars, then I believe the president should advocate that. Etc.

There are two ways to look at "post partisanship". In my opinion one is right, and one is wrong. The right way is to ignore the platforms of the major parties, and instead look at what the majority of the people want (and to some limited degree, if you happen to have knowledge they are not privy too, what you think will actually work best for the most American citizens).

The other way is to take the platforms of the major parties and try to meld them together, to see if you can give each side enough of what they want to make them happy. But heres the thing. Thats not working. There are some things where the sides want mutually exclusive results. And the things that the leadership of the Tea Party, the Republicans, the Democrats, or the Progressives each respectively care most about are not necessarily related to what the people who elected them want. This is a facade of postpartisanship, benefiting the powerful, with nothing for the common man.

[defendandprotect]

136. This is a liberal nation -- an overwhelmingly liberal nation -- which is being ignored by Obama...

THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS QUITE CLEAR --

80% want an end to the wars --

76% and more want MEDICARE FOR ALL -- including 83% of CATHOLICS!

61%-81% want deficit cut by TAXING THE RICH -- !!


and, if Americans had their way, we'd be Sweden ... !


According to research (PDF at link) carried out by Michael I. Norton of Harvard Business School and Dan Ariely of Duke University, and flagged by Paul Kedrosky at the Infectious Greed blog, 92 percent of Americans would choose to live in a society with far less income disparity than the US, choosing Sweden's model over that of the US.

What's more, the study's authors say that this applies to people of all income levels and all political leanings: The poor and the rich, Democrats and Republicans are all equally likely to choose the Swedish model.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/09/25/poll-wealth-distribution-similar-sweden/



Let's put it this way -- this is information the elites/corporations well understand --

that's why they've had to BUY government and our elected officials --

[No Elephants]

154. False dichotomy. He does not have to ignore anyone, but he was elected based on what he campaigned

on. And that is what he has an obligation to be, and to fight for. Otherwise, it's bait and switch, aka fraud.

[eridani]

126. Yes, that's exactly what I expect. Rightwingers are amoral sociopaths

--who aspire to a feudal society, and we should not give a fuck what they think. They have successfully destroyed the economy by pushing for what they want with no regard for what we think.

[RaleighNCDUer]

61. ...bent over backward playing nice with the Republicans

while actively working against the progressive wing of the Democratic party.

THAT is unacceptable.

[defendandprotect]

140. That's what is called collaboration ---

[EFerrari]

30. What does that even mean to you?

Who has claimed Obama needs to please all the people all the time?

Certainly not Peggy.

[No Elephants]

153. Bull puckies. That's only what you claim is expected.

[Odin2005]

91. The President DOES have the buly pulpit and is the head of bureacracy.

There is a lot of power he does have. He could be using the bully pulpit to whip up anger at the Corporate Elite. "Demogogury" has bad connotations, but that is what he needs to do right now. He needs to whip the American people into an anti-corporate frenzy and get the American people to unleash that fury onto the Right.

[SwampG8r]

113. agree

i had my fury ready to unleash in 2009 right after the inauguration
i have been sitting on it ever since waiting to go
we should have unleashed it in 2009
mine is all boiled down to essence of fury or maybe condensed fury
by 2016 it will be fury bouillon

[No Elephants]

151. Dictatorship doesn;t cut it when he singlehandedly puts the kibosh on an EPA reg.

Gotta be careful with those talking points.


They're not one size fits all situations,

[Rex]

24. I knew what we were getting with Obama. I voted for him and will again.

Although his corporate pandering over the Gulf Coast surprised me. I didn't expect him to embrace a foreign entity over the local populace.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

27. I will vote for him too.

The Republican field is full of dangerous idiots, who care only for themselves and their rich corporate masters.

[Rex]

39. Too true! The GOP field is more dangerous imo then in 2000 or 2004.

It is paramount that they don't get into office again, even if it means the most vocal critics of President Obama vote for him (again). I hate to say 'whatever it takes', but whatever it takes to defeat the GOP. It is just that simple and at the same time that complex!

Thanks for the post CaliforniaPeggy, spot on as usual! :hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

41. Thank you, my dear Rex!

:hi:

[RaleighNCDUer]

66. Frankly, by the time of the Gulf disaster it no longer surprised me. nt

[FLPanhandle]

69. +1

Obama was never a big liberal. People were projecting too much onto him and losing their sense of reality. I'm one of the few who isn't shocked over Obama.

That said, he has surprised me with his lack of backbone.

[sabrina 1]

25. Well said, California Peggy!

[jefferson_dem]

29. Meh.

Sure, some feel disappointed and angry.

Some had unreasonable expectations and felt destined to be depressed.

Others never liked Obama anyway yet concoct new fits of faux outrage nonetheless. A subset of this latter group are here only for that purpose - to create division, stoke anger, cause trouble.

In the end, it doesn't really matter. I say "vent away" within the rules. After Obama wins the nomination and the GOP nominee is in place, we'll be (roughly) united and it will be clear to all people this side of insanity who the right person for the job is ... again.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

34. I agree, and I like him.

I will vote for him.

:shrug:

[mitchtv]

47. I don't like him very much, just another lying politico,

but I always vote and although it will annoy the shit out of me I will vote Dem when it is time. That is, if he behaves.

[SammyWinstonJack]

185. I don't like him at all. And being in Tx, it won't matter if I vote for him or not.

I'll vote straight Dem ticket on all other races though.

[JDPriestly]

118. Don't be so certain.

The fact is that Obama has not kept his promises and the Republicans are already starting to talk about this and that potential scandal. That is what they always do with Democratic presidents.

The Republicans are bullies, and Obama does not stand up to them effectively, and that is a huge problem. That is, in fact, the core problem. Because if Obama just stood his ground and strongly and loudly advocated for the long-held principles of the Democratic Party then he would have at least the fear and respect of the Republicans, and they would be careful about how they treat him.

Problem is that at this time, the Republicans appear to have only contempt for him while we on DU are deeply disappointed in him.

I realize that it is very difficult to be the first African-American president, but everyone had such high hopes for Obama. I cannot remember an inauguration like Obama's -- where the crowd and all Democrats, especially those of us on DU were thrilled at the anticipation of his presidency.

We on DU are not unwilling to accept compromise. I, for one, would have liked a public option, but I can accept a sensible plan involving private insurance provided that insurance costs are controlled. But there are many far more basic, sometimes moral issues that Obama has shown a willingness to compromise. And that causes me to distrust him.

To define himself as a Democrat and then take a neutral, "bipartisan" stance on issues like progressive taxation (extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy), rights of working people, especially unions, putting Social Security on the budget cutting table for no good reason, eavesdropping in violation of the Fourth Amendment, respect and enforcement of the writ of habeas corpus especially as to American citizens, and the need to close Guantanamo is unacceptable to me and to a lot of other Democrats.

I will vote Democratic in 2012 to the extent that I am able. I have a very progressive congressman so I will definitely support and vote for him.

As for Obama, I would like to see a challenger for 2012. I'm not sure his support among Democrats is strong enough to re-elect him.

A lot of people feel let down especially those who lost their homes and those who have lost their jobs. We express our dismay on DU, but we just represent what a lot of people are feeling and don't want to say publicly. That is because we are politically more active and interested than most people.

[SammyWinstonJack]

188. If he wasn't ready to be the first African American President then he should have checked his ego

and waited until he was ready. This hasn't worked out well for him or the majority of Americans.

[yardwork]

37. Obama is owned by the corporations and Wall Street.

They elected him. He hopes that they'll elect him again. He does what they tell him to do.

[jefferson_dem]

43. Actually, 69,456,897

voters elected him. More than any other presidential candidate has received in history. Sorry.

[Rex]

46. Yeah those were NOT corporations.

Besides, Obama gave Wall Street the key to the Treasury and they still stabbed him in the back! Hope he learned something from that for his second term.

[yardwork]

54. They voted for him because corporations bought campaign advertising for him.

And their votes were allowed to count because the corporations chose not to rig the voting machines in favor of McCain, although they certainly rigged the vote for a lot of other Republicans and conservative Democrats.

Don't kid yourself. If Obama doesn't do what the corporations tell him to do, he'll never win another election.

[jefferson_dem]

101. Arguing that it was actually real people who voted Obama into office in 2008.

I would say DU has jumped the shark but it is apparent that this :crazy: line of (il)logic is typical of the direction some wish to carry these forums. Shame.

[stillrockin]

62. They voted for him under false pretenses. He LIED.

Those people will not be fooled again.

[jefferson_dem]

99. False pretenses?

Do you realize how silly you sound?

Anwyway, what are you recommending voters do, since they will not be "fooled again" into voting for Obama? Why not just come out and say you hope the Teabagging Repuglincan wins next year?

[JDPriestly]

121. Jefferson_dem

What are the basic positions that a Democratic candidate should hold to in order to have your support?

Where do you draw the line?

What to you are the important differences between Republicans and Democrats?

[Mimosa]

150. Waiting for a sincere answer?

JD, I once asked those same questions more or less. *crickets chirped, and chirped*

When a Democrat acts like a republican, people just don't care and vote for the 'real Republican' just as harry Truman said.

I saw that when I lived in Louisiana along with a bit of party switching.

[No Elephants]

158. I don;t think Truman said that. Trumad of DU did, though.

It seems as though the internet echo chamber turned his post into an urban legend.

I googled and researched and could not find one single authoritative source saying it had come from Harry Truman.

[stillrockin]

167. It's not just a question of positions.

It's a question of integrity.

I draw the line at misrepresentation of one's values and intentions.

Sadly, there are no longer discernible differences between the two parties. Both are ruled by monied interests. Each one has different sales pitches, aiming to appeal to different groups along the political spectrum. Once elected, however, the parties protect their true masters: those with the purse strings.

[No Elephants]

159. Some people call it bait and switch, but false pretenses is as good a term as any.

[defendandprotect]

141. Yes they elected unknowingly the corporate candidate ... he had a mandate he threw away ....

and rushed to resurrect the GOP from the ashes!



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1864249&mesg_id=1867794

[No Elephants]

156. He also spent more to get those votes than any candidate in history.

And I, for one, would love to have my money back.

[yardwork]

178. Corporate contributions were a huge portion of that money.

[demwing]

171. Actually, the EC elected him

But as far as popular vote totals go, there are 18 other elections where the candidate received a larger PV% than Obama. Sorry.

[Little Star]

38. Couldn't have said it any better! k&r

[Zorra]

40. Exactly. Precisely. Absolutely, Most definitely. Truth.

Thank you.

[madfloridian]

42. In my mind it is no longer about Obama.

It is about whether we stand for anything or not.

I am beginning to think our party does not...stand for anything at all right now.

It is more about us now, about what will happen to us if he fails. There are plenty of us waiting for him to lead.

[Rex]

45. I say he becomes the great socialist, marxist the RWing so wants

him to become! Let them deal with THAT!

[RaleighNCDUer]

68. If only. nt

[defendandprotect]

142. Exactly .... this can't be minimized to "anger" -- this is an uprising about the party, our nation -

suffering citizens --

corporate/fascism --

Global Warming!

[WCGreen]

56. And maybe you are right....

[CaliforniaPeggy]

60. Well, I think I am...

Thanks, Chris...

[slay]

63. Thanks CaliforniaPeggy

this is exactly the problem I with him - thanks for phrasing it so well. :hug:

[stillrockin]

64. There are many apologists making comments. I agree with you,

CA Peggy. Trying to scare Democrats into supporting a weak willed corporatist is bullshit. I will never vote for him again, nor will I forgive his craven cynicism (Change We Can Believe In -- Yes We Can!) leading to the alienation from politics of millions of young people who worked to get him elected.

[patrice]

67. Things would be different if 2010 had gone different..

[RaleighNCDUer]

70. 2010 would have gone different if he'd come out of the gate swinging.

Going straight to HCR while not addressing jobs was a miscalculation - but not presenting an argument for a HUGE overhaul of health care, and not pointing the finger at the insurance companies and the base cause for the inflation of health care costs, were a disaster. Settling for a health insurance support package alienated a LOT of first time voters, who saw no reason to come back in 2010 - not to mention the expansion of the war, dragging his feet on drawing down Iraq, failing to close GITMO, ignoring DADT and DOMA, supporting blue-dog incumbents who voted against his proposed policy changes over primary opponents who supported change...

2010 could have gone a LOT different.

That it didn't is entirely in his lap.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

71. Thank you!

And that was your 29500th post!

:toast:

[RaleighNCDUer]

76. 29500?

Something tells me I spend entirely too much time here.

:toast:

[patrice]

80. All true, but also true that the '08 Derivative Crash defined EVERYTHING he did.

Unknown over-all $-size, but probably ASTRONOMICAL
Unknown structural elements of the toxic instruments involved
Unknown ownerships, domestic & foreign

All PRIVATE/SECRET information impacting absolutely everything about everything else in the USA.

I'm not certain that he has defined any of his own Presidency. Reactionary only.

[JDPriestly]

122. He was elected by a large margin and had a majority in both houses

of Congress. Obama missed a wonderful chance.

It is just the saddest thing ever. Reactionary only. You are right. But it is Obama's fault.

He did not have to pick Geithner and Summers, for example. He could have picked a couple of other very excellent economists. He has made horrendous mistakes. And I think it is because he wants to please people whom he perceives as powerful and just force the rest of us to accept their judgments. Of course, they are all rich and cannot imagine the needs or interests of the rest of us.

Sad, sad, sad.

And just wait, the Republicans know he is very weak, and they will find some scandal and play it up big. Don't blame me when they do. This is not something I would wish for. It's just something that I suspect strongly will happen. My suspicion is based on my experience in life. Weakness attracts false accusations.

[defendandprotect]

144. Obama immediately eloped with Koch Bros. DLC/Rahm -- and Wall Street ....

we've been denying this for far too long --

and there is also this -- which the elites/corporatists certainly have always known ....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1864249&mesg_id=1867794


What we're dealing with is the power of wealth -- to buy government and elected officials --

it's about dishonest men willing to sell themselves -- and to lie about everything -- and

what they can't lie about any longer they cover with SILENCE --

Corporate $$ buys a lot of silence!

[quakerboy]

180. +a bunch

All he had to do was give the enthusiastic voters one big win. On any of the major issues. EFCA. Ending a war. Health care to make us competitive with any one of the other English speaking nations. Hefty investigations on a few of the previous administration who so many of us believe broke the law over and over. And even if a win was impossible, a good solid loud knock down drag out, not going without a fight type fight would probably have been enough.

But they didn't get any of any of it. They got an end to combat troops, which given troops keep dying in combat, rings about as true as "mission accomplished". EFCA died quietly without a whimper. Health care looks like a debacle, without even any clear symbolic win and a whole lot of details that start to jumble, no way to know if it is effective other than to wait a long time. And every prospective wrongdoer has been given a metaphoric get out of jail free card and not one whit of scrutiny.

[No Elephants]

157. 1/2009-1/ 2011 didn't go well, either, though., And 2010 was a result of that.

[Stinky The Clown]

73. You're not wrong

You've said it well.

[H2O Man]

74. You are not wrong.

(Recommended, of course.)

The President is wrong. Very wrong. And people should feel betrayed by his act of cowardice.

[Vanje]

75. Have we been .....

....Duped?

We've been duped.

Honestly, I really did think we elected a Dem president.
Clearly we did not.

[Bluenorthwest]

78. You are correct

the President is wrong. Again. As usual.

[ibegurpard]

81. you most certainly are NOT wrong

some of us just reached that breaking point a long time ago

[Major Hogwash]

83. I'm not sure what you're getting at.

I don't think most of the people that start the anti-Obama threads at DU are doing anyone any good -- not themselves, nor any of the readers of DU.
Certainly not the members.

One other thing is that I've noticed over the last 6 months or so that it is almost always the same people putting up those bad news articles starting those threads about Democrats or about President Obama.
I even made a list of those people.
And I'm turning over that list to Santa Claus in late November so that he can cross-reference his list with the list I have made to make sure we have listed everyone here who has been naughty and who has been nice.

This forum wasn't started out to be a forum where people vented on a daily basis.
It was a forum designed to get news out to Democrats about what to do about Bush.
But, some of the peeps here are still angry about Bush, and there's nothing that is going to solve that by hammering on Democrats or President Obama now.

That's why Redstone doesn't post here anymore.
And many more people that I met here 6 or 7 years ago.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

84. So, you think that Redstone doesn't post here anymore because of posts like mine?

I believe you are mistaken.

I know him personally. I talk to him on the phone regularly. Do you?

He has been ill and there is a lot of other private stuff going on with him and his family.

Now, as to my thread. I posted it because of my feelings. I wanted to hear what others had to say, and I've heard quite a lot.

It's good.

I believe this forum is for whatever general discussion we want to have.

YMMV.

[Major Hogwash]

85. Did I say that?

I think that Santa will be a fair judge of who is naughty and who is nice.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

86. Right.

:eyes:

[SwampG8r]

114. i am santa

believe it or not
i am santa every year in june i start a beard that comes off on dec 26
i go all around my town and where ever they need santa i am there
i actually have my own santa suit
it is the traditional look with full knee boots but i have a red velvet floor length duster western cut to top it
i love to be santa and as santa with more than 2 decades standing in the job i know naughty from nice
peggy is nice
she has no naughty in her
she embodies everyday a giving spirit
if i were santa in peggies area she would be my first stop and she would never ever get coal
unless of course she asked for it to give to some person to warm their home
because that is how peggy rolls

[No Elephants]

160. If it makes you feel any better, many of the left have left, or been banned.

But, I think you should leave defining what this board is for today to Skinner.

[Major Hogwash]

165. Oh, I didn't know that.

If I had to define this board, I would have to use several swear words.
I guess you missed the part about Santa Claus, too.

[myrna minx]

87. The EPA thing has just blown me away.

:-(

[defendandprotect]

145. And why shouldn't it -- this isn't any idle "anger" -- this is an uprising -- !!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1864249&mesg_id=1867794

[cwydro]

88. No, you're not wrong Peg.

Sigh.

Presidents have pissed me off before and annoyed me no end...but never have I felt so bitterly disappointed, screwed...fooled...ah you name it.

[Odin2005]

90. Obama's backstabbing destroyed for good any lingering faith I had in American Democracy.

Democracy is dead, No matter who you vote for they all govern as Corporatist tools. There are only 2 people in the whole of Congress that are not owned by the Corporations: Bernie Sanders and Dennis Kucinich. The rest are all liars, thieves, and criminals.

[No Elephants]

161. Al Franken?

[Odin2005]

176. DOH, how could I forget Franken?

[Raine]

93. Exactly, THANKS for saying it. nt

[Divine Discontent]

94. spot on, CP, spot ON!

:hug:

[OhioChick]

95. You're absolutely right, Peggy n/t

[Irishonly]

97. K&R

I would also add that fearful people are angry people. There is so much realistic fear now-jobs, health and the list goes on. Many people I know are insecure people about something. These are not bat shit crazy teabaggers. They will also vote for Obama as I will but it will be with a heavy heart.

[BrightSideOfLife]

98. Let Down?!

I voted for President Obama and canvassed for him because i was told he would 1) close GITMO, 2) erase tax breaks for the rich, 3) put on "a comfortable pair of shoes and march with the unions if they come under attack" 4) protect Social Security and Medicare, 5) promote and pass single payer health coverage and end the wars, 6) Regulate industry and the crap financial sector, 6) end DADT, 7) regulate our food sources, 8) end the outsourcing of jobs and the basic 9) PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT and thereby keep my children from suffering from any of several different forms of cancer later in life!
Name one that has not been a failure or a give away to the right?!....even DADT hasn't been truly repealed yet.

I'm pissed and out of hope for our future. Anything else you want to "let me down" on? My country called on me and I followed through so I expect the same for the man who took my vote for President.

[No Elephants]

163. +1 Welcome to DU

[donheld]

100. I also feel screwed over.

I hate the feeling but that's how I feel.

[MrsBrady]

105. Did it ever occcur

to Obama and staff...to let big JOE VP run his mouth, say what needs to be said...
and then let Obama come in and clean up things, so that he can play the nice guy after having actually played some hard ball?
I think people would feel better if somebody in the White House or staff would talk a little (constructive) trash.

I mean what's the point of having JOE as the veep, if he can't run his mouth.

They should do more good cop/bad cop.

[No Elephants]

162. You want MORE manipulation of the public to protect Obama?

Wow, Mrs. Brady. Wow.

[SwampG8r]

107. my darling peggy

i read this and i see a voice of reason relating facts
we have been disappointed on so many different fronts
on so many different things
so many now that when each voices their displeasure at the same time
it looks like a riot
:shrug:
then there is the defesive replies all around
its my fault if i dont vote my vote matters
then
stay home my vote doesnt mean anything
from the same person on 2 different threads in the same hour
:sigh:
now i am going to look at the responses and i already know pretty much how it will go
for what its worth you are 100% on this

[CaliforniaPeggy]

108. ...

:hug:

[SwampG8r]

115. i had to hand out a lump of coal upthread

and tell a secret about myself i hope they dont go after me over it

[girl_interrupted]

110. K&R

[sce56]

117. A lot has to do with the HoodWinking we got from him look at this thread esp reply #2 and mine in

response.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4982628#4983062

[me b zola]

119. You're not wrong

I'm boiling-over angry, and I believe others are too.

[cherokeeprogressive]

120. Dearest Peg... You could NOT be more correct.

And, you expresssed in 6 sentences what normally takes me 20 paragraphs. Would that I could learn to be so succinct.

[Desertrose]

123. Nah, I don't think you're wrong...I think you pretty much nailed it.

:hug:

[Sherman A1]

127. Bingo

I wouldn't mind losing every fight, if in fact we saw some fight at all.

I don't expect that I will get everything I want, but I would have hoped for a little bit of something.

[defendandprotect]

128. Obama is doing the final dismantling of the Dem Party which Koch Bros. began .....

this isn't only about Obama's campaign and the deception and betrayals that followed --

this is about the future of the party -- the future of the nation.

This isn't simply anger -- this is an uprising -- and well it should be!


This is IMMENSE CONCERN for our citizens, for our country under fascist/corporate rule --

It's about our "Congress under control of the OIL and COAL industry" as Al Gore has confirmed.

It's about our Goebbels' style corporate-press and the continuing SILENCE of the Democratic Party --

and the huge question ....

"Just what is left of the Democratic Party worth saving after 20 and more years of Koch Bros.

DLC control and influence on the party and its candidates?"


This is about the environment and the realization that GLOBAL WARMING is breathing down our

necks and we have 106 nuclear reactors in US --

It is about the difference perhaps between "a whimper and a bang" -- !!!


This is not any simple anger -- this is GREAT CONCERN for our people and our nation --

for the planet --


To watch 1,000 people being arrested in DC in protests over the TAR SANDS Pipeline and to

suggest that everything being expressed is simply "anger" with Obama is to completely miss

the seriousness of what is going on in America!

[bbgrunt]

194. I hope the next step for people dealing with their personal

grief about this admin. is to open their eyes to the bigger picture you are talking about. If not, then this discussion is useless.

[defendandprotect]

200. Thank you --

We can only miss the bigger picture when people are too frightened to see it --

or misled --

We still haven't had the discussion about how we came to elect Obama to begin with --

what we all failed to see -- and what we should be looking for next time!


We need a new candidate for 2012 -- and that's what we should be discussing, imo --

two strong anti-war candidates --

two candidates who would strongly support MEDICARE FOR ALL --

That would begin to put us back on our feet and in better position to begin the long

journey back to sanity --

Repugs were finished in '08 -- Obama resurrected them from the ashes as he threw away

his mandate --



:hi:

[Douglas Carpenter]

143. oh come on admit it!!! GOP operatives are paying you to post these things, aren't they??

:crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat: :crazy: :tinfoilhat:


:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[Mosaic]

187. + 1000

Note topic.

[defendandprotect]

147. Peggy .... can anyone here honestly say this isn't a depression ... ??

Everyone should begin actually looking around their towns --

and at the growing impact of the scale of damage that Global Warming is doing --

with much more to come!!

We need to shut down these nuclear reactors in America --

And there is a much larger picture than simple "anger" here --

[No Elephants]

164. Thing is, this goes well beyond President Obama. This is the takeover of the Democratic

Party by the Democratic Leadership Council, Third Way, New Democrat, No Labels philosophies.

We are headed toward a one-party system, with that one Party being Republican.

If we want our kids or grandkids to have any meaningful choice at all in political entities, we have to do whatever it takes to reverse that trend.

A good start, IMO, would be showing up in Freedom Square, Washington, D.C. on October 6, 2011 for the "Stop the Machine: Human Need, Not Corporate Greed" event.

http://october2011.org/welcome

Can't go? Organize a solidarity event on your own street or town square, city hall or state house. Or donate. Or help get out the word. Print and pass out flyers.

Whatever you can do, begin now. Labor Day weekend is a GREAT time to start.

Good for you.

[mother earth]

170. Let down is putting it mildly. We wanted more than a DINO.

[DFW]

173. One of the most sober (and sobering) analyses:

http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2010/1104_obama_galston.aspx

Well worth the long read!

My take is that on September 8, President Obama has his big chance to set the tone for his
re-election campaign, or else punt it on down the line--not a great idea, IMHO, as the clock
is ticking. I would hate for him to win re-election solely because the crazies on the right
nominated someone that even Republicans couldn't stand voting for. I still think they won't,
and the circus clown sideshow of Perry-Bachmann & friends is strictly for entertainment and
distraction while Rove etc. desperately search for someone who is presentable to Republicans
without scaring half of them so badly they'll vote Democratic or stay home.

A Huntsman may scare us, but he'll seem positively reasonable when compared to my insane
governor (Perry). Someone from the God Squad (Perry, Bachmann) might let their "divine
inspiration" thing go to their head, and not do the bidding of those who put them in their
position as W so obediently did. That's NOT who Rove and the Kochs want. Cheney saw how
lame W was, and thought he needed to keep such a close eye on him that he decided to be VP
himself. For Cheney to even have bothered, he had to have known that a close election was
"fixable," as it indeed turned out to have been the case. Obama would do well to remember
(can you spell Wisconsin?) that voter disenfranchisement is proceeding unabated, and it is
not Republican voters who are being stricken from them rolls of eligible voters.

Democrats seldom offer their incumbent presidents a free ride to re-election. Republicans
usually accord ANY Republican ticket a free ride, even if their ticket consists of
Frankenstein's monster and the Creature From The Black Lagoon. Those who would sit out
the next election must ponder if it is worth it to have the monster picking the next
Supreme Court Justice. Some will say, "yes it is." Some have already said so. I'm not
there, yet, and don't expect I will be.

Eight years ago, a friend of mine briefly set the Democratic world's imagination on fire
with hope and inspiration. He never got his chance at the presidency when the media killed
him. He has never lost his vision or his idealism--or his pragmatism. I always wonder if,
had he gotten a chance at the Oval Office, he would have found himself in Obama's position
at this point in his presidency, or would he have stood fast, with both triumphs and
disappointments in even greater proportions?

[frazzled]

197. "For the most part, however, the critique from the left fails the test of political realism"

That's one big takeaway from the article you posted.

[DFW]

201. That's the way he saw it

Brookings is not exactly a right wing think tank, but the guy doesn't exactly write like
he has an iron in this fire, either. I didn't say the guy was spouting the gospel, but that
I thought it was a sobering analysis and interesting reading--food for thought. I still do.

If I want analysis that says only what I want to hear, I can just reread my own posts. But
it won't challenge me to think any harder. Progressives will only win tough elections when
they have a deep understanding of what might cause them to lose.

[raouldukelives]

175. k&r

[existentialist]

177. Of course you're right, the question is

what are we going to do about it?

I for one do not intend to let my disappointment with Obama be converted into support for Republicans.

[leeroysphitz]

179. Peggy, have you turned into a paid right wing operative too?

:sarcasm:

[SammyWinstonJack]

189. She is probably the ONLY one who could post this and get away with it mostly unscathed.

Anyone else would have their head handed to them. And for the record I whole heartedly agree with the OP.

[OwnedByFerrets]

181. Not even using KY

[tavalon]

183. Nope, not wrong

It's sad. But I think we believed far more in what he said than he did.

[SammyWinstonJack]

191. He played us and he'll do it again and won't think twice about it, I bet.

His future is secure even while he works to make others' not so secure.

Cuts to SS/Medicare/Medicaid which he is pushing hard for, will harm many millions and does he care, while he LIES about it all? NOPE!

[nadinbrzezinski]

190. No, you are not wrong

But the horse will continue to be whipped and the driver blames the horse for laying laying on the side of the road...dying. The driver don't understand he's part of the problem.

[frazzled]

196. I don't want to be mean at all, but that's not a very deep thought

I've lived through 12 presidents (really 11, because I was just a toddler when Harry Truman was president, and I have zero recollection), and NONE of them has kept all their campaign promises, Democrat or Republican. It's a given that in a system with a balance of power a president will not get everything they campaigned on. Sometimes they don't even try, sometimes they change their positions, sometimes they get blocked.

I've also never lived in a time of this much economic distress--a factor that is putting a big crimp in a lot of plans that otherwise would have taken place (this latest smog rule change amongst them). I was one of the post-war babies, born in 1950. With a few blips of short-term and mild cyclical recession, it was a time of relative plenty and huge economic expansion. But the writing started to be on the wall 20 years ago. I remember discussing the growing inequality gap in the early 90s. Bill Clinton disappointed me big time, and I believe he contributed to the mess we're in now, though I blame Bush most for destroying the government end of things. But I stood by Bill Clinton, and knew he was often playing the best hand he had. I believe the same with Obama, but he is saddled with much more woe than Clinton ever was--a big steaming pile of economic mess thrown together with a batshit crazy opposition that would vote against saving their own grandmothers if it would stop anything on his agenda.

So people post angry threads because they're disappointed, eh? All I can say is "doh." That doesn't really help much. Rather than acting like children saying "waaaah,Daddy didn't give me what I wanted" and stomping off, we need to have much more detailed discussion of the whats, wheres, and whys. We need to bring nuance and more than mere sloganeering. We need to focus on the positive things that have been done as much as we comb the depths of the daily blogs for things to criticize. We need to stand in the shoes of someone trying to make difficult balances between tipping a fragile economy and fighting political opposition, who doesn't have the luxury of acting on his own convictions in many cases. We are in an extremely pivotal time in American history. Sure, I'm disappointed in some of the things the administration has chosen to do or not do, and sometimes in their means of communicating. But I'm gonna dance with the one I brung till they knock him out, because the other choice is really much, much, much, much worse. And that's a damned good reason for dancing on.

I've been around too long to ignore the consequences of walking away when one is disappointed. Life is a series of disappointments, in ourselves and in others. None of us has lived out our progressive ideals fully in our own lives. We just keep trying, and in the end, things come out pretty okay. It always could be worse.

[Rex]

198. Well, honestly those aren't very deep thoughts either.

It is a story about your political life, but you end up with, "waaaah,Daddy didn't give me what I wanted" and so that does not really make any headway or help with the problem.

If anything the 'sloganeering' aspect of your post is way off base...people are mad and voicing concern. 'Sloganeering' is something I expect a freeper (and have seen them post) to say when they have nothing to defend their position with.

Jus sayin.

[frazzled]

199. Simple proof that ...

we are talking from completely different planets, and there's probably little you or I can do to convince one another. It's a sad state of affairs, but that's where we are. It feels like the Trotskyists and Stalinists tearing apart the left in the 30s and 40s. Sadly, the idealist-left Trotskyists became the right-wing neo-conservatives of later years. I hope we don't see an equally destructive fight among the left today.

[Skittles]

202. I feel like NO ONE in government represents ME

they are corporate-owned