Reminder: Bush Left Office in January

I will never understand how the Left is called Obama’s base when they are always so ready to ditch him. If I had a significant other or friend that constantly tore me down and claimed that I couldn’t succeed without them – I’d kick them to the curb.

Allonfla- Amen to ‘those of little faith’!

So true, Allonfla. And I’m so sick of the “we’re the ones who got him elected.” The whole point of Obama’s win is that people across the board voted for him. My dad, who couldn’t love W more, voted for and donated to, Obama. Without any one of the many groups across the social and political spectrum, he wouldn’t have been elected. But that means everyone is going to have to compromise–to understand that he is not there solely to fulfill the agenda of one particular faction. The man said it all on Nov 4th–he is everyone’s president.

You may be on to something, Allonfla. Who is still describing the Left as Obama’s base? I think it’s becoming increasingly clear that the Left is not his base at all–not anymore… Kick them to the curb? Okay, do that, and see where that gets ya.

Carribean: You speak of ‘those of little faith.’ Does that mean you’re taking a faith-based approach and buying into the cult of personality surrounding your leader–just like right-wingers were doing eight years ago?

And certainly Bob’s colleagues at the HuffPo need to get that through their skulls as well. I’m tired of their Drudge-like headlines tempering every bit of positive news with something not only negative but something undermining. Headline points out the DOW has hit 10,000 in 500 pt font and then undercuts it with something like, “Unemployment Nears 10%.” Or how about the similar announcement about the Peace Prize with the undercutting bit about troop levels in Afghanistan. They are just as bad a MSM about taking seemingly related things that are not actually related and presenting them as though they are and that does damage to ALL progressive causes.I get frustrated with the Administration’s choices like anyone. I disagree vehemently with the direction Obama is moving on some things. It’s idiotic to expect a president to do everything my way, though. And equating him to Bush is just selfish laziness. People do that to chastise and motivate when all it really accomplishes is resistance.

BobYou are right on. IMHO this campaign by the “progressives” to undermine the President must be based on:1) driving more traffic to websites and other media; or2) irrational impatience; or3) response from people that just like to be pissed off (i.e. Lefty Teabaggers)It is way passed time to stop the whining. For whatever reason.

I totally agree, Bob.And a little off-topic: I think Arianna is way off base suggesting Biden should resign.In fact, that’s one of the worst ideas I’ve heard since January. The vice president resigning would make this administration appear dysfunctional and add fuel to the idea of an illegitimate president if his own VP won’t support him. Less than a year in, and the VP is supposed to resign as a legacy to some loose principles? And this is supposed to help how? This is going to encourage others to do the same? Bad idea.I know what utter incompetence looks like. Arrogance with no substance. Indifference. Cynical manipulation of emotions. I know what white-collar war criminals look like. I know what a B-actor playing the role of president looks like. I know what an arms dealing/CIA spook president does and looks like. I know what greed and the abuse of power looks like. I know what a Conservadem president and the repercussions of his policies looks like.Obama is a better man than all of them put together. He’s already the best president in the last half century. I’m proud of Obama. I don’t regret my vote for a second.I have some disagreements. But I’m an American– not America.I understand Greenwald’s motives. I’m glad he’s an equal opportunity critic and I understand his very legitimate beef(s). We’re still in assessment stage, though. The president is making strides all the time. It’s not as fast as some would like, but I can see the reasons for the pace. This isn’t a president that makes sudden moves. He’s calculating, empathetic, and methodical, and I know he came in as the guy charged with cleaning up the shit and money-burning blood orgy left behind by decades of GOP-dominated values.This is a crisis presidency.Congress has a responsibility as well. It’s an equal branch, remember? It’s up to them to put his agenda in writing and get it on his desk.I don’t like the tone of some of the criticisms from Democrats, and before anyone begins feeding the concern trolls,( the current influx of “Independents” came from some corner of the rightwing)remember what the Postman said: “Stuff’s gettin’ better. It’s getting better all the time.”Ask yourself. Is it getting worse?I don’t think so.

MrBrinkWow. Good one!I particularly like your term “crisis presidency”. That says it all. It raises the question of the elements of the crisis and what caused it. Also, it should cause the whiners to consider what our President is really dealing with… and why he is absolutely the best person for the job.

Hielo: Please educate me on how progressives are “undermining” the President. Especially when public sentiment is on our side for several issues… We are vehemently in favor of a public option and against escalation in Afghanistan, as examples. I call it wanting what’s best for America–you call it whining.Are the progressive House members leading the fight for the public option by not being willing to compromise it away for Republican votes (as the White House seemed willing to do), or are they whining and undermining the President, too?

FDR was a crisis president, too. I don’t see FDR walking through that door… What if we said Obama should be more like FDR instead of more like Bush?

FDR compromised on a million things. It it revisionist history to suggest otherwise.@Mr Brink: Right on. It is so emblematic of what I think is fundamentally wrong with the Democratic party. So many people are of the “take my ball and go home” mentality. Yes, you should stand with your principles–but that shouldn’t make you blind to reasonable arguments. The hole reason Obama picked Biden and Biden acccepted is that they DON’T agree about anything and they both thought it important that there was eomone in a high enough position to dissent; someone who could be heard and respected, and would listen and respect those around him.For another take: what if Lt. Dan Choi had simply resigned from the military? How much less effective would he be without wearing that uniform AND standing by his principles?

@Banks- Quit with the FDR crap.First of all, FDR was not President during the 24 News infotainment Age, and he didn’t have a batshit crazy teabagging opposition either.And if you live during the time that FDR was President, you wouldn’t have been happy with his final result of Social Security and he is the one that created the Finance Committee as well.Yet again, we don’t what will be in the final bill. SO the White House hasn’t given away anything yet.

I agree with Mr. Brink as well.

@ banksYou need to read all of the posts starting with Bob’s.I am using the term “progressives” in the same way the MSM and certain websites use it when they gloat over the latest criticism from the left. Those little marks at the end of that word in my post are called “quotation marks”. Look it up.I choose to call impatient, untimely, and often unwarranted criticism “whining”. You can call it whatever you want, but don’t call it constructive. It seriously detracts what we want accomplished including the current sensitive work on a real health care reform bill.As to:”FDR was a crisis president, too. I don’t see FDR walking through that door… What if we said Obama should be more like FDR instead of more like Bush?”You are a whiner.

Very well put Bob:”the tool has to fit the job.”USDA Tool Vilsack fits the job of the fox guarding the henhouse. Same with Treasury Tool Geithner.”Is it getting worse?”Depends on where you live. The economic meltdown is not Obama’s fault but still, he did choose to bailout them the wealthy and not we the people. And we just had the 3 worst months ever in foreclosure rates.I knew going in that Obama is just 1/3 of the equation, with Congress and the Media being the other 2. I’ll say it again: throw out every elected rep except Kucinich. It’s basically coming down to whether we can must a fight against the fascists that control Congress.Health care reform won’t change that. They might wake up to it and throw us a bone, but at the end of the day. it’s just a bone while mega-corporations haul away our money, our resources, our livelihood.So, nope, I don’t get why people are overly critical of Obusha. Sorry, but Vilsack and Geithner are tools of fascism and so is Obama and Congress and the media.

Should be “they don’t agree about *everything*” There are certainly things Obama and Biden agree on.

Thanks for your replies, guys.@Helio, Bomb, J

*Hielo*

@ banksYou’re welcome. Let’s try and do away with the circular firing squad.@ FrictionSoulWhat is your real solution here? How does Obama get bribery out of our system? Once he gets this done, doing the right thing will be simple.

So true. Think what you want….but say only what you wont mind hearing replayed forever….and used or misconstrued against you!!! I love watching an argument where one side screams incoherently while the other is almost condescending calm in their reasoned approach… cool always wins the day…sometimes with a losing argument if you can stay more rational in the fight…. BuckEdwards