I have a confession to make.....20 of them in fact!

[FrenchieCat]

I am biased and invested in seeing President Obama Succeed for a whole lot of reasons:

1. He is fails, we all fail.

2. He is a Democrat and so am I, and there is only two real viable parties in this country.

3. I donated to him so that he could do what he said he'd do.

4. My oldest daughter just got into a PHD program all expenses paid for the next 5 years
specifically due to the OBama's stimulus passed.

5. I can barely afford health care, and I'm not getting any younger...so something's got to give.

6. He is the only one that can end these wars we are in within the next 4 years, so my eggs are in that basket.

7. I am self employed and have seen my business go down by a healthy 30%.

8. We are in the middle of refinancing but we haven't been approved yet.

9. I have money invested in a 401K.

10. My youngest daughter just started college this year, and its expensive.

11. I am French by birth and I am enjoying France appearing to have respect for America once more.

12. My President is Biracial/Black just like me......for once.

13. I tend to root for articulate intelligent people when they are leading my country.

14. My grandmother died of breast Cancer, my Mother has had it, and I am prone to get it too....so I like his lift on the Stem Cell research ban.

15. I worked like hell as an activist for an entire year just so he could get elected.

16. I wanted a President that would at least listen to me, even if he didn't do as I wanted.

17. I want election reform, and I know he can get this done....as he proposed some bills on this while he was in the Senate, and he worked for Project Vote....and so I know he's gonna get to it.

18. I want the Democratic President to have a strong hand, and I don't think he will if I nitpick at him at every turn.

19. I like seeing him on my Television. It makes me proud.

20. I read his books, watched his speeches, and have watched him work since he has gotten into the office, and I find him to be a consistent hard working person who really cares what happens to the American people.


So call me a cheerleader, a pom-pom girl, a fan, an apologist or whatever else you want to,
and see if I give a shit!

[MADem]

1. I did not support Obama in the primary, but I am rooting for him to do well too.

So hand me a megaphone, I'll join you.

[FrenchieCat]

4. I remember MADem......

Some might think that I am just selfish,
but I figured whatever skin I have in this game,
there are others who are less fortunate than me,
who stand to benefit more than they would otherwise....
and that is also very important to me.

[murielm99]

18. Same here.

I supported Clinton.

I want him to succeed, and worked hard for him after the primary. I am a Democrat, loyal to the ideals of my party. Many DUers do not seem to understand that that is simply how it works for a loyal foot soldier. There is a difference between being a political junkie and being a practical politician.

Obama will be one of our great Presidents. I know he will succeed.

I have not been critical of him yet. I don't think it is fair. We need to let his advisers and his appointees work with him to hammer out his programs. Give him time.

[Clio the Leo]

2. It took less than 68 days....

.... for us to become spoiled brats.

Would you like to join me in a pyramid formation? :)

[cliffordu]

3. I have some pretty serious pom poms over here for the Prez, too....

[FrenchieCat]

7. We are supposed to be shunned and discounted

simply because we support this President.
but folks have to realize there are many, many
good solid reasons why we stand up for this President.

Those who call me and others here names
should understand that they are not superior
simply because they are cynical.
That doesn't make them better,
and that is the part that they miss.

[cliffordu]

9. I'm not very nice to them these days.

they should help or get out of the way....

[tavalon]

37. I have his back but I also have his feet to the fire

To anything less on either end would be to not fulfill my responsibility as a Democrat.

[Hellataz]

39. Here Here, I wont ever be ashamed for supporting this president or giving him the benefit of the

doubt on policies that i might question. I might raise an eye brow at thing i disagree with that he does, but I wont immediately jump all over him until i see the facts and how it all plays out. I have confidence in him that he knows more then we do and can make these decisions on a more informed basis and most of us can only aspire to be arm chair quarterbacks on his governing.

[rufus dog]

5. Cheerleader, POM POM Girl

Whatever!

A lot of people have a great deal invested in his success. As a small business owner I am screwed when the economy is bad. Luckily the family is healthy but Insurance costs a butt load, if someone gets really sick we would be in trouble.

People are looking for perfection, focusing on single issues, and or are just predisposed to complaining. It's like they can't remember 2007 let alone the last 8 years. I have admitted I bitched about Clinton too early and it will never happen again. But it took BC two years to piss me off, not two months.

By nature Democrats are less organized and non-conformists, but everyone needs to understand the alternatives to side tracking this administration.

And up until this point I have resisted stating this but here goes:

Dennis Kucinich is never going to win the Democratic Nomination let alone become President of the United States.

Edit: I'll be the base of the Pyramid, and if you give me enough beers I will attempt a back flip.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. As much as I want him to succeed, I cannot get behind the cult of personality

I don't care who the leader is

So call me a wet blanket

But I will be a cheerleader when deserved, (which happens to be a fair amount of the time... and lord i get it what they are doing with the economy) but I reserve my right to be critical where I don't agree

Which is far less than I ever disagreed with Bush (99.9%) I am sure I can find one or two things I agreed with either the idiot in chief, or his staff... yes they got a couple things right... and one was actually acting on the economy instead of pulling a hoover

But as a student of history I have learned that cult of personality is dangerous... as in very dangerous

And my party right or wrong is just a little less problematic than my country right or wrong

Yep, wet blanket

And yep I also gave some money to the Obama campaign and for our sakes I hope whatever they do works but I reserve my right to be critical when I think it is appropriate (and in my opinion a big item is... the stimulus package was not big enough, on and I have my reservations on Afghanistan policy, something about not getting into a land battle in central asia, even if I get the need to go there)

[FrenchieCat]

10. I'm not sure where I stated that I am cheering him due to his personality.....

I believe that I am on his side because of how that helps me,
and folks that I know.

It's about how my life is directly affected.....
and that is not what you are talking about.

I like his smile alright, but that ain't why I support him.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. The line between cheering and cult is very narrow indeed

No this is not being cynical, but that pesky training as a historian

I reserve my right to be critical, regardless of who is in charge

[Clio the Leo]

25. lol, well what *I* learned while earning my MA in history ...

..... is that too often people who underestimate the important figures of their time often find themselves on the wrong side of history.

I honestly feel like we're living in one of those times that future historians will look back on as a turning point. I consider myself blessed to be eating up every millisecond of it.

Just for laughs, did you see this?

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/20495.html

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. I agree with you, it is one of those moments

but you also probably learned that times like this one have their special dangers... and one of them is the rise of the cult of personality, what I warn against

Even FDR, a popular hero (for good reasons) went out of his way to splain what he was doing (just like Obama is doing right now)... and just like Obama, did not expect blind following.. hell Historians later also learned some of the failings of FDR and some of them were very serious... leaders who are human have failings...

There was plenty of criticism, some of it well warranted, during the depression... and there will be, or should criticism of Obama, and some will be well warranted. That is the point

[Hellataz]

40. I really think Obama will be judge far greater then we can imagine by history.

[Clio the Leo]

51. Don Lemon was missing you last night....

.... did you catch that?

Dont go so long without Tweeting him, he sounded worried :)

[Hellataz]

74. Haha I know, it was funny. If only his show wasn't on so late during the week.

[Clio the Leo]

13. Cult of personality is only dangerous when it's in the wrong hands. ;-) NT

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. It is dangerous in any hand

[Clio the Leo]

19. ehh .... if I thought Barack Obama was capable of abusing his power...

..... in the manner of which we're speaking, I wouldn't be such an ardent supporter. Generally I tend to agree with you, but there are exceptions to every rule.

Darned pragmatist that I am.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. As i said the line is very narrow indeed

that said, in this case the problem is not with the leader, but those willing to go there...

The danger is when both the leader and the people go there.

Too much history... and this has precious little to do with pragmatism

[Clio the Leo]

34. Exactly and THIS leader simply isn't going to go there.

Seriously, when he does, I'll buy you a drink. :toast:

Until then, it's a mute point.

The simple fact of the matter is that there are not enough cheerleaders in this country that he could enable for his own nefarious gain. Nor are there enough malcontents in the Democratic party to derail his agenda.

But there are a lot of middle of the road folks who'll switch back to the GOP just as easily as they came to our side if he doesn't help them put food on the table or help keep their kids healthy.

I know that, you know that and HE Knows that. ..... Until then we're just entertaining ourselves "arguing" over things that dont make a huge difference in the long run. It's a long time until 2012 and at least this keeps us off the streets. :)

[lumberjack_jeff]

56. Do you have Habeas Corpus rights?

Seems to me that for a person incapable of abusing his power, returning this would have been the low hanging fruit.

[sandnsea]

21. So is a cult of chronic malcontents

And if I was forced to put my eggs in Obama's cult of personality basket - or DU's cult of chronic malcontents basket - I'd go with Obama every single time.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. As I said above, using common sense is important

I may remind you also that being critical of your government, NO MATTER who is in charge, is an American tradition,,, requiring an informed citizenry

Our history abhors cults of personalty, and we saw the possible results of one the last eight years... no thank you.

I'd rather be a malcontent... and reserve the right to be critical... when deserved

[sandnsea]

35. Actually, the criticizers are really the cult

right now. To swarm into a mass of muckrakers and rant at every utterance, half of which are only speculations to begin with, is to create a personality in order to rail against it. It's not real either.

It was not right to criticize every move Bush made, just because Bush was the one making the move. Many people are carrying that same animosity over to Obama. They think they're just clever cynicists, when they really are nothing more than negative chronic malcontents. It is not healthy and not helpful to our government, especially when the criticism is so petty that it diverts us from solving important problems. Pot to save the economy? Really?? People are going to get in a tizz over that? Ridiculous. Most of the criticisms have been equally vapid.

Somebody wants to question the wisdom of continuing to root out terrorists in Afghanistan, or advocate for single payer - fine. But the "just like Bush" nonsense is entirely over the top.

[nadinbrzezinski]

58. If you are talking about the right, mirror image

to me, any leader is open to criticism

If that is a cult... so be it, glad to be a member of it

(and deeply ingrained in the American tradition)

Now there is a difference from blindingly being critical just because he is from the other party, or being critical because they deserve it

There is a large difference

[polmaven]

63. Criticism is necessary...

but some of what is said here goes WAY past criticism, right into bashing. *If the president has not yet gotten to MY pet issue, after 68 whole days in office, then he is useless and not worthy of the presidency* types of threads and posts are not criticisms. They are bashing.

I totally agree that any president should be criticized when necessary - but for good and fair reason, not for the sake of criticism.

The same applies to the members of his Cabinet.

[nadinbrzezinski]

69. And why I said that those who blindly follow are just as bad

that's the point

<--------------- proud member of an informed citizenry that will be critical when deserved

[zeemike]

50. I support your point but remember this;

That the right wing gained and consolidated there power through unity and voting in blocks and we now have to have unity of purpose to keep the power we now have.
The difference between them and us is that they did it without critical thinking and we can and should do it with critical thinking.
So while I still reserve the right to dissent i will also support any and all cheerleaders even if there adoration of Obama is unrealistic...we are all brothers and sisters in this and if they want to worship at his feet I will hold there coat.

[nadinbrzezinski]

59. And I reserve the right to be critical of ANY who worships any leader

no matter who

Because there is a danger in that

That said, blind criticism, just because they are from the other party... ain't koeher too

And it is also dangerous

[zeemike]

67. I have known a freeper for 15 years now

And regularly post to him sense the Clinton years.
He is an atheist but never once did he ever criticize a fundy or put down any of their kookie ideas.
Why? because he needs them as the base for his right wing party and they are brothers and sisters in their own idealogical struggle.
Now I would never suggest that we start doing that, because basically I like the fact that we are diverse in our outlook and I think it is our strength not a weakness.
But I do suggest caution and believe that while we can disagree on any topic we should never the less respect each other and remember that we are more alike than different, and we have the same goals of social justice.

Some people in our party want a figure to worship and want to cheer lead him or her...I say that there is noting wrong with it and let them be.
There is no harm in it as long as we keep the goal in mind and work toward it...these people are not delusional they just want to celebrate what is a great victory.

[nadinbrzezinski]

71. That is a football game and I will not participate in a football game

as to that freeper... his choice not to call his radical base on it

I will call my radical base on it

Then again I'm a democrat, insert here what Will Rogers said

[zeemike]

80. And that is what separates us from them

We are not members of any organized party.
My only point being that we should let the ones who want to adore Obama do so and not give them a hard time about it.
But I am not in any way saying that you should STFU about anything. I can live with both sides.

[Hello_Kitty]

23. I don't feel like it's a cult of personality.

Obama's political success has been maybe 10% "It factor" and 90% hard work, street smarts, and solid strategy. By all means, criticize the hell out of him when you think he's going wrong. He's not going to freak out and throw you in jail for it. Which is how you know it's not a cult of personality. :)

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. It is not him that will get freaked. Hell, unless I go out of my way

to make sure he learns of it (yes at times I do write letters), it is not him... it is the followers, and how they react to the criticism

I prefer to follow the American tradition of applaud when right and criticize when wrong. I did that over the last eight years, no reason to stop now

[FrenchieCat]

31. I have written so many letters through whitehouse.gov that I have lost count.....

When I'm unhappy, I tend to go to the source.

I don't feel the need to hang my dirty laundry out
where everyone can stare at it.
Hell, it might just be my underwear...
and who would want to see that?
The stares don't get them clean, that's for sure!

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. Good, I use the USPS...

to the WHITE HOUSE

But I believe in having an open discussion of policy, even when not glowing

[Mithreal]

93. That is wise, Frenchie. Do you ever get notice they are received? nt

[OwnedByFerrets]

70. Here Here

[babylonsister]

8. Sign me up. He's not perfect, but I will take him and want him, without

all the hoopla about shoulda/coulda/woulda.

He's a vast improvement.

[Hello_Kitty]

11. You back your cheerleading up with facts and analysis and I always get a lot out of your posts.

On more than one occasion, you've given me reason to reconsider kneejerk reactions I might have had to something Obama did. Keep on keeping on and don't let the haters get to you. :hug:

[Clio the Leo]

20. If I could rec a reply....

... I'd rec this one. ;)

[FrenchieCat]

30. I'm glad that I can provide useful information......

That's the part that those calling me names tend to overlook, conveniently....
that I at least attempt to back my shit up....

Thanks! :hi:

[onehandle]

12. We have something in common.

French blood.

My dad was French. I visited France for the first time last year.

My wife and I were there for nearly a month.

I too am enjoying the fact that France is out of the cold.

Outside of Fox News circles.

[FrenchieCat]

33. How did you like it? And what part did you go to?

I went this past summer too! I was in the Nice most of the time.

[onehandle]

52. We went all over. Started with two weeks in Paris.

Did. Not. Want. To. Leave.

We then went to Strasbourg and drove around Eastern France.

Then we went to the South and explored all around the coast, including Nice.

We settled in Provence for a few days (where a friend was getting married).

Then we drove West to Bordeaux. Then spent a few days in the Loire Valley where my dad grew up.

Then back to Paris for a couple of days.

What a total Lie about Parisians being rude and uppity.

What I think it is, is that Americans go there expecting them to kiss their asses.

All you really have to do, is greet them and be friendly and they will open right up for you.

Anyway, France was wonderful. The French were so warm to us. I speak little French, but got by just fine.

[FrenchieCat]

65. Sounds like a wonderful vacation......

and I know for sure excellent food. Mmmmm! Just thinking about it makes me smile! :)

[NYC_SKP]

14. #18: "I want the Democratic President to have a strong hand"...

That's the one the strikes me as the most significant for others to read and understand.

That is the one that I wish people would consider before posting unsubstantiated claptrap from Politico, et. al.

Constructive criticism with suggestions for ways to make a difference are one thing.

Plain old whining, or worse, is quite another.

Recommended.

[NanceGreggs]

17. You go, girl!

:woohoo: :applause: :woohoo: :applause: :woohoo:

[zulchzulu]

24. Hugs from the frozen Midwest Obama posse

K&R! And congrats on your daughters and such!

[FrenchieCat]

27. Thanks a lot!

If it wasn't for that stimulus, my oldest's little butt would be looking for a job right now! Both offers that she got were directly related to additional health & science research funding provided to the Major Research Centers (universities) via the Stimulus and will provide her with all that she needs to live quite comfortably for 5 years and come out of it with a PHD! That's a lot of something!

[akbacchus_BC]

36. Frenchie, did you read my mind? You are so articulate, it is mind-boggling,

you and Nance. No, we did not drink the cool aid, we recognized a great leader and Americans from all walks of life voted for him. Am I happy, am ecstatic for you and me. Please clone President Barack Obama and send him to Canada, we want such a great leader. Amen

[Kaleko]

38. A lot of what people like to call "critical thinking" here on DU

turns out to be knee jerk reactions. An immediate "no" to whatever they read in an article they haven't bothered to verify is the conditioned response. We lefties have been programmed to mistrust and condemn any politicians.

Obama just happens to be a world-class community organizer of a caliber we rarely see.

[FrenchieCat]

46. Half don't even click on the link one bothers to post.

You can link to an article that has nothing in it that supports the post,
or the excerpt taken was out of context,
and folks wouldn't even bother to know it.

[Hellataz]

41. I'm glad your posts get so well received and it puts you in a position to change people's minds

There is so much negativity here sometimes, its seems like like freeperland with all the naysaying, doubt, and insecurity. I don't think this should be a 100% Obama love in, but when you come here and most of the headlines are negative towards Obama is just doesn't feel good, so i'm glad for your posts and when i read people reserved their hasty judgments on Obama thanks to your cool head.

Kudos :fistbump:

[PBS Poll-435]

42. His choice of SoS has made me extremely proud lately

A diplomat who knows what the "F" she is talking about.

I have never been more proud of my country's gov't.

[FrenchieCat]

43. She is doing most excellently!

That is a fact.

And when one has state behind them talking about war,
you know that the diplomatic core will be involved....
otherwise, why not just have the sec. of Defense.

[PBS Poll-435]

44. I love that you can tell that they are a team.

A real team invested in success.

America is again ready and open for diplomacy.

[FrenchieCat]

45. and we will need that team.....

to win it for us!

The G20 is important and our team will be the PR front for those who lost faith in America, after we took them down a road of dispair in both our economic and foreign policies of the Bush years.

That is gonna take some hard work!

Did you see this? http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8299262

[cherokeeprogressive]

47. You Pom-Pom Girl You...

Hey, you said... and I'm sure you don't give a shit about what I think. That won't prevent me from voicing my opinion though, with the respect and dignity that I think you deserve. I hope you'll take my subject line with the levity that I intended.

I voted for the man just as I assume you did. I was totally convinced that he was the right choice for the job at a time when we as a nation needed to make a statement to the world. I'm proud that he's my president just as you are. I'll go to my grave believing that we as a nation made the RIGHT statement, at a time when our statement as a nation was most critical. I would no more insult you for supporting President Obama than I would take back my vote. He is My President.

I will though, hold his feet to the fire even if I have to grab him by the ankles and drag him to it. I've felt that way about every local representative and every presidential candidate I've ever voted for. I will never apologize for that. Hell, I'd run for office myself if I didn't have a closet that bones flew out of every time the door was opened. I've grown though, and know that someday I'll have to atone to the Karma God for my past indiscretions. No one is perfect, not even my President.

What I won't do is support him blindly just because he has a (D) behind his name, no matter HOW much I hated the man he followed. I know that flies in the face of how my fellow DU'ers interpret the rules they so often mention when they see a post that offends their sensibilities. I'm more than a little tired of reading replies to posts critical of his performance that ridicule the person who thinks he's not on the same page as us. Personally, I don't care how long he's held the office. I'm entitled to be critical. Sometimes, reading replies to a post critical of President Obama's actions and recommendations is almost like reading that * thought me a traitor if not less than a patriot because I disagreed with HIS policies.

I have deep respect for your opinions. I never fail to read your OP's, or your replies to someone else's OP. I believe that President Obama's wishes as to how this country moves forward from the fiasco of the last eight years are pure. I believe that his wife, the First Lady, should be applauded for her help in getting him elected. As far as MO is concerned though, I think that's where her influence/exposure should end. I didn't vote for her, no matter HOW good her arms look in a sleeveless dress. She should be viewed as the First Lady, and not some kind of co-president. I believe that Malia and Sasha are beyond reproach, and that they stand in awe of what their father has achieved, and that their awe will dictate what kind of persons they will grow up to be.

On the other hand, I hate the fact that I should be expected to parse the words of a candidate for the presidency to the extent that my conclusion of his honesty is not comparable to the words he spoke as a candidate. Campaign promises to me are just that: promises. I was never promised a pony, a dog, or a garage with a car, much less a rabbit in my pot. If I were promised those things, I'd be disappointed, and would be angry if someone told me that they were merely words intended to placate me and that I should get over it or "understand" that they were not statements intended to make me TRUST my parents, but statements intended to make me love them more.

President Obama can do great things. I'm convinced of that or I wouldn't have voted for him. It's entirely possible that I'm totally wrong (gimme a nickel for every time I was and I could fly you to Mars in a New York taxi), but I think he got off on the wrong foot because of things that happened between the time he was elected and the moment he was inaugurated. He inherited shit and we're expecting him to make it into a bowl of cherries. My fondest wish is that he can turn the shit cum fantasy cherries into lemonade.

Thanks for listening.

[FrenchieCat]

48. Hey, I liked it!

Twas good.

But I want to say that this OP was inspired by those who have called me cheerleader over and over again. I was just letting them know why I cheer this President when I do.

No matter what they say to me....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8279472&mesg_id=8279519


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8299548&mesg_id=8299568

Response 12 & 14
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5344795#5345111


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8277566&mesg_id=8278201

It goes on and on and on.

[Brazenly Liberal]

49. K&R!

You keep cheerleading, Frenchie. It looks good on you! :)

Unfortunately, there are whiners in every group, including Democrats. The whiners who crawl all over you for supporting Obama are not going to be happy no matter what, so why give them a second thought? I just plunk 'em onto my ignore list and DU becomes a much nicer place.

Good luck with the refi!

[Runcible Spoon]

53. "I am self employed and have seen my business go down by a healthy 30%."

Tends to happen when you post on DU 12 hours a day, no? :shrug:

[FrenchieCat]

54. I have staff, which gives me the time that I wish for.....

that's what can happen when you have been in business for 25 years; there are dividends to be had. That's part of the American dream. However, folks are cutting back right now, and no matter of my working at my desk will ease that situation....

But I do thank you for your concern in reference to my business and how it is run.

[lumberjack_jeff]

55. I want him to succeed at what I want him doing.

I'm not at all invested in his success at appointing AIG boardmembers to government office.

[mvd]

57. We don't have to agree with everything Obama does, but your basic premise is correct

Even if I become disappointed, I will support the President. The alternatives are a Repuke (unthinkable) and a third party candidate (a wasted vote.)

[NJmaverick]

60. BRAVO!

:applause:

[firedupdem]

61. I hear ya Frenchie! n/t

[HopeOverFear]

62. hear hear! n/m

[polmaven]

64. At my age,

I will be very happy to be called a cheerleader.....but please don't ask me to actually do any cartwheels, OK?

[GaYellowDawg]

66. Very nice post, and congratulations to your daughters!

Sounds like your older daughter got a nice assistantship. Good for her! Tell her that her parents have to be prominently mentioned in the acknowledgments section of the dissertation. :-)

[FrenchieCat]

94. Thank you! I will certainly mention it...a few times! :)

[Still Sensible]

68. Now that we are in power, democrats seem to be

fracturing into camps of ideological purity, whether it is about economic issues, or military policy or social progress. When the RWers gained power, their ideologues became pragmatic about how to hold onto that power. I fear our split is aiding the RW efforts to divide and conquer.

The contrast is stark. Under Bush, when there was dissent from people in his own party it was generally expressed by republicans in a respectful way, showing some level of deference to their president. They realized that even if the agenda being pursued wasn't exactly as they would prefer in every instance, in the big picture, the direction of that pursuit was generally supportive of their agenda--moving the nation to the right in everything from economic and banking policy to the neocons' militarist pursuits... and on top of that we had to live through the advance of the anti-science, irrational agenda of the fundamentalist religious right.

At the very least, the deference the factions of the GOP showed for their leader contributed to the Bush administration success moving the country to the right and leaving all of us in the collosal mess--on every front--that we face today. Even when the corporatists didn't agree with some of the anti-science pursuits of the Bushies, their dissent was mild. When the libertarian GOP was frustrated by many things the Bush-Cheney neocons were doing, they still supported them. The republicans may be a coalition of ideological zealots--corporatists, neocons, fundamentalists and libertarians (who stick around even as the party leaders give them the finger)--by God they became pragmatic when they got power and they ended up getting a great deal of their agenda accomplished. They did so because, to them, the alternative of having the 'libruls' in power was simply unacceptable.

But our side doesn't seem to be interested in any 'big picture' approach to gradually drag the country toward the left. Never mind that in everything from the stimulus, to the budget, to the approach to our wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the administration is undoing the Bush mess. Never mind that the Obama administration has already had some success advancing women's equal pay and bringing back scientific progress from its exile of the last eight years.

I'm not advocating lockstep--that's not us... But what we shouldn't be doing is being so fractured that some of our factions become allies to the RW cause. When they win their ideologues become pragmatic in their pursuit of holding on to power and preventing the other side from breaking through. Apparently when we win, our ideologues become hard-liners that ultimately help the enemy divide and conquer.

Thank you for your "cheerleading" Frenchie. It is not grounded in idol worship, but in the kind of political pragmatism that IMO will be necessary to avoid giving the White House back to the right wing in 2012. You obviously understand the bigger picture.

[FrenchieCat]

81. Well reasoned post, and yes, I see the forest......

as I have had to stare at it from afar for so very long, like so many others here.

Going further......we are now in the forest, and I'll be damned, but some of us are hitting our heads against trees just because they are there, or even worse, we look up only to find some perched in those trees throwing down coconuts!

I think those who order this President around and have determined that he should be doing this or that, just do not want to believe, although they really do very well know, that political limitations are a real situation with real consequences, and is accompanied by a real Right Wing leaning media who acts as expert coconut throwers. In addition, the forest is pretty much set up with traps, and every step has much more importance than some of us care to admit.

There is a belief by some on the Left that we can remake the world in the vision we want. I believe this to a point as well, but I also know for sure it cannot all be done at once, not even in 8 years, because of all of the variables that we do not, sadly, control....like coconuts and booby traps.

So yes, we are finally back in the forest, but that doesn't mean we are home free....by any measure.

[CBR]

72. 12. My President is Biracial/Black just like me......for once. --

I think an important point relates to this. I am not Black or Biracial but my husband is black. Once a person of color obtains a position, he/she is judged on a different level than his or her white counterparts. Often, one mistake spells doom for that individual. I fear this operational reality will undermine the ability of President Obama to succeed beyond a first term and even within his first term. The more he is undermined, whether in perception or reality, the less room there is for his policies and his politics to find success. It is a different standard. People start to say, "see, he wasn't/isn't up to the job." Expressing support understanding this reality isn't a product of cheerleading or a cult of personality but rather experience. I hope people don't discount the opinions of persons who wish to offer public support just because their expression of citizenship includes incorporating the racial realities of the nation. I have read a lot about "duties of a citizen" and the proper way to conduct those duties but citizenship is defined by the individual and if that includes offering unwavering support for a President then they have that right as much as the person who believes in a different form of operational citizenship. No one holds the definition of citizenship and the expression thereof.

[firedupdem]

76. I wish I could rec your response. Excellent and true. n/t

[CBR]

79. Thanks!

[chieftain]

73. As always, Frenchie Cat, you make damn good sense.

There are so many juvenile things that the GOP spouts, it would be hard to pick out the dumbest. But any list of stupid RW mantras would have to include the mindless attacks on the French.

[ZombieHorde]

75. Most of those are good reasons, K&R. Now, as for the insults we get to throw at you...

You're a bad Pixel Junk Monsters player. You can't rainbow a single level!

You're a total DU nerd, you spend a large portion of your life with the likes of me!

You are a lover of country music.

Your knowledge of Dungeons & Dragons is weak and you make a lousy Dungeon Master.

You have a secret crush on Karl Rove.

[FrenchieCat]

87. Naw....I'm ducking! LOL!

[Terri S]

77. Right there with you Frenchie

and have been from the git-go. And for good reason. Like you I did a hell of a lot of research into who this man is and what he's done in his life and he has made me damn proud to support him. I was never under any illusions of who he is and who he isn't and it's who he is and what he's done in his life when no-one was watching that convinces me that even when I don't fully understand what he's up to, he tends to be a couple of thousand steps ahead of all the so-called experts.

Since I was just a tad too young to vote for Bobby before he was killed, this is the first person I've ever voted whole-heartedly for (as opposed to voting against the other guy) and I will fight like hell anyone who marginalizes what he is trying to accomplish, no matter what label they give themselves. He is human and as imperfect as any of us are, but he's close enough to DAYAM good for me, and I'm going to see that he gets every chance he can to do what he promised this country he would try to do.

[Bette Noir]

78. You're my hero, Frenchie.

I agree with all your points.

[jonestonesusa]

82. I appreciate your point of view but there's too much fear of criticism

on DU lately. Even though it's only been 70 days, the policies being proposed are of great significance, hundreds of billions for the finance industry crisis, hundreds of billions for the stimulus/infrastructure rebuilding. A moment of destiny for our dreams of health care for all. Decisions about continuing the war in Afghanistan - decisions of this magnitude need scrutiny. How irresponsible would it be to make decisions like these without robust debate? That's exactly what happened when we went to Iraq, when one Joe Biden had the gavel in a senatorial committee that could have changed the course of Iraq policy. We all know the results.

I appreciate President Obama's stances on many issues, many executive decisions on everything from declassifying memos regarding torture policies to allowing stem cell research. I believe he is an ethical individual. I got a chance to meet him once and he seemed so calm and purposeful that I was thoroughly impressed. I saw him speak three times, attended his inauguration with the happy millions. As a black man I am ecstatic about his breaking one of the glass ceilings over the U.S. presidency. I found his first book to be a genuine literary masterpiece. But the decisions we face as a country are critical - we _always_ need to debate them. And I wish we could debate the issues on DU without the personal insults, but people are so prone to attack the poster and avoid the issues. There's nothing wrong with having open discussion about our disagreements. What else is the purpose of this site?

I understand that Democrats want to stay electorally viable, but at some point the campaigning has to take a back seat to governance. We're at that point now. We're in the majority. Let all our positions see the light of day, and let the best ones prevail. I think that President Obama would agree with that sentiment.

[BlooInBloo]

83. Grats to the daughter!!!

[FrenchieCat]

86. Thanks! To the Stimulus!

:hi:

[omega minimo]

84. Clearly you "give a shit"

[FrenchieCat]

85. About the future......

not what folks say on DU.

Really, I don't.
Why? Do you?

[MzShellG]

88. Amen FrenchieCat. You get a standing O. Kicked/rec'd/bookmarked. nt

[Historic NY]

89. Hows a K&R?

[Olney Blue]

90. Great post!

[Richd506]

91. I'm still pulling for Obama too

And might I say, I think he's doing very good considering the circumstances...

[napoleon_in_rags]

92. You have worked your ass off supporting him since the beginning.

I remember you way back early in his candidacy. There is something to be said for folks who push and push, they really are the ones who get anything done in politics. So I may disagree sometimes, but still you rock. :)

[FrenchieCat]

95. Thank you.

I just believe that I am right on this...but no, he ain't gonna be perfect.

[Mithreal]

96. Sometimes irritating, but often thought provoking or refreshing, K&R

I think you make DU a better place. Won't stop me from disagreeing at times though.

Anyway, best wishes.

[Cha]

97. Yeah, I have

Obama's back and I'm really glad people like you do, too.