I guess I'm the last to post this, but I've made a hard decision about Obama.

[Buzz Clik]

There is an on-going trend at DU: We have been buried in announcements that, despite hundreds of thousands of hours tireless campaigning for Obama, and as a direct consequence of Obama executing the agenda on which he campaigned, just about every DUer has decided to give up on Obama.

I have discussed this with everyone I know -- my ultraconservative in-laws, my ultraconservative family, my uber liberal colleagues, and my politically diverse children. So it is with a heavy heart that I will walk away from clearly defined ideals of the Democratic Underground (sic) and continue to support Obama.

I make this decision not lightly and not without great internal confusion. Obama remains everything he promised to be, and why I cannot join the DU trend of rejecting him is a mystery. Admittedly, we're all disappointed with the way the health care reform is going, but it's been a bloody fight. Congress wrote their own bills, compromised among themselves endlessly, allowed themselves to be hijacked by Blue Dogs and Joe Lieberman, and we all know this is Obama's fault entirely. I mean, he's still in the Senate, he's also in the House, he chairs all the committees, he's the Party Whip, and the Democratic Majority Leader in both houses. (<== for the mentally weak, that last sentence was pure sarcasm)

So there it is. I guess I'll be all alone here supporting our Democratic President.

By the way -- when will DU be changing its name to something more appropriate? I have some suggestions, but I'll save them for another thread.

[mike_c]

1. aww, that was PRECIOUS....

You're so CLEVER.

[freddie mertz]

4. Now who is wanting a pony? nt.

[closeupready]

2. And coming from YOU, this is a surprise because .... ?

Your DLC sympathies are well-known on this board, and so I daresay this is actually a very predictable ho-hum announcement.

[Buzz Clik]

8. You can do better than that. Can't you at least call me a "corporatist asshole"?

:eyes:

It will be a cold day in hell when I apologize for any of my positions.

[closeupready]

26. Wait - who do you think DLC represents?

I mean, tomato, tomahto.

[Buzz Clik]

29. Ah. That's better.

Thanks.

[Recursion]

3. I can understand bailing on him over LGBT equality

Because that's one area where I think he has backed down from his campaign promises. But, yeah, I heard him say in the campaign that his health care plan would move incrementally and keep employer-based coverage, and that he would expand our presence in Afghanistan. So far he's done what he said he would do.

[Buzz Clik]

10. I don't think we've seen the end from him on LGBT issues. I really believe he'll deliver.

It is to be hoped.

[freddie mertz]

15. "Hope we Can Believe In?" Make your checks payable TODAY!nt.

[girl gone mad]

17. Hope is not a plan.

[Buzz Clik]

21. Uh, okay. Is today the last day of his administration?

Jesus Christ.

[newtothegame]

45. What exactly leads you to believe he'll deliver?

His 700 days in the Senate? His 130 "present" votes during that time? Or just a "feeling?"

[Buzz Clik]

50. Oh, my. Reliving the campaign are we?

How sad.

[newtothegame]

52. That's a real question. Your belief that he'll deliver is based on what? A voting record?

Or is he just that darn inspiring and beautiful to look at?

[dionysus]

59. what's next, rezko?

:rofl:

[Adelante]

92. .

:rofl:

[leftynyc]

104. Ooooh - freeper talking points

Let me guess - you've been watching faux news again?

[newtothegame]

105. Progressive talking points. Looking for someone with an actual track record of getting things done.

So things like this don't happen. Thanks for the smart-ass remark though. Find some happiness in life; hug a puppy, something.

Warm hugs and kisses,
newtothegame

[laughingliberal]

39. He also promised competition to force some honesty into the system

During the debate he decided as long as there was competition to keep the insurance companies honest it didn't have to be a public option. Please tell me what part of his bill accomplishes that.

[Buzz Clik]

Which bill is "his bill"?

[Jim Sagle]

58. No one has any idea. Which of course is the whole point you so admirably make.

After all, he's only the President. What can he do? :shrug:

[laughingliberal]

86. The Senate bill is the one he worked to get. nt

[Recursion]

90. The exchange will have to include a non-profit, as far as I know

I don't care whether it's managed by the government or not; I want a non-profit out there to take some of the wind out of the for-profits' sails.

[laughingliberal]

113. I want a lot of things to take the wind out of their sales (sic)

And glad they included it but the private non-profits out there now don't seem to be operating much better than the for profits. I wish I could ignore it all and get on the side of this bill. Then I could, at least, have some peace til the reality of it starts to hit people in 2014.

[shraby]

5. Gots to recommend this! I don't like the way this forum

has been behaving lately..like a bunch of spoiled brats yelling at anyone who disagrees.

[freddie mertz]

11. Thank goodness, the OP is being so much more inclusive.

:dunce: :nopity: :wtf:

[MadHound]

6. As you stated, this is Democratic Underground

It isn't Obama Underground.

One can, and should criticize one's representatives when they are doing that which you dislike, whether they promised to do so or not. :nopity:

[Myrina]

9. +10

n/t

[Buzz Clik]

18. This hasn't been the Democratic Underground for about 18 months.

The management made a decision to open the door to any criticism against all candidates during the primaries. This place has become irrational.

The single difference between Free Republic and DU is the software.

[MadHound]

36. Ah, so we should all simply shut up and sing hosannas to Obama, is that what you want

Sorry, but that is quite undemocratic. Tell you what, there are, I'm sure, several chat boards out there that can meet your needs. Hell, there is even a forum where that goes on here on this board. I suggest that you go take advantage of them, wrap yourself so deep in that plush, pro-Obama propaganda that you can live a blissful life where the skies are blue and Obama is always right, that way you won't have your beautiful mind disturbed, ever.

Meanwhile, the rest of us will continue to deal with reality, where the president is quickly turning out to be a war-mongering corporate whore:shrug:

[Buzz Clik]

60. I don't recall asking for anyone to shut up.

I'll give you two points for melodrama, and ten points for pure hysteria. The invitation to leave this board: 10 more points, but I subtract 5 points for a really lame insult to me, and subtract another 5 for the ultra silly "war-mongering corporate whore" comment. tsk tsk.

Nevertheless, that's a high score of 12 points. :applause:

[PVnRT]

77. You chiding others for melodrama? That's funny.

[MadHound]

89. Guess what bub, this ain't a game we're playing for points, this is real life

Sorry to break that news to you, but there it is, deal with it.

[dysfunctional press]

84. "The single difference between Free Republic and DU is the software. "

then why do you even bother hanging around...? :shrug:

[freddie mertz]

88. An excellent question.

Should we pitch-in for a goodbye cake?

[Orsino]

116. I can only say that my experience has been different.

I find the traffic here generally supportive of Democratic interests, loudly decrying, in most cases, the sort of things one would see advocated on Free Republic.

If one were a reader of Free Republic, of course.

[avaistheone1]

20. +1

[Hepburn]

23. +1

[freddie mertz]

7. Aw, do you want a nice candy?

[Hepburn]

13. I was thinking...

...bankie, nap...

[Warpy]

12. I had low expectations

but he's managed to do better than that.

Just think of the nightmare Gidget and the Geezer would have been.

[tridim]

14. Lots of DUers are with you.

Don't be fooled by the chicken littles.

[FarLeftFist]

16. Wow. I thought it would be a cold day in hell....

When Democrats start insulting each other over party loyalty.

[msongs]

19. yes indeed u are the only person on earth who supports Obama for any reason at all ever. nice nt

[Buzz Clik]

24. Nice catch.

I'll explain the OP to you someday.


(Not really. It would be wasting time for both of us)

[LoZoccolo]

22. EPIC THREAD!

:thumbsup:

[HuckleB]

35. K & R.

Just take a break. That's what I do.

Cheers!

[elocs]

25. Did I miss some new DU requirement that everyone must announce their support for or against Obama?

:shrug: Well, I've decided not to decide. It would be boring here if everyone agreed though. What I cannot understand is why everyone does not agree with me. Apparently many others here feel exactly the same way about themselves.

No matter what, the enthusiasm that many had for Obama in 2008 is likely gone forever.

[Buzz Clik]

27. Hm. It seems that you have joined the crowd.

Maybe it's just me.

[elocs]

42. Joined them? I didn't even know they were coming apart.

Besides, any crowd that would have me is a crowd I wouldn't join.

[Buzz Clik]

48. The double rim shot fused with an homage to Groucho Marx and Woody Allen.

:thumbsup:

It seems you have caught the intended spirit of this thread.

[mmonk]

33. It is always the requirement it seems if anyone has any issues

with policy concerning the President. It's their black or white, all or nothing world.

[Buzz Clik]

38. Yes, indeed. Knee jerk reactions in response to rumor and lack of thinking.

Scan through the responses to the OP.

[mmonk]

57. Everyone is not of the same mindset.

The majority, I think, have issues but it does not necessarily mean anything deeper. For others, it may be the last straw. However, your OP lumped both together as representative of DU.

[rosesaylavee]

28. I am waiting to see what the HCR bill actually looks like...

after conference. I understand the growing feeling of betrayal but it's NOT done yet. When it's finished and we can see what the bill actually says, then I will make a judgment re whether or not I was a fool to support this administration. I have family who pretty well reflect the disappointment we see here. However I am not ready to give up just yet.

We are self insured and one more rate hike will push us off the plan so this is very close to my home. Am waiting for this bill and waiting to see what happens with the climate change one as well. THEN, given the results of those bills, I will declare if I am on board or not with this admin. I do think President Obama was our best choice of those running and I do think he's an honorable man. Whether I continue with that... guess I will find that out.

Thanks for the post.

[Buzz Clik]

34. I agree with you completely.

Part of my fascination with the ground swell of despise for Obama is that it began before he took office. And then it became impatience about certain issues that weren't dealt with immediately. No one at this place has the patience to wait or the insight to understand who writes legislation.

In the mean time, Sarah Palin's chances seem to grow with every passing moment.

meh.

[rosesaylavee]

54. Given the popularity of this site

and the media-changing power it does wield, we of course do have the paid goons from the other side who sow crap and dismay with half truths and help feed the anxiety and distrust. There used to be a standard policy here to supply a supporting link if you were going to make a declaration about something or give your own slant on events and/or policies ... don't see that as often as I would like now.

And I am not saying that those who are feeling bitter don't have good reason to be expressing that... not having the Public Option, which was our compromise to the RW schmucks, is devastating. Single payer would have been the way to go but for whatever reason, our reps thru that away at the outset. And added to this mix is the awful economy, the holidays and all our expectations of those being what they were in past years being dashed on all sides.

There have been good posts here by Rasputin and H20Man in the last week that I have gained strength and energy from their words... DU is a good site but you have to understand that most here are expressing the fear of losing what they have had... money, security and if this admin doesn't make stuff happen --- what little hope they have been clinging to that what was lost this past decade can be regained. I still have that hope. Today. It may change but I am holding it close and waiting to see what happens.

[TreasonousBastard]

30. You're not the only one. It's just that us DLC corporatist assholes are...

drowned out by the whining of the peanut gallery.

[freddie mertz]

37. Is that a bad thing? nt.

[Buzz Clik]

41. I particularly love the linear thinking at "DU" (sic).

It's left overs from Baby Bush's admonition that "you're with us or against us." So, by standing with the guy who's been in office for 11 months and has delivered on 90% of his campaign promises, I become a DLC corporatist asshole.

Why does that insult lack any punch at all?

[kpete]

31. I do not understand why questioning,

or even disagreeing with a politician has to = "giving up"?

I think that questioning can be insightful and is a very useful learning tool. Some of us were born with questions, we will probably question god and the angels - when we go to heaven.

Personally, I post stuff here (some supportive of Obama, some not)because
I HAVE QUESTIONS - lots and lots of questions
NOT because I hate Obama,
and Certainly NOT because I have "Given Up"

peace and happy holidays to everyone here, kpete

[laughingliberal]

32. I don't think it matters

I think we can support who we want and it won't make any difference. It has always been that the powerful interests who work against the people will get the candidate they want. Two candidates acceptable to them will always be on the ballot in the general election. Is Obama governing as a corporatist because he agrees with them or is it because his hands are tied? Does it matter? The end results are the same. And they will be the same no matter who survives and makes it to the White House. So, we can all support whoever we want with no fear of any real change seeping through.

[RKP5637]

62. +10, IMO what you've said is quite true in the big picture. Money and powerful

interests run/control this country like many in history. Change is almost impossible if it affects their financial interests or agendas. IMO this really rang true to Obama when he began his actual presidency. And these monied/powerful control mechanisms run silently in the background. What we see/hear is just the tip of the iceberg to me. We get the window dressing. We still have to push back...

[StarfarerBill]

40. You won't be alone, so there's no need for such dramatics.

[Buzz Clik]

44. LOL! You've not been reading the threads here today.

There must be a dozen hand-wringing threads dedicated to the oh-so heart wrenching realization that Obama has betrayed us. Lots of tears, lots of steely-eyed resolution to stand against the bad people.

There's lots of drama out there, but my OP was pure spoof.

[kpete]

47. BRILLIANT!

[StarfarerBill]

82. Spoofing indicates humor, of which there was none in your OP.

The only other qualities I could possibly glean from it would be either irony or sincerity; from your previous posts in other threads, I was thinking the latter...am I wrong?

[FarLeftFist]

43. Every other Democratic website has a very optimistic outlook on Obama...

And so do the poster's there. Thinkprogress.org for example, still hopeful, still very anti-republican.

[Buzz Clik]

46. Well, maybe it's time for a change.

DU could easily morph into PoutRage.net

[newtothegame]

51. I HATE this "poutrage" term, or "concern trolls."

Talk about illegitimizing your own argument.

The best way to get people on your side is to intimate that any body else's concerns are not real, faked, and simply "poutrage." :sarcasm:

[closeupready]

68. When you are dealing with children, their arguments are going to be childish, i.e., mocking, not sub

substantive. The OP falls in that category.

[treestar]

112. Looks the same to me

But I only skimmed one thread.

[UTUSN]

49. K&R to attempt to undo the UnReKKK, but to no avail n/t

[Buzz Clik]

55. This thread may set a new record for unrecs.

[tekisui]

63. UnReKKK?

Classy.

[Buzz Clik]

66. Now, now.

You're hardly one to start throwing stones.

[tekisui]

70. I have never equated a group on DU to the KKK.

[UTUSN]

74. Somebody else flamed me about this some weeks ago and, repeating,

I've used the "KKKarl" (ROVE) thing for years. As for this particular reference, my definition is NOT to whom I regard as GOOD DUers: I refer to those who MALICIOUSLY UnReKKK. As should be very clear by now, there are some who use that function against legitimate Democratic threads, not to mention the Hugo crowd that Recs anything worshipping Huguito/Fidel/AMLO/Evo/CORREA and UnReKKK (and malign) anything negative about those fellows. I refer to the MISUSE of that function. Not all groups or members or opinions are EQUAL. Except in KKKarl's case, the literal KKK is not actually in my mind when I've used that thingy for the malicious types, just something like a "mark of Cain" in general. In my example of the Hugo-ites, obviously, they're from the opposite end of the political spectrum from the KKK.

O.K., I've explained myself. You and the other person might choose to continue to misinterpret my schema and might get Admin to get on my case, but my intentions are what they are, not what you say they are.

[kestrel91316]

53. I still support him. I may not be happy with 100% of what he does,

but it was also so with Clinton.

[Buzz Clik]

64. It's kinda the way politics goes. You'd think that no one here had ever voted for a winner before.

:shrug:

[kestrel91316]

96. He's 1000X better than any Republicam just on general principle.....

[Renew Deal]

56. lol

:yourock:

[laughingliberal]

61. This is the Democratic Underground. Here's a link to the Democratic Party platform

http://s3.amazonaws.com/apache.3cdn.net/8a738445026d1d5f0f_bcm6b5l7a.pdf

I don't agree with 100% of it but most of it on domestic issues, especially. My decision is to speak out when elected Democrats undermine the principles and policies the party voted on and approved at their convention in 2008.

[Buzz Clik]

65. I'll play -- which parts of the platform has Obama abandoned?

[laughingliberal]

78. It's not that hard to read for yourself but here's a sample

Meaningful Benefits. Families should have health insurance coverage similar to what Members
of Congress enjoy. They should not be forced to bear the burden of skyrocketing premiums,
unaffordable deductibles or benefit limits that leave them at financial risk when they become
sick. We will finally achieve long-overdue mental health and addiction treatment parity.

Reproductive Health Care. We oppose the current Administration’s consistent attempts to
undermine a woman’s ability to make her own life choices and obtain reproductive health care,
including birth control. We will end health insurance discrimination against contraception and
provide compassionate care to rape victims. We will never put ideology above women’s health.

We will strengthen the ability of workers to organize unions and fight to
pass the Employee Free Choice Act

The following has not yet been abandoned but Obama's choice for chairman of the Fed was just confirmed after his 'tough talk' about entitlement reform:

We reject the notion of the presumptive Republican nominee that Social Security is a disgrace;
we believe that it is indispensable. We will fulfill our obligation to strengthen Social Security and
to make sure that it provides guaranteed benefits Americans can count on, now and in future
14
generations. We will not privatize it.

If you liked health care reform wait til you see what they have in store for entitlement reform

There's a sample. I'm assuming you can read. I provided the link.

[Buzz Clik]

87. That's what I thought. You're blaming Obama for activities in Congress.

Situation normal for DU.

[freddie mertz]

91. Obama sent me an e-mail today enthusiastically endorsing the Senate bill.

A bill he helped to craft.

If he had a problem with it, he could veto it.

[laughingliberal]

109. Believe what you want

Whatever you or I believe isn't going to change a thing. What I've seen is a president not willing to spend one cent of his political capital to fight for what I see in the party platform or what he campaigned on.

Not only did not work for the public option but appears to have worked against it.

Not a peep out of this White House about the Stupak amendment

No ringing endorsements of check card. Not interested in the opposition of the unions to the benefit tax in the Senate bill.

Doesn't matter. I'm just not willing to be played anymore. And I'm not terribly concerned whether I persuade others or not. My decisions will be those that serve my sense of right and wrong.

[lamp_shade]

67. --

my mistake.

[Buzz Clik]

69. Some of us have a lot of trouble catching the tone of the OP.

But that is a cute smilie.

[lamp_shade]

71. Sorry. I should have known better. I think knee-jerking is contagious around here.

I'll be more careful. I'm leaving the cutie there tho. Have you been over here?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=388

[NYC_SKP]

97. .

My favorite place to visit for relief. There's an absence of hate and it's just a shame that GD isn't a little more civil.

Thanks for leaving the link.

[madokie]

72. I'm with you

I've got your back just like I got Our Presidents back. I'm not real sure about du anymore, the direction its taking. I think some of the shit that is posted here shouldn't be allowed here on a dem board but thats just me.

Now to get back to my quest for whats really going on in the world while the whinners bitchandmoan about the color of their pony. I'm liking my pony, just like my coffee, Black.

[a kennedy]

73. Thank you............

:toast: :thumbsup: :loveya: :hug: :fistbump: :headbang: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause: :patriot:

[azmouse]

75. I still support the President.

:patriot: You are not alone.

[Buzz Clik]

108. +1

[Frustratedlady]

76. You aren't alone. There are still many of us who didn't expect him to walk on water.

When someone complains about Obama, I ask what they have accomplished in the last year. It's easy to sit on your butt and expect him to create miracles for your amusement...he could have sat there preening in all the publicity and been a do-nothing president.

I'm still with him and it is going to take a lot to change my mind. He has done more than any other president of recent memory in his short time in office.

Just having the Repugs in a frenzy would have been enough for me. They don't know if they are foot or horseback and are making incredible fools of themselves. Let them freak out. They can't stand to have Obama in the White House and to think the whole family is living there...OMG! Stew away, Repigs.

Go, Obama!

[HipChick]

79. There are many with you..I still support President..I have realistic expectations of change.

[jgraz]

80. Here, I brought you some flowers.

[blondeatlast]

81. You aren't alone. I'm not ready to pledge my primary vote just yet.

I'm not entirely peachy-faced happy, but, my Lord, I know the alternative better than most, he's been my Senator my entire voting life. And he would have been a DISASTER--moreso than many RRRepubl;icans.

McCain would have taxed my employer benefits out of existence, for one--and that would have left this lifetime insulin-dependent diabetic, well, DEAD.

I think the HC bill is a huge step forward--that it's even real enough for discussion shows how far we've come since *.

[Name removed]

83. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

85. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[leeroysphitz]

93. Oh good for you. Enjoy your mediocrity. n/t

[Marr]

94. I find it funny that someone can unquestioningly support a President,

and the call *everyone else* a Freeper.

Congratulations. Your skill at Projection has increased by +1.

[Buzz Clik]

100. Your post makes no sense.

[Marr]

102. Let me help.

You said this site is indistinguishable from Free Republic, basically because it's not full of lockstep cheerleaders like yourself. Free Republic was nothing but lockstep Bush cheerleaders when Bush was in office.

[Buzz Clik]

106. I'm in lockstep and a cheerleader. Right.

A great thing about this thread is that it has been separating out a large number of complete assholes.

[Marr]

110. Very true. n/t

[Blasphemer]

95. How cute. At least your approach to the suppression of dissent is novel.. nt

[Buzz Clik]

99. Easy there, drama queen. How can a post at DU suppress dissent?

Your comment is particularly silly considering that mine is the minority opinion.

[Blasphemer]

103. "Drama Queen" another one to add to the list. At least it is new... nt

[NYC_SKP]

98. K and R. nt

[ProgressIn2008]

101. I've never seen democratic ideals as having anything to do with supporting (or not) Obama. nt

[Buzz Clik]

107. Then you clearly don't read the Democractic Underground.

That's not my problem.

[treestar]

111. I am with you - I never expected my personal agenda to be

what the POTUS does 100% of - that's just not realistic. I just want an intelligent President with respect for the system - after Bush that's enough for me.

Whatever he can get done is just icing on the cake.

[upstandingcitizens]

114. I still support him

even though I find it harder and harder to agree with him. I voted for him so we got him. Now we have to do the best we can with what we got.

[RyboSlybo]

115. Good for you...

I used to hope that all politicians were not curropt, that our leaders would care about the voice of the people.

President Obama like others before him is proving to me that this is not the case...

The system is broken and needs to be re-booted.

[Bobbie Jo]

117. You're not alone...

by any stretch. Just don't trip on the virtual astroturf, it's not as smooth as it appears. ;)