The only people that should be offended by the 'quit whining' comment...

[Dawgs]

...are those that would consider giving the government back to the Republicans.

If you're voting like me, for the Democrats, then Biden/Obama weren't talking to you anyway.

[DevonRex]

1. Don't harsh their buzz, man!!! nt

[Dawgs]

3. Is that why they're being this irrational?

If so, I'd like to try whatever they are on.

[FSogol]

2. True dat. n/t

[Radical Activist]

4. Some posters have self-identified on these threads.

It doesn't offend me because I know I'm out there organizing instead of whining. What does it say about the people who are deeply offended?

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. I expect to be offended by Republicans. For some silly reason I

don't expect it from Democrats.

So when some dem tells me to take my half a glass and go sit in the corner like a good child, I get fucking offended, and I wonder if they are deserving of my vote.

I have no power. I have no money, no influence. I don't have the public ear. All I have is my vote. I am very protective of it.

If I am given a choice between voting for a Republican who will hurt me, or a Democrat who will LET the Republicans hurt me...

Ever see "Sophie's Choice"?

[Dawgs]

7. If you don't recognize how much worse the Republicans are then you should be offended.

I agree.

[RaleighNCDUer]

15. a choice between voting for a Republican who will hurt me, or a Democrat who will LET the

Republicans hurt me

Frankly, I'd rather be betrayed by my enemy than by my friend.

[Dawgs]

18. Really?

The Democrats are going to let Republicans start another war?
The Democrats are going to let Republicans start impeachment hearings against Obama?
The Democrats are going to let Republicans privatize SS?
The Democrats are going to let Republicans repeal HCR?
etc...

If you believe those things than you DEFINITELY deserve what you get. Apparently you forgot the 8 years before Obama. I haven't.

[moodforaday]

35. Well, let's see...

The Democrats are going to let Republicans start another war?
The Democrats are going to let Republicans start impeachment hearings against Obama?
The Democrats are going to let Republicans privatize SS?
The Democrats are going to let Republicans repeal HCR?

1 - There's no need to, since the Democrats are as good at waging bloody wars as anyone. Obama has already expanded the war in Afghanistan and has started a new war in Pakistan, bloodier (to the affected civilian population there) by the day. What more could Republicans want? (Oh yes, Iran. But Iran is nowhere near as easy and safe a target as Afghanistan or Pakistan. Iran has teeth and can fight back.)

2. Strawman argument, neither here nor there.

3. It's clear you'll still be voting for them and defending them when they do. And they just might, because the money for more wars and more bigger banks has to come from somewhere.

4. Why would they want to repeal an act that was essentially written by their corporate lords? Don't mistake public propaganda with actual attitudes. Of course they'll whine and wring hands about HCR, that's what opposition does. But they won that one.

Etc, indeed.

[CakeGrrl]

21. So, you just implied that you'd rather have the Republicans back?

Correct me if I'm wrong.

:wtf:

[tledford]

31. Bingo.

But lots of the people here (DU) don't get it.

I think all of us who are disappointed *but not hopeless* about the first half-term will not only vote Democratic in November but will talk to others about voting Democratic. That isn't the same thing as accepting mediocrity and half-measures. Nor is it because of the patronizing attitude of the leaders of the Democratic Party.

I've been waiting since 1980 for the Democrats to get their heads out of their asses and it hasn't happened yet. I voted for Barry Commoner in 1980 (primary) and Jesse Jackson in 1984 (primary) and 1988 (primary), but you can damn well be sure that I voted for Carter, Mondale and Dukakis in the respective general elections.

The powerful and rich control the Democratic Party almost as much as they control the Republican Party.

What is required at this point may have gotten to the same place it got to in 1789 in France and 1917 in Russia.

There may come a time when the right-wingers regret making it so easy to own guns in this country.

[DirkGently]

11. What does it say that there are people who can't stop whining that others criticize?

Truly, the baby shoe fits on the other foot here.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

32. They're whiners.

[CakeGrrl]

6. Maybe it's empowering to threaten to withhold support

"Offend me and you'll PAY!"

so sez my inner armchair psychologist.

[DirkGently]

13. It's easy to spot those with delusions of authority. They try to tell others to shut up

:rofl:

[tledford]

34. Or it might be empowering to tell the truth. eom

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

8. Exactly!! If you don't fit the mold, then why be offended? VOTE!! n/t

[DirkGently]

9. The only people saying 'quit whining' are those who equate dissent with disloyalty.

If you don't fit the "mindless, ranting, partisan hack" mold, why keep pushing this idea that there are liberal Democrats who should shut up and get in line?

[yodermon]

10. so the people on the *edge* who *might* go either way will be pushed ..how?

"Got problems with the administration? Quit whining & vote" ==> LOSES VAST SWATHS OF BORDERLINE VOTERS.

vs.
"Got problems with the administration? I hear you, I feel your pain ( :think: ) here's how we'll address your concerns, we *value you*" ==>GAINS VAST SWATHS OF BORDERLINE VOTERS.

Now to his credit, Obama does seem to be engaging in the feel-your-pain vibe, and he's good at it. BUT it's a mixed message ie "I feel your pain, but Buck Up!"
My question is, why bother even *risking* offending *any* potential voters here?

OR is he *vocally distancing* himself from the filthy-lib wing in order to establish his bona fides with the centrists, maybe to draw in votes from the non-insane, non-teabag wing of the republicans? ("independets" now, really former repubs who dropped the brand labeling)? :shrug:

[Dawgs]

14. They're bringing attention to the fact that not voting will allow Republicans to take back Congress.

The fact that so many of us are discussing it today proves that their tactic worked.

[RaleighNCDUer]

23. And, as has been asked by so, so many -

who has said they are NOT going to vote?

If the left is so inconsequential that it can be dissed and ignored and driven from the party, why care if we vote?

If we ARE a large enough block to make a difference, WHY ALIENATE US?

Whose tactic is it, anyway? There seems to be a large contingent of RW posters here who are determined to keep the left from participating. How does that benefit us? Maybe, if we heard our questions answered and treated with respect (such as WHY was single-payer off the table? WHY did Obama do no arm twisting for the public option HE said he wanted?) instead of telling us to sit down and shut up, the Dems would not be begging us for our votes today.

[The Uncola]

12. Smells...

... suspiciously like just another way of saying "STFU and eat your gruel" to me.

[Dawgs]

17. Bullshit. They are saying shut up NOW and get out the vote for Democrats.

Complaining and whining right now is not worth it if it ensures that Republicans take back control of the Congress.

I don't know about you, but I'll shut up now if it helps defeat those murdering, lying bastards.

[The Uncola]

28. So...

... I should wait to ask for a seat at the table until I have absolutely nothing to bargain with, eh? Brilliant strategy!! Did you help negotiate HCR?

[vaberella]

16. Exactly. There are some DUers who beleive in punishment.

I'm like in reality you're not punishing the Dems you're punishing yourself and our nation.

[HughMoran]

19. Of course

any grownup would realize this immediately and knows that policy is more important than rallying words and Dems are where it's at policy wise (obviously compared to the alternative.)

[young but wise]

20. Exactly.

I think some people just want to be mad.

[Whisp]

22. will be nice when Nov is over and Dems keep what they need

then those slacker whiners have nothing to hold as ransom for a while. They think now we have to kiss their asses for their votes.

fuck em.

[displacedvermoter]

24. As opposed to kicking their asses

and calling them whiners to get their votes.

Good deal all around!

[martymar64]

37. You're saying fuck em to fellow Democrats. Real classy of you.

Well fuck you too.

Douchebag.

[Dr Fate]

38. Exactly- and if DEMS lose the midterms, then centrists have no one but themselves to blame.

After all, DEMS never needed all those activists who elected Obama to begin with, if I'm reading you correctly.

In the alternative, if the legions of conservative, centrist & moderate DEM activists fail to pull through, then we cant blame the stoner slackers or whoever for that one.

Obama and Biden disagree with you- they seem to indicate that they need said slackers to come back into the fold- but what do they know- right?

[Milo_Bloom]

25. Likely voting green at this point.

it doesn't look like the democrats are serious about actual change, so I don't see much reason to vote for them.

[Hekate]

26. Probably always planned on voting Green anyway. Principles are that important, you know.

[Milo_Bloom]

30. Yes, they are.

It would be nice if they were important to some of the current office holders.

[Gormy Cuss]

27. Nope. Biden/Obama were talking to me and all other Dems who aren't smiling in adoration.

I can't speak for the others, but I'm "whining" specifically because I don't want the government handed back to Republicans. In order to keep the House and Senate in Democratic hands most Democrats and independents need to be on border. Accomplishing that requires building bridges, not barricades.

[paulk]

29. well, not really

I'm voting Democratic this fall and Biden's comment sounded like yet another STFU...

The reason I'm voting Democrat is that the Republican opposition in my state is a fruitloop teabagger who would be worse than the mealy mouthed piece of shit that won the Dem primary in my state.

The fact that I'm only voting Dem because it's the better of two bad choices is what Biden is upset about, IMO...

[tledford]

33. ...are Democrats. eom

[RaleighNCDUer]

36. Why am I reminded by this of "You have no reason to be offended -

I didn't MEAN it to be racist (homophobic, sexist, etc.)".

As if you have any right telling ANYBODY who is offended that they should not be.

Rationally, the only people who would NOT be offended would be those who DO plan to give congress back to the republicans.

If YOU planned it that way, would you be saying "I'm offended" or "yah-hoo"?

[depakid]

39. The absolute inability to grasp basic human nature around here can be astonishing sometimes

Even grade school kids show more sense.

[Dr Fate]

40. I was not offended at all. It just made me sad.

Assuming that we really are in trouble this Nov-Biden was not so much warning Liberals to vote DEM (he knows most will) as he was blaming them in advance for what would actually be the failure of centrists and moderates to hit the streets for DEMS.

Biden should be worried about all the centrist & moderate voters who are apparently not responding to all the things the party did in order to impress them.

No such luck- it's easier to just keep on blaming the "unreasonable" boogey man left for everything.

Same as always, but now they are doing it in advance of their own anticipated failures.

[ClarkUSA]

41. Um, Biden was not "warning Liberals". You're missing the point of the OP.

FYI: a large majority of self-identified liberals strongly support this President's job performance.

[Dr Fate]

42. I said he was blaming Liberals in advance for the anticiapted failures of centrist DEMS.

We agree that it was not so much a warning.

Since I already said this, maybe you are the one who does not understand people's posts around here.