Not only is the progressive blogosphere at odds with Obama its at odd with 80% of Democrats. . .

[wndycty]

. . .and as I see all of these sanctimonious proclamations about not supporting Obama, about him abandoning his base, etc. It seems we are talking about 20% of Democrats (Gallup), 1/5 of the party who disapprove. 80%, 4/5 of Democrats approve of the job he is doing.

I am glad we don't walk in lockstep, I am glad we are not afraid to criticize, but I should also point out that while it is popular in the progressive blogosphere to bash President Obama, he remains very strong with his base.

Don't let the negative echo chamber driven by 1/5 of Democrats discourage you, they are the minority.

Don't you forget it.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/116479/barack-obama-presidential-job-approval.aspx

[Exilednight]

1. 85% of all polls are made up. n/t

[young but wise]

2. LOL

Keep telling yourself that.

[Exilednight]

4. I was looking at one of these polls the other day. There were 787

respondents. That equates to just over two people per congressional district.

You need a much wider sample than that to come up with a trustworthy opinion poll.

[JuniperLea]

9. Which one of "these" polls are you referring to?

Gallup gets a much larger sampling than that. Perhaps discussing the actual poll the OP refers to is the way to take this.

[Exilednight]

10. It was a daily gallup tracking poll. n/t

[JuniperLea]

21. Ah... one which you can't link... eom

[Exilednight]

24. I looked at it a couple days ago. I'm not even sure what day the poll was taken

on. I just ran through the numbers to see what was what. Even if you poll 10,000 people, it's not indicative of 300 million.

I'm not wasting my time to go back and look for it.

[jenmito]

27. Here's Gallup's website. Whatever Gallup poll you're talking about should be there:

http://www.gallup.com/Home.aspx Let us know. TIA!

[lindalou65]

43. Random Sampling

Actually, random sampling is very accurate and the sample size is typically small and is very indicative of the larger population.

[Exilednight]

51. Not always, especially in political polling. MOE is often understated. When corporations

do market research, they gear their questioning to a set demographic, thus the reason they have such good results.

On the other hand, policy polling is often misrepresented. Questions are tailored to derive the desired result, and often fail to reflect true feelings.

If called and asked if I support President Obama's policy compared to that of Republican policy, my answer would be yes, I support Obama's policy over his counterparts, but that doesn't mean I agree with his policy or believe that his policy is the right one.

[SpartanDem]

38. Take a statistics class

and you'll learn what you said is completely false

[Exilednight]

39. I have taken a statistics class.

I aced it. Easiest class I ever took.

[Exilednight]

40. Self delete: Double post.

[ProudDad]

52. In a manner of speaking you're entirely correct (n/t)

[cottonseed]

3. They're spending their time right now fantasizing about a Kucinich primary challenge.

That'll probably go on until the day after the convention. It's going to be a long year.

[Exilednight]

5. I'd prefer Sanders. His speech on the Senate floor is enough to win my vote. n/t

[wndycty]

6. Even after Kucinich endorses Obama. . .LOL

:kick:

[ReggieVeggie]

23. I don't need Kucinich to run

he's shown himself to be ineffectual

SOMEONE besides the standard corporate ass-kissing, establishmentarian capitalists that we seem to end up with every cycle whether they win or lose

[pmorlan1]

61. I didn't support Kucinich

You have a bigger problem than just Kucinich voters my friend.

[sudopod]

7. They, them, etc.

Why are you trying so hard to define a new out group? What do you hope to gain by branding people as "the other?"

[carolinayellowdog]

12. That is normally a midterm phenomenon; bad timing now

Time to pretend that all Obama voters are one big US, until after the 2012 election. After that the progressive-bashing can resume without shame.

[wndycty]

13. Well considering I AM A PROGRESSIVE, its not progressive bashing, its push back. . .

. . .against people I agree with on numerous issues.

I would dare say many folks who identify themselves as progressives stand in strong support of President Obama.

So calling out a minority of progressives is not progressive bashing.

[RaleighNCDUer]

18. Define 'progressive'.

Hillary used to call herself 'progressive' - despite being a leading light of the DLC corporate wing, pro-war Democrats.

If you don't support unions, you are not progressive.
If you are anti-choice, you are not progressive.
If you are anti-gay, you are not progressive.
If you think privatizing the public schools is 'reform', you are not progressive.
If you think that guaranteeing that private insurance is the final word in healthcare reform, you are not progressive.
If you are against transparency in government, you are not progressive.
If you think the concentration camp at GITMO is legitimate, you are not progressive.
If you think military tribunals are a worthy substitute for our judicial system, you are not progressive.

If you believe any of these things, and tell Gallup you self-identify as a progressive, you are a liar.

[wndycty]

22. Well this is what I believe and I believe this makes me a progressive

I am pro-choice
I am pro union and belong to the Illinois Education Association/National Education Association (since 1999)
I support gay marriage and any laws that protect the LGBT community
I support single payer health care
I support decriminalization of marijuana
I want GITMO closed
I want terrorists tried in federal courts
I support reparations for slavery
I support the repeal of the Bush tax cuts
I think military spending should be cut
I think going to war should always be our last option
I support adequate funding for public education
I support equal pay for women
I believe that affirmative action needs to stay in place until there is full equality in the US
I believe we need to invest more into renewable energy
I believe we need to protect the environment
I believe there needs to be greater diversity in media ownership
I am against the death penalty

BUT, I TAKE OFFENSE TO ANYONE WHO HAS TO AUDACITY TO THINK THEY ARE MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN I, AND THAT TO BE CONSIDERED PROGRESSIVE I MUST FALL IN LOCKSTEP* WITH OTHER PROGRESSIVES AND BASH PRESIDENT OBAMA TO BE CONSIDERED PROGRESSIVE, FURTHERMORE I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT I CAN'T GET EVERYTHING I WANT AS A PROGRESSIVE AND THAT THE PRESIDENT IS NEITHER A DICTATOR OR A UNITARY EXECUTIVE WHO CAN ACT WITHOUT CONGRESS

* I think its funny that some in the progressive movement like to complain that those of us who support President Obama want every Democrat to walk in lockstep with him, however they do the exact them when it comes to their individual progressive agendas.

[frylock]

26. you support ALL of those things..

yet you can't tolerate any criticism of obama because of his:

attacks on the teacher's unions
not going to the mat for single payer health care
continued federal raids of medical cannibis facilities
lackluster support for repeal of bush tax cuts for the wealthiest americans
continuation and expansion of the wars
inadequate funding for public education

[wndycty]

28. I can tolerate criticism, but much of the criticism is not constructive its meant to insult. . .

. . .it is often uninformed and counterproductive.

[pmorlan1]

62. Wow

If these are things you support it's odd that you would support a candidate who does the opposite on so many of them. Perhaps you take such great offense at others questioning you because you see the logic of their criticism and it's easier to get mad at them than to explain the inconsistency in what you say and what you do?

[wndycty]

68. Obama is not a unitary executive and he must deal with Congress, you can talk all that shit. . .

. . .but in reality you should know better.

[democracy1st]

64. you kicked his @$$!

[Armstead]

8. Sigh -- It's not either/or.....You are setting up a phony dichotomy

1) There are varying degrees of "support." If a pollster called me I'd say I support Obama. However I am also very disappointed and angry at many things he has done or not done.

2)Depends on the damn issue. A person might agree with Obama very strongly on one thing, and disagree with him on something else....Or a person might have mixed feelings or agree on goals but disagree with strategies.

3)THERE IS NO MONOLITHIC "BLOGOSPHERE"....Technically you and I are both members of the left blogosphere, but obviously do not see eye to eye on this.

Your divisive simplistic characterizations are a classic example of shooting ourselves in the foot. Defend Obama all you want -- That's fine. But please don't try to set up these little enclaves of "for us or against us" with people who are ultimately on the same side.

[Vattel]

17. nice post

[paulk]

54. well said

[RandomKoolzip]

70. I recommend this post. I am so tired of binary thinking.

[carolinayellowdog]

11. Democratic Party ID is at a 22-year low

I identify as Independent and would not be surprised if a large portion of the "progressive blogophere" does so for and the same reason: disgust with the Democratic Party. And like most progressive bloggers, my hatred for the Republican Party would preclude ever voting R! That doesn't mean I won't vote for Obama again, but rather than congratulating themselves on his approval among Democrats, the party leaders should be asking why so many fewer people identify as such. Unfortunately, the answer they seem to prefer is "because we ought to become even more like Republicans."

http://www.gallup.com/poll/145463/democratic-party-drops-2010-tying-year-low.aspx

[derby378]

41. It's simple - we need President Obama to act like a DEMOCRAT

What makes a Democrat a Democrat? Commitment to labor, to the working class.

Democrats are not the women's party or the African-American party or the GLBT party or anything like that. We are the party of labor. It just so happens, however, that women, blacks, gays, Muslims, Jews, Hispanics, etc. all work for a living - they don't have anything handed to them on a silver platter, but have to fight for everything they have.

And that's what we've been waiting for Obama to do: fight.

He hasn't fought for healthcare reform. He hasn't fought for union workers. He hasn't fought for the end of military kangaroo courts in Gitmo. That is not acceptable, and that's not helping those of us who support the working guy.

[ProudDad]

50. Preferably an FDR Democrat -- NOT a Clinton democrat... (n/t)

[quiller4]

60. Actually it was at a 22 year low last November but has increased

substantially since according to both Pew and Gallup.

[Nydari]

67. Well said..

Out of all the progressive/liberal people that I know, very few identify themselves as Democrats for the reason you stated; disgust with the party.

Of course, due to the playing field we almost always vote D, but still... not a single left-leaning person I know is happy with Obama. The closest I see are people arguing that at least he has been better than McCain/Palin would have been.

[wndycty]

69. Not a single left leaning person you know is happy with Obama, well meet me. . .

. . .I am happy with him and I am sure if you met a few more left leaning people you would find him to be popular with a lot of them.

[demosincebirth]

14. I've never agreed with anyone on everything. Same goes with the Dems, which

I've been a life long member of,

[frylock]

15. if it's in the bag, then why the need for the constant call-outs?

you either need the disgruntled left, or you don't. you can't ignore a group of people and simultaneously scapegoat them.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dionysus]

25. the "disenchanted" folks get to say how much the dems suck every single day. at least be consistent.

[wndycty]

53. Exactly. . .

:kick:

[Life Long Liberal]

19. I think some of us might of had too high of expectations.

[damntexdem]

20. And what's new about that?

We are, after all, not Repukes.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

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

[frylock]

33. yet it will be that 3% of the electorate that will be responsible for the downfall of the party

[wndycty]

37. And unfortunately they relish that role

:kick:

[derby378]

42. You want to win in 2012 or not?

It's that simple. We have a list.

Just because I'm supporting Democratic candidates in 2012 doesn't mean that all of my fellow progressives will unless they believe that the candidates are actually listening to them. What happened in November should have taught you that - and I did vote in November.

[frylock]

48. like relish on a hot dog?

i like hot dogs. do you like hot dogs?

[pmorlan1]

63. lol

Evidently you relish the role of driving them off. lol

[wndycty]

71. I am driving off people who have already indicated they will not support him, so why waste time. . .

. . .trying to make them happy when they are sitting in the corner with their arms folded determined to be unhappy?

[vroomvroom]

30. Re-Election will REQUIRE those remaining 20% nt

[ClassWarrior]

31. The bloggers may be more universally progressive, but Dems hold those same values.

Maybe not everybody holds all of the same ones, and maybe not all in the same proportions. The point is, to talk down those progressives and the values we all share only undermines ALL OF US, by lending credence to RADICAL RW VALUES.

(Not to mention the fact that that 20 percent includes many of the very people Obama needs to knock on doors and make phone calls.)

But go ahead, embrace the mythological "center."

NGU.

[treestar]

32. Rec'd, and some disapprovers are from the conservative side

[ReggieVeggie]

34. disapprove of what, exactly?

[Ramulux]

35. Do you honestly think....

the democratic party can survive without a fifth of its voting block? Thats a huge percentage.

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KoKo]

44. wndcty....If the numbers don't add up...maybe you are getting Numbers from

a Source..that doesn't "add up ...to what you are going with?" :shrug: What else can I ask?

[livetohike]

45. K &R

:kick:

[Logical]

46. I think the only thing Obama will lose is the excitement we had in 2008.

[KoKo]

47. That's OKAY! America is a DEMOCRACY...FOLKS DIFFER...It's what It's ALL ABOUT!

Don'tcha THINK?

[ProudDad]

49. 4 out of 5 Democrats are sheep

95% of USAmericans are politically illiterate and vote according to the last ad they saw...

80% of White people in the South used to think Segregation was right...

99% of the Pharisees in Jerusalem thought Jesus should be nailed to a cross...

Just because a majority is wrong doesn't make it a good thing...

[HooptieWagon]

55. Obama can't win without the Progressive vote.

And he and his administration have been outright hostile towards progressives... and progressives are just fuckin' tired of hearing "Well, who else you gonna vote for?" If Obama wants the Progressive vote, he better start <earning> it.

[wndycty]

56. Here is what you and others don't get. He has the progressive vote. I am a progressive and . . .

. . .the majority of the Democratic party that makes up his 80% approval rating are progressives.

Those who dislike the President are not the only progressives in the party and this sanctimonious shit about losing the progressives is BULLSHIT, I and a bunch of other progressives still support the President.

[HooptieWagon]

57. He's repeatedly caved to the rethugs and corporatists.

He caved on HCR before the debate even started. He caved on tax cuts for the wealthy. He caved on ending the wars. He caved on closing Gitmo. OK, he ended DADT - but I'm not voting for him based on a single issue, when he's done so much against my beliefs.

[wndycty]

58. Go ahead, take your ball and go home. . .

. . .we will find more votes. . .

[eilen]

65. I'd prefer the administration earn them.

Bipartisanship blows. Fight for what you believe in.

If what you believe in is war, spying on your own citizens and unchecked executive power. Fuck you.

[wndycty]

66. They will earn them. . .trust me

:kick:

[frylock]

59. i'm a ninja..

just because i said so.....