"Presidents, on the other hand, are supposed to make progress, whether progressives like it or not."

[wndycty]

I couldn't have said it better:

Earth to the Left: Obama Is Into You
By Michael Grunwald Tuesday, June 21, 2011

There was a telling confrontation at last week’s Netroots Nation gathering of progressive activists, interrupting a panel discussion on “What to Do When the President Is Just Not That Into You.” A bisexual volunteer for President Obama reelection campaign approached the stage to hand a flyer to Dan Choi, a gay former Army lieutenant and a leading crusader for the repeal of don’t-ask-don’t-tell. Choi dramatically ripped up the flyer and declared that he wouldn’t support Obama.

And why should he? What has Obama ever done to help gays serve openly in the military? Other than repeal don’t-ask-don’t-tell, so that gays can serve openly in the military? Ah, “the professional left,” never happy unless it’s unhappy.

When White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer tried to explain during a later panel that Obama is the most progressive president ever on gay rights, the Daily Kos blogger who was moderating cut him off: “That’s a pretty low bar.”

With friends like these, who needs Republicans? If the primary theme of the Obama era is the insanity of the right—attacking government-run health care and Medicare cuts simultaneously, demanding deficit reduction through deficit-busting tax cuts, denying climate science—the secondary theme is the ingratitude of the left. And the latter infuriates the White House far more than the former, the way a rebellious teenage son causes far more angst than a crazy old neighbor.
-snip-

Presidents, on the other hand, are supposed to make progress, whether progressives like it or not.

-end-
Read more: http://swampland.time.com/2011/06/21/earth-to-the-left-obama-is-into-you/#ixzz1Py1YjNwK

[ClassWarrior]

1. I'm glad he made all that "progress" on eliminating the Bush** bailouts for the rich...

...a public option, etc.

:eyes:

NGU.

[slipslidingaway]

6. And pushing to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices ...

it sounded good when it was part of his HC plan, then he made a deal with "Billy"

:eyes:

[villager]

8. Don't forget the "progress" on ending torture, restoring 4th amendment protection, and creating jobs

It's been a "blur" of totally bitchin' progress for three years now!

[great white snark]

13. He ended torture day one and torturers are now being prosecuted.

Jobs have been created. Where have you been the past 3.5 years?

[villager]

14. I too have noticed the end of "enhanced interrogation" and the prosecution of Cheney and other war

...criminals!

In my dreams.

Meanwhile, out here in the reality-based community...

[JoePhilly]

11. Didn't Obama vote FOR the bank bailout before you voted for him?

After all, the legislation for the bailout passed BEFORE the election.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26953481/ns/business-stocks_and_economy/t/senate-passes-its-own-bank-bailout-package/

[wndycty]

12. Folks who never acknowledge or belittle Obama's accomplishments need to get a grip

:kick:

[jenmito]

2. I sure hope Dan Choi didn't vote for Obama in '08 since he was for civil unions back then...

and now, although he's still for civil unions, he's "evolving" towards supporting gay marriage (which I REALLY hope he publicly supports soon). But he didn't do anything to betray Choi, although he's acting as if Obama went back on his word. He DID get DADT repealed, though (which is on track to go into effect by the end of the summer_. And he did other things in support of gay rights, too.

[TriMera]

5. Are you trying to dredge up that Nov. 2010 tweet, again?

Oh, and the President's alleged "evolution" is hurting more than it's helping.

[jenmito]

7. I don't know what tweet you're talking about. n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Anyone who sees Lt Choi as 'professional left' is nuts.

I wonder if the OP is suggesting that civil rights leaders have a history of sweet speech and kid glove actions? I also wonder how may things the OP and the author put above the healing of our veterans? I mean, to me, Choi has earned the right to be as pissed off as he wants to be, he is an individual who has gone through much. Obama did what he did for DADT from a tufted silk chair while a servant brought him his favorite beverage. Not so for Choi. Discharged, arrested, prosecuted and now chided by ankle biters for not taking all of that with greater thankfulness.
If a person can not make a point without bashing someone like Choi, their point is simply not worth making.
Mr Grunwald is a Veteran, I assume? How about the OP here? Smashing at volunteers when you yourself chose to serve only yourself?
Stay classy.

[Hippo_Tron]

9. You say no kid gloves, yet I see all of these photographs of Dr. King visitng the White House

And shaking hands with Kennedy and Johnson. Maybe you know more about this than I do, but as far as I know, Dr. King didn't leave the White House and then say the same things about Kennedy and Johnson that Dan Choi is saying about Obama. And Kennedy, in particular, was most certainly advancing civil rights at the same snail's pace that Obama is advancing gay rights.

I'm not knocking Dan Choi, btw. He served his country honorably and his country pissed on him in return. He has a right to be mad as hell. But I'm just not sure that civil rights leaders have always taken such an approach toward people who are weak allies.

[bowens43]

4. Gratitude?!?!?!?

Is this guy kidding? Obama is quite possibly the biggest sell out the Democratic party has ever had.

Gratitude for giving in to the right wing extremists on nearly every issue?

Unfucking believable.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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

[harun]

15. He can conduct military operations in Yeman and Lybia without even

consulting Congress much less getting a resolution passed yet he can't close Guantanamo Bay?

Whatever.

[LoZoccolo]

16. K!

Too late to R. :(