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DailyKos:
The victory represented by the election of Barack Obama was also a tragedy, as it turns out. The sellout was predictable, perhaps inevitable but was surprising in its swiftness and completeness. From day one it was clear that we'd been had. The 1% neocon/neoliberal cabal wasted no time asserting itself through their new spokesperson. President Obama, as presidents do, made his loyalty to the empire evident. Overnight, it seems, proud revolutionaries, dissidents and radicals (not all of them of course) became simpering sycophants who suddenly couldn't find anything wrong with the system they once claimed to oppose.
As an anti-racist for all of my adult life and then some, I know about white privilege. I've written about it myself. I've observed it, experienced it and benefited unfairly from it. It's existence is beyond question and it is certainly an important matter that deserves our full attention as a society. Racism is wrong. All forms of racism are wrong. But for white privilege to be used as an argument against criticizing government surveillance is absurd. Not only is it absurd, it's underhanded. Black people have been historically abused by government so now for white people to complain about government abuses is white privilege. As if historical abuses get grandfathered in. They are to be endured without complaint. Not resisted, overturned or changed. Just STFU and take your medicine. It's illogical, inaccurate, harmful and self-destructive. It's a new way of tainting critics of the Obama administration with the charge of racism.
People fight dirty when they can't win a fair fight. Don't like what I write but can't refute a word of it? Accuse me of calling people Nazis and hope some ignorant fools believe it. Can't defend the shameful misconduct of our government but can't bear for it to be criticized? Call critics racists, accuse them of wallowing in white privilege, and hope some ignorant fools believe it. Some critics of Obama are racists, especially on the right, and racist criticism of Obama bothers me as much as it does anyone. We've all seen it and it's been shameful. As a nation, we should be ashamed. Racism is for idiots and assholes. I live for the day when racism no longer plagues us. But labeling non-racist critics as racist is as wrong as racism itself.
There is a larger problem with privilege in this society. It's what Barack Obama sold us out to. Privilege is privilege and real privilege, the kind that permeates our government and the halls of power in Washington DC, is not based on color, it's based on class/wealth/power. The privilege of the big checkbook crowd, the privilege of the 1%. That's the privilege we should all be united in railing against – not protecting. Dividing us like this is how they win. If a black man in the oval office is all it took to take the revolution out of your soul, you were never much of a revolutionary to begin with. It's almost a certainty that I will be called racist for writing this by people who oppose my criticism and dissent and who don't mind being wildly inaccurate and utterly dishonest. Don't you believe it.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/20/1225166/-No-place-for-principled-lefties
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Autumn
(48,950 posts)A very good read.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)Thanks for posting it.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)the board but he was way too popular and the old Third Way over there failed.
It was nasty, the Third Way works hard to rid the Democratic Party of real Progressive Democrats and they always underestimate the strength of real Democrats, as they did then.
I see their 'talking point' has made its way to DK too. That's how you know it is a 'strategy', you see it all over the place. This one, the charge of racism being another attempt to silence people and yet another failure.
They just don't get it. People are seriously angry over the way things are and all their prepared talking points, attacks, and strategies are doing the opposite of what they want, they fueling the anger and making people even more determined to stand up for their principles.
I wonder who the morons are who think this stuff up?
byeya
(2,842 posts)says.
That was up to two years ago when I stopped even looking at the site. It's Neoliberal and Likudnik in large part so I don't bother with it. Huffpo is terrible and I stopped going there but the info, if you can get at it, is usually better and more comprehensive.
There are some good sites for information and I am thankful for them.
Fantastic Anarchist
(7,309 posts)
leftstreet
(40,491 posts)
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)K&R
Segami
(14,923 posts)
AllINeedIsCoffee
(772 posts)
adirondacker
(2,921 posts)RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)After all your tirades you think people use you and your words to make a point? What point would that be?
Fantastic Anarchist
(7,309 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts) 
nomorenomore08
(13,324 posts)Mind you, the second time around was more of a vote against Romney, but even still I've found myself questioning that decision. Will I still vote Dem in 2016? Probably, but only for lack of better options. The whole thing just bums me the fuck out...
Fantastic Anarchist
(7,309 posts)For a third time, the Democrats will have to earn my vote. If they don't earn it, they won't get it.
Signed,
Fed Up
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)I guess he wants his country back.
struggle4progress
(126,083 posts)Here's the complete Pentagon papers, all 7000 pages of it: http://www.archives.gov/research/pentagon-papers/
Senator Gravel's edition of the papers doesn't run over 2500 pages
So Mr Ellsberg didn't end up just dumping everything randomly: he released one multi-volume study -- and actually not all of it
And Ellsberg knew what he was releasing
The volume of Manning's release is many many times greater -- and it was indiscriminate. Manning release, if published in paper, wouldn't run to four or five volumes: it would run to 1000 or 1500 volumes. If Manning, from the time he arrived in Iraq until the time he was arrested, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, did nothing but READ what he released, he couldn't have spent more than 30 seconds per page -- without any time for eating, sleeping, shitting, showering, or anything else
Manning didn't know what he was releasing. He was just busily releasing it
That's a big difference
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)struggle4progress
(126,083 posts)quite impressive doesn't imply that everything he says and does ever afterwards is brilliant and insightful
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)
zeemike
(18,998 posts)Anyone who questions authority must be crazy.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)I used to minimize and trivialize the person rather than the position too. But after I became an adult, I realized that it advertised who I was more than it countered any premise I may not like...
hueymahl
(2,904 posts)And I am not being funny. Just because he has some wrinkles, you say he has lost his "edge". Yet you have no proof other than maybe seeing some other old person who is suffering mentally (if I am wrong and you have direct proof, please share and I will apologize). What is the difference between what you said and saying because someone is black he must be good at basketball?
On top of ageism, it is a attempt to slur him because you don't like his opinion. Not really the kind of discourse that is helpful.
usGovOwesUs3Trillion
(2,022 posts)Than you?
DLevine
(1,791 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)I think the first paragraph is on the reductionist side.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"The victory represented by the election of Barack Obama was also a tragedy, as it turns out...As an anti-racist for all of my adult life and then some, I know about white privilege...Just STFU and take your medicine. It's illogical, inaccurate, harmful and self-destructive. It's a new way of tainting critics of the Obama administration with the charge of racism...But labeling non-racist critics as racist is as wrong as racism itself."
...what whining apologists bullshit. These diaries are all part of the DKos pure-than-you flame wars. OPOL writes them constantly, and has been doing so for years. He gets called out for questionable references to race.
He wrote this in response to Obama's speech on Trayvon Martin.
I call bullshit.
What fucking hypocrisy dripping with irony, like there was a fucking revolution going on during the Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush years.
Ridiculous shit!
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)Imagine our shock. 
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Fantastic Anarchist
(7,309 posts)He's referring to people who really wanted a change (revolutionaries), but just because a black man became president, shouldn't have squelched our need for change. How you missed that point, is beyond me.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"He's referring to people who really wanted a change (revolutionaries), but just because a black man became president, shouldn't have squelched our need for change. How you missed that point, is beyond me. "
...a stupid fucking point. Revolution or "revolutionaries," the notion that anyone lost anything "because a black man became president" is bullshit.
I mean, is he talking about fake "revolutionaries"?
This is all drivel, confusing a bunch of people who voted for and continue to support the President with imaginary "revolutionaries."
Like I said, what the fuck kind of revolution were these people fighting over the last 30 years that they would sell out just because Obama became President?
Stupid hyperbolic drivel from someone who can't come to grips with reality.
Fantastic Anarchist
(7,309 posts)Color me surprised.
zipplewrath
(16,698 posts)The "revolution" to which he referes (which is a stretch in my esitmation) is the mood that brought Obama into office. It was built out of alot of different constituencies on alot of different issues. He suggests that many of those have been unmet/underwhelming. All he is saying is that if one considered themselves a "revolutionary" to have been part of that time, and yet the mere election of a black man as president satisfied ones sense of revolution regardless of whether ones issues were met, it was a tad shallow.
I'm not sure where the hypocrisy is in that, and I think I may actually be missing any irony either.
EOTE
(13,409 posts)You bring whining, apologist bullshit to an art form, after all.
xchrom
(108,903 posts)
G_j
(40,568 posts)really, REALLY sad. (that I generally agree)
n/t
democrank
(12,571 posts)Yes, indeed.
MisterP
(23,730 posts)experiment is lefter than every thing that happened in Reds put together
the same faction also insists that the left must be destroyed: this produces a one-two punch to batter politics further right
KoKo
(84,711 posts)
N_E_1 for Tennis
(12,990 posts)But it seems to me that some of the very ardent supporters of Obama, may be afraid that they too are racist. Please let me explain.
I believe that we all have a touch of racism in us. We don't want to admit it, in fact we try to hide it, and deny it away. We hate that we have that in us. Of course it is not the blind hate, obvious racism we encounter, it is much different than that. It is a fear of difference. It is a fear of "You may think I'm racist". It leads to a different way of warped thinking. We support too vigorously, with a blatant disregard of the facts that are in front of us. Truthfully, though, before you cut and paste my comments to return them to me adding your thoughts at the end, think a little. I will not proclaim my race here, it is of no consequence, all races are at fault.
That being the premise, true critism of someone "different" than us is hard, if not impossible, in our own eyes. We may tend to embrace the policies of that person in disregard of our own beliefs, else we get branded as a racist.
If this is not the case, why than are some Democrats not opposed to the blatant assault on our rights? We had no problem chastising Bush, Romney, Bush2, or other politicians of any race that showed us their untoward policies. Is it a respect of the office? We had no problem holding "feet to the fire" with any other President, why now?
I voted for President Obama twice, I thought a great and glorious change was evident in this country because of his stand. I was willing to embrace the idea of " It will take time, he inherited a garbage pile". Time is running out! Now I'm more pragmatic, it not going to happen. Not with the current atmosphere in Washington and across the nation. I expected a revolution of thought and policy, a small systems change leading to greater rewards in the future for my children and grands, so they could grow up with the same promise of future that I great up with. I weep for them, I will continue to fight for them.
Corporate power is now ruling America. They are the true enemy. Corporate money owns most people in power. How can you go against the very ones that put you in the post you hold? You can't! This should be our fight.
Corporations not only owns politicians, they own us. This is what we must defend our country against.
I had my own small business. I am a marketing and business graduate. I used most of the techniques that are being foisted upon us, for profit. Although, I have to say the current techniques are awesome. Lies, disinformation, deflection, who do you trust? That is the end game.
Who do you trust?
Eom, Greg..
Fantastic Anarchist
(7,309 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)Savannahmann
(3,891 posts)
emulatorloo
(46,155 posts)
arely staircase
(12,482 posts)
kentuck
(115,393 posts)I'm calling it.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)...and this is his 2nd term.
He was supposed to be able to come out now and show his true colors now that he doesn't have to worry about Re-election.
Guess he did.
Did you see who he is considering appointing as Chairman of The FED???!!!!!
That IS just sad.
arely staircase
(12,482 posts)
strongly!!!
haikugal
(6,476 posts)Fuddnik
(8,846 posts)bigwillq
(72,790 posts) Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)the ranks of privilege.
Being born into the right family gives one entree to the top levels, money only gets you the privilege of pay their tabs.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)
navarth
(5,927 posts)dbackjon
(6,578 posts)Where the hell where you in 2008 and 2009 when the Ibama Admin laughed at gay rights???
Cryptoad
(8,254 posts)that you far left winger join forces with the Far Right wingers,,,, yall seem to have a lot in common
Anarchy!
Vietnameravet
(1,085 posts)
pscot
(21,044 posts)Good post.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)all the highlights are in there. The Republican party has been filled with disgusting people for decades. Now my party has a lot of them too. It is heartbreaking, and I have to admit that when I spent time and money and my vote for Obama in 2008, I had absolutely no clue that he would be the death of the party.
Skeeter Barnes
(994 posts)
bvar22
(39,909 posts)Why should I cheer for them now?
Segami
(14,923 posts)Republican or Democratic Party.
The fact is, they're playing political Texas Holdem' with the voters and THEY know exactly what two cards the voter is holding in their hand.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)
markiv
(1,489 posts)as calling non-communists communists. that was called 'McCarthyism'
Only difference between then and now, is that back in the 1950s, they had an Edward R Murrow
we have no such person today
NorthCarolina
(11,197 posts)kentuck
(115,393 posts)"Privilege is privilege and real privilege, the kind that permeates our government and the halls of power in Washington DC, is not based on color, it's based on class/wealth/power. The privilege of the big checkbook crowd, the privilege of the 1%. That's the privilege we should all be united in railing against – not protecting."
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)