Obama Has to Work Twice as Hard to Get Half the Credit, Even from "Liberals"

[michigandem58]

Last night, Rachel Maddow opened her show on MSNBC with an excellent segment reviewing the leapfrog progress made for liberal social causes under President Obama - most just since his re-election. She noted that the drug war - waged under Democratic and Republican presidents alike, seems to be ratcheting down with the Justice Department's directives to avoid mandatory drug sentencing as much as possible, and now ensuring Colorado and Washington states that they can implement their marijuana legalization laws, without worrying about a federal court challenge...

Except that she left out an important factor in this sea-change almost entirely. The president under whose leadership and under whose administration all of this happened got just one mention. Just one. Bill Clinton got several mentions, albeit negative. But President Obama? Maddow didn't see it fit to mention him more than once in the entire 11 minute and 22 second segment, when she credited him for signing a law reducing sentencing disparities between crack cocaine and powdered cocaine offenses.

By my count, presidents ranging from Nixon to Reagan to Bush Sr. to Clinton to Bush Jr. all earned more mentions from Rachel Maddow than the leader of the era that is seeing the changes she so excitingly celebrates, Barack Obama.

Maddow didn't see it fit to mention that it was President Obama whose deliberate, patient and unwavering leadership ultimately ended the injustice of telling our soldiers that they must conceal who they love in order to serve the country they love. Maddow didn't think it necessary to point out that a big part of the reason the Defense of Marriage Act is now relegated to the dustbins of history is that President Obama made an executive decision not to defend it in court, and that the IRS is now acting under his direction and his policies...

http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2013/08/celebrating-progress-holding-back-credit.html

[Enrique]

1. yeah all they did was elect him president

twice.

Other than that, what have they ever done for him?

[Supersedeas]

4. well, then there's that

[Aerows]

51. LOL! n/t

[Bake]

2. Bullshit. All he has to do is represent the people who ELECTED HIM.

Instead of selling us out.

Bake

[Puzzledtraveller]

7. What Bake said.

[tridim]

10. He represents me. Certainly not 100% of the time, but close.

I'm glad every day that I helped vote him in to office, twice.

Maybe the issue is you?

[Bake]

19. I voted for him twice.

But I'm not the one about to bomb Syria. I'm not the one who keeps putting Social Security "on the table." I'm not the one who would even seriously consider Larry Summers for Treasury Sec. I'm not the one who let the Wall St banksters off scot-free. And I'm not the one telling the NSA to ready Americans' emails ...

I could go on, but you get the picture.

So no, I don't think the issue is me.

Bake

[lumpy]

86. Don't you realize that all issues you may support are not supported by every progressive ???

We all have different opinions. I get the picture.

[Bake]

97. You may be right

But somehow I doubt that ANY progressive would want to ...

(a) chip away at (i.e. begin dismantling) Social Security,
(b) start another war in the Middle East,
(c) give the Wall St bankers the keys to the kingdom,
(d) give the NSA pretty much carte blanche to spy on Americans ...

You get the picture.

Bake

[woo me with science]

26. Well, given your apologism for every corporate-neocon...er, corporate-neolib...outrage

coming out of this administration, your endorsement is hardly a shock here.

I think disgust by Americans who voted for Obama at all the bait and switch policy is reaching a critical mass. People are not going to eat up the propaganda for another war.

[Number23]

82. Is "critical mass" 80% support? Because that's where his Dem support has been

[woo me with science]

95. Approval for Obama's new war is at nine percent.

NINE percent. So, no, people are not lapping up what he, and you, are trying to sell.

[Number23]

114. Your post was about the "critical mass" of Dems who no longer support this president

And I noted that his Dem support is at 80% and higher.

So ONCE AGAIN, no one is buying what YOU have been so endlessly and so desperately peddling on this web site for ages.

And (shockingly!!), even your numbers on 9% wanting "Obama's new war" (I absolutely LOVE the terminology you use around here. One usually has to go to Red State to see that level of hyperbole) are as wrong as everything else you post here. 50% of Americans support intervention in Syria. http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/08/30/20256971-nbc-poll-nearly-80-percent-want-congressional-approval-on-syria?lite

[lumpy]

94. Well woo me, in a few short years you'll have a new leader to bitch about. Maybe one who will

sit on his ass and not try to do a damn thing about anything.

[woo me with science]

96. Doing nothing would be far superior

to starting another war.

[lumpy]

102. Yes, just turn the other cheek when you neighbor is getting raped.

n

[daa]

16. What Bake said nt

[woo me with science]

25. What Bake said. nt

[Rex]

39. Funny thing, the idiot blogger the OP is linking to?

Well guess what?! He DID NOT vote for Obama and refused to!

Just another grade F flunky with a blog...

[LondonReign2]

40. +1

[Aerows]

52. On board with Bake n/t

[brooklynite]

54. I thought he was elected to represent EVERYONE

...which means we might not get absolutely everything as quickly as we want.

[xchrom]

62. i have to go with the choir... what bake said. nt

[forestpath]

70. +100000

[lumpy]

79. The people who elected the president have different opinions about everything.

We progressives are not all in accord, very difficult to please all the voters.

[Sam1]

3. No he doesn't, he merely has to be seen to at least be trying to fulfill his promise

of hope and change. As it is, beginning with his failure to prosecute the banksters, his decision to protect the health insurance industry, and his appointment of insiders to review the NSA, it has been nothing but a continuation of business as usual!

He has to work twice as hard because he is trying to maintain the status quo rather then leading the American people in the change that he promised us.

[Phlem]

5. oops.

-p

[leftstreet]

6. That Muppet Blog you keep posting from has no credibility

[woo me with science]

13. More than that, it's a hate site:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023505867

[leftstreet]

18. Gross. I missed that

[LondonReign2]

41. Why the fuck this moron blog is allowed to continuously be posted here

is fucking mystery to me. It's like having a Brietbart fan constantly posting shit from that site.

[lumpy]

101. The same reason people get to post their "shit" here.

n

[LondonReign2]

111. Really? Can you show me any other

homophobic, right wing blogs other people proudly post repeatedly here on DU?

[Aerows]

55. Great, homophobia, too

all in one angrily wrapped, hate-filled package.

[treestar]

68. for that?

wow, you're really trying to block a pro-Democratic site.

[2ndAmForComputers]

76. Oh, SHIT. I voted to leave this. Sorry.

Should have looked more than the front page and the About page. Crap.

Or, the alerter should have given better pointers.

[lumpy]

103. Lotta hate going on in this site also

n

[woo me with science]

106. I don't see "hate." I see a lot of legitimate anger

that this nation may be led into another bloody war for profit.

[treestar]

67. Why are you criticizing that way a blog supporting Democrats?

If it's biased, it's in favor of Democrats.

[SidDithers]

8. DU rec...nt

Sid

[Rex]

38. A REC for a guy that refused to vote for Obama?

CHECK.

"Obama Lost My Vote - General Election, Too

Lest you think this is because I was personally offended as a gay man, you are right. But it wasn't only because of that that I made this decision. I draw the line in the sand when politicians pander to any group and sacrifice their stated goals of equal dignity under law and associate themselves, willingly, with known bigots of any kind, be they racists, sexists or homophobes. This is such a line. Obama has crossed it. Good riddance, Barack Obama."

[bullwinkle428]

9. RACHEL MADDOW : ENEMY OF TEH PEOPLE!!1!

[QC]

12. She never really loved him!

[Cali_Democrat]

15. Maddow On LGBT Rights: ‘THANKS FOR NOTHING, Bill Clinton’

Thursday night on “The Rachel Maddow Show,” host Rachel Maddow marveled at the changes in federal policy on same sex marriage and toward states that are legalizing marijuana. She said that the new laws are so significantly different from the norm that the situation is like “cats chasing dogs, like pigs flying.” Maddow began by discussing the incredible strides made in this country by advocates for same sex marriage. On Thursday, the U.S. Treasury announced that legally married same sex couples can now jointly file their taxes. This is a sea change from just nine years ago when George W. Bush’s re-election team used the issue of stopping same sex marriage to drive conservative voters to the polls.

“Democrats were terrible on the issue as well,” Maddow said, pointing to Bill Clinton’s two major anti-LGBT legacies, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).“Thanks for nothing, Bill Clinton,” she said, adding that it seems almost inconceivable in hindsight that things would change so quickly.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023562292

[Aerows]

48. She's kind of right

but that doesn't mean that the LGBT community doesn't recognize that he did the best with what he had to work with at the time.

Please feel free to argue those points, if you wish. It doesn't make her wrong, and it surely doesn't make you right, either.

[Aerows]

49. That has to be the most interesting statement I've seen yet from that blog

In fact, I welcome more folks being declared enemies. I look forward to seeing who they might be.

[treestar]

69. She's a whiner

Always looking for something to complain about, against the Democrats. They aren't good enough for her. Republicans get a pass.

[Puglover]

75. Coming from the likes of you

The poster that typed this arrogant condesending swill.

"And you have plenty of rights. The right to free speech, etc."

Your comment is a badge of honor for Rachel.

[idwiyo]

85. THANK YOU for posting it! You Have Plenty of Rights should have been more than enough for PPR.

[Puglover]

87. Indeed.

[NuclearDem]

77. You must be confused.

I watch her every night, and I never see Republicans getting a pass.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

84. It's best not to post ignorance that can be readily disproven with a 3 second Google search

If you believe Republicans get a pass from Maddow, you are dead wrong, and anyone on this board can cite 50 instances of her skewering Republicans. Care to mention any other beliefs you hold?

[lumpy]

93. Well, she sure is in good company with a lot of posters on DU.

Can't say DU doesn't have an influx of whiners. They want instant satisfaction without realizing the complexity of every issue.

[idwiyo]

107. Why don't you educate her? You can just tell her she has enough rights already, or something like it

I am sure she would be happy to know.

[shenmue]

11. Sorry, being President is not a matter of waving a magic wand

Sometimes the President has to make really difficult decisions. He can't wish away the rest of the world; he can't pretend we never have to get involved in serious issues.

The isolationists live in a dream world.

[Mojorabbit]

20. I am old enough to have seen several presidents get things done

by twisting arms and being out front on issues. Our last president had no problem at all getting his agenda passed. He is not the first president faced with difficult decisions.

[Skittles]

36. gawd, not the magic wand meme

I thought that one had been retired

[Aerows]

47. It's so worn out

I doubt it could make a *poof*, at any rate.

The OP referenced a garbage blog. It may just hate liberals and democrats more than it hates republicans.

[HangOnKids]

78. Are you writing a childrens book?

The Prez and the magic Wand?

[lumpy]

98. Yes. And sometimes we get what we deserve whether we like it or not.

n

[Starry Messenger]

14. That blogger has serious issues.

[bvar22]

17. "That blogger has serious issues"...

It REEKS of Koch Brothers and PPI.

[cali]

21. that blogger is a sick fuckwad and shouldn't be posted here.

[Starry Messenger]

31. I remember reading he'd been kicked off of KOS for being too extreme.

I think that he hates the left even more than the right.

[Tarheel_Dem]

63. "Fuckwad"? Says the guy with sickest transparency page since you know who.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=152034&sub=trans

[cali]

64. yes. fuckwad. as in homophobic hater.

and yep there are a lot of folks who would like to see me kicked off of DU and many of my hidden posts are less offensive than posts that don't get hidden here everyday.

I also get many more recs than most DUers- and you, sweeetums.

[Tarheel_Dem]

65. You post for "recs" in an echo chamber? I'm sorry. That's just sad.

[Number23]

81. It really is, isn't it??

And we're not even talking about 500 recs in the echo chamber. 150 tops and somebody thinks they're Sally Field.

So much boasting over something so utterly and completely unimportant and meaningless. And this is by no means the first or even the 10th time she's done the "I get soooooo many recs" spiel.

[Tarheel_Dem]

108. "completely unimportant and meaningless". That can only mean that something important is missing in

in one's "real" life. If recs on an anonymous messageboard is the new pinnacle of success, then that really is sad. Impress me, and win a damn election. To have that many hidden posts, and nearly 130 star members ignoring you actually means the echo chamber is getting even smaller in this case. And remember, that's just star members, we don't know the true number.

[JHB]

23. He's very quick with histrionics that accuse others of histrionics

From a similar thread, two weeks ago:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3466635

[treestar]

71. He does not like the emo left

And is very good at pointing out their bullshit.

[Starry Messenger]

88. Please see post #38

[Stinky The Clown]

22. Have you changed your view on pronouns yet?

Chelsea Manning is a she.

Have you changed your right wing, hateful view of her yet?

[Capt. Obvious]

24. Taking another dump and running off

Cool

[avaistheone1]

27. Boohoo! Obama perhaps worked twice as hard with the Republicans to get them

to play ball, and got nothing for it.

President Obama, blame yourself.

[IdaBriggs]

28. Drat that Obama!

Health care and LGBT RIGHTS and reasonable drug policies AND credit?

A black man getting credit for anything except criminal behavior is ridiculous.

IMPEACH! IMPEACH! IMPEACH!

[bunnies]

29. You seem to be rather obsessed with that particular contributor.

Im curious. Is it you?

[frylock]

73. that's my theory

[bunnies]

74. Always hit and run too.

I think ole Spandan is just trying to spread his seed. I also doubt this is his first DU name, if ya know what I mean.

[QC]

83. That question is often asked but never answered. n/t

[bunnies]

90. I guess we're free to draw our own conclusions, then.

Looks like he spews his garbage wherever he can...

https://plus.google.com/107914693028127892448/posts

Ooooh.... he's got videos! This should be good. Did we ever have a deaniac83 here?

http://www.youtube.com/user/deaniac83/videos

[QC]

91. I remember when deaniac83 was pretty much omnipresent.

For some reason, I think I remember seeing him here, but I wouldn't swear to it.

Real nutcase, though. I remember that clearly.

[bunnies]

92. That makes sense then.

deaniac83 is Spandan C. Heres his email on that shit website: [e-mail]

I could have sworn I remembered that name from the '04 era. Kinda like I remember you had that cute little cartoon icon. Looks like mystery solved to me.

[Dr Fate]

30. And when he bombs Syria, Liberals will bitch about that too.

As if those billions could have spent on something better than freedom.

I think not.

[Aerows]

57. Yes, we will

Like spending it on the children and seniors in our own communities that are starving. Not starving to death or put out on the street seems like freedom to a damn lot of people.

[Douglas Carpenter]

32. you really should find a better source for your OP's. This stuff is so bad it is embarrassing

[sendero]

33. All this "social liberal" crap is useless..

... if every last dollar is stolen from my pocket by corporations and banksters.

[duffyduff]

53. Exactly. The "social liberal" nonsense is just a cover

for his far right policies in areas that really count.

I am not cutting Obama ANY slack just because he has a "D" after his name.

[Douglas Carpenter]

34. Rachel Maddow has always been anti-Democratic Party/anti-Obama troll. Everyone knows that!

[Aerows]

45. And she soundly declared she wouldn't vote for President Obama

Oh, wait. That was this sherlock.

[treestar]

72. She is.

Seriously, like all the others, she's in it for the money and sees where she can exploit division for ratings. I've rarely heard of her saying anything good about Democrats.

[Douglas Carpenter]

110. I'm glad someone else sees this

[SomethingFishy]

35. Well taking your first point...

the War On Drugs. Right now funding for the "War On Drugs" is at it's highest levels ever. Not to mention that anyone who read the NDAA would know that the new defense budget allows for the military, the NSA, and Homeland security to aid in the WOD.

Many seem to think that yesterdays announcement by the Justice Dept was some kind of great compromise. Wrong. We are supposed to be a nation governed by it's people. The people got legalization on the ballot, the people voted for it. For the feds to come in after the fact and give us "permission" to enact the laws we voted for is a fucking joke. And what about all the Medical Marijuana providers that are now in PRISON.

Obama takes shit from the "far left" because he's not doing a great job. Granted he's being obstructed at every turn and he has made some progress, however many many decisions he's made are at best questionable and at worst counterproductive.

[Rex]

37. More crap journalism from that idiot blogger?

Just like the garbage from infowars etc..

Why does this guy care, since he didn't vote for Obama?

I see he is just stirring up shit like a good Foxnews drone.

"Obama Lost My Vote - General Election, Too

Lest you think this is because I was personally offended as a gay man, you are right. But it wasn't only because of that that I made this decision. I draw the line in the sand when politicians pander to any group and sacrifice their stated goals of equal dignity under law and associate themselves, willingly, with known bigots of any kind, be they racists, sexists or homophobes. This is such a line. Obama has crossed it. Good riddance, Barack Obama."

[zappaman]

42. Is that blog from Denmark?

Cuz something smells rotten about it!

[Rex]

43. I believe they blog through Denmark

at a rotten fish market. I just find it really cute that people will ATTA BOY this blogger...when he refused to vote for the POTUS!

Then again we get crap from infowars, naturalnews and our own local flavor (ya you know the one) reporter here all the time so I guess this is just really to be expected now.

[zappaman]

46. Pretty much!

But thanks to these wonderful sources, I have learned...

1. Israel was behind 9/11
2. Obama should be impeached.
3. Getting vaccinated for anything is a government plot to actually give you a disease.
4. The government commandeered Michael Hasting's car and hired Hollywood stuntmen to drive 80 mph, and jump out of the car before it hit that tree.
5. Windfarms cause cancer and sometimes the turbines will fly over a mile and could decapitate an innocent jogger.


What have you learned?

[Rex]

50. That EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING

is Obama's fault!

Snowden is either the worlds luckiest fool or he has us all fooled and is Jason Bourne X10.

Russia is a grate country that LOVES human rights and the people attached to those rights!

Vaccinated people are all POD PEOPLE! OH GOD I'M A POD PERSON!

Windfarms can not only cause cancer, the turbines are full of spidermonkies armed with shark lasers and tiger guns!

Obama should be impeached, because he has failed to run Congress like I want him to.

The moon is our enemy and must be...boooooooooommmmed!

[Aerows]

58. I learned

[zappaman]

59. Did Obama kill that kitty!?!?!

IMPEACH!!!!

[Aerows]

61. She is the spitting image of mine

down to the white belly and the feet and paws. Last I checked she was piled up asleep in bed and will only wake up if there is food in her presence. That she *enjoys*. She doesn't fool around with dismissing treats that aren't up to her standards .

[Aerows]

44. "The People's View"

That asshole, again? The one that declared soundly that he wouldn't vote for Obama? The one that churns out article after article that condemns Democrats?

Oh, yeah, that asshole again. I won't be clicking on that link.

[mstinamotorcity2]

56. Just because someone votes for a particular

candidate doesn't mean they become blind to what they do. Or what they don't do. I voted for this President. Uh some of the things he do is just his damn job. I too am unhappy with some of the policies of this Administration. And the lingering policies of the Dubya/Shooter Administration. For those who have been fighting this battle a long time we are tired of the silly bullshit that is lurking in Washington. And Rachel speaks for Rachel and those who agree with her. But rarely does she give opinion without it being drawn on cold hard facts. Not mentioning the President isn't an oversight.

[99Forever]

60. Gawd...

... what a freakin' whiner.

[treestar]

66. So true. nt

[NuclearDem]

80. Rachel Maddow hasn't paid sufficient tribute!

Off with her head! I mean, I would think Rachel would actually be giving her audience credit by not spelling it out for them by mentioning things happening in the last three or four years happened under Obama.

Does this guy even have a set of core principles, or does he just troll for a living?

[TBF]

89. More "peoples view" eh?

Another day, another inflammatory OP ...

[on point]

99. Deserves mention when he leads, not follows or evolves a position

Besides social is a distraction to third way corporate sell out

[LWolf]

105. Barack Obama is not a liberal.

[bluedeathray]

109. I call Bullshit!

Half as much credit for what? Furthering the policies and practices that we KNOW and discuss almost daily on this site?

Our nation is headed in the wrong direction. Politically, socially, economically, ecologically, militarily, educationally...

If our leaders catch heat about it, GOOD!

You want those itches to go away? Better scratch 'em! This "Poor me" BS has got to go! We have a nation to build.

[KG]

112. whaaa.

[Doctor_J]

113. Then he should drop half of his work load - namely the half that involves Republican objectives

[Safetykitten]

115. This^^^^^