Word to (D) Obama-Bashers: Wake Up and Smell the REALITY!

[DeathToTheOil]

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[april]

1. : ) you are correct Thank you .

[watercolors]

2. THANK YOU!!! Some people need to WAKE UP.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. I'm really tired of that phrase. It appears to be intended as a provocation and insult.

People who dare to criticize policies of this administration here should not be attacked with broad brush smears and name calling. That is not civil discourse.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

11. And people who dare stand up to unfair criticism shouldn't

be called names like appeasers, obamabots, and enablers. Obama deserves criticism where and when it is warranted. The false memes that claim that he hasn't led, hasn't accomplished anything and that he is worse than Bush are just as bad as those painting with a broad brush on the other side!!!

[DeathToTheOil]

17. Amen!

Even though a longtime DUer is riding the response to this thread, seeking Rs of his own.

[Warren Stupidity]

32. So you posted a name calling broad brush smear and agree that doing so is wrong?

[Warren Stupidity]

30. of course. I absolutely agree. The name calling should stop.

Isn't that a major part of what civility is about?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

49. Right, but DU hasn't necessarily been a bastion of civil discourse when it

comes to the president. And both sides are equally culpable.

[Warren Stupidity]

50. so perhaps you should start making an effort to not rec threads that are name calling broad brush

smears.

How about it?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

56. Actually that has been my rallying cry but

to avail. We need more posters who seek civility to speak out more.

[Warren Stupidity]

57. So you are going to continue to rec this sort of nonsense in order to uh, what?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

58. What are you talking about, dude?

You're being belligerent and annoying! Attacking the wrong person!!

[quickesst]

65. " What are you talking about, dude?"

...My thought exactly.

You're being belligerent and annoying! Attacking the wrong person!!
.
....My thoughts exactly. Thanks.
quickesst

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

96. This person was attacking me for no reason

and Im trying to figure out why!

[DeathToTheOil]

94. WELL, Warren, I certainly lack your prestige here

But maybe, just maybe, that's all for the good, because the "establishment" in whatever venue is virtually never that which shoves some realism into said venue's face.

[FedUp_Queer]

79. What about on issues where he is worse than Bush?

Like, here, for example (there are others, but this is so fundamental).

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/04/obama-doj-worse-than-bush

True, that meme is inaccurate in many, many other instances, but what about this?

[Mr Dixon]

87. AGREED

Well Said

[surfdog]

18. "People who dare criticize"

I think you are confusing repeating false Republican talking points with true criticism.

[TheWraith]

20. But clearly, insinuating that Obama supporters aren't really liberals is a-ok.

Because that's civil.

[Warren Stupidity]

25. no that is not clearly insinuated.

What is clearly insinuated is that name-calling is insulting behavior.

[TheWraith]

51. Name calling is pretty much all the anti-Obama crowd has to go on.

Name calling, and made-up horseshit from pro-Republican websites like FireDogLake, or pro-third-party sites like WSWS.

[Warren Stupidity]

53. ironic inside a name calling smearing op from (apparently) the other side of the court.

So, if your position is that there are no valid criticisms of this administration, then we do indeed have nothing to discuss other than the form of the discussion.

[Webster Green]

60. Bullshit!

My current outrage at the president comes from watching all the medicinal cannabis providers being put out of business by Obama's jack-booted thugs. I'm not reacting to right-wing sites or spin from anyone. I'm watching it happen. Obama is clueless to be waging war on pot, and he is a regressive, setting us back 15 years or more, here in CA.


I will choose to believe my own eyes, thank you very much!

[SaintPete]

61. thank you

"I will choose to believe my own eyes, thank you very much!"

There is warranted criticism, and then there is warranted criticism....

[green917]

81. Amen!

Well said! My issues with this Administration come from my own perception and interpretation of how they have handled various policy initiatives including ramping up the war on drugs by prosecuting medical cannabis providers in California, asserting state secrets in several whistle-blower cases after stating that they would be more transparent than the last Administration, and several other instances where the President has said they would do 1 thing and then they turn around and do another. I don't like the fact that the President has made every concession to appease and work with the other side of the aisle while, at the same time, belittling those of us in the liberal wing of his own party.

I would never support a Republican and I will vote for President Obama in next year's election because the potential alternative is horrifying but, I really resent being told by fellow Democrats that, because I choose to voice my frustrations with the President and some of his policy initiatives (after he asked all of us to "hold his feet to the fire&quot , that I'm some kind of Republican plant, troll or disruptor. I don't need FireDogLake or any other web site or board (this one included) to tell me what I can see with my own eyes.

[Octafish]

76. Like NAFTA.

Or Global Warming.

Or the New Deal for the 21st Century.

Or Welfare for Wall Street.

Or Civil Rights.

Or Peace.

There are more names.

[Ian David]

77. Since when is FireDogLake Pro-Republican? n/t

[FedUp_Queer]

80. Except these pesky facts this don't fit the "made-up horseshit from pro-Republican websites" meme.

Because things like this:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/04/obama-doj-worse-than-bush

and this:

http://www.coscda.org/cdbgstatement020711.asp

or this:

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/09/its-official-obama-has-deported-more-million-unauthorized-immigrants

or this:

http://www.quitam.com/whistleblower-prosecutions-have-increased-under-obama/

Of course all "made-up horseshit from pro-Republican websites."

[green917]

82. Precisely!

Will the original poster or any of the other members commenting here address the salient points of any of those links I wonder or will they just continue to throw invective at those of us who aren't marching in lock step with all of the President's policies (even though most of us still support him) and continue to call us names like "pro-Republican" or troll to assuage themselves? I guess we shall see.

I'm guessing, *crickets* will be the reply...it's easier to just blow us off as "pro-Republican" because the truth (ie. ALL Presidents lie) is harder to accept and confront.

[emilyg]

39. +10

[surfdog]

52. "People who dare criticize"

I think you are confusing repeating false Republican talking points with true criticism.

[MjolnirTime]

88. Most of the Obama bashing around here is the furthest thing from civil.

[Bluenorthwest]

90. The word 'bash' has specific connotations in some minority communities

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bashing_%28pejorative%29

[liberal N proud]

4. K&R

[Vinnie From Indy]

5. Those words will probably be of great comfort

for all the future indefinite detainees. Cheers!

[deacon]

6. K + R

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. K&R!! But still trying to figure out what exactly

makesexactly makes Obama evil?!

[gratuitous]

9. Thank you so very much

I'm really, really hoping for a strong pair of scissors for Christmas so that I can trim my ideals to fit the new fashion. I keep getting hung up on those darned Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, stuff like "due process" and "right to trial." I really have to get with the program, as I am repeatedly assured that there is no alternative to any of this, and fuck me for insisting on preserving, protecting and defending the Constitution.

Maybe like Winston Smith I will eventually learn to love Big Brother, and all the loving, kind, ministrations that are really just for my own damned good.

[russspeakeasy]

14. "eat your damn peas"...

[DeathToTheOil]

24. gratuitous

You've chosen an excellent username.

[gratuitous]

31. DeathToTheOil

I hope your sycophancy saves you, but I worry that it won't.

[DeathToTheOil]

36. Expecially since you've already sent an Alert

Eh?

[gratuitous]

41. No, I haven't but . . .

If it comports with your world-view to think I have, who am I to say otherwise?

A more self-aware person would think this just took an interesting turn, but I should know better than that.

[frylock]

29. pass me the victory gin

[tblue]

38. Isn't it getting old?

You have no right to speak your mind unless you say what others want to hear.

It's your fault. Your fault. YOUR fault. You and your damn Constitition. (And me and mine.)

You are on the right side of history, my friend. Expediency and uniformity and silence has never been, and never will be. In the fullness of time, it will be clear.

There were people telling MLK to step back and keep it down too. Pick any hero. They were all told their demands were too much and too damn unreasonable. Be patient, and don't make waves. It wasn't just Conservatives saying that either. Always remember that.

Happy holidays, my visionary friend. You are a gift to the world.

[green917]

83. Amen!

I guess we all need to learn to just trim a little fat off the Constitution and to make our peace with it because, hey, thank the invisible sky wizard that it's our guy doing all of these egregious things rather than a Republican. I keep getting hung up in the same spots as you though...the 1st, 4th, 5th, 7th, and 14th Amendments.

[pscot]

89. No sweat. The Supremes have got that

Besides, it's just a goddamned piece of paper.

[jefferson_dem]

10. Word!

Thanks for sharing!

[Itchinjim]

12. KNR!

[deadinsider]

13. Up here on the "cloud" with me

Habeous Corpus
Magna Carta
Posse Comitatus
1st Amendment
4th Amdendment
5th Amendment
6th Amdendment
8th Amendment

Just some of my company...

Down in the real world these things no longer exist. And because they don't, I won't criticize lest I seem 'utopian'.

[Betty Karlson]

69. Very, very witty response

Perhaps we can find more constructive ways to ask for support for Obama, everyone?

Because "Wake Up" smells of fresh arrogance. We're not having that, for breakfast or otherwise. Being a supporter of equal rights for ALL Americans, I've seen that same arrogance directed at the GLBT community from very early on in this Obama administration ("Just a prayer", "pony", "not the right time", "evolving opinion", and of course: those horrid LISTS).

Newsflash: Obama may be the best we could have in 2008 (and maybe the second best, but that we will never know), either way: he's not perfect. The criticism shows how very humanly flawed he can be. That is reality. The biggest fault would be to deny this, and scream: "Nananana, I can't hear you, you need to wake up."

[Bluenorthwest]

91. Thank you

I often ask people who use 'basher' and 'hater' for critics of policy what word they then would use for a person who openly opposes the equal rights of a minority group and says that God agrees with him? Seems to me that is worse than mere criticism, and if criticism is hate, then such opposition to equality clearly needs a word stronger than 'hate' or 'bash'. Those who use those words so far do not answer that question, they tend to get really angry instead....

[Betty Karlson]

95. Anger sometimes is agreement is disguise

A very, very good disguise..

Thing is: people don't like to see their worldview upset. The fact that God is invoked, shows that the lack of reasonable argument is hoped to be covered by a name holier than all others. And shame on them for trying to cover bigotry with blasphemy.

Anyway, your welcome.

[kenny blankenship]

15. Enjoy your smelly reality

[RiffRandell]

16. Zomg you are so funny and right fucking on!

Have you been alerted on yet?

Apparently you can't support Obama and be humorous without taking the chance you might be alerted on...way to live on the edge!

[DeathToTheOil]

19. I haven't been alerted on yet for THIS thread

But I've garnered half a dozen for other posts. Truth is a difficult thing.

[kenny blankenship]

23. Were you out to prove that saying "Obamabot" gets a post or thread deleted

but an equally abusive thread or post featuring "Obama-basher" does not?

Well done!

[ScreamingMeemie]

46. Just so you know, I voted for civility and I signed my vote.

[hughee99]

21. Word to the (D) "Who else ya' gonna vote for" crowd...

I'm going to go out on a limb here, and make a suggestion. When trying to make your case to the "I won't vote for the lesser of two evils" crowd, maybe you should try giving 1 or 10 or 50 reasons why Obama is a good, although not perfect, candidate rather than going with the tactic of calling them childish and telling them to shut the fuck up, hold their nose and vote for him anyway. You know what reinforces the idea that Obama's best quality is that he's "lesser of two evils"? When you tell people to vote for him on THAT BASIS ALONE!

People always talk about how they want their candidate to listen to "the people". Which is weird because around election time, when "the people" (or some people anyway) say "I won't vote for you unless you promise *this*". Other people tell them to shut up. They're not trying make it so your candidate loses, they're trying to get your candidate to change (or even just take) a position on a certain issue.

[phantom power]

28. +oo

[Starry Messenger]

34. They don't.

We get phone calls at home from D orgs looking for $ that are almost word for word these posts. It's rather worrisome.

[green917]

84. I wish I could rec your reply!

I'm getting sick and tired of being called names and told that I don't support the President because I actually want him to uphold the ideals that make us Democrats like the Social Safety net, due process of law, etc. Their argument loses all weight with me when all it consists of is, "He's done great things and you are wrong and a poopy head!" This isn't grade school people...if you want to make a case with those of us who don't always agree with the President's policy decisions, make a case and argue it. Resorting to childish name calling is getting tired though.

[okieinpain]

22. thank you. agree 100%, safe and happy holidays to all. n/t.

[Missy Vixen]

26. Wow, that's a pretty big stick!

Thanks for the beating. I'm sure morale will improve really, really soon.

[frylock]

27. fuck this shit

[Erose999]

33. Telling people to "shut the fuck up" is a great strategy to win them over to your neoliberal cause.

psyche....

[Matariki]

35. Couldn't get past: "Denis Leary. (Love that guy!)"

[RC]

40. WE do smell reality and it stinks.

Obama is too beholden to Wall Street to be helping the rest of us much. Where is his bully pulpit? Why doesn't he use it for what we actually need? Things like Living Wage Jobs and not just more low level jobs to make the job numbers look better. Why is he for extending so many of bu$h's policies. Policies like his wars (Iraq - we got kicked out), his tax cut extensions, among many other things. Why did he appoint so many people from the moneyed people that caused this financial mess to to in his Cabinet? Just look at all the laws and congressional bills Obama is for that take away even more of our freedoms.

[Zalatix]

55. Okay and whoever you vote for will get taken down by the banks, too.

Your problem is with the banks, not Obama.

[Hutzpa]

42. ahhhh ---- that is the feeling of waking up in the morning

and seeing sunlight.

[theaocp]

43. I hope all will see you for who you are.

WELL SHUT THE FUCK UP AND GET OFF YOUR DAMN CLOUD!

My response: no. Enjoy Canada.

[Marrah_G]

44. Off to ignore you go

[ScreamingMeemie]

45. Those who dismiss any form of criticism as bashing could do with those smelling salts as well.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/100240023

I am angry and that's okay.

I reserve my love for those that I know. No offense.

[Morning Dew]

47. Ah, persuasive AND inspirational.

This should spike the enthusiasm meter.

[reACTIONary]

48. +1 - I Love U 2, Man (nt)

[DeathToTheOil]

54. Kick before Lunch

I hope they haven't run out of pastrami again.

[Zalatix]

63. Kick before dinner!

Who's bringing the pie?

[johncoby2]

59. Please dont bother. They are as ignorant as teabaggers.

[Zhade]

62. You're not the arbiter of reality.

NT!

[Lunabelle]

64. We can still bash him and hold our noses and vote for him.

That is what I'll do. Though lately he seems to have woken up from some wierd slumber and started slugging back. Maybe I'll bash less now since he seems to have foind his Democratic voice.

[quickesst]

66. I applaud.....

...that at least one of your "like thinking" admits that it's bashing and not criticism. If Obama is the nominee(pretty much a given) , he will be the best chance we have of seeing our grandchildren, who I have two, Christian, and Madeline Kate, of seeing the future we envision. Sitting at home, voting for a non-viable candidate, or going right will be a giant step backward for them. We need to stop being so self-centered on what it can do for us, here and now, and more focused on what it can do for those who follow us. I, for one, am willing to take the blows, the sacrifices, and the wont for what I wish I had right now in order that I go to my grave knowing that Christian and Madeline have the future I once envisioned for myself. It's a long haul, and that long haul lives on, no matter the sacrifice we have to endure. We're getting there, and given the rabid right-wing opposition, it's just going to take more time than we thought it would. Think about that when you look into your son's, daughter's, nieces, grandchildren's eyes, and ask yourself. What would I endure for their futiure. Thank you for your patience.
quickesst

[Lunabelle]

68. I should have use quotes around "bashing" because I was being facetious

I never bashed the president, just gave him honest criticism. But I would never, ever in my life even think about voting for a repig. An independent yes, repig, no.

[Survivoreesta]

70. Perfection doesn't exist>

Like I said in the other thread, I'll be voting for Obama again. Far from perfect, but not a nutcase!

[Pholus]

71. "Reality" check -- This week "-bo" whipped the GOP! Why now and not 18 months ago?

We got some really flawed "deals" because of bipartisanship, "the art of the possible," starting negotiations by ceding large amounts of ground to the GOP and general meekness. This week the President did EXACTLY what I was asking for 18 months ago and oh look the GOP rolls over in less than a week. It was always possible but for some reason the President was pulling his punches.

Too bad that wasn't on the "hostage situation" that extended the Bush cuts on the wealthy.

Too bad that wasn't on HCR.

Too bad that wasn't on Wall Street regulation.

But I'm reasonable. If the President has started coming to work with the attitude that he needs to win for the American people and that means making the GOP LOSE then I'm fully on board with him and yesterday's failures don't matter anymore.

It's good to see him back. Too bad that "holding his feet to the fire" is seen as disloyalty by some here.

[djean111]

72. Reality is that Obama will most likely get the "lesser of two evils" votes....

so why the concerted (and getting kinda boring and predictable) exhortation that we must also lurve him? Is not praising him bad feng shui or something? My advice is to quit while you have the lesser of two evils votes. Because the scorn and condescension actually are reinforcing my feeling that the Democratic Party ain't my party any more.

I would, ya know, like to hear him tell us that he was just kidding when he said to hold his feet to the fire when we don't like something.
That would be better than having everything I am worried about, like the continued trashing of the Constitution and being beholden legally to private insurance companies who spend all their time figuring out how to allow us less health care for more profit - those things are now called "ponies".

Take what you can get, in my little opinion, and stop the pointless and irritatingly gratuitous insults. Again, in my opinion, makes things worse, pisses people off, and does nothing good for your leader. We are not ALL in some veal pen.

I can smell reality, thank you very much, and it kind of stinks. As does the alternate reality I am asked to smell.

[green917]

85. Well said!

My mother always told me, "You catch far more flies with honey". Calling people whose support the President needs to win (and, the staunch supporters of the President need to start realizing that fact...you need us for him to win reelection) names and belittling our position isn't likely to boost our morale for backing President Obama. I'm beginning to wonder if the Democratic party is the party for me anymore too and that makes me very sad because I've been a life-long liberal Democrat. I will hold my nose and vote for this man again because the alternative is terrifying but, I don't have to like it and these diaries chastising me for feeling that way are not helping and are, essentially, making me less and less enthusiastic about having to make that decision. Regardless, your message of "quit while you're ahead" is one they should take to heart before they start actually losing our support.

[pscot]

92. What you said

will go right over their heads. The sad thing is that the loyalists seem to be reflecting the attitude of the Whitehouse. I don't think the President really expected anyone to hold his feet to the fire. He was just parroting one of FDR's memes.

[Swede Atlanta]

73. This forum should be open to all viewpoints........

In general I support Obama and the Democrats both for what they have accomplished as well as what they have attempted to do and continue to achieve. But at the same time there have been missed opportunities, approaches and strategies left on the table and even flat-out mistakes. No one is perfect.

As long as we all come at issues with an open mind, engage in factually-based discussion, acknowledge when something we post is a feeling or an opinion as opposed to fact and most of all engage one another with respect DU should be fine.

[kylie772]

74. I am awake and I am still not voting for Obama again

Thanks to Obama and his henchman Arnie Duncan, our improving school was reconstituted and the wonderful staff displaced for political reasons. That's the thanks teachers get for supporting Obama. Never, ever again. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice.......

[Robb]

97. You think that's bad

I got like five tomatoes this year on my plant. Five goddamn tomatoes!

Obama's got a LOT to answer for.

[Sheepshank]

99. Dammit...adding this one to the list. Not any list but THE LIST!!! n/t

[Sheepshank]

98. r--i--g--h--t! Totally buying this -- NOT n/t

[Romulox]

75. I, for one, am gutted that we don't have the original text to this Magnum Opus! nt

[Logical]

78. The reality is I will vote for him but he has been a huge disappointment!!!

[tledford]

86. It would seem to some that reality is unreal. eom

[zeljko67]

93. How about you smell the reality..NDAA. NT