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Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)

90. Yeah, here's the thing about 'pragmatists'. That is a term of art that is spoiled rotten.

Wed Dec 12, 2012, 01:32 PM

Dec 2012

I spent too much time listening to various 'moderates' claim to be Pragmatists with one breath, then with the next claim to be deeply religious and getting all their opinions from God. Obama did this Folks who shout about the Sanctity of Marriage for years while claiming to be Pragmatists are folks who are just picking words out of the blue because they think it makes their bigotry and capitulation sound like something high blown when it is just bigotry and capitulation.
So yeah. Faith Based Pragmatists. Who say both 'the result defines the value of actions' and 'God has immuatable laws for human behavior' depending on which bit of rhetorical nonsense sounds best that moment.
The value of the word 'Pragatism' is defined by the results of using the word. The results I see from the use of that word amounts to much confusion, liquidation of actual word meanings, and absolutely nothing of value. The word has been destroyed by misuse, overuse, and use by those who are anything but Pramatists.
Everyone wants to impliment policy via winning elections. That is not the definition of Pragmatism. And you, you are not a Pragmatist from what I see. Another poster most clearly says it is all about winning when asked. Yet you prefer the faith based, fictional version of this thread in which no one said it is all about winning. Faith based, unseen things, we make it up and call it moderate pragmatism....

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On liberal "purity". [View all] MadHound Dec 2012 OP

dems have moved so far to the right that center right dems are now considered progressive lol nt msongs Dec 2012 #1

exactly! nt abelenkpe Dec 2012 #2

yes, and it is sickening Skittles Dec 2012 #4

Dems have also won five of the last six POTUS popular votes banned from Kos Dec 2012 #15

So, it's all about winning, all about the scorecard? MadHound Dec 2012 #19

Yes, it is about winning. You and I may have little in common but I know about one banned from Kos Dec 2012 #48

The Dems will become just as bad if we don't hold them accountable FiveGoodMen Dec 2012 #51

Exactly. ChaoticTrilby Dec 2012 #110

You can keep lunatics out of the WH by running progressive candidates. This country is . sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #115

Do you always use 30 years ago as your guideline?........ socialist_n_TN Dec 2012 #33

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Dec 2012 #64

Go Donkeys!! TransitJohn Dec 2012 #70

It isn't winning anything if you just make it to the Oval Office and then give the other side sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #114

I wouldn't LOL. I *was* a center Right Dem in 76. And I *am* now considered staunchly Left. ieoeja Dec 2012 #102

K&R nt abelenkpe Dec 2012 #3

Being willing and able to substantiate what a person beleives.... orpupilofnature57 Dec 2012 #5

You hold FDR up as a paragon of radical leftist thought... SidDithers Dec 2012 #6

one may have many different plusses and minusses at the same time nt msongs Dec 2012 #7

You consider Obama some sort of progressive, MadHound Dec 2012 #8

Sid whatchamacallit Dec 2012 #9

... SidDithers Dec 2012 #12

"At least FDR limited his civil rights violation to a particular ethnic group"... SidDithers Dec 2012 #11

So trashing FDR is in vogue? whatchamacallit Dec 2012 #13

There seem to be several people on this board who can only defend Obama's positions dflprincess Dec 2012 #128

I thought only Republicans trashed FDR. Raksha Dec 2012 #134

Again, what are your excuses for Obama's violating all of our civil rights? MadHound Dec 2012 #14

The 2012 platflorm included ProSense Dec 2012 #17

I suggest you re-read that part of the '76 Democratic party platform concerning health care, MadHound Dec 2012 #23

I read it: ProSense Dec 2012 #29

Yes, the ACA is the law of the land, MadHound Dec 2012 #34

Speaking of ProSense Dec 2012 #39

And that has what, exactly, to do with the original topic of the OP? n/t MadHound Dec 2012 #40

Too much facts for you? n/t ProSense Dec 2012 #41

Nope, just wondering what it has to do with my OP. MadHound Dec 2012 #43

Who exactly was pushing single-payer in 1976? ProSense Dec 2012 #46

And job-obliterating free trade. MannyGoldstein Dec 2012 #78

Obama killed one POS jihadist American citizen while he was in Yemen banned from Kos Dec 2012 #18

Actually he killed two, and possibly more. MadHound Dec 2012 #21

Don't expect much sympathy for the boy whatchamacallit Dec 2012 #26

The Constitution always applies to the US Government, it is the basis of it's authority. TheKentuckian Dec 2012 #36

"Obama killed one POS jihadist American citizen while he was in Yemen plotting attacks on the USA" Liberal_Dog Dec 2012 #57

That statement is bullshit. white_wolf Dec 2012 #65

"Jihadist"?!?! How is this disgusting right wing speech allowed here? TransitJohn Dec 2012 #72

I know, never saw that here until very recently. sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #126

What don't you like about the US Constitution? sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #125

FDR over looked the excesses of Dixiecrats and failed to integrate the armed forces. bluestate10 Dec 2012 #62

*Clap Puzzledtraveller Dec 2012 #92

People are complex. (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2012 #10

Who knows what bending the current President would do in a similar spot and public sentiment? TheKentuckian Dec 2012 #27

AND he instituted SS, the WPA, etc., and won a war Doctor_J Dec 2012 #31

2.3 billion trees planted, hundreds of state parks created, U.S. topsoil saved... WorseBeforeBetter Dec 2012 #56

Because we're talking about people, not gods. (nt) jeff47 Dec 2012 #60

Did FDR sign the NDAA? MannyGoldstein Dec 2012 #77

Why is that the only thing you ever write about FDR, siddithers? Octafish Dec 2012 #98

Don't you have a JFK conspiracy story to peddle somewhere?...nt SidDithers Dec 2012 #101

''Peddle'' is a loaded term, implying profit motive, siddithers. Octafish Dec 2012 #109

Excellent post as always Octafish. You are one of the people who attract Democrats to this forum sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #118

Don't you have anything to say about politics? Did you know that this is a political forum? sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #116

... SidDithers Dec 2012 #122

Thanks for kicking this excellent thread. sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #123

Yes and you say you read all 26 volumes of the WARREN COMISSION and... zappaman Dec 2012 #124

Yes, I did. I read books too, many way longer than the WCR, I have even read whole series of sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #127

Very interesting. I wonder if he knows that we interred Muslims during the Bush years, not just thos sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #129

Hear hear! MrSlayer Dec 2012 #16

K&R n/t warrprayer Dec 2012 #20

The problem with "purity" randomtagger Dec 2012 #22

well, with the possible exception of wolf hunting... mike_c Dec 2012 #30

I sure hope whatchamacallit Dec 2012 #32

God damn, the word "troll" is overused. randomtagger Dec 2012 #75

+10 (NT) reACTIONary Dec 2012 #117

I'm with you... reACTIONary Dec 2012 #54

I don't know enough about fracking to make a decision. randomtagger Dec 2012 #76

What is 'purity'? I see that talking point all the time but never get an answer as to what it means sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #130

You nailed it. It's the Democratic Party that has moved to the right, so far forestpath Dec 2012 #24

Great post Autumn Dec 2012 #25

Your first paragraph summarizes it nicely Doctor_J Dec 2012 #28

You need to start getting real about Skidmore Dec 2012 #35

WHOOMP, there it is. MadHound Dec 2012 #38

I bow to your superiority. Skidmore Dec 2012 #50

he'll browbeat as many democrats out of the party as he can on the way to viccctorrryyyy! dionysus Dec 2012 #63

Psst, quiet now. Listen to yourself. MadHound Dec 2012 #68

One party is currently tossing out sufficiently pure members jeff47 Dec 2012 #61

Exactly. Skidmore Dec 2012 #87

See, you don't 'move the party' what you do it let people come over to the party. Bluenorthwest Dec 2012 #89

and they've all been welcomed to the fold of the democratic party.. frylock Dec 2012 #105

Thanks for thinking time ends today and nothing ever changes ever. jeff47 Dec 2012 #112

Better than having them in the Party. They LOST remember? Now they are getting smart, well sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #131

I think it's the other way around... fascisthunter Dec 2012 #49

This country wants honesty. Skidmore Dec 2012 #88

another reference to "reality" frylock Dec 2012 #106

Yes, we live in the real world, don't we? Skidmore Dec 2012 #133

thank gawd i have someone like you to explain reality to me.. frylock Dec 2012 #137

Better to be defeated without them than surrender with them and drug along for a ride TheKentuckian Dec 2012 #52

Those of us who are focused on wining elections are not just... reACTIONary Dec 2012 #58

Yeah, here's the thing about 'pragmatists'. That is a term of art that is spoiled rotten. Bluenorthwest Dec 2012 #90

Faith Based Pragmatists? That's one of the.... reACTIONary Dec 2012 #113

This country is overwhelmingly Progressive on the issues. We don't have to worry about sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #120

Have I ever said anything about Skidmore Dec 2012 #132

I don't disagree with anything you said. I think there is a lot of shouting past each other sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #138

I didn't vote for Obama so i don't care what the DLCers say. Arctic Dave Dec 2012 #37

To many he is a brand and not the President of The United States Puzzledtraveller Dec 2012 #94

no - there are plenty of radical left on DU. what you have done is buy into the right wing rhetoric pasto76 Dec 2012 #42

The Democratic party is a big tent, always has been, MadHound Dec 2012 #44

This Old Mainstream-Center FDR/LBJ Working Class Democrat agrees! bvar22 Dec 2012 #45

You shouldn't put LBJ and FDR in the same sentence. orpupilofnature57 Dec 2012 #86

great society? frylock Dec 2012 #107

the word "pure" is used by those who usually compromise principles.. fascisthunter Dec 2012 #47

No, it's not union_maid Dec 2012 #67

Couple of Things... Liberal1975 Dec 2012 #53

Bravo! Cuts through the bullshit. cheapdate Dec 2012 #55

What The Great Compromisers Le Taz Hot Dec 2012 #59

You know, it's not always the purists' positions that are a problem union_maid Dec 2012 #66

Well who gets to pick what we compromise on? JoeyT Dec 2012 #135

The problem always remains Summer Hathaway Dec 2012 #69

Embrace all? Really? MadHound Dec 2012 #73

Yes, of course Summer Hathaway Dec 2012 #80

Don't forget cuts to SS, Medicare and Medicaid. Those poor, starving Wall Street criminals sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #119

+1 Well said! Proud Liberal Dem Dec 2012 #74

Ms. Hathaway, if yer far to the left of us Democrats, then us Democrats must have become republicans Zorra Dec 2012 #82

Wow! Summer Hathaway Dec 2012 #83

! dionysus Dec 2012 #96

Nance, you're supposed to lay off the italics so we can pretend not to know it's you. LeftyMom Dec 2012 #99

... Summer Hathaway Dec 2012 #103

Right on Madhound! Dyedinthewoolliberal Dec 2012 #71

My purity leftlibdem420 Dec 2012 #79

You are on a seriously awesome roll here, MH! Zorra Dec 2012 #81

k&r nt bananas Dec 2012 #84

As an over 50 White male who has been a Democrat forever I can Resonance_Chamber Dec 2012 #85

Labor reteachinwi Dec 2012 #104

Excellent post! Puzzledtraveller Dec 2012 #91

NY Times: Obama balking at "entitlement" cuts ProSense Dec 2012 #93

Kick woo me with science Dec 2012 #95

That's not what the DLC says. Octafish Dec 2012 #97

K&R raouldukelives Dec 2012 #100

word up! frylock Dec 2012 #108

Liberals have become more marginalized, not more extreme. DirkGently Dec 2012 #111

Yep... And Now We Have A Glimpse Of The Future... WillyT Dec 2012 #121

Morning kick for an outstanding post. CrispyQ Dec 2012 #136