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Showing Original Post only (View all)Judged now by loyalty to a political leader? No disagreement accepted. [View all]
This is a partial rewrite from last year, last December in fact. It so perfectly describes the situation now.
I see the situation clearly because I was in such a place myself at one time. It was my first real political activism, and I stretched the loyalty past its appropriate time.
I am sure many remember my loyalty to Dean's campaign during the 2004 election. I was mocked for being devoted to a political personality. Many of us were.
Most of us realized eventually that he was moving on, going back to his centrist roots....and we went other directions as well. I still believe that in that year he could have been a power house against Bush.
It's ironic that so many who mocked me back then are even more devoted to a political personality. They judge me now not by my public education advocacy, not by the stances I take, but because I question some of the policies of this administration.
I believe that as the election year of 2012 progresses, there will be added pressure not to speak out on pertinent issues. Our country is in deep trouble, and we in 2008 gave our party a majority to fix it. They had two years in which they could have turned around so many things, but they did not.
And we lost in 2010 to a group of uninformed people who actually stood up and spoke out loudly for their beliefs, confused and wrongheaded though those beliefs might be. That old canard of Bill Clinton, that it is better to be "wrong and strong" than "weak and right" really took hold. And that was a shame. Being "wrong and strong" is dangerous indeed.
It's been almost impossible to get the word out about the privatization of public education. It has been a topic of mine and of many other bloggers, but the big media outlets have not and probably will never tell of it honestly.
It is a topic that is of necessity critical of the president....because it is his policy. Yet it is easy to be considered disloyal and ignored if we speak of it.
There has been an offer to change the way the cost of living is figured for seniors on Social Security, a change that will cover all other programs as well. It is in reality a cut, but it is not being called that. We are supposed to accept it.
It dates back to the 2010 fiscal commission which had a co-chair who said this of Social Security.
Social Security Is 'A Milk Cow With 310 Million Tits'
"I've made some plenty smart cracks about people on Social Security who milk it to the last degree. You know 'em too...We've reached a point now where it's like a milk cow with 310 million tits!"
"Stop yapping your lips and listen good. This commission might be packed with millionaires, but we're looking out for little people who need Social Security."
Yes, that's the man chosen by the president to co-chair the commission to determine our financial future. The other is not that much better.
More from my rewrite:
The changes to the social safety nets for seniors, the sneaky ways to turn public schools over to management companies who get taxpayer money, the denigration of public school teachers....these things that the right wing and conservative Democrats have wanted for ages are finally coming to pass right now.
.."When there is only one basis for judging the character and worth of people, and that basis is devotion to one man....it will drive away those who are sincere and push them aside from the party.
I remember during the lead up to the Iraq invasion. It was a time our country invaded another country based on lies. I remember that the Republicans would not utter a single word against George Bush. Nor would the media. Nor would our leading Democrats. People like Phil Donahue with high ratings were taken off the air for being anti-war openly.
There's a harm in asking people not to express their views, and to ask them to walk in lockstep.
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Judged now by loyalty to a political leader? No disagreement accepted. [View all]
madfloridian
Dec 2012
OP
I want to make it clear....hubby and I worked for, donated to, and voted for Obama
madfloridian
Dec 2012
#1
A person who claims to be a Democrat, runs for office as a Democrat, and then betrays
JDPriestly
Dec 2012
#106
"the exemptions part of the proposal" basically and drastically changes the intent and the
JDPriestly
Dec 2012
#143
you're just debating manners, the message is the same. at some point, manners fail.
HiPointDem
Dec 2012
#87
And another goal very necessary. Fund public schools, stop taking resources from them
madfloridian
Dec 2012
#105
Recommend....thoughtful with a perspective that many of us here for long time can much appreciate!
KoKo
Dec 2012
#167
yeah, hyberbolic/strawman posts like that are probably going to get some pushback
arely staircase
Dec 2012
#69
He turned from a common man into a millionaire on the basis because of his role in government
limpyhobbler
Dec 2012
#76
He has done what it takes to stay in office, where he has been able to pass progressive legislation.
SunSeeker
Dec 2012
#133
The money for Social Security is in the Social Security trust fund. It is there. It will be enough
JDPriestly
Dec 2012
#111
There is money that could be spent on for WPA program. There is plenty of money
sabrina 1
Dec 2012
#112
The deficit is the least of our problems. We need to kick-start the economy. That may increase the
rhett o rick
Dec 2012
#162
So what's the alternative? The Republican plan of austerity? Is that what you recommend?
rhett o rick
Dec 2012
#201
The federal government can do it; after all, it by definition can't go broke
duffyduff
Dec 2012
#147
Yes, and it is on its way to doing that as our elected officials push the same
sabrina 1
Dec 2012
#171
Also, I would NEVER denigrate the president or his policies in a discussion with a Repuke
Doctor_J
Dec 2012
#125
First, re-read the second paragraph. Boehner included it in his proposal, Obama
JoePhilly
Dec 2012
#20
I thought he put it on the table when he created the Debt Commission ... or at least during the LAST
JoePhilly
Dec 2012
#24
The poster's stance is the Presidents are omnipotent (except when that isn't convenient)
TheKentuckian
Dec 2012
#51
Yes, mad is right. PBO DID put SS on the table as I mentioned to you in another thread.
cui bono
Dec 2012
#21
If I let you bid on my special edition Babe ruth rookie card, does that mean I actually want you to
JoePhilly
Dec 2012
#26
I hear you, Madfloridian. I know people who will die because of cuts. Somehow
roguevalley
Dec 2012
#98
corporatizing public schools is an abomination NO DEMOCRAT should support...period nt
msongs
Dec 2012
#5
I remember 1968, 1980 and 2000. Fracture means losing. Whiners wanting too much normally do too
graham4anything
Dec 2012
#9
Whiners like those who support public education? Whiners like the elderly?
madfloridian
Dec 2012
#18
if you don't win, you lose. 2000 whiners voted for Ralph Nader who directly caused the loss
graham4anything
Dec 2012
#34
Nader was behind the biggest voter stay home drive. 2000 had the least amount of voters
graham4anything
Dec 2012
#80
one good thing about Nader-He insured never will a 3rd party be more than a gnat
graham4anything
Dec 2012
#114
given that we are a mixture of everyone from obscenely wealthy to peopl living in
roguevalley
Dec 2012
#52
I would love that, Blue. Hugs, honey. Me- trying to find someone to clear my roof. :D
roguevalley
Dec 2012
#93
We should all realize that nothing gets accomplished if we don't push for it.
Curmudgeoness
Dec 2012
#46
I accidently stepped into that group only to be banned immediately and had a post hidden
rhett o rick
Dec 2012
#99
I am interested in seeing all of these requests for people to walk in lockstep.
grantcart
Dec 2012
#56
Good to see you, too! My sister teaches kindergarden. My two aunts are retired teachers.
Octafish
Dec 2012
#92
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Wondrous Kwanzaa, Happy New Year, Blue_In_AK!
Octafish
Dec 2012
#91
Clinton wasn't endorsing that sentiment, just stating what he saw as an unfortunate reality
bigtree
Dec 2012
#126
LIE: "...we in 2008 gave our party a majority to fix it. They had two years..."
SunSeeker
Dec 2012
#128
Dems under Bush didn't filibuster like the GOP does now--Dems believe in democracy.
SunSeeker
Dec 2012
#136
Does that include contributions from News Corp. employees, as Media Matters points out?
SunSeeker
Dec 2012
#212
It was not a "majority" that allowed him to "fix" or get legislation through, and you know it.
SunSeeker
Dec 2012
#163
Baiting is inserting the "he had 2 years and did nothing" RW meme into your OP.
SunSeeker
Dec 2012
#184
Nope, just the false ones the RW uses, like the "he had 2 years and did nothing" meme.
SunSeeker
Dec 2012
#183
That's the problem. I can't post about education without criticizing Obama...
madfloridian
Dec 2012
#195
I've never seen anyone here disagree with your position that school privatization is a bad idea.
SunSeeker
Dec 2012
#196
I'm really sorry your message for school reform gets nowhere even here
liberal_at_heart
Dec 2012
#169
The poster did not lie. They said majority and majority it was and generational high at that
TheKentuckian
Dec 2012
#206
Yes it was a lie. It was not "a majority to fix it"--that would have required 60 votes.
SunSeeker
Dec 2012
#209
You are the one stating a super majority, not the person you call a liar.
TheKentuckian
Jan 2013
#224
It was not "a majority" that allowed Dems to "fix" things; THAT was the lie.
SunSeeker
Jan 2013
#225
The DNC WAS working to get wins at local levels, but that was stopped at once in 2009.
madfloridian
Dec 2012
#161
If you think the President or any other Democrat is above criticism by Democrats
rhett o rick
Dec 2012
#164
Membership in a political party doesn't denote fealty or obedience to the party or its leaders.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Dec 2012
#153
Unfortunately,our educational system has been based on profits for a long time.Kochs donate & dictat
judesedit
Dec 2012
#154
116 recs! That's like one rec for every straw man and false victimization claim.
great white snark
Dec 2012
#223
How did those 3rd party ites who have reappeared voting for Nader in 2000 do for you in Florida?
graham4anything
Jan 2013
#227