Make Me Do It

[MadHound]

Those were the immortal words that Obama spoke when asked about finding a solution to the Israel/Palestinian conflict. In fact, he was paraphrasing a story concerning FDR when a critic asked him about enacting more civil rights.

Make me do it, that means go out, whip up the support for an issue to the point where you force the president into action.

That's what we're doing on the left, making Obama do it. Making him reconsider his actions on the war, making him reconsider his actions on the economy, education, civil rights, Constitutional rights. We're doing this through criticism and debate, through protest and writing, even through political opposition. Is this a bad thing? No, it is simply how politics in this country works. We're making Obama do it.

Some of the greatest programs in this country came about by making presidents do it. Civil rights wasn't on Kennedy's agenda, yet the people in the civil rights movement made him do it. They didn't do so by being polite, quiet, or blindly supporting Kennedy in hopes of a reward. They got out in the streets and demanded their rights, forcing Kennedy, and then Johnson to take action.

FDR was facing a serious challenge from the left, the Socialist Party, in his upcoming reelection bid. Rather than berating, bullying and demonizing the left, instead, he just stole a couple of the Socialist party programs and made them his own. Good thing, otherwise we wouldn't have either Unemployment Insurance or Social Security today. The left made him do it.

Democracy isn't clean or neat, it is a nasty, down and dirty process. You don't have your needs addressed by being incessant cheerleaders of the president, expecting to get rewarded for your loyalty. All that you get is a big sign stuck on your back that says "Sucker"

Rather, if you want to be heard, you've got to make noise. You've got to protest, write, and make enough of a ruckus that you finally force the president to do whatever you want him to. As the saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

That is what the left is doing now, they are making President Obama do it. They're out to make him stop the wars, to come up with a better economic solution than simply throwing endless money at the problem, they're out to obtain civil rights for all, to promote a saner education policy, to restore our Constitution to its rightful place.

This doesn't, as many loyalists around here are wont to insinuate, make the left into freepers, traitors, and any of other hateful things that are bandied about here with abandon. This means that the left is engaged and involved in our political process for the greater good of the country. If you can't handle that, oh well. That hasn't stopped the left in the past, and it won't stop us now. And years from now, when you're enjoying the fruits of our labor, be it UHC, a country at peace, or whatever, you shouldn't thank the cheerleaders out there, but rather those of us on the left who went out and Made Obama Do It.

[Captain Hilts]

1. It was originally Franklin to Eleanor, but it works here too. We need liberal dissent not idolatry.

[nichomachus]

16. Hush now. Hush now. Look -- another pretty picture. Awwwwww. Cute puppy. Hush now.

[FrenchieCat]

2. The day that I find a positive OP written by you on anything this President has done

Is the day that I will start reading what you have to say without a jaundice eye. Your motives are well known, and none of them point to wishing for this President to succeed.

[MadHound]

3. The day you ever admit that I've written something positive about Obama's actions

Is the day that I fucking faint at the keyboard. Your ceaseless lies that about my "motives" are legion, and the fact that anybody with a star can do a search over the past year simply shows up how foolish, dogmatic and wrong you are.

You claim to know my motives, you claim a lot of things, but frankly when it comes down to the rubber meeting the road, you can't stand for anybody to dare to criticize the President, and if they do in the slightest, that person is on your shit list forever, and you continue to persist in circulating lies and smears against that person for the foreseeable future. That's OK Frenchie, I'm proud to be on that list of yours, because you know what, it means that I'm doing something right, not just being a mindless enforcer.

So go ahead, spread your lies some more, but people who care to find out can, and you will simply continue to make yourself look more and more foolish.

Peace:hi:

going to a go-go, everybody!

[FrenchieCat]

6. You call Barack Obama "the lesser of the two evils" over and over again......

So it ain't those who criticize the President that I have a problem with, it is those who do nothing BUT criticize the President that have no business here....and that is your MO.

[MadHound]

11. And I also praise him when I feel that praise is due

You apparently weren't around this past weekend when I gave him props over the pirate incident. You apparently weren't around last year when I supported him over Hillary, nor were you apparently around when I praised and supported him during the election. Nor were you around any other time when I praised him. Funny how that works out.

Your MO is quite transparent. You come onto a thread dealing with an issue or person you disagree with, and rather than dealing with the merits of that issue, you simply set out to personally insult and demean the poster until the thread is turned into such a flamefest that the original issue is forgotten. Sorry, but I'm not going to play that game with you anymore. If you want to deal with the issue I brought up, fine, but if you're simply going to spam personal attacks all over the thread, I'm going to ignore you. It's your choice.

[dionysus]

8. if you ever posted anthing positive about obama, i'd sure like to see it.

[MadHound]

12. You've got a star, hit the search button n/t

[FrenchieCat]

15. I did.

And I couldn't find your comments on any recognition for Obama in reference to the handling of the pirates. I searched both large forums. Where did you post these sentiments?

I did find multiple posts of your where you listed all that is wrong with him in your opinion.

[cali]

4. well composed, well written opinion, that I largely agree with, but

but I think we really need to work on building support for specific policies as well as directing criticism.

I also know that there are some who are on the left who are rigidly dogmatic and believe that the system has to destroyed- and that includes destroying Obama. And we've certainly seen posts from that perspective here.

[eridani]

5. What about helping to SHAPE those policies?

Support is way too passive for my tastes.

[cali]

7. I think we help shape them by building support for the policies

we believe should be enacted. That's not at all a passive position.

[HamdenRice]

9. Excellent observation

"I also know that there are some who are on the left who are rigidly dogmatic and believe that the system has to destroyed- and that includes destroying Obama."

I'm not sure why anyone is supposed to take people who have this view seriously, nor why given the ground rules (support for a political party), they are allowed to post here, or for that matter, why they would want to post here.

I'm sure there are forums for people who hope for the collapse of civilization. This isn't one of them.

[Adelante]

10. I surely agree nt

[MadHound]

13. I agree with you on that

However I think that the criticism needs to be heard, and sadly it tends to get drowned out around here at times.

I don't think that the system needs to be destroyed, nor does Obama. But I do think that there needs to be some radical reform, and I also think that Obama needs to be made aware that he is really letting down many, many people on the left, in the GLBT community, in the anti-war community and others who went to the mat for him last fall, if for no other reason that purely pragmatic political reasons. He will go down in 2012 if the left abandons him:shrug:

[mkultra]

17. i think hes doing great

and if you dont like him and want to hold back your support and vote, i say dont let the door hit you where the good lord split ya.

We did it without the PUMAs and well do it without you.

[cali]

19. well, goody for you

but the OP has a right to his opinion and his expectations.

[mkultra]

22. never said he didnt

The people who run a democrat only board may disagree be he can take that up with them. I have the same right and i say he and you are full of shit.

[cali]

18. the left supports him overwhelmingly. polls demonstrate that.

Obama needs to to listen, and I think he does that. I also thnk the majority of people on the left are willing to give him more time.

[paulk]

14. even though I don't always agree

with the agenda of the left, I do think you are 100% right - just voting for someone, just getting Democratic control of Congress and the Executive - is not where democracy ends. We all have a right, in fact, an obligation to make our voices heard.

[glitch]

20. Excellent post, K & R.

I don't think he said it for just I/P either, he repeated "make me do it" on a number of progressive issues. It's part of his operating system.

FWIW So far I have not liked most of his actions but I am still hopeful that he will fulfill his promise (not just for our sake but for his, he has it in him to be one of the greats) and be a responsive head of state.

And I think his family and their dog are adorable.

[TBF]

21. This socialist voted for Obama and took him at his word -

Completely agree with your OP, nicely done.

[Lilith Velkor]

23. Fuckin' A.