If you are disappointed in Obama you may be falling for the Republican's ploy.

[Kablooie]

Sure a lot of us are disappointed that he hasn't accomplished as much as we had hoped but it was due more to Republican obstructionism than anything else.

And why did the Republicans obstruct everything? ...


So Obama wouldn't accomplish much and everyone would become disappointed in him.


They achieved exactly what they wanted and it's working on Democrats as well as Republicans.
It was a calculated risk that the GOP obstructionism would reflect on Obama as well as Republicans and they were right.

You can proclaim over and over that the Republicans created the problem but ... you still feel a teensy bit dissapointed in Obama, don't you?

The guys that run the GOP machinery aren't as dim as their toadying followers.
They can be devilishly clever when it comes to taking someone down politically.

Obama certainly has not been destroyed, which attests to the strength of his support, but he has been wounded.
That injury will make next years election a more difficult battle than if the GOP had compromised and allowed him a few more partial successes.

So when you indulge in disappointed feelings towards our president, reflect a bit as to why.

You don't want to simply be a pawn that is played by the Republicans.

[BootinUp]

1. Very similar to my thoughts in a post I put up this morning.

You wrote it in a much nicer way though.

[Robb]

2. Expect protestations of even the remotest of possibilities.

No one likes to think they're dumb enough to be fooled.

[Rex]

3. "No one likes to think they're dumb enough to be fooled."

Right on the money.

[SixthSense]

4. "No one likes to think they're dumb enough to be fooled."

couldn't have said it better

[SaintPete]

46. Lol - "No one likes to think they're dumb enough to be fooled."

Exactly what some of Obama's critics have been saying to his diehard supporters

Now explain why he signed NDAA

[Sheepshank]

83. Perhpas reading some previous posts...repetition to the same foolish questions

gets old and apparently isn't sinking in anyway.

Try the thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002119876


Do some more homework...you may be amazed

[SaintPete]

90. I think one of us, right at this moment

is misunderstanding the other

But I'm not sure who

[Sheepshank]

113. response to your stmnt "Now explain why he signed NDAA" n/t

[noiretextatique]

110. i don't think anyone who is paying attention is "fooled" or "duped"

the first vote i ever cast was against ronald reagan. i have been voting against republicons ever since, and i will continue to do so.
obama is not perfect, and i have been disappointed by some of his actions, but i am certainly NOT dumb enough to be "fooled" by the party i have been fighting against my entire life....the party that will never get my vote...EVER. and frankly, i don't think many people are fooled by the GOP. they don't even have a viable candidate that THEIR base will support.

[Robb]

114. "The purpose of the sabotage seemed to be to create within the Democratic Party...."

"...such a strong sense of resentment among the candidates and their followers as to make unity of the party impossible once a nominee was selected."

McGovern and Humphrey backers still despise each other. None of them are dumb enough to be fooled, either. Have a read, October 1973:



I keep this clip around to show people who might not remember, or who choose to forget.

Here's another I'm keeping handy. Pre-election this time. After Humphrey lost the nomination, Nixon's team sent canvassers of registered Democrats -- "whose party labels were conspicuously absent" -- to target former Humphrey supporters, mostly to piss them off.



The 1972 election had the lowest voter turnout in 24 years. The strategy works.

[whatchamacallit]

118. If it works

why doesn't it work on you?

[noiretextatique]

120. that's an excellent question

[noiretextatique]

119. i wasn't aware that obama had a democratic challenger

but perhaps i haven't been paying attention.

[Robb]

127. You said you don't think many people are fooled by the GOP.

I was showing you an example of how people have been fooled in the past. Take from it what you want to.

Myself, I don't think the GOP has improved its ethics in the last 35 years.

[noiretextatique]

145. no...they have not improved. and given the failed presidencies of republicons

and the internet, we have learned quite a bit since the 70's. voter suppression schemes and electronic vote stealing schemes are more of a problem now.

[RainDog]

133. Lucienne Goldberg was a mole in the McGovern campaign - on the freakin' bus

which I didn't find out about until Joe Conason wrote about "the hunting of the president" - about the Republican attempt to go after Clinton.

and, interestingly, there she was again, working with Linda Tripp.

and, interestingly, Ann Coulter was part of a group of lawyers who called themselves "the elves" who participated in a disinformation campaign about Clinton.

Lucienne's son went on to write one the most idiotic books out there that compared democrats to fascists - no doubt seeding the bullshit to take root during the Obama campaign and presidency among the teahadists.

[motely36]

5. seriously?

I couldn't possibly be able to think for myself and be disappointed?

[Poll_Blind]

6. Apparently it's either "You're pleased with Obama's performance" or "You're a Republican dupe."

Fascinating tactic. Not sure the President will be employing that one on the campaign trail...



PB

[TheWraith]

9. When most of the harshest critics are either ex-Republicans or employed by Republicans...

...or rubbing elbows with Grover Norquist in their excitement at the prospect of destroying the only viable liberal candidate for President...

Seems kind of obvious.

[Poll_Blind]

11. But the OP doesn't say his harshest critics, those merely "disappointed" in his performance.

PB

[DisgustipatedinCA]

109. you don't have much facility with logical constructs

You shouldn't practice them in a public forum such as this.

[TheEuclideanOne]

137. Best reply ever

I hope that you don't mind if I use that one. It does a great job of summarizing my thoughts on so many occasions.

[kenfrequed]

123. Hmm...

Or perhaps the most vocal, acidic, angry and vitriolic people that are busily hippie punching and castigating leftists are themselves trying to run us off from President Obama by making it look like his supporters are fanatical, unthinking people incapable of critical thought or of pushing the president to the left.

Seriously, at the end of the day most of us will vote for President Obama again and it won't be because the resident "extreme moderates" have told us how worthless our opinions are, or how foolish we are, or how much we simply MUST be republican trolls.

Honestly if I were a moderate democrat I would probably toss in a little empathy for the left occasionally if only to maybe keep us in the tent. I have rarely seen Republicans so ruthlessly mean to their conservative base the way that the supposed moderates that hang out here are for the hated progressives.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

139. Obama is a liberal?

I can tell you he isn't. And you can believe me because, after all, I'm the Pope.

[pmorlan1]

10. I second that thought

[surfdog]

32. There is a difference

If you were complaining that the reason single-payer didn't happen is because the president is a liberal enough well then you fell for it

[Robb]

8. No, it's quite possible.

The point is that every successful con includes making sure the mark's sense of how smart/kind/handsome they are is pumped up.

[fasttense]

48. Every succesful con also includes shame.

Shame that you fell for that fast talking good looking man. Shame that you actually believed what he said.

Shame at being duped by your own dreams and hopes.

[Sheepshank]

86. shiney beads, shameless flattery

the con at it's finest.

[Sherman A1]

131. Precisely

I am fully capable of thinking for myself and being far less than impressed with the results of my vote in 2008.

I find the premise that I might be falling for some GOP intrigue beyond absurd.

[saras]

7. If the Republican plan was to get me to work for local radicals and progressives, they've succeeded.

But somehow I don't think that Obama's basic pro-corporate stance is entirely a product of some elaborate Republican conspiracy.

Otherwise unrec for the catshit/dogshit fallacy.

[Tiggeroshii]

13. the cfpb is a pro corporate stance?

Among with the financial reform bill? All of which was barely passed after a ton of changes as a result of republian fillibustering? If you look at the original bills, you'll find they were completely different from the outcome. If he vwas entirely pro corporatee, then the cfpb would never have even been thought of. Nor would the healthcare law for that matter. Think what you will but without obama, wed be really fucked.

[liberal N proud]

12. Agree

[MadHound]

14. It isn't what Obama hasn't been able to do that I find abhorent,

It is what he has done.

[DefenseLawyer]

15. You actually think this?

That my opposition to escalating the war and military tribunals and keeping the Guantanamo prison camp and indefinite detention and expanding federal prosecution of medical marijuana and appointing Michele Leonhart, a crazy Bushie drug warrior to head the DEA, are because I'm an idiot that has been tricked by Grover Norquist? Allllllll rightie then!

[hobbit709]

16. If you are not a 150% Rah, Rah, cheerleader, then you are a repuke in disguise.

EXTREME

At least that's the impression i get here from some posts.

[TDale313]

21. It does get rather old,

This attitude that if you have any issues with the President's policies you're giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

[Poll_Blind]

18. It's so much more calming for them to view things like that, though.

I mean, what kind of world would it be- what kind of windswept wasteland of insecurity would the world turn into- if you just couldn't point to someone you disagreed with and screech "Republican duuuuuupe!" like Donald Sutherland in Invasion of the Body Snatchers?

It's sort of a security blanket of sorts and one that, if taken away suddenly, could cause a nervous breakdown, possibly?

I mean think about if the OP really believes that. Think about how many deals with the devil you have to make to delude yourself to that point- and the reach the plateau where you post an OP calmly and reasonably, and not without some implied sensitivity, being so earnestly insulting?

PB

[Vincardog]

129. Don't forget legalizing the criminal acts of aWoL, escalating the war on public schools and

allowing the criminal economic royals to run treasury, and
compromising every democratic issue to obscurity before any negotiations have ever began.
I'm an idiot that has been tricked by Grover Norquist too.

[SwampG8r]

143. insulting in its childishness isnt it?

like its my first trip to the store and they need to hold my hand

[TheKentuckian]

17. Doing too little has gotten on the backburner, doing too much that is unacceptable is

the biggest problem now.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

19. It's not the PACE, it's the DIRECTION.

And has nothing to do with Rethuglicans "obstructing" poor, poor Obama. Of course they obstruct -- they're the OPPOSITION party.

Why is this so difficult for some to grasp?

[newspeak]

75. thank you for that information

It's the direction. I knew that little boots, starting wars giving contracts to his and cheney's buddies, deregulating, allowing predatory lending, while cutting taxes, was taking this country down. I knew, others on this board knew his very policies was causing a financial disaster for this country. And, because of his greedy, damaging policies; that we did need a massive economic plan to get us out of this FUBAR. So, when obama was elected I'd at least expect to have the most notable economists like krugman, galbraith, roubini, stiglitz on board-not summers. I'd never imagine he'd keep little boot's retreads in place or leave little boot's judicial appointments in place; especially those woo woos who graduated from liberty. It was HIS cabinet choices, it was his right to replace those attorneys. It was also his right to "clean house" in the CIA and FBI, just like little boots did. Actually, that's the first place I'd start. Mandatory loyalty oaths, I mean WTF!!!!

I don't listen to repug bullshite. No, they didn't influence me-obama did. Now after saying that-yes, I will vote for our "new" democrat president; especially over the fruit loop repug field. Just don't think I'm doing it enthusiastically. What really irritates me is the corporate lying media continuing the meme of obama is a socialist, obama is a liberal. They keep pushing the shite like there's total opposites in the parties. Well, to me, it seems obama is more reaganesque than adhering to the old democratic platform-FDR he is not! Of course, with the current crop of repugs, reagan, nixon, goldwater are looking more left.

[RC]

20. “None so blind as those that will not see.”

Matthew Henry (1662-1714)

[msongs]

22. obama is a poor helpless victim w/ absolutely no control over anything that happens. yeah right nt

[emilyg]

24. +1

[SammyWinstonJack]

56. No kidding, right? Mind boggling.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

79. + 3

[UnrepentantLiberal]

141. He's a figurehead.

He has no power.

[DonCoquixote]

23. K and R

and half our party falls for this.

[Kablooie]

25. I never said there are no reasons to be disappointed...

or even opposed.

I have some unpleasant qualms about some of his decisions too.

But the GOP was aiming to create dissatisfaction and it seems to me that some of us have fallen for their tactics.

[a simple pattern]

47. Pay no attention to those pesky qualms

Leave them under your pillow and the qualm fairy will come and take them all away and leave you a list of accomplishments

[cherokeeprogressive]

128. Must be an awful big pillow... that's a BIG list!

5021 and counting!

[redqueen]

65. Canada is trending right.

Maybe we'll punish Obama by moving even further right as well.

[highprincipleswork]

26. This is a ridiculous distortion

For me, this is a complete distortion.

I do not blame President Obama for what others do or say. I blame him for what he does or says, or doesn't do or say.

And there is so much more that he could - if he was a true believer or operator.

Recent recess appointments are something to really cheer. Would be nice to see such things continue.

But please, don't act as if the obstructionism has been the problem. Democrats, including Obama, can do much, much, much more by adhering to the principles that are simply and clearly contained in the Democratic platform from 2008 and by dispelling all the lies, fearmongering, and propagandizing of the other side, each and every time its ugly head appears.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

27. Republican obstructionism didn't force him to appoint Geithner.

[mmonk]

28. Yes, we have no points. We're stooges to Republican propaganda.

We have no iintelligence whatsoever nor any valid opinion. Ignore us, tell us to shut up or sit down. We're just ignorant fools if we are disappointed in anything.

[Ichingcarpenter]

34. You need to eat more Monsanto, HFC and Dow products

then you would come around to this way of thinking..

Oh yes I'm under a bus so I can't read or think for myself.

[quinnox]

29. What a condescending OP

Yes, we who think for ourselves and are unhappy with Prez. Obama are mere simpletons who have been brainwashed by the GOP.

I don't know which is more simple-minded, the argument made by the OP or if they really believe it.

[piratefish08]

30. oh poor poor weak-minded, easily influenced me.

they sure put one over one me, those tricky repubs!

[IDemo]

31. Laughable bullshit

Come on guys, I know you can do better than this.

[cyberspirit]

33. Thank you

Kablooie. Posts like yours keep me coming back to DU. Wisdom is hard to find these days.

[NorthCarolina]

41. Perhaps you forgot

to add the icon to your post?

[cyberspirit]

57. Nope

[PA Democrat]

35. This is insulting and devisive,

and simplistic black and white thinking.

Most people realize that there are numerous factors involved in Obama's inability or failure to make good on some of his campaign promises, and it's not ALL Republican obstructionism.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

53. The OP didn't write or in any state that ALL failures were due to Republican obstructionism

nor did the OP write or imply that NO criticism is allowed of the president, and that all disappointment reflect the inability of those to reason.

The OP is guilty of wasting his/her time trying to explain, anyway.

[PA Democrat]

61. It's insulting and devisive

to suggest that people on DU are "pawns" of the GOP if they are disappointed in Obama. Message: don't criticize the president because you are helping the GOP.


The OP is wasting his time because the tone of the OP is condescending.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

70. Condescending OPs are equally bad on the other side. Many of them that

name-call the president are equally divisive and derisive. The authors of these OPs and posts should not act as if they are the victims.

[PA Democrat]

71. My children used to justify their behavior on those grounds.

Then they grew up.

BTW, the OP addressed people who were "disappointed" not the few who will criticize everything Obama does.

Edited to add that I have never authored one of those posts from the other side, so you can hardly say I am unfairly playing the victim.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

93. I'm just saying. Just as you don't want to be pigeonholed into a group that "hates" the president

just because you criticize him, I don't want to be labeled and "Obamabot," or some other prejorative just because I still support his presidency even though I may be disappointed in some of his actions. Again, I see that there is a bigger picture here and will do what I have to do to get more liberals in office.

[PA Democrat]

106. Except the OP was not about people who have used those names

and ***I**** never have.

If you think that the "bigger picture" to get more liberals into office is to insult people expressing dissappointment in Obama,
you are lost.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

122. I'm not lost at all, especially since you don't know me or anything about me.

My goal is to work to get people to the polls for my candidates. That's it. Nothing more or nothing less.

[PA Democrat]

134. And you don't know me.

I've volunteered countless hours for Democrats at the local, state and national level year after year after year.

But that is not the topic of discussion. The topic was that the OP was viewed by many loyal Democrats as insulting. Read the thread. I was not alone in expressing that viewpoint.

Do you really think that insulting other Democrats is going to have any positive impact on the 2012 election?

As I said to the OP, vent away, but don't be surprised if people find your remarks condescending and insulting.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

135. You know what? It's a shame because I think that if we put our differences aside,

we can work together, particularly in PA. (I live in MD, quite a blue and progressive state.)

In the larger scheme of things, we are on the same side. The enemy is the Republican party, not me and not you.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

112. but they're not in this thread, and this thread is what we're talking about

Maybe you'd like to start a new thread, or at the very least provide links for whatever it is you're referring to. The OP here, on this page, the one we're talking about, is condescending to those who deign to think for themselves.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

121. Come on! You know EXACTLY what I'm referring to! I don't have to provide any examples

There are PLENTY here on GD.

I acknowledged that the OP was probably in poor taste as it was worded and targeted to DU members. Now, don't act as if those who tend to be angriest at the president haven't done the same or in some cases WORSE!

Either you want civility or you don't. I'm all for it, but don't play as if this is a one-sided deal.

[Marrah_G]

149. How about both sides of the division stop behaving like jerks?

That would be a whole lot better then "well they do it too!"

To be honest there is alot I would like to say in response to the OP, but I haven't, because responding to insults with insults just keeps widening the divide.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

151. I'm all for it, but I'm not going to run and hide from the truth. We ALL need to stop this shit.

I wholeheartedly agree.

[Kablooie]

72. There are of course valid criticisms of Obama's decisions.

The most recent NDAA being the justifiably hot topic of the moment.

For many who think seriously about the issues, the GOP's manipulations aren't a factor.

But some of the vitriol around here, I feel, comes from a short memory span and I'm simply trying to remind those folk of the insane environment that we have been living in.

It may not apply to you personally but there are many different types of people here and it probably applies to some.

[PA Democrat]

73. Please see my post below.

You need to consider how many interpret your post. I consider it devisive and the type of thing that has detracted from DU. I would guess that most people who have been disappointed in Obama have rational and deeply personal reasons; reasons that are not the result of being duped by the GOP.

[JHB]

36. Are you seriously trying to lecture people who warned that the Republicans would block everything...

Last edited Thu Jan 5, 2012, 11:03 AM - Edit history (1)

...about how they are now "falling for the Republican's (sic) ploy"?

The ones who warned that people who had gotten so much mileage from attacking and obstructing Bill Clinton at every opportunity would do the same to any Democratic president who didn't have a plan to actively counter it? That people with a toe-the-Party-Line voting pattern worthy of the Soviet Politburo would continue to do so? They are the ones who fell for a ploy?


I'm disappointed about the administration for many things, a goodly portion of which are things the Republicans could not have done anything about except call him "socialist" or "secret muslim usurper" or something... you know, the names they called him anyway?

But one of the biggest disappointments is in how it is treating the Republicans' behavior as if it was any sort of surprise. That's just pure blindness.

Before you talk about pawns, take a good look at where you are on the board. And maybe it would be a good idea to step away from the "chess" imagery. It just isn't as charming as it may have seemed a few years ago.

[kenfrequed]

125. And...

What about the ones that warned that Evan Bayh was forming a senate blue dog caucus was doing so specifically to slow or stall out progressive reform?

Every time I brought that up the supposed Presidential defenders suddenly became mute. It was miraculous!

I mean, this would be a legitimate reason why elements of our own party were depriving us of Candidate Obama in favor of what they felt should be President Obama and they said nothing. Personally if I was defending the Presidident's record (and I do from time to time) I would be putting up Evan Bayh's name in flashing neon lights as the guy that screwed up everything the most. Some of the more reasoned defenders would occasionally nod or give the slightest response. While the loudest and most wild and insulting defenders would ignore it and say nothing.

Really makes me wonder some times.

[JoePhilly]

37. The media pushes 2 completely opposite "Obama Bad" memes at all times.

The first is crafted to anger the right wing ... in an attempt to get them to vote AGAINST Obama.

The second is crafted to anger those on the left ... in an attempt to get them to STAY HOME.

The first says Obama is Socialist ... the second says his a corporatist ... totally opposite ... both false.

The first says he's weak on terror ... the second says he started 8 wars ... both false.

The first says he's redistributing wealth from workers to the poor ... the second says he's redistributing wealth from the poor to the rich ... both false.

And so on. On every topic, the media plays both ends of the "Obama bad" message, over and over. From there, it goes into the blogosphere.

We know that the GOP is actively trying to suppress the vote, particularly to keep groups who tend to vote Democratic away from the polls.

And that's the goal of the 2 totally opposite "Obama Bad" memes ... manipulate turnout, get Dems to stay home ... and give a right wing maniac a shot that the White House.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

54. Thanks for re-posting this. It can't be stated enough! +1!!

[JoePhilly]

59. Will do!!

[Puzzledtraveller]

38. He won't be the last Democratic president

Though I sense hysteria from a portion of the base at times that "this is it" after Obama, it's over.

[SwampG8r]

144. i wonder myself where some of the more

starstruck will focus their energies after the inevitable end of term
or maybe since he will be a lame duck and no longer needs us, they will all just go away

[Bluenorthwest]

39. I'm always disappointed in people who indulge in bigotry against a minority group

All who declare their own kind to hold special status, 'Sanctity' and claim that other groups lack this status are a disappointment on a human scale. Those who are so proud of their intolerance and neurosis that they name it 'God' and claim the creator of all things tells them to hold prejudice are a new order of disappointment.
When I see an educated person rally with surrogates who call for war on a minority group, that is really disappointing. When that person defends those surrogates as 'good decent and moral' again, disappointed. When that person turns around and hears another 'minister' call that minority group 'like pedophiles' and then hires that minister to a place of national honor at the Inaugural, I'm disgusted.

He opposes the rights of my community and says our families are not as good as others. Yeah, I'm disappointed. Question is, why aren't you?

[Bluenorthwest]

132. 12 hours and no response from the OP

Says all there is to say. Says it all.

[_ed_]

40. Explain to me how Republican obstructionism

caused the President to claim the power to assassinate our citizens without a trial.

[ThatsMyBarack]

42. After putting up with the Dumbya administration....

I'm happy with http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/

[NorthCarolina]

43. I have to say, this OP is really

bottom of the barrel right here. A completely preposterous assertion. In light of this feeble trial balloon, I would recommend that the administration sycophants here on DU resume the character assassination effort on Liberals such as Glenn Greenwald, Cenk Uygur, and David Swanson, etc, until they can come up with a better course of attack than is represented by this OP.

[Octafish]

44. No, I'm going by Gov. Don Siegelman.

‘Disappointed’ Siegelman: Obama Justice Dept. Virtually The Same As Bush DOJ

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/11/disappointed_siegelman_obama_doj_virtually_the_sam.php

[deutsey]

45. Personally, I was disappointed in Obama even before the election

I still voted for him, though. Although he has done little as President to change my initial disappointment in Candidate Obama, I'll still vote for him in the next election. And I'll also continue to critique him as I see fit.

[Proud Public Servant]

49. This

My disappointment with the president, which is considerable, has nothing to do with what he's accomplished since Jan. 2011; I know how obstructionist the GOP has been. It stems instead from:

1) His failure to make a bolder use of his mandate when he was swept into office and his party controlled both houses of Congress; and

2) His failure, after Jan. 2011, to treat the GOP as an obstructionist opposition rather than as potential partners in bipartisan governance.

Both failures bespeak a kind of timidness that I never saw coming from the candidate I voted for in 2008.

(edited for a spelling error)

[deutsey]

85. Your number 1 was my big post-election disappointment, too n/t

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

55. And NO ONE is stopping you from criticizing him. I wish people would stop insinuating

that somehow, those who support the president do so without ANY criticism of him whatsoever. And that somehow, we want to suppress those who wish to express their disappointment.

I'm sure there are some syncophants out there who refuse to hold Obama or the Democrats accountable for any mistakes they make or wrong/bad decisions. But honestly, I have not come across any of these people in real life.

Even some of the president's staunchest supporters are not 100% happy with each and every decision he has made.

[deutsey]

84. I'm just stating that even though I vote for him, I will continue critiquing him

as I've done anyone I've voted for or against. I wish people would stop getting all touchy here whenever someone expresses disappointment or criticisms about the President.

I've never voted for a presidential candidate who represented my political perspective, btw, mainly because our political process has not produced one yet in my voting lifetime (as with Obama, I was not a big supporter of Candidate Bill Clinton; my first vote was actually AGAINST Reagan because I knew Mondale had no chance of winning).

Politically, I suppose I'd put myself in the Democratic Socialist category, but I still vote Democratic (often holding my nose) because that's the only viable choice our two-party system offers. I know, I know...there are those who say why bother, but I happen to believe in voting, even though more and more I feel it's become a rigged game...rigged either by questionable voting machines or influence by monied interests, or both.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

91. And you SHOULD continue to critique him. I can't speak for the OP--and perhaps he/she

should have been more civil in how the OP was presented--but I believe the point is that some of the president's detractors don't even consider the roadblocks that the Republicans have put up. They tend to blame the president/Democrats FIRST without even considering that his jobs bills were blocked; that perhaps the original legislation may have contained provisions favorable to us liberals, but were revised according to Blue Dog/Republican demands or BLOCKED altogether. That many of us spent days, even weeks, calling Blue Dog Democrats like Mikulski, Baucus, Hagan, and others--begging for a public option, but that the Blue Dogs went out of their way to not even bring Harkin's public option proposal to the floor for a vote. It is very easy to put out a list of demands, expecting every single one of those demands to be met *immediately* and *exactly* as they were put forth; however, not understanding the process of governance, vis-a-vis amendments and parliamentary procedures.

Please: I am NOT at all suggesting that the president/Dems should not be criticized at all. I am asking that people stop to think about the governing process. It is harder than we here on the Internets think. I've worked for state and congressional members for many years, and it is much harder than we can even begin to understand.

[deutsey]

96. That's fair enough.

[redqueen]

67. I doubt yours is the type of disappointment referred to in the OP

It's simple logic really.

Why would republicans care, if you're still going to vote for him?

The targets for their tactics are the ones too pure to vote against them. That is what they want.

[noiretextatique]

102. i agree with you

i'll vote for him...and criticize him. i think that used to be one of our rights and duties as citizens.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

50. Most of us have made this point thousands of times here on DU. You're wasting

your time. The goal posts will just continue to be moved.

Hell, on the day after the Inauguration people started bitching about why Obama hasn't done this or that.

And if you make the argument that it was Republican obstruction that thwarted most progress, they'll make the *FALSE* claim that Obama enjoyed a majority in the Senate.

No matter what you say, there will always be some straw man/red herring raised to counter your arguments.

Why bother?

[newspeak]

82. yeah, well after his presidency

he announced his cabinet. Was that the best he could do considering what a financial mess this country was left by his predecessor? If you say he can't do a thing, especially with his own cabinet; that "the powers that be" are actually controlling our government, then I think it's time for every american to open their eyes and realize they are now officially in a banana republic. That whoever is "allowed" to run, to represent the american people is nothing but a sock puppet to the corporates and the wealthy.

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures-not business as usual.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

92. I didn't agree with the Geithner or Summers appointment, no.

I didn't agree with many things that this president has done. But I'm not going to sit here and act like he hasn't accomplished anything and that the hatred and obstruction on behalf of the Republican party didn't exist. I am not going sit here and act like the Constitution and the powers that it gives to each of the three branches of government doesn't matter. But what I will do is see the bigger picture and understand that if I work hard on the ground for progressive candidates and get them elected to local, state, and congressional level offices (and judgeships), then I would have done my part to give the president a more liberal/progressive environment in which to get things done. That's what I'll do.

[EFerrari]

99. Actually, we started "bitching" before the inaugural when he chose

a bigot and a grifter to give the invocation. And we were right.

[Autumn]

51. When I indulge in disappointed feelings towards our president,

It's because he has disappointed me. You may be a pawn, but I didn't just hatch yesterday.

[Dreamer Tatum]

52. +1 indeed nt

[Hell Hath No Fury]

58. Oh for fucks sake.

How utterly insulting.

Yes, after 12 years on DU and 30+ years of political activism I am now suddenly a pawn of the the GOP because I think Obama has engaged in some very seriously transgressions that I also found questionable under previous administrations. Riiiight.

Good lord, you folks really need to get a grip.

[MjolnirTime]

60. You'd think noone would be too blind to see this.

[fascisthunter]

62. Yeah, Nobody has any REAL reason to be Dissapointed... it's all a right wing conspiracy

Holy fuck... no matter how many times folks tell you all that they have legitimate gripes with this president, we see another version of this demeaning, arrogant, simple-minded goofy shit.

Why not just say we are aiding and abetting the enemy. How pathetic.

[L0oniX]

63. Yes ...hug the pony or your a repuke victim.

[LiberalFighter]

64. How many were disappointed with Bill Clinton?

But still thought he was better than (most) any other Republican?

[newspeak]

87. yeah, thought he was better than

however, he aided toward the slide down ward of the middle class. I voted for clinton, I wanted justice for the iran-contra, bcci debacle. People do not comprehend how much damage the scandal caused the people in this country, how corruption was allowed to stand, and how a group within our government went against us, went against congress and did their black ops anyway. the journalist, danny casolero, was also writing about how the promis software was stolen from a small family business-allegedly stolen by our government (I think meese had something to do with it). I also voted for clinton, because poppy was already touting NAFTA-GATT. That trade agreement has not only harmed our country, but mexico. Welfare deform, telecommunications act, fairness doctrine gone, glass-steagal gone.

One of the biggest heists, the S&L, happened before poppy was elected. The media suppressed the story until after the elections. Our media is already corrupted, already is influenced because it's corporate interest OVER our interest.

We take a heavy, damaging dive under the repug and then the democrat comes in sweeps any corruption under the rug and slows the dive, but still going downward.

[99Forever]

66. Yeah... sure...

... that's it!

I'm almost too freakin' gullible to be allowed to vote!

Shame on dumbass me.

[99Forever]

81. Hey Mr Kablooooie, could you please clarify one thing...

... for my dumb, gullible edification?

At what point did I become duped by those cunning, diabolical Republicans?

Was it when I spoke in favor and voted for Barack Obama at my precinct caucus?

Or at the Organizing Convention as an Obama delegate?

Or at Congressional District Conventions, once again as an Obama delegate?

... or perhaps some time after that?

I'm just curious as to what time precisely, it was that I became stupid and apparently I'm too fugging stupid to even figger it out on my own.

[just1voice]

68. Or you may want universal health care, criminal banks prosecuted, torturers in prison

a real economy, a govt that puts people first, a reversal of Citizens United, a restoration of Glass-Steagall, no more BS "defense" acts or fake wars for profit or about 100 other issues critical to living a decent life in the U.S..

Calling people pawns for repukes when people are dying from lack of health care and/or jobs is cruel.

[PA Democrat]

69. Questions: Do you believe there is a sizable number of people on DU

who are "pawns" of the GOP?

And what constitutes being a pawn? Refusing to vote for Obama in the general election? The mere act of expressing disappointment in the president?

Your OP implies that there is a high enough number of people who fall into your characterization of "falling for the GOP's ploy" to warrant such an OP. Additionally, it appears that the mere act of expressing "disappointment" is what may make you a pawn since you did not mention not voting.

I have expressed disappointment with Obama on a number of issues, but I have never even entertained the thought of not voting for him in November. Does that make me a "pawn"? Do I need to shut up and never express disappointment if I don't want to be labeled a "pawn"?

Those are my thoughts on why I think posts like this are devisive. They come across as an attempt to ridicule or shame people into silence. That may not be the intent of your message, but that is how it is perceived by me, and it appears a number of other posters.

[Kablooie]

74. Ah, I just noticed this post of yours.

I replied to an earlier, shorter post of yours.

I seem to have really hit a nerve with this post, didn't I?

Well, it's still my perception that there are many who pick up the vibes around them and make decisions based on that instead of actually understanding the issues.

I tend to do that myself sometimes but I've been burned a few times when I actually read the issue I was against. Sometimes it didn't say what popular opinion claimed and I reversed my opinion.

I personally am disturbed by the NDAA law and signing statement but, like you, it doesn't invalidate everything Obama has done.

It's not a perfect world.
We have to make do with what we are given and and it's often not what we really want.
But we can keep pushing to change it for the better and create a brighter future.

Or we can just sit back and let the waves of public opinion make decisions for us and drift away into someone else's future.

[PA Democrat]

76. Who is allowing "waves of public opinion make decisions for us"?

Seriously, the people who you need to worry about are not people reading DU.

The people who will swing the election are people who rely on FOX and other right leaning news outlets, or the people who are completely uninformed and vote against the incumbent because they reflexively blame Obama for everything that is wrong with the economy.

[Kablooie]

88. You're right that people on this site are already more prepared than most.

I guess that's why I'm getting such a huge blowback.

Still, on DU sometimes I feel knee jerk reactions from some that seem unsubstantiated.
Opinions can swing wildly to and fro.
Nothing wrong with that, it's the nature of pubic discourse but I just wanted to highlight it.
I'm not trying to be divisive, just trying to see things from different angles.

And heck, where else can I vent this stuff?
Wouldn't go over well on TMZ and I've already been kicked off raptureready.com .
( I was accused of being a troll. Can you imagine that? )
And since this is 2012 it's end of the world, so none of it really matters anyway, hey? : )

[PA Democrat]

95. Vent away, but don't be surprised when many people, like me

feel insulted. Many people who express disappointment are venting as well and most will still vote for Obama, myself included.

[Marrah_G]

150. How would you feel if you were told you were just a pawn of WH propaganda?

That you were incapable of thinking for yourself? How would you react to that?

Alot of us have invested a lot of years and energy into issues we feel strongly about. When someone is going against those ideal should we sit back and applaud or say nothing just because they have a (D) next to their name? Or should we perhaps stay true to our ideals, letting those in power know exactly how angry we are with their behavior?

Whether you meant it to or not, your OP is divisive and insulting to many of us.

I was anti-war, anti-patriot act, pro-equality, anti-corporate, pro-choice before Mr. Obama became the President and I would damn well be a hypocrite if now I suddenly said " oh..those things aren't all that important" just because someone from my former party now sits in the White House.

[Wind Dancer]

77. What an insult to my intelligence!

My opinions of Obama are based on his actions and not some Repub planting nonsense in my head. Most people do not live in a black and white world, void of gray thinking. Geeez!

[whatchamacallit]

78. Yes, my opposition to unnecessary illegal wars, erosion of civil liberties, crony capitalism...

has been planted in my head by crafty republicans. Lol, what a pant load...

[AnotherMcIntosh]

80. Well said. The best!

[Kablooie]

89. Well now, I didn't say YOU. I said some.

And it was brought to me that most of us here on DU are already better informed than most so my post really doesn't apply to folk here as much as people out there in the wide, wide world. (who won't read it.)

So your point is taken.

[Marrah_G]

148. "Some say" Now who sounds like a repuke.......

Your post is divisive and offense and does nothing to promote civility on this site.

[Solly Mack]

103. +1

[Cali_Democrat]

111. +1

[woo me with science]

138. Thank you.

I can't improve on your description.

[gulliver]

153. That's actually beside the point

Your opposition to those things is exactly what is being played. Your political convictions weren't planted. But they are being exploited by the Republicans.

[Maven]

94. What an insulting, condescending post.

For the record, I am not pissed that Obama tried to do things that didn't get done. I am pissed because many of the things he DID have been awful.

[ecstatic]

97. I'm not disappointed. I think he has done an amazing job,

and gets little credit for the accomplishments of his administration.

But I knew this would happen. None of this surprises me.

[ClassWarrior]

98. And if you slam everyone who dares to criticize him as being against him...

...ditto.

NGU.

[EFerrari]

100. Of the two of us, me and Obama, I wasn't the one that fell for Republican b.s. n/t

[whatchamacallit]

107. Oh snap!

+1

[Ganja Ninja]

101. If you're not angry over some of the things Obama and the Democrats have done ...

and the way they have adopted a preemptive capitulation strategy then you might just be a diehard dead-ender that refuses to face up to the hard truth that both parties have bought off.

[noiretextatique]

104. thank god obama has more sense than many of his die-hard supporters

obama told us to hold his feet to the fire, not fawn over him like some dewy-eyed tween meeting her dream idol. is obama a pawn of the the republicans too? no, and neither am i.

[bigwillq]

105. ....

[Cali_Democrat]

108. Well said. n/t

[Rex]

115. Of course, to be fair, if you are disappointed in Obama

you may be a human with critical thinking skills as well.

[SmittynMo]

116. No disappontment here

I too agree with your analogy. Spread the word. OBAMA 2012 *****

[LanternWaste]

117. Therefore, praise of Pres. Obama implies one may be an unwitting dupe of the DNC?

Therefore, praise of Pres. Obama implies one may be an unwitting dupe of the DNC?

[intheflow]

124. This kind of insulting OP makes me long for unrec.

By only showing the people who agree with you, it looks like you views are more representative of DU than those who disagree with you. How this post ever got to the top of the most rec'd page in the first page is nearly beyond my comprehension. I do not "fall for Republican ploys" simply because I think Obama hasn't lived up to his potential. To suggest my criticisms of him equate to being one of the gullible sheeple is insulting and dismissive.

[Number23]

126. Rec'ing and your post is in parallet to another excellent OP by TheWraith

Last edited Fri Jan 6, 2012, 05:48 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002120595

People don't like to see that they are being duped and will refuse to admit it.

* But when you insist that everyone is so disappointed in this president and when poll after poll says the complete opposite and you deny it

* When analyses after analyses put you in a very tiny minority and you continue to clamor that you represent some type of majority

* When your fellow Democrats brave an Iowan winter to hand a significant victory to a person who is running UNOPPOSED and that you accuse of being a "Republican" and reject all attempts to replace him or present him with a primary challenger even though this is something that you have been screaming for for years,

you can either accept that your perspective is not one widely shared or recognize that the group of people (including pundits and bloggers) telling you that you represent some type of majority are lying to you. And I personally don't believe that it is merely Republicans that are doing the playing but also a group of moderately clever folks posing as liberals.

[BumRushDaShow]

130. K&R

[Raine]

136. Whatever...

stay comfortable in your alternate reality, far be it from me as a "repug pawn" to convince a genius like you.

[ErikJ]

140. Obama appointed Wall Street banksters for his financial advisors.

He should have appointed Reisch, Krugman or Steiglitz. He CHOSE Geithner, Summers (and Rubin)?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

142. I think that that's partly true

He might not have had to bend so much to Blue Dogs and Republicans had the Republicans not been so lockstep obstructionist and a few more Republicans had been willing to vote their consciences but there have been a few things that I haven't necessarily agreed with too - though nothing that I would consider a "deal breaker" and I'm not sure that there is anything that Obama could do that would ever be as horrendous as what the Republican Tea Partiers could and would do control WH for 4-8 years (with Congress to boot).
I think that this "strategy" (if you want to call it that) is mostly effective with the low-information voters whom don't fully understand how the federal government (WH & Congress) operate and believe that the President can just get what he/she wants and that if they don't, then they're somehow a failure as a leader. The way George W. Bush was perceived to have governed seems to reinforce this myth though a.)He didn't get absolutely EVERYTHING he wanted and b.)He got most of what he wanted due to Republican control of Congress for six of his eight years as POTUS and those Republican Congresses rubberstamped virtually his entire agenda, including the wasteful and ineffective Medicare Drug Prescription Plan, budget busting tax cuts before and during two simultaneous wars/occupations (one of which was clearly a "war of choice&quot . The Republican Tea Party essentially counts on most people being too ignorant and/or oblivious to realize that even though one party can technically control the Senate (i.e. the Democrats), the other party (i.e. Republicans) can actually gum up the works so badly that the body can't even proceed to a simple up-or-down vote on a bill (let alone ensure its passage) without a supermajority (which is not technically how it's supposed to work but most people aren't even knowledgeable enough to know THAT either).

[Marrah_G]

146. My views on issues are exactly the same as they were pre-Obama

I find your post nasty and offensive to claim others are pawns simply because they are holding Obama to the same standards as they did Bush.

If you do not like being called names I suggest you do not do it to others.

[Enrique]

147. what sort of emotions should we have

I don't want to fall for the GOP tricks, so please tell me what I should feel and not feel.

thanks in advance!

[demtrndindie]

152. I have no desire to be a pawn to anyone

http://www.aclu.org/blog/tag/NDAA


I was just hoping Obama wouldn't be one either. He spoke out against the NDAA, signed it in, then spoke out against it again. Maybe he could repeal that, since the abuse of what that Act could/suspected/maybe produce is not any different than what it is suppose to protect us from.

The repeal of DADT gave the LGBT community the ability to serve openly so they would not be punished for being them, yet, they are still not allowed to be legally married with the same advantages as heterosexual marriages. So they can die openly in combat but to hell with your benefits or estate going to your partner. (of course you have the right to fight for it with a good lawyer) shouldn't have to be so hard though, should it?

Point is, who is the pawn here?

[Fire Walk With Me]

154. Rejecting the NDAA and SOPA etc. plus his doing NOTHING to protect #Occupiers

from nation-wide police brutality and ludicrous arrests has zero to do with helping the republicans.

You are stating a fallacy. Protesting is patriotic, no matter who is president, if they are wrong.