General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: True Democrats don't work to slash Social Security. They don't. Not Ever. [View all]stupidicus
(2,570 posts)well, in terms of what the repubs use to be. http://www.alternet.org/story/154175/why_obama%27s_the_least_socialistic_president_in_modern_history_%28and_that%27s_a_shame%29?akid=8275.20699.QVbCh7&rd=1&t=5
Let's face it -- this has been why, starting with the DLC, that the ideological center line has been moved rightward, and what use to be unquestioned third rails have lost their jolt, because only dems have ever had a political chance at altering them significantly.
To those oblivious to or in denial of the many deleterious effects of the third-way BS and its role in this, I'd simply ask them to explain this http://www.americablog.com/2012/05/obama-2006too-many-of-us-have-been.html because it seems to unquestionably confirm that suspicions regarding his desire to "work with" the rightwingnut extremists on SS and Medicare "reform" are warranted, leaving only the type and magnitude of the tweaks he's willing to negotiate away, not whether he's willing to put his foot on the rail.
In other words, to harbor fears or apprehension about these matters is reasonable, and voicing concerns of them should be promoted and tolerated, and the senseless need to shit down and shut up if all they have are the usual "conspiracy theorist!", "you're the one that's not a real dem!" BS that defines who and what they are -- the functional equivalent of dem Bushbots. http://www.americablog.com/2011/08/barack-obama-best-president-ever.html If he has intentions of negotiating changes that will be unacceptable to the majority of his base, the time to let him know about that unacceptability is before he arrives at the negotiating table, not after he signs something. http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/guy-saperstein-time-negotiate-obama-n
As one who's long thought and predicted that the fear of rightwingnuttery is his biggest trumpcard this fall, the ugly side to it is that it leaves his base ripe for exploitation. In my experiences, even those the most disappointed in him intend to vote for him again because of the alternative, and the idea that the "x" dimensional chess player isn't acutely aware of this is silly. The fact of the matter is imho, is that the charade of being a "uniter" (because surely he was aware of the folly of that from those determined to make him a one term pres, no?) was really just a facade produced by the same good cop/bad cop act we've been subjected to since the DLC rose from the political muck.
congrats -- good post