DU has fantasized for years that someone in the Kerry/Edwards/Obama campaigns & WH actually reads

[Hekate]

... the pearls of considered wisdom posted here.

This belief has led to a rather inflated sense of self-importance.

So now it appears that someone somewhere near the White House actually HAS read the ranting at DU.

How did you EXPECT it to make them feel? All warm and fuzzy and ready to do anything you want? Or like they're being kicked and cursed at no matter what they do?

Hekate

[Luminous Animal]

1. What makes you think that Gibbs idiocy was a response to DU?

There are plenty of more powerful liberals that have been critical... the ACLU, Olbermann, Krugman, the Congressional Progresive Caucus, the UAW, teachers unions, etc., etc., etc..

[Hekate]

11. Heavens to Betsy. I've lost count of the number of posts here claiming they had personally been...

... thrown under the bus by Mr. Gibbs today. People at DU evidently took this whole episode VERY personally.

Hekate

[Luminous Animal]

12. Given that Gibbs employed the Fox News gambit of obliquely referring to "some people",

he wielded a broad brush. It is no surprise that "some people" got hit with it.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

13. Robert Gibbs actually emailed me

we are old friends and told me that his tirade included me and all the other Firebaggers at DU. He said you guys though, were fucking awesome and keep up the good work. Thought you would like to know.

[Hannah Bell]

24. he emailed me the same thing.

[leftstreet]

2. UnRec for putting DUers down n/t

[McCamy Taylor]

40. Rec. for putting DUers down.

[Bluebear]

41. Alerted for extreme insult of all DUers.

[canetoad]

47. Rubbish

I think it's rather complimentary.

[lillypaddle]

48. LOL

me, too.

[WinkyDink]

53. Bwah!

[LaurenG]

81. Unrec - your turn.

Not really.

[cliffordu]

3. Prefect. Too bad the unreccers are out in force.

the hubris here is only exceeded by the self pity.......

[Individualist]

4. Scolding thread. Unrec.

[Whisp]

5. so true. K&R

I sure the hell hope they don't read here. I'd be so ashamed.

There was a time I used to recommend people to read here, now... I send them to Free Republic, they are kinder to the admin there.

[EFerrari]

6. Is your dog unavailable for kicking?

[Hekate]

16. I didn't kick my dog because I was too busy scolding and putting down DU, where I've been 8 years.

Like I don't really care what becomes of this place, right?

So don't worry about little Fifi.

Hekate

[EFerrari]

68. If Gibbs has to embarrass himself and the party in public

because he reads DU, he's in the wrong business.

[jobycom]

7. People come here because they want to be heard.

Of course it would be better if we were heard and listened to by the powers that be. If not, at least we got the chance to try.

Why are you here? Just to insult people attempting to make their world better in the only way they really know how? Or do you have some cheesy, idealistic purpose like the rest of us?

[saracat]

8. Actually Elizabeth Edwards and Matt heinz "DID" read DU but

my guess is no one of any real importance reads it anymore.

[JI7]

17. but they did it more as helping family rather than some media pundit

or party strategist type

[saracat]

30. We have had some stategists too. I spoke to some during the Kerry campaign.

Mike McCurry used to sometimes read DU.

[karynnj]

66. Is that Chris Heinz? nt

[saracat]

74. My bad. Yes. Chris Heinz. We have a Matt Heinz in AZ who is a Leg member(dem)

and I was reading something he wrote on FB when I wrote that!I guess I can't multi task anymore!

[karynnj]

75. Hum, wonder if he's related

[saracat]

76. Well he looks like a heinz. I wondered the same thing. He is from Tuscon.

I may see him this weekend at the State Convention. I think I will ask! LOL!

[Kalyke]

78. So did the Clarks. Wes Clark Jr. was a poster here, as well.

[LoZoccolo]

9. I see no one has answered the question yet.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

10. #1 answers appropriately, i.e. premise is false.

[Desertrose]

14. I would expect.....

...and hope that they have a lot better things to do than read DU. Seriously.


And if they do, I doubt they are all boohoo over what they read here...most likely they just sorta laugh at us....ummm, like we matter anyway (to them at least).Seems pretty clear we don't.

[JI7]

15. Paul Begala does

[Turborama]

22. Really? Has he openly said that? n/t

[JI7]

29. i don't know. i just guessed he would if someone did

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Actually INTERNS are at times tasked to reading

political blogs to track trends. No, not specific posts, trends.

They read DU, Koss, FDB and yes, FR and CU.

And what is more, some political scientists DO read blogs as well and a few of them have the ears of Political planners for BOTH parties.

Now that is not fantasy, that is reality. Now to say that any kind of policy will emerge from posts here on the old DU, or KOSS, or FR... now that would be insane.

But enjoy thinking that this don't happen.

Oh and a few times we have had pretty important people in the food chain, or mostly Significant Others, with ears, not only reading them, but POSTING at them.

[Hekate]

32. Please see my post #31. Yes, I agree that people are reading DU.

[Vickers]

19. I sincerely hope you don't believe the stuff you wrote. n/t

[Bluebear]

34. Oh, she does. nt

[Cha]

20. The Obama White House

covers the net that's for sure just like they monitor the rw corporate tv..They see what the professionals are spitting out.

Good for Gibbs..telling it exactly how it is and making them whine even louder.

[Change has come]

27. what must the monitors think...

When they see people like you trying so hard to alienate "likely voters"?

[laughingliberal]

38. I think alienating likely voters is the goal. nt

[WinkyDink]

56. "Professionals", meaning WHAT? That some people on the Left actually, you know, publish their

thoughts is now a put-down, a condemnation? Sounds like "They Call Me Mr. Gibbs" wouldn't mind some old-fashioned censorship.

[depakid]

21. Whether they do or not- the Kuchinich line was vintage right of center DU

Seen it on dozens and dozens of threads- some attacking advocacy, some apologizing for poor policy choices and outcomes.

[Turborama]

23. DU is actually quite hard to miss these days. I often find DU posts near the top of Google results

When looking for fairly random non-political things, as well as political/news/current event searches.

[Hekate]

31. That is pretty much what I said, isn't it? Someone is reading DU.

And DU is not pleasant. In fact, half the time these days DU is downright toxic.

Back in the day I used to get a lot of thoughtful reading out of DU, and I learned quite a bit. Sure we all bitched about BushCheneyInc -- but that was to be expected. The point is, there were well-researched posts here that transcended garbage like Obama=Bush.

It was here at DU that I learned about Depleted Uranium, electronic surveillance, electronic voting machines, and the Christian Reconstructionists/Dominionists. I was inspired to do my own research, and I have shared the results of that research with many people since then.

At this point, I can't remember the last time I actually LEARNED something new at Democratic Underground.

We elected a Democratic president. We should be happy about that outcome. We should be thinking of ways to help him get his agenda through Congress. We should be thinking of ways to get more Dems elected.

Disagreements are fine. But constantly treating Obama, his administration, and the Dems in Congress as if THEY are the ENEMY is counterproductive in the extreme. Accusing those of us who don't want to treat fellow Dems as The Enemy (whether in Congress or the WH) of locksteppery and cultism is counterproductive.

Anyone looking in from outside DU's sandbox and reading the flamefests here has got to be dismayed, if not outright appalled.

Unless, of course, they want to see Obama and the Dems fail.

Hekate



edit typo

[Bluebear]

36. "Unless, of course, they want to see Obama and the Dems fail." - FAIL. nt

[JNelson6563]

50. The OP author prolly appreciates all your kicks

Not to mention taking the time to put your cross down to do it. Good lookin'; out.

Julie

[Bluebear]

69. Good, here's another one. I'm not one who wants to hide people's thoughts, even if I don't agree.

What "Good lookin'; out." means, who knows.

[JNelson6563]

70. It's a real world expression

Example: Last call at the bar, your friend is in the bathroom and doesn't hear last call. You get yourself and friend a drink. They return you tell them you got them a drink after the last call was announced cause they weren't there to do it. They say "Good lookin' out".

I should think it's an expression you and your tag team buddies would use frequently.

Julie

[Bluebear]

72. I don't go out to bars & I don't have 'tag team buddies'.

Nor any interest, after years of reading your snide miserable comments of seeing any more of them. /ignore

[JNelson6563]

86. More time for cross dragging.

Good for you for your prioritizing skills!

Julie

[Turborama]

37. I get your point but I think it all depends on something more specific

There are a huge amount of forums on DU and not all of them are like that.

I'm not going to call out any particular forums but there are forums one can go to where the discussions are a lot more civilized and instructive than you describe...

[Hydra]

39. If there's anything we've learned today

It's that the WH doesn't want our input and is quite happy with the fact that they "can't pass bills (that are progressive)"

If you have suggestions on how to change that, feel free. Otherwise I'll continue to post thoughtfully on how all of this isn't helping us and really should have been...

And since a lot of people ignored us when we said it that first time, the answer of "where were you earlier" is not a correct one.

[nadinbrzezinski]

73. I did learn something last week

ok really obscure document in the history of the Scots, but hey, that is me.

And I learn new things every day. Yes, there is a lot of bitching going on... (why do you think Gibbs walked back that statement of his? It is called trends. If the natives at not just DU but all other blogs are pissed, we did put foot in mouth... see reference to interns). But there are well researched articles still on here and Koss and the rest. What you are seeing is the joy of actually not being the party in opposition.

Oh and another reality you are seeing is a systemic weakness to both parties. We don't have central control of any party in the US. Hell, not even the Communist Party has a strong Central Committee.

And those interns I referred to... that's their job, to track trends.

Oh and for the record I actually had a series of exchanges with the staff of my congress critter over a post I did here. They know me, I pester them regularly. I was shocked to see a post lead to some back and forth... I guess the intern sent it up the food chain.

[laughingliberal]

25. Ah, the crux of the problem. The citizens aren't charged with making the WH 'feel' good.

It's supposed to work quite the other way-the WH is supposed to worry how the voters feel.

[Luminous Animal]

28. +1

[TheKentuckian]

26. Who gives a rat's ass how they feel? They cash the checks and reap the many rewards

They aren't giving me many warm fuzzies either. I'm glad I'm not the only one upset.

[Number23]

33. "This belief has led to a rather inflated sense of self-importance."

An "inflated sense of self importance" is really only about half of the problem.

Kicked and rec'd

[Change has come]

42. Good luck on the social skills.

[Bluebear]

35. 'How did you EXPECT it to make them feel?' - Constituents are responsible for pols "feelings" now?

Wow.

[Hekate]

44. Allow me to rephrase that as: "How did you expect them to respond to what they read?"

Better?

Given the heated -- nay, anguished -- emotional displays today, I thought that a "feeling" statement would not be inappropriate. However, if it strikes you as not achieving the right tone, perhaps "respond" would be more apropos.

Always doing my best to communicate,
I remain,
faithfully yours,

Hekate

[Bluebear]

45. I highly doubt they read anything here. They demonstrate by their disdain that there is no interest.

Also.

The "emotional displays" are quite natural after being accused of being in need of drug-testing.

[WinkyDink]

54. How about: "How did THEY expect US to respond to the various broken pledges?"

DU'ers do not post in a vacuum.
For me, personally, Arne Duncan is enough.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

59. How you should respond....

Take the 120 campaign promises that Obama has kept (according to Politifact) and weigh them against the 20 campaign promises that Obama has broken (according to Politifact) and then say, "Gosh, in the past 18 months, Obama has kept SIX TIMES AS MANY PROMISES AS HE HAS BROKEN."

[WinkyDink]

61. Are they of similar import? Health-care? Iraq? As for how I "should" do anything: Is that you, Dad?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

62. So in other words....

You're not prepared to take a broad view of the Obama Administration, not willing to concede that no President can compel Congress to rubber-stamp his agenda, and you have no idea who your father is.

Got it.

[SoCalDem]

43. Something I wrote once was on an "official" campaign blog..can't remember whose

I never read their sites, but a DUer PMed me & told me about it....but then a carpet cleaning company in Florida used a poem I wrote on their website & the Wu-Tang Clan used something I wrote too, so I'm not getting all big-headed about it

[Greyhound]

46. You think the well-deserved criticism of this administration is limited to DU and the www?

They're watching the wheels fall off and everything they've done since day one makes it worse for us while they've gone to extreme lengths to preserve the rich. Did they, and do you, think people wouldn't notice? Do you really believe that people will believe some spin over their own experience?


& U

[JNelson6563]

49. I marvel at the vanity that allows anyone to think that.

My gawd look around, this place is like a cafeteria at a jr. high. The squabbling, name calling, insults, cliques and bullshit here is amazing! One has to wade through all manner of shit to get to anything worth reading here anymore (excluding LBN of course).

Perhaps if there were more who actually had anything to do with real life politics and how it all works DU might be a different place but alas, keyboard commandos rule here (especially those who have a superb mastery of bullying and/or cross dragging).

Julie

[deutsey]

51. What was it Truman said about not being able to stand the heat?

Get the fuck out of the kitchen. That's a paraphrase, of course.

Jeesh...I can't imagine Gibbs sitting at a computer with tears welling in his eyes from reading DU posts. If someone in the WH *is* reading posts here and has had their feathers ruffled from it, we're in bigger trouble than I imagined.

[rucky]

52. Yes, it's true. Humiliation is not persuasion.

But you've gotta see the irony, here.

[WinkyDink]

55. Oooh, the most powerful man in the world feels "kicked and cursed at"! It's so sad, really.

I'll round up some fired teachers and hold a bake sale to give more to the Pentagon.

[SammyWinstonJack]

82. heheh

[NJmaverick]

57. I wonder how many DUers if they got to the White House and met with the President

would want to show them this website that they post on

[Forkboy]

88. I'd fucking love to.

[myrna minx]

58. So, the leader of the free world is upset because of DU?

I'd hope he have a thicker skin than that - I'd also be surprised if anyone even know we exist. So, what have they publicly said about the teabaggers? You know, the people who call Him a Marxist, Commie, nazi etc? Have they called out the professional right? Fox news? Please link to their outrage toward them please. Thanks!

[sufrommich]

60. I don't think DU is considered a serious threat to anyone.

I imagine Gibbs was talking about MSNBC,Huffington Post, Kos ,etc. I don't think I ever see DU mentioned as a internet power house outside of DU posters who like to imagine themselves the all powerful "base", whatever that means.

[JackDragna]

63. I don't care how it makes them feel.

I'm tired of being chastised here for pointing out the administration continues some of the more draconian policies of the previous administration, is in bed with Wall Street and continually takes potshots at progressives. If the Emperor doesn't want to wear any clothes, fine, but don't blame me when I point out he's naked.

[Bill McBlueState]

64. DU is a bunch of computer programs.

Those don't fantasize.

I suppose your claim is true about some members of DU.

[TBF]

65. I guess he didn't like my "Demands of the Left" -

and he's right - I want the damned Pentagon downsized considerably.

[Sea Witch]

67. Not sure what your point is

I doubt anyone of real importance reads this but so what? Who care? Does it mean we people should not post their opinions? Is hurting someone's feelings in the most powerful building in the country filled with rich and powerful people really a reason not to talk about issues you think are important?

I guess I am just asking you to clarify since your post didn't make much sense to me. Maybe it's because I am a forum newbie and am missing some inside information.

[unapatriciated]

71. Who gives a crap how they feel...

they should do their job. The one's who are exhibiting self-importance are those who constantly tell us to stfu. If we are not important why bother?

[Individualist]

77. Unrec for spamming.

[librechik]

79. dang--have to simultaneoulsy study lip stitching and ass kissing, I guess

I never knew there were rules like that on DU. Thought it was an open opinion forum, silly me.

Jeez, IMO anyone in politics who isn't prepared to take some stiff criticism without whining ought to get out of the industry.

[asdjrocky]

80. Poor babies at the Whitehouse.

Did we hurt their feelings?

[OmahaBlueDog]

83. I don't delude myself for a moment that the WH reads this, but you shouldn't think...

...that the membership of DU doesn't contain a fair number of grassroots footsoldiers -- the people who volunteer to work in campaigns, ring doorbells, make the phone calls, and drive the vans to the polls on election day. Everyone who does this kind of work does it for their own reasons and agendas, and they get upset of the candidate they worked hard to support doesn't support them back.

I think Barack Obama was left with the worst mess since FDR took office. FDR didn't fix the depression overnight, and Obama won't fix this economy overnight. I'll be the first to agree that some (not all) of the screaming is born of unrealistic expectations.

But if you go to a restaurant, and complain about the food, good business practices suggest you don't tell the patron "screw it - get out and don't come back." If you go shopping, and a store has let you down in some way, the manager is not likely to say "we really don't want you shopping here." Gibbs' comments failed Basic Politics 101 at exactly that level. It's one thing if a Congressman makes that gaffe, or even Joe Biden (who's made some ill chosen comments from time to time. But the Press Secretary!!?? For the love of Mike, if anyone is supposed to know better, it's him.

[OmahaBlueDog]

84. Dupe

Dupe

[snooper2]

85. I know the Pentagon keeps up on the dungeon

They keep eyes on the truthers as they are "this" close to putting all the pieces together...just a couple more years away

[Catherina]

87. You think the White House reads DU?

What an amazing sense of self-importance!

[Forkboy]

89. This kind of argument is an embarrassment.

For you, for Obama, and for the shape it indicates this country is in.

[QC]

90. Stop it! You're going to make the president cry again!

Damn you!

[Bluebear]

91. They're being kicked and cursed at no matter what they do!