Progressives turned an amazing chain of victories into a narrative of defeat

[impik]

...I find this amazing in no small measure because Barack Obama has already done far more in his first 18 months than Reagan did at this point in his first term. Conservatives took on Reagan over specific battles, but basically they always trusted him. When push came to shove they always had his back. Today they have made Reagan’s record into a myth of conservative victories and Reagan into a romanticized Wingnutopia Saint (despite what actually happened).

Progressives, OTOH, have worked over time to turn an amazing chain of victories over the last 18 months into a narrative of defeat. It is a bit mind boggling to watch as so many ‘progressives’ embrace the memes, frames and talking points of the Right as they level an endless stream of attacks at the most progressive President in my lifetime. And why? Mostly because President Obama does not follow this or that preferred strategy, timing and/or set of tactics to the imagined screenplay of these armchair generals with keyboards. It is stunning to see process trump results and spin trump reality. Watching so many on the left jump at a chance to downplay the victories and inflate the outrage is like tracking an epidemic of foolishness. Useful critiques about important things are lost in the nonsensical noise about every rumor, every post, every tweet and each twist of every news cycle.

It is odd that some on the left have chosen to embrace the same attack tactics, strategies and rhetoric used by the Right when they confronted a President who is basically the champion of their POV without also embracing the way the Right always got Reagan’s back whenever it really mattered.

Meanwhile, things move on. More and more things are getting done by this White House despite the tantrums. Of course, even more could be done if some of the progressive poutrage practitioners would place action and unity over their egos, but they can’t. So it goes. Good luck with that in November.


http://www.balloon-juice.com/2010/07/25/guess-who-said-...

[xultar]

1. Butter please

[Blue_In_AK]

2. Yep, here we go.

Sounds like a call-out to me, considering how many of the dreaded "progressives" post on this board. In my best Rodney King voice ... "Can't we all just get along?"

[xultar]

33. +1

[Dinger]

61. + Another One (nt)

[IndianaGreen]

15. No salt on mine, please.

[jpak]

3. K and fucking R!!!11

[jobycom]

4. Gee, Chris Crocker is getting more wordy. nt

[Oregone]

20. Invoking his name without a picture? You can do better!

[phleshdef]

5. Its because some progressives treat our ideology as a religion that shou shalt not compromise on.

[MannyGoldstein]

6. You confuse 'passing legislation' with reform

Passing a 2,000+ page bill that does not get at the basic problem is not a victory - at least it's not a victory for working Americans.

Bailing out banker bonuses with $12 Trillion in taxpayer cash while giving working Americans an underfunded stimulus worth 5% of that is not a victory.

A withering attacking on Social Security is not a victory.

Busting teacher's unions as part of a privitization fantasy is not a victory.

Maintaining virtually all Bush-era "anti-terror" policies is not a victory.

[Better Today]

9. Exactly.

[Radical Activist]

34. If Obama were really that bad

you would be able to make your argument by listing things he has actually done. Instead, you list exaggerated portrayals of what someone imagined he did or might do.

The last time I checked, AFT and NEA are still around and doing fine.
Bush era torture guidelines have been repealed.
Social Security is doing just fine.
Obama proposed a bigger stimulus bill more focused on public works projects than what Congress passed. It created jobs in my community and others.

Critics who engage in exaggerated hysterics shouldn't expect to be taken seriously.

[MannyGoldstein]

36. Pick one of my charges, and let's discuss. nt

[Hell Hath No Fury]

42. What you said.

Nothing left to say, really.

[grahamhgreen]

75. BINGO!

[DURHAM D]

7. I must keep reminding myself -

Passing bad legislation is progress. Passing bad legisltion is progress.
Passing bad legislation is progress. Passing bad legisltion is progress.
Passing bad legislation is progress. Passing bad legisltion is progress.
Passing bad legislation is progress. Passing bad legisltion is progress.




oh forget it

[frylock]

8. looks like the bar is being raised from better than bush..

to better than reagan. keep fuckin that chicken!

[Webster Green]

12. By dog, that's progress!

[CakeGrrl]

10. k/r

I'm sure this will be virulently unrec'd because there's some unpleasant truth here. It goes both ways for those who hold tightly to the "right to criticize the President".

If this nation had been ready for someone farther to the left, they would've made more progress in the primaries on principles and message.

If people want to primary the President, they can go find that dream candidate whom they honestly believe can win over enough votes in the GE. But it better not be a miscalculation, because the Republicans can't wait to roll back the gains that have been made. And then some.

[frylock]

35. they would've made more progress in the primaries on principles and message

right. because people like kucinich got equal time with the likes of obama and clinton at the debates.

[CakeGrrl]

37. OK, then to those who want to primary Obama come 2012,

Who would they support with Progressive ideals, the ability to appeal to voters across the spectrum to get the votes they'd need, and someone with either the personal resources (à la Clinton) or the grassroots campaign skills (à la Obama) to break through and defeat the incumbent?

And if they managed to clear that hurdle, then how successful do people think this person would be with a Congress that could very likely have a slimmer Dem majority than before, with many of the same Conservadems in the Senate?

[impik]

11. Look at the fierce unrec attack on the truth

You people are hilarious.

Say Hi to Speaker Boner and president Palin.

[Webster Green]

13. Are you threatening me?

I need TP for my bunghole.

[IndianaGreen]

16. Unrec because of your 'you people' comment

Pathetic and condescending!

[alsame]

18. It's getting to be a very frequent phrase on this board. Along with

using quotes for "liberal", "progressive" and "left".

[Dr.Phool]

21. Give it another month.

They'll all be back in school.

[LostinVA]

46. lol

[CakeGrrl]

22. You mean like the frequent critics who

condescend to anyone who expresses support for some of the adminstration/President's actions with comments such as "you have to understand it's hard for THEM to acknowledge the truth"?

This isn't a single-sided line of attack. This board is very "we/they" oriented these days.

[MissDeeds]

31. Pathetic meme

Happy to add my unrec.

[Ignis]

38. +1

Thanks for pointing that out. "You people" and "they" are quickly becoming the bogeymen of DU.

[Blue_In_AK]

17. If recent DU polls and comments are any indication

"you people" includes at least 50% of the members of this board, probably more. Trying to turn "progressive" into a dirty word isn't going to work.

[mitchtv]

24. Oh, that will get me to vote for a useless Dem

after all why should they earn my vote when the can just tell me I have nowhere else to go?It didn't work in '68 and it won't work now

[LostinVA]

45. "Say Hi to Speaker Boner and president Palin."

I LOVE performance art! Bravo!

[Forkboy]

77. You'll be able to say hi to them as well, won't you?

Are you leaving the country?

[fascisthunter]

14. lol

oh brother.... yes, we'll stop exposing the BS, just don't compare us all to the right wing by claiming we are saying the same shit as they are.

[Oregone]

19. Wow. They sound magically powerful

Maybe the party should work to get them on their side. Never again an election would they lose.

Instead, lets call em "fuckn retards" and ignore their agenda.

[lob1]

23. If you really want to help, stop doing Fox's work for them.

[Hekate]

25. KnR. And duck!

Watch your head for incoming thrown keyboards.

Hekate

[asdjrocky]

26. I'm sorry the fact that we refuse to sit down and shut up-

rains on your parade, but the truth is after all, the truth.

[Phx_Dem]

28. Yep, and the truth is that this president has had more and bigger victories

during this short time than any other in history.

God forbid you actually recognize the truth.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

30. Except when it's not.

And I don't believe it is. So you don't have to sit down and shut up - just don't paint yourself as a progressive because you're anything but.

[SpartanDem]

49. And now you're the arbiter of all things progressive?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

76. Why not? Seems like everyone else here is.

[treestar]

69. Your opinion is not equivalent to "the truth."

[Phx_Dem]

27. They certainly did, or at least tried to. How pathetic is that?!

[zipplewrath]

29. Strawman

A bunch of assertions, without foundation, attempting to smear the fundmental goals of the democratic party. But it's progressives that are "pouting".

[Radical Activist]

32. And it only hurts progressive priorities, like the climate change bill.

Let's imagine this scenario:
Obama's approval numbers are 10% higher.
There's wide public awareness that major progress is happening, despite some compromises.
The left is motivated to work on the 2010 election because everyone understands that conservative Senators in both parties are the main obstacle to progress.
Senators believe Obama's active support is essential to win re-election.

How would that scenario impact things right now? Would it help pass more of the progressive things Obama is trying to do like the cap-and-trade bill? Probably.

And let's not get silly and pretend that means critics have to shut up. It would only take praising the accomplishments as often as we bemoan the compromises. It would only take a sense of perspective that doesn't exaggerate every compromise into an apocalyptic betrayal.

It would only take being a little smarter and more strategic about how we try to push things left. Using the same "bitch and moan all the time no matter what" tactics we used under Bush aren't effective anymore. It wasn't even that effective under Bush.

[ibegurpard]

39. What a fucking crock of shit!

I'm supposed to be CHEERING the brick wall that's been built around pharma and insurance companies, insuring we NEVER get single payer? I'm supposed to CHEER as they gut the most vulnerable public schools in our country and the let the private school vultures swoop in?
Fuck them!

[Davis_X_Machina]

40. You can have your representative...

... enroll a bill establishing single-payer tomorrow.

There's nothing in the present legislation preventing it.

[QC]

41. Mrs. Krabappel and Principal Skinner were in the closet making babies

and I saw one of the babies and the baby looked at me!

[a la izquierda]

64. Sarah-Get me Superintendent Chalmers...

Thank you, Sarah.

[Alenne]

43. "When push came to shove they always had his back."

Why wouldn't Dems ignore progressives when year after year when things don't go exactly as they want they jump ship? Conservatives have been loyal to their party even when they didn't get exactly what they want and they have been rewarded.

Critism is not the problem.

[ibegurpard]

44. that's a complete crock of shit as well

conservatives have always used the threat of third parties and withdrawal of their support as a threat

[Alenne]

52. Republicans can depend on the conservative vote.

[Warren Stupidity]

47. this is just silly. and an insulting shitstorm of invective.

Now we control the narrative? False Noise, Limbaugh, Hannity, the crapfest at CNN et al control the narrative.

How is this crappost not locked?

Happy to unrec.

[EFerrari]

58. You'd think this would qualify as a group attack.

Every time I come into this forum I regret it.

[LostinVA]

48. Oh Daddy, this tastes like Gramdma!

[spoony]

50. More "progressives are the enemy" rhetoric from you.

Is anyone surprised at this point?

[Prism]

51. Loyalists destroy amazing policy opportunities with partisanship

It's almost a different language. Partisan victories can be, quite literally, anything. And if your concern is a partisan "sign any legislation" victory, then the Obama administration must look amazingly successful. I can almost understand the genuine puzzlement when you look around and don't see everyone leaping for joy.

But when your concern is policy victory, with real change of the status quo and real, concrete benefits for working Americans over the powerful and the wealthy, partisan victories are largely empty. They mean almost nothing.

When this President leaves office, and America is still in a sorry state, then what will you do? Blast Republicans for not doing what a Democratic President didn't have the courage and will to do?

You're going to look awfully silly at that point.

Well, more so than now.

[firedupdem]

53. K&R n/t

[niceypoo]

54. Republicans love blind loyalty

Being blindly loyal is what makes republicans, republican. They refer to it as being in, 'lockstep.' Should we all be in lockstep in blind loyalty to Obama? Hell no, nobody should......to even suggest it is absurd.

What about your attack tactics, strategies and rhetoric? Are they magically pristine and pure with glowing halo hovering overhead? Am I missing your purity of intent, or are you just lashing out?

You need to invest in a suit of armor or something to cover that thin skin of yours.

[Sheepshank]

65. Interesting phenomena...this lock step stuff

when it comes to voting and supporting the Rep candidate and RNC policy, they are there together as a unified front. Even when polls show there is less of them, that unity seems to be making a big difference.

Dems seem to be scattered to the wind. Unity is a joke and the constant call that support is stupid becuase it amounts to blind following will certainly do little to help Dems, but a lot to help the Reps.

[niceypoo]

66. Republicans are in lock step because they are brainwashed

Brainwashing in achieved thru pedaling lies and fear. You can count me out of that.

The rank and file of the Democratic party have not changed, it is the politicians who have changed. Democratic politicians have run away from traditional democratic beliefs in favor of republican beliefs in a misguided attempt at impressing republicans who would never vote for them in a million years.

Core convictions dont change with the prevailing winds.

[Sheepshank]

67. I don't think Dems showing a unified front

means they are brainwashed. Even if it is or is not a true reflection of Rep unity.

I think it could mean that DEMS have a common agenda. Right now there is no apparent agenda that they can find in common. Not enough to make a strong unified front and deliver the message to Reps that they will not get back into power. This, at the very least could have been a common agenda...but lately it looks and feels like there are too many that would rather things slide back into the hands of the Reps.

[niceypoo]

72. Largely due to the Democratic politicians frogmarching to the right

...and away from the rank and file. When Democratic politicians start embracing Democratic ideals again and stop trying to impress the right, unity will follow.

[treestar]

70. There needs to be lockstep, to a point

Perhaps not to the extent of "blind loyalty." But attacking your own is not such a great idea. Reality.

[Sheepshank]

73. how come you could say what I was trying to say in one sentence?

Thanks

[Unvanguard]

74. It's not a matter of "blind" loyalty, it's a matter of respecting heuristics.

People who are continually tuned in to the media noise have trouble with this, liberals perhaps especially because our worldview is more amenable to contrariness and appeals to moral principle. But the reality is that if your politics are solidly on the left, then supporting Democrats and Democratic initiatives is nearly always the rational thing to do, and if your politics are solidly on the right, then supporting Republicans and Republican initiatives is nearly always the rational thing to do. Most voters do seem to get this in their gut, and I bet nearly all DUers will end up voting correctly when push comes to shove.

[Ramulux]

55. Dude come on

Your argument is basically how dare the left not accept in lock-step everything Obama proposes. What you aren't even mentioning is the fact that these victories dont really mean anything because they dont do the job they were supposed to do.

We got weak, centrist bills which do not fix the problems they are supposed to address, but we should be happy about them because a democrat pushed them through?

[depakid]

57. +1

"We got weak, centrist bills which do not fix the problems they are supposed to address, but we should be happy about them because a democrat pushed them through?"

[Number23]

56. Happy to kick and rec.

[NoPasaran]

59. Just what the Woodchuck Brigade doesn't want to hear

k & r

[Peacetrain]

60. So much so.. that I wonder if we are even on the same page

[NJmaverick]

62. Excellent post, I agree with the assertion whole heartedly

[Pirate Smile]

63. Well, the Democratic Party is known for its amazing circular firing squads.

I'm sure in a couple decades, Obama will be be seen as a great champion of Progressive causes and held up like FDR but it is going to take some time and perspective because some people really seem incapable of putting his accomplishments in historical perspective at the moment.

[treestar]

68. Very true; it would be nice to have a left as fanatical as the right is

If this were the right, they'd be claiming victory to the skies, declaring the Democrats would never win again, praising Obama to the skies and telling Republicans they are unpatriotic. It's sad, because it shows who really believes in their own cause the most.

[MadHound]

71. An easy thing to do, given that those "victories" in many cases don't help ordinary people

HCR is a gift to the insurance industry, financial reform is watered down to the point of ineffectiveness, and meanwhile the wars continue to roll on, sucking up all the resources in the country and starving everything else.

[niceypoo]

78. Whining about progressives again?

You are suggesting progressives swing to the right? Is that what you have done, frogmarched your ideals to the right? Um, not sure if you have heard this before but the REPUBLICAN party is the right wing party in this country, not the Democrats.

You are accusing progressives of embracing, 'the same attack tactics, strategies and rhetoric used by the Right,' because they have not joined your lurch to the right? Your fucking joking, right? Do you not see the absurdity of your rant?

If you hate liberals and progressives so much perhaps you should rethink your basic political loyalties.