Robert Gibbs appreciation thread: I support Robert Gibbs!

[wndycty]

Robert Gibbs, thanks for serving this president, thanks for serving this country and thanks for the reality check!

[JamesA1102]

1. K&R nt

[Xipe Totec]

2. Meh

There have been better press secretaries.

[firedupdem]

3. rec'd! n/t

[RandomThoughts]

4. I like the guy to.

[azmouse]

5. K&R

[Whisp]

6. Flack Jacket Bobbie, I love ya! K&R

[democrat2thecore]

7. The 1st Press Secretary, probably in history, to attack the BASE of the president's party

Some things are better left unsaid when you're the spokesman for the president that the left worked TIRELESSLY to elect.
Is that really so hard to understand? This administration is in no position to be condemning, in harsh language, the very people who worked the hardest for his boss! The silence from President Obama almost hurts worse.

[SeattleGirl]

10. Hmmmm, I don't think the "base" is comprised of Professional

Leftists, so the "base" is not who his remarks were aimed at.

[democrat2thecore]

18. Honestly - I've worked in news and politics for over 30 years and I've never heard the term

I think, "Professional Leftist" is a clever term coined by someone in this administration to make President Obama look more centrist to the American people at large. So, "Professional Leftist" is a pretty big net - or it wouldn't "concern" him so much.

By the way, in case you know....what is a Professional Leftist?

[RBInMaine]

63. Nice way to say "fringers and ideological purists who don't understand real governing."

[democrat2thecore]

100. self-delete ---- posted in wrong place.

---

[CTLawGuy]

109. a "professional leftist" is a liberal media personality

he was talking about media people printing and broadcasting what he considered unfair criticisms of the president from the left.

There is a lot of attacking Gibbs for what he did not say; and he specifically distinguished average normal liberals from the "professional class".

[democrat2thecore]

187. If that's it, then I'm sure he has no problems with Professional Centrists?

The point being, the so-called, "Professional Leftists" obviously represent a constituency or they wouldn't be on the air, in print and selling books. Every bit as much as Glenn Beck and Rush have a constituency on the right. Attack Rush and we attack *his ideas*. Gibbs' attacks Maddow/Krugman/Olbermann and he attacks *their ideas.* And they go far beyond some new-age kind of "loony-left"!! Many of us share their ideas. That includes ME.....Gibbs' attacked me and every other progressive thinking Democrat that Krugman and Maddow works (as professionals) to represent.

[CTLawGuy]

189. oh they repressent a constituency alright

the corporate interests who put them on TV and in the papers to make them money.

[democrat2thecore]

190. That's complete BS.....I take that personally.

Are they not to be paid? Are you suggesting the positions they take are without merit and only for ratings/circulation, etc? Come on! That's a canard and you know it.

[CTLawGuy]

192. ooh!

You think the media is not a profit maximizing corporate institution?

Who owns MSNBC and pays Keith Olbermann's salary, for example? corporations, i.e., NBC and GE.

You think they do that because they want to get the TRUTH out?

Nope, they do it to make money, same as any other business.

They make that money by spreading a liberal message, for sure, but if it wasn't profitable, they wouldn't do it.

They saw how Fox was successful pandering to a RW audience and thought they could profit from the same model, pandering to a LW audience.

[Schema Thing]

12. He didn't attack the base, he attacked the whackos

the left's equivalent of Tea Baggers.

[EFerrari]

16. Yes, another Obama administration milestone. n/t

[firedupdem]

19. Didn't attack the base...stop spinning n/t

[democrat2thecore]

25. See post 18 -nt

[bvar22]

174. YES!

He only attacked those who want Universal Health Care, and those who would like to cut Military Spending instead of Social Programs.
You know..."Fringe Wackos".

[RBInMaine]

26. Not the "base." Not at all. He praised the base. He was talking about the fringe. Period.

[Pirate Smile]

57. He might think he is DEFENDING his boss who he thinks is wrongly being attacked.

[RBInMaine]

75. Damn straight ! And MANY of us who work hard for Dems are just as frustrated as Gibbs.

[treestar]

66. Simply not true

No one who worked tirelessly to elect anyone gives up on them so quickly. The people Gibbs was talking about never voted for Obama. They'd still support him if they had worked so tirelessly for him. Anyone can claim anything on the internets.

[CakeGrrl]

76. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. n/t

[flamingdem]

8. k n r

wow. It says +1 even!

[Phlem]

21. Quadruple Wow!

now it's +4!

Seriously?!?

-p

[bluestateguy]

9. I will thank him for his past service, but it is time for him to step aside

Presidential press secretaries only have a shelf life of 1-2 years anyway.

[Political Tiger]

11. I support Robert Gibbs too! n/t

[quiller4]

156. So do I. I've gotten so tired of hearing change isn't coming fast enough

I stunned by how much this administration has accomplished in such a short time and against such strenuous opposition.

[KingFlorez]

13. K&R

[Cha]

14. I'm with Gibbs!

<snip>

"At times I've found White House press secretary Robert Gibbs to be unnecessarily irascible, and maybe his lashing out at the constant grumbling of the "professional left" wasn't the best tactic. You want the base worked up -- but for you, not about you.

Nonetheless, his basic point was spot on: The complainers from the left are, in some combination, myopic, forgetful and deranged.

Gibbs is far from the only White House official with these frustrations, but he's the first to share them on the record and, therefore, the first to walk them back. He issued a statement longer than the original offending words acknowledging that he may have spoken "inartfully" -- which is Washington-speak for honestly -- and confessing to watching "too much cable."

That last part may be true. As to the rest of it -- Gibbs was right the first time.


"I hear these people saying he's like George Bush. Those people ought to be drug tested," Gibbs told The Hill's Sam Youngman, in an interview published Tuesday. "I mean, it's crazy."

This "professional left," he added, "will be satisfied when we have Canadian health care and we've eliminated the Pentagon. That's not reality."

Indeed, for all the derision from the left about the Bush administration not being "reality-based," many lefty bloggers and talking heads have failed to be reality-based in assessing the Obama administration.

Health-care reform, in this glass-half-empty world, is a disappointment because it lacks a public option. The president's failure to close Guantanamo or end the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy is a betrayal. If only President Obama was willing to bang heads, name names, stand tough, he would have been able to get -- fill in the blank -- a bigger stimulus, tougher financial reform, new legislation to help unions organize.

Excuse me, but can these people not count to 60? Have they somehow failed to notice that Mitch McConnell and John Boehner have not exactly been playing nice? That while the left laments Obama's minor deviations from party orthodoxy, the right has been portraying him, with some success, as an out-of-control socialist?

<more>
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/08/r...

[RBInMaine]

28. Absolute spot-on analysis. Thanks.

[Number23]

106. Damn good article, Cha

"What surprises me, though -- and, no doubt, what set off Gibbs -- is the venom of the liberal critics, even in the face of the sustained attack on Obama from the right and a legislative record longer and more impressive than I would have guessed back then."

And it's a damn shame, too.

[DeSwiss]

15. K & UnR

And now we'll continue with this week's topic: How to get rid of pests.

[KansasVoter]

17. LOL....you left off the sarcasm tag!

[w4rma]

20. Thanks for the dirty tricks and insults, Mr. Gibbs! Please may I have another, sir! (nt)

[flamingdem]

23. Gibbs is worse than SHARON ANGLE

NOW LEAVE ME ALONE IT'S TIME TO WATCH HAPPY PONY!

[flamingdem]

29. GIBBS is worse than BOEHNER!

And he is white like a potatoe and Boehner is so healthy looking!

[RBInMaine]

32. You're only proving his point. He said people who think Obama is like Bush are outside reality, &

they are. Or do you disagree? Do you think he's like Bush?

[flamingdem]

33. No I was just being sarcastic, but thanks for checking you can't be too sure these days! nt

[RBInMaine]

42. Thought you might have been. Thing is, sadly, some actually think that, and worse.

[Scurrilous]

22. K & R

[RBInMaine]

24. He should have said "The Incessant Glass-Half-Empty Fringe," because THAT is what he was talking

about, NOT the large majority of Dems who support this administration, want it to succeed, appreciate the HUGE successes and accomplishments, and would like to see ALL Dems/progressives to actually spend the majority of their time attacking the horrid RePUKEs instead of bashing Obama and Dems for not being "progressive" enough.

ALL progressives' hearts are in the right place objectively (i.e. want what is best for working families, etc.), but the far-left fringe and some of these former RePUKE talking heads like Cenk, Arianna, and Big Ed need to re-take their political science 101 classes, get back in touch with the plain realities of what it takes within a political system to actually get some legislation passed, count their MANY blessings, and maybe, just maybe, consider spending more time attacking RePUKES who are the real problem.

I have my occasional criticisms of Obama and Dems too, and I voice them. But for Christ sake, with some it is just complain, complain, complain about them and very little else. And they do it on sites like this which are supposed to be about SUPPORTING Dems. Does it EVER end? Will it? Why is there not more complaining about the Republicans from these people?

So here is the challenge for anyone here who decides to challenge this thread or me: Answer this honestly: Do you spend as much or more time bashing Republicans as you do Obama and Dems for not being "progressive" enough? Do you?

[flamingdem]

35. +10000

from an Obama supporter

[RBInMaine]

38. Thanks. I might not have said it exactly as Gibbs did, but he is correct in calling this stuff out.

[flamingdem]

27. All the recs are gone?

YOU HURT MY FEELINGS.

[RBInMaine]

30. & Bill-O has higher ratings than Maddow. Extreme voices can be louder than those of reason.

[Chan790]

39. Or...

Gibbs is a moron and deserves no appreciation.

You see, there are always at least two valid POVs.

Yours is that Gibbs is worthy of praise for denigrating people who got his boss elected. They're unreasonable and want fairytales and he was right to call him on it.

Mine is that Gibbs is an idiot whose lack of forethought (The first rule of political communications is "Think about the consequences of what you're about to say before you open your gob and say it." The second rule is "There is no informal setting in which you can loosen your tie and say things you won't be called to account for later.") has materially harmed his boss, the President of the United States. It has painted the administration into a corner. If Gibbs is not forced to quit, it will be framed as tacit approval by the President of what Gibbs said by those that actually wish to undermine the President.

I think regardless of how one feels about the liberal wing of the party that Alan Grayson is right...Gibbs needs to be fired for his comments. He should not even be given opportunity to "fall on his sword."

[RBInMaine]

41. You must not have heard him. He was taking issue with the fringe who compare Obama to Bush, and he

was right for doing so. He also PRAISED the large majority who support Obama and Dems. Re-read the entire statement.

[Chan790]

48. No, I heard what he said.

He was stupid to say it because he is ultimately responsible for how his words might be used against him and the President.

Soundbites rule the world. Never speak in couched statements or say anything that might be parsed out of context. The man works in political communications; he's supposed to know this.

He should be fired for being obviously bad at his job, not necessarily for the content of what he said. He absolutely should not be praised for being bad at his job, even if you agree with what he said.

[RBInMaine]

53. Some phrasing I agree should have been better. That I will give you. Don't know if it deserves

firing though. A clarification statement, yes, but not firing. Just like the last one. He never said that Dems WOULD lose the Congress. He only said there was a mathematical possibility but that it wasn't likely as long as Dems worked hard. MUCH of this has to do with people hearing what they want to hear and pure BS spin.

Folks on the left say they want "straight talk." Well, they got it but in this case have chosen to misunderstand it and also not like it. Oh well.

[flamingdem]

43. That's about as likely as the other Happy Pony desires out there nt

[Chan790]

56. Well then...

the President might pay a material price later for not firing Gibbs if people who felt called-out by Gibbs decide to be apathetic about Obama's reelection. That's his cross to bear.

Actions have consequences. Sorry if you live in a bubble and have never faced that reality but there is a cost for every action taken or not taken. This is not an exception, the President is not Clark Kent nor is he invincible. He bears the brunt of the weight of his surrogates and their actions, including Gibbs.

[flamingdem]

91. Firing someone in an ugly way is the last thing the party needs

but there are many here, maybe even you, who would like to see the party fail.

[Chan790]

112. Firing Gibbs is exactly what the party needs...

in order for the President to distance himself from the comments Gibbs made before those who do want to see the President and the Democratic Party fail can hang them around the President's neck like an albatross.

Repudiation isn't a luxury. It's a necessity.

[RBInMaine]

124. They should give him a raise. It is about damn time this was said. Good for him !

[Chan790]

127. I'm so glad to know...

that you want to alienate once-likely Democratic voters heading into what will be a difficult 2010 election cycle and a possibly-catastrophic election cycle in 2012.

The White House press secretary never needs to say anything that might materially harm the administration, doubly-so when he's speaking informally. Gibbs has proven his idiocy by saying something that will hurt Democrats at the polls, you've proven yours by thinking that's a good thing.

[RBInMaine]

138. Oh horseshit ! We are talking about fringers who bash Obama night and day, not the real "base" who

overwhelmingly support him and the party. So please try to understand what was actually said, not what you in your unending self defense mode think he said. Gibbs was calling out the incessant Obama bashers, and it is about fucking damn time ! Millions of us worked hard to elect him and Dems, we support him and them, and these fringers need to quit bitching from the backseat and comparing Obama and Dems to R's. We are sick to death of it. If you condone it as "not walking in lockstep," or "holding their feet to the fire," then go ahead. It is one thing to occasionally criticize and another to bitch night and day mostly from the backseat. So many of these incessant bitchers have never had to govern a fucking thing and have no idea how difficult it is. They should count their blessings that so much HAS been done and stop the constant naysaying. The overwhelming real BASE is sick of it !

[Chan790]

145. ...

Griping about spoiled grapes from the dominant faction is the height of petulance.

[unapatriciated]

191. I don't consider myself fringe...

and I did vote for Obama, donated, registered new voters (in very,very red Georgia) phone banked over 30 hours a week, (on my dime) and drove 80 miles (one way) to take a very nice 82 years young, lady to the polls. She had not voted since Clinton.
I do want single payor but would have settled for the PO and I want the end to these unjust wars. I don't agree with what was done in regards to Wall Street v Main Street. Public Education is being dismantled in favor of charter schools. I don't expect the D's to expand warrant-less wire tapping nor do I expect them to support killing American Citizens out of county without due process. I also expect them to stand up for civil rights. These are not minor things that we are disappointed in. So I guess this makes me a "fringe" and not the real "base" . Sad that you don't realize that those names you are using are the same many on the right called us for over 30 years. I have voted D and have been an active D since I was 15. I learned from my father the difference between a D and an R was we did criticize when our party went in the wrong direction. In fact it is our duty as citizens to be involved and let our party know when they have strayed. It has never been about speed but direction. I will always vote D but my time and money will not be so easily given unless I see a change in direction.
I know what Gibbs said and it was demeaning to all of us who have worked for many years not just on Obama's campaign, but for those very things he mocked.

[rurallib]

128. firing Rahm is what the party needs.

[Chan790]

137. Well, yes.

That too. Our esteemed WH chief-of-staff (or as I prefer to refer to him, The Rat King.) has not publicly stepped in it lately to provide fodder for that fight. The Rat King for all his failings understands basic rules of political communication like Don't verbally piss all over a measurable segment of your likely-voters 2.5 months before they go to the ballot box.

The Rat King is crafty and pragmatically-evil. (To be clear, sometimes that works to our advantage. We need fewer Pollyannas up in here.) Gibbs is brazen and needs to know when to hold his tongue...or he needs to find a job where his inability to hold his tongue isn't a liability.

Edit: I feel ill for having had to just defend Rahm Emanuel.

[ncteechur]

31. Kickie poo!

[villager]

52. Well, "poo" certainly...

Right on a large Democratic constituency, in fact!

[tandot]

34. People who think he is just like Bush need to be called out

K & R

[RBInMaine]

36. Fuckin-A right. Enough is enough already. How about saving some fire the RePUKES ! Do they ever?

[flamingdem]

44. All trees and no forest sometimes nt

[flamingdem]

92. Comparing Gibbs to Bush I see, JUST GREAT! MAKE SURE TO KISS THE GOP FOR ME ! nt

[moksha]

37. Hell no. He should be unemployed. Unrecommended,

[RBInMaine]

40. So you think Obama is just like Bush?

[bahrbearian]

110. Yes

[flamingdem]

46. And if not? Will you vote "third party" as many are threatening to do in Nov.? nt

[RBInMaine]

49. Or become part of the just-stay-home crowd as if "punishing" Dems will help them. Sheesh.

[w4rma]

50. Punishing DLCers will help. (nt)

[RBInMaine]

59. DLC DLC DLC DLC....yawn....snooze. Old meme. Very old.

[villager]

60. Agreed. The DLC's destruction of true Democratic principles is getting old, indeed

n/t

[RBInMaine]

67. I don't always agree with them, but I'd rather have DLC Dems from red districts than TeaRacists.

Your thinking is in the perfect world, but you dismiss electoral and regional reality. Try to elect a deep blue U.S. Senator in the deep South. When you can show me how to do that I'll give you credibility. I WISH we could. Nor can we in MANY parts of the west and even the midwest. Do you want a big tent party, or a small fringe party? You tell me.

[villager]

88. Wouldn't a "big tent" party actually include liberals?

Instead of always castigating them?

In any case, the problem is DLC Dems in districts, and from states, where we should have "actual" Dems...

[RBInMaine]

133. Who is "castigating" mainstream liberals? Want deep blue dems in red districts, go elect them. Show

us how.

[flamingdem]

90. CHECKMATE nt

[w4rma]

98. DLCers are corporatists. Real Democrats can win in those red districts easier since Republicans

don't really like corrupt politicians, either.

Republicans tend to vote for Republicans over corrupt Democrats (the definition of a DLCer).

[RBInMaine]

121. OK, tell me how a "real Dem" is going to defeat Jim DeMint in SC next time he is up for re-election?

[w4rma]

126. How does Grayson win in a solid red district while being as outspoken as he is?

There are many solid progressives in Congress that win in red districts mearly because they are respected for their honor. DLCers have no honor and everyone knows it.

[RBInMaine]

132. Really? List those who are far left in southern and western red districts.

[RBInMaine]

135. I don't think Orlando is "solid red." Purple really. Hey, I wish we could elect mainstream liberals

in ALL districts in this country, but in many even moderate Dems don't have a chance in hell because they are so red. Please get into reality.

[bornskeptic]

152. There is no data to prove that "Real Democrats" can't win in red districts

because they never win primaries in those districts, so they never get tested in a general election. Thus the "progressives" can continue to fantacize that the "Real Democrats" would coast to victory if they could only get on the ballot.

[CakeGrrl]

180. How? Do you think they'll be destitute on the street without your vote?

I don't.

But I can imagine quite a few average Americans who will suffer as a result of a need to "punish" the DLC and allowing the Republicans a way back to power.

If you really think you have the numbers to put "real" Progressives in the WH or increase their numbers in Congress to unseat the Blue Dogs and have high enough numbers to offset the filibuster, then by all means get them in there.

[cottonseed]

144. Pretty shitty "base" when 2/3 of them are going to vote 3rd party.

[CakeGrrl]

181. Also quite mathematically obtuse. n/t

[Zenlitened]

45. He showed himself to be a rank amateur...tone deaf, tactless and self-defeating.

So I guess I'm not surprised by the support he's receiving from some corners of DU.

It's a match made in some sorta heaven, I guess.

[RBInMaine]

47. You, I guess, are Enlish-language-deaf. He criticized a fringe, not the large majority.

[Zenlitened]

54. Uh, no. With his comments regarding health care...

... he criticized quite a large majority indeed.

His comments included more than the "just like Bush" angle, though I can see why some want to focus on that aspect alone.

It's easier to defend him on that, especially if we ignore all nuance in criticisms that compare policy to policy, rather than Pres. Obama and Bush as individuals.

So yeah, it is indeed a fringe that says "Obama is just like Bush." Would have been nice if Gibbs had stopped at that.

But as we all know, he didn't.

[RBInMaine]

58. He was using "Canadian healthcare," "closing the Pentagon," and "not even happy with Kucinich" to

metaphorically stress the point that, short of ideological purity, this fringe will NEVER be happy. And he was exactly correct for calling them out. It is certainly the way the majority of Dems feel. 85% of Dems consistently support this President. He was NOT talking about them. He specifically PRAISED the mainstream progressive/Dem base. Anyone with a teaspoonful of brains can see this. I'll agree he could have made his point with a softer tone, but c'mon, end the spin already.

[Zenlitened]

65. False. That's just not true. He specifically referred to critics of the WH performance...

...in the health care debate. That's a heck of a lot bigger than a "fringe."

[RBInMaine]

69. Wrong. He was referring to those who compare Obama to Bush. THAT was the CENTRAL message.

He PRAISED the progressive/Dem majority. You're infering and nitpicking.

[Zenlitened]

177. No, I'm doing the opposite of nitpicking. I'm looking at the entirety of his comments...

... while you, and others who defend Gibbs, are trying to focus the discussion solely on the "just like Bush" bit. Or nit.

That's what makes the whole Freelance Message Discipline effort fundamentally dishonest: the false framing.

The projection of your own faults on to others isn't helping move the Truth Meter, either.

[30rock]

96. Name one liberal cable host who asked for eliminating the Pentagon

Remember, the deputy WH press secretary said Gibbs referred to cable hosts. I agree with Krugman that his comments were stupid. By the way, Krugman supported HCR as Obama wanted it, and he has not asked for the Pentagon to be closed. Krugman has not compared Obama to Bush either in general terms. So why does Krugman find Gibbs' comments wrong then?

[RBInMaine]

125. He was speaking figuratively to make a point.

[Zenlitened]

179. Wat to completely re-edit the post to which I responded.

See below for my comment on the fundamental dishonesty in the framing of this discussion by those who would defend Gibbs.

[Kahuna]

64. What is self-defeating is the the yahoos who are threatening to withhold their votes...

I got your match made in heaven.

[Zenlitened]

68. So, what are you doing to secure their votes?

I hope you're not part of the contingent that routinely rails against "liberals" and "the left," as if that's somehow going to mend fences and win back wavering supporters.

[Kahuna]

71. I should not have to "mend fences" with my own team. And I refuse to do it.

I'm not interested in your hurt feelings. I'm interested in accomplishments.

[Bobbie Jo]

84. The constant hand-holding is more trouble than it's worth...

There's too much left to do than to be stopping every 10 steps to tie shoe laces.

If they truly can't discern the difference Democratic vs Republican control of the agenda at this point, no amount of "fence mending" and is going to make any difference.

[RBInMaine]

123. The "agenda" that has been passed has been far more D than R, and progressives should be pleased.

[Zenlitened]

176. Folks on the other side of this intra-party divide are coming to a similar realization...

... regarding the notion of "more trouble than it's worth."

Telling them, essentially, that they're not needed, nor wanted... it's an unusual strategy.

[Bobbie Jo]

194. Like I said....

If they truly can't discern the difference Democratic vs Republican control of the agenda at this point, no amount of "fence mending" and is going to make any difference.

[Zenlitened]

175. Funny stuff. The people you help to alienate are interested in accomplishments, too.

It's a shame the sides don't see eye to eye, no?

Guess we'll find out who's practical and pragmatic come november.

[RBInMaine]

73. For me, of course not. I just want ALL progressives to tout PROGRESS and not just complain.

I want them to see the big picture and that the glass is half full. I want them to remember what we had under Bush and know that what we have now is a hell of a lot better. I want them to know that I thank my lucky stars we have Biden and not Palin, Obama and not McCain. I want them to spend at least as much time attack McConnell and BONER as they do Obama and Dems. How to get them? I canvass by foot and phone, and tell them just that. And most respond positively in the first place anyway.

[depakid]

51. We'll see how you feel on November 3

Support for stupidity generally changes when the results of the stupidity smack one in the face.

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TheKentuckian]

72. Oh, I'll be voting this November. I won't wilfully allow any excuses

though I fully believe Obama is getting maybe 95% of what he wants and no amount of Democrats short of a very independent and liberal veto proof majority would end up with much different after the "stakeholders" picked the bones.

The negotiations are with these "stakeholders" not congressmen. The deals are cut and the lobbyist write the legislation, that is all.

[Name removed]

74. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RBInMaine]

79. What you don't know is scary. What utter ignorance. First, we have a DEM legislature, a DEM

governor, and TWO of the four congressional members are DEMS. Once a solidly red state, we have been blue in every Prez election since '92. Snowe and Collins are unfortunately dynasties in Maine, and much as I'd like to see them replaced, at least they are about the only two who will break with the PUKES on some key items.

Next, you suffer from selective reading comprehension. Gibbs called out a too-vocal fringe who incessantly attack Obama and Dems going so far as to compare him directly to Bush. THAT was his message, and he was correct for doing it. Welcome to reality.

[depakid]

83. The reality is that you have 2 Republican Senators

and you support going after your own base when you have an enthusiasm gap!

(this quite aside from your propensity for juvenile name calling).

Like I said, if you're representative, it's easy to see why those Senators are there- despite what you've noted above which would otherwise militate for a Democrat!

Someone must not be very bright if they can't deal with that situation.

On another note- I wouldn't work with you- and would make sure that you were far away from ANY campaign I had any say in- because you're more interested in lashing out emotionally- both at Republicans AND at progressives (who've been proven right on policy time and again) than in doing what it takes to win elections (the first rule of which is not to alienate your natural and potential constituencies).

Not everyone here, elsewhere or in party positions or in office deserves to see a Republican House- but some do, and if and when it happens, there'll be some small solace in seeing the reactions (and who they blame for their own failures).

[RBInMaine]

118. And the reality is the same state with Franken also has Bachman. Your point is moot. So once

again, Maine is on balance a pretty damn blue state. Snowe has been in Congress since the early 70's. She took over for her husband who died in office. Her new husband was the Gov. of Maine and also was in Congress. She's a legacy, personally popular, and relatively moderate compared to most R's in today's Senate. Almost the same with Collins. She is from a popular family in northern Maine, served on Bill Cohen's staff for many years, and has a relatively moderate voting record (compared, again, to most R's in the Senate) much like Snowe's. This is how they are able to get re-elected, and the same can be said of MANY members of congress. Nonetheless, I do not vote for them and have worked to defeat them.

As a local Dem party officer and activist who has burned boatloads of shoe leather working to elect Dems and defeat RePUKES, I sure as hell don't need a single narrow minded lecture from you. I don't sit in the backseat. I am out there in strategy sessions, organizing, and canvassing. I in fact have a strategy meeting and a canvass today. How many people who attack Obama as "just like Bush" otherwise spend most of their time in the backseat bitching amd doing little else? Probably most. The "base" are those who are dedicated to the party and get off their asses to work like hell to elect Democrats and are damn sick and tired of the constant bitchers. The "base" is not the Nader-voter type crowd or the fair weather purists who bitch incessantly mostly from the backseat. THAT is the group, along with some of the out-of-reality talking heads who complain more about Obama and Dems than Bush, who Gibbs was referring to, NOT the overwhelming majority of Dems and mainstream progressives who support this President, see all the good he has done, and want him to succeed. Occasional criticism or disagreement is one thing. Constant complaining and going so far as to compare Obama to Bush is quite another, and THAT is what Gibbs was talking about. His point was clear despite how much you in your defensive mindset would like it to be otherwise. So if you are someone who constantly bashes Obama and thinks he's like Bush, then I can understand why you would be mad at Gibbs. If not, then like me you are saying it is about damn time this shit was called out.

[treestar]

70. If you're sick of the Palin as President threat

Let me tell you some of us are sick of this one.

Do what we say or we won't let you win. Like how can a minority stop the Democrats from winning?

[depakid]

78. "like how can a minority stop the Democrats from winning?"

Like they did repeatedly through the 90's and 00's.

Frankly, I'm not at all certain that for any number of reasons, the administration is purposefully inviting another 1994.

This pattern of behavior would surely be the way to do it.

[Kahuna]

61. ...

[Forkboy]

62. LOL

[CakeGrrl]

77. k/r - he was right, and there's some selective reading comprehension going on. n/t

[RBInMaine]

81. Spot on !

[Dinger]

80. K & U

[Lindsey]

93. I totally agree. Anyone who says the Democrats dont have a

fringe is living on another planet and THAT is who the message was directed toward.

[liquid diamond]

82. K&R. The fringe needed a good beating. n/t

[Bobbie Jo]

85. Recommended.

[HipChick]

86. Robert Gibbs went for those who attack every aspect of Obama's Presidency to have little merit

Yes...they needed that reality check!

[havocmom]

87. I don't much appreciate the man

Especially after reading the thread of the crap he pulled in 2004

[donheld]

89. K & U

[johnaries]

94. Thank you, Mr. Gibbs.

[Aramchek]

95. He spoke the Truth.

[Name removed]

97. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bobbie Jo]

99. What is it with the rec obsession?

Seriously.

[democrat2thecore]

101. If it's just this "small fringe" he was talking about - WHY the need for all guns blazing?

Why even discuss it? Fringes are ignored. Elements of the party that represent a lot of people concern this White House. Not so much of an electoral threat, but they want them shut-up. They don't want to be reminded of Candidate Obama and the striking difference between that man and President Obama. Period. What gall to mask it with terminology that everyone must guess at who he's talking about!

[JoePhilly]

114. What guns??

The group who thinks Obama is "like Bush" IS the fringe and out in the real world, its a small group.

However, here on DU, its seems to be about 50% or so, perhaps more. And so HERE on DU, that fringe is larger ... which is why we have an endless stream of threads attacking Obama day after day, drowning out all other threads that try to discuss how we keep the GOP from regaining control of Congress. Which is where the majority of our focus should be.

The pundits on the left love controversy, its good for business ... so they play it up. Gibbs has ignored it for about a year or more from what I've seen. But he makes one comment, and folks like you scream like little girls at the Saturday afternoon horror movie.

[Name removed]

102. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LittleBlue]

103. Fuck Gibbs

And this is from a person who forgave his bumblings from Day 1. I remember a sizable group who asked for his head, and I actually defended him, saying he needed time to become accustomed to his position. After all, we all know how well he did after one of the presidential debates by excoriating Hannity.

Now he's planted the knife firmly in his supporters' own backs. I donated money and time to get him that job. So you know what? Fuck him!

[Lasher]

104. Robert Gibbbs is a pretty cool guy. Eh fights Republicans and doesn't afraid of anything.

I accidentally the chief of staff.

[Number23]

105. Couldn't agree more, wndy. Kicked and rec'd

[jefferson_dem]

107. Sure.

Why not?

[CTLawGuy]

108. and thanks

for putting the "liberal" carnival barker class in their place.

It's also ironic that these "liberals" rail against big profit-maximizing corporations while working for them. Hey, whatever makes a buck right?

[mikekohr]

111. Any one, Right or Left that compares President Obama to Bush is a moran,

if that hurts your feelings, don't be a moran.

mike kohr

[Inuca]

113. K&R n/t

[Laelth]

115. You forgot the sarcasm emoticon. k&u

-Laelth

[donco6]

116. He's a liability.

He's beginning to be more of a loose cannon than Biden ever was. And you want that in charge of PR? Hoookay . . .

[John Agar]

117. Sorry. He didn't really help any of us with his ill-considered remarks.

This is not the time for division.

I expected better from this administration.

[RBInMaine]

120. These were his own opinions, and if not misread he was just making a point, and it was a good one.

[watercolors]

119. I firmly support him, good man!

nt

[trayfoot]

122. Yes, it needed saying!

[closeupready]

129. Unrecced.

n/t

[OnyxCollie]

130. K&U. nt

[laureloak]

131. I'm onbooard. Love Gibbs. Best Ever!!!

[SoxFan]

134. Gibbs was right

[RBInMaine]

139. Fuckin-A right, Enough of this Obama bashing shit from the ultra left. ENOUGH !

[Kdillard]

136. I fully support Gibbs because some of the reaction to his comments

have been very, very telling. I hope he keeps speaking the truth.

[RBInMaine]

140. Chris Mathews basically said the same thing not too long ago, and he is a lifelong Dem. So good

for Tweetie and Gibbs. It is about fucking time some of these talking heads and fringe naysayers spent a little more time bashing RePUKES instead of bashing the ones who are trying to get some things done in their interest. With this fringe it is always "not progressive enough, not progressive enough, not progressive enough... DLC DLC DLC DLC DLC DLC..." all whine and bitch whine and bitch whine and bitch. Well, the actual base, mainstream liberals/Dems/progressives, are sick of it !

Tweetie called the ones Gibbs referred to as the ones "who don't govern and bitch from the backseat" and he was right. And so was Gibbs. About damn time.

[superduperfarleft]

141. Do any of you actually talk to prospective voters?

God I hope not.

As if I needed more proof that DU is completely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, because judging by the behavior of the president's supporters, if any of you actually did anything other than high-five each other on a message board, there wouldn't be a single Democrat in office in this entire country.

[RBInMaine]

142. I talk to them and party activitists every day, and MOST D's are satisfied with Obama, see all he

has done and is trying to do, and they blame the RePUKES for most of the problems as they should. In poll after poll, 85% of registered Dems support Obama.

[superduperfarleft]

149. Right, but do you talk to people OTHER than the people who think Obama walks on water?

You know, the very people whose votes he needs? And do you berate them and call them unreasonable, idiots, etc. etc. blah blah blah when you do it?

[RBInMaine]

151. I canvass for Dem campaigns, and most D's I talk to are satisfied with Obama. You're on the fringe.

[superduperfarleft]

154. You're not getting it. Not at all.

Good luck with that.

[RBInMaine]

160. You call yourself superduperfarleft, and you are right. The fringe.

[superduperfarleft]

166. Thanks for proving my point. n/t

[w4rma]

155. "Satisfied". Not happy though. And certainly not "enthusiastic".

Nothing like governing entirely differently from how he campaigned (He even fired the vast majority of the people in his campaign) to destroy any enthusiasm.

[RBInMaine]

162. So go vote for Nader next time along with the rest of the la la landers. See how far that gets you.

[superduperfarleft]

165. Thanks for proving my point. n/t

[Kdillard]

143. Charming. I guess your way of talking to prospective voters is by

insulting the ones you don't agree with and having no sense of irony. But keep up that attitude I am sure that anyone who god forbids supports the President can learn so much from you.

[superduperfarleft]

148. I guess that's a no. Thankfully.

I'm insulting people? This entire thread is attempting to insult the people who were insulted by Gibbs' comment.

Not like I give a fuck, but since die-hard supporters of the president seem to have a dog in this fight, you'd think they'd be nicer to the exact same voters whose votes they're trying to court.

[Kdillard]

164. So now you seem to think you know me . Okayy. The only thing

the reaction of some people to Gibb's comments have told me is that he hit the mark otherwise why would they think he was in any way referring to them. Also there can be threads calling for Gibbs to be fired or calling him unprofessional or whatever but there can not under any circumstances be a thread that supports him because the only opinion should be he is wrong. I hope you are not trying to say diversity of opinion is wrong because then I have a hard time believing you speak to anyone outside of your own viewpoint. Again the reactions to Gibb's comments have been extremely telling.

[w4rma]

150. Actually, I used to go door to door for a political group. I talked to hundreds of voters every week

I was able to do well in every area I went, no matter whether they were mostly Republicans or mostly Democrats.

DLCers are nothing but some of the most corrupt politicians in the nation. They pretend to be "center", but as-a-matter-of-fact they are radical and out of the mainstream in their support of powerful institutions over everyone else.

That said, I agree with you about the attitude of President Obama's fan club and advisors.

[RBInMaine]

153. Enough already with the DLC meme. It's a dead horse starting to stink.

[w4rma]

157. As I said the DLCers are some of the most corrupt politicians in the nation.

These people are crooks for the highest bidder and should be drummed out and replaced with honest progressives.

The DLC is why we are in this mess right now. The DLC is also the reason we lost Congress for the first time in decades back in 1994.

[RBInMaine]

159. So go head up the campaigns to replace them. Don't bitch. Act.

[w4rma]

161. You take your own medicine. I practice what I preach. (nt)

[RBInMaine]

163. I work to elect Democrats and live in the real world. You hold out for purity and achieve nothing.

[w4rma]

167. You work to defeat progressives and elect corrupt DLCers. You oppose fair pay for honest work and

support wealthy freeloaders.

[superduperfarleft]

168. "I work to elect Democrats"

And judging by your behavior on this thread, you're clearly just so good at it. Nothing like calling prospective voters stupid and unreasonable to convince them to support your guy.

[Zenlitened]

185. Ding! Ain't that the truth?

...if any of you actually did anything other than high-five each other on a message board, there wouldn't be a single Democrat in office in this entire country.

[cottonseed]

146. The shitstorm on DU from Gibbs little remark basically proves his point.

Professional left indeed. I was coming here looking for substance, I found hair pullers screaming out for some guy's head. And he's a fucking press secretary for a Democratic President! Please shoot me now.

[wndycty]

186. Exactly

[democrat2thecore]

188. No, it proves OUR point. Those "Professional Leftists" represent a lot of us in the party. -nt

[RBInMaine]

147. I am an anti-RePUKE loyal PROGRESSIVE Dem party activist and support what Gibbs said !

I am a progressive who believes that means PROGRESS which is exactly what we have had under Obama and Dems, especially compared to the rotten days of Bush/Cheney. I support reproductive choice. I support the right of consenting adults to marry if they so choose. I support winding down and leaving Iraq as is being done, and a clear timeline on operations in Afghanistan. I support reducing the size of the US military and US military presence around the world. I am for progressive taxation and trade reform. I am a union member. I believe in making green energy conversion our great national Appollo mission. I am a staunch environmentalist. I believe in investing in public education, public infrastructure, and public recreational areas.
I have campaigned hard on elections and referendums for years now as a local party official and activist.

I am also a pragmatist having served on many boards and committees and know that some compromise MUST happen in life if ANYTHING is to ever get done. I know what it means to have to actually govern something and manage something. As Rachel Maddow has said, this administration has accomplished a whole boatload of measures. And while few have been perfect, in sum it is definitely PROGRESS.

I don't think Obama and Dems are always perfect, and I have my occasional criticisms too. That is one thing. But then some have to stand there and UNENDINGLY bash Obama and Dems while the other side offers a TeaRacist return to the evil of the Bush years. It is mindboggling, and I, as a devoted Dem and PROGRESSIVE who doesn't sit in the backseat, am sick of it, and GOOD that both Tweetie and Gibbs (and others here and there) have called it out.

[Nedsdag]

158. k&r

[asdjrocky]

169. Oh fuck this.

K&U.

[Mithreal]

170. Anyone who thinks Gibbs is a reality check is a MORON

and should hang his or her head in shame. If that fits you, you've really fucking lost it, stupid ass dumbshit loons.

It's almost as if you want Dems to lose in November so bipartisan in chief can flex his main muscle.

[AtomicKitten]

171. Nice sentiment for a man that goes through the meat-grinder on a daily basis. Cheers. nt

[last_texas_dem]

172. Eh, he seems pretty unremarkable as a Press Secretary, and I believe

his comments hurt more than they helped... so, no, I guess I don't "support" him.

[CBR]

173. Love Gibbs!!! nt

[Phx_Dem]

178. K&R.

[Fruittree]

182. K&R!!

[Uzybone]

183. I support Gibbs. He did make a mistake in addressing the few malcontents and grumblers

All he did was fuel the flame of their eternal discontent.

They don't want action or progress, they want attention.

[okieinpain]

184. he sucks, if he was any good we wouldn't be having this

conversation right now.

[Jim Sagle]

193. Most disgraceful post ever.