We must no longer allow Barack Obama to define us

[DemocratAholic]

Obama’s latest deal with the Republicans...I think this is a very good example of the problem that many of us are having with Obama. You can probably make a good faith argument that under the circumstances this outcome was the best deal we were going to get, and possibly that this was the best thing for the country.

Here is my problem. Obama went behind closed doors, struck a deal with the Republicans in Congress...gave them everything they wanted...and didn’t even bother to include Congressional Democrats. As if they didn’t even exist. As if they were irrelevant.

Now...he is publicly appealing to REPUBLICANS to pass this thing...to overcome Democratic opposition.

Obama has done many things to advance a progressive agenda, and I will give him credit where credit is due. He is certainly better than any Republican alternative.

But Obama has been treating Democrats like crap. As if he is the all-knowing father, and we are his stupid children who simply don’t understand. He is going to make all our decisions for us, without any consideration for the way that we think. And we better like it, because we’re living under his roof.

I was an early, early Obama supporter. I was standing out in freezing cold weather collecting signatures to get him on the primary ballot when Hillary Clinton was far ahead in the polls and nobody thought he had a chance. The reason I supported him was because I was disgusted at the way Hillary had joined with Republicans on a number of issues...and because I found her arrogance to be intolerable.

Her arrogance does not compare to Obama’s arrogance since he became president. And it seems to get worse everyday.

Please do not think of accusing me of being some kind of troll, or that I am not really a Democrat. I have devoted countless hours going out and doing the dirty work that most people wouldn’t even think of doing. I have devoted every free moment I have during election season canvassing, walking the streets, knocking on doors, making phone calls...doing anything that was asked of me to elect Democrats. I’m one of those idiots you see standing out in the street holding signs in 20 degree weather.

I was the happiest I have ever been in my life when Obama was elected. In the past 2 years, that happiness has turned to shock and horror.

It is Obama’s arrogance that horrifies me.

I feel like we have been hoodwinked. All the time during the campaign when he was referring to Hillary Clinton as “Republican-light,” talking about how we didn’t want to go back to the way Bill Clinton caved to the Republicans...in hindsight those comments look absolutely absurd.

AT LEAST, once in a while, Bill Clinton actually did stand up to Republicans. Sometimes he did make a stand on principle and exposed Republicans for the asses they are in the process.

My friends, we have a huge problem on our hands and we better recognize it soon. Our party is a dis-unified mess. We are looking at an utter catastrophe in 2012.

I see that other Democrats around me, people who are active in politics, feel the same way. We are paralyzed. There is nothing we can do but sit and watch...because this was OUR guy.

They just don’t care anymore, and they’re not going to feel inspired in 2012 to do anything for Obama (or any other Democrats). Yes, they’ll vote for him, but that’s it. Only because the alternative is unthinkable. But they’re not going to walk the streets, make the calls, do all the dirty work...because in order to do those kinds of things, you have to feel inspired and believe in what you are doing.

We did the wrong thing electing Obama. We should have gone with the devil we knew (Hillary). Obama is not what he claimed to be. He is hurting our party. He doesn’t care about our party. I don’t make that statement lightly. It kills me to say that. Nobody believed in him more than me.

It may be possible that Obama will win re-election. I don’t discount that possibility. But, at what cost do we as a party continue to support him?

I suspect that there were a lot of political considerations involved with this deal with the Republicans. I can imagine the conversation Rahm Emanuel had with Obama about this. It may hurt the party, but it will be to your advantage for the re-election campaign in 2012. As long as he keeps his popularity hovering around 50 percent, he still has a chance. That is the only thing he is thinking about. There is absolutely NOTHING about this deal that benefits the Democratic party.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not calling for some kind of progressive uprising against Obama. As I said, the Republican alternative is unthinkable, and I’m not looking to do anything further to hurt our party. But we need to find an alternative leader within the party who at the very least is going to give voice to our concerns and stand for the principles we believe in.

We, as a party, can no longer allow Barack Obama to define us as a party. Because he is not interested in the Party. He is a very ambitious man who cleverly fooled us into thinking he was a “good Democrat,” and every other candidate was a bad Democrat. He is now drunk with power, and is cleverly doing things to help himself get re-elected, while throwing our party under the bus.

We need to turn to some very smart people to figure this how to deal with this extremely delicate situation, people in the party who have PROVEN they really do care about our party. First we have to acknowledge that we have a big problem on our hands with Obama. I get no enjoyment in saying these things. We have a cancer in our party, it started in the White House and has spread throughout the body. In the end, the cancer may still be living while the Party has been decimated.

[vi5]

1. K&R. I agree 100%

I'm not calling for any kind of uprising or revolt or progressive primary. I know it's futile and that the Democratic party powers that be would never let it happen.

And like a chump I'll probably still always vote a straight dem ticket.

But I'm done expending any degree of energy. No more money donations to political parties or candidates. No more stuffing of letters or making calls or registering voters or driving people to polls or even engaging in political discussions to try and make people see my side or how the Democratic party is good for them. No more responding to chain e-mails with falsehoods, or facebook posts or any of it.

I'm done wasting an ounce of my time, energy, or money on a party that acts and goes about things as the Democratic party (and Obama in particular) has.

[DrDan]

2. not sure about the party - but I know the cost I as a voter am willing to pay

[young but wise]

3. ....

Oh yeah, he's such a "bad Democrat" for wanting unemployment insurance, and tax cuts to help the middle class.

[ProSense]

6. This is another we should have gone with Hillary post, but

I wonder if the poster would even support Hillary?

[mtnsnake]

4. Interesting post. I don't agree with everything you said, but much of it rings so true.

We really do have to get together as a Party to figure it out for our own future survival AS a party. We are really in disarray, aren't we.

[ProSense]

5. Hmmmm?

"It is Obama’s arrogance that horrifies me."

We, as a party, can no longer allow Barack Obama to define us as a party. Because he is not interested in the Party. He is a very ambitious man who cleverly fooled us into thinking he was a “good Democrat,” and every other candidate was a bad Democrat. He is now drunk with power, and is cleverly doing things to help himself get re-elected, while throwing our party under the bus.

He's Hitler?

[former9thward]

24. Hitler? Best you can do? Nice try to put words in the OP's mouth.

[ProSense]

25. "He is a very ambitious man who cleverly fooled us into thinking he was a 'good Democrat,'

...and every other candidate was a bad Democrat. He is now drunk with power."

What do you make of that?

[former9thward]

27. I don't compare that with a man who murdered millions.

And I doubt the OP does either. You are using a cheap rhetorical device that people who have no argument use. Anyone can see that.

[ProSense]

34. How do you know what the OP is thinking?

Are you one in the same? I made a comment. It's my opinion.

"He is now drunk with power."

Again, what do you make of this:

"He is a very ambitious man who cleverly fooled us into thinking he was a 'good Democrat,' and every other candidate was a bad Democrat. He is now drunk with power."

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

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

[BeyondGeography]

7. It has been a little like night and day between the candidate and the actual President

But that's to be expected.

What has surprised me is the absolute ineptitude (or is it indifference?) when it comes to messaging. We had the public on our side early in the HCR and tax fights and came up way short both times.

You can blame Congress, but, like you, I got behind Obama early, and a big reason why is I saw an ability to go over the heads of the media and connect with the people.

Instead of making that talent the centerpiece of his presidency (as did Reagan, a guy he cites all the time), he has spent too much time holed up in Washington making deals.

What you call arrogance, I see as more of a personal choice. Either way, he's not making the most of this precious opportunity that we, the people, have given him.

[juajen]

10. I don't believe he will even run. I believe he always considered himself a one termer. NT

[TwilightGardener]

8. His "arrogance", huh?

[jefferson_dem]

18. Hey. The poster could have said "uppity".

This whole rant reeks, in my opinion.

[TwilightGardener]

19. What's funny is, he's generally pounded here for not being arrogant

and power-drunk enough. They want him to use the bully pulpit, assert executive power, call him a wimp, say he compromises and tries too hard to get along...and now today he's ARROGANT? WTF?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

26. Bingo!

Apparently, he's some sort of arrogant wimp or cunning moron. :rofl:

[Proud Liberal Dem]

9. "Drunk with power" "cleverly doing things to help himself get re-elected"

Huh?

:wtf:

Where are all these ideas coming from?

He's worked out a plan with the Republicans but AFAIK that plan isn't law until Congress passes it. Everything else that he's gotten signed into law has been via Congress, right? Unless I missed something somewhere............? :shrug:

[Phx_Dem]

11. Thankfully, he in no way defines the far left teabaggers. Nor will he ever. n/t

[BluegrassDem]

12. He's "PRESIDENT Barack Obama"....quit being disrespectful

It's one thing to disagree with him, but you didn't once address him as "president." Whether you like it or not, he's our president.

[Xenotime]

13. Thank you.

[mtnsnake]

16. So when's the last time you called Bill Clinton President Clinton?

FYI, the OP did not refer to Bill Clinton as President either, nor did he refer to Hillary as SOS Clinton, so at least he's consistent and not just singling out President Obama. What drama.

[BluegrassDem]

23. He wrote an entire thesis and never once used the word "president"

He never even referred to him as the president as a description. I think it was it done on purpose and maliciously, intended to show a sign of pure disrespect to Pres. Obama and the office he holds.

[last_texas_dem]

22. Seriously?

Must all politicians be referred to on here with the office they hold before their names?

I don't recall that *ever* being DU policy.

I always refer to Barack Obama as "Obama" on here and that has absolutely nothing to do with "disrespecting" him, and everything to do with "President Barack Obama" being a royal pain in the ass to type out.

[derby378]

35. Oh, fuck that noise

Nine times out of ten, if someone says "Obama," you know exactly who we're talking about. Chill.

[Catherina]

14. Other than "Obama has done many things to advance a progressive agenda" I agree with you

3 steps forward, 6 steps back isn't my idea of advancing a progressive agenda, especially not while your escalating current wars and plotting new ones.


Rec'd

[ProSense]

15. "We should have gone with the devil we knew (Hillary). " You agree? n/t

[Catherina]

17. That's absolutely none of your business n/t

[ProSense]

20. I take that as a no. n/t

[Tatiana]

21. I agree with everything except that we should have gone with Hillary.

Obama was the best of the choices. Even now, with the knife still fresh in our backs, he is still a better option than what Hillary would have been.

If you think Obama welcomed Wall Street into the White House, you are right. But Hillary would have done the same and worse. I honestly think instead of kicking the ball, we would have been looking at a permanent tax cut for the wealthy, an exploded deficit and a very similar national health insurance "reform" plan+mandate.

The question we need to be asking ourselves is why our choices are so poor.

Also, I understand what you mean about the arrogance thing... I used to argue against it and even now, it almost feels more like defiance than arrogance. Like "I know what everyone wants me to do, I know what the right thing is to do, but I'm doing what I've decided to do anyway. I don't care whether you like it."

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

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

[AtomicKitten]

30. LOL.

[DemocratAholic]

31. I’ll try and respond to all the criticism in one message

1. “arrogance”- I thought I made myself clear what I meant by his arrogance. The arrogance of walking into a room and cutting a deal with Republicans...and leaving Congressional Democrats out of it. As if he expected Democrats to just accept whatever deal he made. As it turns out, he doesn’t even care...he is now bypassing Democrats completely and publicly appealing to Republicans and blue dogs to pass this bill.

The arrogance of thinking that WE, who went out and campaigned for him, don’t matter. Thumbing his nose at us at every twist and turn. Inviting Rick Warren to the inauguration. Getting into a public shouting match with Anthony Weiner (via Rham Emanuel) when he was called out for not supporting the Democratic nominee for NYC mayor. Supporting Blanche Lincoln for Senate when she was being contested in the primary, and her opponent supported by MoveOn...and organization that was instrumental in getting him elected.

The constant drip, drip, drip of bad mouthing, demonizing and marginalizing (via Emanuel and others) any Democrat or progressive organization who disagrees with him.

The lack of appreciation or consideration for others in the Party. The way in which he unceremoniously dismissed party leaders who were instrumental in the Democratic victory in 2008, and replacing them with people whose loyalty was only to him, and had no interest in the party as a whole. His lackluster effort to support Democrats in the last election...except for Blanche Lincoln of course.

2. “I wonder if the poster would even support Hillary?” - I was an Obama supporter and I would have been disappointed at the time if Hillary had won the nomination. But I would have done the same thing I do after any primary candidate I support loses, I would have stood behind the Democrat in the general. I care about one thing only - issues, and I am totally opposed to everything Republicans stand for.

3. “He's "PRESIDENT Barack Obama"....quit being disrespectful,” “I think it was it done on purpose and maliciously, intended to show a sign of pure disrespect to Pres. Obama and the office he holds.” - I have never spent a second of my life thinking about ways to “disrespect” people by leaving off their titles. I’m not that smart, nor would I want to be.

4. In conclusion - This is the first time I have ever started a post in this forum. I was quite angry when I wrote this, I do think I should have focused on one issue only. That is, I think we need to find someone who is capable providing a vision for our party’s future, one that benefits the entire Party. President Obama (with all due respect) is the head of our team, and we just lost the last game...very badly. He is not helping our party, as a whole, to win elections. He often appears to support positions that are contrary to his own promises, and principles we stand for as a party. This is a recipe for disaster. We must provide a clear vision as a party if we want to be successful as a party. The things I said were meant as constructive criticism in the “family,” I do not criticize him outside the family...and I would never do anything to hurt our party. I do think we need to acknowledge that we have a huge problem, and we better face it soon or risk another disastrous election in two years. President Obama may be capable of looking out for his own interests, he may not be capable of leading the Party.

[BlueIris]

32. We never should have allowed him to define us to begin with.

He is one man, not a Party. One voter, not a country. And to top it all off, he isn't, and never was, a flawless deity. Exact opposite, really.

[derby378]

36. I never did

I weighed all of the candidates equally and acted accordingly. And FYI, I was a Bill Richardson man.

But when it came down to Clinton and Obama, I chose Obama because I thought he had a better vision for America. Too bad it turned out to be smoke and mirrors.

[Uzybone]

33. bullshit

[LittleBlue]

37. He's reducing our party to a Republican doormat. We don't fight for anything

We seek compromise.