It's easy to be a cheerleader.

[kentuck]

It's a little more difficult to hold politicians' feet to the fire and to hold them accountable for campaign promises or insinuations.

It's easy to say, "My Party, Right or Wrong", and pretend it is the positive and right thing to do. It is more right to be critical when you think they are going in the wrong direction. It is not best to wait and see if they do it. Then it is too late.

Yes, we can all be happy that we won the last election and that we kicked Republicans asses. But victory in an election is meaningless unless there are deeds to follow.

We should not deal with hypothetical situations, but if these hypothetical situations have failed us in the past, we have an obligation to be skeptical. It is no longer a hypothetical, it is past history.

So lets keep cheering for our team, pom-poms if you have them, but lets keep our eye on the ball. We want to see different results or there will be a price to pay. We will not be silent. The election is over.

[1StrongBlackMan]

1. And it's far easier ...

to stand in the corner throwing rocks.

Holding someone "accountable" is fine, so long as you have a realistic idea of what is politically doable.

Just saying!

[kentuck]

3. The defining part of your post is:

"realistic idea". What do you think is "realistic" ?

[1StrongBlackMan]

5. By definition ...

starting with the state of things AS THEY ARE; as opposed to how we wish they were. And from there, what can be accomplished in that environment.

[kentuck]

6. In your opinion, are we in a weak or strong position at the moment?

Just curious.

[1StrongBlackMan]

27. We are in an ...

extremely favorable negotiating position.

And, IMHO, pushing the Senate Bill would place us in a stronger position since we can spend from now until whenever, whatever deal is cut highlighting what the public already knows of the modern gop.

As I see it, we're faced with a strategic choice, whether to pursue a all-in, but short-term tact, or a longer-term tact. The former would be pressing our advantage by forcing a "fiscal-cliff" deal - where the public, might or might not blame the gop when/if a deal isn't cut and everyone's taxes go up; or, the latter, pressing the Senate Bill that has passed the Senate and President Obama has said he is ready to sign, if the gop-controlled House would just act.

Which do you think the public would respond to more favorably, i.e., in 2014 and 2016?

[Marrah_G]

22. No one in Washington makes the tough decisions without the will of the people pushing them

The tougher the issue... or the more likely the issue is to impact congressional/administrations wallets, or big campaign donor wallets, then the harder we need to push and the more numbers we need to push with.

We need to keep calling, keep writing, keep trying to bring our issues and values into the mainstream.

And yes, real change often means dragging our representatives there kicking and screaming.

[Whisp]

2. o geeze, not this feet to the fire thing Again!

Obama must have charred stumps by now.

but he keeps on trucking and working hard for us all.

[kentuck]

4. Obama wasn't the only politician elected in the last election?

You sure are quick to defend the President, aren't you?

[Whisp]

12. yes I am, and proud of it.

Unwavering since 2007.

I know you consider that a fault, but I believe Obama has our best interests at heart (contrary to him being a Wall street stooge, a caver, and all those other names he gets called here, oh yeh, spineless, lazy) and he needs moral support to continue on, not snarling and backstabbing.

[kentuck]

15. And we thank you for your support...

Carry on.

[Scurrilous]

7. Whinging is hard work!

[Fumesucker]

8. I disagree, being a good cheerleader requires a great deal of mental agility

One might even say contor.. err.. flexibility.

And practice, constant and unremitting practice.

Not to mention you have to look good at the same time, no mean feat.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

9. It's easy to sit back and judge how someone does the most difficult job in the world... nt

[kentuck]

10. It's called free speech.

You don't like it?

[Fumesucker]

16. ...

[liberalmuse]

11. Let's just wait and see.

I have a bit of trust for Obama. Did all of us uber lefties get exactly what we wanted with the ACA? No, but THIS President fucking passed it. He might bargain, and of course some will freak the fuck out, but in the end, this man is going to do what is best for this country, and he is going to move us forward. I stand behind him, and already have and will continue to hold his feet to the fire. But it's easy to sit in our chairs in front of our computers and judge while he has to face truly ugly people who want him to fail on a daily basis. Think about that.

[kentuck]

13. I have no doubt...

but that the President is doing what he thinks is best for the country.

[Summer Hathaway]

28. Yes, he does what he

thinks is best for the country.

What would the alternative be? Doing what people on the internet think he should do instead? Or are you saying, "We didn't elect you to think - that's not your job."

[leftstreet]

14. So a Public Option was an 'uber lefty' position?

No wonder things are so fucked up

[Fumesucker]

18. That's what being a liberal muse is all about

Knowing what's "uber lefty" and what's pragmatic moderate centrism.

[Luminous Animal]

20. I guess that makes the majority in this country uber lefties.

[Luminous Animal]

17. I'm not going to sit around and wait and see retirement age raised and a chained CPI.

The time to act is now before the deal is done.

[Whisp]

19. what is your act going to be?

[Luminous Animal]

23. I've signed up with the AFL-CIO Action Campaign.

I have posted their flier around town. I will participate in every action that they initiate.

http://www.aflcio.org/Get-Involved/Protect-Our-Future

http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Political-Action-Legislation/We-Have-Eight-Weeks-to-Protect-Social-Security-Medicare-and-Medicaid

I have communicated with my Senators, my Rep, my Governor, and my President, asking specifically where they stand. (I don't expect an honest answer.)

[CakeGrrl]

21. And what disaster do you think the President is about to head into NOW?

Sounds like some of the alarmist speculation just took a few days off, and now it's back. Oh noes, he's gonna CAVE!

[Luminous Animal]

25. Summer 2011, Obama was ready to sign off on a bargain to raise retirement age and

institute chained CPI and to cut Medicare and Medicaid. The deal fell through but if he was willing to give in then, why wouldn't he now?

[FrenchieCat]

24. I agree that we need to do what we need to do to push for change.......

So what are you suggesting?

Is there someone organizing phone calls, letters, petitions and such?

Are we going to organize to bear pressure on Congress? Democrats and Republicans alike?
If so, I want to be a part of that!

[Luminous Animal]

26. The AFL-CIO is organizing

http://www.aflcio.org/Get-Involved/Protect-Our-Future