Sheila Samples: Why are many Dems already jumping ship?

[Doctor_J]

Via Buzzflash

"f we have learned nothing else about Republicans, it's that, with few exceptions, they are vindictive, immoral, blood-thirsty, and just plain power-mad. Republicans are so much better at destroying things than Democrats are. They say and do whatever it takes to win. And if that doesn't work -- they seize it anyway.

"
<snip>
"The fascist lies and smears of Republicans and their doppleganger radio creeps should come as no surprise to those paying attention. However, the ripples of uneasiness and fear surging through Democratic ranks as a result of these assaults is a bit puzzling. Perhaps it's because after eight years of covering -- and uncovering -- deceit, lies, and monstrous war crimes perpetrated by George Bush, they are hesitant to trust another president regardless of his party affiliation. Or, perhaps they're afraid to have hope because they believe George Orwell's flat, no-wiggle-room assertion that -- "All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred, and schizophrenia."

Whatever the reason, each day brings a new rash of criticism about Obama's choices for his transition team, his economic team, his foreign policy team. His selection of Rahm Emanuel as chief of staff, probable selection of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, and his decision to keep Robert Gates as Defense Secretary for at least a year resulted in cries of betrayal throughout the left-wing blogosphere.
"

Obama is not perfect. The problems Bush is only too happy to dump on him are almost insurmountable and getting worse by the day. Obama will make mistakes, but he has promised that, with our help, the hopes of all Americans can be realized. Together -- we can change the direction of the country.

We will not jump ship. Come hate or high water -- we can do it.

Much more re: hate radio, general GOP hatred.

http://sheilastuff.blogspot.com/2008/11/through-hole-in-air.html

[gristy]

1. I hope the author of this piece addresses her presumption that Dems indeed are jumping ship

That would seem to be the first order of business.

[Tansy_Gold]

2. Yeah. Big difference between "criticizing" and "quitting." n/t

.

[Kahuna]

3. Seems to me the OP who contrived the headline needs to explain

how he/she extrapolated "Dems jumping ship" from that piece when the author says quite the opposite.

[Doctor_J]

5. The point of the article IMO is that Obama is under siege from the

insane right-wingers, and instead of directing our hostility at Boner and the obstructionist GOP congress and hate radio, we are expending far too much energy calling Gates' appointment a travesty, and complaining that there are too many expereinced Dems in the cabinet to institute "change". Jumping ship is too harsh, I guess, but "enabling the Repukes" is not

[bemildred]

4. LOL.

"maggots streaming from rotten turds whose blossoms had been stomped on"

Now that it mixing a metaphor.
:thumbsup:

[ixion]

6. "politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred, and schizophrenia."

t'was ever thus. One of the oldest Truisms in the book, IMO.

[John Q. Citizen]

7. The Repo base let bush know when they were unhappy. Harriet Miers? If you expect

the large contingent of Wellstone Democrats to sit by passively with no representation in the White house then you are naive. Obama may not be perfect, but if he thinks he can get away with ignoring the base completely he will find out it carries a cost.

It wasn't the Clinton Democrats that nominated Obama as our candidate. It was the Wellstone Dems who provided strong support who brung him to the dance.

I'm still waiting and watching. He has made a few lower profile appointments that I really like. I could care less about Rahm as Chief of Staff, I think that helps lefties by getting Rahm out of his house leadership position. I also think it helps Obama to have a complete asshole who's not shy about going bat shit insane in that particular spot working for Obama.

But yeah, i would really like to see someone who I can identify with in the cabinet. A seat at the table, a little balance, would be nice.

[Kahuna]

8. You might have to hold your breath until you're blue. Then what?

If you think that Obama isn't going to run a centrist government you're in for a big let down. He never promised anything but. Too bad you weren't paying attention.

[John Q. Citizen]

9. I don't forget to breathe. Holding breath is a centrist trait, ask Hill. We lefties organize

as Hill found out. You will find out too.

The left expecting a seat at the table is fair, realistic, and good for the country.

[Kahuna]

10. Oo. I'm scared. Sure you showed what damage you could do when

you voted for Nader over Gore. But, was it really worth it? I take it you learned nothing from that little exercise. Well, maybe YOU didn't. But a lot of others did.

[John Q. Citizen]

11. Why should you be afraid of knowledge? I know the truth hurts, is that it?

Come on, cowboy up.

Of course some people never learn.

[Kahuna]

12. I think you need to get over your perception that Obama was voted in

by the left. Obama was voted in by everybody. M'kay? You need to deal with THAT truth.

[John Q. Citizen]

13. in the general, you bet. We got him started in the primary. Look, get over it.

Sarah was loser for McCain.

The left was a winner for Obama!

The left is kicking the shit out of the right.

So we deserve a place at the table. And we will get one.

[FrenchieCat]

14. Of course we will get a place at the table......

But in reference to the left kicking the shit out of the right....I think that is getting a bit carried away.

Your reference to the "left" is quite vague.....as Obama won by virtue of Young people, Minorities and Suburbanites....none which are truly the "left" that you describe.

[John Q. Citizen]

15. oh, but they are the left I describe. The right side of the party tended Hillary.

The left tended Obama.

The left weren't as critical in the general but were still important. As were the all the former Hillary supporters now supporting Obama.


And i am speaking in general terms here. There were certainly lefties that voted Hill in the primaries and conservatives who backed Obama.


As far as the Left vs Right i was thinking Huckabee and then Palin failed to attract voters outside of RW evangelicals.

Where as the left was the margin of victory for Obama in the primaries. And Obama is perceived by me to be more community organizing, New Party endorsement seeking, law professoring and activist training than Hill was.

I know I worked with people and talked with people about the issues. I know what they told me.

[FrenchieCat]

16. We're going forward.......

that's what I'm looking forward to...

[Doctor_J]

17. He's going to create a 21st Century WPA, or so it seems

Wouldn't that constitute a seat at the table for the Wellstone Dems?

[John Q. Citizen]

18. We will see what is created, but that wouldn't be a seat at the table. it would be a program.

A seat at the table offers a chance to give input and to have access.

I'm positive a 21st century WPA could be done very well and it could also be done not so well. With everybody's input the chances are better for a good program.