Washington Dems and Obama Admin just don't get it

[HardWorkingDem]

Obama seems to remind me of a boss I once had - he had excuses and blames for everything that did not go right and completely overlooked his own behavior and the implications of his behavior.

Now MSNBC is reporting he has told Rolling Stone that Democratic voter apathy is "inexcusable."

Here's the link....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39396633/ns/politics-decision_2010/


These people also seem to think that Dems are impervious to repeated kicks to the groin by the Washington Dems and his administration and that we should all be like Kevin Bacon in Animal House and while on our knees, thank them for our swats to the ass and beg for more.


And yes, I know they have done a lot of things, but not too much to keep us excited and who's to blame for that?

[emulatorloo]

1. if Dems sit home while teabaggers come out in droves then the country is going to have a problem

I don't understand the DU need to fixate on a word ("inexcusable") rather than comprehend the message.

[Individualist]

7. Try comprehending this message

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9215208

[emulatorloo]

8. Obama has been campaigning aggressively on Dem principles.

Not much media coverage though.

[HardWorkingDem]

12. I'm sorry but many of his actions...

on important things have told a larger story.

But I think if the Dems take the shellacking people think the Dems are going to take, he will rebound stronger than before and the final two years of his admin WILL result in four more.

[littlewolf]

29. He campaigns nice

on the TV every week ... etc .... but actions speak louder the campaign rhetoric ...

[chimpymustgo]

35. Too bad he hasn't governed on Dem principles.

[Kalun D]

41. Campainging YES

Action?

NO

[sandnsea]

14. Dems aren't going to sit home, Greens are

And it's time we stopped pretending they're the same thing.

[dionysus]

38. and there it is folks. the truth has been spoken.

[Tarheel_Dem]

46. +10,000. Succint & straight to the heart of the matter.

:applause:

[atreides1]

27. We already have a problem

It's just that too many people won't admit it!

I plan to vote for the Democrats in my area, and hope that they win...but when do we see the head of the DNC in action?

Tim Kaine is like Punxatawney Phil, he comes out and sees his shadow then goes back into hiding, why was he made head of the DNC again?

If the only reason for the base to get fired up is because of what the Repukes did under Bush, then it happening. We still the Patriot Act, warrentless wiretapping, national security letters, and my personal favorite, the State secret act!!!

[jaxx]

2. After 8 years of bushco not voting is inexcusable.

Surely people haven't forgotten that already?

[nykym]

3. And you would

prefer the alternative?

"It is inexcusable for any Democrat or progressive right now to stand on the sidelines in this midterm election," Obama said.

Which I take to mean Get Out There and Vote! and vote Democratic because there is no other choice!

[HardWorkingDem]

9. As I've claimed before....Washington Dems....

have consistently shown an arrogance and disconnect when it comes to those who get them to where they are. For some reason, Wash Dems seem to morph to thinking they know what is best while ignoring those that brought them to the dance.

Anyone who follows politics KNOWS who votes during primaries and mid-terms and what have the Washington Dems done these past two years? Almost everything to crash the enthusiasm of the most loyal and those that vote during these two cycles.

Hell, Obama's behavior on these wars, human rights and civil liberties has killed my enthusiasm.

Then you have the constant slapping around of our base by the Dems in Congress.

I'm sorry to point this out, but theatrics and fundamental party politics MATTER to the base. To illustrate, look at the impact not doing anything about Joe Lieberman has done to the base and things like that.

Lastly, Washington Dems need a strong lesson in the mind of the American voter. They have to understand how petulant, short-term memory filled, craven and "give it to me now" the American people have become.

But no, they know best and now listen to how all of them are whining about us.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

22. Not *ALL* Dems, and that's the problem. You are blaming ALL Dems

when there have been good Dems fighting the good fight and doing the right thing.

Sadly, it is they who will suffer because Democratic voters want everything to be perfect and are complaining that we didn't achieve everything we wanted in less than two years...

[HardWorkingDem]

24. You touch on part of the problem with the Dem Party...

There are a few things about this wonderful party that establishment Dems seem to never pick up on and to me, the most difficult aspect of our party is how it's greatest strength (true diversity and a true big tent) is at the same time, it's greatest weakness. And the diversity of the Dem Party is it's greatest weakness because it's like a hundred tug of war contests going on all at once. There are so many truly different factions pulling on the core at the same time.

So what do the Washington Dems do? They continually ignore this. Instead of creating a strong, deep, core message that is truly an interest of PEOPLE, they lose sight of PEOPLE.

So when they start to fray, it IS the good strong Dems that are hurt (the Feingolds and Frankens), but it is not our fault, it is their fault because they are to entrenched in the Washington society.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

28. Those Dems who are fighting the hardest and shouting the loudest may possibly

lose their seats this fall. That was the point of my earlier thread here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9215658

The point that I was making is that it is so utterly unfair to those who did right by us not to support the party in general. That is the problem with the Democratic Party. Those voices get drowned out. Or, like Kucinich, get ridiculed and marginalized.

It makes absolutely NO sense whatsoever that Russ Feingold should be anywhere near losing his seat. Why is HE being punished after all the great things that he has done? What's going on here?

My point was that we should honor these true warriors by voting, even if they aren't on the ballot, because if we don't and the party goes down in defeat, while we're thinking that defeat may strengthen Obama or wake the party up, what it will do in reality is set the party back decades. More importantly, it is simply unfair to those who did right by us but now have to confront and even more cantankerous and hateful Republican crowd.

Really, it's not right.

[EFerrari]

4. Their messaging has been sort of terrible on everything.

And that's surprising because they did very well during the campaign.

[Individualist]

5. Delete

wrong place

[Vincardog]

6. they have done a lot of things, and too many of them are exactly the same as or worse than Dim Son

I do not support an executive whose policy is to be abe to kill US citizens without trial.
I do not support an executive whose policy is to be abe to spy on US citizens without warrant.
I do not support an executive whose policy is to continue illegal wars without end.

[emulatorloo]

11. I honestly could not bear another reign of republican arrogance and dumbass ignorance."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9215884

[Vincardog]

21. I have been working to prevent the 'reign of republican arrogance and dumbass ignorance' By the New

Dems.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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

[sandnsea]

13. Well actually I think he needs to stop listening to Greens

who pretend to be Democrats. Then he'd be getting the correct measure of Democratic loyalty and enthusiasm, which is near 90%.

I think there's going to be a lot of surprised pundits in November. The WAT brigade will need to stock up on passies when they realize their sitting on their pity pots meant nothing.

[emulatorloo]

16. A link for you

http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1896

"Obama's overall approval rating from Democrats is 87%"

[secondwind]

15. I take umbrage at your post. This man has worked VERY HAD for 20 months, always bucking

into the wind, with very little help from any of us. Now he is stumping around the country for US. It's up to US to help him out by getting out there are VOTING!!!

It would be inexcusable for anyone to stay home for this election cycle.

[EFerrari]

17. A blame the voters tour is not going to win the midterms. n/t

[HardWorkingDem]

18. I'm sorry, but while I will vote, I feel like many others that...

the Washington Dems and the Obama Admin has taken us for granted. I think their inside machines and perceived internet movements let them grow complacent and think we would be there no matter what.

And yes, while they have accomplished much, they have still dropped the ball on many important things. For example, why at the start of all this did the Wash Dems push to get rid of the filibuster? Well, I think we all know the reason for this - they were too cowardly to take gamble on the future and didn't want to risk losing any influence they might have had years down the road.

[Individualist]

26. rofl

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Bluebear]

39. 'with very little help from any of us.' lolol

[rurallib]

19. Hopefully Rahm leaving will help

One of my hopes for Obama was that he seemed to be able to think deeply and to then come to well thought out conclusions.
Unfortunately, there have been to many times where the conclusions have been to give in to the right. I guess to say you got something. But the fight for something better has been lacking.
I am thinking that lack of fight may have been Obama listening to Emanuel. I only hope he chooses someone more willing to stick up for what Dems believe.
I like the guy and of course he is no Bush or McCain. But in my gut I just feel he could have gotten more from the stimulus, health care reform, getting out of Iraq etc.

[frazzled]

20. TPM put up the quote and headlined it "Repeat, Repeat, Repeat"

So not everyone agrees with you. David Kurtz at TPM seems to think we need to say it again and again.

FYI, the actual quote:

It is inexcusable for any Democrat or progressive right now to stand on the sidelines in this midterm election. There may be complaints about us not having gotten certain things done, not fast enough, making certain legislative compromises. But right now, we've got a choice between a Republican Party that has moved to the right of George Bush and is looking to lock in the same policies that got us into these disasters in the first place, versus an administration that, with some admitted warts, has been the most successful administration in a generation in moving progressive agendas forward.
The idea that we've got a lack of enthusiasm in the Democratic base, that people are sitting on their hands complaining, is just irresponsible...It has been hard, and we've got some lumps to show for it. But if people now want to take their ball and go home, that tells me folks weren't serious in the first place.

I agree with the president. He's not saying you shouldn't criticize him. He's saying there's no excuse for sitting this election out. Because if you do, you are going to get crazy right-wing Republican policies. He says if you take your ball and go home, you were never serious in the first place about creating progressive change. I have to concur.

[Vincardog]

23. The question is was Obama serious in the first place about creating progressive change? If he was

why didn't he stop DADT by executive order?
Why didn't he support Single Payer?
Why did he continue the worst of gWb's policies?

[frazzled]

31. He's told you why

On DADT: He believes (and rightly) that since Congress enacted a law, it must repeal the law for all time. An executive order can't overturn a law of Congress. At most he could stop the dismissals, but the law would still be on the books, and the next president could issue a new executive order that supports prosecution. Obama will get DADT repealed: he's gotten all the top military brass to sign on to it. It was Republicans in Congress who blocked the passage of the repeal in the latest defense spending bill. But it will get done.

On Single-Payer: It wasn't going to pass. If you prefer the status quo, which is horrible, be my guest. But the status quo is reactionary, not progressive. Half a glass is definitely better than none. It means real things to real people.

On continuing all of GWB's policies: now you get serious. Some national security issues have been retained, I'll grant. But on foreign and domestic policy in general, there is not even a comparison.

End of this conversation for me.

[Kalun D]

43. Correct

Obama was "never serious in the first place about creating progressive change."

I have to concur

[GreenArrow]

25. They get it.

They just don't agree with it or intend to do anything about it.

[SidDithers]

30. Voter apathy is inexcusable...

if you're not involved, you deserve the government that someone else chooses for you.

I swear, Obama could say "the sky is blue" and some folks would find a way to be outraged about it.

Sid

[Bluenorthwest]

32. This is what comes from the nose thumbing and snarky

jabs at the very voters who put you there. Sure, it is easy a few months out to say 'fuck 'em, where they gunna go? are the gays going to vote Republican,' and smirk about it, but when the day gets close, and you actually see what it is like to need and get the votes of nose holding voters rather than enthusiastic voters they get upset, because they forgot that while Democrats will vote for Democrats, they will also complain about having to do so without much energy for it. Loyal voters will vote loyally, but they will also let the politicians hear all about it.

[glitch]

34. Key phrase in your post: "Democrats will vote for Democrats"

Perhaps that is something New Democrats didn't reckon on.

[gkhouston]

37. The problem isn't letting politicians hear about it. The problem is that when

your loyal voters vote loyally, but do so only out of party loyalty, they're probably not digging deep and bringing along undecided voters or people who only vote every now and then. That's what's so monumentally stupid about attacking the base.

[Tarheel_Dem]

33. The WH needs to keep you "excited"? How old are you? And I completely

agree with the president, that it is "inexcusable". If real "Democrats" sit on their hands, they won't be hurting the Prez personally. He'll still be President for the next two years. Of course, nothing will get done, but "Dems" won't have the WH to blame for it, they'll have only themselves.

I find it curious that a "Democratic" president can say the most innocuous of things, and it immediately gets overblown into some earth shattering insult, on a site called "Democratic" Underground, as an "attack". Who the hell thinks like this? Faux journalists have been pushing this "rift" between the WH & the left, almost from the beginning, and every utterance is dissected to death to foment fake outrage. Fake outrage is never in short supply here at DU. Waaaah! You hurt my feelings! Waaaah! Grow up people!

If 87% of us approve of this president, can't we just cut loose the rest? It's clear now, that they're never gonna be satisfied with anything this WH does, so perhaps it's time for a legal separation? :shrug:

[HardWorkingDem]

36. What media do you observe? Any?

You know, if you want to play insult games, then you get it right back. I get so sick and tired of other DU members throwing insults around. Grow up.

Have you even watched any episode of Olbermann? Read any issues of Rolling Stone?

If Obama didn't want to get slapped around a bit, then he shouldn't have made all the lofty promised he did in his campaign.

Yes, we are better off than under Bush, but these Washington Dems are clueless if they think we all should fall at their feet in awe for their behavior.

My goodness...look back at what Bush did to this country with what he had. That guy got us in two wars while the Dems did what? My point is, that man threw his weight around with much less support than the Washington Dems have done.

[Tarheel_Dem]

40. I'm assuming you represent the 13%?

If you need talking heads to tell you what to think, then my initial impressions of you were correct. :hi:

[RandomThoughts]

42. Great comment.

Talking heads can show many things, including how people pick and choose what talking head to listen to at some point to make a point.

Although you might have a sequential error there, for instance there are many things I think, that I do not post till they fit into some other idea also.

The last few posts for instance, always understood those ideas, the Gandalf, Gladiator, comparison for example, but they need a rocket assist to get into orbit.

So most comments of talking heads are spring boards for other thoughts.


Its all in the timing :)

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

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[spanone]

45. i agree with him...it is inexcusable