Well, It's Lonely Right Now

[liberalmuse]

This is not going to be a very well-written post, so I apologize for that, but I've got to get this off my chest. I've faithfully donated to DU every year since I started posting here many, many moons ago, but I find I can't anymore. It's been a rough year for a lot of us, but that never stopped me from giving what I had before. The truth is, I don't belong here anymore. The places where I sought refuge under Bush II are seeming more and more unrecognizable a lot of the time now. I'm sure others have felt like this when the status quo here and elsewhere in the lefty blogosphere seems to be against what they are feeling.

Granted, I've wanted to jump our President's shit, and have been right on the cusp. I won't do it. Maybe I'm just dense, but I still see President Obama as a very honorable man doing the best he can against almost insurmountable odds. Maybe it's because my mom who voted for Bush II twice ended up sticking up for Obama until her last breath. After years of my sister and I trying to make her see what Bush II was doing, she read something on waterboarding and could no longer vote for the people who supported torture. She was gung ho for Hillary after that, but came on board for Obama in the 11th hour like I did. She died on April 15th, and I remember our phone conversations, and her struggling to breathe, and how during those times when she saw people on tv bashing President Obama, she would use that breath to defend him. My god, her precious breath. I tried to tell her to save it, she needed it, but she wouldn't. It was something she had to do. She loved that man, and as difficult as our relationship was, I loved her and she's gone. I miss her, and it's those things you remember, not the other stuff.

As discouraged, frustrated, angry, disillusioned and perplexed as I've felt over the compromises, I can't stop seeing someone who's trying his best and doing what he sees needs to be done in order to move us forward. It might be slow, and it might seem excruciating, but instead of moving back leaps and bounds like we were under Bush, we really are inching along. I have to step back and look at all the incredible stuff he has done without a clear majority and with people jumping his shit 24x7.

He's not a corporate sellout. He's not our savior. He's just a man.

I can't bash our President. I won't do it. It doesn't feel right. For her.

[melissaf]

1. Thank you a thousand times

My mother says prayers for President Obama every night. She's also gotten in the faces of teabaggers and tried to talk them out of their hysteria. She's convinced he's a good man.

I'd settle for just a man any day of the week. And I'll add: he's not a monster.

[CakeGrrl]

2. Thanks for your perspective.

I refuse to treat the hyperbole seriously. People are reinforcing each other's notions that the President is some cold, calculating, bloodless Corporatist who has zero empathy for anyone who isn't rich, and is so odious that some are physically unable to watch him on TV.

I certainly can't stop them from harboring those notions or building up those perceptions, but I surely do not agree with or buy into them.

I have a pretty good character instinct. It's served me well.

I have a longtime friend whose perspective on things is solidly trustworthy.

After catching up recently, it was good to know that we were on the same wavelength in terms of looking at the big picture with the President's situation in Washington. There is no monster here. I just shake my head at all the burgeoning hysteria and know that time will have to tell.

[Guilded Lilly]

3. You aren't so alone, really. n/t

[gateley]

4. I'm so sorry about your mom.

I'm glad for her, and you, that she found someone she could feel strong about supporting. And she knows, you're still fighting the good fight.

And I agree about your assessment of Obama. I think he's a GOOD man, and truly wants what's best for everyone. Tough gig, though -- no way can he not give some to get some.

I understand your feelings of disillusionment and sadness about DU. I've often felt the same but really, where would I go? There are so many wonderful people here, and not just the ones who agree with me! :7

Please just try taking a break and see if that helps. I would miss you terribly. :hug:

[boppers]

5. Jesus. Hell of a thing. Brought tears to my eyes.

Don't worry, some of us are still out here, trying to sort hyperbole from fact, and keep the whole thing intellectually honest.

Yeah, it's not very popular, and it's not very easy, but such a thing never has been. The hearts of humans are often easily blinded to facts in the heat of passion.

[eridani]

6. Compromise is far less of a choice than messaging

Sorry, I just can't stand the constant repetition of the Republican message from our president.

[politicasista]

7. Thanks for posting

Sorry to hear about your mom. Glad she saw the light. It's sad that more people didn't realize that this country was in serious trouble until we finally realized it was time to listen to a voice of reason.


Hang in there. Good post. :kick:

[steve2470]

8. Sorry for the loss of your mom, also.

I also think Obama is basically a good man. That's why I voted for him (besides the fact I'd never vote for a Republican).

Like with any President, he's made mistakes. Like any HUMAN... he's made mistakes. He faces a tremendously hostile media, an apathetic and semi-brainwashed public who regularly vote against their own interests (if they vote at all), a kamikaze Tea Party, a sociopathic Republican Party, a Congress which is not with him usually, and the racism that still plagues our society.

I really don't think a truly progressive man or woman can become President any time soon. IF... IF... we have another horrible depression, THEN I think we can get another FDR.

If he really was a corporate sell-out, I think he would have conveniently "forgotten" his pledge to reform health care and just left things the way they were. Yes, the ACA is no single-payer but it's better than nothing for many Americans.

You're not alone. It's always easier to criticize and find fault, than look at the whole ugly picture and see the good.

*hugs*

[girl gone mad]

9. I wish I could agree with you.

I really do.

Frankly, the trillions gifted to Wall Street sans question or accountability while the productive class was left to rot tells me otherwise. He publicly promised that the bailouts would keep people in their houses, but behind the scenes HAMP was designed to fail and he did nothing to so much as pause the rampant foreclosure fraud. He sent Rahm Emanuel out to weaken Dodd-Frank. He made that secret deal to kill the public option while pretending it was still viable.

I could keep going and going, but it gets absurd. It will be hard to reverse the damage he's done and it's impossible for me to come to any other conclusion than that he is a neoliberal who puts the interests of the greedy and corrupt ahead of the needs of the people, ahead even of the security and stability of the country and I do not say that lightly.

[LiberalFighter]

10. The problem is that people want to jump on others without getting the details.

Pundits can't be trusted. News media can't be trusted. Especially when the details haven't even been given out. It appears that it is human nature to stir things up. The sane ones need to be cool wait until they get the necessary facts so if necessary know how to properly respond.

I get frustrated at times wondering when others start criticizing without the facts or pretend to have the facts.

I've been frustrated with Obama at times too. Wondering if we are getting screwed. But, I also realize that we would be much worse off if a Republican was President. And there could had been a Democrat that might have been worse. One in particular I know would had been. Not HCR though as I thought she would had been a great President too. But my choice was Gore.

Obama is doing the best he can and as long as he does that is all we can hope for. It's not easy when Republicans are working against him.

[steve2470]

11. +1 nt

[Logical]

17. Obama is not the fighter he appeared to be when he was campaigning! End of story! n-t

[MADem]

12. I feel a bit foolish myself in that I thought this was "Democratic"--as in the PARTY--Underground,

myself. Apparently I've been quite naive!!

The only democracy I see here is that a seeming majority of scolds and whiners engage in the systematic bashing of our big d Democratic President and put down those who try to grow the party and engage in that dreadful "incrementalism" that's pretty much how you have to do it in a two party system.

So no, you're not alone--I think it sucks, too. It's especially annoying when you can't call the person who calls the President an asshole, an asshole.

[CakeGrrl]

13. I'm glad you pointed that out.

The framing is that there's only one correct way to think and believe - theirs.

Anything else is framed as NOT standing with the elderly, or the poor. "My way or the highway" for the Left.

I even saw a suggestion that posters who were ignored by 50 people or more be banned. Seriously. You can just imagine how the PM channels would be abuzz to game that system!

[MADem]

14. We always used to be considered the Big Tent bunch.

It's a shame that the loudest voices here are the ones who are constantly complaining and direly suggesting they'll not help a reelection bid by our sitting Democratic President.....or they'll vote for some unwashed idiot who doesn't have a hope in hell of prevailing, and then feel virtuous about it when Dickhead McRepublican is sworn in.

It boggles the mind. A real "I'll give you something to cry about" approach to politics!

I'd be out on my ass if they instituted that 'ignore' system, simply because I don't think the world of Hugo Chavez!

[PVnRT]

24. I guess "real" Democrats have no ideals they aren't willing to sell out

and perpetuate stereotypes just like the wingnuts do.

Personally, I think Chavez is just another dictator, and I hope NATO and the Libyan rebels succeed. How does that play into your stereotyping of the left that you hate so much?

[MADem]

50. Who said I "hate" the left?

I don't hate the left, but I have no patience for people who are so far left that they come out on the far right.

If you're not a fan of Hugo and you favor the overthrow of Qaddafi, you aren't a lefty according to the bunch I'm talking about. You're a centrist (or a righty) corporate enabling pig, and you must be perpetually chastised for not wanting to live in a hovel in Cuba, which is "so much better" than the awful USA!

I self-identify as a social liberal and a fiscal moderate. I think we should pay our bills, is that so wrong? I think the old and the weak and the children should get extra protections. I think education should be prioritized and that we probably need to look at new ways to make that happen. I think teaching to tests doesn't work, but I also think there's nothing wrong with asking teachers to prove that they know what the hell they are doing on a regular basis (we demand it in the military, of police, firefighters, and other emergency responders, so why not in the schools?). I like both safety net AND bootstrap programs. I also like a robust (not steroidal, but technologically astute and capable) DOD.

Put me in whatever cubbyhole you like, it makes no diff to me.

[DevonRex]

29. I was naive, too, thinking that the site was what it said it was.

And in thinking the rules were the rules. Silly me.

[NYC_SKP]

15. I'm sorry to read this about your mom, liberalmuse.

My mom is going through an end of life thing now, and she, too, voted for Obama against the preferences of her husband.

I stay strong and I stay here for her and others who, with clear minds and hearts, support the president and all he tries to do.

Despite this congress and this economy.

Thanks for the post.

NYC_SKP

[jefferson_dem]

16. Bless you.

Thanks for the perspective. Rest assured, you are not alone. Hopefully, this place will become more united (as it should be) and respectful (as it must be) once the election campaigns kick off in full. In the meantime, take good care.

[babylonsister]

18. This post was very well written, my friend.

My sincere condolences go out to you; it's so difficult to lose a mom. :hug:

As for your sentiment in this post, thank you for speaking for me, and hang in there. You are NOT alone. :hug:

[ProSense]

19. Sorry about your mom liberalmuse.

My heart goes out to you.

You are not alone.

There are millions of people who share your views about the current political climate.

Here's a good read.

[Kind of Blue]

20. KnR Liberalmuse.

I'm very sorry your mom has passed. She left you/us a wonderful reminder through this post - the voice, even her last breaths saying use it.
I hope that you don't cut yourself off completely because there are lots of people who stand with you, and other sites where the majority of liberals can hash it out to defeat republicans - when you need to take a break from here :hug:

[great white snark]

21. Good gawd, how profound liberalmuse.

I'm sorry. Thank you for sharing this.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

22. I'm sitting here crying over your post. That was simply beautiful!! K&R!!! n/t

[proud patriot]

23. You are not alone

I'm fully in agreement with you , but feel I must still post , granted not as much as I used to.

hugs and strength for the loss of your mom :hug:

[Empowerer]

25. You are incredible, Liberalmuse

Thank you so much for this breathtakingly beautiful post.

You so eloquently expressed what many of us feel.

God bless you and God bless your mother. She sounds like an amazing woman.

[Bluerthanblue]

26. I can't recommend this post

more than once, but I wish like hell I could.

Thank you for taking the time and effort to say this.

You DO Belong here Liberalmuse. And I'm glad you are. I do understand how wearying, frustrating and discouraging it is to deal with so much negativity and outrage on a continual basis.

:hug:

no need to apologize for your writing- you've spoken well, and clearly. I wish what you've said didn't need to be said, or ring so true.

peace~

[flamingdem]

27. Kudos to you, keep the faith

and the knowledge that you express in front of all the garbage being thrown out at DU and in the media. It's a long road and we have to keep fighting.

[Inuca]

28. You are not alone

:hugs:

"He's not a corporate sellout. He's not our savior. He's just a man. " Perfectly put. He can make mistakes, and he probably made one now. I am frustrated and sad. For what he was not able to do. And for what may come next. He may be very badly hurt politically. I pray I am wrong.

[DevonRex]

30. She is still with you. She'll always be with you. And she doesn't have

to struggle to breathe anymore. :hug:

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

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

[Tennessee Gal]

32. Simply beautiful post. You describe how I feel about Obama. nt

[DevonRex]

33. I'm with you on the donations.

I'll donate a tiny bit more to Democrats instead.

[TreasonousBastard]

34. You mom died believing in someone, some thing-- how many can say that?

She died believing the planet would become a better place, at least partly because of Obama.

Helping that dream come true is one way to remember and honor the good parts of your relationship with her. Ignore the keyboard warriors shooting electrons here and other boards and go find the people in your area who have their boots on the green earth working to make this a better place.

[Dr Fate]

43. Yes- we should ignore all those people typing on their key boards.

Ignore the keyboard warriors- I could not agree more.

These people who go to chat rooms and type on their key boards should be ignored.

[Fearless]

35. I've got a bridge for sale... interested?

[madamesilverspurs]

39. Unwarranted nastiness on your part.

Here's hoping that your moments of sorrow are met with considerably more grace and class than what you offer.


-

[DevonRex]

45. That's DU now. nt

[Joe the Revelator]

49. In context, your post is meaningless.

[Nedsdag]

36. +1,000,000

I couldn't have said it any better myself.

Here's to you:

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[madamesilverspurs]

37. You wrote my sentiments,

including your thoughts about your mother. My mother is still with us at 92, and voted for a Democrat for the first time in her life when she voted for Obama.

And,like you, I found a home at DU during the most criminally dishonorable administration in my lifetime. DU has been a refuge, a source of encouragement and information, a place to winnow thoughts and gain a bit of clarity. It has been that, but is not that at present. I miss what it was.

The change was driven home a couple of days ago. I'd received my DU bumper sticker in the mail and I took it out to the car so that it could join the colorful display already there. But as I looked at all those declarations of support for Democrats - including Obama - it seemed that the DU sticker would be a contradiction. So for now, the bumper sticker remains on my book shelf.

I thank you for sharing your very heartfelt thoughts, and I offer thoughts of comfort in the loss of your mother. And I especially thank you for the most perfect comment ever posted on these boards:

He's not a corporate sellout. He's not a savior. He's just a man.

Thank you. You are most certainly not alone.



-

[uponit7771]

38. "...He's not a corporate sellout. He's not our savior. He's just a man..." AMEN!! One working with

...a very bad congress

[DFab420]

40. This post is like an oasis of intelligence and empathy

on a website that seems to be nothing but a spiteful hatefest.

[tweeternik]

41. Lovely post ... thank you! K&R!! n/t

[Dr Fate]

42. It's not your fault that Obama cant stop spending billions on Our Glorious Freedom Wars.

He is trapped or fooled into doing all these things we dont like.

There was NOTHING he could have done differently. NOTHING.

Dont listen to the silly liberals who say he could have stopped war spending, or fought harder on anything else to do with budgeting or money.

Besides-It's the liberal's fault for not supporting centrism harder before and during the midterms. That is the only excuse we need.

[NatBurner]

46. heh

under no circumstances should

readily available info be

accessed to better inform

debate. ever.
including, but not limited to, what our national
community organizer puts out daily.
kick.

heh

[lillypaddle]

44. I hear you

it's almost unbearable around here & other liberal sites. These days I don't agree with the President about very much, but the vitriol used when writing about him and the total disrespect ... it both saddens me and angers me. Seems like a LOT of people have totally lost any perspective.

[johnaries]

47. .

:hug:

[tblue37]

48. Liberalmuse, you might like to read an OP I posted back in mid-March.

"Is Obama a stealth progressive? (Could be.)" In it I suggested that perhaps he is "performing" a more compromising, right of center position to deceive the powers that be, while sneakily achieving more progress than most realize toward liberal goals.

Here's the link:

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x631285

Perhaps reading that post will make you feel less isolated here on DU.

Oh, and one other point, another DUer once posted that by publicly praising some awful proposal (I no longer remember which one), Obama was deliberately "smearing his cooties all over it" so that the rabid right wingers who might otherwise push it through had to automatically recoil against it (because it's in their DNA to automatically oppose anything Obama says he likes).

He really might be rope-a-doping them a lot more than we realize.

(BTW, if you do go to that thread, please read post #38. It's a really well-written, rational analysis by PirateSmile.)

[MouseFitzgerald]

51. The truth is that...

You and your mom got fooled. Its time to wake up and acknowledge the fact that he lied to us and is actively hurting this country in ways republicans could only dream of. Its a shame that he tricked your mother while she was ill, but I'm sure she wouldn't want you blindly supporting someone who is an obvious corporate shill.

[FrenchieCat]

52. Just because you checked your compassion at the door

when you joined DU a month ago
doesn't make you own the truth, even if you think you do.

As for liberalmuse whose been here longer than I have......
I don't believe she needs you telling her anything about
what's going on with her and her mother. She was sharing,
not asking for directions.

[FrenchieCat]

53. liberalmuse, you are not close to being alone......

there are millions of us out there,
and we will do the heavy lifting....
if not for ourselves, for our children,
and for the future.