Glenn Greenwald: Robert Gibbs attacks the fringe losers of the left

[Better Believe It]

Robert Gibbs attacks the fringe losers of the left
By Glenn Greenwald
August 10, 2010

You may think that the reason you're dissatisfied with the Obama administration is because of substantive objections to their policies: that they've done so little about crisis-level unemployment, foreclosures and widespread economic misery. Or because of the White House's apparently endless devotion to Wall Street. Or because the President has escalated a miserable, pointless and unwinnable war that is entering its ninth year. Or because he has claimed the power to imprison people for life with no charges and to assassinate American citizens without due process, intensified the secrecy weapons and immunity instruments abused by his predecessor, and found all new ways of denying habeas corpus. Or because he granted full-scale legal immunity to those who committed serious crimes in the last administration. Or because he's failed to fulfill -- or affirmatively broken -- promises ranging from transparency to gay rights.

But Robert Gibbs -- in one of the most petulant, self-pitying outbursts seen from a top political official in recent memory, half derived from a paranoid Richard Nixon rant and the other half from a Sean Hannity/Sarah Palin caricature of The Far Left -- is here to tell you that the real reason you're dissatisfied with the President is because you're a fringe, ideological, Leftist extremist ingrate who needs drug counseling:

The White House is simmering with anger at criticism from liberals who say President Obama is more concerned with deal-making than ideological purity.

During an interview with The Hill in his West Wing office, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs blasted liberal naysayers, whom he said would never regard anything the president did as good enough.

"I hear these people saying he’s like George Bush. Those people ought to be drug tested," Gibbs said. "I mean, it's crazy."

The press secretary dismissed the “professional left” in terms very similar to those used by their opponents on the ideological right, saying, "They will be satisfied when we have Canadian healthcare and we’ve eliminated the Pentagon. That’s not reality."

So, to recap: (1) The Professional Left are totally irrelevant losers who speak for absolutely nobody, and certainly nobody in Real America who matters; but (2) they're ruining everything for the White House!!! And: if you criticize the President, it's only because you're such a rabid extremist that you harbor a secret desire to eliminate the Pentagon -- that's how anti-American you are! You're such a Far Left extremist that Dennis Kucinich isn't far enough Left for you, you subversive, drug-using hippies! You're so far to the Left that you want to turn the U.S. into Canada. As David Frum put it today: "More proof of my longtime thesis, Repub pols fear the GOP base; Dem pols hate the Dem base."

The Democrats have been concerned about a lack of enthusiasm on the part of their base headed into the midterm elections. These sorts of rabid, caricatured, Fox-News-copying attacks on the Left will undoubtedly help generate more enthusiasm -- more loud clapping -- for the Democrats. I know I'm eager to go canvass and clap for Democrats after reading Gibbs' noble, inspiring vision. If it were Gibbs' goal to be as petulant and self-pitying as possible, what could he have done differently?

Perhaps one day the White House can work itself up to express this sort of sputtering rage against the Right, or the Wall Street thieves who destroyed the American economy, or the permanent factions that control Washington. Until then, we'll have to satisfy ourselves with White House explanations that the Real Culprits are not (of course) them, but the Professional Left, that is simultaneously totally irrelevant and ruining everything. I'll give credit to Gibbs for putting his name on this outburst: these are usually the things they say anonymously and then deny afterward on the record that it's what they think.

Please read the full article at:

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/08/10/gibbs

[Individualist]

1. K&R

[olegramps]

127. Its time to form a Labor Party that truly represents workers.

It is also way past time for term limits. Professional pols are nothing more than parasitic blood sucking scum bags.

[readmoreoften]

132. +10,000,000

[KansasVoter]

2. +1000

[Canuckistanian]

3. Very astute comment from Frum

"Repub pols fear the GOP base; Dem pols hate the Dem base."

He does show flashes of sanity sometimes, much as I hate to admit it.

[LargeGreenSpider]

5. The Dem pols he refers to ...

have neither the balls nor the brains to do what needs to be done. In effect, they are cheap, tawdry facsimilies of the GOPricks we hate.

[KamaAina]

12. That's because he's Canadian

:-)

[Canuckistanian]

65. I've been apologizing for that for years

Along with Mark Steyn.

But at least Frum shows some promise.

[tom_paine]

18. It's been obvious for years now. I have been saying it for years.

Not about Frum, but Dem pols hating their own base.

Arguing the whys and wherefores that we cannot know, based on observable reality, is a losing game. One can never get the answers one seeks and it only makes a person look crazy in the eyes of the vast vast VAST majority who refuse to even look outside the narowing confines of our infantilized National Dialog.

However, it seems that the Democratic "Leadership", with precious few eexceptions, is so kiss-up, kick-down and spineless, they only feel truly comfortable in attacking the weakest, most powerless faction around. (this seems to be a common feature throughout history and is often called scapegoating when applied more virulently and along racial or religious lines)

But I have to ask, how many times does this same despising hatred of the Democratic base have to occur, both overtly and in policy decision-making, before we start to understand the possibility that this is how the Democratic "Leadership" WANTS IT TO BE.

When do we start asking if our current bunch of cowardly losers are throwing the game on purpose and just following the rules of marketing that tell them to do just little enough to fool the rubes, while pursuing their own goals behind the scenes?

I can't know the answers. No one can. But I can see the results. And the results tells me that it doesn't matter whether the Democratic Party is now, through the DLC, actually a subsidiary of the Republican Party, or just acts like that for other reasons.

Because that's how it has behaved these past 10 years, and in some ways, these past 40 years since Watergate.

[amborin]

64. +100

[Canuckistanian]

66. You're braver than I am

That's exactly how I feel.

[Lost4words]

74. exactly, 40 years!

:hi:

[Grinchie]

115. They have to kick us down because we stand in the way of Corporate Profits

We actually take notice when handouts are given to the largest and the most undeserved Corporations that could feed the entire world for a week

Yet, the Government is so "Pobrito< Poor, or Insolvent", yet can wage two wars simultaneously without brething hard, or raising interest rates, which are basically at 0.25%, which means "Free Money", only not to you or me. We get 21% Credit Cards*, if that, or we get a generous 1.55% one year CD, if anyone had the desire to park money and unavailable while the majority of America sells off grandpas lifetime of tools, equipment, books, and dinnerware.

You can bet that the banksters are very liquid right now, feeding off the remains of the dying american dream.

This economic Ponzi scheme is going down hard, and people have wisened up and are going to starve these Mofo's/Banksters to death. As we starve them, only then will the fraud become too big to hide, and the so call too big to fail will show their true colors.


*I do not condone the use of a Credit Card for anything. I do not use them, and only resort to Debit/Check Card when forced to.

[BzaDem]

4. "Perhaps one day the White House can work itself up to express this sort of sputtering rage against

the Right."

How about perhaps one day, Obama bashing "progressives" can work THEMSELVES up to express their sputtering rage against the right?

Last I checked, Obama and his administration display outrage towards the right EVERY DAY. It is the Obama bashers that are directing their criticism at the wrong person, not Obama.

[Individualist]

9. Fail.

[BzaDem]

10. Thank you for your very detailed response. n/t

[roguevalley]

83. how about this then: Nothing happens in the white house that he

doesn't initial and approve. Rahm and Gibb's bullshit is pre-approved. They don't get the right to free wheel. The crap stops with Obama and to assume that it is always someone else's fault and the LEADER OF THE PARTY AND FREE WORLD somehow isn't responsible for what happens and what comes out of the white house is so much Dubya, Reagon and Nixon I could scream. He is responsible. He is the one to whom the buck passes. Where is his nuanced and heart felt rebuttal of Gibbs? You won't see it because he had done what he wanted done.

[gratuitous]

91. I wonder if that was too much detail, too?

Or maybe it was too little detail. Where is Goldilocks anymore?

[defendandprotect]

99. All three of them need to go -- Obama/Rahma and Gibbs --

we need to replace them with some truly liberal/progressive Democrats who actually

like the Democratic Platform and ideals of the party!!

And who don't want to kiss corporate ass every day --!!

[Enthusiast]

111. Fail # 2

[Forkboy]

Obama is to my right.

[Lorien]

22. We do every day. It's the reason why we oppose this administrations Right Wing policies

Not their words, their ACTIONS. You're the one giving the Right a big wet kiss on a daily basis by cheering for the Democratic party's adoption of a Republican ideology.

[pmorlan1]

70. @Lorien

Sadly, some people never go beyond the words to see if the words are actually true.

[defendandprotect]

100. +1000% -- thank you!

Yes -- and a very shameful Repug ideology --

attacks on schools with Obama/Duncan pushing Charter schools!

And, the Cat Food Commission --

unbelievable!!

[gratuitous]

23. That would be great, if true

Where is the Obama administration's outrage toward fatcat Wall Street tycoons? Where is their outrage toward racist policies and laws enacted by states usurping the federal government's role? Where is their outrage toward treating homosexuals as second-class citizens? Where is their outrage toward the ruinously expensive invasions and occupations of other countries? Where is their outrage toward officially-sanctioned torture and extra-legal executions? Where is their outrage toward stagnant wages? Where is their outrage toward a system heavily tilted in favor of the overrich, and policies that tilt it even further in that direction? Where is their outrage over the murder of ACORN? Where is their outrage over people being turned out of their houses? Where is their outrage over private military contractors operating without any legal check of any kind? Where is their outrage over Fox News as the propaganda arm of the Republican party? Where is their outrage over the partisan political abuse of the nation's public airwaves?

Whoof! Better take a break now. I'll settle for outrage expressed over any of these items. Real people are suffering every day in this country, and the leadership from the White House seems far more preoccupied with currying favor with folks who will never make nice with them.

[gratuitous]

35. Oops, too many details, I guess

Hard to know when one's outrage is ju-u-u-u-u-u-ust right for the Goldilocks Administration.

[roguevalley]

84. I will settle for outrage expressed at Gibbs. I won't hold my breath.

[Steely_Dan]

137. Nice Rant!

Well stated and on the mark. Thanks

-PLA

[SidDithers]

28. +1...nt

Sid

[ljm2002]

37. Bull pucky.

The left does express rage at the right on a regular basis.

Do you ever watch Rachel Maddow? Ed Schulz? Keith Olbermann?

Do you ever read this board?

Do you read articles in Salon and The Nation?

If you ever do any of the above, then you cannot say that the left does not express its rage at the right. Just because these same sources do criticize the President and his administration on a regular basis, does not mean it is misdirected. On the contrary, these criticisms are always based on policy differences.

Now, since YOU made the assertion that "Obama and his administration display outrage towards the right EVERY DAY" -- please supply links showing these daily outbursts. Just the last week's worth would be fine.

Thanks in advance.

[hiphopnation]

47. ???

Sputtering outrage is not what real progressives hired the man to do. We hired him to make clear and substantive policy changes from the prior administration, much of which has failed to yet materialize and is thus deserving of chiding every day until more does materialize. Simply displaying outrage does not satisfy the job requirements, in my book, and, as a matter of policy, amounts only to talk.

[liberation]

53. So one day those "progressives" need to tone down their disdain for the right and be more polite

and the next you tell us we do not push enough against the right. So what is it? It is hard trying to keep up with you guys and your spin and general logical dissonance. I am getting dizzy.

[defendandprotect]

101. IMO, the left has been too damned quiet -- we need to get louder and more organized...!!

While most of the right wing support is faked -- those they hire make plenty of noise!

We need to do the same!

[me b zola]

67. I'm sick and tired of the dog and pony show

We spent all of our time and energy defending Clinton against the constant stupidity thrown at him from the right, and what we got in return was an attack on the poor, NAFTA, and deregulation. I'm not dancing to that tune any longer.

[defendandprotect]

102. +1000% -- totally agree . . . nice insights!

[Enthusiast]

112. It was only a distraction-the

persecution of Clinton-a smoke screen. And now we are suffering the effects of the Telecommunications Act among others. The Graham-Leach-Bliley Act was possibly the most damaging.

I guess we aren't playing along this time. If we don't play along Gibbs must express outrage. Must play da game, otherwise they won't achieve their agenda.

[DeSwiss]

85. I'm putting you on IGNORE now. Your little naive diatribes are getting on my nerves.

Good-bye and good luck with the DLC! :)

[fascisthunter]

153. to me that's been the best policy

only argue with those who don't bs.... it's a waste of time and energy getting annoyed and responding to them. To many have done so here and have fallen victim to their baiting.

[MsPithy]

94. And how's the weather in the alternate reality

where you live? "displays outrage toward the right EVERY DAY." Really? So in the last 10 days Obama or his administration have displayed outrage toward the right 10 times. Please provide 10 links that show Obama or his administration, or even Bo, displaying outrage toward the right.

[defendandprotect]

98. Guess Pelosi missed that cause she's had to complain to WH twice now ...

about attacks by Gibbs/WH on Democrats in Congress!!!

If you're truly "outraged" with the right, you don't play ball with them and call it

"bipartisanship" -- !!

Nor do you support a right wing corporate agenda -- !!

[Kalun D]

114. You're mixed up

the White House is actually right of center

so the left is against the repug right and the White House right.

and that is faux outrage from the White House because they are going along with the repugs on a lot of issues, especially the ones with large dollar amounts, like banker bailouts and wars.

[onpatrol98]

128. The president does bash the right...

The president does bash the right. He's been in professional campaign mode since he's been in office. But, the more you hear from the likes of Gibbs and Rahm, the more you wonder if it's all a circus trick. The president comes out and rallies the troops..."Go, get 'em". And, then we're supposed to go trotting out like yard dogs to get the right.

When really, its the people in Washington with all the power. We elect them. Then they go to Washington and do whatever the heck they please. But, they take a moment to hype us up.

To be honest, I'm sick of fear mongering and politicking from whatever corner it comes at this point. Professional politicians don't care about regular, everyday, Americans. They care about their own legacies and re-elections. The voting public is a stumbling block at best

[davidthegnome]

133. I'm sure that if you read a few threads here...

you'll realize that the "Obama bashing progressives" ARE sputtering rage against the right, we can continue to do that while pointing out our issues and disagreements with (and disappointment in) the President. Unfortunately, the person who most frequently angers us these days is the man we voted for who just keeps on breaking his promises, bending the truth - and offering up reform similar to giving crumbs to the starving. You seem to be suggesting we should be grateful for the crumbs. No matter how you spin it though - a crumb is not a loaf of bread.

[YOY]

136. What the hell is so "left" or "centrist" about Obama?

Really? I'm not talking about actually doing things as being "progressive"...I'm talking about the means to the ends. They're all conservative solutions.

The "health care reform"? It's the Republicans' 1993 solution. Really? Universal Romneycare is left?

Manditory return of financial regulations? That's not "left"? That's absofrickinglutely neccesary? It's like taking care of your kids. It's not right or left...it's what you're SUPPOSED to do!

It's not even a personal vantage thing. It's the political compass. That does not change. No matter how it's spun.

[tomp]

147. no, really. fail. nt

[Winterblues]

6. K & R

:kick:

[EFerrari]

7. Frum is right.

[Javaman]

8. "Perhaps one day the White House can work itself up to express this sort of sputtering rage against

the right"

if only.

[GreenPartyVoter]

20. Indeed

[Raine]

31. Yeah if only *sigh* nt

[CoffeeCat]

11. So the Democrats have joined the Republicans...

...in vilifying, demonizing and mischaracterizing the left as a bunch of radical losers?

It should be crystal clear to everyone by now that the Republicans and Democrats are in bed with corporations
and the elites who are destroying our democracy and our economy. Any attempt at solving that big issue is
attacked. And yes, Obama has continued Bush's legacy which gives corporations untold influence in our
government. Obama also continued torture, rendition and failed to reinstate the Habeas Corpus rights that
George Bush took away. Obama campaigned on reinstating Habeas, but never did.

Are we supposed to ignore all of that and be good little voters when they need us?

He treats us like petulant children who didn't get their pony.

All we're asking is for our country to be a democracy and free from greedy corporations that have complete control
of our government. We want an end to illegal wiretapping. We want Habeas Corpus reinstated. We want an
end to torture. We want these money-sucking, ridiculous wars to end, we want Americans to have access to a national
health care system that is similar to the health care systems of every industrialized nation on this planet. We
want a President that doesn't kow tow to Wall Street, the banksters, big Pharma and the health insurance companies.

Those things---are not "leftist" or "Progressive".

Those things are necessary for a functioning democracy.

OUR COUNTRY IS SICK!!!!!

[GreenArrow]

77. "those things are necessary for a functioning democracy"

If there were a function for reccing individual posts, I'd rec this.

[defendandprotect]

103. +1000% --- corporate money has destroyed the functioning of democracy/Congress...

all of it --

Look at what Pelosi is signaling --

TWICE now she's had to complain to the WH about Gibbs attacks on Democratic Congress!!

She's asking, what are they trying to do? What sense does this make pre-election?

It only makes sense if you're trying to move the party to the right --

Pelosi also made clear: "Obama for for a lot of things when he was campaigning which he

is no longer for--"

Pretty clear to me --

It's not only Democratic voters being betrayed -- it's any Democrat in Congress trying to

act like a Democrat!!

[Enthusiast]

113. Nice post, CoffeeCat!

You are so right on this "Those things---are not "leftist" or "Progressive".

These should be the aim of every thinking American. Every thinking American that wants to end the destruction of representative democracy. We are watching it unfold right before our eyes.

[sellitman]

140. Spot on

I couldn't agree more.

[tomp]

149. the democratic party has always hated the left. period. nt

[Political Tiger]

13. Greenwald makes a good living bashing the President.

Now the poor baby has his fellings hurt. Awwwwwwwwww!

[liberation]

55. "Idealism without pragmatism is just a way to flatter your ego."

I don't think you fully grasp the level of dissonance in that quote. LOL.

Tiger, stripes... oh, I get it noooooow. You guys crack me up.

[roguevalley]

87. greenwald makes a good living telling the truth. since when does

a president get a free pass when they are an asshole? Bush didn't get one, why should obama? Oh wait ...

[defendandprotect]

105. Greenwald is just one more Democrat on the WH "enemies list" ....

[defendandprotect]

104. Obama is making it easy . . . no one wants a corporatist in White House ....

No one but elites/corporates and those looking to move the party to the right!

[gulliver]

14. You might think that Glenn is...

...more worried that people might stop clicking on the Google Ads for his articles than about the success of liberalism as a movement.

It looks like Gibbs hit who he was aiming at. Expect more "kernel of truth in a bucket of bull" tantrums from Greenwald and co-religionists for a few days.

[roguevalley]

88. yawn

[Ramulux]

92. Im begging you

offer up any sort of evidence that what you are saying is true. Your pointless Greenwald bashing is sad and pathetic. Offer up some sort of valid response to what he said or shut up.

[puebloknot]

109. Gullible, is it? Oh, no, sorry, it's Gulliver. My bad. nt

[eilen]

129. Wow, another progressive liberal journalist

Under dat Bus. I think it is an 18 wheeler bus by now. Moooove over Shirley!

[fascisthunter]

154. seems the admin is much more sensitive... if we didn't matter

they'd keep their mouths shut and just do their jobs... we pay them too. Your post is typical of those who want to deflect the truth, the same way the right wing does: projection.

[inna]

15. K&R.

Wow, just learning about this new fiasco.

For some reason, I cannot open Salon on my work computer. Marked for reading at home.

[BrklynLiberal]

16. Greenwald speaks for me...

This is certainly an eye-opening observation...

As David Frum put it today: "More proof of my longtime thesis, Repub pols fear the GOP base; Dem pols hate the Dem base."

[Ignis]

17. K&R

So, to recap: (1) The Professional Left are totally irrelevant losers who speak for absolutely nobody, and certainly nobody in Real America who matters; but (2) they're ruining everything for the White House!!! And: if you criticize the President, it's only because you're such a rabid extremist that you harbor a secret desire to eliminate the Pentagon -- that's how anti-American you are! You're such a Far Left extremist that Dennis Kucinich isn't far enough Left for you, you subversive, drug-using hippies! You're so far to the Left that you want to turn the U.S. into Canada.

Strange days. :crazy:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

19. I'm loving all the righteous indignation.

These people go on and on about how it's their patriotic duty to criticize Obama over bullshit that they make up, but then they get a little comeuppance in return, and they shriek like a little girl covered in spiders.

[Better Believe It]

25. So what "bull shit" do you think liberals are making up about Obama administration policies?

Be specific and post credible links please.

Thank you.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

27. Please don't play dumb.

C'mon.

[Better Believe It]

30. Please answer the question unless you have nothing to back up your attack on liberals/progressives.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

32. BBI, I've seen you make up half of it.

So like I said, stop playing dumb.

[Vinnie From Indy]

36. LOL!

YOu shall be waiting a good long time for the PronSyrup to engage in rational, fact-based debate. It is not his modus operandi. He is a committed drive-by poster. I do enjoy his posts for their sublime lack of substance. A work of art actually.

[ljm2002]

40. Or, maybe it's a Work O' Fart. n/t

[Rex]

48. Sardonic vetting.

Nothing original or new, I've seen hundreds post here just like HFCS.

[WinkyDink]

135. Aw, c'mon; at least condescend with details!

[SidDithers]

29. ROFL...

"little girl covered in spiders" is brilliant. :applause:

Sid

[ljm2002]

39. So you say the left criticizes Obama...

..."over bullshit that they make up".

Please do give us some examples of bullshit that we on the left have made up when criticizing Obama.

I get that people can disagree not only on the issues but on the priorities. I get that Obama came into office with a shitload of problems on the table, and could not be expected to do everything all at once.

On the other hand: rendition, habeas corpus, warrantless searches, DADT, no public option, not even a hearing for single payer, etc. etc.

So again, please provide us with that list of made-up issues that the left uses to criticize Obama.

[Radical Activist]

42. Greenwald needs to understand that responding to criticism doesn't equate to silencing it.

He's too thin skinned.

[EFerrari]

119. No, he's not. And he probably read that "stop complaining and get to work"

memo from the DLC that was posted here over the week-end. When people tell you to shut up, they general mean it.

[Lost4words]

75. talk about tantrums, make up!?

[WinkyDink]

134. Do little boys covered in spiders not shriek?

[bluethruandthru]

21. I wonder if Scott McClellan would ever have said anything similar about the teabaggers?

I'm just imagining what that would have been like.

[damntexdem]

24. FTOTL! Hey, I belong to FTOTL!

So good to have a name for what I am.

;-)

[OwnedByFerrets]

26. K and R

[katandmoon]

33. K&R.

[Steely_Dan]

34. And To Think...

...it seems like only yesterday, we were just simply known as "Democrats." Now we are extremists...the loony left. I'm glad that FDR isn't alive to see this.

[jgraz]

38. Look out, Gibbsy. You're messing with people who are far smarter than you are.

Think about that the next time you open your sensible pie hole.

[Radical Activist]

41. Obama attacks the right all the time.

I guess Greenwald didn't notice.

He also left off the issue I'm most disappoitned about: the Senate's failure to pass climate change. But I don't think putting the focus on how the Senate has forced each compromise fits in with Greenwald's personal agenda.

Greenwald may think Obama was talking about the entire left, but most of us don't belong to the "professional left" like Greenwald does. No one was attacking anyone's right to criticize Obama from the left. Gibbs was simply responding to those who do it stupidly.

[ProSense]

43. Of course he notices, he once

denounced the DNC for criticizing the right because he thought that Democrats shouldn't resort to those tactics.

Greenwald is a self-righteous chronic whiner.

[EFerrari]

45. LOL.

And so you continue the mistake he walked back.

Brilliant!

[johnaries]

44. BREAKING NEWS: Glenn Greenwald once again proves

that he's a talentless hack.

[hiphopnation]

46. What a blistering screed!

Staggering insight and a sobering critique. I bet Greenwald is scrambling to respond. I, for one, will be hanging on his response.

[Better Believe It]

50. Absolutely brilliant! :) How bout "Greenwald is a drug crazed terriorist"?

[hiphopnation]

51. I for one am looking forward to the FBI and NSA

finally acting on the inch-and-a-half thick file they have on Greenwald. They guy is a dangerous fringe lunatic who peddles some of the most repellent agitprop around. An addled drug addict to boot! And don't forget the molestation rumors and beating of poor defenseless puppies. Total scum.

[roguevalley]

89. this would be right at home on another site that shall remain nameless.

that you should have half the guts he's had over the regime that just left and right now when the world hangs by a thread. and if you can substantiate any of the crap you just said, we all are waiting breathlessly. Just a little bit of old Gibbs in you, smearing someone.

[hiphopnation]

146. here, let me help you with that

*affix sarcasm filter*

There we are. How does that fit? Now, if you would be so kind, please go re-read my posts with this handy-dandy filter and see what ya think. And, fer cripes sake, have a great day!

[Lost4words]

76. oh yea he is a hack alright, you embarrass yourself

[GreenArrow]

79. Sadly, he doesn't.

.

[NJmaverick]

49. Guess ole Glenn is much better at handing out criticism that getting it

why am I not surprised?

[hiphopnation]

52. TAKE THAT GLENN!!111!!!1!!11!

[liberation]

54. Speaking of not being surprised.

Hilarious seeing the cleaning crew in full damage control mode... LOL

[NJmaverick]

56. I am confused is the cleaning crew those springing to the defense of the "professional left"

or is it those supporting the President?

[hiphopnation]

57. it's an undercover team of ninja assassins!!

[NJmaverick]

58. or it might just be one person

[liberation]

60. Woooossssshhhhhhhhhh

keep digging, or is it scrubbing? LOL

[Kalun D]

116. Whud

you like to buy a vowel? I'll loan you the money.

Hurr Durr

[laughingliberal]

59. K & R !!!! nt

[KakistocracyHater]

61. now it's official, no? they ARE the Other Right. What shall we call them?

Other Right
Democrat
DLC
?
Neo-"Liberals"-goes nicely with Neo-Cons
?

[Overseas]

62. Van Jones would be a much better Press Secretary.

His speech at Netroots Nation was much more compelling. Yes, you are heartbroken, but our president has achieved a lot, as Captain of the Titantic after it hit the Bush Moral & Economic Crashes, so please do not give up.

[tomp]

150. sorry, jones' speech was just a different take on excusing obama-fail. nt

[another saigon]

63. Yow! Go Glenn!

<snip>

In other words: we should all stop criticizing the administration when it does things we think are bad, destructive and wrong, and instead dutifully place our allegiance to Party above all else by loyally and quietly working to elect more Democrats. Sorry: that's not going to happen. I vastly prefer the model of citizenship outlined by a Senator named Barack Obama in his 2005 Daily Kos diary:

In that spirit, let me end by saying I don't pretend to have all the answers to the challenges we face, and I look forward to periodic conversations with all of you in the months and years to come. I trust that you will continue to let me and other Democrats know when you believe we are screwing up. And I, in turn, will always try and show you the respect and candor one owes his friends and allies.

Being a rational, engaged citizen means objecting when political leaders do things that you think are wrong or bad and praising them when they do things you think are good and constructive. That even includes President Obama. It's just that simple, and pointing to Scary John Boehner hovering in the corner in order to ratchet up fear levels isn't going to change that, nor should it. Barack Obama is President of the U.S. at least until January, 2013, and wields vast power. It's therefore vital that he, like any other political official, be held accountable for the bad actions he undertakes -- just as he himself always argued.

[proReality]

118. Yeah, I kinda remember some one or two in the

last administration saying something about all of us having to watch what we say about our glorious government officials or we'd be considered anti-American terrorists. Funny how it keeps echoing through those marble halls to this day. Well, maybe it's because there are a lot of the last administration's people still holding onto office space there.

[ibegurpard]

68. ouch

that one had to hurt

[Major Hogwash]

69. They should be bitching about Glenn Beck, not Glenn Greenwald.

Seriously, who is at the wheel of the bus now?

[Kurovski]

71. Gibbs has got to go. he's made the WH look ridiculous,

and the President looks like he can't control the underlings. that's what it LOOKS like.

Obama treats everyone with respect, whatever he may feel.

He must fire Gibbs for running counter to the President's natural good manners. :)

No, seriously, the guy's gotta go. It's about time anyway, who ever keeps that job for too long?

[EFerrari]

81. The real problem is, once you say something like Robert said today

you can't take it back.

[Better Believe It]

95. I believe that Gibbs spoke on behalf of the White House with Rahm and Obama's approval.

They may be having a good laugh tonight about the liberal response to his well thought out attack.

Things don't just happen.

Not in this White House.

[hulka38]

124. Absolutely. Gibbs said out loud what the WH believes.

[defendandprotect]

96. Come on ... he was speaking for Obama/Rahm . . . and DLC ...

they're pissed cause we're making a scene rather than lying down dead!!

[Lost4words]

72. Greenwald sums it up pretty nicely I think! thanks for the link

[sendero]

73. Thanks...

... at least there are still a few people left that get it.

[pam4water]

78. K&R

[Robeson]

80. Unfortunately, if you've ever read biographies on Obama, he's never met...

...a conservative, who he couldn't make a deal with.

[defendandprotect]

97. Had I known he describes himself as "New Dem" would NEVER have voted for him!!

[scheming daemons]

121. Who would you have voted for?

[DeSwiss]

82. Boo-yah!!! Hoist by his own petard.

K&R!!!

[Dinger]

86. Kay And Are :)

[reggie the dog]

90. If I took a drug test today I would fail for cannabis

and so would a lot of people including many of you reading this WHAT DOES THAT CHANGE??? Damn it to hell REAGAN started the damned drug testing invasion of privacy bullshit back in the 80s because he hated hippies. You would think that the Democratic party would be against drug testing NOT PRO DRUG TESTING like this asshole. What is worse is that he insinuates that using testable drugs (not cocaine, meth heroin etc which are out of your piss in a day, testable drugs means CANNABIS which is about the least damaging drug known to human kind) makes one an extremist he then insinuates that only extremists would be mad at obama for continuing with w's policies in many spheres. Hello???? Canadian style health care why not go with the health care ranked number 1 in the world by the WHO i believe and that would be France which has single payer national health insurance. And who suggested we close the pentagon? plenty of us want the defense department to be used for actual defense as opposed to offense and empire building attempts but we do not want to do away with the pentagon.

did dude get his shitty script straight from el rushbo ???

I guess we can see which part of the Democratic party won the battle symbolized by the violence in the streets of Chicago in 1968.

[defendandprotect]

93. Great Greenwald . . !! Shameful deeds behind the alleged "Chess Game" -- !!

[Overseas]

106. K&R! //nt

[orbitalman]

107. Kick... and recommend. n/t

[puebloknot]

108. K&R Talk about stepping on your own .... well, strike that.

But the jury already heard it.

[Axle_techie]

110. But wait, didn't you know

he explained himself afterward? This just undoes his whole statement!!! Oh, and if you are criticizing him then you are part of the professional left and need to get drug counseling... You just cannot go against the Democratic administration, they are always right and always doing what is best for you, whether you know it (or like it), or not. If you criticize, you are a druggie or a republican bent out of shape about having a black man as president.

Bad, bad constituents. No biscuits.

[leftstreet]

117. K&R

[flyarm]

120. Hey Gibbs , Is Michelle a Professional Liberal? She gardens with Jimmy Choo $1000.00 boots on!

or is she a conservative elite?

[McCamy Taylor]

122. ...and RNC laughs at the gullible Dems who have fallen for "Divide and Conquer" once again.

[yowzayowzayowza]

143. Yep. n/t

[flyarm]

123. Hey Gibbs, Damn right I would be satisfied with Canadian Health care instead of the horse dung we

will be mandated to buy, or you have fucked us out of what we already have which is costing us our first born!

Fuck you Gibbs and the horse you rode in on! or was that a chariot?

[hulka38]

125. K&R

[Raster]

126. There will be no "sputtering rage against the Right, or the Wall Street thieves who destroyed...

...the American economy, or the permanent factions that control Washington." They OWN the White House and Congress.

" There's a reason that education sucks, and it’s the same reason it will never ever ever be fixed. It’s never going to get any better, don’t look for it. Be happy with what you’ve got. Because the owners of this country don’t want that. I’m talking about the real owners now, the big, wealthy, business interests that control all things and make the big decisions.

Forget the politicians, they’re irrelevant.

Politicians are put there to give you that idea that you have freedom of choice. You don’t. You have no choice. You have owners. They own you. They own everything. They own all the important land, they own and control the corporations, and they’ve long since bought and paid for the Senate, the Congress, the State Houses, and the City Halls. They’ve got the judges in their back pockets. And they own all the big media companies so they control just about all the news and information you get to hear.

They’ve got you by the balls.

They spend billions of dollars every year lobbying to get what they want. Well, we know what they want; they want more for themselves and less for everybody else. But I’ll tell you what they don’t want—they don’t want a population of citizens capable of critical thinking. They don’t want well informed, well educated people capable of critical thinking. They’re not interested in that. That doesn’t help them. That’s against their interest. You know something, they don’t want people that are smart enough to sit around their kitchen table and figure out how badly they’re getting fucked by a system that threw them overboard 30 fucking years ago.

They don’t want that, you know what they want?

They want obedient workers, obedient workers. People who are just smart enough to run the machines and do the paperwork and just dumb enough to passively accept all these increasingly shittier jobs with the lower pay, the longer hours, the reduced benefits, the end of overtime and the vanishing pension that disappears the minute you go to collect it.

And now they’re coming for your social security money.

They want your fucking retirement money; they want it back so they can give it to their criminal friends on Wall Street. And you know something? They’ll get it. They’ll get it all from you sooner or later because they own this fucking place. It’s a big club and you ain’t in it! You and I are not in the Big Club. By the way, it’s the same big club they use to beat you in the head with all day long when they tell you what to believe. All day long beating you over the head with their media telling you what to believe, what to believe, what to think and what to buy.

The table is tilted folks, the game is rigged.

Nobody seems to notice, nobody seems to care. Good honest hard working people, white collar, blue collar, it doesn’t matter what color shirt you have on. Good honest hard working people continue, these are people of modest means, continue to elect these rich cocksuckers who don’t give a fuck about them. They don’t give a fuck about you. They don’t give a fuck about…give a fuck about you! They don’t care about you at all, at all, at all.

And nobody seems to notice, nobody seems to care.

That’s what the owners count on, the fact that Americans are and will probably remain willfully ignorant of the big red, white, and blue dick that’s being jammed up their assholes everyday. Because the owners of this country know the truth, it’s called the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it.

George Carlin, 2005

[bertman]

130. "Perhaps one day the White House can work itself up to express this sort of

sputtering rage against the Right, or the Wall Street thieves who destroyed the American economy, or the permanent factions that control Washington."

Perhaps. But I'm not holding my breath til that day comes.

This administration has shown time and again that it doesn't give a tinker's damn about any agenda but the Corporatist agenda.

Robert Gibbs just sealed the deal for many Progressives and Liberals in this country. Bye bye contributions to the Democratic party. Bye bye campaigning for the Democratic party. Bye bye supporting any Democrats other than Liberal "Professional Left" Democrats. Ooooh Gibbsy, you just screwed the pooch!!

[lunatica]

131. The only thing that surprises me is that he actually said it out loud

I've been quite aware of the disdain for over a decade. It didn't occur to me that it would be said so honestly and on the record.

But I don't doubt that Gibbs, at least, truly feels that way.

[certainot]

138. gibbs is right - the lazy left votes, blogs, and whines

THE LEFT IS NOT GETTING OBAMA'S BACK as long as it has no organized targeted response for dealing with the right's most important political tool- the 1000 coordinated radio stations that steer and feed media in this country- until then get used to the compromises. that coordinated UNCONTESTED repetition is why we are in iraq and have lousy health care and why the teabagers have more political/media power than left bloggers.

we got obama in there yes but the left collectively ignores the rights most important weapon while it pot shots all day, our causes, and our representatives. and they've been doing it for 20 years, since reagan killed the fairness doctrine. get used to the compromises.

corporate power must have a constituency for it's bought politicians to point to and the talk radio monopoly provides it- while the left allows it.

until the left fixes the radio problem forget the kuciniches and wellstones. we don't have time for legislating a fix but if the left finally gets off their asses and pickets the radio stations that do the groundwork for all the right does it can WIN seats in November. until then liberals WILL NOT BE GETTING THEIR REPS BACKS. and they shouldn't expect them to stick their neck out.

[EFerrari]

139. More one way street bs. The indy media we have is being developed

by the left and it's trashed regularly by the party leadership who'd rather triangulate than actually build the party and build our outlets.

No sale.

[certainot]

141. unfortunately the left media is half as effective as it could be if

it didn't operate in a talk radio vacuum, reacting AFTER those 1000 radio stations and their coordinated uncontested repetition have already done the damage.

clinton gore kerry are trophies on limbaugh's wall. acorn was trashed for years undefended for years and van jones for months on radio before the left noticed- that's the story of US poltics the last 20 years. we wouldn't be in irraq if the protests went to the radio stations that sold the lies 24/7.

[EFerrari]

142. You don't see the Republican scumbags trashing their own outlets

-- as Gibbs did yesterday. Remember that?

[certainot]

145. they're frustrated cause they can't message shit and are on defense all the

time largely because the left has no fucking clue and actually believes it can message and frame.

until the left fixes the radio the right will do ALL ultimate messaging and framing.

[EFerrari]

148. Beating up on liberal outlets is not a winning solution to RW media dominance.

Blaming the left in public is not a winning strategery.

The left put itself and its resources at the disposal of these people and what they got for their pains is kicked in the teeth. Their frustration is a result of their own choices in that regard.

[certainot]

157. they've ignored the radio too and the DEm party should bankroll

an effort specifically to monitor very day's national and local blowhards

when adam green of the PCCC, which have done a lot of good stuff, says they'r egoing to pledge to get progressives back it is hollow if they're going to keep ignoring radio.

[tomp]

151. shit, why didn't i think of that.

i'll just start my own radio network. so, so sorry i haven't gotten around to that yet.

[certainot]

160. don't have to- just picket the local station

the DEM party should have bankrolled an effort specifically to monitor very day's national and local blowhards long ago but the rank and file ignores it because it gives them a headache to listen to it while it beats the crap out of their reps. getting their backs doesn't start from the little left media there is, it starts by protesting the 1000 coordinated local stations that lie and distort all day and fill our airwaves with racism and hate and global warming denial. WE get THEIR backs because as far as the billionaires and megacorps go dem president don't count for shit unless they play the game.

gibbs is frustrated and misses the root of the problem like ALL the left has- when adam green of the PCCC, which have done a lot of good stuff, says they'r egoing to pledge to get progressives back it is hollow if they're going to keep ignoring radio.

[fascisthunter]

155. the ones whinning are those in power demanding we act accordingly

you aint foolin nobody but yourself and those who despise the left. Oh, and instead of addressing the points we on the left make rather than exagerratied claims, you and those who hate the left, are confirming what we already saw... a dishonest agenda to move the party to the right by whinning about us, part of the base on the left. Dumb move ... you are just pushing the left to stay home on election day. Enjoy...

[certainot]

159. maybe you don't hear them attacking your reps cause it hurts your little head

the DEM party should have bankrolled an effort specifically to monitor very day's national and local blowhards long ago but the rank and file ignores it because it gives them a headache to listen to it while it beats the crap out of their reps. getting their backs starts by protesting the 1000 coordinated local stations that lie and distort all day and fill our airwaves with racism and hate and global warming denial. WE get THEIR backs because as far as the billionaires and megacorps go dem president don't count for shit unless they play the game.

gibbs is frustrated and also misses the root of the problem like ALL the left has- when adam green of the PCCC, which have done a lot of good stuff, says they'r egoing to pledge to get progressives back it is hollow if they're going to keep ignoring radio.

[emald]

144. I'm done with the demopoops.

enough. I've been lied to and mislead now I'm being told that my desires are wrong. Well fuck you gibbs et al. I'm done. Not one vote for a democrat, or for a goper either for that matter. What a stupid system.

[fascisthunter]

152. sounds like the typical response we on the left get from a bunch

here... very consistant with the "centrist" higher-than-thou mentality, regardless of how wrong they are.

[cjbgreen]

156. What Professional Left (certainly not the media)

The public is told over and over by our news sources that the vast majority of people want the center. So who is this professional left because they do not work in the media. Obama was not elected by the center. I wonder what he really meant when he said "Change you can believe in?" I am not sure what the center is since the middle is dwindling. I think Gibbs' rant reveals the real Obama.

[fogonthelake]

158. KO and Ed think it is them. I have not heard what Maddow said.