Where do I sign up and apply for "Professional Left" certification?

[Safetykitten]

Is there an exam? What about apprenticeship? Is it Union? How much are the fees? Do I get a discount on my cable bill?

[Political Tiger]

1. Maybe Michael Moore can help you out

“The reason why I believe I’ve had this very fortunate success in reaching a wider audience than anyone on the left gets to reach is because I actually put the entertainment and the art before the politics,” Moore said. “It’s very hard for someone on the professional left to put anything ahead of the politics, and that’s why they lose out. -Michael Moore

[Radical Activist]

8. Or ask Robert Reich.

http://robertreich.org/post/904101338/the-enthusiasm-gap-and-you

Washington’s network of progressive advocacy groups is just like David. Each has a narrow bandwidth (health, environment, labor, women’s rights) with a national constituency that donates money and sends members of Congress e-mails as requested about particular initiatives.

These groups are staffed by overworked 20-somethings and headed by people who enjoy being minor celebrities at Washington fundraisers and occasional visitors to the White House.

But these groups don’t mobilize people back where they live, and they’re no substitute for a broad progressive movement.

[Milo_Bloom]

11. You really don't understand what he meant, do you?

and how it differs from what Gibbs said (and retracted).

[Political Tiger]

14. You mean like how you don't understand what Gibbs said?

n/t

[Milo_Bloom]

15. I understand what he said perfectly... so did he, which is why he retracted it.

But keep trying to defend it.

It's exposing a lot of people today quite nicely.

[Political Tiger]

17. Where is this imagined "retraction?"

Can you give a link to where Gibbs says he "retracts" his opinion?

[Milo_Bloom]

19. This squirming is so fun to watch.

For all the kiddies, the poster here is using a neat little tactic. First, he pretends to not understand what was said and pretends not to understand what a retraction is and how it operates. Then he goes on to suggest that I said he retracted "his opinion", which I never stated. He also tries to pretend that this entire threat is somehow about the opinion, when it is really Gibbs' attack on the "professional left" and his claims that they want a Canadian style health care and to close the Pentagon.

What is even more delicious in all of this is watching these knuckleheads who rose up to defend this idiotic comments, only to have Gibbs pull the carpet out from under them and admit his mistake, leaving these poor clueless spinners twisting in the wind.

For those interested, you can find Gibbs changing his entire tone and walking back most of his comments here, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/10/robert-gibbs-clarifies-pr_n_676934.html

[Political Tiger]

20. I still don't see where he "retracted" anything.

You do know the difference between the words "retract," "clarify" and "inartful" don't you?

If not, here's a couple of places to start:
http://dictionary.reference.com/
http://www.merriam-webster.com/

Here, I'll even help get you to get started:

re·tract   /rɪˈtrækt/ Show Spelled Show IPA
–verb (used with object)
1. to withdraw (a statement, opinion, etc.) as inaccurate or unjustified, esp. formally or explicitly; take back.

clar·i·fy   /ˈklærəˌfaɪ/ Show Spelled Show IPA verb, -fied, -fy·ing.
–verb (used with object)
1. to make (an idea, statement, etc.) clear or intelligible; to free from ambiguity.

[Milo_Bloom]

22. You all are just cracking me up today!

Saying the EXACT OPPOSITE of what he said before isn't a retraction at all. Of course not, it is just "clarifying".

I know yesterday I said the sky was purple, but it is actually blue... not a retraction, just a clarification.

[Political Tiger]

24. I'm glad I'm able to make you smile in this time of crisis for you!

Maybe once you get over your hysteria you'll be able to see things in a calm, rational matter....or maybe not.

[Milo_Bloom]

25. No crisis for me.

I am not the one trying to defend the indefensible.

[Political Tiger]

26. It took you a whole minute to respond to me.

I'm glad to see you are not as worked up over this as before! Good for you! Now, start taking some deep breaths while slowly counting to ten, or maybe take a nap...and before you know it, everything will be just fine! I promise!

[Milo_Bloom]

27. Nah, you're not protesting too much, are you?

don't like when even the white house leaves you twisting in the wind, do you?

[Political Tiger]

28. No more than you are.

Now, how's those deep breaths coming along? Feeling any better yet? I know the truth hurts sometimes, but that's just a part of life kiddo!

[Milo_Bloom]

29. I'm not the one who got the rug yanked out from under them.

So what truth were you trying to tell again?

[Political Tiger]

30. I don't know what you mean as I agree with Gibbs 100%!

I tip my hat to him for speaking the truth and telling like it is! No rug yanked out from under me, kiddo! I'm in the majority with the other 85% of liberals who approve of Obama.

If anyone had the rug yanked out from under them, it's the small, but obnoxiously vocal 12% of "liberals" who hate this president and have hated him even before he was sworn in, and will continue to hate him until the day they die.

You see, child, I am happy! I am not filled with hate! I don't spend my days and nights crying about Obama and how much life sucks and how this country is a hell hole.

You see, hate doesn't destroy the one who is hated, it destroys the one's who hate.

So you keep on hating the president. Keep hating Gibbs. Keep hating me. No skin off my back.

[Milo_Bloom]

32. Still protesting too much, eh?

As for the rest of your *ahem* not angry at all defense.

No hate here.. no money going to this administration either. Guess they don't need my 2K next time around.

And yes, you are the one who got the rug yanked out from under you.

[Political Tiger]

33. After looking up the words "retract," "clarify" and "inartful"

I suggest you look up the word "protest." Good luck with your assignment!

[Milo_Bloom]

34. Nah, your not being defensive at all.

It must suck when you spend all morning defending someone who goes back on what you were defending.

[rucky]

31. I don't.

He wasn't clear. If he was referring to something specific, he should've addressed that.

[Milo_Bloom]

35. The "professional left" Michael Moore referred to..

Are those who are engaged in the profession of POLITICS. AKA, they make their living specifically carrying water for one side or the other and make EVERYTHING about bashing the right. They are a "democratic strategist" or an actual politician, etc.

Gibbs used the same phrase with a completely different meaning behind it.

[End Of The Road]

2. I think you can get a PhD in it at University of Phoenix. n/t

[KansasVoter]

3. +1

[AlabamaLibrul]

4. Yours truly, AlabamaLibrul.

[inna]

12. LOL, this is brilliant!

:thumbsup:

Can I get one too?

:hide:

[AlabamaLibrul]

18. How can I resist?

Alabama "didn't have the foresight to save as a layered file for consistency" Librul

[inna]

21. LOL, you're the best! I'm printing this out. :)

:yourock:

[raouldukelives]

16. Haha! nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Behind the 7-11.

Bring cash.

[LostinVA]

6. You get a free $25 Starbucks card every month

But you can only order lattes. The Awake tea latte is delish, btw. Yum!

[Touchdown]

You just have to cafe about other people and have a sense of fairness

That's all that is required.

[Radical Activist]

7. If you get paid by a political group or media outlet

then you're in. It's funny how people are rushing to decide that the comment is about them personally, but I'm not surprised.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

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

[DirkGently]

10. Just take the "crazy" "drugs" and you're in!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

13. It used to be Moscow, but they went out of business.

But, Havana will stake you to a black beans and rice dinner and a salsa CD.

[Scurrilous]

23. Drugstore?

:shrug:

[damntexdem]

36. Email Gibbs?

Or just be like the rest of us and stay uncertified -- what the hell, we don't get paid for our "professionalism" anyway. ;-)