Is any rational discussion possible concerning the "Obama is just like Bush" nonsense?

[Atticus]

It seems to me that there are two extremes right here on this board; extremes that are deaf to any music not composed by them.

Has anyone actually said that President Obama is "just like" Bush?

I haven't read or heard that. If it was said, I doubt that it was said often or was intended to be taken literally. If it was said and was meant to be taken seriously as a comparison, that would have been ridiculous and stupid and totally contrary to anything that those of us who identify as Democrats or liberals say we stand for.

But, is it "treasonous" or "pro-Palin" or something similar to point out that SOME of the things we criticized Bush for have been continued under Obama? Is it seriously contended that there are no commonalities? Is it seriously contended that some of the commonalities are disturbing?

Here's where I am: Van Jones was right! Republicans are assholes! Barack Obama is a far better president than either his predecessor or whoever the Pubs put up in 2012. He needs a Democratic Congress and he needs critiicism from his base when he takes bipartisanship too far. 2012 will come down to President Obama versus a Republican asshole. If I survive until then, I will still be a liberal, still not be totally satisfied with my president and still voting for the best choice a liberal will have: Barack Hussein Obama.

Get over it and get off your asses. Make up, make nice and rekindle that "fire in the belly".

[uponit7771]

1. Mike Malloy

[BzaDem]

2. Not only have I seen it here; I have seen it today.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8914091&mesg_id=8914239

is just one example.

[Atticus]

3. As you said, that is "just one example" and a rather weak one. It received the

strong condemnation it deserved and there was no argument or repost.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. Here are twenty mroe.

And a lot more where that came from.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8914424&mesg_id=8914424

[Atticus]

12. One post, a poll, where, yes, 20 anonymous people out of 135 responding

did equate Obama with Bush.

Is that the "all the time" I keep hearing about?

I don't condone this attitude and can't think of any excuse for those 20 fools who responded to that poll in that way. But, seriously, is this the type of thing some are so upset about?

[stray cat]

4. As much as with the the most radical of the tea partiers

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. "Has anyone actually said that President Obama is "just like" Bush?"

I hear it all the time around here, and people wouldn't be upset at Gibbs if they didn't think he was talking about them.

[27inCali]

7. Jeremy Scahill tweeted as much today

though he tried to be coy about it.

Glen Greenwald, Jane Hampshire, Arianna Huffington........

[DinahMoeHum]

8. "Is any rational discussion possible"? No.

because there's nothing rational about it.

[girl gone mad]

9. So... what drugs are you currently on?

[Atticus]

13. Unfortunately, quite a few, but none of them prevent me from recognizing

a reply which does not respond to the OP in any meaningful way.

[girl gone mad]

14. Gibbs thinks anyone who would compare Obama's record to Bush's record..

needs a drug test.

[Atticus]

15. Thanks for the response. I misapprehended your intent. nt.

[Bluenorthwest]

10. I've never heard anyone in the televised media say what

Gibbs claims he hears all the time, never once. I've asked several of the pro Gibbs folks here who said this stuff he cites, and they have no examples. You would think since Gibbs hears it so much, they'd be able to offer up who said they wanted the Pentagon shut down, who said Obama is just like Bush, and so forth. But they don't seem to be able to.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

11. People might not generally come right out and say it

However, it's often heavily implied. I don't believe that people in general whom criticize Obama are pro-Republican traitors but it's discouraging to see that some people have either simply given up on President Obama (and the political process in general) out of a sense of desperation and/or frustration after only a mere 1-2 years- or they go overboard with their "fire in the belly" and use whatever scrap of news is immediately available to them to mercilessly bash (and by that I don't mean simply criticize) the guy to death and that's what kind of irritates me about DU and parts of the liberal blogosphere sometimes. I think that's why I like Rachel Maddow so much- she can be supportive/critical (and objective) about President Obama and the Democratic Party without going overboard into full-bore attack mode on them like some people here (and elsewhere) consistently and regularly do.