Here's how FAR Left I am.

[boston bean]

Here are some of my beliefs:

Medicare for All.

No pre-emptive war.

No rendition.

No wire tapping of citizens.

I would like to see the ERA passed some day.

I believe in a womans right to choice.

I believe in the right for all to marry.

I want DADT gone.

I support a strong public school system.

I support teachers.

I support unions.

Don't anyone dare to screw with SS.

I wish policies focused more on main street, v wall street.

I would like to see the people who gave orders to torture be prosecuted.

There might be more, but those are the biggies.

As far as I can tell, these beliefs or hopes or activism, are what the admin finds so offensive coming from the Professional Left. If you don't believe that is so, what has the newly ordained Professional Left done to deserve such scourge from Gibbs and the admin.?

I am truly curious to know.

[Dinger]

1. Same Here,K & R (nt)

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. damn commie fascist hitlerian pagan traitor.

Just sayin. . . . :)

[closeupready]

52. And a witch, probably, too.

:mad: :sarcasm:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

57. And what do we do with witches?

Crowd: "WE BURN THEM!"

Wise Knight: "And what else burns?"

Crowd: "Wood!"

[boston bean]

58. The woodchucks will bring the tinder! nt

[Ignis]

77. Damn...I was hoping they WERE the tinder.

:hide:

[Confusious]

115. And what does wood do? Nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

120. it FLOATS!

[NewJeffCT]

156. Throw her into the pond!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrzMhU_4m-g

[Confusious]

116. crap, double dup again.

Curse my fat fingers!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

125. may your fingers live an exciting life.

how's that for a curse?

[NewJeffCT]

155. How can you tell she is made of wood?

Crowd: "Build a bridge out of er"

Bedivere: "Ah, but can you not also build bridges out of stone?"

[abq e streeter]

109. You forgot Muslin

[ChairmanAgnostic]

124. what a tangled web we weave.

[peace frog]

131. Dirty hippie pinko commie here

Just checking in with my fellow evildoers. :hi:

[NewJeffCT]

157. You forgot socialist, too

and, you have to throw "Nazi" in there at least 2-3 times.

[indepat]

159. Yeah, and then some: take that for such a blasphemous outrage against Amurika

and its fundamentalist Christian-nation ideas and ideals. :)

[LiberalLoner]

3. Me too. K&R n/t

[liberal N proud]

4. You damn socialist

Me too!

:hi:

[LostinVA]

5. And, none of these are "Far Left" or "Extreme Left" or even very Left at all

[ChairmanAgnostic]

11. except in the bizarro world of Tea Bagging.

Case in point, Silly Sarah is actively against many of those. If you ask for her reasons, however, she will simply spew some crap about the constitution and her foundling four fathers. Also.

[boston bean]

22. very true!

And those are the people Barack and Gibbs are trying to get to vote with them and vote for him, by spitting in the face of the "Professional Left".

[louis-t]

101. Too, plus, and...

including.

[denverbill]

126. and in the bizarro world of the mainstream media too, unfortunately.

'foundling four fathers'. Hah!

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

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

[SammyWinstonJack]

47. +1

:thumbsup:

[glitch]

65. These are "centrist" American ideals, anyone not holding them really shouldn't be allowed to claim

that label.

Habeas Corpus is not a Leftist "privilege".

edit: IOW, Agreed!

[Individualist]

84. Exactly!

[ProfessionalLeftist]

6. Ditto that -

I assert that instead of this administration so vehemently eliciting and welcoming the anger of the "Professional Left" - perhaps they should instead welcome and furthermore elicit the anger of the GOP (ie: the Professional Right) instead, and do what they were elected to do by most voters of this country (ie: not just the "Professional Left")

Pissing off even a small part (allegedly) of their base is unwise at best, and could be disasterous at worst.

:wtf:

[disillusioned73]

79. Welcome aboard...

ProffesionalLeftist!!:hi:

[StopTheNeoCons]

7. Same here, K&R

[Lint Head]

8. Thanks for this post. Hope you don't mind if I print it and post it

at work.

[boston bean]

12. Not at all!

:toast:

[BootinUp]

9. And the best way to achieve / protect these is to:

1) attack the President or his staff.

2) elect more liberals to the legislative branch.

I take issue with your characterization that the administration finds these ideas offensive, the administration finds the "professional lefts" tactics to be based on unrealistic expectations, and destructive to our unity.

[boston bean]

13. You call it attacking, I call it activism or participating in dissent.

Of course now, it would be much easier to get some of those things done if half the party wasn't willing to get pissed on.

[BootinUp]

15. dissent from reality is not helpful

you can call it whatever you like.

[boston bean]

16. well, we all have our own reality, even you do.

You believe the reality is attacking.

I believe you are sycophant.

[BootinUp]

23. Yes, I know what you think on this subject

which is why I am ridiculing you.

[boston bean]

24. Ridicule away, it is par for the course with you.

:eyes:

[socialist_n_TN]

44. And supporting these IMO VERY reasonable

issues and positions is "dissent from reality"?

If the administration is FOR these VERY reasonable things WHY WON'T THEY FIGHT FOR THEM??? Hell, even if they lose at LEAST they'd gain some respect AND maybe get something CLOSE to the positions on that list in the compromise. If you believe in something FIGHT FOR IT!

[BootinUp]

48. sort of like in a campaign?

which is followed by an election?

[boston bean]

54. Which is followed by leadership and implementation of said principles.

[BootinUp]

64. Which the super majority of Dems

believe Obama has done. Most all of his campaign pledges etc were made before the economic crash, which undoubtedly has had an effect on his ability to accomplish some of them or caused him to give up on some.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/

The bottom line is whose side are you really on by the tactics you choose?

[boston bean]

68. yeah......

did he let everyone at the table as promised during the healthcare debate?

if not, why not. it would have went a long way.

wiretapping? what's that got to do with the economy?

rendition? what's that got to do with the economy?

I don't use tactics, i just stand by some basic beliefs.

[BootinUp]

69. People who didn't really want to participate

in passing Healthcare legislation are the only ones that were minimized. Let me expand on that, they are the ones who were not for a bill that could be passed in 2009/2010. Its simply ignorant obstinance to say otherwise.

As for the other issues, I do not believe Obama has changed his stance from any publicly stated positions. Let me know if I am incorrect.

[Usrename]

184. You're shitting me, aren't you?

Are you actually trying to make the argument that the huge majority of HEALTH CARE WORKERS who supported single-payer didn't want to participate?

Are you fucking serious with this bullshit?

[BootinUp]

217. Single payer

was never going anywhere, therefore, people who insisted on it effectively exluded themselves. Its not complicated, mysterious, or worth spending more than this sentence on.

[Usrename]

229. "Ours is not to reason why. Ours is but to do and die." - Tennyson

Does God or fate or something decide what is never going anywhere and what is a slam dunk?

I am seriously curious about your views on this.

Just as a little thought experiment for those that wish to lecture us about realpolitik, can it be explained in a few paragraphs why Citizens United is the law of the land while simultaneously it is virtually impossible to find a single person on the entire planet who will support this policy publicly?

Don't you ever wonder why the most popular and rational solutions to our nightmares are always "off the table?"

[Ignis]

78. If 50 other people jump off a bridge, then by gawd that's good enough for me!

:banghead:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=argumentum+ad+populum&l=1

[Usrename]

182. That is one fucked up link you provided.

Of all the different campaign "promises" they give him credit for keeping, I NEVER heard him make a single one of them.

Can you look at their list and give ANY example of where he made ANY such promise during the campaign?

I don't think he ever promised any of that crap. It's as if they are rewriting history, in a Rovian method that is all too familiar to me.

[BootinUp]

219. Really?

I haven't spent a lot of time at that site, but they seem to do a good job providing sources, full quotes, etc. Maybe if you disputed a specific item...

[Usrename]

228. My bad. After I looked past the first page I started to recognize things.

The last few, the ones that were first in the list, were things I've never heard of before.

Sorry about that.

[bluethruandthru]

158. +1000 n/t

[rhett o rick]

82. Gibbs would have told our founding fathers that revolution was an "unrealistic expectation". nm

[BootinUp]

122. Man Overboard !!!!!!!!!!!!! nt

[rhett o rick]

133. Hard to argue with your rebuttals. nm

[Caretha]

37. Who be the professional left?

Pray please tell.

I'm still scratching my head over that phrase, "professional left". I'm still waiting for someone to name names or give me a succinct definition of this radical new term invented by Gibbs with viable and trustworthy links proving a "professional left" exists and what one does to be ID as a member of this special new group.

[crim son]

152. I think the use of that term is what made Gibb's remarks most offensive.

The Professional Left are the employed left, those of us who are not so hungry that we are willing to beg for food, and those of us who are housed and warm in the winter, whatever else we may lack. We are being punished for not being destitute. It's a very strange position for the Administration to take, but I believe that's what they're doing. Incredibly stupid of them, truly.

[jmowreader]

154. The professional left be doctors, lawyers...

and other people with "professional degrees."

The rest of us are just amateurs, apparently.

[boppers]

170. They're ones on the payrolls (hence, professional) to be politically left.

Basically, pundits for profit. The product they sell is outrage.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

72. I can do both 1 AND 2.

It isn't heard at all, really, :shrug: O has told us repeatedly to speak our voices and make him do what we want -- I will continue to use my criticism -- it's up to him either do what is right or continue to take it from me.

[BootinUp]

74. You ignored the question. nt

[Hell Hath No Fury]

75. Your question was which was the best way --

to achieve/protect those values. And I responded it wasn't a either/or choice -- BOTH can be used to achieve the desired results. I can (and do) support liberal candidates for office -- Obama is not a liberal candiate so my support for him is very limited -- and now that he is in office I am kicking his ass every chance I get to move him in the correct direction.

[BootinUp]

76. Fine fine, expect to get kicked back. nt

[Caretha]

96. You ignored mine!

See post #37!

[rhett o rick]

80. What tactics? Who are the "professional lefts"? I take issue with your assessment.

There is nothing wrong with fighting for unrealistic expectations if those expectations deal with freedoms and helping struggling Americans.

Gibbs and the Pres are asking, no demanding that we back off on our "unrealistic expectations". Hell no.

[BootinUp]

81. noted nt

[rhett o rick]

95. Please, who do you think the "professional left" is? And what are their tactics?

I really want to know what you think. If those "professional left" have different values than the left, then what are they?

[patrice]

211. If they are "professional" THAT is more important than anything else, i.e. aggrandizing

their OWN position, insuring THEIR trade, feathering their careers as "Professionals", MUST take precedence over solutions, because solutions would end their "Professional" -ism since solutions would obviate the need for professionals. Solutions = No need? . . . No career.

Recall how the Pro-Life : Pro-Choice debate devolved into an armed stand-off - WITH NO SOLUTIONS FOR AMERICA'S YOUNG WOMEN ESPECIALLY - This was because the Professionals on both sides polarized the issues in order to raise money and create careers for themselves. Now you have institutionalized PROFESSIONAL careers on both sides of that question and STILL no solutions.

The same dynamic would apply if a Professional "Left" would take root, such a field would have more interest in perpetuating its career identity than it would have in coming to agreement with other stakeholders WHO ARE NOT GOING TO JUST DISAPPEAR FOR THE "LEFT'S" CONVENIENCE, in fact it is BETTER for a Professional Left for the other stakeholders NOT to disappear because this also insures their paychecks.

What we need is a True Left, in which everyone leads. The decision making capacities are distributed naturally/organically amongst the People themselves.

For a more grounded discussion of this idea read anything by Paolo Freire, but Pedagogy of the Oppressed is particularly good, and John Dewey also built his concept of what education should be upon similar ideas.

[defendandprotect]

92. Gibbs did the attacking .... but either you're ignorning that or don't get it ... ???

And obviously it's not the GOP on his "enemies list" -- it's those who

want universal health care and an end to these Bush/Obama wars bankrupting

our Treasury!!

Love, Grayson's comments on how misguided and misdirected Gibbs' comments were!!

[Greyhound]

108. When you have to fight the White House to get liberals through the primaries,

it becomes impossible to avoid "attack(ing) the President or his staff".

[tomp]

123. are these mutually exclusive choices you're giving us?

we can't do both?

or are you saying we can't attack our professional right president because then we won't
be able to elect more liberals to congress?

:shrug:

[BootinUp]

139. The wording of the question should be clear. nt

[tomp]

142. should be, but it's not. nt

[BootinUp]

145. rofl

you're making me hack up some old tar and nicotine bud.

best
–adjective, superl. of good with better as compar.
1. of the highest quality, excellence, or standing: the best work; the best students.
2. most advantageous, suitable, or desirable: the best way.
3. largest; most: the best part of a day.

[tomp]

178. don't blow a lung, brother.

and despite your apparently low opinion of me, i actually do know what best means.

obviously, i don't get what you don't get, and vice versa.

[patrice]

212. You're supposed to believe you can't, hence, your need for the "Professionals" to deal for you.

[MsPithy]

134. "We just didn't have the votes." Waaa waaa waaa!

If a president backs a policy, HE FUCKING GETS THE VOTES! Reid and Pelosi could have wielded a pretty big stick if the President had said I'll VETO health care reform if it does not have the public option. It saves money and provides competition for the corporations and 70% of Americans want it! Then Reid could have TAKEN CHAIRMANSHIPS AWAY if blue dogs didn't come around! The next threat would have been to support primary challengers. Which brings me to your point # 2.

IF OBAMA HAD ANY INTENTION OF ELECTING MORE LIBERALS TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, WHY DIDN'T HE SUPPORT HALTER IN AR, OR ROMANOFF IN CO?

If, after all this hard ball politics the public option still went down to defeat, I would still be a Democrat, because Obama would have fought his heart out, I respect that even more than getting the outcome I desire. As it stands now, I don't think there is any Democratic policy or Constitutional right Obama won't give away in the beginning of a negotiation!

[BootinUp]

140. How do you fucking know? Where you listening in

while they tried to get votes for bills or something? Or is this just what you want to believe?

[MsPithy]

150. If the president made a veto threat,

I think the "Professional Left" ( and 70% of Americans who supported it ) would have screamed it from the rooftops! If the president had threatened to campaign for primary challengers, -pay attention now, this is quite complicated-- WE WOULD HAVE SEEN HIM CAMPAIGNING FOR THE PRIMARY CHALLENGERS!

But, the main way I know that Obama did not fight for one nanosecond to get the public option passed is because any of the options I suggested would have worked! The public option would be in the law.

[BootinUp]

151. Did Obama object to it at any time on the record?

You are in the non-reality community! Wake Up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


As for primaries, that is politics. It IS about supporting those who have worked with you before. It is about supporting candidates you think can win in GEs. It is complicated. The President does not decide primaries no matter who he supports. Get over your hate for the President, there is no President in the history of this country you would have been happy with. Geebus fin crise lol.

[MsPithy]

163. Blue dogs were working against the president, not with him.

If what you say is true, you and Obama were the only people in America who thought Lincoln has a better chance to beat Boozman than Halter did. She is behind by 25!

The rest of your comment does not deserve a response, it feels like you are flailing around. Please do not reply to me again.

[patrice]

214. ? It's a public board. Who are you to tell anyone whether they can reply or not as long as they

abide by the rules?

wow.

[MsPithy]

225. Come on now, the comments were rapidly devolving

into total nonsense. I wanted to prevent the commenter from embarrassing himself/herself any further.

[patrice]

213. Thank you. I'm not in love with Obama either, but this stuff is totally fucking ignorant of how

things work politically and what goes on in negotiating processes or they just don't care, FOR REASONS OF THEIR OWN.

My guess is the latter.

[MsPithy]

227. I can not think of any way in which you could be more, what's the word...WRONG!

What I know about negotiating is this.... Obama made a gigantic tactical error when he assumed the Republicans would negotiate in good faith, for the good of the country. Their goal is to destroy him. Obama can give away one Democratic Party principle after another in a really pitiful attempt to be bipartisan. If the negotiating parties have such diverging goals, negotiating will fail.

[russspeakeasy]

175. Nevermind.........

[liberation]

187. Non non non, the best way is to follow you guys modus operandi:

We need more cow bell and more passive aggressive condescending jabs trying to further compound the insult, nothing wins hearts and minds better that pissing on part of your own base! Genius!


BTW, why are you speaking in the name of the administration, do you have a direct line to the president or the DLC? If so, at least disclose that fact and be forthcoming at your intentions as a PR representative.

[Chan790]

188. The professional left finds the Administration's tactics to be craven and destructive to our unity.

n/t

[patrice]

215. The Professional "Left" is destructive of our unity, because they're going to demonstrate the size

of their dicks by throwing a bunch of people under the buss in November.

[Chan790]

218. Oh dear me, that's one tired meme right there,

"If we don't get in line, the Republicans are going to take over and we're all really going to be in trouble."

They might fuck the middle class economically and side with the likes of Goldman-Sachs repeatedly, oppose gay marriage, seek to destroy public education, turn health-care reform into a massive entitlement giveaway to their corporate masters in the insurance industry, illegally torture people in 3rd world hellholes, take out hits on US citizens abroad, ignore habeas corpus for people they're illegally refusing a day in court, pass curbs into law limiting a woman's right to choose, and try to gut social security.

[pattmarty]

220. You forgot the sarcasm "thingie".

[sarge43]

10. I guess I'm one of those professional Lefties.

Concur with all your points.

One more: Election funding reform (yeah I know, frost warnings in hell).

[ChairmanAgnostic]

17. good addition

closing foreign military bases? drawing down our nukes? Talking to Cuba and Iran?

[bobalew]

121. Another item or so, to define you as "Left"

1. Repeal the Corporate "Person-hood", Corporations are by nature, Sociopathic.
2. Public funding of elections.
3. Tiered voting. Open Systems Voting, Paper trails & Personal Vote verification.
4. Repeal of Electoral college.
5. Progressive & fair taxation.
6. No Off-shore Job exports.
7. COrporate Tax Reform, and Accountability.
8. Wall STreet reform: No Hedge funds, or Puts against market & Stocks, Make "Naked Short Sales" a Felony.
9. Executive Pay control & Limits.

[sarge43]

128. Welcome to DU

Good additions. The profit motive is fundamentally amoral.

Small thing, Election Day a state or federal holiday, depending.

[myrna minx]

14. I too am a professional leftist.

Lest us toast, comrade. :toast:

[NorthCarolina]

18. I think most of America would agree with you, but not many politicians.

There's no money to be made in taking up your causes. As a politician, working on the behalf of the people may give you a warm feeling inside, but it doesn't pad the bank account. Look at the wherewithal of those politicians that do ascribe to your causes such as Kucinich. He lives in the same 2 bedroom bungalow in a typical lower middle income subdivision that he purchased prior to becoming mayor of Cleveland decades ago. Compare that life style to his DLC New Dem and GOP counterparts that ascribe to the Pro-Corporate agenda of trading votes for gold. It is pretty easy to see why the peoples agenda gets little attention in DC. Compassion doesn't fill the off shore bank account.

[KarenS]

19. Ditto all of these and add:

Corporations be required to pay their taxes in full.

Penalties for corporations that outsource jobs.

"Encourage" corporations to bring manufacturing back to this country.

[boston bean]

21. Those too!

:fistbump:

[sendero]

20. Sounds reasonable to me..

.. and if Gibbs thinks that is far left he is a moron.

[Luciferous]

119. +1

[katandmoon]

25. K&R.

[LaydeeBug]

26. shameless kick. nt

[NYC_SKP]

28. I'd call these beliefs Liberal and Progressive. Not at all related to Gibb's "Professional Left".

These are "everyday ordinary man and woman Left" beliefs.

The Professional Left have high paying six-figure (or higher) jobs.

The Professional Left drive Range Rovers and big Volvos and Audis and use incandescent bulbs without a care, they hate the light of CFLs.

The Professional Left make appearances on every media outlet, or write 'provocative' articles.

The Professional Left are NOT friends to our causes.

The Professional Left will retire comfortably whether there's a Democrat or a Republican in the Whitehouse.

The Professional Left are not DU members, they don't have time to post here, they're at meetings or lunches, on the TV or in the Hamptons because...

The Professional Left all have at least two homes.

Anyone who wants to take the label, "Professional Left" as a badge of honor is missing the point and, in fact, is helping their cause.

:patriot:

[boston bean]

31. I don't give a crap what they drive, where they live, what lightbulbs they use, how many

homes they have.

If that's what gibbs was talking about he more of a pea brain than I thought.

How about the ideology, the beliefs, the things most dems believe in, or use to. The things they write about, are all based on things I believe in.

And how do you know my lifestyle? Would my beliefs be belittled because I had two homes?

Please....

I am not taking any label Gibbs tries to slap on me or anyone else who holds the beliefs I do.

What Gibbs did was try to use liberals as Obama's sista soulja moment.

See all you righties accusing Obama of socialism, Obama can't stand the left either.

It's sick.

[zipplewrath]

34. I understand your point

Although I think you are confusing the person with the cause. What they espouse has value, even if they don't personnally embrace it.

However, it isn't clear what the heck Gibbs was talking about because he confused it with comments about "getting rid of the DoD" as well as throwing Kucinich's name around and some vague reference to Candadian Health Care. Which leads me to believe he didn't really have anyone specific in mind and was more just posturing for the moderate independents.

[POAS]

35. You forgot at least one...

The "professional left" goes to bed both figuratively and literally with the "professional right". (ie Carville/Matalin)

[Caretha]

38. Awwwww!

A definition finally! Could you please give me more information on the "professional left". What is the percentage of the "professional left" in terms of the democratic party?
Could you please name some names. Are there 1000's and 1000's of these "professional left" members? Do you have any links that I could follow to read up on the "professional left"? I'm really stumped and even though I'm well read and like to research, this particular group has fallen under my radar and I'm eager to hear your answers to my above questions.

Thank you in advance for your helping to enlighten me.

[NYC_SKP]

41. Sure, they represent 0 percent of the Democratic Party.

And yes, I imagine that there are "thousands and thousands" of these Professionals.

No links because many of the sites are not welcome on DU and I wouldn't want to give them traffic even if they were.

:donut:

[Caretha]

55. Thanks for the answer

I have a few more questions.

If they aren't democrats why would they not be satisfied with Kucinich as president and why would they vote for Kucinich in the first place?

Since they aren't democrats, what party do they vote for?

Why would they want to do away with the Pentagon? Also please quote a "professionl leftest" saying that.

I understand according to Gibbs, that the "professional left" won't be happy until they have a Canadian health care system? What system should they be happy with since it is a "pipe dream" obviously to want that?

I'm disappointed you won't give me links. I bet that the admins would overlook it this time since you are just trying to help me and educate me as to who and what this nefarious group of anti-democrats are and I can stay away from them.

[whatchamacallit]

56. "Limousine liberals"?

Where have I heard this before... The way I see it, if I agree with many of the "professional left", and the administration says they're batshit, then ya, Gibbs *is* talking to me.

[JonLP24]

59. A lot of those

actually sound like Robert Gibbs. I don't know how much he makes but I'm sure it is good money. I don't know what he drives or what kind of light bulbs he uses. He has made appearances on every media outlet, especially during the campaign. As far as being friends to our cause, it depends on the issue. Same thing with those that write provocative articles. I'm sure he will retire comfortably. He isn't a member of DU as far as I know and is busy in meetings or on TV. I don't know if he lives in the Hamptons though. I don't know how many houses he has either.

[rhett o rick]

85. I take issue with your definition. By your definition what are the values of your "Professional

Left". And why is Gibbs bothering with them? Are they active politically?

[Smashcut]

87. Oh bullshit.

RIGHT.

He wasn't talking about us, he was talking about *those* people.

You know, the people who want Canadian-style healthcare and to slim down the Pentagon budget. Oh wait, I AM one of those people. I guess he was talking about me after all.

Try again.

[boppers]

171. "slim down the Petagon budget"? No, that's a mis-quote.

He was referring to those who want the Pentagon *eliminated*, along with the standing military.

In that sense, I'm one of them.

[Smashcut]

88. .

[frylock]

112. the "professional left" voice the same concerns as the "everyday ordinary man and woman Left"

[grahamhgreen]

129. BS - prove your claims. FDR did all of those. nt

[NanceGreggs]

161. Tsk, tsk, NYC_SKP ...

You obviously don't understand how this game is played, so allow me to explain the rules.

You hear a derogatory or dismissive phrase used by someone you don't like, or who works for someone you don't like, about a small group of people.

Then you pull it, and stretch it, and spin it to mean a much broader group - one that somehow includes you. Yes, it takes a lot of spinning, but some people are very adept at it - and still others are very adept at believing the spin (no matter how ridiculous it might be).

By insisting that you are part of the group targeted by the original comment, you can commence being outraged!!! "OMG! He was talking about ME!"

In the past twenty-four hours, those alleged to be part of the Professional Left has been added to in astounding increments - to the point of even including a fictional character from a novel.

I predict that by this time tomorrow, the Professional Left will consist of every man, woman and child who ever walked the face of the earth, living or dead - and then some.

[patrice]

206. Oh "God"! . . . Thanks, Nance, I needed that!

:hug:

[Name removed]

210. Deleted message

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

[patrice]

216. I was kind of hoping there was some actual team strategizing going on to at least identify who the

power-hungry amongst us are. Then a bunch of these folks walked right into that trap and now they have to pretend that they intended to all along.

We don't want this situation devolving into what happened to the Pro-Life : Pro-Choice debate with both camps of Professionals doing nothing but perpetuating the problem(s) in order to fund raise and feather their careers.

[flamingdem]

176. kickkkkk nt

[flamingdem]

177. + 1000000 nt

[zipplewrath]

29. My most far left idea

I want to create an academy, a bit along the military academy model, for people to study the subjects associated with foreign service and the state department. It could possibly be in one location, or it could be a collection of schools across the country, possibly even both. Students apply, and are accepted, based upon an array of factors, including congressional nominations, and their own academic performance. In addition, some expressed or demonstrated interest in diplomacy or foreign service would be considered. Maybe there would be programs in the Scouts, or some sort of "ROTC" kind of high school programs. "Missionary" work would also be considered. But ultimatel, each year, a few thousand students would be admitted to these schools. Graduation would result in a requirement to work for the State Department, or similar post, for 6 years.

The school would include summers and semesters when these students would be posted around the world to do intern type work. And less in some Paris Embassy and more likely in some Peace Corp post or UN program. The school would teach subjects in economics, government, law, linguistics, and a whole range of subjects connected to the needs of foreign service.

Most graduates would not stay in foreign service after their 6 years were up. They'd move into the private sector, possibly into politics, and yes some would stay on in the foreign service. But the result would be whole generations of people who had studied diplomacy, and dealing with people in other countries and cultures in a cooperative manner.

The overarching point of this academy would be to study, research and teach how to prevent war, how to deal with other cultures peacefully, and how to protect people and nations before they needed to fight.

And the moto of this academy would be:

Defending our freedoms isn't always done at the point of a gun.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

32. Eeeeeeeew! So French!

And such a good idea, too.

[dmallind]

30. Strange - Gibbs mentioned none of those

So why do you assume he was talking to you, then loudly protest he should not have been, when...ermmm... he didn't?

[boston bean]

33. What have the criticisms been from the Professional Left?

Please do illuminate.

[defendandprotect]

90. Gibbs mentioned universal health care - Canadian -- on his "enemies list" ....

and guess that explains the President's "Cat Food Commission" Panel --

and the coming attacks on Social Security and Medicare!

[POAS]

132. Quote?......n/t

[defendandprotect]

135. You must have a short memory . . . "Canadian Health Care" . . .

and an attack on the anti-war movement --

[POAS]

148. I still don't see a direct quote.

My memory is fine. Thanks for the concern.

[defendandprotect]

185. I doubted you would . . .

[POAS]

222. So you can just post words

and put quote marks around them and call them direct quotes.

Now perhaps you could include links that substantiate the words and the context of your original where you said, "Gibbs mentioned universal health care - Canadian -- on his "enemies list" ....and guess that explains the President's "Cat Food Commission" Panel --

and the coming attacks on Social Security and Medicare!"

Now I see many unsubstantiated claims and no small bit of hyperbole but I see nothing that proves Gibbs mentioned an "enemies list" or that proves he has one much less that he has placed universal health care on that list.

Perhaps you also have inside knowledge you could share as to "coming attacks" on Social Security and Medicare.

If you have sources for these claims that are NOT opinion pieces but actual transcripts or news reports which can be substantiated then please bring them. If not...well then it's just more fact challenged hyperbole.

[leeroysphitz]

36. You sound like one of those professional angry wild eyed radical leftist anarchist commie nazis.

[Raineyb]

39. I would add revocation of corporate person-hood.

The corporations have more rights than actual humans these days.

[boston bean]

42. Yep, that is definitely one!

:toast:

[laughingliberal]

40. Funny. When * was in office, there are few who would not have seen that as a reasonable list of

Democratic Party principles.

[NYC_SKP]

43. Well of course it is a great list of Liberal and Progressive values.

And has nothing to do with the "Professional Left".

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8931719&mesg_id=8931951

:hi:

[laughingliberal]

62. I haven't heard any clarification like that out of Gibbs & he had every opportunity to clarify it.

I saw him slam people who wanted Canadian style healthcare and to close the Pentagon. As I've never seen anyone call for closing the Pentagon, I can only assume that refers to those who would like to scale back the DOD or he's imagining things. He chose, when questioned, to double down on his original statements.

As long as we're sharing opinion pieces off DU, here's one I was impressed with:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8927366&mesg_id=8927366

[NYC_SKP]

63. His comments, by his own admission, were "inartful".

But calling for his ouster is a bit much.

I think he's a good dude at heart, but should have kept his mouth shut.

And we'd both love to know exactly what he meant with every word but the last thing he wants to do is keep this thing going.

:hi:

[laughingliberal]

66. I noticed his attempt at minimizing. An apology would have been more in order.

I don't believe he is so dense and out of touch that he is unaware of having offended some liberals with this. If he was concerned with what we thought, he could have apologized. Calling his remark 'inartful' when they were insulting is weasly, IMO. He already kept it going by saying, in his press briefing yesterday, that he stood by the remarks. Even a sincere statement that he was frustrated and was too harsh, with an apology for unprofessional behavior would have put some of it to rest. He is flunking PR 101 if his intent is to hold on to the votes of the left. The race for the House is too tight to be alienating any of our voting blocks.

Coming on the heels of Pelosi's anger that the White House is not helping much with the effort to hold the House and Gibb's rather stupid statements a couple of weeks ago that we might lose the House, this doesn't look good. He may be a perfectly nice guy but he's screwing up. I don't want to see the House fall to the Republicans and Gibbs is not being helpful.

[maryf]

168. I call for closing the pentagon.

there, now you've seen it, it's sole purpose is to protect the interests of the profit mongers... :)

[caraher]

45. At least we have a name now

I sent a DNC phone fundraiser away last night by identifying myself as a member of the professional left, and therefore not someone inclined to give them money...

[boston bean]

46. ha! I'll use that one too! they'll definitely know what I mean!

I usually have quite a few words to say when they call, this should help get the point across quite nicely with so few words.

[Capitalocracy]

49. I wish I was in the professional left

Maybe I need to fill out a change of address form or something because my checks haven't been showing up in the mail.

You know, there's nothing that's not just plain common sense about all those things you mentioned. And many of them are quite simply (what used to be) the status quo and what our government has a legal obligation to do (like no illegal detention, wiretapping, torture, unprovoked war, etc.)

[whatchamacallit]

50. Pee into this cup

I'm with ya bean, I'm with ya...

[Laelth]

51. k&r for liberal principles. n/t

-Laelth

[joeybee12]

53. If you asked a person who is a moderate, he/she would probably give the same

answers...there are more "liberals" out there than d**ks like Gibbs want to believe.

[lunatica]

60. I'm even further to left than your list

I want Social Democracy. I want guaranteed free higher education for everyone, free housing for every single person or family who can't afford their own and free health care for everyone. Zero homelessness suits me just fine.

[BrklynLiberal]

71. I would vote for all that as well..

and be willing to pay the taxes to support it...
Might not even have to increase taxes if the govt would divert the billions it spends on its war economy.

[Phentex]

102. I'm next to you...

Also, enough food exists to have no one starve.

[thereismore]

61. Same here. Gibbs should be fired. There has to be others better than him. nt

[defendandprotect]

93. Many better Democrats who could replace this entire administration--!!

[Horse with no Name]

67. That's me. Pretty much in a NUTshell apparently

according to that fucktard gibbs.

[BrklynLiberal]

70. You speak for me.

:thumbsup:

as does George Lakoff
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8924978

from an article he wrote in 2007:
It is important to stand up to the DLC, and to the idea that there is a unitary mainstream center, that they are it, and that progressives are extremists and deserve to be marginalized.

More of the article and a link to his article in the above linked post

[csziggy]

180. I love George Lakoff! Too bad he is too much a professional leftist

For the Democratic Party and the Obama White House.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

73. Sounds incredibly sensible to me. :D

It's funny, everything you mentioned is what I always thought the Democratic Pary was about -- not the "left" or "moderates" or even "conservtives" -- the whole stinking Party. THIS IS WHAT DEMS STOOD FOR.

When did that change? Seriously?

I think it changed with Bill Clinton and has been down hill every since. :(

[yellerpup]

83. Right with you.

K&R! :kick:

[daleanime]

86. ....

:loveya:

[defendandprotect]

89. +1000% -- I'd just add return to ALL New Deal regulations on capitalism....Glass-Steagall -!!

And overturn the trade agreements - -

Lovely list -- !! I'd vote for you!!

[Lorien]

106. +1 nt.

[Stinky The Clown]

91. These days ...... that's not "left" ....... that's LEFT OUT

[MissDeeds]

103. Good point

And if the left is left out of both parties, we have only the right - which is wrong.

[derby378]

94. Well, shucky-darn...

Aren't we just two peas in a pod! :toast:

[MissDeeds]

97. From this proud professional leftist

A big K&R



:kick:

[EFerrari]

98. Damn you, Hugo Chavez!

lol

:hi:

[Lucian]

99. I agree with all of those.

If that makes me far left, well then I better start voting for far lefties.

[on point]

100. My list as well, but add substantial immediate action on climate change

[Lorien]

104. Add " Curbing climate change is more important than corporate profits" and I'm

there too. Preserving biodiversity is also a must.

[Jakes Progress]

105. Then the Obama administration doesn't want you any more.

They are happy you helped put them in office, but they have more important, more pragmatic, wealthier, and more sensible friends now.

Thank you for your former support. Now buzz off.

[Joey Liberal]

107. I'm with you boston bean!

Hell Yeah!

[Flagrante]

110. No, no, no; you've got it all wrong

Those are all things the "normal" left wants.

The "Professional Left" wants Canadian health care and the Pentagon budget cut to zero; oh, and Gibbs in the unemployment line for good measure.

[Bluebear]

111. Gee, you must be a pot-smoking loser. No wonder the White House doesn't like you.

:silly:

[ConservativeDemocrat]

113. Here's your answer:

What has the newly ordained Professional Left done to deserve such scourge from Gibbs and the admin.?

I am truly curious to know.

Truly? You truly wish to know? Okay. Fine.

The hard left asked for a dozen rainbow ponies. The administration scratches and claws and fights, and gets ten ponies. But every chance they get, they scream Betraaaaaayeeed!!!! because they didn't get their other two ponies!!!!.




Medicare for All.

We got, on a bare 60-vote filibuster breaking, all the egregious abuses of the Insurance companies stopped, and the ability to push Medicare for All on the State level through a State-waver system written into the law. Single Payer is one successful ballot initiative away.

Happy? No. Of course not. Betraaaaaayeeed!!!!



No pre-emptive war.

The President is pulling us out of Iraq, the pre-emptive war GWB started. He is staying in Afghanistan, to keep the Taliban and Al Quaeda out, which attacked us (and therefore isn't preemptive war)

Happy? No. Of course not. Betraaaaaayeeed!!!!



No rendition.

You mean "extraordinary rendition". Regular rendition is also called "extradition"; we have extradition treaties with many countries. One of President Obama's first acts as President was to issue an executive order to end this unlawful practice.


Happy? No. Of course not. Betraaaaaayeeed!!!!



I would like to see the ERA passed some day.

The President has expressed no opposition to this. You just need 2/3rds of the House, Senate, and State Legislatures to vote yes. This means getting the GOP substantially on board.

Happy? No. Of course not. Betraaaaaayeeed!!!!



I believe in a womans right to choice.

President Obama has nominated two women to the Supreme Court.


Happy? No. Of course not. Betraaaaaayeeed!!!!



I support a strong public school system.
I support teachers.
I support unions.

They just sent billions of dollars to schools.

Happy? No. Of course not. Betraaaaaayeeed!!!!


I want DADT gone.

Obama backs 'don't ask, don't tell' compromise that could pave way for repeal.

Happy? No. Of course not. Betraaaaaayeeed!!!!


I believe in the right for all to marry.

That's judicial. Let's refer back to his supreme court nominees.


No wire tapping of citizens.

I hope, again, you mean to say, no wiretapping of citizens within the U.S. without a court order. I'll give you this one, since the President hasn't followed through on his implicit promises. The public backs the President's position however. He's still fighting Congress to close Guantanamo, since Congress apparently believes that a handful of disgruntled terrorist yokels have super-villian powers or something.


I would like to see the people who gave orders to torture be prosecuted.

He ruled that out during the campaign. Cry in disappointment that the U.S. judicial system hasn't been politicized more, if you want, but don't go screaming Betrayed.


Don't anyone dare to screw with SS.
I wish policies focused more on main street, v wall street.

So far, there's no evidence this has happened.



Again, the President has pushed and pushed and pushed for policies which are likely going to bite him (and Congress) in the ass come election time. But instead of recognizing this, the hard left, as Gibbs so correctly noted, wouldn't be happy if Kucinich was President. They'd be screaming at him even worse.

And anyone with even an ounce of integrity would admit it, too.

[liberation]

114. "answer" obviously does not mean what you think it means....

[grahamhgreen]

130. The Taliban did not attack us, nor did any Afghani.

What's more, Al Qaeda (the base - the database) was created by the CIA, and the whole thing is blowback created by geniuses like yourself who keep doing this crap - I suppose, in order to make money for war profiteers.

[MrMickeysMom]

169. LET'S TALK FOR A SEC ABOUT EDUCATION, mmmmkay?

Billions of dollars to schools under this administration, is it? I beg to differ...

The problem is that Sec. Duncan has made it an issue to fire LOTS of teachers. There is national drumbeat to drive privatization into this void, taking money out of the public school system. What happens when the money goes away from the public school system? You end up with more students being sucked out of public schools. There's no control over the latest version of this privatization. How predictable.

Have we any control over that quality? You certainly don't get it by chasing magic "let it rise to the top" bullets, or whatever the latest phrase of privatized cheerleading is. Right... let's fire large numbers of teachers, hire cheap labor teachers, and chase test scores... it's horse shit.

You don't take a written test in life, you PERFORM in life. In order TO perform in life, you need to have teachers all the way up and down the line to TO PREPARE YOU for life. Believe it or not, there is good public curriculum involved in blue ribbon districts, the same schools able to integrate critical thinking objectives across K - 12 . The better example of that is secondary education to the college and vocational based curriculum. I can tell you that as someone who has had to do that at the bedside post secondary to the job market. Training health care practitioners is an example how you might want to have this education.

While you're thinking about that, take another look about where "the left" is on public education after seeing where the "good jobs" have gone .. They've gone overseas...

Take you privatized national school agenda and go down to Wendy's to flip burgers... that is, unless they've closed already.

You think education is expensive? Try stupidity.

One more thing.. something (I didn't love) that I read today. It explains the mindset of that privatized education you seem to be okay with...

And when you read about America in European newspapers, what you are likely to find is a tone bordering on pity. The U.S. is depicted as a fraying empire of obesity, ignorance, debt, gridlock, stagnation, and mindless war. Sure, the iPad is cool, but it is evidence of what America was, not what it will be again. The stories are not angry, accusatory, or even ideological. It’s worse: they are condescendingly elegiac.

I cringe with their morbid pity comments because I see it given the RAH-RAH by your comment.


Please don't miss you next nose ring implantation. It's coming soon...

[patrice]

193. Thanks for calling bullshit on this stuff. It's all just an excuse to SCREW Democrats in November.

People, quite likely a relatively significant proportion of whom are doing nothing for Democratic candidates, are looking to do damage to work that others are doing, so they can harvest their herd of followers and show what big dicks they are on the block.

It's self-serving bullshit.

I have just about had it with DU cultivating this stuff.

[Enthusiast]

117. I'm with you on all that, boston bean.

I'm also for:

I'm for publicly financed elections.

I'm for reining in excesses by the military industrial complex.

[DesertFlower]

118. i agree with you, but i don't consider

them being left.

[dflprincess]

127. Are you on drugs??????

:hi:

[patrice]

208. Legalization is one of the issues at stake here. They're being told to get in line and they're tryin

g to make a bid for the Libertarians & Greens instead by screwing Democrats in November.

[colsohlibgal]

136. Ditto To All Of It

We are knee deep in another "Robber Baron" era and it's time it ended.

[flyarm]

137. I wuld add busting up the Media Corporate Monoplies and returning the media to it's rightful owners.

we the people!

[FLyellowdog]

138. You read my mind! nt

[bigwillq]

141. K and R (nt)

[jxnmsdemguy65]

143. Amen...

Now what are the practical steps each of us can take to make these goals happen?

[amborin]

144. knr

[mwooldri]

146. How Conservative of you!

I support all of the above with this on top:

College education that's affordable and doesn't leave you in complete debt.

More nuclear disarmanent.

Armed Forces Reduction.

Nationalization of some key industries, including a lot of health industries.

Social Security Plus - an option for people to pay extra into a State operated retirement plan, with a guaranteed payout.

Withdrawal from NAFTA and CAFTA.

Trade Tarrifs based on the cost of an American entity making the same product, if possible.

Sign USA up to the International War Crimes Court in the Hague. Internationalize the European Court of Human Rights by joining that too.

Working to allow the indigenous sovereign nations whose land we occupy to assert more independence from the USA, maybe give more rights back from what we stole???

I can think of a whole lot more...

[FiveGoodMen]

147. With you 100% -- and then some.

Here is how far left I am:

God damn any motherfucking piece of the Devil's own shit who is NOT for the things you mentioned.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

149. I'm with you 100%. Proud to K&R. nt

[Curmudgeoness]

153. Yep, there might be more. I agree wholeheartedly. nt

[Poll_Blind]

160. Yes. K&R! n/t

PB

[jgraz]

162. Welcome to the political center.

Poll after poll shows that those views are shared by majority of Americans.

[orbitalman]

164. And I, as well. n/t

[bowens43]

165. You may be a dreamer but you're not the only one.......

I'm with you all the way.

[TheDebbieDee]

166. Hey, Boston Bean. You're me!

[readmoreoften]

167. A lot of that used to be the Center.

[Liberalynn]

172. Here's How Far Left I Am

I actually still believe in the promises made in the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance. You know, "With liberty and justice for ALL!" I am a real radical left wing idealist aren't I? :patriot:

[bertman]

173. I'm with you, Bean. Rec. nt

[pleah]

174. K&R

:toast: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[csziggy]

179. Ditto and K&R

[madmax]

181. +2 nt

[RetroLounge]

183. K&R

:hi:

RL

[WillyT]

186. K & R !!!

:yourock:

:kick:

:hi:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

189. You sound like a normal European

I don't think the issues are that left. This would be a normal person's beliefs.

Now if you want to get more left......

[Norrin Radd]

190. kr

[patrice]

191. Just a technical point: Pre-emptive war used to be the standard for dealing with an identified

and demonstrably imminent threat. It's what we were TOLD we were going to do to Iraq. We were supposedly going to pre-empt their attack on us.

What we got instead was Preventative War, war against a nation for something less specifically identified that it MIGHT or MIGHT NOT be capable of. This was a fundamental change in defense policy.

The change from Pre-emptive to Preventative was the discussion there for a while several years ago, but it has been replaced with no differentiation between the two and both strategic conditions labeled Pre-emptive.

[patrice]

192. What is the point of the word "Professional"? What did that mean to Gibbs? What does it mean to you?

Why do you accept his terminology for what you are?

Why aren't we who are the Left just simply referring to the Left?

What is the semantic purpose of the word "Professional"?

What is the difference between the "Professional" Left and the rest of the Left?

[patrice]

194. So, you speak for Unions. You speak for Women. You speak for Medicare recipients.

What the administration finds so offensive is assholes who say "We're not doing anything for you. We also aren't voting for you. Now give us what we want."

And you don't even speak for all of those who you claim to speak for.

Fucking presumptious egotistical bullshit.

[RandomThoughts]

195. Yea its best to just speak for yourself, and let other people do the same.

Far better then claims of who says what. Also why I think each person should decide what they think and feel what something means.

[patrice]

196. This stuff is nothing more than an excuse to fuck Democrats in November.

[patrice]

197. You want to know? Answer: You want something for nothing & You claim to represent people you don't

represent.

[RandomThoughts]

200. I find that comment interesting.

Some people claim to represent themselves when they don't.

Probably best not to make claims.

Except maybe this one, it is cute.

The Legend Of Curly's Gold.
http://www.videodetective.com/titledetails.aspx?PublishedID=5014


Sound of Music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkBepgH00GM

Doe Re Me

Robert Eastwood,

(Ok now that's arrogant. And just for fun. Not my view on things.)

[patrice]

205. I would probably watch Curly's Gold if I could get on PPV. I dig the dancing in the train station!

Good choreography! Fun song!!

I move, instead of churches, we have these "spontaneous" dance groups, who go around like this one to public places and get anyone/everyone to dance.

That'd be more useful than showing everyone what a bunch of big Professional Lefties we are.

:hi: I gotta go to bed, RandomThoughts. :hi:

[Overseas]

198. K&R. //nt

[patrice]

199. So, you speak for the Teachers. And you speak for all of the main-streets.

[RandomThoughts]

201. You seem to be having a conversation, but why aren't you responding to posts?

It seems your posts are conversational, yet they are not replies to post? Why is that?

[patrice]

202. I'm tired and this bullshit is discouraging. I'll come back and reply later.

I was also in some other threads talking about this.

[RandomThoughts]

203. So why not post in the same thread?

It seems many people post in other threads, when they are replying to other posts.

Why is that?

Why not just reply in the same thread, to the post a person is talking about.

What is the reason?

[patrice]

204. Oh, somebody just asked me something in a different thread before I got back here.

[patrice]

209. Sorry, I blew you off. You were being nice. I like the dancing video very much.

the first time I saw that it made me cry.

[boston bean]

224. I didn't claim to be speaking for anyone but myself?

[patrice]

207. Here's how Left I am. If you all fuck up November for us. I will work against you and against

Legalization through 2012. I don't care who the Professional "Left" runs, if you throw the Voiceless under the buss now, everything I do will be for the purpose of defeating you.

[iamforobama]

221. I AM FOR-

a socialist democracy with free education, universal health care, and affordable housing for everyone. And I love the French!!!!

[txlibdem]

223. Add to it, the only nation we should be building is OURS

Recall all military personnel stationed overseas and bring them back home. Keep them on the payroll and put them to work rebuilding bridges, roads, estuaries, wetlands, national parks, levies, etc.

Close down all military bases and installations in foreign countries. Europe doesn't need our protection any more, neither does Japan. Shut down the empire machine and bring our young men and women home to work for the betterment of our nation.

[Hawkeye-X]

226. Correct the suppressed COLA on the Social Security