How the Right pissed me off, and the Left turned me off.....

[FrenchieCat]

For some time now, I have been passionate about my politics. As an immigrant who didn't get "Turned on" to politics till quite late in the game (Election theft 2000), I believed that I have made up for it since.

Before I found DU, I was an avid reader of Buzzflash and Mediawhores.com and a few other progressive websites. I looked for anything and everything that would counter the propaganda that I was being fed daily via my cable television screen. I stayed up all night to hear what Ray Taliaferro had to say that morning on my local KGO radio station(he came on at 1:00 a.m.), and before him, I'd listen to Bernie Ward. I was frustrated, upset, and disturbed by what the Bush administration was doing to this nation.

I happened upon DU back in December of 2002, and in August of 2003 (under a different name)I joined in the discussions.......and have posted ever since, and currently have over 60,000 post under my current non de plume.

During those hard years (my hubby called me depressingly obsessed, and I was), I dedicated a large part of my life to making a political difference. I worked hard and fought hard to get Republicans out of office. I canvassed, donated, called, wrote, organized, etc... I also fought hard against the media. I wrote and called them daily (my email contacts were the who's who in the media world). At that time, I couldn't quite wrap my head around why the media, who was supposed to be on the side of the people, wasn't. I detested George Bush and all of his cronies. I marched against Bush BEFORE 9/11 (there were only about 200 of us in S.F. marching with our anti-Bush Banners). I marched again in October of 2002, and again in February of 2003. I couldn't believe what was happening to this country that I had loved from afar prior to becoming one of its citizens.

My lowest peak during my activism was that I was unable to affect our march to war, and felt utterly depressed that I couldn't make a difference; and yet still I kept on fighting.

Then John Kerry lost the election, and I was truly devastated, and couldn't figure why not enough folks saw things as I did. And yet....I kept up my fight. I was determined not to let the country down with my inaction, come hell or high water!

Then it happened! After doing all what I needed to do to get it done, my objective was realized, and Barack Obama was elected and Bush left office. I understood then that the nightmare was primarily over. I wasn't expecting to see things be rectified all at once, but I did expect that we would get back to where we were before Bush, the interloper, who in my eyes, had interrupted this country for 8 long ass devastating years.

.....However, instead of being able to enjoy the new president's actions in restoring us to some normalcy, and all that he was to bring us as we worked with him to repair 8 years of total shit....I began suffering from a different type of anguish and my political interest has gone downhill ever since.

As much as I hate the Right for its evil-spirited made-up hyperbole and constant unfair criticism of this administration that is given much play in the press, I have started to feel even more let down by those whom I long considered my political brethens in the trenches fighting to restore a semblance of fairness to this country.

I now find myself as puzzled as I was with this country as I was when Bush stole the election. I don't understand how some on the Left and Right can dismiss everything this President does that is good, and focus with laser beam on what they don't like. Ever since inauguration, I have been constantly worn down by all of the criticisms that I hear from every direction toward this man and his administration, and I no longer feel as interested in politics as I once was.

I no longer watch News television, because I know just about everything reported will be exaggerated and slanted to reflect badly on this administration. I read here or elsewhere less every day, because I already know that just about everything will be a negative critique of what is being done, versus what should be done, etc. I know that the Right and the Left will each be having their say, and that very few will support this President.

In other-words, although I support and want to help this President like I promised I would, I feel cheated and tricked......not by the administration as much as by the 95% negativity that I hear constantly around me from every direction. I fought so hard in trying to restore a certain normalcy to this country, and yet, I now realize that there will never be a normal....ever...and that this country really just was never what I naively thought it was; a country that was not really all bad, and in fact, had and still has a lot of good in it.

So what should I do now?
Do I give up and just say Fuck it.....I don't have any more strength to go on....?
or do I find like minds, who like me, believe that this administration although not perfect
needs allies that will cut through that negative 95%, and fight to allow this administration
to be all that it can be (not all that I want it to be....cause one thing I learned in politics, is you rarely get all or even half of what you want...and then it takes forever).

I don't know what I will do right this moment.....but I do know that as pissed off as I am at the Right's twisted hatred campaign to rid this country of this Administration, many of the voices on the Left have totally turned me off, and have made me wish for my good old days of apathy....

and if apathy can creep back into my life, after all of my willingness to fight the good fight for what seemed to have been a very long time, I can only guess what is happening with all of those others, who like me, understood that everything wasn't going to be peaches and creams, but that it was going to get better. So yeah...the Right has pissed me off for some time, but the trouble is that now, the Left is turning me off.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I hear you, my dear FrenchieCat...

And I have no answers...

I hope your post gets to the Greatest Page, for all of us need to read it. It is THAT good.

Recommended.

:hug:

[derby378]

2. I'm gonna K&R this, too

Criticism is one thing, but threatening to sit out the election is another - and for me, it is not an option.

And sitting this election out won't do a thing towards nullifying the Stupak amendment denying health coverage to women.

So yeah, I'm all in.

[jefferson_dem]

5. Thanks, derby378!

Your comments just put a major league smile on my face. :hug:

[jefferson_dem]

3. We need strong voices of reason like yours, Frenchie.

Otherwise, the cynics, trolls and crazies will take over the asylum.

Don't fall prey to their shallow games. You're better than that. Hang tough!

"While one who sings with his tongue on fire
Gargles in the rat race choir
Bent out of shape from society’s pliers
Cares not to come up any higher
But rather get you down in the hole
That he’s in"

http://www.bobdylan.com/#/songs/its-alright-ma-im-only-bleeding

[eleny]

4. "one thing I learned in politics, is you rarely get all or even half of what you want"

Unless you're the Republicans.

[FrenchieCat]

8. Even Republicans don't get more than half of what they want......

because if they had....you and I wouldn't be posting on these boards today...IMO.

[eleny]

13. Oh admit it, FC, their "success" rate is astonishing

[FrenchieCat]

21. Look, I believe they have gotten everything that they don't want since January '09.....

and I believe that the more we fight them, instead of ourselves....
that they will get less and less.

Certainly the media's on their side, and that's a big one.....
and yet, I find them getting more and more shrill....
and less and less coherent.

See, I'm still fighting as I type this.

[eleny]

They succeeded in watering down important legislation since 2009

I stand by my assertion. They prove that awful truth at every turn.

I do agree that we don't always get what we want. But the Republicans? Their success rate is obvious by the awful state of our country.

Please take the last word, dear FC. The terrible facts speak for themselves, imo. I don't feel the need to say more about them.

[babylonsister]

9. If that were true, Palin would be vp. Just sayin'. nt

[eleny]

14. See my Reply #13

You know it's true. That's why those bastards drive us crazy. :hi:

[Andy823]

12. Well...

That's because republican leaders use strong arm tactics that do work. Democrats don't seem to do that. This means we need to get rid of DINO's in congress and replace them with democrats that will stand up for the people that put them in office, not the corporations and the rich!

[eleny]

17. We do need an army of Howard Deans for sure

He was tough but as far as I know also determined and reasonable.

[FrenchieCat]

24. I'm not into the theory of how "tough" any one person is.......only if....

perhaps because I'm not as much into any one personality as some folks have tried to peg me.

[eleny]

29. I feel that you want the best for the country

I don't think that the toughness that Dean showed was a negative. He always stood for the truth, imo. I think that's what made his efforts successful. It's too bad that some powerful in this administration didn't give him his due but sought to tarnish his reputation. In the end, he was another liberal so they didn't see his viability in their goals.

[FrenchieCat]

33. I like Howard Dean a lot, and in fact, he's one of those that fall in the 5%

in that he see both the good and the not so good in this administration,
and is able to articulate it in a reasonable fashion.

As far as him being successful, he lost the 2004 primaries,
so I'm not sure about that,
but....
Just like what the media did to Howard Dean to sink his chances,
so are they propagandizing against this Administration currently,
and we should be fighting the media much more,
and criticizing this Administration a bit less,
and giving them credit for what has been done to put us in a better place.

[iamthebandfanman]

46. i know right?

frenchie is complaining about apathy while promoting apathy.

you dont just accept things as they are. we can all change the game.

[FrenchieCat]

47. That's your interpretation of what I wrote.......

and it is wrong. I am not complaining about apathy nor promoting it;
I am complaining that I am being driven to it.

As for accepting anything, I think some of us don't accept
the politically realities, even if they are all around us.

Do you ever ask why the media distorts as they do, and if you ever do,
how do you suggest we control this very formidable entity that has
more power than any President? Since you may have the answer
that we are all looking for, I want to hear from you.
How do we keep corporate interest (media),
from working only for itself and get them to work more
toward the betterment of this country?

[scheming daemons]

6. And Cable News jacked me off...

...

[AtomicKitten]

7. It is disconcerting but we were warned.

From Pres Obama victory speech: "The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or in one term. But America, I have never been more hopeful that I am tonight that America we will get there. I promise you that we as a people will get there."

:fistbump:

[FrenchieCat]

10. That statement is probably one of the few things that keeps me wanting to fight....

that, and the positives that have occurred in the last 19+ months.

But still, I'm just so tired.

[AtomicKitten]

30. .

:hug:

[Uben]

11. Your story could belong to a lot here, FrenchieCat

I knew whoever was elected in 2008 was gonna have a tough row to hoe. The republicans left the nation in such pityful shape, 4 yrs was not gonna turn it around. In fact, I remember reading an article in 2008 that said it would take until 2020 at the soonest for this nation to crawl out of the abyss Bush left us in. So, it really didn't matter who was elected, they were not going to get any miraculous legislation passed to straighten things out. I strongly believe this was more republican strategy than inefficiency.

I am awestruck by what has been accomplished thus far. It's not everything I wanted, but I KNOW it's nothing the right wanted, evidenced by their obstruction of every single issue!

I will continue to fight for what is good for this country. I will not cede.

[FrenchieCat]

18. Your voice is then one of those I need to hear......

Because it is what will give me the strength that I so desperately need at this time.

[Uben]

36. Before 2009.....

....all of our energy was focused on getting Bush/Cheney out. Now that we (dems) are back in the WH, we seem to have fractured into sub groups...centrists, progressives, blue dogs, yellow dogs, etc. We all want what we want but no one group is gonna get all they want. I wanted HCR because my wife is a cancer survivor and I pay over $20K/yr on insurance premiums. While we did get HCR, it did not help my situation much. I still see HCR as a victory because some will get help, just not me....this time.

I'm probably not your typical democrat, whatever that is. I consider myself a fiscal conservative and a social liberal. I think we should help those less fortunate but find a way to pay for that help without expanding the deficit. I've eased up on the "paying for it" part because what this country really needs is jobs.....now! Unfortunately, corporate America seems to be leaning more right these days. They have put personal wealth above what's good for the country as a whole, and congress seems willing to give them a bye in exchange for political donations. It's understandable that dems are outraged but the only recourse is to keep fighting. Like my daddy used to tell me when I was a kid, "Can't never did do nothing!", so we must keep fighting. You know we'll always have republicans trying to dictate their way of life on us if we don't. There is no viable alternative.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

15. Take an internet time out....

The most preposerously idiotic criticism of the Obama Administration come from anonymous posters on internet discussion boards and from the echo chamber of the leftwing and rightwing blogosphere. Seriously, where else do you get one blogger analyzing the postings of other bloggers?

Normal people are far closer to the center that they left and right would ever admit. Normal people are cautious about Health Care Reform and will withhold any judgement until they see some results.

Normal people would rather that we weren't in Iraq or Afghanistan, but know that you simply can't withdraw pellmell from a situation like that. They want a plan for an orderly withdrawal.

Normal people understand that in a democracy -- particularly one with there are two, evenly-balanced political parties -- nobody is going to get 100% of what they want 100% of the time, and no new Administration (however historical it may be) is going to change that.

Take a break. Recharge.

[spoony]

23. You forgot to add, "fuck your freeper website!" lol

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

59. I hate to repeat myself....

and I believe the exact phrase was "fuck this freeper wannabe website" and that came after two months of not posting here. Imagine how cranky I would have been otherwise.

[CitizenLeft]

16. don't give up

I know exactly how you feel. Find a way to shut it out, if you can. I've got my way, and it works. I'm not talking about the simple disappointed sincere criticism of people who don't like his policies. Hell, I don't like some of his policies either. I'm talking about the relentless mindless contrarian opposition to everything - E V E R Y FUCKING GODDAMN THING he says or does. Tired of it. Tired of the hate coming from his own "party." Never seen anything like it. No, I take that back. It rivals, especially in its intensity, the hatred leveled at Clinton from the right. In fact, it's exactly like that. Unrelenting unreasonable unforgiving unabashed determination to bring him down. Stunning in it's vitriol. As if hatred of Obama is the measurement of your progressiveness. I thought hatred of Cheney or Bush was the measurement. Wow. Have we come far or what?

Edit to add: I think taking a break might help. Hang in there.

:hug:

[Smashcut]

19. You and Robert Gibbs should ride off into the sunset together. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

22. When one is not part of any solution, one is part of the problem.

I find your absurd "n/t" comment to be just that; a part of the problem.

[Smashcut]

31. No, sometimes one is simply an observer of well-intentioned people whose thinking has been twisted

into a perverse conclusion.

"The left" has never been your enemy (although apparently, now, Robert Gibbs is ours). And no politician is so much your friend that you need to feel such anguish over criticism of him.

[FrenchieCat]

35. What I am not is thinskinned Smashcut......

And the fact that as many names as Gibbs and Obama have been called by the Left,
and in fact, I've been called a few names by some who post here as well....
I don't even understand how you could sound so indignant that Gibbs referred to
the Professional Left (which isn't you btw), but you do.

So no, I don't find your "observations" helpful nor well intentioned.
I find them simplistic, depressing, and unhelpful to what the goal
of those of us who call ourselves "activists" should be.

Anything can be teared down....that's not an accomplishment!

[grantcart]

20. Sometimes a break can help get perspective.

Lots of things have undergone major changes others are taking longer. In any case nothing can keep pace with the inflation of rising expectations.

A few years ago . . .

Securing votes on the Supreme Court would have been enough now unless they have high profiles before they are sworn in it counts for nothing.

Our entire economic and banking system was in a state of collapse and now it is functioning but considered a failure because the unemployment rate is proving difficult to move down.

Securing our departure from Iraq and committing to transitioning in Afghanistan would have been a great step forward and now anything less than a 90 day withdrawal is seen as militaristic.

The CA Supreme Court overturning 8 would have been a joyous event and now the President is seen as compromised because he didn't lead the battle.

Establishing a federal role in securing health care would have been seen as a long delayed first step but now anything short of the Canadian system is seen as evidence that the President is receiving graft.

And so on. The more that is accomplished the more that people think should have been accomplished and the former reality of an illegal government starting an illegal war, dividing the populace and running our economic system into the ditch fades from memory.

[FrenchieCat]

43. I'm so tired of those working actively to discredit this administration......

as their goal is a personal one that has nothing to do with the art of the possible.

[Kaylee]

61. Amen.

I must admit, I haven't been as successful at fighting the apathy as Frenchie. I visit the political blogosphere less and less, rarely watch the news. It is too depressing to see us fight furiously against a President who is working his ass off to restore some of what we lost under Bush. Visit DU and Kos and all you see is Obama=Bush, Obama < Reagan, Obama=Corporate Whore, Obama = Betrayer of all things Liberal. I give up.

You expected it from the right, but the left has sent me running into a "True Blood" bubble. Let me know when Eric and Sookie hook up, I am done with the American people.

[Andy823]

25. I agree with you.

Reading the board today makes me feel like I am on a right wing site, not DU. I know a lot of the problem has to do with the right wing trolls trying to stir things up and divide the board, and sadly it seems to be working!

What we need to do is work hard to get "real" democrats in office who will work for the people, not the corporations that pay them for their votes! A president can only do so much on their own, the rest is up to congress to get thing done. When congress won't support the president, what can he do? When democrats vote with republicans to "KILL" the bills, what can he do? As you said he has accomplished a hell of a lot since he took officer, and he never get credit for it. The right wing smear machine has been in full attack mode trying to change the subject from the fact they have nothing to offer, and the fact it was them and Bush that got us into this mess.

All I can say to the nay sayers posting so much anger today is think about what it would be like with a republican congress, and then in 2012 a republican president! Is that really what they want?

Thanks for posting so well what many of here also feel.

[johnaries]

26. Frenchie,

:hug:

I know exactly what you are saying. I will fight with you to help cut through that 95% negativity. It won't be easy.

[FrenchieCat]

28. Thank you! Even if we cut it down to 90%, that's something!

[FSogol]

27. If you ever figure it all out, please let me know.

Mine is a similar story but, I've been involved since the Carter years. The extremists on both sides of the political spectrum are wrong. The answers don't lie in the middle, they are left of middle. We need to ignore the extremists and focus on doing things to improve people's lives and this country. One party tries to move ahead, one party is trying to not allow anything to change. All of the hyperbole in the media and on the web won't change which side I am on.

[demosincebirth]

32. Frenchie Cat, you are not alone. I don't call myself a liberal...I call

myself a Democrat since the first ballot I cast for JFK. I have never voted for a republican in my life in federal or local elections. Saying that, I have many Conservative beliefs but I will always back a democrat vs a republican. Some lefties here remind me of the election of '72. who nominated McGovern (a good man, just not electable) who didn't have a snowballs chance in hell to win and they knew it. Well, Nixon won in a landslide. Big surprise! The point is they don't care about Obama...they care about their way and their way only. Trying to discuss issues with them is like trying to discuss issues with some RW'ers over there in freeper land.

[BrklynLiberal]

34. I believe that the double sided goals of the RWingnuts is to stir up as much shit as they can on

the right...and create as much apathy as they can on the left.

The dead ends, frustrations, obstructionism, etc...that lead to nothing getting done..that is EXACTLY what they are hoping for.

At this point, apathy on the left is the best friend of the RWingnuts.
They will continue to fan the flames of hate and fear on the right....and calmly sit and watch as the apathy on the left grows.

They almost do not have to do anything...

It is sad. I have no answers.

I hope that the apathy does not win it all for the right.

[tandot]

37. K & R

[Whisp]

38. so very well said! K&R

many of us are being turned right the fuck off.

I will support Obama because I think he is a good man, but I will look askance now at so called 'progressives', the same look I give the Teabaggers.

fucking malcontents

[Phx_Dem]

39. Wow, Frenchie. You could have written that about me.

I feel exactly the same way. I no longer watch cable news shows and have no interest in politics, in general. I'll always vote, but never for a progressive because I am so turned off by the over-the-top and unwarranted criticms of the progressive Dems that I want nothing to do with helping to elect "their type of politician," who would vote against a good bill because it's not exactly what they want. No thank you. I won't be donating money or volunteering my time to any candidate, except President Obama for the 2012 campaign.

Robert Gibbs spoke the truth this morning.

[FrenchieCat]

41. Whether he spoke the truth or not.......

The professional Left are probably glad he did say what he did....
so they can keep their foot up this Administration's ass,
and they can continue to ignore the Republicans,
that they keep saying this President should go after more.
If it wasn't so stupid, it would be funny.

[jaxx]

40. I think many of us feel like you do FrenchieCat.

Day after day to hear nothing but negativity, nothing good enough, nothing but threats about the Obama administration not surviving. I don't believe the President is going to give up and we can't either. There is so much more to be done and the right wing will fight it all the way...and some left too. To let them take over would be a travesty. What should be a time of Democratic triumph has been beaten into the ground as inconsequential, but it isn't. It's produced huge gains and those need to be shouted from the rooftops. Yes We Did and Yes We Can do it again!!

[FrenchieCat]

42. Thanks. You are one of the types that can help me restore my strength

to continue fighting another day. :hug:

[apocalypsehow]

44. Kick, Rec. n/t.

[Peacetrain]

45. I hear you FC.. I hear you..

:hug:

[impik]

48. Easily the best post i've read on this site for months

The Right - i expected everything from them. But what the Left has done literally from day one of this presidency, that is a real stunning heart breaker.

[FrenchieCat]

49. Don't let it break your heart........cause they don't give a shit about your heart!

and they will loathe you personally with all of the indignation that they can muster.

[Bluenorthwest]

50. How many elections did you sit out?

Because that stuns me. I'm from CA, and I think of the candidates and issues that you yawned at or remained unaware of, and compare that to your attitude toward others here, and it really is amazing. Go elect Jerry Brown and Barbara Boxer. That is, if you can be bothered to so much as vote.

[FrenchieCat]

51. I wasn't a citizen for quite a few years......

and sorry I didn't become politically aware when you personnaly thought I should have.
I apologize for me and anyone else who didn't wake the fuck up prior to a certain year....
however, it is your kind of posting that makes some of us want go back to what we were doing
like not giving a shit.......

As for my attitude towards others, you really do have some nerve, don't you?

[SunsetDreams]

60. ...

:eyes:

[ibegurpard]

52. boo hoo

[FrenchieCat]

54. Yikes!

You scared me!

You must feel accomplished or something!

[ibegurpard]

56. no, just disgusted by your whining

[FrenchieCat]

57. too.fucking.bad.

[rufus dog]

53. Have you ever had to manage or motivate a large group?

It is very similar to what goes on at DU. There are some people who spend all their time complaining about management/previous management. When you give them an opportunity to change they bitch about how hard it is to make things better. (usually within minutes of given the opportunity to improve things)

I am a firm believer in the 80/20 rule, and think it applies here. 80% of the negative comments are coming from 20% of the posters. It just seems like more because they are so friggen good at complaining.

As for the media, well that is a rigged game, but all we can do is stay informed from other sources.

Hope you feel better about things soon. You do great work and take a lot of shit and I understand how that would be very tiring.

[FrenchieCat]

58. Thanks for the encouragement, rufus dog!

It is appreciated.

[SunsetDreams]

55. K&R outstanding post

I am being turned off too. NOT turned off by what they want, but turned off by the tactics being used.
Pure Leftist legislation is not going to come out of the Congress that we have in office. We are getting progress, no doubt about that. Obama has major hurdles in Congress, in order to get ANY legislation through. What we need to concentrate on is getting more Liberals in Congress so that bills don't have to be compromised in order to pass.

I will continue to push and fight for what is right, and just for this Country. I just prefer to use different tactics, like emailing, writing letters, and making calls to Congress members.

[JoePhilly]

62. I've been feeling exactly the same way.

Here's just one example of my experience in this regard.

From 2003 to 2008, I would regularly go on the USATODAY website and debate the far right wing nuts who hang out and comment on the articles. And I'd also come to DU. DU was a great resource for ideas and responses to some of the right wing nonsense. And when I had an idea for how to respond to some right wing nonsense, I'd post it here.

Today, over on USATODAY, the right wingers continue to tell the same lies. But I don't go there much anymore. I used to draw energy from DU ... but over the last year, I find that DU is siphoning off more and more of my energy.

I find that for the last year, when I come to DU, I have to weed through more and more of the Obama hate as I look looking for a reasonable discussion of how we on the left can move forward. And then even if I find one, its peppered with Obama hate, so I have to feed through that nonsense too.

But I'm not ready to give up ... not yet.

I think that what continues to motivate me is that apathy is exactly what the GOP wants. That's why the media takes the 40% from the right who oppose Obama on everything (cause he's doing too much), and combines them with the 11% from the left who oppose him (cause he's doing too little) ... and then claims "the majority" opposes Obama because he's doing too much.

Its hard to fight the far right, when the far left is hitting you in the back of the head all the time. It doesn't matter who hits you, you still bleed.

Maybe DU should create a place for "pragmatic progressives" ... folks looking for pragmatic ways to help this administration, not just rip it apart. I used to go to GD and GD:P for that kind of discussion, but its getting harder and harder to find.

[mike_c]

63. this is why we need a third, liberal party to compete with the dems...

...and one of the reasons I vote green now more often than dem. There is a contingent of complacent democrats who see the status quo in a good light, who see Obama's presidency as having accomplished great things. At the same time, many of us on the left see his presidency as having largely failed, and most of his accomplishments as hollow reminders of the better opportunities his administration has squandered. I'm not sure there's room in the same tent for both perspectives, frankly.