"You don't matter. Your views are irrelevant.......So why don't you love me?"

[Armstead]

Seems like the Obama administration and the Democratic establishment might do better if they remember the old adage to "dance with the ones who brung you" instead of bashing people who took him at his word when he was running.

[RandomThoughts]

1. The word run. I think on that often.

Maybe because of the Christmas present that is the same shirt from the movie in Logan's run.

Maybe because the song Silent Running.

Maybe run the race set before you. Although not in circles where the race is who can get nowhere the fastest.

Although most of what I think on the term running is the direction, if you face away from the fire you only see shadows.

I think running is an action, in itself it has no meaning without direction.



Do you run from troubles, or at them?


AC/DC Thunderstruck
http://www.tu.tv/videos/acdc-thunderstruck

[Armstead]

2. Or.....

One can start out running into the fire, but then take a right turn and run alongside it.

[RandomThoughts]

3. heh, many do, they join the fire.

Although again, fire can mean many things.

[Vinca]

4. Hmmm . . . makes you understand how an abused spouse must feel.

[Armstead]

5. That's how progressives have felt with Democrats for years

"We may ignore and insult you but you have to stick with us because you have nowhere else to go."

[stray cat]

6. Obama loves his children and Bush loves his children - SO Obama is just like Bush!

anyone who displays that type of logic is irrelevant and no better than birthers in terms of logic

[Armstead]

9. That's a frivolous comparison and you know it

[Jakes Progress]

42. When they use that kind of argument you know

they have given up in believing what they say. Intellectually and ethically bankrupt.

[spoony]

33. Can you point out ANYONE who has used that argument?

No, you can't. It actually took you to think that one up. What does that say about you?

[jefferson_dem]

7. "You are satan... Oh...How dare you defend yourself and criticize my views!"

[Armstead]

8. I don't think many are calling him (them) satan

More like disappointed in the contrast between the campaign rhetoric and the performance once in office.

[Kdillard]

13. Very well said Jefferson Dem. Seriously I love those that can dish it out

but not take it.

[CakeGrrl]

26. Exactly. It cuts both ways, but don't expect much acknowledgement here. n/t

[spoony]

31. Poor Obama!

Poor, poor head of a powerful DC machine, being bullied by relatively powerless citizens. Sniffle. Sniffle.

[jefferson_dem]

39. Funny, it hasn't been Obama or his surrogates who have been doing the whining these past two days.

[spoony]

40. Lol, it's like your DNA is mostly made of confirmation bias.

Happily, anyone with a web browser can tell you're not exactly being honest there. Even Obama himself has been whining along the same line.

[Peacetrain]

10. That road goes both ways...

[Armstead]

18. Yes it does

But politically, the Obama administration (and establishment Democrats) ought to at least take criticisms more seriously, instead of insulting and pushing away significant shares of their rapidly eroding base.

[Hansel]

47. They should take objective criticism based on facts seriously.

A great deal of criticism from the media on the left and all of it from the right does not fit into that category however.

Criticizing the media does not = pushing significant shares of their base away. Gibbs just like every one else in his position has done in the past, is criticizing the media. It's not exactly out of the norm for the WH to do this so I'm not sure what the brouhaha is all about.

The professional left is the progressive media. Unless you are in the media I'm not sure why you are taking offense. I, for one, don't really care what they say about them.

[depakid]

11. Dance with those who brung ya?

Nah- that's principled. Ethical and honorable.

These folks- as the record's shown time and again, just wanted a ticket to the ball. A membership in the county club.

Once they got in, there were fancier, ostensibly more attractive girls to dance with.

Them that brung 'em -despite their intelligence and good hearts got left in the corner- and badmouthed.

[DCBob]

12. Many think the WH has alienated the left but in reality the left has alienated the WH..

Its hard to take serious those who incessantly complain, bitch and moan and show a complete disregard for political realties. The left has labeled itself as a fringe group.

[last_texas_dem]

14. It's not the responsibility of citizens to worry about whether they're

"alienating" elected officials. Unless things have gotten royally screwed-up these days, it's supposed to be the other way around.

Gibbs (and Obama?) seems to have made the political calculation that Obama will not be hurt substantially by attacking part of his political base.

Perhaps he's right = 1) the interview is likely a one/two-day news story that will be forgotten shortly, and 2) Gibbs's specific attacks were largely strawman-level ("they want to abolish the Pentagon!! OMGZ!!!!!1!") nonsense that sound like some Archie Bunker-esque character going off on "hippies."

I know guys like Gibbs, due to the nature of their jobs, operate on a very political level. If a statement or an action doesn't cause substantial political damage = no harm, no foul. At the same time, as a political calculator, what exactly did Gibbs think he'd be gaining by making these remarks? I'm hardly part of any "professional left," but all they do is lower my opinion of Gibbs as a person and cause me to question his political intelligence. They don't reflect too well on his boss, either.

[Autumn]

17. My Momma used to say, "If you can't take the heat,

get out of the kitchen." Too bad their Mommas never gave them good advice.

[CakeGrrl]

35. Oh please. If he couldn't take the heat, he'd have been outta here long ago

If only we could put some of these victimized, attacked (but not really) people on DU in the President's shoes and see how long THEY last.

Can you just imagine those who complain that Obama is too cold and unemotional (and they DO complain about that) and doesn't show them that he cares on the receiving end of the same stuff they dish out?

Obama's taking the heat just fine. The problem is that as Gibbs was trying to say, Left-leaning pundits/commentators that should at least notice SOME differences are saying he's done nothing but sit on his ass and be a corporate tool.

If I took all the shit from all corners that Obama has and had the talking heads on the Left STILL say I haven't really done anything yet, I'd be pissed too.

Personally I think he's got an impressive capacity for patience. I'd harbor serious thoughts of taking my family, my pension, my memoirs, and saying a hearty "Fuck ALL y'all" to the people who don't think a thing has changed since Bush and leave them to the political fates.

But of course everyone would call him a quitter.

[Autumn]

45. Oh please. We all notice the differences,

only a Fox news loving idiot is going to think things were better under Bush,if Gibbs is waiting for the media to notice the differences, he's going to wait a hell of a long time. This is not the first Democratic Administration to get a hell of a lot of heat and complaints. For him to get frustrated and lash out at the liberals because someone is dissing them on TV is just too fucking stupid.

[DirkGently]

19. Speaking of political reality, it's possible these attacks

on liberals are calculated to provide some cover for, say, nominating an Elizabeth Warren to oversee financial reform. "See there, we don't hold with those 'Canadian Healthcare' weirdos."

That may be giving credit where it isn't due of course. It's more likely Gibbs, et al, are just frustrated that the administration's compromises with the right and the corporate powers-that-be are not adding up to the positive political capital they think they deserve. The right claims they've done too much and the left, too little. Seems like an obvious danger of triangulation, but there you have it.

I think that demonstrates that leaning right has gained the administration nothing, and they might as well have stuck more to liberal principles, garnered the exact same hatred and derision from the right, but likely gotten tangible results (such as more effective healthcare reform) that would have provided much more traction with the nation at large than the Clinton-esque triangulation has done.

[Armstead]

22. Bingo

Not the first part -- or at least I hope they are not that cynical.

But I think you hit the nail on the head with the "more likely" scenario.

[depakid]

15. The girl left in the corner is to blame for the guy running off and dancing with "fancy looking" one

I'll say this- you are very DC, Bob.

Wholly out of touch with Main Street- and, to continue on with the analogy- likely to end up divorcing (or regretting never having married) the one who really loved you.

Sad- but all too common.

Seen it hundreds of times on three continents.

[Armstead]

16. There's that Fox news word again -- "realities"

Just because someone disagrees with you does not mean they are any less in touch with "reality" than you are

[SunsetDreams]

21. and just because someone uses the term reality

or realities doesn't mean it's a "Fox news word" or that no one can use it.

[Armstead]

23. It's become a talking point both for CONservatives and all defenders of the rotten status quo

The reality is that life is complex -- but people who use that word as a talking point and claim to have a lock on "reality" are usually people who are rigidly resistant to change and locked into a narrow view that is not open to any actual discussion or compromise.

[niceypoo]

24. FOX infotainment also uses the word, 'The,' on a regular basis

Perhaps there is room for, 'The,' under the bus too?

[Armstead]

25. If they repeated it in meaningless ways as a talking point to stifle debate and disaghreement....

...I'd toss THE under the bus too.

[niceypoo]

29. They repeat every word in the english language in meaningless ways...

...as talking points to stifle debate and disagreement.

How are your French lessons coming along?

[spoony]

32. If you take that framing from them, they may never be able to post again. nt

[LaurenG]

20. I disagree

especially with the giant hope hype campaign. It's Obama's job to listen to his base, not set his dogs on us and yes before you go there I am his base and it didn't get much better, I was a good base person to have.

It's better to know ahead of time how little I mean then to do election 2012 thinking I am an important part of the democratic party.

Thankfully now I know I'm just a meaningless voter. (thanks Gibbs) :hi:

[moksha]

48. Apologia for liberal bashing, using RW frames. You should be ashamed.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

27. They have been proving themselves to be politically inept

I guess it is a great idea for them to shit on the people that vote for you.

[treestar]

28. this is politics, not a romance

FAIL.

[Arkana]

30. "The ones who brung him" are often the ones who fight him the hardest.

[ljm2002]

34. Your title says it all. K&R n/t

[Phx_Dem]

36. The ones who brung him were young voters, African Americans, indendents

not progressives who threw their support around Kuchinich. Then Edwards. Then Hillary. Finally, they decided to support Obama after he won the primary. Now they think he owes them the world.

Young voters, African Americans and Independents put Obama over the top, not progressives. Nice try though.

[Phx_Dem]

37. Obama is waltzing around the dance floor with the ones who brung him.

Mostly, African Americans.

[Bluenorthwest]

46. Here in Oregon, hated Greens supported Obama

No one was on the Primary trail but Obama and Clinton, months before our primary. So this 'thumbing through candidates' notion is patently false, at least in the late voting states. We got two choices, two only.
Our African American population is far too small to have delivered the State along with 'youth'. Independents? Well the Independent Party of Oregon currently has cross nominated Peter DeFazio, our Democratic incumbent. So how are they not us, seeing as they vote with us, even for liberal old Peter?
The Greens here called themselves 'Green Dogs' during the election cycle, as in Green Dog Democrats. How about that? I have a lovely photo of Michelle Obama having a smiley chat with a person in a Green Party tee shirt at the ice cream shop up the street. Here, that is the sort of thing that won it.
It took all the Democrats to elect him. Every vote was vital.

[Armstead]

54. Um, progressives are not so easilty categoeized

Progressives are not some distinct species. Among many other constituencies, people with "progressive" leanings include many "Young voters, African Americans and Independents."

[ibegurpard]

38. you don't get it

they want to ditch us for the people with more money in their wallets who are fleeing the nutbags in the Republican Party.

[Jakes Progress]

44. Hell yes.

Much easier to cash one big BOA check instead of a couple million from the "little people".

[Armstead]

53. The nutbags with bucks are fleeing back to the Republican Party

[27inCali]

41. only about 1 in 10 Liberals feels disaffected right now

so the other 90% (who are absolutely in total agreement on the issues, just aren't so hot on bashing our president 24/7 with the most disingenuous vitriol imaginable) must be totally insane right?

the other 90% needs to bend over backwards for 10%?

Sure as hell doesn't make any sense to me. Seems like that 90% is just getting fed up with the 10%ers constantly threatening to hit the road if they can't run the whole show themselves. Maybe that 10% should question whether their tactics in trying to bully the rest of the party into submission are really working, or really just backfiring.

[depakid]

50. Let's say your shallow interpretation is correct (LOL- let's just say)

If 30% are liberals (another laughable point- but let's just say) then 3% disapprove of the administration.

How many states on the electoral map would swing to Republicans based on that 3% alone?

Now, take away those who voted for Obama based on the financial crisis and the incompetence of McCain & Palin and look at the probable state of the economy.

You got a Republican Congress and/or one term president there.

And it could be the former is just what they want- as it makes the latter less likely and removes a "wild eyed" liberal in Pelosi from the equation.

[Skittles]

43. they don't care if we "love" them

they just want us to shut the fuck up

[Armstead]

52. Love equals votes

[Whisp]

49. don't flatter yourself. Gibbs was not talking about us schmucks. nt

[ibegurpard]

51. yeah we know he wasn't talking about you.