I’m disappointed that President Obama’s actions in office has been closer to those of former President Clinton and, with respect to our civil liberties, often closer to former President Bush, than to former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
I’m disappointed Harry Reid is the weakest, most pathetic political leader I’ve seen in my lifetime, and that’s saying something.
I’m disappointed that a woman’s constitutional right to choose whether to have an abortion has been compromised, again, and even more disappointed it was members of the Democratic Party that were behind that heartless disregard for the rights of my daughter and all the other women of child bearing age.
I’m disappointed that so many who work for our major media outlets report on political issues of great import to this nation, such as health care reform, as if it were a sport and gives equal time to liars without pointing out their lies, rather than produce shows and articles that highlight the facts about our current health care system and its many failures.
I’m disappointed so many Democrats in Congress felt it was more important to vote against their constituents’ interests and for the interests of large insurance companies who make decisions every day to deny needed health care services for which people paid their hard earned dollars, services that in many cases create untold physical and financial misery to millions of Americans, and often hasten the deaths of their “customers” all in the name of profit.
I’m disappointed that so many Americans have been so easily misled by the radical extremists in the Republican Party and the Conservative Media such that they believe our first African American President who won election by a large margin both in the public vote and in the Electoral College is illegitimate, a Marxist, a socialist, a fascist and a tyrant simply for promoting health care reform that the will save our government and society billions of dollars versus continuing our present system which will only continue to cost us a greater share of our gross domestic product while insuring fewer people.
I’m disappointed that the actions and statements of former President Bush and, even more incredibly, former Vice president Cheney, are considered newsworthy.
I’m disappointed that violence based on bigotry and hatred is on the rise in America.
I’m disappointed that television networks will show ads by insurance companies lying about health care reform, but refuse to show ads from organizations promoting progressive or non-conservative points of view on issues.
I’m disappointed that so many people continue to irrationally believe that gay marriage somehow threatens their heterosexual marriages, so much so that they continue to deny basic human rights to their fellow human beings.
I’m disappointed we still have troops in Iraq and Afghanistan costing us billions of dollars and thousands of lives without any real benefit to America’s national security or the lives of the people who live “over there.”
I’m disappointed that no one from the former administration has been prosecuted for violations of American law, violations of our civil rights, torture, war crimes and crimes against humanity despite all the evidence that they committed such crimes.
I’m disappointed whenever I hear the names Sarah Palin or Michelle Bachmann mentioned by our major media outlets, as if what they have to say about current events is anything but insane irrational drivel.
I’m disappointed that Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck and all the other hate radio and TV hosts continue to air their destructive, racist, and eliminationist slanders, and I’m even more disappointed that so many gullible Americans continue to believe their lies.
I’m disappointed that our country continues to deny the atrocities that occurred when Israel invaded Gaza, and continues to oppose the findings of the Goldstone Report prepared by an independent commission which documented those atrocities.
I’m disappointed in so many things, more than I can enumerate here. Someday I hope some of those things that I’ve listed above will no longer exist and my disappointments will be fewer. Then again, I have always been an idealist and a dreamer.
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Best to return the Statue of Liberty to France. It can be placed in Calais on the English Channel, as Europe is the most modern group of countries guaranteeing personal liberties and human rights. The US would be hard pressed to gain access to the bloc of nations, many laws would need to be changed. The United States on the same level as Bulgaria and Romania. See the Charter of the European Union.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
Explain how a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion has been compromised.
Explain how you would explain to the tens of millions of Americans who currently lack adequate health care that they should continue to lack adequate health care if the bill were defeated last night because it apparently didn’t meet your standards of political purity.
Explain what system you would install in place of our imperfect, pluralistic democracy.
Explain why many “progressives” think that by voicing their continual disappointment in Democrats in general and the President in particular, in 2010 “better” Democrats will be elected.
Explain how running more “progressive” candidates in primaries next year to challenge moderate Democrats in marginal congressional districts will not result in Republican gains.
Explain why no smug “blame everyone else for my disappointment” progressives have the savvy to understand that social change takes time.
Explain why so many “progressives” want to see “blue dog” Democrats defeated based solely on one vote in the House, and without bothering to examine the representative’s entire voting record.
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The same drive for ideological purity that I applaud from conservatives because I think it will cripple the Republican party worries me when it comes from so-called “progressives” because it will alienate moderates in the electorate. Having the best liberal credentials in the country doesn’t mean a damned thing if you can’t get enough support from the center to effect change.
This is a straw man argument you make. I said I was disappointed in a number of things, and I am. I didn’t say I oppose the passage of some health care bill, even a flawed one, though, to be honest that has yet to happen, and may never happen if Harry Reid screws the pooch.
As for running progressives in “Blue Dog” districts, I don’t see where I said that.
As for demanding political purity, I don’t see where I said that.
As for refusing to provide health care to everyone I don’t see where I said that.
As for wanting to get rid of our “pluralistic democracy” I don’t see where I said that.
In short, you’ve put words in my mouth so you can attack what I didn’t say to score points against your imagined ideologically pure “progressives.”
Personally, I don’t see why I should be condemned for wanting better Democrats, or at least Democrats that vote for the interests of their constituents as opposed to the interest of lobbyists for the health insurance industry, regardless of what they call themselves. I note several “Blue Dogs” like Patrick Murphy did vote for the Health Care bill. I am disappointed that more did not follow his example, just as I am disappointed that Dennis Kucinich did not vote for it, as imperfect a bill as it is.
And regarding the Stupak amendment which was a part of the bill the House passed, here are some links to the effect it will have on coverage for abortion services:
Link, Link, Link, Link. From the last link:
So, one of my links show pro-Life groups thrilled it was passed, and others show why they were thrilled. I think that demionstrates that the bill will imapct the right to obtain an abortion. A right that cannot be exercised because of poverty or government regulation or the fact that abortion providers are being hounded out of existence in many parts of this country is no right at all.
I agree with you 99%-however, to be fair I think his record on civil rights is realistically also more like Clinton–i mean let’s not forget the stuff Obama has said he will deliver on, but hasn’t yet weren’t even on any list under Bush.
I really do think you are right on everything other than that-and it saddens me. I feel like it is neccessary, and yet close to impossible to get people to see that those views are rational and not just “far left”.
However, while my personal feelings are with Stephen D–politically I think costanea makes a good point–we have to be practical and pragmatic and SMART in achieving our progressive goals. This is the task of the New Left, we do not have the luxury of being purists like our predecessors in the 60s, 70s and 80s–we have too much to achieve to sit righteously by and vote for Nader and Kucinich, when, like it or not, the majority of the voting population cannot fathom their viability. Our stakes are too important for us to continue falling on our swords. However, in districts and states that should have a more/can support a more progressive member of congress than the blue dog they have, we should primary them. This was the mistake in NY-23–the district wasn’t as conservative as the candidate–similarly, we should not primary a Blue Dog in a conservative Indiana or Georgia district–but if we have a Blue Dog in a solid blue district in the Northeast or Pacific West-and they voted against healthcare reform, they absolutely should be primaried, because their district is more progressive than their reprsentation.
I believe unless we are smarter in our approach and strategy; our disappointments won’t abate, and instead grow. The only way we can achieve the common goals Stephen D is disappointed about is for the New Left to be smarter than the Republicans and corporatist/centrist Dems–oh and of course the Teabaggers, but that is a given! 🙂
“I’m disappointed that President Obama’s actions in office has been closer to those of former President Clinton and, with respect to our civil liberties, often closer to former President Bush, than to former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”
Um, didn’t FDR put people in internment camps?
At least SNL mocked FAUX News in their opening sketch last night: http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/clips/fox-news-election-open/1173560/
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An interesting remark made during RT interview with Hans-Dietrich Genscher and Eduard Shevardnadze in remembrance of the fall of the Berlin wall. They played an important role in glasnost, fall of communism and the Berlin Wall in 1989. See video clip at 10:00 minute …
The Bush administration returned to the Cold War policy by its decision to place missile defense radar in Poland and the Czech Republic. Former Soviet Union Foreign Minister Shevardnadze:
“But then President Obama came to power and changed the plans on missile
defense, and it seems again there are no signs of a new cold war.”
[The lovely lady doing the interview could be the (grand)daughter of Shevardnadze – Oui]
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
I am so with you. I’m not giving up, and I know you aren’t either, but dang…I would like to see a bit more progress. There has been some good, but I think Obama could do even more and get away with it.
Steven — you sound like a glass half empty kind of guy. Things may be screwed up, but less so than they ever were before. I would rather be living now than at any time in our country’s past. We are on the cusp of big things. Don’t ‘t give in to depression — fight for what you believe!
Well, I’m a person who is one rejected insurance claim or loss of said insurance from financial catastrophe. By the way, did you know pessimists more correct in their assessments of reality? Sadly true …