Thanks, But No Obama for Me - Democratic Underground

TygrBright

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Thu Mar-10-11 07:20 PM
Original message

Thanks, But No Obama for Me

I don’t dislike the man. I respect him. I disagree with some of his policies and actions (in some cases quite vehemently,) and agree with others. He is, at least, competent and unembarrassing as a Chief Executive. Perhaps my expectations have been more than a little depressed by recent history, but even so, I’m reasonably satisfied with him overall as President.

But frankly, from this point forward, I can do without him.

Not because of who he is, or what he’s done, but because of what he is: President. And right now, with respect to the things that concern me most intently, that makes him irrelevant.

It’s a good thing, actually, insofar as he’s not a bigger part of the problem than he is. Had we still a pernicious doofus like Geedub squatting in the Oval, it would be relevant in a very bad way.

See, here’s my point: He can’t do anything for us. He is, by definition of his office, not to mention his temperament and ideology, incapable of helping. In fact, if he tried to help, he’d do harm. The best thing he can do for us now is shut up, be inconspicuous, and keep the background noise to a minimum.

He’s not in the driver’s seat. NO elected official is in the driver’s seat anymore, thank heavens.

After nearly thirty years—thirty years of growing ennui, discouragement, and alienation—thirty years I’ve spent alternately hollering into a wind tunnel and detaching myself—it seems like we’ve finally figured it out:

Those people we elect? They are not “leaders.”

Those people we elect? They are not “the government.”

Those people we elect? They are not “change agents.” (Gawd but are they not that…)

Those people we elect? They’re not “in charge.”

Unless we allow them to be.

Unless we get too busy, or too distracted, or too disillusioned, or too self-absorbed, or too whatever, and forget who and what we are.

We, the People.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, did ordain and establish the Constitution of the United States of America.

And it is up to US, We the People, to by-goddamn’-well ensure that the representatives we elect to manage the day-to-day business of OUR nation abide by that Constitution and operate the mechanisms of law and government in accordance therewith.

And now we have finally, finally, FINALLY, after thirty years of supine indifference, self-interested distraction, or impotent despair, reached forth our hands to take back our responsibility and privilege of self-government.

And I in no way want any elected politician, no matter how well-intentioned, charismatic, or endowed with official capabilities he might be, to step out in front of this parade. Pardon my vulgarity, but FUCK THAT!

WE are in the streets.

WE have finally woken to the terrible reality of the Oligarchy and its toxic stranglehold on OUR government.

WE have finally shaken off the creaking dust of weariness and indifference and despair and self-interest and grasped a higher priority.

WE are just starting the process of unifying ourselves after the long, subtle, calculated and effective efforts of the Oligarchs to divide us and keep us quiet, resentful, and fearful of each other.

WE are beginning to perceive our true power.

I am in no way inclined to hand that power up to a “servant of the people” who can do nothing with it beyond preserving the status quo.

Again, FUCK THAT.

We have a long way to go. It will take us fifteen, maybe twenty years, of hard fighting all the way, to restore our Constitution to our own hands.

All due respect to Barack Obama the man, to other “leaders” among our elected officials, who retain a vestige of understanding of their true role and some willingness to abide by the limits of the powers WE delegate to them, but they no longer have what it takes. Not even the best of them. Not even the ones who agree with me the greatest percent of the time.

The best thing they can do for us is to keep out of the way.

No Obama for me, thank you. No Kucinich, no Bingaman, no Franken, no Mikulski. No Hickenlooper, no Brown.

And no Walker.

And no King.

And no Boehner.

And no Issa, no Scott, no Perry, no Fitzgerald, ad infinitum.

We have a lot of work ahead of us. We have to pull together, and it won’t be easy. They will be trying to divide us, to deceive us, to distract us. They will put up their dumb show of political maneuverings, talking heads, punditry and pearl-clutching, in the hope of getting us back onto our sofas in front of the teevee, worrying about Those Other People and scratching off our lottery tickets.

Well not me, baby. I’m done with that.

It’s about US. We the People.

Finally.

sheeesh….

determinedly,
Bright