Some of us can`t afford to be patient.

[democrank]

The "throwing so many people under the bus" complaint around here got me thinking. Some folks here and elsewhere can`t afford to sit around four...or eight more years waiting for the change we were promised. Our desperation prohibits the patience many of you preach about. Our kids are eating Ramen Noodles and our elderly parents are cutting their pills in half, just to survive another day. Many of us are out of work. Not lazy, just jobless. And we can not understand the reckless taxpayer-funded giveaway to gargantuan corporations while a chunk of our neighborhood is in foreclosure. We can`t even nod sweetly and send the DNC the money they asked for. Mostly because we don`t have it but also because they don`t deserve it.

We were told things were going to change but here we are a year later and Washington is still bought and paid for by the same people playing the same game. There`s nary a word uttered about people living under bridges or freezing on park benches because those folks don`t count, any more than the rest of us do who sell a little bucket of scrap metal just to pay for bread and milk or who sweep out the laundramat every other night after closing just to keep a phone in case the manager of 7/11 calls. These are the folks who can not afford to be patient another minute. You may not know one, but believe me, they`re out there...and so are their precious children.

What we have settled for is a shell of what should be. We`ve excused every broken promise and every wrong-headed idea. We can stand up and preach for hours about who`s too big to fail and yet not utter a single word about a soldier on his third or fourth tour in Iraq and Afghanistan. We can uphold being forced to buy into an insurance monopoly but keep a zipped lip when a $4.00 bottle of pills costs us $53.00. It`s amazing what we`re willing to put up with...and call progress.

Some of you who are shocked at which well-heeled politician is under the bus tires should save some of that shock for unemployment lines, empty food pantry shelves, homeless children, boarded-up factories and empty oil barrels. If politicians have enough money for bonuses for banksters, they ought to be able to cough up enough to save the home in foreclosure for a National Guard member in Wisconsin. We`re creeping closer and closer to a one-party, save-the-pinstripes system. It`s honestly time for the little guy, no matter how sick, no matter how poor, no matter how discouraged, to stand up and say, "YOU`RE FIRED."

[EFerrari]

1. K&(invisible)R

[slipslidingaway]

2. knr n/t

[T Wolf]

3. Even those of us who "can afford" to be patient have children who will inherit this fucked-up

country. And while we may be able to hang on and get through relatively intact, our children certainly will not.

That is where a lot of the anger toward the current crop of Dems (Congress & administration) comes from. This "Democratic" government is not taking actions that will improve things for the next generation(s). They are moving in the opposite direction.

And they had a chance to really accomplish great things, if only they wanted to.

[waiting for hope]

32. There it is in a nutshell -

"if only they wanted to" ...

[Scruffy1]

48. You are so right

We are at risk of losing a whole generation. Both of my sons are unemployed and its so typical of this wretched system. We could tolerate the excesses of capitalism as long as we had some of the pie and were able to pay our bills, but the facade has been removed and now we see the reality that the big money doesn't give a shit about anyone but themselves and the trickle down was suspiciously yellow.
The government is hopelessly broken and it will take mass action to fix it. Voting is never enough.

[avaistheone1]

81. Very important point about the kids will get the brunt of this.

Thank you.

[rudy23]

4. Quiet---you'll accept this and still vote Democrat as you're told.

Where else are you gonna go?


This is the mentality of the New Democratic Party. You'll find its defenders on here day and night, trying to convince people in Orwellian language that the Democratic Party has never been of and for the people. This is the strategy by our President and his Chief of Staff for remaking the political landscape. So you can take your sob stories, and stuff 'em. You'll be back to vote Obama in in 2012, especially if Palin's his opponent.

[AndyA]

8. Yes, because having your legs cut off is still better than losing your arms and your legs.

Lesser of two evils, I think they call it.

Bottom line: still unacceptable. If this is the best we can do, there is no HOPE.

[The Green Manalishi]

74. "If this is the best we can do, there is no HOPE."

There never has been. Strictly for the same gullible types that have an invisible friend in the sky.

[truedelphi]

90. i see it that way sometimes also.

But other things give me hope.

We voted in a man whose campaign was progressive, who played the progressive meme.

Sixty two percent mandate that guy was given. Despite the color of his skin.

Okay so we were played, but it shows that people will unite to vote for the things they want.

The next time that kind of vote is made, maybe it will be for someone who does right by us, and not the upper one percent.

The people really want "Change we can believe in" and not just promises that are forgotten.

The one pledge Obama cannot undo is the one that really has nothing to do with him - "we are the ones we have been waiting for."

[DonCoquixote]

9. So

If Palin is his opponent, will you take responsibility for the fact she got into office? Probably not.

[EFerrari]

11. Personal slurs are not an argument.

[DonCoquixote]

24. Personal slur

OK, then let me state this as a question: If the GOP reclaims the Oval office in 2007, what do you say to the people that WILL get hurt by that? Al Gore as presidential candidate may have been poor, but you will never be able to tell me he would have done as much damage as W. Did. This is a question that I have never gotten an answer to.

Yes, some of us cannot wait for the Blue Dogs to turn around, but some of us cannot wait for people like Dennis K. or Howard D. to try to sell America or their plans without sounding like arrogant idiots.

[RaleighNCDUer]

30. The blue dog will NEVER "turn around".

The only way to be rid of them is to vote the fuckers out. If that means risking letting the crazies is, well, that's on THEIR heads for not doing their fucking jobs.

[jmondine]

41. Well, I'd say, "Who the Fuck gave the GOP a time machine?"

[peace frog]

60. he's hopped onto the Way-Back Machine

with Sherman and Mr. Peabody. Back to 2007 with you! :rofl:

[d_b]

61. quiet, you!

[DonCoquixote]

93. ok I typoed

2012 is a real enough date, and one the GOP will try to take, of course, i did not hear anyone say "well, even if they win in 2012, I still will be proud I voted third pary because (insert reason here)", why, because people who vote that way naturally take the cheap, easy, snarky way out.

[frylock]

12. why would they?

it's people like you who continue to enable the status quo who will ultimately be responsible for president palin. i don't expect you and the others to ever realize that.

[DonCoquixote]

102. You said

it's people like you who continue to enable the status quo who will ultimately be responsible for president palin

OK, then tell me this. If you vote third party or Kucinich and we get a GOP candidate, what actual GOOD will be accomplished? Dean will go back to his job, Kucinich his job, but what good will be achieved?

[frylock]

104. i will have voted my conscience..

i'm done voting just to block the greater of two evils.

[laughingliberal]

14. Yeah, I don't have much but I'd wager some of it on the fact that Palin will not be the Republican

nominee in 2012. Republicans are crazy but not that crazy.

[hamsterjill]

17. Yeah, right!

I do hope you are absolutely, 100% correct.

But tell that to those of us who suffered through George Bush first as governor, and then as President.

Republicans were crazy enough (and unethical enough) to get Bush in the white house. I will never underestimate their crazy factor again!

[laughingliberal]

22. Bush had family name and a father who did have a brain if not a heart

Palin's got nuttin. I would just about guarantee she isn't going to be the nominee. In fact, I'll go so far as to say most of the names in the public dialogue right now will not be.

[BrklynLiberal]

19. I believe they are crazy..but the leaders aren't THAT stupid.

:rofl:

[rudy23]

18. No, I think the President and his political team would be more responsible than I, a lowly commenter

Again, you're repeating the "we don't need the left, but if we lose it's their fault" meme that has endeared people like Rahm Emanuel to the Democrats here at DU.

[laughingliberal]

23. Yep. And here's what I think about that. If they keep this shit up and they lose

and then try to blame their loss on the left my message will be, "If you hadn't fucked the left while you were in power, you might still be in power. Should your bunch ever regain any power, you may want to make a note of that. "

[dflprincess]

25. They're trying to have it both ways

"The party/Obama doesn't need the left", but it will be our fault if seats are lost in 2010 or Obama winds up being a one term president.

[laughingliberal]

27. Yes, and they may wind up having it neither way if they keep it up. nt

[The Green Manalishi]

75. "we don't need the left, but if we lose it's their fault" meme

Brilliant 13 word summation of the Rahm fellators! Kudos :applause:

[rudy23]

79. I stole it from a fellow DUer. PLEASE feel free to spread that concept far and wide.

I think the person would agree. It's a shit strategy from Rahm and it needs to be called out.

[tavalon]

39. False dichotomy

But thank you for playing.

[emilyg]

44. BlahBlah

[Toasterlad]

64. Why On Earth Should People Sick Of Democratic Impotence Take Responsibility For the Party's Failures

I know this is the argument of last resort for you cheerleaders (and believe me, I understand - there's really no defense for the level of incompetence the Democrats have exhibited), but it's very sad. Because it makes no sense.

Why is it MY fault that the Democrats fail if I refuse to vote for them when they've had YEARS to live up to their promises and have not done so?

When the Democrats serve the will of the people, I will vote for them. When they do not, I will not. It is that simple. And a President Palin is not MY fault, it is the fault of people like you who enable the Democratic incompetence.

[DonCoquixote]

94. President Palin will thank you

Because she and the GOP know that is how you think, and they will use that to keep the Oval office forever.

[Toasterlad]

95. Yay, DLC! Raise the Banner High!

If you don't mind a slight suggestion: you need to update your sales pitch. <Insert Republican Name Here> hasn't really been effective since we elected President Change and received more of the same.

[DonCoquixote]

101. Sales pitch?

I might not like "more of the same", but I sure would hate "worse." You known full well that if the GOP had the White house, we would be in Iran right now. That, in and of itself, is a reason not to let the GOP get the Oval Office again.

Do you really think voting for Nader/Kucinich/insert hero here will matter once the GOP gets into the Oval office, sorry, you know it will not, any more than all those wonderful sentiments for Nader stopped W. in 2000.

[Zhade]

99. Considering a recent poll showed 76% of Americans don't think she's fit for ANY office...

BRING IT ON.

They'd be doing us a favor by running her. And no matter who runs, I'll vote my conscience, thanks.

[MissDeeds]

72. This is what they're counting on

They know that we will fall in line and vote Dem when faced with the alternative, and in so doing we're enabling the powers that be and adding to our own misery. We have to do something to stop this, and continuing to hold our collective noses and pulling the lever for candidates who fail to represent us isn't the answer.

[Zhade]

98. They can continue the charade without my involvement.

I don't reward lies and betrayal. EVER.

[Better Today]

5. Exactly, well said.

[arcadian]

6. K&R

[mdmc]

7. Some of us cannot afford to be (a medical) patient

:(
I have full insurance that I cannot utilize due to high co-pays..

[catnhatnh]

10. My Despair

is that like the Titanic, our public policy is a bitch to turn. My only hope is they see the iceberg one minute sooner...

The difference I see between R's and D's is that while all are enjoying their perks (like first class passengers)the D's they realize we are ALL on the same boat passing at high speed through icy seas, while the R's think only the steerage types will drown and call for more caviar.

The true question is whether the Captain and the lookouts are R's or a D's.

Oh-and a BIG K&R

[Uncle Joe]

13. Kicked and recommended, an excellent post democrank.

Thanks for the thread.:thumbsup:

[leftstreet]

15. K&R

[laughingliberal]

16. K & R nt

[BrklynLiberal]

20. Very scary....Chinese Curse: May you live in interesting times.

They don't get much more interesting that they are right now...sad to say.

[Phlem]

21. Thank You

for saying what needed to be said. The "angst" among the people around here mostly comes from what you said.

I'm there and I would imagine there are a lot of us "there".

I would also venture a guess that there were a lot of people in that position when Obama was elected and have waited a year to only see everything still the same and worse.

The "dumbing down" of Americans was a huge success and is now paying great dividends.

The only positive thing I'm seeing is a growing population firing off more than 2 brain cells at a time, understanding the REAL environment they're in and calling bullshit on the spin. If we could grow that population then there maybe a chance for our kids.

There are too many doe eyed followers telling us to give him "time". They need to read your post and enlighten themselves.

I'm sorry for you friend and I feel your pain. I hope things get better soon.

-phlem

[treestar]

26. This has always been the case, though

The government does do some things, too. And the political process still has to be gone through. We can't not do it because it's not fast enough, we still have to do it. No one's saying wait so much as just seeing that things have to be done this way.

[Solly Mack]

28. k/r

[debbierlus]

29. Recommend times a million x infinity - I have to thank you

You really have said it all.

I am sick and tired of the constant justification for the unjustifiable. The rationalizations.... The wait until tomorrow....

It is all so hollow and empty and disingenious. Why are we so afraid to challenge politicians who betray us? Why do we live in such fear?

Don't rock the boat. Don't challenge the corrupt powers of our own party because they may not throw us any crumbs at all.

Compromise has bought us nothing but degradation and despair and enslavement.

Your post speaks to the experience of the majority and your words are to be commended. Thank you.

:applause:

[Vidar]

31. Great post. Recommended.

[waiting for hope]

33. K&R

[Odin2005]

34. "People don't eat every year or two, they eat every day" --FDR

People are so caught up with abstractions that they forget LIVING BREATHING PEOPLE are involved.

[flyarm]

35. Thank you for your thread , i sit here in tears for our nations people..and with disgust

the richest nation in the world and our government has become so corrupt and so many of our citizens don't even get crumbs..but the wealthiest and those who serve them ( our government leaders) keep raping our nation and her people!

It is past time to scream..NO..we will not tolerate this a moment longer.

When hospitals "DUMP" OUR SENIORS THAT HAVE NO HEALTH CARE..WHEN WE HAVE A PRES WHO'S WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN THAT..AND WE LOOK THE OTHER WAY.

How did we get here?

How did we get to a place that other dems and older women were called the worst names in the last election ( I know i was called words i had not heard since the 60's and thought were no longer in our vocabulary )

ENOUGH!..and we have a faction here even at du that spend their days posting propaganda..attacking anyone who trys to stand up for those with less than ourselves..how do we tolerate these selfish so called democrats? In my 39 years of being a democrat..i never, ever remember a fellow democrat calling each other names and the nastiness..and the ganging up,.is just not acceptable..I will no longer put up with it..I will call them out even if it gets me banned!..they delete people's posts that are heartfelt ..because they can..and because they do not want anyone to see the anger/and heartache from so many of us DEMOCRATS..democrats that have spent a lifetime fighting for those with lesser than ourselves. Those people have a sick agenda..and they will win if we don't shut them down..

Many of us dems have gone and helped those who can not help themselves..we were always a party that cared for those less fortunate..

We have an element now that does not care about anything but their agenda..and i for one will not accept being associated to them!

Thank you Op..you have a wonderful heart..and a democratic heart i relate to and am proud to associate myself with!..You are the type of democrat I am proud to associate my name with!

You have my heartfelt admiration!!

And it is our children i fear the most for...and future generations of children to come...my god have we failed so many!

fly

[laughingliberal]

49. I never saw this level of vitriol among members of the Democratic party until

the party started moving to the right.

[donheld]

36. Only those who are unaffected by it call for patients.

[Stinky The Clown]

37. One of DU's more eloquent posts.

Thank you.

[Skittles]

38. I HEAR YOU democrank

YES INDEED

[enigmatic]

40. Thank you for this

:thumbsup:

[girl_interrupted]

42. K&R

[Missy Vixen]

43. I wish I could recommend this till my finger breaks off in the keyboard

This is not the "change" I voted for, or millions of other Americans voted for.

Thank you for an eloquent, wonderfully written post.

[emilyg]

45. k/r

[winyanstaz]

46. K & R,,,,,,

and they want 33 BILLION more for war?

[salguine]

47. I no longer believe that the Democratic and Republican parties are in opposition. I think

this whole façade of (D) and (R) is a big charade. One just plays good cop and one plays bad cop...but they're both working for the same boss. And it ain't the American people. They know that when the public gets fed up with one, it'll just turn to the other again. That's why it just keeps seesawing back and forth between these two worthless bunches of assholes and nothing ever changes. Both are very well taken care of, no matter which party is actually being allowed by their corporate masters to pretend to be in charge. Why do you think Wall Street and these massive corporations donate to BOTH sides in every election? Nothing is ever going to change until the People rise up and start burning shit down and feeding the CEO/banker class—and maybe a few legislators—into the guillotines.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

51. If voting isn't enough, what do we DO?

What actions can we take tomorrow and the day after and next week? There are so many coordinated actions I'd be willing to take
if I thought others were doing the same. My fear is if I did some of these things alone I'd be characterized as a nut case and dismissed.

What about not paying taxes? What if many of us refused to file this year? As consumers we could effect some type of reaction by boycotting
various corps. We could pull our money out of the banks and pay cash for everything. I'm just rambling here, but I'm willing to do just about anything
right now win or lose. I just don't want to look back and know I never put up a fight.

[BrainDrain]

66. This gonna sound trite, but....

We do the best we can to organize like minded folks to take it to the streets. It would appear that writing to your congress-critter or senatoid has little to no effect. Voting dosen't seem to help either. So what are we left with? Direct action is the only tool we seem to have left to us. Direct action against the corporations and direct action against their stooges in Washington. Hurt their bottom line, vote out the tools, expose them to the light of day, and make sure it is seen and heard by as many people as possible. There is the old adage that says in order to get a stubborn mules attention you have to hit them in the head with a 2by4 first. I strongly suggest that it is time for us all to buy a piece of lumber and get to grabbing their attention.

[Phlem]

76. Exactly

This is what a growing number of people are starting to see. Both parties are a distraction from who or what is really running the country. It makes it impossible to focus our attention when we bicker at one another about who's party sucks and so on......

The American people are absolutely being played, and we're to caught up working 4 jobs each just to keep our heads a float. To distracted to pay ANY attention to ANYTHING.

Let's keep our wits about us folks. This crap is going to continue and it's our children that are in peril.

There are no Democrats or Republicans, They're all actors in a political theater we can't seem to stop watching.

-phlem

[alp227]

50. if enough people hear this message, they'll start voting for third parties

because the top 2 parties (D/R) are too elitist and uncaring for the working Americans out there.

[FrenchieCat]

52. Then people will have to wait extra long,

cause it takes a good deal of time to tear up an entire political system and a way of life,
and build it all up again, shiny and new.

In otherwords, people who can't wait, can't wait for those disappointed cause Kucinich lost,
and Edwards turned out to be a freak, and that Obama didn't turn out to be a tall tan Kucinich
running to remake the United States in the image of those who didn't even really support him during the primaries.

What you are talking about, I think is gonna take extra long, perhaps a lifetime or two.

I think the entire OP is sad, unrealistic, and proves that some folks really think
politics is like snapping one's fingers. Well of course, these same folks couldn't ever
get their guy/gal elected to the big house, but of course, when someone else has to do their heavy lifting, they think it should be piece of cake. Really uninsightful. Furthermore, Obama specifically stated that it might not all get done in one term, but we would get there. Never did he say, you all will be very happy and all problems would be solved after one year of a four year term. Life ain't no sitcom with a neat resolution of all of the issues by the end of the program, and Obama ain't nobody's daddy. He said "Yes, WE Can", not "Yes, I Can!"

[EmeraldCityGrl]

55. Just speaking for myself, but I didn't expect Obama

to completely turn everything around in a year, not even four years. I did expect the the momentum towards change to be
much greater. I didn't expect the likes of Timothy Geitner, a Wall Street insider, to be running his economic team. I get the
stimulus plan, why isn't it focused on creating jobs and saving folks from losing their homes? Clearly that is not the objective.
Obama's policies to stem rising foreclosures has failed miserably. There are millions in TARP money that hasn't been spent
that needs to be used on emergency services for people falling through the cracks. Regulating Wall Street should have been
one of his top priorities, nothing has changed. And while he said "Yes, We Can" he intimated HE would be the leader to show
us the way to enact change in our own lives, that HE would give us the tools to do just that.

[pundaint]

56. Did you think he would advance the art of abrogating the constitution?

[EmeraldCityGrl]

57. What are you specifically referring to?

[democrank]

58. You`re entitled to your opinion, FrenchieCat but

I`m entitled to mine.

No, Obama isn`t my "tall, tan, Kucinich"-like Daddy and I don`t think I should be able to snap my fingers and instantly get what I want.

I`ve been an active Democrat for over four decades, marching against the Vietnam War, working for civil rights, women`s rights, economic and social justice. In my personal life I`ve faced almost every imaginable tragedy known to man, including being homeless at age eight and again ten years ago in my 50s after I almost died and lost my home. Because of all that...and more...I`m not a Rainbow-Brite kinda woman who sits around waiting for pink ponies to deliver whatever I want whenever I need it.

Let`s use your word...sad. It makes me REAL sad to see Democratic leaders ignore families living in cars while they offer up bags of cash to bankers for their multi-million dollar bonuses. It makes me sad to know there are 24-year old plumber`s helpers out there who can`t afford to have that lump looked at on their neck. It makes me sad that Vermont just sent another several hundred National Guard troops to Afghanistan, some of them in their 50`s, some of them from the same family, some of them for the third time. It makes me sad to read words written by Democrats that excuse callous, Republican-like behavior. The problem isn`t Democrats who disagree with President Obama, the problem is the out-of-touch, detached group of leaders who keep forgetting corporations aren`t real people.

Here`s my position on things: If I was against it under George W. Bush, then I`m still against it under President Obama. The (R) or (D) after each name means far less to me than the principle at stake.

[Toasterlad]

63. And I Think Your Reply Proves Once Again That You Have No Clue Why People Are Upset

You and your fellow cheerleaders keep shrieking about magic wands and realism, and you miss the point completely. No one expected Obama to fix everything overnight. What we expected is that he would work on fixing the problems that he promised to fix. Instead, what he has done is capitulate to the right in almost every instance, watering down every single promise he made...when he hasn't broken the promise completely.

People are upset because Obama is not only not who he pretended to be, but because he is actively working to KEEP THINGS THE SAME, rather than make them better.

You are clearly not affected by any of the problems discussed in the OP, so it's easy for you to talk about patience and ridicule those who want change. You MUST be independently wealthy, because anyone who cheers as loudly as you do for the status quo is either wealthy or a flaming moron.

[DisgustedInMN]

80. Spot on, though to this line I would add:

"..because anyone who cheers as loudly as you do for the status quo is either wealthy or a flaming moron."

Or is a shill for corporate swine.

[Zhade]

100. He also said he never campaigned on the PO, while video evidence proves he did.

So, with all due respect, FUCK your savior. He's a betrayer.

[Jax]

53. k&r

enough.

[JDPriestly]

54. The book, Team of Rivals describes how the Republican Party

was formed in the mid 19th century as the country divided over slavery.

The Democratic Party no longer represents us.

The health care reform fiasco is a watershed issue similar to that of slavery.

Affordable health care is a human right. Insurance companies are like slave holders. They are unable to recognize that health care is a basic human right, that the advances in science that have made the progress in medicine are not their property because that knowledge belongs to the doctors and other medical professionals who by ancient oath are pledged to heal without judging the merit of the person needing their care.

Underlying the disputes about health care are very troubling questions: How is property to be defined in an information age? How are commodities, services, labor and capital to be valued in a post-industrial age? How is wealth to be distributed or claimed in a world in which the needs of the ever-growing human population far exceed the resources that remain?

The struggle to answer these questions, I anticipate, will result in a realignment of our political parties just as the struggle to resolve the disputes over slavery and tariffs did in the 19th century.

If the fundamentalism of the right prevails, we will witness a Dark Age in which progress in science is no longer possible.

If corporatism prevails, we will witness a rise of feudalism which will also result in a a decline in the dissemination of knowledge and understanding.

As for the Democratic Party as we know it, Obama's first year in office is a tragic failure. Yes, he passed a lot of bills. But he has avoided dealing with the really significant issues of our time.

Except in the area of foreign policy, Obama's presidency has become mired down in petty politics and Obama himself in the minute details of governing.

Of course, this is not entirely the President's fault. It must primarily to be blamed on his advisers. Geithner, Summers, Bernanke and others in his cabinet have failed the President. Of course, he chose them and therefore has no one to blame but himself. Of course, he can change them or form, as other presidents have in the past, a kitchen cabinet, that is unofficial advisers whose appointments are not presented to Congress but who guide Obama's policies off the record. That might be Obama's best course at this time when there is so much partisan rancor. Th current cabinet members can either accept that they are not making the final decisions or resign. Either way, the President will show strength if he steps away from his current team especially his current economic team.

[tango-tee]

59. Recommended,

with sadness in my heart.

[DisgustedInMN]

62. "Team" Obama ignores us at their own risk.

I personally will never continence being told that I'm "being unrealistic" when ANY elected official FAILS to follow through on their PROMISES. That includes ALL of them, no matter what phony letter they put behind their name.

I have no patience left, because I have no time for it. I can't wait another year barely scraping by because Barack Obama is willing to kiss Republican ass in the name of "bipartisanship." Grow a goddamn spine and do what we elected you to do and do it NOW. Put together a REAL public jobs program that will put us to work NOW. Stand up for us against the parasitic corporations.

NO MORE FUCKING EXCUSES.

[hughee99]

85. Unfortunately, history shows them that they can.

After 4 years in the WH, he's not going to need the grass roots like he did in the primary and election in '08. He'll have enough corporate backers to buy some astroturf if needed, and many of us, even if we don't donate or campaign for him, come election day will be saying to ourselves it's either Obama or a repuke. I'm not saying he's going to do that, but he now is in a position to ignore us if he chooses to, and if the repukes put up someone like Palin, he can probably tell us all to go fuck ourselves and still win in '12.

[DisgustedInMN]

88. Hold your nose and vote for him again, if you like.

I won't.

What I will do, is work just as hard to replace him as I did to put him there. And any asshole that tries to tell we can't or won't get it done, is lying to you.

[BrainDrain]

65. Patience be Damned

This morning I have read how we, as progressives need to have “patience and endurance” in order to achieve our goals. I have read how “compromise is touch and go” and how we have to “fight through the pain”. I have to say, with all due respect, bullshit.

Back during the Clinton Presidency, when HCR got shot down we were told to be patient. When The Moron stole the election of 2000, we were told to be patient and wait for 2004. When he stole it again in 2004 we were told to be patient. When we found out about the outright lies The Moron and his cronies used to justify invading Iraq, we were told to be patient, because The Moron and his neocon Masters would be held accountable once we controlled the Congress. Haliburton and war profiteers of every stripe had free access to the trough refilled every year by the American taxpayer. Billions simply vanished into the greedy pockets of Wall Street. The 2006 elections came and went and still nothing was done. Scooter Libby was a blip and nothing more, and even then The Moron commuted his sentence. We were told that 2008 was coming, be patient a new day will dawn if we can control the Congress and the White House. In the mean time the blood sucking corporatists continued to drain the life from the American people.

2008 arrived with the collapse of the economy and the elections. The day of deliverance had arrived. We had it all, the House, The Senate and the White House. Clear, unambiguous majorities. From there we all know what happened. HCR gets gutted, billions in taxpayer monies wind up in the pockets of Wall Street barons in the guise of a bail-out, while middle-class Americans watch their houses and retirement accounts vanish before their eyes. Iraq continues, Yemen begins, 3 children die everyday from the fighting in Afghanistan, and Wall Street is getting ready to announce multi-million dollar bonuses for the rapers of the American dream.

How much more patient do we have to be? Teabaggers get plenty of air time as they jump up and down and froth at the mouth about saving “their” America. I am not in the least bit interested in saving “their” myopic, narrow, bigoted, neocon, imperialistic, money grubbing sepia toned version of this country. I, and a whole lot of other people, voted for a progressive America, an enlightened America. When I read that the White House thinks that all the progressive angst will die down once this tepid version of HCR is signed, I say patience be damned. Who do they think we are? Unruly 5-year olds? Should we be sent to our rooms?

The time for patience is OVER. The time for direct action is NOW. I have seen many articles decrying the lack of a truly vocal and demonstrative movement from the left. Well I am here to tell you that if we don’t get one moving and soon, anything we think we voted for will be gone in less than a year. The wars will continue, the modern Robber Barons will continue, and if we don’t take to the streets and the halls of power, we, the progressive left will scream all we want here on the inter-tubes, to less and less effect.
Fuck it, PATIENCE BE DAMED.

[tango-tee]

67. You speak the truth.

I've nothing to add.

[Myrina]

71. +10

:applause:

[glitch]

84. Well said and Welcome to DU! nt

[Paper Roses]

68. Well said and true. Thanks for posting this. n/t

[spiritual_gunfighter]

69. There it is great post

"Some of you who are shocked at which well-heeled politician is under the bus tires should save some of that shock for unemployment lines, empty food pantry shelves, homeless children, boarded-up factories and empty oil barrels".

When my girlfriend and I are having to write checks to the grocery store that we hope to god wont clear before we have enough money in the bank to cover it, because we haven't eaten a meal since yesterday. Why the fuck should I care if Obama is not being treated "fairly" around here.

[Javaman]

70. :) K&R.

It's time to open our mouths, it's time to stop waiting for the elected officials to speak for us. I'm done with them.

They speak not of our problems but do nothing more than further a system of corruption and graff all so they can get reelected.

We haven't mattered to them for years.

[WT Fuheck]

73. and others can't afford to BE a patient

[aaronbav]

77. K&R

[femrap]

78. K and R...

Fuck Patience. Things are getting worse, not better.

Because our politicians didn't let the bad banks fail by throwing shitloads of money at them, they have merely 'Extended and Pretended' (The Federal Reserve's motto) the inevitable.

2010 will be the year of big poop hitting huge fan.

Get prepared. This year will leave no doubt in anyone's minds that The Empire is Over. We can't afford all of these wars. We can't afford to borrow any more $$$ from ourselves. China has stopped lending.

WASF.

[avaistheone1]

82. Why should we be patient, the Wall Street banksters was not patient,

and big Pharma was not patient.

Why should we be patient when are lives and those of our families are at stake?
Hell are there are 45,000 of us dying for lack of health insurance.

[orbitalman]

83. Amen, Amen, Amen. n/t

[Vinca]

86. What a great post.

I'm getting so disgusted with the way things are going. The wealthy continue to be catered to and the little guy is left to fend for himself. Health "reform" (aka corporate welfare for big insurance) has me particularly disgusted. Also, after all the job losses, not a peep about our faulty trade agreements or punishing companies that outsource jobs. I can't imagine what this country will be like in 50 years.

[Highway61]

87. Great post my friend

K & R

[Luciferous]

89. K&R

[Phlem]

91. The reply about being patient is BS.

According to the argument, it takes a long time to tear down and rebuild a political system, yet we're supposed to wait and be patient. If it takes a long time to tear down and rebuild a political system, shouldn't we start now? You know, sooner rather than later. :0\

just sayin

[juno jones]

92. K&R!

I am small fish in all of this, but dems heed my words.

If we get sold down the river I will not be talking you up to my co-workers, friends and family. Small taters, sure, but that was ten voters give or take that might not have even participated in the last election. I'm assuming many other people have similar networks. Multiply me by thousands if you will, 'cause we are out there.

I won't badmouth (unless one considers the truth to be badmouthing), but I won't be on their asses to vote for y'all either. We'll see how that works out.

[Jakes Progress]

96. Don't you mean some of us can't afford to be "a" patient? nt

[Zhade]

97. Couldn't say it better myself.

One of my best friends just lost her job because they didn't want to hire her on -- because it meant giving her benefits. Another just had his hours cut. And they're my roommates, which means my economic burden just increased.

It's getting hard out here. I'm tired of waiting for promises to be kept that I know will be broken.

[Odin2005]

103. +1