The Angry Centrists

[last1standing]

Why are the centrists so angry? What did they realistically expect from progressives and liberals??

Was it enough that our efforts, for the first time in history, elected a black President? That, in itself, could never be enough.

After eight years of the most criminal and incompetent Administration in our memory, why would anyone think it would be a good idea to squander away the Democratic base with insults and dismissal? The War on Terror? Still going strong. The screwing of the American people by the Big Banks? Making more money than ever. Regulations restored? Nope, everything still the same. Healthcare reform? It changed to health insurance reform after the election.

So why none of the changes people expected? Is it primarily because the politicians we elected never planned to keep their promises to us? After all, once they got into office they immediately went back on promises to restore the Constitution, become a "fierce advocate" for civil rights, renegotiate NAFTA, make the banks responsible for their actions, include a public option in the health care bill, etc... They claim "We don't want to make the big banks angry or they will stop lending money altogether". True, but letting them threaten us with the loss of jobs if we attempt to regulate them in future is just a way to frighten people and continue bush's* reign of fear.

It is simply not possible to get something for nothing. The President wants to pretend he's Abraham Lincoln. He wants to suck up to the republican minority at the expense of his base. He doesn't believe that he or the Democrats will have to pay a price for their deception and insults.

[StarfarerBill]

1. K&R

[Greyhound]

2. Which leaves the same unanswered question lying on the floor like a putrid corpse, why?

Either the Democratic leadership are astonishingly stupid, or their agenda is not what we believe it to be.
:kick: & R

[last1standing]

4. I'm not so sure that was an "either/or" question.

I'm becoming convinced that they are both deceiving us and stupid. They are stupid because they somehow think the republicans will honor their backroom deals once they're back in power.

[Greyhound]

25. I'm getting that the real agenda is simply to maintain the illusion of opposition

and therefore choice.

It doesn't matter which set of thieves are in power, the agenda is steadily moved forward.

[PassingFair]

3. K & R +2

The "where else can they go?" crowd is
angry.

What is REALLY funny, is that the BASE will
still vote for the Democrat! We will probably
be the only ones who WILL, in any number.

But because we cannot, in all good conscience,
donate or WORK for these suckers of corporate
dollars, our voices are not out there convincing
independents to go our way.

Its too hard and too hypocritical to defend
and endorse greedy people, even if there are (D's)
after their names.

[last1standing]

5. I like to call them the "Something for Nothing Crowd".

They demand our votes and money but then insult us and dismiss our views after we've elected them. And of course they have their little cronies and hangers-on do the same in discussion boards like this.

[PassingFair]

19. What irks me is that we'll *ucking vote for them anyway....

They're mad because we won't donate to them.

[Warpy]

6. They're not centrists, they're conservatives

and they're angry because they're being reminded again that they don't lead the center.

[last1standing]

7. They're the kind of people who'd write this...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7480338

Its the Something for Nothing crowd. We're supposed to be happy just because a "D" is in the white house and forget about actually getting anything positive done.

[kentuck]

10. I'm sorry you misinterpreted my post.

In no way was it meant to be a defense of the status quo. I tried to keep it as fair and neutral as possible to get people to think.

[last1standing]

11. Sorry, but it doesn't come off that way at all.

It reads like the thousand other insulting threads posted at DU, night and day, intended to marginalize progressives and liberals just as the white house has done over the last year. If that was not your intention then I apologize but it sure reads that way.

[kentuck]

17. How did you interpret this paragraph??

"After eight years of the most criminal and incompetent Administration in our memory, why would anyone think there would be massive changes? The War on Terror? Still going strong. The screwing of the American people by the Big Banks? Making more money than ever. Regulations restored? Nope, everything still the same. Healthcare reform? It changed to health insurance reform after the election.?


(You need sarcasm note for that??)

[last1standing]

20. In context with the rest of your post it sounded pretty bad.

Honestly, you don't want me to go further than that.

[bvar22]

8. They sound just like Rush Lumpbag.

"Its ALL The Liberals fault!!!"

I used to ridicule Working Class Republicans for voting AGAINST their own Economic Interests.

NOW, the Democratic Party is asking me to do the same. :shrug:


"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans. I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans, family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."---Paul Wellstone

[last1standing]

13. It is interesting how much centrists sound like republicans.

Whenever anything goes wrong for them they immediately blame progressives even though, as they say, we're just a minority of the party. It's amazing to read so many insults directed at liberals on a so-called Democratic forum.

[athenasatanjesus]

9. Many Centrists are suckers

The media portrays the left and the right equally no matter how absurd the right gets,then gives off the impression that rational people are somewhere in between and its liberals and conservatives ruining politics with their arguments.
Centrists fall for this trick so the media can allow conservatives to become more and more extreme while placing them on par with more and more moderate liberals pulling centrists to the right.
Then when you try and explain this to most centrists they ignore you completely claiming that all liberals and conservatives are brainwashed by the media when its really them being fooled.
The media doesn't even need to brainwash liberals or conservatives,conservatives are brainwashed by their churches and surroundings while liberals are brainwashed by rational thought.

[JVS]

18. AMEN!

[jgraz]

12. Excellent post.

Too bad it's going to get locked as a copycat. Silly rule, IMHO.

[last1standing]

14. It was just for fun, anyway. I thought it would be good to point out the hypocrisy.

What's amazing is how little I had to change to turn the argument back on them.

[bvar22]

15. CENTRISM!!!!

...because it is so EASY!!!

You don't have to STAND for ANYTHING,
and get to insult those who do!!!
:party:

[FrenchieCat]

16. I would like to respond.....

and will bookmark this thread to do so....
But I'm awfully busy right now:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x128848

[last1standing]

23. So you have time to read these threads and respond, just not respond like you want to.

But you do have time to set up a link to tell everyone how wonderful you and your efforts are. I can only tip my hat to how selfless and good you are, Frenchie. :sarcasm:

Color me impressed. I haven't seen this much self-promotion since P.T. Barnum.

[autorank]

21. Consequences k*r

That's a word teens hate but is better applied to adults.

Excellent post. You're talking about real world consequences.

[LoZoccolo]

22. The main bullshit of the progressive line is that they got "nothing".

I don't expect anything else from them but to constantly claim this because it seems to be their main strategy. In lieu of gaining consensus for their not-yet-widely-accepted ideas, they opt for the shortcut of making constant accusations that no progress is being made. It's a little like the Republicans whining that the media is liberal to "work the ref".

Knock it off already.

[last1standing]

24. Yet you show no examples, just insults.

I think you're probably on safer ground arguing the merits of Oasis over the Beatles. Sure its laughable but at least you sound coherent doing so.