"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread". So-o-o-----

[Atticus]

Is there any possibility that both of the extremes who regularly fill the air around here with all sorts of passionate but negative rhetoric could take a deep breath, picture the likes of Karl Rove and Grover Norquist lurking and laughing their asses off and resolve to engage in only reasonable discussions of our current quandary.

Some here have written off Barack Obama and castigate as fools anyone who still supports him.

Others here believe that since he is a Democrat and we elected him, he must be supported enthusiastically without regard to what he does or fails to do since any Republican would be worse by a factor of 10 to the nth power.

I have a foot in both camps.

On some days, I am convinced that we must consider his considerable successes and take into account what---and who---he has had to deal with.

On other days, and these days are coming more frequently lately, I feel totally used and taken for granted and find myself wondering if a "Draft Dean" movement would be feasible.

I honestly don't know where these next two years will lead us. I still see much potential for this President as he is an intelligent man with the ability to articulate a credible progressive vision for America. But,---I just don't know if he has the "grit" to get down and dirty with some of the professional SOBs who want him to fail. It's that "takes a library book to a gunfight" quality that may be his---and our---undoing.

I am sure, however, that everyone who posts here in good faith is my ally in this fight. We want the same things even if we sometimes disagree with each other at the top of our voices as to how to accomplish those things. But, implying that someone is not a "real" Democrat if they dare to question our President or our party OR suggesting that they are unsophisticated rubes because they fail to see "how the real world works" does nothing to advance our common goals.

We NEED to stop the mean, greedy, ignorant-and-proud-of-it mob that is trying to take us back to the middle of the twentieth century. But, we also NEED the respect of the leaders we have busteed our asses to elect. I think we can accomplish both of those goals if we can remember who we are fighting for and put the egos in neutral for a while.

If we can't, we don't deserve to win and we won't.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Your premise is very sound, my dear Atticus.

I see potential for him too, regardless of how my thread sounds.

I AM discouraged, of course.

I have no idea, however, how to do what you think we must do...

Recommended.

[Andy823]

3. I am with you!

I too think that the president has a lot of potential, and I think he has done a lot of good, but now that I hear he is ready to give into the republicans on the tax cuts for the rich, I too am discouraged and fear that this is a huge mistake on his part, and on congress's part. I to have no idea what to do to change things. I am getting tired, and feeling like it's a lost cause sometimes. I will support him to my best, and I will vote for him in 2012, I just want him to stand up to the republicans and democrats and do what is right for the people that voted him into office!

[BrklynLiberal]

2. I agree with you wholeheartedly...except I believe the repukes are trying to take us

much further back than the middle of the 20th Century..I think they may be aiming for the 18th Century..you know, when only male, white property owners could vote. Of course the irony here is that so many of the Tbaggers would be unable to vote in that case..

The fact that Mr Obama is so intelligent only makes me more upset at the course he appears to have set for himself and this country...

[Angry Dragon]

4. When he was first elected I thought it was not a bad idea to have

a republican as advisors. I thought that would give a balance.
I was wrong. He picked people that are giving him bad advice.
It seems he is not a good judge of character.
He shows his hand before anyone bets. I have never seen him
really fight for the people that got him elected.

He tell the people to hold his feet to the fire and then
complains when they do. If he finds out that he does not have the
desire to fight, then he needs to surround himself with people that
know how to fight. Some may claims that I use the word fight
too much, but if someone says they want to see me destroyed then
I have trouble thinking of it any other way.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

5. OK here goes, for almost all of my 69 years I have wanted

nothing more then a better life and a better world for all of us. I thought the world was finally getting it, growing up so to speak. But after the last decade, sadly it's become apparent that we haven't learned from our past mistakes. Power and greed is driving us over cliff without any regard for our future. I smell fascists and corporate interests taking away our freedoms and resources. After the last election cycle though, enough was enough, I'm pissed off, I have and will be pushing back at every level, local, state, federal and international. You are correct in this post, the only way we can win this war is by joining together fighting hard for our collective views. At the very least we need to tie up the phone lines to our reps and president, make them hear us!

[Atticus]

6. As I anticipated, the unreccers are killing this thread. I wonder which extreme took such

offense?

It is a pity that they lack the courage and integrity to claim their unrecs but, in a perverse sort of way, they are pretty much proving my point.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

9. I never realized that supporting the common good was extreme.

[Atticus]

11. So, unreccing a post without identifying yourself or stating your reasons, is

"supporting the common good"?

Or, is simply killing this thread "supporting the common good"?

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

12. Of course not, it's called closed mindfulness.

One should be open to all ideas and opinions, look at them and accept or reject them as you see fit.

[Atticus]

13. Sorry, but we are apparently not communicating. I really don't understand the purpose of your

posts.

Not blaming you. I may just be "drawing a blank".

Have a good one.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

15. Let me try to explain, when I go on DU I just scroll down various

posts, respond to the ones I choose. I don't bother to vote or rec or un rec. But I do push my ideas, try to stir the crowd, and share experience and sometimes give a simple "well said" or "I agree".

[Canuckistanian]

7. My concern is not that Obama doesn't have "grit"

He certainly does.

My concern is WHERE HE USES that grit. I just don't see it used where it'll do the most good.

[struggle4progress]

8. Stop expecting change from the top and start organizing pressure for change from below

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

10. Well said.

[dionysus]

14. you can't rely on him alone. i have had dissappointments, but we need to have his back too.

our own Dem senate doesn't even have his back. the House does more, to an extent.

if congress won't do it, then the people who elected him need to. but bitching on DU doesn't count towards that.

[Atticus]

17. I'm curious---have you read any criticism of the President that you do NOT characterize

as "bitching on DU"?

[dionysus]

18. trying to be too much of a statesman, yes. being "Bush III", a

a reincarnation of Reagan, and today "he makes jim demint look like a liberal", all of which i've seen here today, is just nonsense

[Atticus]

19. "trying to be too much of a statesman"? Really?

Gee, is that something like "being too perfect"?

That must have left a mark!

[AspenRose]

16. I agree with you.

[tavalon]

20. I would hope that the vast majority of us are in that camp

I think Obama, from a governing stance, has managed to do some pretty good things. I think as the leader of his party, he hasn't been doing a good job.