And the Teabaggers screamed like banshees

[maxrandb]

It is time to stop blaming Obama and blame ourselves. The Republicans declared war on President Obama before the ink on his Oath of Office was dry. We (Democrats, liberals and progressives) sent Obama off to this war…BUT WE DIDN’T HAVE HIS BACK.

It’s standard now to complain about what we “didn’t get”, but there is a good reason when we didn’t get it…we weren’t willing to fight for it. We weren’t willing to walk point with this President, and because of that, we now have House Speaker John “Boner”.

We voted in 2006 and 2008, and I guess we thought we could just go back to our “lattes, Happy Meals and Dancing with the Stars” lives, but let’s be clear about a few things. It’s not enough to vote. Look at the tea-baggers. They could give a sh** about the votes in 2006 and 2008, and (I’m sorry to say) “they won”.

- President Obama absolutely rescued this economy from the brink of a Depression. His stimulus bill saved millions of jobs, and helped turn negative growth into positive growth. Our reaction was “meh”, and the Tea-baggers screamed like banshees.

- President Obama absolutely rescued our auto manufacturing industry (an economic and national security MUST). Our reaction was “meh”, and the Tea-baggers screamed like banshees.

- President Obama shepherded through the most dramatic overhaul of Health Care in our lifetimes (something that has been on the agenda of every president since Teddy Roosevelt). Our reaction was “meh”, and the Tea-baggers screamed like banshees.

What message did our actions send to the Democrats? Well, one very important message was; “if screaming banshees show up armed with guns at town-hall meetings and act like bullies, we won’t be there to counter them just as loudly and vehemently”…in fact, “we’ll help them take your lunch money”.

That is the message we sent in November 2010. “We don’t have your back!”

How we can send messages like that, and then pi$$ and moan about the Democrats “compromising” is beyond me, and “YES”, I am 100% including myself in that as well.

By our actions and our “lack” of votes, we have weakened this President and the Democratic majority. People like to say that Dems go to a gunfight with a butter knife, but since we are the ones that gave them the butter-knife, WE ALL HAVE SOME WORK TO DO.

So tell me, "when is that first Repub House Majority Town-hall meeting"?

[aquart]

1. Pasture pastry. Meadow muffins. Barn buns.

Obama went belly up without ever asking us for a thing. Something I recall pointing out in the primaries, I swear to god. He had no plan for his supporters to do a damn thing but get him elected. There was never a word about using their goodwill and organizational skills afterward.

The spineless, jellyfish, cave-in-and-give-away-the-store-BEFORE-negotiations-start recipe for disaster is on HIM. He didn't do it once in green ignorance. It's his MO. His pattern. His absolutely dependable pattern.

[Angry Dragon]

2. Why should I have his back when I do not like where

he is leading me??

I hope you have the same frame of mind when he advocates for
weakening Social Security, when he lets the tax cuts for the
more affluent continue, when people get put out of their homes
through fraud, when he continues to say we have to work with the republicans.

When people say they want to destroy me I usually do not ask them
how I can help them.

[obxhead]

3. BULLSHIT!

For one easy example.

The overwhelming majority of the American public wanted a public option in HCR.

Obama ignored that public opinion and threw the PO under the bus gaining NOTHING in return.

WTF else are we supposed to do to "have his back"?

I would argue the rest of your post, but your message is clear.

[Vinca]

4. How can you weaken something that was never strong?

Imagine Democrats sending a blackmail letter. It would never happen. They'd send an apology note for even considering it.

[WingDinger]

5. I wish I could rec more. We are wimps. Obama BEGGED us to force his hand, just like FDR did!!!

[randr]

6. We can only blame ourselves for not behaving like the teabaggers

Their strategy of rude disruption is apparently working.