Either I'm a genius, or this board is just WAY too predictable.

[Richardo]

...and I'm no genius. Ask anybody.

From GD-P, the freakin' DAY after the election, not even 24 hours after the polls closed:

Richardo (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-05-08 05:12 PM
Response to Original message
10. By June, many here will be comparing Obama to Pelosi and Reid...
...bemoaning his centrist governing style and claiming bait-and-switch, or capitulation, or complicity.

He campaigned as a centrist. He's known as a pragmatist. Yet some here will claim to be shocked SHOCKED that he betrayed his liberal base.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7797092&mesg_id=7797349

[OKNancy]

1. Since I thought and posted the same thing...

you may not be a genius, but you have obviously been on DU long enough to know how it goes.

[dionysus]

2. sums it up pretty good, doesn't it...

"bluh bluh bluh.. so betrayed, voting green now, bluh bluh bluh DLC wahhh"

[Lost4words]

3. He sounded more liberal than he turned out to be IMO.

So go and pat yourself on the back as you disparage those who hoped for something a little different.

[Skinner]

4. The issue isn't whether you are a genius, or DU is predictable.

The issue here is that this is a large, and very diverse community. You can predict just about anything, and at some point there will probably be a fairly large contingent of people saying it.

What I find strange is how many people still seem surprised when they encounter a different opinion here. Have they not been paying attention for the last nine years?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

6. Everyone considers themselves to be the standard.

Hence, so many accusations of "paid posters" and trolls.

On DU, I suppose I would be considered "conservative". But in my family, I have to constantly battle against ridiculous assertions: Obama is a Kenyan, Obama's death panels, Democrats are weak on terror, etc. etc. etc. These aren't Republicans-they're Democrats. They just don't spend all of their time reading news sites and are a little gullible perhaps.

[emulatorloo]

13. Maybe, but it is getting out of hand. More hyperbole, more dishonesty. IMHO n/t

[Forkboy]

40. Actually, it is pretty predictable.

And that goes for this response as well. :)

And on edit - You know that as well as I do. Probably better. ;)

[phleshdef]

5. Obama is ideologically liberal but not so much that he doesn't find the middle road acceptable.

Its the difference between getting things done with concessions and getting nothing done while maintaining that its your way or the highway.

[emulatorloo]

10. That's the "pragmatic" part of Obama.

Probably the part that most people in the real world admire.

[depakid]

16. Very few end up admiring appeasers who backstab their own constituencies

Fewer still can tell you at the end of the day what they actually stood for.

Essentially, that's the definition of a caretaker presidency.

[emulatorloo]

28. Very few find that kind of hyperbole convincing

[depakid]

32. Ask a teacher or a union member- or maybe after yesterday, some environmental groups

Groups interested in womens' reproductive rights might also have a thing or two to say.

On another note- does anyone remember who or what the Clinton presidency stood for?

His best claim to fame was a balanced budget (no small feat- though it was assisted by the creation of a technology bubble).

[Captain Hilts]

15. I don't see him as being all that liberal. nt

[phleshdef]

19. He is by mainstream standards and thats really all that counts.

[Exilednight]

41. If that's all that counts, then there is no way ....

he will be reelected. No matter who the candidate is, they have to have the base of the party (for Democrats that means those of us on the left) turnout to vote for them. If a Democrat doesn't get the base, then you end up with another Al Gore Presidential bid. Gore lost by less than 700 votes, with Nader getting just above what Gore needed to win.

And, what is mainstream? Right of center as the repukes claim?

If you go by polling data, then the repuke argument of right of center falls flat. A majority of Americans support a woman's choice, a majority support true universal health-care, a majority support a true separation of church-and-state, and a majority of Americans support environmental causes.

I'm getting sick and tired of Democrats running republican-lite candidates because a small vocal crowd from the other side pulls them to their side.

I understand that their usually needs to be compromise, but selling out on the public option really destroyed this health-care bill. Expanding offshore drilling is going to destroy any true environmental reform. And every article I have read about the new arms reduction treaty call the numbers fuzzy-math.

I'd rather have a great one term President than a compromise on every issue two-term candidate - which, to be honest, isn't looking good. sd

[Drunken Irishman]

33. He's very similar to JFK - very pragmatic.

[BeyondGeography]

7. Comparing him to Bush...that was fun the first few times

Now I'm used to it.

Can Hitler be far behind?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

8. Oh Dude, that was like...months ago.

[depakid]

9. The only things that surprise me are:

1. The ease at which he gratuitously alienates key constituencies, while attempting to appease those who will never in a million years support him; and

2. The callous disregard for accountability and the rule of law the administration's shown for banksters, fraudsters, torturers (and even food poisoners for crissakes).

#1 I can somewhat reconcile (even though it's bad politics and results in poor policy)- #2 just blew me away.

[DevonRex]

11. Well, you were right.

I guess it isn't all that surprising, though, given the number of Greens and Naderites on the board who like to think they're the base.

[depakid]

14. LOL- yep, labor, teachers, environmental groups- an on and on are all "Naderites" and Greens

:eyes:

(Actually, would that that were so- there was a nice little coalition there during the battle of Seattle).

[Name removed]

12. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Moochy]

17. Ahh the Daily Scolding of DU's improper reaction to the WH

I thought I'd gotten all the scolds on my ignore list .... Always room for another!

[boppers]

20. There's an ongoing scold-fest...

Amusingly enough, I first typo'ed the above as "scold-feast", which isn't too far from the truth. It's as if DU thrives best not in spite of, but *because* of, the constant debates, scolding, and rancor.

I suppose a discussion board that agreed on almost everything wouldn't really have much to discuss, so there ya go.

[polichick]

18. Escalating wars, coddling Wall Street, ins. cos, big pharma and big oil is...

...quite a bit to the right of "centrist" - and consistently giving up the best bargaining chips before negotiation begins is quite a bit beyond "pragmatist."

Progressives/liberals/Democrats aren't shocked, they're DISGUSTED - big difference.

[Jennicut]

21. I agree with Skinner, we all have our own opinions on Obama and everyone thinks they

are right. I Know myself well enough at 34 that I know what I like in a President and I really don't care if anyone agrees with me or not. I grew up in a conservative family and am the only politically active Democrat in it. I am just used to being around people that have never agreed with me so I had to believe in what I think without validation from others.
I see Obama as left of center to right of center on all the issues that matter. I can live with that. I can live with liking some things about Obama and disliking some things about him. Some people can't. So be it. I don't have to convince anyone else that what I feel is the "right" way. At the end of the day, I enjoy a good debate and learn something new every day I am here.

[emulatorloo]

25. "I can live with liking some things about Obama and disliking some things about him."

Sums it up pretty well. He pisses me off about somethings, I like other things. The positive for me outweighs the negative. Bush for example had no positives.

[wyldwolf]

22. hate to burst a bubble, but some here said that back in the primaries

[Beetwasher]

23. Don't Underestimate Yourself

You may not be as smart as me, but you're still a genius!

[Sebastian Doyle]

24. If you aren't a Centrist, you don't belong here

What are you, one of those "progressive" fucking retards?

[Jennicut]

26. That is up to the mods, isn't it?

They pretty much let all types of Dems in here.

[Sebastian Doyle]

27. But there are no real Democrats other than Centrist New Democrats

Those Loony Left Liberals aren't on our side.

[Kaleva]

38. Even conservative ones....

[xultar]

29. Who didn't guess that shit?

[Richardo]

30. It was an easy call, huh?

:D

[Kind of Blue]

31. I wasn't here for the primaries but it

occurred to me yesterday that many people are just starting to pay attention to the Obama campaign of '08.

[CLANG]

34. Lot of Tombstones in that thread

[Kaleva]

Many who wanted Pelosi & Reid replace got replaced themselves.

[BlooInBloo]

35. :)

[jeanpalmer]

36. Since when is waging aggressive war centrist?

It's totally right wing.

[Richardo]

37. He told us time and again that's what he was going to do.

...STARTING the war is right wing. Trying to extricate ourselves without running away in surrender is, I would say, the responsible and centrist thing to do.

[Forkboy]

39. I'll take "Way too predictable" for $200, Alex.

;)

[Peacetrain]

42. Now you nailed it.. seriously nailed it..

Just saying..

[backscatter712]

43. The thing I and most others didn't predict was Pelosi stepping up and kicking some ass.

Since that thread, Pelosi's really dialed things in and kicked some ass. The first time I posted a thread saying "Is it just me, or has Pelosi significantly improved?" I got flamed to a crisp.

But she has significantly improved. She knows how to play the game, fights hard, and gets things done. Boehner is utterly pathetic going up against her.