I hate the term "leftbagger"

[Cant trust em]

Let the right completely own "bagger". I don't want to have anything to do with or be associated with those nutjobs in any way.

[camera obscura]

1. I mostly hate it because it doesn't make sense

If you wanted to say they were bagging the bill, why not call them "billbaggers"? "Leftbaggers" just doesn't scan.

[smalll]

22. Except the term "leftbagger" first gained traction a few weeks ago -

not over Health Care, but over Obama's speeches at West Point and at his Nobel Prize acceptance. All Obama did in those speeches is attempt to fulfill his (and the Democratic Party Platform's) promises about Afghanistan.

I used the term myself in that debate. I would not use it about those of us who don't like this Health Care bill. I don't like it myself. But I'm not going to blame Obama for it. All he did was make a tactical mistake -- he allowed Congress to take the lead in creating legislation (which is, after all, supposed to be Congress's job.)

[freddie mertz]

2. I embrace it as a manifest symbol of the idiocy of the anti-left brigades.

Their scorn is a badge of honor.

[Arkana]

3. And we hate being called "empty-headed cheerleaders" and "pom-pom wavers".

[lapfog_1]

4. It's an attack by defenders of the President

and supporters of this horrible Senate HCR bill against the "extreme left".

I got news for them. We aren't the "extreme" left. I'm about as moderate as they come.

Not only that, but I was a huge supporter of Obama through the primaries and through the first 10 months of his administration. I still personally like the guy. But his administration is losing me. Misstep after misstep.

Compromise to the point where our core values are compromised.

Mandates with no public option is a no go with me. Where is the cost containment? What will stop the insurance companies from 15% increases year over year on everyone's premium?

The reason they attack us is that they, too, know that this is folly. But they hitched themselves so tightly to this man that they will rationalize anything and everything away. And, instead of attacking the real culprits, the blue dog democrats and Joe Lieberman (who admitted that he killed the expansion of Medicare ONLY because the left seemed to like it), they would attack those here who are standing up for core democratic principles and NOT standing with a bad bill and a signing ceremony at the White House.

Hence the term "left-baggers" (which doesn't make one bit of sense).

It's the old Bush mantra "You're either with us or against us" now applied to the support of President Obama.

[nemo137]

5. When you start having dark mutterings about revolution

and begin postulating elaborate conspiracy theories, a certain comparison to the teabaggers does come to mind.

[DCBob]

12. +1

Those you are decribing however, probably wont get it.

[AllentownJake]

6. I love it when I'm called that

Honestly if that is the best they could come up with it shows what small minded little twits they are.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. I like the term cleveland steamer brigade.

Because there's nothing more they love to do then leave a big turd right in the middle o fDU>

[AllentownJake]

14. See that was creative

:rofl:

[Cha]

8. I was really surprised when I

read one poster saying, "We Will March With The Teabaggers!".

I don't even care enough to label them.

But, they make sure I'm the one who has the "Poms Poms".."tending to my shrine".

[Cali_Democrat]

9. Well I don't think there's any denying that some folks on the left are standing with the teabaggers

Folks on the left who oppose this bill are standing with the townhallers and the teabaggers. That's their choice.

I think I would rather stand with the President.

[jenmito]

10. +1.

[BlueIdaho]

11. Why don't you ask the President if he feels that way?

If he does - fair enough, if he doesn't why should you?

[Lyric]

13. And Sarah Palin agrees with and approves of the President's decision on Afghanistan.

If lefties are going to be accused of guilt by association, then why isn't Obama? After all, he and Sarah Palin are in agreement about the war. Does that make Obama a Palinite?

:shrug:

[ZombieHorde]

15. Teabaggers use logical fallacies, you are using a logical fallacy (false dichotomy),

you are standing with the teabaggers with this tactic, which is your choice.

You = leftbagger.

Teabaggers reaches out to Republicans, President Obama reaches out to Republicans, which is his choice.

President Obama = leftbagger.

[tekisui]

16. The Democrats in the Senate and in the WH moved closer to

the teabaggers position, leaving the left unable to support it.

[Starry Messenger]

18. For completely opposite reasons.

The right and the left oppose this bill for completely opposite reasons. A four year old would understand this point so at this juncture I must believe there are several of you who are just willfully misunderstanding this to be insulting on purpose.

[Mithreal]

45. And they stroke each other with their perceived superiority

ignoring common ground.

Both ends of the political spectrum are feeling unheard.

There is common ground and populist rage on both sides. I am suspicious of anyone who tells us to snuff it out.

I agree with the op.

Funny, the same folks who I regularly disagree with think it is appropriate or some similar nonsense.

They seek to marginalize and will fail.

[rurallib]

20. I am not standing with the teabaggers. The current bill is a time bomb

of really really bad things. They have been written about.
Please don't give us this "your with or against us" crap.

[racaulk]

24. Bullshit.

Those on the left want a better HCR bill.

Teabaggers want no HCR bill.

But I suspect you already know this.

[HughMoran]

44. Poll today showed Teabaggers more popular than Dems FOLLOWED by Republicans

The only way that Teabaggers can be more popular than Dems and have Republicans in 3rd place is for Dems to be a big part of the movement too :think:

[donco6]

47. Oh yeah. We're like two peas in a pod.

Fuck you.

[mike_c]

17. as long as it acknowledges the left, it's fine with me....

I'm liberal, and proud.

[FrenchieCat]

19. It's hyperbole on both ends......

even if the Left feels perfectly justified,
because they may or may not know that the
Right feels as equaly "justified".

Neither are.
Both are outlandish in their demands and accusations.

They are the part that is the arc that meets.

[Better Today]

21. I learned long ago that your POV is responsible for the effectiveness

of a verbal slur. I cannot tell you how liberating it was (and still is) when I first turned to someone who had called me a bitch (something I'm often called as most women are if they are docile and obedient), anyway, I turned to them and said, "Oh, you said that like its a bad thing. I'm more than happy to be Beautiful, Intelligent, Talented, Clever, and . . . lucky for you (it was my hubby saying it) Horny.


If you hate a term, you empower it to be used against you. Get a snarky sense of humor and get on with more important things.

[Cant trust em]

28. Professor Dumbledore, is that you? nt

[Better Today]

30. Who TF is Professor Dumbledore, sounds like a character out of a kids fairy tale.

[Cant trust em]

31. It's a Harry Potter character. nt

[Better Today]

34. OIC, and is he a good guy or a bad guy? Am I being compared to

a wise, intelligent guy or a meany with no empathy. I can sort of see it going either way.

[Cant trust em]

35. He's only the greatest wizard of all time!

Your nerd detector should be going off big time by now. :)

The premise of this reference is that there was once a very evil wizard that caused a lot of havoc. Since then his name has become essentially a swear word. Dumbledore says essentially what you said in your response to my OP. Not saying the evil wizard's name essentially gives power and fear to it. Say the name and don't let it bother you.

[Better Today]

41. OIC, well thanks for the 'planation. I actually am a nerd, but never

got into the HPotter stuff. More the Dune, Hobbit, DeathGate type, but even that was years ago. I guess I just don't read much fiction at all anymore. Thank you again for the explanation.

[question everything]

23. Than don't use it

Don't let others define who you are.

Let's none of us use it. Let's not use the term "pro life" or "late term abortion."

And I don't like the abandonment of the term liberal, replacing it with progressive, because back in the 80s, I think, the right made it derogatory.

[rudy23]

25. Of course we hate it, that's why the DLC is trying to brand us with it.

They didn't count on how badly it would backfire.

[MNDemNY]

26. I have chosen to embrace it.

[Cant trust em]

27. You're actually the inspiration for this post.

I saw something you wrote earlier today.

[MNDemNY]

29. What was that?

:o

[Cant trust em]

32. I can't remember. I just saw your sig line. nt

[Jersey Devil]

33. Only place I ever saw that term was at DU in your post

So where else has it been used? I consider myself fairly well read but have not read it anywhere else so I Googled the term "leftbagger" (and "left bagger") and again, it comes back to DU.

[Cant trust em]

36. It was probably invented in the last two days right here at this website.

I picked it out of someone else's post.

[smalll]

42. I think it very well might have been invented on DU -- but NOT over the last two days --

it was invented, or emerged, around about the West Point speech - perhaps even in the run-up to it. It was aimed at the pseudo-pacifist anti-Americans who were livid that Obama was attempting to fulfill his promises on Afghanistan.

I've used it. I did not invent it, but I saw it here on DU.

Also, as I said above in this thread, I do not think it's fair to use it against opponents of this bill. 1) Because it's not really Obama's fault - it's the fault of the leadership in Congress and 2) Obama did NOT promise to give us an insurance-company-supporting mandated neo-feudalist "reform," which is what we're getting with this awful bill.

[janx]

38. Do a DU site search. You'll find it. n/t

[wisteria]

37. Why, it sound appropriate for many of the people posting here at DU recently.

Revolting, thinking you are a citizens army, thinking your way is the only way. Showing disrespect for Congress and not understanding how a democracy works. The name sound right to me.

[PHIMG]

39. DLC Toadies sure are clever huh.

Yes it's bad to fight for our values.

Much more money in fellating the corporate state. Like Rahm and Lanny Davis.

[MNDemNY]

40. That's why I often "remind" DLC-types to "wipe their chin".

[themaguffin]

43. this thread is the 1st time I have heard the term

[donco6]

46. I don't give a shit. It's only indicative of the bankruptcy of the corp whores.

No creativity. No wit. No use for any of them.