Mr. Obama, lead or lose!!!!

[joeprogressive]

My bags are packed and I am planning on leaving the Democratic Party if the Dems do not pass HCR with a public option. You can’t have a mandate without a public option. This bill stinks on many levels and this post's intention is not to go through all those reasons but to sum it up, it does not control the costs that insurance companies pass on to the consumer by creating a competitor for their greed. It also does not have the proper fundamental components to even be a good building block for the future. If the Dems don't get HCR done with a public option, they deserve what is coming to them and that is to lose power for a long time.

I almost left the party in 2006 when we failed to stop the Iraq war and Pelosi declared that W was off limits regarding impeachment. I really didn't want to take back control in 2006 because I knew if the repubs obstructed any progress, which they did, the dems would be blamed. I wanted the repubs 8 year track record to be front and center with no way for them to spin the fact that they controlled everything and screwed it all up. But the majority of people on this forum disagreed with me because they actually thought our newly elected Dem leaders would bring the troops home immediately. How did that work out for us; and how many times have you heard republican talking points claim that the economic downturn started in 2007 after Dems took over congress. It is a ridiculous argument but most Americans aren't critical enough thinkers to know that this was a repub economic disaster by every calculation.

I guess Obama restored my faith in America and the Democratic Party in 2008-2009. I supported him from day one when there were 9 or 10 candidates on the stage during the primaries. I donated more money that election cycle than ever before. I went to rallies despite living in a community that was and still is hostile toward Democrats. I collected Obama memorabilia. I cried on election night as I held my new baby boy watching the returns, thinking he had just been given a more promising future. I watched my wife and other son dance around the living room in a state of pure joy with hope about what was to come. Almost every day when I drive my son to school he says daddy that is where we went to vote for Obama. I used to say, yep that's where it all started. Now I can't even look him in the eyes and tell him that our president let us down and betrayed us. I have no idea how to have that conversation with a 5 year old who has idolized this president from the beginning. He picked out an Obama book at the book fair and I told him that I was not buying it for him and that I would explain why to him one day.

I know this post will be met with a lot of criticism and explanations of why this is Lieberman's fault or that of the republicans and a handful of corporate Democrats. I don't want to hear it any more. At a time when we needed our president to stand up and lead he turned his back on a promise for change. He turned his back on everyone like me that fought for him. I have lost friends and ostracized family members because of my support for this president. Now it breaks my heart that the guy getting out of the pick-up truck with the impeach Obama sticker next to the confederate flag and me have something in common. We both don't support this president. We arrived at that conclusion from completely opposite directions. I despise this hick with his ignorant narrow-minded views and his racism but on Election Day 2012 we will both be voting against Obama. He will vote for whichever moron like Palin happens to be running on their ticket and I will be at home sitting it out trying to figure out how we went from being on top of the world to losing it in 11 months.

I am still trying to figure out how we had the majority of Americans, 75% of physicians, the AMA, the AAFP, AARP, etc. all in support of the public option but our party managed to screw it up. Yes, Mr. President, the buck stops with you. Your historical presidency started the day you were elected because you were the first African-American president elected in this country. Sadly, I feel that is where your significance as president will end. If you fail us on this, I am certain you will lose in 2012 and the Democratic Party will be irrelevant for a long time to come. The current Democratic leaders have already become completely ineffectual so the trip to irrelevance is a short one. I just wish I knew how to explain all of this to my son. What a sad time it is for our family and country.

[BluegrassDem]

1. Goodbye. I'm sure Nader will take you in

[joeprogressive]

6. What has substantively changed?

Are you happy with how things are going? I'm tired of being part of a party that settles for mediocrity and compromise. I'm tired of the excuse that we are better than the alternative.

[jefferson_dem]

10. Not an excuse. We *are* better than the alternative.

If you don't see that by now, it's no surprise you are threatening to bolt.

[Patchuli]

28. How have we been "better" since January 2009?

More war, no HCR that actually helps, bank bail-outs, no accountability for war criminals, Patriot Act extended....

Exactly WTF is the change? Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

[jefferson_dem]

36. No magic wands, benevolent dictator, or even unitary executives but a decent record

of accomplishments. This has been detailed several times already. Here's a list, courtesy of ProSense.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8730317

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FrenchieCat]

50. You are sooo smart!

How can you stand it? :rofl:

[snagglepuss]

52. I must be one of them thar elitists. I'll say it slowly so you can understand.

The pom pom contigent has nothing substantial to counter the OP.

[joeprogressive]

54. Thanks, but it completely saddens me that it has come to this.

I would have walked through fire for this president. I have never felt this level of betrayal before.

[FrenchieCat]

59. Well.....you know what is said?

"Anyone who is “betrayed by their naiveté” should feel doubly ridiculous for thinking the change they voted for would come overnight. Status quo is not “kicked out of the door” like a weak, stray cat. Status quo has to be rallied against, systems have to be put in place to combat it, people have to put in work. Status quo will remain the “status quo” if people are too lazy to stick around for the entire fight."

[joeprogressive]

62. I also know it was a huge miscalculation letting a process

drag on after you already have the support of the majority of Americans, congress, doctors, and major groups like the AMA and AARP. Now all of those are diminishing rapidly. Let alone those groups but how do you think real reform will get done without a majority in congress when we take big hits in '10 and '12. Who is being naive? Thanks for posting a quote by some blogger; that really made your point. Does this blogger have the credentials of a Howard Dean? Do you just troll the internet searching for people that agree with you and cut and paste their stuff? Are you incapable of original thought?

[ima_sinnic]

84. it helps when the "leader" isn't sooo totally committed to maintaining the status quo

it seems the "fight for change" has to be fought against the very person who ran on a platform of "change." Kind of hard when all avenues are blocked by the likes of Rahm Emmanuel, who thinks we can be brushed off like lint because "who else are we going to vote for?" As another poster put it so well a few days ago, "Yes We Can" has become "No We Can't."

If Obama had advocated strongly for a "public option" (already a giant "compromise" from single-payer, which did NOT have "a place at the table" despite some empty promise that "all voices would be heard"), that public option would be in the bill. But he did nothing to defuse the teabaggers, instead letting them monopolize and distort the message until the general public was confused and the issues were reduced to cartoon sound-bites while Max Baucus went his merry way behind closed doors, having doctors and nurses arrested and laughing it up with the insurance co. string-pullers and palm-greasers.

We worked hard to get Obama elected and have a right to expect him to fight for us too, not just to ensure that insurance company profits are going to be high. He hasn't even expressed an interest in regulating the insurance companies.

The next time he needs us to do something for him, I won't be available--I got stuff to do.

[joeprogressive]

96. That is a perfect summary of what happened and how i feel n/t

[treestar]

76. It's politics, compromise is inevitable

Reality is that Republicans exist.

[ima_sinnic]

86. yes he will, thank you, and so will Dean and Kucinich

and I'm not alone in saying, I'll be voting for one of them instead of any more corporate fake "democrats." We have a one-party system now, so I'll probably look beyond it.

[TeamJordan23]

2. well with a corporate backed two-party system, you can leave but have no place to go. nm

[Oregone]

3. If your bags are packed, leave the country

Youll be happier.

[joeprogressive]

56. Oh, I am good. I have made a living off of our screwed up health care system.

Organizations pay me to research and consult on health care because of how bad our system is. Meaningful HCR would probably have hurt me a little financially. I am healthy and have fairly low cost health insurance. My wife is a physician and would have taken a substantial pay cut to see a public option pass. We gain very little by not getting a public option. The American people lose out in a huge way. I will stay put in this country thank you and continue to fight in my own way. I just wish my party would grow a set and fight with me. They won't get my support if they don't support my causes.

[Oregone]

58. Hey, why not. Seems everyone does that these days

Including elected officials

[AnOhioan]

4. Kicked and rec'd

The Dems have to know they will cost themselves dearly unless they remember what being a Democrat should mean.

[jefferson_dem]

5. Buh bye.

Sorry to see you go. :hi:

[katandmoon]

7. K&R.

[Aramchek]

8. go then, I'm sure Palin will sign a book for you

[joeprogressive]

12. I will be like millions that will never vote for republican but will

just decide to be as lazy as our party has become and sit out an election or two and keep our checkbooks closed . I won't fight for people that won't fight for me. I'll support people like Grayson but most of the current crop needs to lose.

[Aramchek]

20. you vastly overestimate the numbers your fellow irrationals

you are a minority on DU and little more than a footnote in Public

[jefferson_dem]

37. A footnote, yes.

A telephone booth sized echo chamber.

[joeprogressive]

40. read polls much. we are getting slaughtered. People on both sides

are pissed. That spells disaster.

[Aramchek]

100. read the polls today??

[joeprogressive]

44. Look at the recs and guess again. Progressives rule here and we

are pissed.

[ima_sinnic]

87. don't count on it, and don't take anybody's vote for granted

I don't think I want to participate in the current 1-party system.
They'll run Palin thinking everybody will come out to vote against her, but if there's no real anti-Palin, why bother? And I don't consider Obama to be truly the anti-Palin. He's already shown he has very little regard for We The People--Wall St. and insurance co. CEOs? well, that's a different matter. He's also now got, what? three wars going? not really my cup of tea. He seems like he might be planning a few more. He's also working overtime to keep war criminals free and even trying to change the very definition of war crimes--I wonder why?

[angee_is_mad]

9. take you behind on then

and don't let the hit you on the way out.

[jefferson_dem]

14. These overly-dramatic "look at me...I'm leaving the party" posts are so boring.

:boring:

[joeprogressive]

61. Then I am glad you took the time to look and comment. n/t

[jefferson_dem]

67. I did.

Well played.

Sorry if it offends you but I just have minimal respect for public statements of misplaced, whiny outrage. They only result in encouraging the hand of the real political enemy - the Repug scumbag machine.

My initial reaction - right or wrong - is to question the motivation of the one who made such statement.

[ima_sinnic]

88. meanwhile, I always question the motivation of the unquestioning followers

the herd of yes-(wo)men who will excuse anything, look no deeper than "political party labels," and hear nothing beyond a few million-dollar words.

[Splinter Cell]

11. Don't let the door hit you.

You're either on board with the democratic party, or the rethuglican party. None of the other parties or groups matter.

You people need to learn that you can't have everything just the way you want it all the time. I'd like a public option, single payer at that. But it's not happening right now. That said, I'm not going to stomp off and hide and let the fuckin' GOP come in and proceed to buttfuck the country again.

Change takes time, effort and patience.

You're either in for the long haul or you're in the way.

[joeprogressive]

15. Wrong, I am a progressive that is currently not represented.

If a true progressive is running I will support them. The funny thing is I will get bashed by a lot of people here that are enablers to what is going on. That means I am more liberal/progressive than theyu are. If you are ok with what is currently going on then you aren't a true liberal.

[treestar]

79. Feingold is OK with the bill

If you are in the far left fringe you won't have anyone representing you on the federal level; not enough of your fellow voters agree. Have you thought of running for a local office or working to get progressives on there? That's what the right wing did - they had patience and fortitude. You are adding to the perception that the left does not.

[angee_is_mad]

16. Thank you Splinter

a voice of reason.

[BP2]

46. Instead of going GOP (fuck no), or leaving the Democrats, how about option 3 ?

Change the Democratic Party to what it is suppose to be?

Status Quo-lite is not the answer, but it sure seems to be what we got at the moment.

[ima_sinnic]

89. the other groups will "matter" when they split the vote all to hell

and "republican" and "democrat" are now just words that mean nothing. There is one party now, the Party of Corruption, and I don't plan to participate in it. It needs to die before it totally sucks the blood out of the entire country.

[FrenchieCat]

13. Bye!

The 30 Million who will not get affordable insurance, and the millions who will use the Community health Centers that you helped become stronger via your political donations during the elections of 2008 all thank you!

Let your 5 year old know that you were able to help many who couldn't have
helped themselves otherwise. He might like to hear about the fact that children
with Pre-Existing conditions who would have bankrupted their parents will be
able to now get insurance. Perhaps it will teach your child that one doesn't have
to completely change the world in one fell swoop in order to do good for many.

At least you can take comfort that you made a difference,
even it isn't exactly the specific ones you had ordered!



:hi:

[ShortnFiery]

19. It's going to get lonely for you and others in your Obama-perfection world.

Smaller and smaller it becomes ... you will become more sad and shrill.

Good luck with the new found confidence (arrogance?) of your positions.

[FrenchieCat]

21. I'm quite alright.

And how are you? :hi:

[ShortnFiery]

23. Time will tell ... and yes, I will feel sorry for you ... you know NOT what is to come. :( eom

[FrenchieCat]

30. Please don't feel sorry for me.......

I have 2 Democratic Senators, a Democratic Rep and a Democratic President.
2010 won't change that for me.

See Ya! :hi:

[ShortnFiery]

38. Maybe not in 2010 for you ... but you will have a new President in 2012.

Like it or not. I will grieve for all of us, but with time we will purge our party of the Corporate democratic traitors. :thumbsup:

[FrenchieCat]

41. Well, you go work on that......

Ms. Thing.

I'll ignore you now, since you and I have totally different goals.
You want to Primary the Democratic President before his first year in office is over,
and I want to get some policies accomplished.

So Run along.

Bye! :hi:

[treestar]

80. Good thing DU has a search function so we can track this prediction

[Sebastian Doyle]

82. Well your half right anyway.

I see your congressman is Pete Stark. You're fortunate enough there, and also to have Barbara Boxer as a senator. Feinstein.... not so much. As for the "Democratic President"... he's got three years left to become one. He certainly campaigned as one. But he's not looking much like one at the moment :evilfrown:

[Splinter Cell]

26. Good luck to you...

As you vote for those candidates that promise to tell reality to take a hike so you can have everything you dream of right now. Good luck to you and the three or four other people that vote for them as you watch them lose again and again and again.

[joeprogressive]

27. Actually it will be a relief to not have to spend most of my waking

hours defending someone that will ultimately disappoint me. My career will continue to include health care access strategies and research. I will continue to be passionate and dedicated to this cause and that is why I won't support people who have shit all over it.

[joeprogressive]

51. I'm in the majority among liberals. What are you? n/t

[joeprogressive]

22. Without boring you with my credentials

I am confident I know much more about FQHC's and universal health care than you do. I have worked in a CHC most of my career. Howard Dean and I think this bill stinks. I side with the experts not the people siding with the corporations.

[joeprogressive]

32. If you think Teddy is happy about this at all

you are delusional

[ima_sinnic]

90. bookmarking to see whether your utopian vision comes true

somehow I think it won't be that simple. In fact, I feel kind of sorry anticipating the rude awakening you'll be having--or maybe not--some people remain kind of permanently in lalaland.

[DontTreadOnMe]

17. The Small Tenters are so smug

as if their vote counts more than someone else.

Mid Terms are going to be a kick in the balls for the Democrats, I can't wait to read the excuses.

[FrenchieCat]

25. Exciting, hey?

Will it be fun to watch America get what it truly deserves?
Funny thing, I'm starting to realize that in the end, we always get what we deserve.
The only excuse will probably be that Democrats sat their asses in front of computers,
and whined and cried themselves all the way to a new nightmare.
Won't that be peachy-keen?

There is a reason that some believe that Democratic leadership is weak and cowardly....
because they reflect their constituency.

[DontTreadOnMe]

35. You should volunteer to help pack all the Progressive bags

and give them a ride to the border. Then who will you blame?

[FrenchieCat]

43. I'll work on pushing progressive policies as far as they will go,

you can drive and shit.

I don't need to blame anyone cause that doesn't accomplish jack-shit.
never has, and never will.

[treestar]

78. This is true, especially if they know how easily they can lose those

constituents. If we are as emotional and weak as to cry we are betrayed because the public option can't go through in a Senate with 58 Democrats some of whom are Blue Dogs and quit, then we are spineless too.

[krawhitham]

18. After 40+ years of trying we are going to have HCR

Sounds like he is leading

[bluestateguy]

24. He is leading. And he'll be the first president in 45 years to sign a comprehensive health care bill

Truman, FDR, Carter and Clinton never pulled that off.

[joeprogressive]

31. With expectations that low you must be a very content person n/t

[coti]

29. I don't think you should be at quite that dramatic point yet, but

I understand how you feel.

[joeprogressive]

34. I'm tired of losing. This one was in the bag and we have

squandered a chance at meaningful reform when we settle for what is on the table. I am a Democrat because I am an independent thinker. I won't be one of the sheep and fall in line and do what the party says.

[SpartanDem]

33. Can this place be filled with more pentualnt whining?

[ShortnFiery]

42. Sorry, if you wish to march in "lock step" and cheer "echo chambers" you need to sign onto the FR.

:(

[joeprogressive]

47. who is marching in lock-step? If you are supporting this you are

the lemming. I will remain a liberal but not a democrat if the majority of democrats are selling out their liberal beliefs.

[joeprogressive]

64. My bad, I thought you were responding to my original poast.

My apologies.

[treestar]

83. So are you angry at Feingold for going in lock step and proud of Nelson

for refusing?

Really, this one is too much. Politics deals with real people.

[BklnDem75]

93. +1 Exactly

I've never seen a group so vehemently for and against the same thing. If people want Obama to use the bully pulpit, they really need to stop complaining when a congressperson's on the same page. They'd sound less like a joke if they were at least consistent.

[Vidar]

39. The party has deserted you & most of us here.

[boppers]

45. Enjoy your visit.

Obama's not Jesus, and this is a Democratic board.

[gardenista]

49. Don't let the door hitcha on the way out.

[joeprogressive]

57. Don't forget that lemmings can't fly as you propel yourself off of the cliff.

[FrenchieCat]

60. I'm sorry that we have lost you......but

"Anyone who is “betrayed by their naiveté” should feel doubly ridiculous for thinking the change they voted for would come overnight. Status quo is not “kicked out of the door” like a weak, stray cat. Status quo has to be rallied against, systems have to be put in place to combat it, people have to put in work. Status quo will remain the “status quo” if people are too lazy to stick around for the entire fight." - A Blogger


or you can always go down the hole of despair....

[gardenista]

75. I'm not going anywhere.

Been here for many years, not going off any cliffs, and not expecting to fly anytime soon, either. it's called making progress, and I celebrate the progress we have made. Perhaps one day you'll feel the same. Until then, good luck to you.

[Cha]

92. You poor thing.. think just bc people want to stay and work and not quit

..well, "they must be lemmings".

Sorry to see you go..quite the adios thread.

[stewartcolbert08]

53. I agree with you

all this bill is turning out to be is a bail out for insurance companies just like Dean said. Where the hell are Hillary Clinton and John Edwards while all this shit is going down! Shouldnt they, of all people, be stepping up and saying something?

[joeprogressive]

98. HRC can say nothing as SOC. She is playing her role as supporter of

the president by staying silent. I can't blame her.

[stewartcolbert08]

101. That may be

but is this really the time for chivalry? I am so pissed off about all this! I mean this bill defeats the whole purpose of reform!

[emilyg]

55. k/r

[DCBob]

63. I really do not understand how public option has become the absolute #1 issue with progressives..

Frankly we should all be more disturbed by the minimal agreement that came out of Global Warming summit in Copenhagen. Perfect healthcare wont matter much as our environment degrades and chaos envelopes the planet.

[joeprogressive]

65. So wrong. My grand children may suffer if nothing is done about global warming.

Me and my children will be hurt if meaningful HCR is not enacted.

[DCBob]

66. So you are now throwing your grandchildren under the bus as well..

You people need therapy..

[hileeopnyn8d]

69. I thought you said your

wife was a doctor.

[joeprogressive]

102. she is, the example was to point out that one has an immediate

impact, the other will proabably impact future generations. I do recognize however that climate change is something that needs to be addressed ASAP though.

I also try to look at policy from "this is important to America" not "this is just important to me and my family". My family is healthy, we have excellent access to doctors and our health insurance is relatively cheap. However, as part time manager of her practice and full time health care researcher I can tell you with credibility and a certain degree of expertise that our system is broken and this bill will not come close to fixing it. It is also a terrible construct to build future reform on.

[ima_sinnic]

91. "public option" is nowhere near #1. simple REGULATION of the insurance co's

would do.

Maybe you don't mind being forced to pay racketeers who can charge you whatever they want for not very much in return, but I object and will not vote for anhybody who did not fight to bring them down or at LEAST make them accountable.

[shadesofgray]

68. K&R. I'm with you.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

70. I don't believe a single word you posted.

If you were that close to leaving the party before 2006, I don't believe thing you say about "collecting Obama memorabilia" unless you were trying to profiteer. There is no way in hell you went from nearly leaving to being an Obama supporter, as opposed to say a Kucinich, Gravel, or Edwards supporter. I smell a liar.

[Phx_Dem]

71. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.,

:hi:

[RBInMaine]

72. He has led. And led damn well. Get real and grow up. Enjoy team-Nader.

[whistler162]

73. You mean OBEY or lose!

you don't want a leader you want a servant.

[ima_sinnic]

94. you funny

we just want someone fighting for us, not ensuring that insurance co. profits not only are not threatened in any way but actually increased, as well as the obscene bonuses of Wall St. and bankers.
And Obama does need to lead--he threw out some vague idea of "reform" and then walked away leaving Max Baucus in charge. Fuck him.

[whistler162]

103. No you want someone who grovels at your feet!

But, you are scared of someone who actually leads.

[ChiciB1]

74. KICK! I Completely Understand!! The Numbers ARE Falling...

It's NOT OUT FAULT... IT IS THEIRS! They don't fight for us, why do they want allegiance?? Biden was someone I have always respected, what has gone so horribly wrong??

Actually, I KNOW the answer, just DON'T LIKE IT!!

[treestar]

77. The system is get 60 Senators for the Public Option

Or no public option.

You quit too easy. This is politics, you have to be tough and committed, and not emotional and dramatic as "betrayed" sounds. You feed into the right's mantra that we expected a Messiah.

Please leave, you are not helping anyone but the right wing.

[liquid diamond]

81. Unrec

I'm tired of the grandstanding from you Obama haters. Just pack your shit and get the fuck out of here.

[Thrill]

85. He's just a weak President. But this is what we have. Its better than a Repuke

I just want liberal judges. I no longer expect anything else progressive

[m448]

95. we

should have done rec

[JTFrog]

97. Fuck, too late to unrec.

You and the Impeach Obama fucker with the confederate flag have something in common alright.

Don't let the door hit 'cha.... :shrug:

[dionysus]

99. well... bye