Obama, the great disappointment?

BEST COMMENT EVER.

I will just settle for potsicles at this point. It will make me less angry about our military industrial complex that I thought was going to shrink instead of grow under our new administration. So, just give me potsicles. :)

Actually, every news article posted on Current is followed by everyone's individual opinions. This particular OpEd mirrors how some of us view the negativity surrounding Obama's Presidency. And no opinion is really short (sighted) and stupid unless it's based solely on emotion, unverified or regurgitated slogans or name calling.

I'm not a centrist. I want single payer health care. I want a carbon tax, etc. However, I'm also realistic about the state of political discourse in this nation and the political system itself.

Oh wow it's called a rhetorical question Chique, look it up!

Anyways.

“the unholy alliance of the far right and so called "progressives" in their hysterical hatred of Obama. After the last 8 years, I've come to expect this kind of hysteria from the right. But I confess to be pretty discouraged by the "progessives" who seem to be wishing for Obama to fail just to satisfy their sense of superiority.”

There are so many things wrong with that comment that I have no interest in actually debating the particulars. I will say that you’re full of yourself for complaining about “name calling” while endorsing that comment. Here’s a breakdown of what I mean.

Hysterical hatred- That sounds like name calling to me.

“progressives” who seem to be wishing for Obama to fail just to satisfy their sense of superiority- That sounds an awful lot like that old regurgitated opinion about the whole progressive movement.

You're right in what you're saying and to be honest this is mild compared to Morford's usual rhetoric using satire to make a point . . . and, yes, it works both ways - no argument there. Never meant to imply otherwise. To counter the overwhelming negativity toward everything Obama does, minus the emotion and labeling, he gets the point across and I agree with him.

It might be a rhetorical question, but it still doesn't make sense. Since when was current a simple news source? Seems to me the whole idea is for different people to share their opinions on the news. If you just want the news, why are you reading the comments? Why are you commenting yourself?

And speaking of which, I love how you call out my comments and then say you "have no interest in actually debating the particulars." Um...okay. Thanks for the analysis.

And not to get argumentative, but how is "hysterical hatred" name calling? I get what you were trying to do, using Chique's words against him/her, but that doesn't make sense either.

I've read your posts before. You're smart and even when I disagree with you, your comments are well thought out and usually pretty convincing. But if not thinking that every idea that comes from the far left is automatically brilliant makes me a centrist, then I guess that's what I am. And if you think that there are no haters on this site (from the left as well as the right), then you're kidding yourself.

Oh well, as I said...everyone is entitled to their opinion, even when they are nonsensical.

@Chique

In regards to the article all I’m saying is that sometimes the personal, inherently narrow breadth of one man’s opinion makes a poor medium for a political discussion. I think this is definitely one of those articles. At best it could or energize the same group of people that already agree with the author. As for convincing/converting all those “hysterical hate filled progressives” it’s a joke.

Seriously how does one man address the concerns of millions without even addressing the concerns of millions?

@krag

“And speaking of which, I love how you call out my comments and then say you "have no interest in actually debating the particulars." Um...okay. Thanks for the analysis.”

Look I don’t know what type of mental gymnastics you’ve been doing but you should understand that labeling progressives (instead of being particular like this group, or that guy,) as “wishing for Obama to fail just to satisfy their sense of superiority” is again, an incredible generalization. That statement requires an overwhelming disconnect from reality and the fact that I acknowledged it but left it be is not all that remarkable.

At any rate I don’t think I’m qualified to prove you wrong anymore than I think I qualified to prove black people are ok to a Klansman.

“And not to get argumentative, but how is "hysterical hatred" name calling? I get what you were trying to do, using Chique's words against him/her, but that doesn't make sense either.”

Because whether you disagree with name calling or unfair generalizations (hysterical hatred) you’re actually disagreeing with being derogatory. Bemoaning one while supporting the other makes as much since as fighting sexism while supporting racism. Again in the end racism and bigotry are both particular forms of bigotry just as name calling and unfair negative generalizations are both particular forms of being derogatory.

“I've read your posts before. You're smart and even when I disagree with you, your comments are well thought out and usually pretty convincing.”

Thanks for the kudos but judging by your first statement about progressives it doesn’t sound like you’re really capable of respecting their opinion. Then again who knows maybe it just came out wrong?

No. I don't think it came out wrong. But people tend to see what they want to see.

I guess you'd have a point about generalizing if I had said anywhere that ALL progressives were behaving a certain way, good thing I never said that.

And as for name calling...I didn't do that either. I see how it might serve your argument to pretend that name calling and...how did you put it...disagreeing with being derogatory are the same thing. But of course they're not. Talk about mental gymnastics...nice try.

As for the kudos...you're welcome, I meant every word. I respect and admire many progressives, just not all of them.

Me too.

Thanks, to the both of you. I'll post a shoutout for interviews. If you're interested now though, you can message me!

As an oldster that you probably find to be too conservative (although I am an independent) for your liking, I wanted you to know how much I appreciate your work, your dedication to your beliefs, and your willingness to put the time in for what you believe. I wish you the best of luck for I think you have a good heart and are coming from the right place. I want the Dems to be the party that you believe them to be and perhaps your arguments will help keep them closer to the Progressive side and away from their corporatist side.

I would encourage you to continue to read those opinions that differ from yours to hone understanding and find common ground. Again, best of luck to you.

Thank you sam, it's always heart-warming to hear such encouragement. If you're intersted in being interviewed. Message me!

Well, as Secretary of State I'm not sure she would openly disagree with Obama. But I'm glad to see that there is unity in the government (at least within Obama's team) for this plan.

What was her position on Afghanistan during her candidacy? I forgot :)

Her position was basically the same as Obama's...that we'd neglected the war in Afghanistan because of Iraq. She couldn't be as vocal about it given that she voted to authorize the war in Iraq, but she was clearly hawkish about Afghanistan. Given that she's part of the administration, I wouldn't expect her to openly object to the President's plan either...but I think you can tell by her comments that she truly supports it. The only reason I mentioned it is because JohnA is one of those so called "progressives" who strongly backed Clinton in the campaign, and now thinks everything Obama does is completely wrong...even when it's exactly what Clinton would have done herself. Sort of confirms the point I was making earlier.

To be honest, I think JohnA is a conservative. I know what you are saying about progressive firing on Obama. I have also seen this recently...

But anyone who refers to Obama mockingly as "the messiah" can only be a conservative. I haven't seen too many progressives refer to him as that; even bitter Clinton supporters.

I guess only he knows his true motivations for sure. Another reason to take his (and many others) comments with a grain of salt.

Krag, Would you be interested in being interviewed (obviously over email) on your opinions of Obama's first year?

Sure.

Oh good. I'll sent you a message via current messaging.

True Krag - it seems when challenged with facts those whose belief systems are so rooted in being right begin to twist the facts around to protect those beliefs because of that deadliest of all fears - - being wrong. That (all too well known) fear mongering seems to have seeped over to the progressive side, reminiscent of the unfounded fears that got us into Iraq and is at the root of the erosion of our ability to trust in anyone or anything. Keeping us fighting amongst ourselves because emotions rule the day. I'm thankful we have a President who is intelligent, articulate and level headed. We can expect the GOP to continue attacking at every juncture with lies and conjecture. I just hope progressives continue to voice back with facts. Going all the way back to the 2000 elections, being civil and not disputing the lies gave the far right the appearance of legitimacy.

My thoughts exactly.

I'm not surprised he's getting fire from the far right AND the far left. Pragmatism is always sure to dissapoint the dreamers and idealists.

Last night it was the Dems going after him for his Bushlike decision on A'stan.