Enough's Enough!
Politics used to be a dirty business. It's changed.
It's gotten dirtier.
And I hate it.
Politics has become a no-holds-barred game of no-pad tackle football played on a sloppy, grimy field. And you know who's got the better team? The Republicans.
I don't think they have better ideas. And I don't believe that they have what's right for the majority of Americans as their goal. But when it comes to the game of political annihilation, they're just plain better at it.
They're organized, methodical and indefatigable when it comes to trying to destroy Democrats. And what's maddening is that the Democrats seem to sit idly by even though they know what's being done to them.
The Democrats are trying to be polite and civil. I like that about Democrats. It's a classier way to behave. They know that people are judged by the company they keep and it's hard for them to see a benefit in joining the pigs down in the mud.
But times are dire. And enough's enough.
We've got Harry Reid. We need Dirty Harry.
We've got Nancy. We need Sluggo.
It's time for Democrats to take a page from Network and, a la Howard Beale, get mad as hell and not take it any more.
The high road is certainly the preferable route, but traveling it to everywhere just ain't workin'.
Right wing conservatives frame issues with lies and relentlessly hammer away at them until those lies are perceived as reality. They do so loudly and with scowls and grimaces. And when the cameras are off and microphones have been put away, I'm guessing they smile and congratulate themselves on pulling off yet another successful ruse.
The laws of physics tell us that for every action there's a reaction. Then for every lie, there should be a truth. And the louder the lie, the louder the truth needs to be.
But lately, when Democrats answer back, they step up to the microphone, shake their heads and sigh as if trying to imply that everyone knows the real truth. Sorry, if that were true senior citizens wouldn't think to ask their president if his health care plan is out to kill them.
And when the Dems do raise their voices in their own defense, during the next news cycle the GOP is right there branding them as angry partisans. Then instead of staying angry, the Democrats back off. It's beyond frustrating.
Sorry, but when someone tells a lie about you, remaining silent does nothing for your cause. Thinking that joining the liars in the mud is beneath you is high-minded but totally ineffective.
A hero's service was lied about so often and so effectively that "swift boating" became a commonly used phrase meaning to lie and get away with it. John Kerry chose not to dignify his detractors' lies until after they'd beat his candidacy to death with them. By then, of course, it was too late.
I believe Obama's a good man. His classy intelligence and suave manner are a pleasant change from Bush's crude cowboy act. I think he's doing what he believes is right and what he thinks will work for the good of this country and its citizens. After eight years of people who I don't believe really gave a damn about any of us, I find the nascent Obama administration refreshing.
That said, I think it's time for Obama to come out fighting.
It pains me to say this, but he needs to be just a little less polite. I think he should pick up a club and starting swatting the lies down. All of them. He shouldn't let even one go unanswered. If he believes he's right then he's got to go out there and say so. Not calmly. And not professorially.
He's in a brawl. He's got to brawl back.
He's got to get pissed off. And, afterward, when the Right labels him as an angry man, he shouldn't calm down to appease them. Not answering one's critics gives the impression that you have no answer.
When the GOP talking points say that the Obama health plan is intent on exterminating our elderly when their care becomes too costly or troubling, I think Obama needs to come out and say that's not true. Not with a wry smile, but with closed and pounding fist. Something along the lines of, "Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Mark Levin and every other commentator and blogger who say that are flat out lying to you because they think you're too stupid to check their facts." Then he should point to a big enlarged picture of the exact verbiage in his plan about end of life counseling that the right wing is falsely paraphrasing and explain exactly what it means.
When the Republicans start throwing the term "socialist" around, Obama should take to the airwaves and explain exactly what that means, who's saying it and why it's not a fair or honest description of his economic policies. He should also not be afraid to "look backward" and remind America who created the mess we're in now and make it clear that the huge deficits and bailouts started months before he took office. Of course, his critics will say he's shifting the blame away from himself and holding the Cheney administration responsible. Well, in certain instances, that's exactly what he should do.
When the Right says Obama wasn't born in this country and isn't legally the president, I think he should use his television time to name names and kick asses. Tell the country in strong terms that they're being lied to by the "Birthers" and explain that they're doing so to distract the public from legitimate issues that should concern us all. And when they do it again the next day, he should be right back out there labeling them as the liars they are.
The Right is so good at their deception that their latest tactic was to send their Minority Whip, Eric Cantor, out to tell us that the Left made up the Birther movement so that the Right would be blamed for it. Huh?
Besides, the left isn't organized or devious enough to think of that.
I wish they were. But they're not.
And I wish they didn't have to be. But they do.
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My local FM talk host finds what's wrong with democrats every morning. This morning amongst the good news of the rescue of N. Korean trespassers, he uncovers with each caller more and more levels on which Clinton's trip is just wrong.
Mr. Hackel, I agree with your piece. I feel your pain. Patience, please. Good or bad, the same old 'politics as usual' are at play and neither party has a history of doing what's correct simply because it's the right thing to do. My take is that Obama will, and for a long time, be guaged by the old guard of both parties. Business as usual. Only when they think their reelection is enhanced by aligning with the President will members of either party go to the wall for Obama. I think we need to urge members of Congress to do their jobs, to stand up to insurance/
Through it all, everytime I turn on the news and see young Mr. Obama addressing the nation, and not Bush, or Cheney, or Rumsfeld, I pinch myself. Yes, this is really happening. As a nation, let's be patient. I trust that many good things will happen in the coming years. If not, I cannot imagine when this nation will have a better opportunity.
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Thanks for such a hopeful message. It's good to be reminded that, behind all these gray skies, the the sun's still shining.
In the gold rush in northern California in 1850's, prices for food, land and supplies increased hundreds of times over disrupting the economy. Today greed and opportunism disrupts the economy.
I would LOVE to see The Rock Obama come out!!!
Right on. It's crazy that the people who caused this train wreak are doing everything in their power to see to it that Obama fails so they can regain power and do more of what caused the mess in the first place. They have no idea of how to fix the mess they made they just want the power, a lot like playing "King of The Hill" when we were kids. The right wing has the cat bird seat with their own cable news channel and every day coast to coast the wing nuts spew their poison in most every towns in America. How the hell do you beat them with no real voice.
Dave......
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Thanks, Bruce, your comments have been very kind. I think we're in agreement -- sometimes being perfectly polite just doesn't get the point across. I'm not suggesting rudeness, though. I'm suggesting frankness. Truth will out...but only if it's out there.
He can't win unless he becomes like his enemies? That's great if you find yourself really angry about the latest right wing smear but it avoids the long view. In six short months as President, Obama has exposed the Republican Party and their extremist supporters for the ignorant, authoritarian gasbags they are, simply by being himself. It's time for the warriors amongst Progressives and clear thinking people everywhere to stand up, expose the lies and liars and give the President some elbow room to do his job.
Wrong, that's not the point being made here. The point is not to become like his enemies, but to FIGHT his enemies. Don't use their methods, FIGHT their methods, CHALLENGE them openly, PROVE them wrong!!
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I'm not suggesting that Obama become like his enemies. I'm suggesting that he answer his enemies and in no uncertain terms. A friend of mine cited Joseph Welch's comment to Joe McCarthy where he calmly asked, "Have you no shame, sir?" That's the type of thing I'm suggesting. The far right pundits' lack of shame is going by unquestioned. It shouldn't. Don't you agree?
I am so glad someone finally articulated this grave concern. It is imperative that Dems do a little offense. They are always playing defense to the dirty-fighting republicans who play to the low-information voter.
There are lots and lots of low-information voters and if they voted for Obama because they thought they would feel immediate "change", especially in their pocket books, they may balk next time because of the lack of instant gratification juxtaposed with all the lies, innuendos, half-truths, manufactured crises, etc.
This tactic may prove fruitful unless the dems start refuting these charges and come up with some charges of their own. However, democrat charges against republicans would be truthful and fair. There is so much they could capitalize on and paint the reps as the mean-spirited, short-sighted, jingoistic, race-baiting, narrow-minded, soulless and selfish party of stale ideas.
Mr Hackel,
Please send this to President Obama ASAP. I remember he said he read the Huff Post, but in case he hasn't done it lately, this is a MUST SEE.
EXCELLENT SIR!
Keep up the Real Journalism, it is resfreshing!
DawnC
Miller County MO
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Thanks for y our kind words. I wish I had a pipeline to President Obama but, alas, I do not. But I'm guessing that many different sites are culled through on a daily basis by the current administration. If my post were to get noticed, I'd be honored. Whoever convinces him to answer his critics in a stronger manner will be doing him and all of us a service.
We have swallowed so much untruth over the last eight years, no wonder many folks can't tell what's what anymore. I hold the corporate media responsible for refusing to do the job of telling truth to power and distinguishing reality from paranoid fantasy.We have no actual journalists in the mainstream press or tv anymore and the money game has reduced the number of politicians who can afford to speak out to a very few. Without major campaign finance reform and publicly funded elections, we are stuck in a dysfunctional corporatocracy.
Unfortunatly the only way to haqve the kind of campaign reform that is needed is with a constitutional amendment because the Supreme Court has ruled that contributions to campapaigns is a form of free speech.
The amendment that is needed would say something like -
"No one may collect more to obtain an office than the office pays. Congress may provide additional funds for campaigns.
The other thing that could be done is to make the election cycle shorter. This would not require a constitutional amendment.
While I agree Democrats should learn how to street fight, I cannot help but think if republicans succeed in pulling President Obama off-message, the end of his second term he will still be refuting repub-fueled lies.
Cleaning up behind those diarrhetic bull elephants is a full-time job, requiring a well equipped staff.
See Dave Hackel's Profile
Thanks for your comment. I understand exactly what you're saying, but I just think it's a big mistake to think that the public will "get it." They won't. Obama's got a great staff. Surely there must be Democratic talking points that can refute the lies one by one. At least I hope so.
I should not have stopped where I did.
I'm glad you brought that up.
I believe we should unleash our campaign machine.
The same grassroots wildfire that put that man in office can give the US our long-awaited, desperately needed health care reform.
We can leave republicans wondering what happened again.....
SO WHY ARE WE SITTING AROUND SCRATCHING OUR HEADS BECAUSE A FEW LOUDMOUTH POLITICAL WHORES DISRUPTED A TOWN HALL MEETING??!?
And planning more....
Where is David Plouffe, David Axelrod, Gibbs.....
I know they've taken advisory positions with the president.
We'd have a health bill for Christmas.
Painful as it is to admit, Dems can't win by turning the other cheek - or acting the way their mamas taught them. Sad.
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