HopeOver, HopeLash, HopeBreak: A Lexicon of Disappointment

I was a bit concerned about posting my latest column on Huffington Post, for obvious reasons. But I have decided to do it anyway, in the hopes that HuffPo readers will submit additions and modifications to the Lexicon of Disappointment. Or, alternatively, just yell about how wrong I am.

I await the verdict...

All is not well in Obamafanland. It's not clear exactly what accounts for the change of mood. Maybe it was the rancid smell emanating from Treasury's latest bank bailout. Or the news that the president's chief economic adviser, Larry Summers, earned millions from the very Wall Street banks and hedge funds he is protecting from reregulation now. Or perhaps it began earlier, with Obama's silence during Israel's Gaza attack.

Whatever the last straw, a growing number of Obama enthusiasts are starting to entertain the possibility that their man is not, in fact, going to save the world if we all just hope really hard.

This is a good thing. If the superfan culture that brought Obama to power is going to transform itself into an independent political movement, one fierce enough to produce programs capable of meeting the current crises, we are all going to have to stop hoping and start demanding.

The first stage, however, is to understand fully the awkward in-between space in which many US progressive movements find themselves. To do that, we need a new language, one specific to the Obama moment. Here is a start.

Hopeover. Like a hangover, a hopeover comes from having overindulged in something that felt good at the time but wasn't really all that healthy, leading to feelings of remorse, even shame. It's the political equivalent of the crash after a sugar high. Sample sentence: "When I listened to Obama's economic speech my heart soared. But then, when I tried to tell a friend about his plans for the millions of layoffs and foreclosures, I found myself saying nothing at all. I've got a serious hopeover."

Hoper coaster. Like a roller coaster, the hoper coaster describes the intense emotional peaks and valleys of the Obama era, the veering between joy at having a president who supports safe-sex education and despondency that single-payer healthcare is off the table at the very moment when it could actually become a reality. Sample sentence: "I was so psyched when Obama said he is closing Guantánamo. But now they are fighting like mad to make sure the prisoners in Bagram have no legal rights at all. Stop this hoper coaster -- I want to get off!"

Hopesick. Like the homesick, hopesick individuals are intensely nostalgic. They miss the rush of optimism from the campaign trail and are forever trying to recapture that warm, hopey feeling--usually by exaggerating the significance of relatively minor acts of Obama decency. Sample sentences: "I was feeling really hopesick about the escalation in Afghanistan, but then I watched a YouTube video of Michelle in her organic garden and it felt like inauguration day all over again. A few hours later, when I heard that the Obama administration was boycotting a major UN racism conference, the hopesickness came back hard. So I watched slideshows of Michelle wearing clothes made by ethnically diverse independent fashion designers, and that sort of helped."

Hope fiend. With hope receding, the hope fiend, like the dope fiend, goes into serious withdrawal, willing to do anything to chase the buzz. (Closely related to hopesickness but more severe, usually affecting middle-aged males.) Sample sentence: "Joe told me he actually believes Obama deliberately brought in Summers so that he would blow the bailout, and then Obama would have the excuse he needs to do what he really wants: nationalize the banks and turn them into credit unions. What a hope fiend!"

Hopebreak. Like the heartbroken lover, the hopebroken Obama-ite is not mad but terribly sad. She projected messianic powers onto Obama and is now inconsolable in her disappointment. Sample sentence: "I really believed Obama would finally force us to confront the legacy of slavery in this country and start a serious national conversation about race. But now he never seems to mention race, and he's using twisted legal arguments to keep us from even confronting the crimes of the Bush years. Every time I hear him say 'move forward,' I'm hopebroken all over again."

Hopelash. Like a backlash, hopelash is a 180-degree reversal of everything Obama-related. Sufferers were once Obama's most passionate evangelists. Now they are his angriest critics. Sample sentence: "At least with Bush everyone knew he was an asshole. Now we've got the same wars, the same lawless prisons, the same Washington corruption, but everyone is cheering like Stepford wives. It's time for a full-on hopelash."

In trying to name these various hope-related ailments, I found myself wondering what the late Studs Terkel would have said about our collective hopeover. He surely would have urged us not to give in to despair. I reached for one of his last books, Hope Dies Last. I didn't have to read long. The book opens with the words: "Hope has never trickled down. It has always sprung up."

And that pretty much says it all. Hope was a fine slogan when rooting for a long-shot presidential candidate. But as a posture toward the president of the most powerful nation on earth, it is dangerously deferential. The task as we move forward (as Obama likes to say) is not to abandon hope but to find more appropriate homes for it -- in the factories, neighborhoods and schools where tactics like sit-ins, squats and occupations are seeing a resurgence.

Political scientist Sam Gindin wrote recently that the labor movement can do more than protect the status quo. It can demand, for instance, that shuttered auto plants be converted into green-future factories, capable of producing mass-transit vehicles and technology for a renewable energy system. "Being realistic means taking hope out of speeches," he wrote, "and putting it in the hands of workers."

Which brings me to the final entry in the lexicon.

Hoperoots. Sample sentence: "It's time to stop waiting for hope to be handed down, and start pushing it up, from the hoperoots."

This column was first published in The Nation, www.naomiklein.org

Comments

[JAFerrari]

After reading the recent article in The Nation, with Ms. Klein's critique of Obama supporters, I have to wonder what she seeks to achieve in her put down of the energy and enthusiasm of all segments of the population? I see very little substance in her high schoolish attacks on the very people that unseated the backwards corporate founded regimes that we have been floundering under for the past 8 plus years. Is it that negativity just cannot stop flowing from the brain, like the pruned grapevine, rooted and permanently attached to the ancient soil of the past. Yes it is an easier task to sit and pontificate with small hearted criticism against individuals who worked hard to achieve something than to accomplish the goal oneself, but if she had worked in the communities, side by side with all strata of people’s, she would have known the personal side of the effort was much deeper that the shallow criticism she offers.
Work is still happening to reach the goals of a better America, but it is real boots on the ground work that will achieve change, not the empty bellowing of an educated wordsmith.

[hlhicks]

If this discussion was happening a year or two into his presidency, I might understand the criticism. But, for f's sake he has been in office for a little over three months and some of his so-called supporters are acting like he cancelled Christmas, Easter, and Halloween. He hasn't fixed the economic mess or reversed years of mismanagement by his predecessors, I'm shocked. He hasn't solved global warming, what an a-hole. He has not cured AIDS, cancer, or solved the poverty problem? Impeach him. Not out of Iraq? He's just like Bush. It's these kinds of histrionics that makes it plain why the Dems have been unable to have sustained electoral victories over the past two decades. Have the Dems become so used to losing that they constantly doubt the choice they made? Well, let me make it clear to Ms. Klein and any other fair weathered Obama fan: when I voted for Obama, I didn't think he'd be able to fix every problem in this country and nor did I believe that I would agree with every decision he made. But, I intend to treat him like any other President and give him a CHANCE. That doesn't make me an Obamabot, it makes me a reasonable person.

[Frostpaw]

Environmental protection is yet another area in which the Obama administration has so far been horribly disappointing. One of Bush’s last acts in office was to issue regulations weakening the protections that the polar bear, endangered by global warming, and other listed species receive. On the campaign trail, President Obama pledged to revoke Bush’s Endangered Species Act regulations, and Congress then granted his Interior Secretary Ken Salazar a golden opportunity to rescind the rules entirely with no more than the stroke of a pen, but this special authority extends only until May 9th. Please ask Secretary Salazar to protect the polar bear and other species by rescinding the Bush rules at www.savethepolarbear.org.

[BeyondPopper]

During the days of the Bush Cabal, I kept wondering why the Democrats, who said they believed in democracy and the rule of law, were so unwilling to uphold the laws and support the Constitution by holding the members of the Bush team responsible for their crimes.

I found an answer, and I hoped i was wrong. Now that they are in power, the Democrats are, it seems, proving me right.

The reason they did not impeach Bush, Cheney, and the rest of the criminal conspirators, and the reason they will not prosecute them for their crimes, is that the Democrats want the same powers. They believe that they are "better" than the Republicans, and will use these illegal powers for "good," but they don't recognize that using these illegal powers is itself bad, no matter the intent.

Because both parties understand that they derive their positions and powers not from the people, but from the corporate sponsors that finance their political operations.

The ideologies that the media spend endless hours haggling over, "right" vs. "left;" "liberal" vs. "conservative;" "progressive" vs. "repressive;" don't matter. No one really believes in them. They are tools, used like all their rhetoric, to gather votes or support or justification to act on behalf of corporations and against the interests of living human beings.

That sounds harsh, and conspiratorial, and even loony, even to me. If only there weren't so much evidence in support of that conclusion.

[RobertFromMN]

Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows that the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight is fixed
The poor stay poor and the rich get rich
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
- Leonard Cohen

[mikekopac]

Robert, these lyrics are in a Don Henley song and Cohen is not listed as the author...what is your source Thnx Mike

[jmc42]

Robert,

A quick google of 'Leonard Cohen" lyrics, 'Everybody knows' will give the full lyrics and the
author attribution. You can find it on the 'More best of Leonard Cohen' CD.

[RobertFromMN]

How about HopeMarks (as in "he's an easy mark") - Suckers who actually believed that fundamental change would come to the political establishment by way OF the political establishment.
Anyone who expects fundamental change from the inside out is naive.
I initially supported Kucinich, even though I realized that was wishful thinking. I voted for Obama, both in the caucus and in the general election. I sent him money. I slapped a bumber sticker on my car and stuck a sign in my yard. I argued on his behalf both in person and online. Yet, all along, I know it was really just a case of Obama simply being better than McCain/Palin, the only viable alternative. Yet somehow, despite expecting more than a few compromises, concessions, reassessments, re-evaluations and sell-outs, I'm still disappointed and depressed.

[LockeanLiberal]

After all of the anger and hostility you expressed about Bush, I don't remember you ever accusing him of being duplicitious. You may not have liked what he said, but at least Bush was true to his word. Obama, on the other hand, says everything you want to hear but does whatever is expedient.

It all reminds me the great CSNY song:

Helplessly hoping
Her harlequin hovers nearby
Awaiting a word
Gasping at glimpses
Of gentle true spirit
He runs, wishing he could fly
Only to trip at the sound of good-bye
Wordlessly watching
He waits by the window
And wonders
At the empty place inside

[rgriswol]

I suggest Ms. Kline add another word to her lexicon:

Hopecynic – when the factions opposed to Obama’s programs gain credibilty while the progressive left has stayed on the sidelines in the fight to implement changes greater than any time since the 1930s we become hope cynics. A hopecynic criticizes a leader who is working for long term change incrementally while expecting immediate realization of progressive ideals. For hopecynics, hope has become a political weapon not a guide for a better future.

[ObjectiveRealist]

Heh, I like it. Naomi Klein's article is more "constructive criticism" of fair-weather Obama supporters, but I don't really feel like being constructive to them or to the opportunists who have always opposed him and are now trying to convince Hillary supporters, "fiscally conservative" moderate Democrats and other weak progressives that whatever their #1 issue, they had _hoped_ for something different and should now blame President Obama for letting them down, instead of remaining / becoming politically active, and earning it.

Government systems modeled on the assumption of participation work very badly with widespread cynicism and apathy, which are easily stoked by critiquing incremental change as though expecting anything faster is realistic. It isn't, and I feel like Klein is too gentle to progressives with short attention spans. I, for one, considered "the hard work only begins on Inauguration Day" a campaign promise, and I would say President Obama is keeping it. That's not intended as a complaint, and where I hear it treated as one, I don't consider that valid.

[harriscrl3]

And yet it took 8 years for Bush's supporters to be disappionted with him it took so long that they gave him a second term. But whatever in 4 years time you all have the freedom of voting him out and putting someone else in.

But I bet you all will NOT find a better candidate.

Good luck searching and hoping.

Carol

[kingfelix]

Maybe we can't find a better Candidate, but we might find a better President.

You're emotional, you're confused.

[Kiku]

Obama has done good things for this country, he's had to address a horrible mess. And it's going to take time to fix.

He is the best that this country has to offer. If we throw in the towel on him, we will never be able to advance, the Republicans will have once again divided us, and Obama will not have the backing to do what he needs to do.

If you want to move things forward, you'd do better to look at the good things Obama has done.

He's working toward transparent government and has release a lot of documents, he is changing our international relationships (I laughed when I saw Fox criticizing Obama because he laughed with Chavez), he's propped up the banks so they don't fail, he's given us an economic stimulus that works toward energy independence, and securing our educational system. He's given us a mortgage program so that people can save money on their mortgages, saving some people from foreclosure. He's trying to push the auto industry to move forward with cars that better meet our needs. He's planning on ending the war in Iraq. He's given our country health insurance for kids, the Lilly Ledbetter act. The EPA is starting to function again. So will the FDA. And this is just withing 100 days.

Contrary to what you say, everything that Obama has done gives me even more reason to hope and work harder for him.

[Lucy0808]

That is your opinion.

All around me I have people who are providing strong support for this new President and administration. I'm amazed by the good works in a positive direction. That our new President has done some compromising and meeting the middle ground is no surprise. He evoked Lincoln many times in his campaign and inaugoral. Lincoln did the same thing- by the end of the Civil War most Union troups were fighting to free the slaves versus only to save the Union. That's a massive change in attitudes and values. It happened in small steps.

President Obama has turned the direction of a massive buracracy in the midst of a Bush economic Katrina AND has changed the national conversations. I love that people are talking about the things that matter and making their opinions heard. That the right base of the Republican party are unhappy, angry, fearfull and even violent goes with the territory. Though they're talking prattle with little value is discouraging, but most people are talking about issues that matter. My mother/sib­lings/daug­hter, friends and colleagues are discussing political and human issues a lot more. They talk more and are more informed. Amazingly-they're reading on line and listening to radio. Our President has made a change in the conversations. Our President has made great changes during his first 100 days. These are steps of a leader owning the 21st century. A President makes huge impact on the debates. Isn't it wonderful?!

[Itsmyland2]

Could be worse. We could have McCain and Palin ion the white-house. I too am dissappointed in some of Obama's policies, but I was not so naive to think he was anything more than another politician in the first place.

[DonnaDarko]

The choice was Clinton and Obama. Either could have won in November.

[somefool]

It could be worse, Hillary could be president.

[DonnaDarko]

Clinton's voting record was more progressive than Obama's.

Obama is unvetted by Democrats who were blinded by color and misogyny.

[AdvancedDegree]

the president is doing most of what he said he was going to do during the campaign. yes, he should have told isreal to stop the bombing, but there is so much the united states should be doing in involving itself with the choices of other nations. he is doing what he needs to be doing.

[kandlefly]

100 days, and you expected the President to turn around 8 yrs of total mismanagement and destruction.
You sound just like Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan, where were you guys, how come you are now so disappointed.

[theyank]

One can only surmise what happens to people when they crossover into that elite stratosphere of wealth and power that rules the rest of us. That world is so complicated and complex that most us may grasp the fringes but probably never really get a clear view of its inner workings.
I do think Naomi Klein has a pretty keen sense of it however. My take on it is in the world of wealth and power will always rule the rest of us. It is just the order of things(At least according to those of that world). The Democrats, Progressives whatever just seen to have the attitude that if you take care of the little guy too it keeps the masses happy while they work you to death, they make their money but are much better at sharing the wealth made on the backs of their dutiful working class. They grow their power and wealth and it keeps the chaos at bay (rather than the end result the Bush/Cheney rule of power produced....damn near self destruction. Let me rephrase that the destruction of "disaster capitalism" of the amazingly self righteous neocons!

[KingofthePaupers]

"labor movement can do more than protect the status quo. It can demand, for instance, that shuttered auto plants be converted into green-future factories, capable of producing mass-transit vehicles and technology for a renewable energy system."

Jct: And when they say there is no money to pay for it, what does Naomi Kl;ein suggest? Why not demand a lot of other good things there is no money to pay for? Talk about unrealisitic. If you want to talk realistic, see my KingofthePaupers channel at youtube for how to start up community a regional currencies to pay for what Naomi says we should demand be done.

[runswithscissors]

There's plenty of money for it. It's just that we pour it all into a bottomless pit called the Pentagon