rflctammt's Comments (147)

“Some very good points, jade.

Until a month or two ago, I imagine I would have considered myself a progressive. But this turning against the president thing is giving me a very bad feeling. Am I the only one who sees a few eerie similarities to how the "conservative tea-baggers" have turned on the republicans?

Change and progress is good, it's fine. But don't run off ahead and leave your party (and leader) behind.

Dr. Carroll is absolutely correct:
"The likeliest reason Progressives have had to 'sacrifice more' is that the Democratic Party has more leverage over Progressives. That's just the way it is."”

“Excellent article. I'd like to see this get top billing. These are very worthwhile points that need to be made - you've done a great job at clarifying them.

Thank you.”

“Keep talking and thinking like that.

Every study shows kids learn better, plants grow better, wounds heal better and things GET BETTER with positiivity and when people work together.

There are still plenty of us out here.”

“yup!”

“Thank you for this post.

I found it almost amusing watching progressives, conservatives and a GOP strategist all in relative harmony this morning on the Meet the Press round table proclaiming the futility of passing this bill. Almost amusing, but really quite sad.

Just as you noted, from the very beginning the GOP has declared absolute war on this legislation, wilth the completely admitted intent of bringing down this administration and congress irregardless of consequence to American citizens. Just a few months ago we were all laughing about how out of control the "party of hate" was, with their Palins, Becks, DeMints, Sanfords. Now look at us...have we really joined them in eating our own?

United we stand, divided we fall.”

“Kind of interesting watching the progressives and conservatives and a GOP strategist all in relative harmony this morning on the Meet the Press round table proclaiming the futility of passing this bill.

It would be almost amusing if it wasn't so tragic. From the very beginning, one side has declared absolute war on this legislation, wilth the completely admitted intent of bringing down this administration and congress irregardless of consequence to American citizens. Just a few months ago we were all laughing about how crazy they were, with their Palins, Becks, DeMints, Sanfords --- and now look at us...

Well, the extremes may make the most noise, but in the end it is, in fact, the majority who rings the final bell. I'm stickin' with the one that brought me.”

“For me the problem is not so much your disappointment, Mr. Durang. You are entirely within your rights to be disappointed. I'm pretty disappointed in a lot of things this Thanksgiving as well. I'm certainly not going to hang them all on the president's coathook, but I agree, things haven't turned out exactly the way I'd hoped either. There's plenty of "blame" to go round.

I think the thing that I find so upsetting is how the negativity of the right seems to have crossed over to "our side" in such a short time. Perhaps that is the danger of having a leader who appealed to so many in the middle, or a leader who so many apparently "settled for" (as I have heard here) without really committing to the hard work of true change. Or perhaps that is just the side effect of really tough times, which surely came roaring through the gates, not on Obama's heels, but announcing his arrival. Change is a process - not an action.

But when I see the progressive bandwagon so heavily weighted with columns critical of Obama that one wonders if there is anything at all being accomplished, I must reason that our country is in serious trouble. Either that or our media is leading us astray. Again.”

“She knows, dear. It was sarcasm.”

“Me either.”

“I agree with you.

Not allowed to say more.”

“I'm looking for a site that serves a little less wine.”

“Alas, if it were only our president that needed to be "rebooted."”

“Has he done anything right?”

“Seems the left is as intent on eating its own as the right.”

“So true...
not to mention the opposing party who freaked out when he actually became president and made it their priority to keep him from doing anything at all - irregardless the consequences to the country.”

“Rabbi:
As I read the first part of your article, I thought I better understood the increased negativity and divisiveness so prevalent these days. ("The worldview of fear and the consequent need to dominate and control others gave new strength to the old stories of an unsafe world.") An optimist and a pacifist, I was encouraged by your observation that "there has always been a competing vision of human beings that emphasizes the possibility of love and caring for each other." And I agree, many people did vote for President Obama because they believed that "he was willing to challenge the worldview of fear and domination and suggest that policies could actually be based on love and generosity and mutual caring."

However, I object to your assumption that he has failed us by not accomplishing all the things on "your" list in ten months. What evidence is there that he does not continue to operate on the basis of "love and generosity and mutual caring?" Or that he is not attempting to challenge the worldview of fear and domination (and getting pummeled at home for it)?

Perhaps, as you say, many Americans feel deeply betrayed by President Obama. I, myself, feel deeply betrayed by many Americans who seem to have made it their life's work to impede his progress on every front, to demonize him, to criticize and blame him for the sad situation he found this country in.

I continue to have faith in him.”

“I agree.”

“Spot on!”

“"decidedly lackadaisical response" ?

Really?

The hate, blame and resistance that have been unleashed toward our president since his election have done so much to undermine his intentions it is hard to imagine how he is supposed to achieve his goals or see to any of the crises that emerge on his watch. Yet he perseveres.

The "right" has not supported ONE SINGLE THING he's done since he has been president. Beginning on day ONE, he's been criticized for attending his grandmother's memorial, for celebrating his anniversary, for being born, for bowing, and EVERYTHING inbetween. Never have we seen such disdain for the basic tenets of our country's founding principles as is being flaunted by the party of obstruction everyday as they attempt merely to "oppose" our duly elected president.

So does that mean the rest of us shouldn't criticize the president? That we shouldn't complain when he doesn't live up to our expectations? Of course not. But let's choose our words carefully. Let's not forget to make it clear that we stand with him while we speak. We lose power in isolation.

For ten months I've watched a courageous man walk staight and tall through a crowd of jeering bullies with some proud folks by his side. In that time I've seen the bullies become a virtual mob, throwing nastier and nastier stuff; but what alarms me most is how many of those "proud folks" have crossed over or just plain sat down.

United we stand. Divided we fall.”

“Seems I'm on a similar path. Caring deeply about others and the world and being an informed, involved citizen can be a real downer these days. I am trying to focus on positive activism - and eliminate negativity from my life as much as possible. I can't tell you how much better I feel - and so do the people around me!”

“scroll down a few pages”

“Yes, my thoughts as well.”

“Qualifier:
sometimes the truth is that there really is a fire and everybody needs to get up and get moving.

The double danger of these boys crying wolf, I mean "fire." They have us so busy hating each other, God forbid we should have to work together against a real threat. (natural disaster, foreign, health, etc.)”

“Lies = Fire

Truth = Water

You are absolutely correct, Arianna. It is frustrating to have to put down the shovels and tools we should be using to restore our great country. But fire left unchecked is too dangerous. Time to pick up the buckets.”

“At my monthly bookclub meeting this week, I took note of an interesting development.

Having read a war story the conversation eventually turned to politics and Afganistan. I listened as the intimate group of a dozen or so women in this very conservative city voiced concern with the war. I felt increasing amazement as many indicated a desire to "get out" and almost all questioned the whole mid-east/Iraq involvement from the beginning. There was very little argument.

The significance? 18 months ago bringing up the war was practically forbidden in this group; being an advocate for peace was barely tolerated.

While President Obama carefully determines the best plan of action in Afganistan, or "dithers", the tide of public sentiment is clearly shifting. More and more Americans are fed up with our outsourcing of treasure over there while people are struggling to survive over here. Perhaps for some the motivation is based on mistrust of the new administration. And perhaps our president knows just how to use that to help him accomplish what could not be accomplished a few short months ago...I quite believe he does.

This I know, in bookclub this week the concensus was for peace and resolution in Afganistan - and I didn't say one word.”