Is everyone just gonna spend the next four years complaining?

[hangman86]

I know Obama isn't everything we hoped for. I knew that well before he was elected. The same goes for the Democratic majority in congress. I knew even before they retook the House and Senate in 2006 that we'd remain in Iraq and still not have a decent climate change bill. How? Because if you haven't realized that in order to win an election in this country you either have to turn your opponent into the boogeyman, or offer up a silver platter so full of delicious false hope that not even the most cynic voter can resist, then I don't know where you've been living all these years.

But I believe most of the DUers here already know this and are well aware of the tumultuous journey we have ahead of us. We're not going to get everything on our list this year or even in the next four years. And yes, there are likely to be some things that we'll get at a much later date then we should have. Does this depress us? In the words of Cenk Uygur, "OF COURSE!!!!!!!"

In spite of all this, I still believe the honorable and patriotic thing to do is keep on fighting the good fight. If you're not willing to do that, then at least stop posting these threads everyday complaining about what we don't have. Once in a while is fine if you really have to vent, but what are you really accomplishing? Those of us working hard for universal health care, human rights, and sound environmental policy don't need to be reminded every second of the day how bad things are. WE KNOW! That's why we're working so hard. I'm not saying don't speak out against the government when it does something wrong, but to just simply tone down all these echoing, pessimistic threads. If you're not part of the solution you're only part of the problem.

Now this message doesn't apply to everyone here who wrote a piece bashing Obama or the Democrats in Congress. I know a lot of you have been working very hard and the reason you're so pissed is because all the idiots in Washington seem to be sabotaging your great efforts. You have the right to be angry and I agree with your view of the spineless Blue Dog Coalition.

All I'm saying is that if you have enough time to write a massive essay (like this one, yeah I know) about how much the Democrats suck, you probably have some hours of the day to devote conjuring up ways to combat the dilemmas we face. Don't give up just because the change hasn't come yet.

Yes it's an uphill battle and you won't win every time but at least you can say you made an effort and didn't just sulk in pity with your laptop.

[Thrill]

1. Why does everything have to be done in the first few months of his term?

.

[merh]

23. I see it this way.

I see the Obama administration for what it is, a group of people with the right intentions who stepped into a hell of a mess. There are so many fires left behind and unmanaged by the bush admin that they are spending the majority of their time trying to fight those fires and put them out. They are not neglecting them, you just can't see all the fires or all that they are doing for all the smoke that the repub and the other Obama detractors like to create. At the same time they are fighting the fires they are trying to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure. Again, the smoke makes it hard for you to see and appreciate all they are trying to do to prop up the nation.

I'll give them time to try to deal with the abuses and crimes of the bush admin, it will take time to figure it all out because there were so many.

[Uzybone]

2. Why not ...it's easier than having to do shit

Superman Obama has to do it all by himself. The "left" can sit back and play MMQB.

[Name removed]

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[La Lioness Priyanka]

27. what makes you think we dont do anything? most people i know are up to their neck

in activism and political engagement

[WorseBeforeBetter]

3. Yes. It's what *we* do best.

Complainers of the world, unite!

[cloudbase]

4. Here at DU,

we're not happy until you're not happy.

[redwitch]

15. LOL

Brilliant!

[dionysus]

36. DUzy

:spray:

[Forkboy]

41. LOL

That's a good one. :)

[Clio the Leo]

5. Yes but.....

.... I'm gonna only complain about people who are complaining about Obama I wont be doing any complaining about Obama.

Does that count? :)

[hangman86]

12. Ummmmmmm

Sure... why not?

:rofl:

No, no, no. Complain when necessary, no matter who the target is, but don't let it consume you. That's basically my point.

[Name removed]

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[rug]

7. It's not as if the soup was cold.

[DrToast]

8. No, the next 8 years!

;)

[FrenchieCat]

10. In the real world, I'm fine for now......

Here at DU though, I'm disappointed that folks don't want to know or don't want to acknowledge how the real world actually operates. If folks ain't doing jack shit about the media, then we will continue to get what we get....because it is they who limit the limits of this country.

[MADem]

11. Sure seems that way. I don't go for the Happy-Happy-Glad-Glad routine all the time,

but some of the objections are vicious and vitriolic (as one of the admins said a while back, "echoing the tone and substance of our opponents" or words to that effect). They're not only objections to his policy, they're assaults on the man's character. And they're also assumptions that because he hasn't done it YET, that he won't do it at all.

A lot of the hard stuff? He'll wait till his second term--that's what I think. That means we have four years of listening to a litany of complaints for those who aren't getting what they want, when they want it. And when people want it now, they don't want to be told that their issue isn't The Most Important Thing, and that they must wait. No one likes that--it's part of the anger. A lot of people thought Obama would answer every prayer, and that he only said some things to get elected. The fact of the matter is, he's closer to Clinton (Bill, who's more conservative than Hill) than Kucinich.

I think health care will come across the finish line well before the war, deployed servicemembers, and the Equality efforts. And I don't think health care will be the all-encompassing effort that people are hoping for.

I wasn't an early Obama fan, not by a long shot. I objected to some of his tactics during the primaries. However, what's done is done, the horse has left the barn. I'm not going to keep whining that I didn't get everything I wanted in a candidate--because it's not going to do any good, and all it does is provide the GOP with a place to point out the cracks in our Party wall. I'm going to continue to encourage him to head in the direction I'd like him to go, but I'm not going to call him names when he doesn't move fast enough to suit me. I'm going to support him, because it's obvious he's trying, and working hard, and he's a damn sight better than any realistic alternative.

[Name removed]

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[babylonsister]

19. Great post. Thanks. nt

[ncteechur]

14. Apparently so. I wished there was a board just for those folks who want to bitch and moan every

time the get on here. Yes, that is f'ing right. I am bitching and moaning about all the bitching and moaning.

If you want to bitch and moan ALL the time about what President Obama has or has not done yet, please go to Free Republic.

Should you get angry and post when he or other pols piss you off, SURE, but if you find yourself doing it all the time. Please go away.

[scrappydo]

17. Same here...

I was really excited when I discovered the DU site. I could get the latest political news with people of the same mind and I enjoyed it so much. I did not post very often but it was great coming to a place where other folks felt like I did. That has all changed since the election. Complaining seems to be the new mode of conversation here - no one willing to get off their butt and do anything - just sit at their keyboards and complain.

It took Bush eight years to get us into this mess and some people think the President can get us out of the mess in 4 months. NOT going to happen. We have to have patience that President Obama will eventually get everything accomplished that he promised, but politics involves compromise - if you have not learned that in your lifetime than you have learned nothing.

And to the screaming banshee about the sister with breast cancer and no insurance? I had breast cancer and I did not have insurance either. On top of that, my husband had to have heart surgery - a $500,000 hospital bill - no insurance. But you know what - we survived and we did not scream or yell at anyone. We did not blame anyone. Health problems are a part of life and we handled our problems with grace and dignity - which is more than you seem to be able to do.

[babylonsister]

22. Thanks for your thoughtful response.

I like it!

As for the b.c., me also. In 1983. And I'm still here! :fistbump:

[TreasonousBastard]

16. I WANT MY PONY RIGHT FUCKING NOW! AND...

it's all Obama's fault, and Harry Reid's fault, and Pelosi's fault, the DINO's fault, and YOUR fault that I'm not rich and handsome, and rich, and young again and screwing a Playmate of the Year on a regular basis.

What the hell did we elect him for anyway if I can't get what I want?

[avaistheone1]

26. Obama got his dog. Why shouldn't you get your pony?

The banksters have gotten everything they want and then some. How about something for the people who make everything work.

[TankLV]

18. Yep.

And eating sour pickles...

and gruel for breakfast...

[TheKentuckian]

20. In some part I'm certain, already I'm not happy with any holding people without charge or crime

However, since absolutely no one has the courage to just say that to be land of the free we must be the home of the brave. That we must maintain our ideals and values even over the burning bodies of our children in the rubble of their school, if they are to mean anything of consequence. That if we don't stay true to what we give lip service to then there is precious little truly left living of what America is about.

The Republicans give not a syllable about democratic values or responsibility to demonstrate moral leadership and most on our sidestep the conversation by downplaying, often even dismissing any threat. The idea that there is no real terrorist threat is not an invalid opinion but one that would be imprudent to be the basis of defense policy and worse would be to give that any weight in application and adherence to our national morality.

[Baby Snooks]

34. Charge them with what?

This president has continued the policies that supported the war crimes. And in the case of detention policies, apparently is now expanding them.

[Beacool]

21. Yep, pretty much intend to.

:shrug:


:7

[dionysus]

30. now thats a news flash!

:rofl:

[Beacool]

33. Go get your bankie.

Shoo!!!!

:P

[dionysus]

35. just for you Bea!

:hi:

[Beacool]

37. There's the bankie!!!!

:hi:

[cliffordu]

24. Yep, cause that's how we roll....

[sam kane]

25. This is a discussion board.

So people discuss things, "sulk in pity with your laptop" just doesn't make sense. You could really take some of your own advice on tone.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

28. yeah. the nature of this place is to discuss. the nature of discussion

are not just to compliment.

[hangman86]

45. yeah that "sulk in pity.." line was pretty stupid

I was trying to be clever and poetic and fell flat on my face. :dunce:

You're right, this is a discussion board and people should be allowed to write what they want within the rules. I'm just suggesting more of pessimistic threads be turned into solution finding discussions.

[Jakes Progress]

29. Some will. Some will cheerlead regardless of anything.

For most of us, it depends on what happens.

[ClarkUSA]

31. And some will use any opportunity to obliquely denigrate Obama supporters.

Those of us who support the President understand how much he has done already and how much he has yet to do to rectify the damned fuck-ups of Bubba and Bush II. Others just emit the smell of sour grapes instead of giving President Obama credit where it is already due.

[Jakes Progress]

46. Rah, Rah. Rah

And some search the waters of DU looking for a chance to be insulted. Any post is fodder for the Purity Inquisition. (No one expects the Purity Inquisition)

Just what is wrong with waiting until we see what happens before we comment? If you feel obliquely denigrated, I'm sorry. Here is a little direct comment. Those who will cheer any action and ignore any action and rave regardless of anything are simple cheerleaders. They have already decided what is good and what is bad. They are pointless to any discussion. But they do serve a purpose. They will be very valuable in 2012. Until then, they are a joke.

Obama doesn't need them right now. All they do is irritate the thoughtful and contribute nothing of value to the decision making process. Obama has called for our opinion. We know their opinion on every issue. They have no thought until they are told what to think, political junkie yes men. bush had 'em. Obama has 'em.

So give your vomiting lizard dome pom poms. And begin practicing for 2012.

[newinnm]

32. An honest appraisal of his job is required!

As with any employee, President Obama has job expectations and when he meets those he should be praised but when he falls short he should be reminded of the expectation. To not do so is a failure of the electorate.

-nnnm

[BklnDem75]

40. Most employees get 6 months to a year before appraisal

Here in DU, Obama's been appraised before 2009. He was criticized for not taking the reigns when things flared up in Gaza while * was still in office. Reasonable criticism is fine, but all the outrage is ridiculous.

[Bluenorthwest]

38. This is a discussion board

and discussion surprises you? What kind of a person comes into a bar and lectures temperance? Often, it is the owner of the bar across the street that does that. Just saying.

[hangman86]

44. Let's say the bar served the same drink everyday.

Everyday, just the same drink and no one was doing anything about it. That's what the DU has felt like some days. Now I know you're probably thinking why don't I just leave. Well I am considering it.

[BlooInBloo]

39. Yes...

This has been another episode of Simple Answers To Simple Questions.

[Forkboy]

42. And beyond. As long as there are valid things to complain about I intend to do so.

And there will be things to complain for the rest of the human species existence. And if no one complained, nothing would change. Complaining isn't a bad thing, though not all complaints are created equal. :)

[hangman86]

43. I know. I wasn't speaking out against speaking out.

I was just saying that eventually you have to turn words into action. Seem people want the world to change as long as it doesn't involve them having to leave their house.

But I'm glad you're actually discussing the topic I wanted discussed. This thread has turned into another one of those pro-Obama vs. anti-Obama wars that I always hated. I regret writing this now.

[opihimoimoi]

47. Valid pertinent crits are essentional to the process....Nits are not...they are counter productive

The GOP have a Cadre of Nitters...they come to dilute our Board with silly willy crap...make some noise so we know they still are alive...

They cannot give the impression of being dead...so theyt nit on with moot crits....

[iamthebandfanman]

48. depends, are people gonna spend 4 year makin' excuses? n/t

[Bucky]

49. By everyone, do you mean "the vocal minority"?

A single posting doesn't represent the whole DU community.

[hangman86]

50. yes.

I'm only talking about those who post the "This isn't the change I voted for!" type threads everyday.

But really, I'm just concerned that the complaining consumes some of us. Nothing against speaking out against injustice, but actions speak louder than words. And yes I know this is a discussion forum but that still doesn't mean all your discussions have to be about what you don't have.

[Bucky]

51. "This isn't the change I voted for" actually told me to "be the change" not just wait for it

We won't get a more liberal government on a silver platter. Obama brought the feet, but we gotta bring the fire.

[hangman86]

53. exactly

Take that advice to heart.:)

[snooper2]

52. Hopefully- Makes for Good Entertainment

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: