They are far too often doing things that make me regret my primary vote.

[Divine Discontent]

No more arguing about how it's only been a few months, or a year... It's been 2 years now. When I had to decide who to support of the remaining couple of candidates, I feel I didn't choose so well, and directed my money and verbal support to the wrong candidate. I wish Kooch could have won, but I realize if just a few percentage more of us had backed Hillary, she'd be the president.

The more this Administration talks about it's actions on --- Afghanistan, its handling of BP's Massacre of everything from the economy to sea life in the Gulf region (and subsequent lies about its original actions, and, what remains), its highly questionable handling of GLBT issues, capitulations on policy (health care, banking regulations, Wall St, kowtowing to reductions on the stimulus, and essentially showing the Rethugs they could get concessions easily), and, keeping B*sh's Patriot Act --- the more I realize I chose wrong in the primaries.

The argument of, "would you rather had McCain?!", also is a moot point, I am a realist, Obama was the easy choice between the two, however, before that, I could have done differently, and I'm sure others feel the same way.

From Rahm, to Geithner, Bernanke, Gates (argh!), Jarrett, and fiascos with Rick Warren being elevated by the president at his very inaugural, McClurkin being given loads of exposure to push his 'ex-gay' BS from Obama's campaign stage, the administration has seemingly been significantly more to the Right on issues than I had hoped, and he's kept too many people who were part of the mess B*sh created, and his Atty Gen., Eric Holder, hasn't went to the defense of people he should have - from ex-governors to the millions slain illegally by the B*sh regime in their false war.

Those who defend the administration relentlessly are welcome to attack us (often with insults or straw men) for being sickened by the White House's decision and comments. I am disappointed in this president for his actions, nothing more. I have fought for equality for the homeless to the point of having cops called on me for helping out, argued last year in a post office on behalf of the president during the health care insanity when lies such as 'death panels' was running rampant, had my job put in jeopardy standing up for a fired African American friend who was fired improperly and helped get his job back because he was wronged, and, dozens of times in public I've stood up for Barack Obama when his color has been brought up by Caucasians about why he's such a horrible president, even to some in my own family.

Where's his fierce advocacy for GBLT rights and his wise words and great speech akin to the one where he chastised black fathers to be responsible and be present in their children's lives, but instead chastising parents who don't stand up for their Gay and Lesbian sons & daughters who are far too often killing themselves or feeling no one cares that they're being abused at school? A fierce advocate wouldn't be afraid to do so - I haven't been homeless, been fired, or been mocked for my color - but I've fiercely defended those who have, and I don't even have someone there to protect me when I did it! And, it's sickening to hear from some on here that us GLBTers are just negative or whining when we get pissed when the president's adviser said we make "lifestyle choices" trying to live our lives without daily judgment and condemnation from someone or somewhere.

I will no longer say I am a Democrat when asked, because this administration is the presence of the party, and this party just doesn't represent my belief in anti-war, pro-worker rights, equality for all, and the pursuit of justice in believing the wars created by B*sh were highly illegal, and there's plenty of memos and proof showing the previous administration was corrupt and perverse - and yet, we are told to look forward.


Well, I am making a "Lifestyle Choice" and looking forward, too, and hoping I can find a person to believe in to lead this country sometime in the future, because I don't see it from this president, and sure, things can and do change, but I doubt they will. My apologies to "any who have taken offense"... ;)

[Tesha]

1. There's a reason why Obama was my seventh choice (of the eight).

And Hillary was my eighth.

Somehow, I wasn't surprised when it turned out that they
were the finalists; that assured that the Corporate Party
would win no matter which of McCain, Obama, or Clinton
finally won election.

Tesha

[Divine Discontent]

4. the "party" gets its way, doesn't it. sigh...

[Blue_In_AK]

9. Clinton and Obama were my seventh and eighth choices, too.

I ended up caucusing for Hillary because I didn't trust that Obama was as wonderful as everyone was making him out to be.

I don't hate the president. On a personal level, I'm sure I would like him very much, but his capitulating to the Republicans time and time again is starting to wear thin.

When asked about Obamacare at a senatorial candidates' debate on Monday, Scott McAdams said that it may as well be called Mitch McConnellcare for all the compromising and amendments that were added. I believe he is correct in that observation.

[DCKit]

10. 3rd and 4th, respectively, but same here.

I knew Hill was DLC from the get-go, but I think she would have been far, far worse.

The alternatives (Gramps & Gidget or Mitt and his magic underwear) are unthinkable.

We got the best we could get in this last cycle.

[bigwillq]

22. Same here (nt)

[Divine Discontent]

40. oh, and I left out of my OP, his stacking the Cat Food Commission with people against SS, that's yet

another jab in the people's eyes...

[Aramchek]

68. you do realize that "Cat Food Commission" is a Repig talking point, don't you?

much like "Death Panel"

[DCBob]

2. Are the PUMAs still prowling?

[Divine Discontent]

3. I wasn't for Hillary, perhaps you missed that. I also have a journal that details all I've stated

thanks for the comment, though...

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Divine%20Discontent/103

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/themartyred/49

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Divine%20Discontent/75

[Whisp]

50. there's a hairball or two spat up every once in a while...

and they track their litter around mumbling what-ifs, shoulda be's, etc.

[CreekDog]

52. how are the microbes doing, you know eating all that oil?

I thought DD was a pretty vigorous supporter of Obama back in 2008, at least during the general election, if memory serves.

so i don't know why you are attacking DD's credibility.

[DCBob]

57. you tell me..

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2010/0930/Gulf-oil-spill-research-voyage-to-search-for-oil-can-t-find-any

[Divine Discontent]

60. they haven't visited all of the sites that the team who reported all of the oil deposits visited, &

I'm skeptical that even if they did go to all the locations where oil was found, we're not going to hear the truth, and will continue to hear that Joye & Greenpeace are simply wrong...

and you are correct in your memory. I was initially for Edwards, then strongly backed Barack Obama and certainly changed some hearts & minds in his favor in the primaries and in the general. I feel just like a lot of us regular voter folks do - used to gain power and having to watch as the strength we gave them was squandered. I'm not saying Obama hasn't done some good things with Congress, but the majority of the big issues were watered down, or frankly not done at all, yet. I have to look into more about what northoftheborder wrote about McGovern's new book. He said, "Just heard him interviewed on Newshour..... He said Obama wasted too much time thinking we were in a post-partisan age, and that Congress would just do the right thing without much from him. He said even when there was a Dem. Pres., a 60 vote majority in the Senate, the Pres. had to really push an agenda and be completely involved in getting things moving and progressing. Does Obama get it, yet? McGovern said he needs to somehow connect with people, and make them know that he really cares that they are suffering. Does Obam really know that, in order to connect??????

Those were the good old days............."

So, anyhow, that ought to be an interesting read. I would like to hear what Dean thinks about all of this mess. I do know I share his desire to vote for progressives and change the landscape with our votes. Obviously, on election day '08, it was more of the same Vs. not quite as much politics as usual pre-B*sh.

[CreekDog]

64. It's amazing to me that Obama, as studied on history as he is, ignores successful presidents

FDR, LBJ, Reagan, Lincoln...they all fought, not always publicly, but certainly they were feared for what they could do if you opposed them.

Sheesh, as much of a triangulator as Clinton was, during the government shutdown, when Dick Armey complained that his mom was worried about her Medicare, Clinton told him that, "I don't know about all that, but if your budget goes through a ton of people get kicked off Medicaid." (or something like that)

Dammit. I want him to show some fight, beyond the speeches on the stump...show some fight on policy, on the policies he campaigned for! Show some vigor! Stop defending BP (he did --too late). Stop trying to seem above it all --or if he must for whatever reason, have his freakin' henchmen leaning in close to those stupid Blue Dogs telling them, "you vote the wrong way and we'll send Obama to your district..."

Do you think such a threat in ONE SINGLE DISTRICT would get noticed? Damned straight it would. Look what it did to Kucinich! No shrinking violet is he!

I'm not giving up on Obama, he's too damned smart to not be able to figure this out and however disappointed in him I am, we NEED HIM. We can't do this stuff without him.

I'm just...I'm just...

Show some muscle on policy, there was some of that with health care at some critical junctures (harder to do because of moves his Chief of Staff and Baucus made earlier). There were some during the stimulus debate, but even then, when they watered down his proposal, he still acted like it was as good as what he proposed and now that everyone knows it wasn't --he owns it. Yikes.

I just don't get it sometimes.

[vi5]

5. I'm pissed at this admin, but in all likelihood...

I can't really see or fathom how Hillary would have governed any differently or made any different decisions. She was and is just as much of a third way type centrist, beltway insular, cable news obsessed politician as Obama has turned out to be.

I get mad, on a daily basis but I don't ever think that Hillary would have been better or done anything differently.

[Divine Discontent]

7. that was my fear when deciding between the two, and I wanted Kooch but knew he had no chance. After

Edwards dropped, and the populist focus drifted away, I had to make a choice. There is no question there was a risk of her doing centrist-minded policies, but I, like many, feel Obama promised not to be like that - and that's what makes it worse. Well, at least we didn't have to suffer under McCain (I'll make that my daily argument to pretend things are going swimmingly, ha).

[vi5]

36. Right...

With Hillary there wouldn't be the sense of disapointment or unmet expectations. There's not doubt he campaigned to her left.

[islandmkl]

6. feeling compromised is never pleasant...

until you understand that compromise is how IT ALL WORKS...it sucks to be disappointed...

but it sucks even more when your expectations are based on what you want things to be, as opposed to how things are...

and the achievement of major changes is based on a painfully slow path of compromise...you must continue to push to your end of that endeavor...

to evidence 'disappointment' (for lack of a better word) is more a matter of you wanted more change than a majority were willing to pursue than it is that someone couldn't accomplish all the change you desired...

high expectations are great...reality is unavoidable...

work for change, be patient, be loud, be whatever...but don't be selfish...

as the old saying goes (and it applies to nearly everything in life that is worth understanding): it ain't about you...

[Divine Discontent]

12. too many contradictions on promises to what he's done. It's just too much to accept as 'politics',

imo.

And, sure, it is about me, and about every person who has suffered under banking crimes, lost their homes, had friends be bullied or beaten, and for all the millions of kids and women slaughtered by B*sh's warmongering, you'd expect the overflowing evidence that continues to come out once sealed documents would get some response... but instead, it's just move forward. I expected more from him, if you wish to say that's my mistake in expecting more from him, because he's not that transformative of a president, then fine. I was wrong, that's my point of my post. It's a discussion forum, and I'm relating my disappointment in the policies of this WH. Nothing more. I am sure he's a nice guy, and such, but he's my least favorite president that isn't an "R" so far in my life. I was hoping he'd be the best.

[jaxx]

8. That's your choice.

Sorry you're not a Democrat any longer. Our tent is big, it's what makes us.

[Divine Discontent]

15. thanks for being supportive, regardless.

[jaxx]

24. You're welcome.

I hope you can find your way back. :hug:

[jonnyblitz]

11. k & r. nt

[Divine Discontent]

13. thank you for hearing my sorrow over the situation things are... best to you JB.

[Fire1]

14. This pure flame bait. Unrec.

[Divine Discontent]

16. not even close to flame bait. but, thanks for trying to fan flames. It's an opinion, and there's

nothing overboard about my comment. Unrec? point? lol... Not my intention.

Have a good night, regardless.

[emilyg]

17. k/r

[Divine Discontent]

19. I apologize to you. thank you.

[MadMaddie]

18. I am sure you will very happy with a Republican President

and Republican led Congress. Good luck to you! I think you will get everything you desire!

[Fire1]

21. You forgot the sarcasm thingy. n/t

[emilyg]

53. Ineffective. Get a new line.

[ClarkUSA]

55. Yes, some people just don't give a shit because they simply detest Pres. Obama.

The Perpetually Outraged is one branch of the Democratic Party that clearly suffers from rot.

[emilyg]

58. The only person I

detest is Hitler.

[Divine Discontent]

62. it never never never ceases to amaze me how many of the people who think the WH is doing great,

believe we DETEST him! I wanna scream! I think he seems very likable and reserved. Good attributes. So far though politically, he's a bit of a punching bag. He should have got more out of that 1st year. The gravity OF that economic possibility of collapse was a great time TO make things go better for the people, instead of the Wall St. BILLIONAIRES who don't give a rat's ass about us, and other issues - but they blew it - or they got exactly what they wanted and are happy with their results... whatever, I just know I'm not satisfied, and more and more people aren't either who are liberal/progressive, but one thing is certain I can't find anyone that detests him who voted for him!

peace...

[joe black]

65. Bush and Cheny are on my list.

I guess Condi isn't on Obamas list though.

[Aramchek]

67. you mean ObamaHitler, right?

[frylock]

74. thanks, dick cheney

[stray cat]

20. Would your other choice have won the election or been a throw away candidate?

[Divine Discontent]

25. She could have won, easily. If just a percentage more of Dems across the country had different

views, Hillary may have won. Sure, my one lousy vote wouldn't have changed anything, but I spoke to dozens of coworkers (I literally work with tens of thousands of coworkers and see thousands of people daily) in defense of Obama for president. I also sent money, and if you add up all the people who backed him over her cautiously (because I would've preferred others who weren't as popular as those two), and their time and efforts, money, and votes - she could have beat Obama for the nomination.

I supported him, and a congratulations for him is even in my journal at the bottom of the page. I just feel he's not as transformative as most had hoped.

[blm]

72. Not transformative as much as I would like, either. He put too many Clinton-triangulators back in

the WH with all their years of 'experience' pulling the party and its policies ever rightward.

[Skip Intro]

73. Yes, she would have won, handily. nt

[newblewtoo]

23. K&R +1

And already unrec'ed.

[Divine Discontent]

26. of course, right? thank you regardless for appreciating the post. best to you NBT! :)

[northoftheborder]

27. Look up McGovern's new book....

Just heard him interviewed on Newshour..... He said Obama wasted too much time thinking we were in a post-partisan age, and that Congress would just do the right thing without much from him. He said even when there was a Dem. Pres., a 60 vote majority in the Senate, the Pres. had to really push an agenda and be completely involved in getting things moving and progressing. Does Obama get it, yet? McGovern said he needs to somehow connect with people, and make them know that he really cares that they are suffering. Does Obam really know that, in order to connect??????

Those were the good old days.............

[Divine Discontent]

29. very interesting. thank you very much for this post!

[Tarheel_Dem]

48. Didn't McGovern lose? I'm not knocking him, but it seems all the old

guys who lost (McGovern, Mondale, etc.) seem to have a ton of advice about what this PRESIDENT should do. :shrug: You do realize that this president still has an approval rating in the mid to high 40's, right? And nearly twice that number, among "DEMOCRATS". Neither Clinton, Reagan, nor Bush(1) could lay claim to that at this point in their presidencies.

I'd expect these lamentations from someone whose initial preference was Kucinich. But, I have to say it's surprising to hear someone who supported the most liberal person in Congress, after only 18 mos., offer Hillary as an alternative, that just doesn't ring true, somehow. Archived journals notwithstanding, you're certainly free to support some fantasy candidate, with absolutely no chance of winning, and I certainly wish you the best. Although, I feel, your dream candidate could never be nominated by the party, let alone elected, in this country. :hi:

[CBR]

28. Ok. nt

[DCBob]

30. This is not really helpful considering we about to have major elections..

Couldnt you wait wait a couple of weeks to air your complaints? This is time for everyone in the party to forget the past and our differences and come together to win these elections. Or perhaps you dont care about that?

[Divine Discontent]

31. Ms Jarrett could've waited a few weeks to call being Gay a "lifestyle choice".

[DCBob]

44. People always think and say dumb things.. even within our own party.

Its not wise to dump the whole party for comments made by a few. The Gay community will suffer a great deal more if we lose in November.

[Divine Discontent]

49. I respect your opinion, thank you. And I would like to say, it's not the Gays fault if the Obama

Adm. loses their majority in Congress. They were just going to lose seats anyhow, but there mistakes could make our suffering worse.

[littlewolf]

32. by time it got to my state ...

Hillary and President Obama were the only choices .... I did not pull the lever for President Obama ....
I do not regret this choice ... but we have to work with what we got ....

[Divine Discontent]

34. yeah, that's not fair. your primary vote should be worth just as much as those in the beginning but

after it gets decided, you have no say. anyhow, thanks for the post.

[JuniperLea]

35. I voted for Hillary in the primary too...

No regrets then, or now.

[JuniperLea]

33. OFFS!

He was my fourth choice at the very least, and I have no regrets at all for voting for him, and I'll vote for him again given the chance.

It's nothing short of miraculous that THIS much progress has been made with all the weight everyone puts on him, all the resistance he gets, all the out and out obstructionism he faces every step of the way... from all sides, pathetically.

The mere thought he could have done more is utterly ridiculous after nearly a decade of downward spiral, and the final plunge over the edge of the abyss just before Bush left office and left us all dangling.

I'm just done. Really. There is so little truly Democratic about DU anymore. What a fucking shame.

[CBR]

37. It is all very dramatic...

I voted for Obama. I was undecided between him and Edwards until December 2007. I supported Edwards in 2004. I am proud of my vote in the primary and general. If Hillary had won the primary, I would have happily voted for her as well. I like them both.

The drama on here has become too much. Constant GBCW messages to the Dems.

[Divine Discontent]

39. screw the Phils, first off (joking jab). Secondly,

the millions who died needlessly in wars started by B*sh and ignored so far by our current govt is more than dramatic, it's disgusting that it's ignored. It's not a GBCW post. I'm not going anywhere. I've got plenty of journal posts that express my views, this is yet another. People's suffering because of being poor, being tortured for being gay, not being allowed to be in the military openly, allowing the lobbyists to change policies, it's all serious, and this is a discussion forum. I posted calm disgust over the current situation. Call it GBCW drama all you want. Go Giants!

[CBR]

42. Halladay vs. Lincecum will be epic...

There has been important progress made over the first two years and those things are posted consistently on here. Do I support what has, or hasn't, been accomplished 100%? No. I wish more progress had been made with respect to mountaintop removal and DADT, for example. At the same time, I just think abandoning the President in the face of the struggles is premature. Many of the policies that aim to work towards some of the issues you listed never get any press. They are stimulus programs or small bills that do not make the blogs or cable news. For example, in the stimulus there was a brand new program which has been implemented called the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing program. This program aims to keeps renters (something we never hear about) in their homes/apartments when they are on the brink of homelessness. Only persons making 50% or less of area median income are eligible and only renters. The program also helps those who are already homeless find housing. The funds can be used to pay up to 18 months of rent and utilities. It can also be used to pay up to 6 months back rent or utilities. It can also be used for legal fees or credit clean up. I worked in homeless planning for three years. Advocates have been asking for this for a long time. It is an accomplishment and one that did not happen until President Obama came along. Yet, we never hear about it.

[JuniperLea]

43. Ignored?

Where've you been? Did you hear about Iraq? Did you not hear Obama during his campaign wherein he stated over and over that he was going to pull out of Iraq and put more troops into Afghanistan because it had been ignored and was now far worse than ever?

He's not really a Magic Negro, you know.

[Divine Discontent]

46. never called him magical, also like I never called for Jarrett to be burned at the stake as another

poster insinuated for my calling for her to step down for saying the Right-Wing religious meme of "Lifestyle Choice". Jarrett is not as much involved in the rights for GLBTers as she claims if she's would utter that ignorance. And, about President O, he's not perfect, I certainly agree, sadly. I hope he continues to push things to the left although I believe our chances for change are gone now that the pre-election session of Congress has commenced. What they've accomplished, is all we're getting before the GOP picks up some seats. How many is yet to be seen. Hopefully it all comes together for liberal candidates... We can hope.

[DURHAM D]

70. Re: your comment that Jarrett is not much involved int he rights for GLBTers

You apparently aren't much involved either. Just last weekend she was the main speaker at the annual Human Rights Campaign event.

Guess you missed the part that the anger toward her and the administration is that she is very much involved in W.H. policy and obviously also homophobic - just like her boss.

[JuniperLea]

41. Indeed...

You nailed it... drama. It's tiresome.

[Divine Discontent]

63. You can label me dramatic, and I'll label you too easy to please. And my OP is not even close to

being dramatic and flame-bait as insinuated in these posts, or it would have been yanked. I make measured responses as always for those being ignored and mistreated in society (go down my journal, or just lob insults), just like when I pushed for Obama for the nomination against your candidate, and then president. In the end, more could have been done, and people with much more celebrity and the ability to have their voice heard, who are liberal-minded say the same thing. Also, the deaths of millions due to the B*sh warmongering need atoned for through the courts - it's sickening to see nothing be done despite evidence aplenty. Sadly, there's too many saying this about the WH, and there's still a chance to change course, but each time we look, we see things like "White House pushes for Patriot Act renewal", or "White House informs Justice Dept to defend DADT", etc... It just is bewildering to see a Democratic president do this and also capitulate to the weak party right after he got into office on so many bills, and appoint GOPer after GOPer to posts and the Cat Food Commission (for example).

Good day.

[Divine Discontent]

38. "There is so little truly Democratic about DU anymore". I feel the same way, and I'm heartily lib.

The administration faced a huge mess (as I said in my journal last year about how it's still B*sh's mess, and don't let voters forget that), but the administration, despite all the resistance you mentioned, capitulated on far too much time and again last year, to the point of losing many liberals. There's a reason he's not very popular and it's not my fault. I wanted him to be a truly game-changing president, but I haven't seen it, and he's had two years. We need more people in the House and Senate like Kooch, Grayson, Boxer, Kerry, etc, but we just don't have it, and I feel like the Democratic Party is blowing smoke about equality, because we had the damned majority and didn't take advantage of that fact - and that cannot be ignored - they had a YEAR easily to get things done and they failed us. How much of a majority can we work our asses off to win them!

[1776Forever]

45. I respect your view totally & know I cannot feel the same depth of your pain.

Just like I cannot feel the same pain a black person feels when they are discriminated against. I love this quote from Coretta Scott King:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coretta_Scott_King

On April 1, 1998 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Scott King called on the civil rights community to join in the struggle against homophobia and anti-gay bias. "Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood", she stated. "This sets the stage for further repression and violence that spread all too easily to victimize the next minority group."

In a speech in November 2003 at the opening session of the 13th annual Creating Change Conference, organized by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Scott King made her now famous appeal linking the Civil Rights Movement to the LGBT agenda: "I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people. ... But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.' I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream, to make room at the table of brotherhood and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people."

Coretta Scott King's support of LGBT rights was strongly criticized by some black pastors. She called her critics "misinformed" and said that Martin Luther King's message to the world was one of equality and inclusion.

In 2003, she invited the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force to take part in observances of the 40th anniversary of the March on Washington and Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream speech. It was the first time that an LGBT rights group had been invited to a major event of the African American community.

On March 23, 2004, she told an audience at Richard Stockton College in Pomona, New Jersey, that same-sex marriage is a civil rights issue. She denounced a proposed amendment advanced by President George W. Bush to the United States Constitution that would ban equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. In her speech King also criticized a group of black pastors in her home state of Georgia for backing a bill to amend that state's constitution to block gay and lesbian couples from marrying. Scott King is quoted as saying "Gay and lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protection, whether by marriage or civil union. A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriage."

............

It seems we are going backward in the country when it comes to the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. God bless Coretta and Martin!

[Divine Discontent]

47. Christ bless your spirit, greatly. Something about the wonderful Mrs. King:

http://newsone.com/nation/david-love/the-bishop-eddie-long-scandal-betraying-the-memory-of-mlk/

Eddie Long Scandal (accused by several young men of affairs while married and against Gay rights)


"And Long’s misappropriation of the King legacy is shameful. Coretta Scott King’s funeral was held at New Birth in 2006 rather than at Ebenezer Baptist Church, the King family’s church. Civil rights giants Harry Belafonte and then-NAACP-chair Julian Bond were so mortified by this fact that they boycotted the funeral. After all, Mrs. King was a supporter of gay marriage, and she called it a civil rights issue. The late Yolanda King, the oldest child, took after her mother in that regard, but Bernice King, the youngest child in the King family, called Long her “new father” and symbolically passed a torch to him.

To add to the insult, Bernice King and Long participated in a march to Dr. King’s gravesite to support a national constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. In 2004, Long and others successfully pushed for a similar amendment to the Georgia state constitution. And it should be noted that Alveda King, Dr. King’s niece, is herself a homophobic minister who exploited her uncle’s name at Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally, an event replete with aggrieved white supremacists, Obama-haters and gun-enthusiasts. “Homosexuality cannot be elevated to the civil rights issue,” Alveda King said in a 1998 speech. “The civil rights movement was born from the Bible. God hates homosexuality.”

Bishop Eddie Long is a prosperity-oriented minister, adhering to a theology that essentially says God will financially hook up the believers. Some would call it a false gospel, given Jesus’ targeting of the money changers, and his proclamation that it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Others would call it pimping.

[Whisp]

51. sour grapes and rubbish.

feh

[quiet.american]

54. Okay, noted.

For myself, I remain a proud Democrat. And proud of Obama. :kick: He certainly deserves more credit than you give him.

[Jennicut]

56. Hill was a huge backer of the surge with Afghanistan. Sorry, nothing would be different on that

And some want to replace Biden with her for VP. Nothing like not dealing with reality...

[Honeycombe8]

59. A lot of the people you name that O picked that you don't like...were CLINTON people.

They would've been the same, if Hillary had been President.

You have no idea how she would've performed, had she become President.

I think Obama has done a good job, considering all the problems he's had to contend with. He's a calm, cool, collected, highly intelligent person who has made it his business to gather all the information he needs to make what he thinks is the best decision. And he's been spot on in a number of things. Remember that he is not alone...he has to have Congress' support (which he did not, for some things).

We all have our disappointments with the various Presidents.

I don't know what you expected the President (whoever it is) to have done to BP following the oil spill, but he handled it pretty well. He's not going to go on TV and pound a table and yell and scream. That's not his style. And that's partly WHY you voted for him.

He's been an advocate for repealing DADT. Fierce advocate? Maybe not. But he was kinda busy trying to prevent the worst economic downturn in a century, while managing two wars, fending off rightwing attacks, handling simultaneous environmental disasters, all while trying to pursue his other goals of healthcare reform, environmental protection (involving raising the required mpg of cars), and the like.

I have my disappointments with him. I don't care for the so-called health reform bill. But it's a start, and he's the ONLY President who has ever been able to accomplish even that much.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda. The unknown out there seems attractive, until it turns into an actual person and does actual things in an actual job.

[Divine Discontent]

61. thanks for speaking your piece. let's hope for the best going forward.

[DURHAM D]

71. Just because someone worked in the Clinton administration doesn't

mean they would of had a job in Hillary's administration.

Best example - Rahm Emanuel. She is responsible for getting him removed from the Clinton W.H. She felt he was running his own (not the President's agenda) and also was the source of most W.H. leaks. In other words, she forced Bill into firing him. You would think Obama would take a lesson from that event.

Do you honestly think she would have ever let Sexist Summers in the White House?

[Aramchek]

66. I think if you keep up the belly-aching, it just might change the World.

then again, probably not.

[Doctor_J]

69. I don't think an HRC presidency would have been much better

if any. Unless she would somehow have proven to be a lot more progressive and uncompromising than her hubby, it would have been pretty much the same.

[Arkana]

75. So because you stood up for your fired black friend

your opinion is the only "correct" one and anyone else isn't a REAL "progressive"?

[Beacool]

76. Obama and Hillary had similar positions on most issues.

The big difference for me was experience. I didn't think that a person who had been a state senator and then barely served in the US senate was prepared to be president of the US during one of its worst economic times since the Depression. As Corzine mused at Bill's birthday party this past August, "she would have known how to handle Congress".

I think that Obama is not a bad person, but in life one has to have a little humility and know one's limitations. For example, a medical student regardless of how brilliant he may be and how great of a doctor he may become in the future, still does not have the experience of a doctor who has been practicing for many years.

I believe that Hillary had been in the WH and Congress long enough to avoid making some of the rookie mistakes that afflicts this WH.

I'm still seething with anger over the way the party leadership threw Hillary under the bus, not for her sake, but for ours.

:-(

[AtomicKitten]

78. FFS nobody threw HClinton under the bus. She lost, Pres Obama won -- fair and square.

Jeez, if you can't digest that simple truth, you are beyond help.

[Beacool]

80. I'm talking about the things that went on behind the scenes.

Most people are not aware of them.

[AtomicKitten]

77. Regarding your lamenting a past vote, you'll have a chance in 2012

to vote against this president that is causing you such discomfort.

If you seek relief in the interim, I would suggest you broaden your intake of data. I can't help but notice your take on things mirrors much of the unmitigated, unsubstantiated line of crapola issued by FDL who are second to none in feeding into anxiety and fear and cultivating rage in a sick symbiosis.

This is a presidency in progress with unprecedented obstacles, progress is excruciatingly slow, and the final judgment has yet to be written.

* edited for spelling

[zulchzulu]

79. Purity in politics has never existed and will never exist

As an Obama supporter from the start, there were some obvious reasons where I would not agree with him on some levels. But what happened in the 2007-2008 election season clearly had Obama as the victorious candidate to run for the Democratic Party.

Did I agree with him on the Afghanistan War? No. Did I agree on his stance regarding the sanctity of marriage? No. Did I agree with him on continuing the Patriot Act? No.

The reason is I fully understand that some positions need to be taken to be electable. Also, Obama doesn't have a magic wand or the powers of a King to decree laws. It's ugly watching governance happen. It takes time. All sides have to represented. No one can just say it's their way or nothing at all. And it takes time to make good laws as well as once decent laws/legislation are passed, there have to be incremental changes to make it better.

You supported Kucinich. While I agree with much of what he says, he clearly has proven in 2004 and 2008 that he can't get out of last place. Would he have won against McCain if he was the nominee? Although it's clearly hyothetical, I doubt he would have won 30% of the vote.

One thing I do know is that even when Obama won, we all have the remain vigilant in getting change from the last 30+ years of policies that have led us into this mess. It's not fun. But it has to be done.

[ecstatic]

81. Grass always seems greener on the other side

It's surprising how quickly some of you forget! But don't fear, Hillary will run in 2016, and you'll get to see how she handles the surpluses Obama will leave her.

[Beacool]

82. Surpluses????

We are trillions of dollars in debt. What surpluses???

:7

[MrScorpio]

83. Well, you know, there are plenty of other Democrats left who'll support the leader of the party

And when I last checked, that also included ALL of the ex-primary opponents and pretty much a good chunka Congress, who are up for election this year.

Most folks are planning to keep their eyes on the prize this November and are not getting sidetracked by a lot of ancillary issues.

But, hey... We all can't stay focused on utter political survival in the face of an impending onslaught by rabid, right-wing teabaggers this Fall, now can we?

[Hekate]

87. +1 and good luck to us all

[DemocratSinceBirth]

84. The Primaries Are Over

I liked Hillary but I realize and admit the economy would still suck regardless of who was president. This weak economy is going to linger for quite a long time. At least the Clinton brand isn't tarnished. People will look back at the nineties as a golden age of peace and prosperity. Bill Clinton is already rated among the top third of presidents by historians. His stock can only go up.

[Catherina]

85. Rec'd n/t

[MissDeeds]

86. K&R

Sorry the unrec gods are out in force.

[Milo_Bloom]

88. Given her campaign, I feel she would have been far worse.

[ZombieHorde]

89. I am not so sure Clinton would have been better. nt

[cottonseed]

90. Good PUMAs never die. And they never seem to fade away either.