This is a rant.
Consider me one of the disillusioned, discouraged, Progressive Democrat rank and file. I had hoped that Barack Obama would govern with guts and balls. I hoped that his background as a community organizer would shape his world view to understand the erosion of the middle-class that has taken place under both Republican and Democratic administrations.
I hoped he would seize this once-ever-few-generations opportunity to put forth the argument for progressive policies.
Those hopes are dashed. Indeed, after constantly looking to and caving to the Right I want nothing more than to sit down with Obama, shake him vigorously, and give him a good smack across the face… perhaps that will snap him out of whatever it is he’s in.
I called all the Dem (DNC, DSCC, DCCC) organizations and told them to take my name off the lists because I’m a sucker no more.
I said I knocked on doors and donated what little money I had to get Obama elected. I felt hoodwinked and bamboozled. I voted for a Democrat, not a moderate, responsible Republican. I said, “Screw Obama! I’m not going to vote in protest!”
I was angry. I’m still angry! Public Option, Van Jones, rendition, too small stimulus, President Snowe, President Brown, Wall St over Main St, offshore drilling, the lackadaisical attitude towards jobs and the economy… the list goes on and on and on.
Keeping Alan Simpson is the latest indignity. Obama cows to Glenn Beck by axing Van Jones, but keeps Alan Simpson?! Are you frakking kidding me?!
The liberal blogs are all a flutter about how Obama and his team like to commit political malpractice by beating up on the people that swept him into office. I was one of those people. I was one of those that couldn’t wait to not vote just to sock it to Obama. Teach him and the Party that really does hate us a lesson.
Then it dawned on me. The best way to fight Obama and to teach him a lesson is TO VOTE! The beauty of our system of checks and balances is that if you have a branch you don’t like you can tip the scales in the other.
I’m going to vote and I’m going to support Dem candidates that fight for me. If I want Obama to take a hit on the chin from a Progressive punch then we need to get more Progressives in the Senate. As for the House, we just need a one seat majority so long as that majority is Progressive. Let the Blue Dogs lose their seats, and good riddance.
I’m going to do what I can to get Populist candidates elected instead of Democrat corporate shills. I say we get a huge Progressive majority in the Senate and let Obama try to gut Social Security, let him try to stand by and do nothing while we lose our jobs. What’s he going to do? Veto a WPA bill? Ha!
If I want to show Obama the extent of my discontent then I’m going to work my ass off electing Progressive, populist, FDR-type Democrats. We’ve got a slew of them and there’s no reason why we can’t expand our majority in the Senate back to 60… or more. This is especially true since the Repubs have done what they can to run the most irresponsible, batshit crazy candidates they can.
Are you tired of Obama’s center-right, George H.W. Bush-style governance? Then show him what-for by electing people that will FIGHT HIM. Whether Obama and his team of technocratic elitists like it, they are Democrats. Let’s make Republicans irrelevant and get Congress to reassert and carry the Progressive mantle.
Screw you, Obama. If you refuse to be what we voted for, then we’ll put people in government who will. All you have to do is sign the bills into law.
End rant now. Gods, that felt good to get off my chest.