The eight-hundred-pound gorilla in the room is the sleeping American electorate, many of whom woke up long enough to help Obama win the US Presidency in 2008. Unfortunately, they have been pummelled with disappointments ever since from Obama, who has failed to “fight the good fight” for the significant social changes he promised, and they have apparently gone back to sleep. Of course, this plays perfectly into the hands of Republicans, as they prop up the facade of populism that the Tea Party movement feigns to represent, even though this group is composed mainly of college-grad Republicans making over 50 thousand a year. Maybe the ‘bipartisanship” thing was just a scam anyway, a shadow play for gullible liberals. You have to wonder when Obama scales back his “change you can believe in” before negotiations even begin with the opposition. Demos offer the carrot, Repubs use the stick. Perhaps we should be happy with the few crumbs our President has thrown us, but still I cringe to think that the Congress is going to stiff the unemployed and lavish even more welfare on the rich. Now I go days without watching the news, because it causes me to careen between despair and anger. Reading is somewhat more manageable. I don’t think the left is dead; it’s just submerged under the weight of the corporate media and millions of individuals struggling to make a living. But Americans aren’t as dumb as both major parties seem to think—that’s why they don’t vote—they believe it’s useless and would rather stay under the radar of the emerging plutocracy. Sadly, they may be right—without meaningful campaign finance reform, that gorilla may just die in his sleep.

the repugs have been at this nonsense for years-blocking everything dems try to
accomplish and then blaming them for not accomplishing anything. I sent an email
to Obama today urging him to stand up to their self centered interests and not
back down anymore. so what is he isnt reeclected, we need a Russ Feingold or
Dennis Kucinich to fight the reupg assholes and their destructive, regressive
corporate centered agenda.

Funny thing that..

Right above this is Chris Hedges article.

He seems to be blaming Obama’s America as well. Wait, so am I and many other
progressives.

I know. Quick, they (we) must all be tea baggers. After all, it is only right wing fruit
loops like Rico Suave and other Palin supporters that have problems, real serious
problems with Obama and the Dems.

Right?

Go Right Young Man is starting to drift to the Left, maybe the truth will become evident, even to him. Or maybe, it’s just a disengenuous attempt to ingratiate himself. I’d mention his hatred for Eugene Robinson, but I don’t want to start him up again.

I’m a member of a minority group so I’m probably ultra sensitive when it comes to criticisms leveled on President Obama.  This being said, and being from the South, I find the current news media coverage at all levels and venues less than objective and appears vulnerable to manipulation and management by the current crop of “Squeaking Wheels” who seem to be getting all the grease they’re asking for and more so. These media darlings are so often so shrill in their commentaries they seem intent on destroying Obama’s presidency regardless of what it costs the country and our people. In earlier times, I’d call it reflections of racist intent. I mean the economy is still putrid, health care will go in the tank without some kinds of reforms, school dropout rates for kids in Georgia is over 30%, the poverty population is growing, black and Hispanic males continue to lead lives of quiet desperation while filling overcrowded jails, the middle class feels marginalized and discouraged and expressing a sense of hopelessness and despair of ever doing better; education continues to be dumb-downed by school boards and administrators intent on pursuing personal and ideological agendas regardless of the needs of children.  Even a conservative Nixon economist like Ben Stein thinks that there’s a lot of scary stuff going on in the US of A that needs to stop, and soon.  Surely, some common ground for finding solutions to these problems can be found by the current batch of politicians, if for no other reason than their own survival. Replacing Obama with someone from the current crop of Presidential office seekers won’t solve anything.  When the public no longer retains status respect for its government’s institutions and its leaders, social revolution invariably follows. I read where the new Congress is being called “the best that money can buy.”  Marie Antoinette got the message, but not soon enough.

Sabagio Mauraeno

A potpourri of pointlessness.  Or another two years of blaming republicans, for your
own weakness.  And another 2 years of an advancing plutocratic agenda, starting with
the elimination of employer paid for health insurance benefits.

We can govern ourselves, but that has nothing to do with Republicans or Democrats or the state.

Blame America First has been the liberal/progressive mantra for decades.  Mr. Dionne is now acting as a petulant child to complain about “others” doing this to “his beloved president”.

I write all this knowing full well that I too like President Obama on a personal level.  I can disagree with the president, his party and the republicans without the incessant whining about how really really mean the other side is.

Grow up Jr..

Paleo-conservative? I suppose you can make a purse from a sow’s ear, but it will still be a sow’s ear purse, not one made from silk.

The reality, that Dionne and others point to, is a reality which only complicates rational responses to other, more important, realities.

This is so typical of American politics, Republicans pulling down the Democrats every chance they get…even stalling important international negotiations. Unfortunately this is not the time for such political gymnastics when the Nation is faced with the Wikileaks’ revealations,a possible war between the Koreas and the financial crisis in Europe.