The insipid fan politics that has blown up over Pres. Obama’s announcement on U.S. military troop withdrawal from Iraq is unworthy of the subject. Whether it’s in the comments or emails, Obama fans have now morphed into the 2012 version of “puma,” expecting allegiance or bellyaching ensues. For those of you who have forgotten, “puma” wasn’t welcome around here.
When Pres. Obama made the announcement on U.S. troop withdrawal, initially I simply put up the video, that was it, nothing else. These are the very first two comments that appeared:
Solo 21 October 2011 at 2:31 pm
Taylor I am breathlessly waiting to see how you and your followers are going to turn this into a negative!
Solo 21 October 2011 at 2:33 pm
I predict that you and your people are going to say one of two things. It’s no big deal or he should have done this sooner. LOL! Obama2012!
Not one word about Iraq or foreign policy, just this drivel. The conversation took off from there, Iraq and the seriousness the U.S. faces in that country taking second place, hijacked by fan politics. This type of comment continued throughout the thread.
For those of you who don’t know the history of this site, I urge you to read the facts rather than follow the Obamabot trail.
I thought it was pretty clear where I was taking TM.com over the last months, even years. But not even Joyce Arnold’s “Two Parties – Too Few Choices” series gave Obama fans a clue. I have encouraged and talked with Joyce about this series since its inception for a very good reason.
The Democratic and Republican parties have failed this country. It’s not “Washington” that is the problem. It’s our two-party system and the weak politicians who inhabit it who have been bought off, locking the American people out of it, unless of course you’re part of the 1%.
Pres. Obama has driven the political and policy conversations to the right, emboldening Republicans.
As for the GOP, I’m aghast and disgusted with the candidates who are auditioning for commander in chief. Jon Huntsman is at least qualified for that part of the presidency, though woefully lacking on others, but he’s not going to get a chance, so Mitt Romney is their most sane candidate, though who knows if he’ll survive. My bet has been he will and I hope so, because we at least need someone serious to challenge him and 9-9-9 man won’t get it done. However, on foreign policy Mr. Romney is only as good as his closest adviser, which looking at Cofer “the gloves come off” Black doesn’t hold out much optimism.
A race between Obama and Romney is perfect for where the two-party system is today: bankrupt on principle, bankrolled and beholden to Wall Street and corporations, and offering no real choice to voters at all. Maybe seeing Obama vs. Romney will wake people up to this pathetic reality in American politics, perhaps move our country one small step away from having only two choices for president.
Contrary to the squeals of “hate,” etc. lobbed against people commenting on this site, the readers around here are very smart and are motivated beyond emotion. Their opinions are linked to actual policy decisions being carried out or those that are not, not their besotted allegiance to a single politician.
The rightward lurch of Pres. Obama, which has led the country, the Democratic Party and our politics further away from progressive economics is simultaneously threatening the American safety net. This is unacceptable, but both Republicans and Democrats would rather carve the New Deal up than adjust our involvement around the world. Both parties refuse to focus on priorities that will help the middle class and put our economic and domestic house in order, allowing the Pentagon to continue their stranglehold on the money pipeline.
Unless more independent voices make it into the system nothing will ever change.
As for around here, we need more voices in the comment section; some of you who are emailing me need to step up and join in. But not to add more fan politics to the pile, but to talk about policies and how our politicians in both parties are failing we the people.
There are many reasons people, independents, progressives and Democrats, are un-enthused about 2012 and Pres. Obama’s reelection. Most of the criticism coming at Pres. Obama and the Democratic Party is justified. So certainly you Obama die-hards who comment can find a way to keep it to the issues, instead of turning this into a politician pimping brawl by going “puma.”
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