It's official Democratic Underground has jumped the shark

[realitythink]

What has become of this website? I am seeing people defend Obama everywhere I look here and it's getting really disgusting. Defending him for turning his back on gay people, for extraordinary rendition, for appointing people who have been in involved in torture, for throwing in with Clintonite economists and on and on.

We are supposed to be here to promote left wing politics! Not defend a guy who is so worried about his legacy that he caves in on everything he ran on. Hell, I even see people posting here that they are pissed off at Bill Maher for calling Obama out on some of the lame things he is doing. I mean really, we can't call this guy out now?

Democratic Underground has become the mirror image of the right wing sycophants that we've all come to recoil at.

Smarten up people!! The reason why this web site is here is to hold ALL of our government office holders accountable for their actions!!

[bluestateguy]

1. Oatmeal Cookie Recipie

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Absolutely-Excellent-Oatmeal-Cookies/Detail.aspx

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)

* 1 cup shortening
* 2 cups brown sugar
* 3 eggs
* 1 cup sour milk
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 2 cups rolled oats
* 1 cup chopped walnuts
* 1 cup raisins
* 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

* add to recipe box Add to Recipe Box
My folders:
* add to shopping list Add to Shopping List
* Customize Recipe
* add a personal note Add a Personal Note

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla and sour milk. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, gradually stir into the creamed mixture. Finally, stir in the rolled oats, and your choice of additions. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

[MrModerate]

5. Hmmm. Now *that's* an interesting response to the topic.

I'm going to be cudgeling my brains to puzzle out the elegant relevance of your post. It's distinctly possible I won't get anything else done today.

[waiting for hope]

37. It's a Kos thing - a way to respond to a post that

they know is a bit of flame bait and will draw a heated response.

[MrModerate]

50. I like it. Now I can trawl troll posts until I find a decent recipe for Toll House Cookies. n/t

[gauguin57]

81. This is my spin on TollHouse cookies... they're called Lititz Drops (after a PA town)

Lititz, PA, has the Wilbur Chocolate factory, where I first bought the chips for this recipe.

These cookies contain both chocolate and butterscotch chips. And folks absolutely love these.

Gauguin57's Lititz Drops

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease cookie sheets (or, preferably, line them with parchment paper).

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups of flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup of sugar
3/4 cup of brown sugar
1/3 cup of shortening
1/3 cup of butter
1/3 cup of unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate morsels
6 oz. butterscotch morsels
1/2 cup sliced almonds (other nuts may be substituted).

In a bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In another bowl, cream together the shortening, butter, applesauce, sugar and brown sugar. Mix in the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the dry ingredients until well combined. Mix in the chocolate morsels, butterscotch morsels and almonds. Drop dough in 1 1/4-inch pieces, a couple of inches apart, on prepared cookie sheets (using a cookie scoop works best to keep the cookies a uniform size). Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until tops are golden brown.

[shireen]

109. love this sub-thread! LOL! nt

[AspenRose]

139. Ooh that's a keeper.

[rpannier]

117. Toll House cookies

or Troll House cookies???

[Name removed]

7. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Fla_Democrat]

30. Too bad we can't

Too bad we can't recommend replies. Will have to settle for printing out and sticking on the fridge. :evilgrin:

[uppityperson]

38. I like pie better than cookies. Pie is better than cake also.

[NYC Democrat]

46. Not only that but pie is better then Ice cream and chocolate as well.

[MrModerate]

51. Excuse me? Better than chocolate?

That, sir or madam, is a physical impossibility.

[jmowreader]

73. Never had a chocolate pie, I see

[MrModerate]

127. I've had many chocolate pies. Some of them I ate entirely by myself.

But they were, after all, chocolate.

[timtom]

59. I'm with you guys!

[NorthernSpy]

47. There's some cake in the kitchen right now.

Can't decide whether I want cake... :9

... or a pickle. :9





Nope, still can't decide.


:)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

119. How about pizza?

:rofl:

[Duncan Grant]

128. .

:spray:

[Bluebear]

152. ---

:spray:

[madokie]

62. screw that I'm a candy bar man myself

The big sized one's at that

[AspenRose]

136. No way. Cake rules.

Pie is good if you don't have a cobbler around.

[Douglas Carpenter]

55. what do you think about using butter instead of shortening?

I find for almost all such baking butter just packs a lot more taste.

Would it be too risky to go with an extra teaspoon of baking soda? I sometimes press the limit on baking soda so that the cookies will rise better. But, if I over do it, I can end up with a bit of a nasty baking soda after taste.

Another little trick I found that usually helps with most cookie recipes, is that if I put the cookie doe in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, they will form better on the baking sheets and come out more aesthetically appealing.

God Bless President Obama

[stewartcolbert08]

58. For baking

I use promise spread or that butter made from yogurt. I like it! :shrug:

[Pharlo]

87. They discussed this once on an episode of

'Cooks Illustrated' and they said that quite often, that to avoid the 'soda aftertaste', they add extra cream of tartar instead. They said that they get the extra rise without the aftertaste.

I know I have cookie recipes that call for both baking soda and cream of tartar. This is probably why.

[Douglas Carpenter]

99. extra cream of tartar? that sounds interesting

does it work as well as baking soda in helping the cookies to rise? how much extra? one teaspoon, perhaps?

[Pharlo]

150. If I recall correctly, they did a

one teaspoon baking soda to one teaspoon cream of tartar substitution.

The cookie recipe I have calls for one teaspoon of baking soda to two teaspoons of cream of tartar.

So, I guess what this really says, is I don't know.

You're pretty much going to have to experiment and see what works best for you.

[gauguin57]

89. You can use canned pumpkin or unsweetened applesauce for part of the fat in cakes, cookies, etc.

Lowers the fat content.

[Douglas Carpenter]

100. that's true, but when it comes to baking cookies, cake or pie

I tend to throw concern about fat content to the wind and go for the most far out taste I can imagine. I guess I kind of feel that I'm not making them for their health benefits anyway. For me, any decent tasting baked deserts of that sort are simply going to be loaded with lots of calories, fat and cholesterol. If I really must bake with that in mind, I would probably go for something totally different, like baked apples with cinnamon and artificial sweetener. Maybe it just me, but deserts such as "low fat cheese cake" fail so badly in creating the rich taste of that kind of sweet it ends up making me depressed. It's like smoking vegetable cigarettes.

[AlCzervik]

94. i'm leaving out the raisins, little scabs of sunshine or wingless flies, either way, gross.

[chknltl]

110. Shark Cookie

[backscatter712]

132. Mmmmm. Kos-alicious cookies!

[POAS]

137. Dammit, now I'm hungry. n/t

[MrModerate]

2. There's over 140,000 registrants. Some several thousand of them . . .

Are perhaps too forgiving of Obama (who has turned out to be an extraordinary leader, but one who still gets some things wrong and some things right). How does that equate to DU having jumped the shark?

You need a refresher in Headline Writing 101.

[realitythink]

3. Must be all the recommended diaries then

Let the trashing begin!

[MrModerate]

6. Not to appear baffled, but: say what? In fact, say what twice? n/t

[realitythink]

4. Must be all the recommended diaries then

Let the trashing begin!

[konnichi wa]

76. About 130000 of those are gone, banned or never even posted.

At any given time there are a couple thousand active DUers. :-)

[TexasObserver]

8. Stop overgeneralizing.

DU hasn't "become" anything. For the three years I've read it, there have always been highly outraged posters who start far too many threads about whatever pisses them off today. Some topics are important. Others, less so. Some of what the president does annoys me, some infuriates me, and some pleases me.

We each choose which posters to read, which threads to see, and which posts to see. I choose not to read those who annoy me, so getting rid of the 20 worst thread starters will solve most of your concerns.

I'm always amused by this particular strain of thread, however, as it never goes away, and it's never accurate. Same as it ever was.

[kentuck]

9. Must've jumped the shark twice?

I think I saw this same post elsewhere?

[realitythink]

10. It's official Democratic Underground has jumped the shark

What has become of this website? I am seeing people defend Obama everywhere I look here and it's getting really disgusting. Defending him for turning his back on gay people, for extraordinary rendition, for appointing people who have been in involved in torture, for throwing in with Clintonite economists and on and on.

We are supposed to be here to promote left wing politics! Not defend a guy who is so worried about his legacy that he caves in on everything he ran on. Hell, I even see people posting here that they are pissed off at Bill Maher for calling Obama out on some of the lame things he is doing. I mean really, we can't call this guy out now?

Democratic Underground has become the mirror image of the right wing sycophants that we've all come to recoil at.

Smarten up people!! The reason why this web site is here is to hold ALL of our government office holders accountable for their actions!!

[CreekDog]

11. C'mere a minute!

:eyes:

[alfredo]

12. Every leader needs to be reminded, even Obama.

[Thrill]

13. His term isn't up. So how has he caved on everything he ran on?

Was he supposed to do everything in his first few months?

[bigjohn16]

19. No but he need to let his progressive roots get some sun.

He is so fixated on this idea that bipartisanship should come before ideas it's turning a lot of liberals like myself off. He doesn't have to get everything done in the first few months but he can at least let us see the map so we have some idea of where we are headed.

[Thrill]

28. Obama's whole budget and stimulus package is progressive

And he's not likely to take more progressive stances when Democrats leave him hanging by the balls when he does it. Example....releasing the CIA memos, going after farm subsidies for big Agri Business, limiting the tax ductions on charity donations, funding for closing Gitmo, etc....He took those stances and Democrats left him out there by himself with no backup

[ThomCat]

35. You're kidding, right?

Shoveling money into banks and insurance companies was progressive?

Talking now about cutting medicaid and Medicare because of the tight budget is progressive?

Pursuing a free trade agreement with Panama is progressive?

I agree that he has pursued SOME progressive policies, but usually watered down. Healthcare is the first true stand I've seen him take for real progressive policy. It would have been nice if he had taken a stand for a real progressive stimulus package.

He could have proposed billions to employ people in a work program to rebuild decaying roads and bridges and public hospitals and public schools and public parks. That would have immediately slashed the unemployment numbers, injected massive money into the economy, and rebuilt our national infrastructure in one shot.

He could have proposed expanding foodstamps, even if only temporarily, to millions more people. Foodstamps has a great stimulus effect, immediately helping people who need it most and injecting money into the economy where it is desperately needed in poor communities.

Instead of Any progressive stimulus measures he continued the Bush corporate stimulous measures, without getting anything out of it for the American people. :(

He briefly supported reforming credit card lending practices, but that got shot down in congress because nobody held off the bank lobbyists. If he had been willing to really use the Bully Pulpit, and hold up the stimulus money to banks until they gave in on credit card rates and fees then he could have easily gotten agreement on this. Instead, the bank lobbyists were able to bully members of congress into defeating this.

Obama COULD have stood for Progressive goals and principles if he wanted to, but he didn't. :(

[Thrill]

48. Obama has never mentioned cutting medicaid and Medicare

You're full of shit.

[ThomCat]

64. He was just on TV talking about it YESTERDAY!

[Donnachaidh]

101. try reading before you start namecalling...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3921320

[ThomCat]

104. I know a lot of people feel a need to automatically defend Obama

but if you love him that much I should think you would at least paying attention to what he is saying and proposing in the news. He only proposed this LIVE on television as part of his speech from Green Bay.


I give him a lot of credit on the Healthcare issue. Most of his proposal for a Public Option for Healthcare sounds Excellent If He Can Stick To His Guns And Get It Approved Without Giving In To Lobbyists Again. I really give him a lot of credit for having Wonderful plan as he describes it in his speech. But I haven't seen that good speech translated into a good plan in Legislation yet.

There is only one huge problem so far where Obama is giving away the farm. Republicans and the Health Insurance and Drug Industry Lobbies have been pushing Obama to "compromise" and open up Medicare and Medicaid to big cuts. You would think it would be BIG NEWS when Obama gives in to them and starts proposing those cuts just like they want. Instead, almost nobody covered it.

If you didn't watch Obama's speech live you probably had no idea that he's talking about gutting millions from Medicare and Medicaid. He also talked about implementing procedural reviews and "reforms," and that's coded talk for forcing the agency to start outsourcing services to for-profit companies. That would be the first step in turning over more and more of the whole program to private for-profit healthcare companies, with the government just paying the bill. It would be the gradual end of Medicare and Medicaid. :(

I don't blame you for not knowing that Obama is now proposing this. He only Just proposed it, and it isn't being covered in the news. But before you jump in and accuse anyone of being "full of shit" perhaps you should listen first and find out of people know more than you do.

People who complain about something Obama is doing aren't criticizing him because of irrational urges. We are criticizing specific decisions, policies and choices, which means we are paying attention to those decisions, policies and choices. Feel free to ask what they are, and why we think they are mistakes. We can agree to disagree if you think the policies are right and we think they are wrong, but at least there is a discussion at that point, instead of just assuming that people are "full of shit." :)

[glitch]

111. How embarassing for you. nt

[Proud Liberal Dem]

69. Exactly what I've been wondering

Of course, some of the same people call those of us who aren't frothing at the mouth angry at Obama for not having done everything he promised during the campaign (yet) "cheerleaders" and insist that him being office for 4-5 months is NOT an acceptable excuse (anymore). :eyes:

Well, might as well, be proud of what we are:

[ThomCat]

105. By now he has laid the foundation of much of his policy.

He hasn't done everything, of course. But he has laid the ground work for where he is going. He has laid out his basic agenda and priorities.

For example, during the campaign he was campaigning to the anti-freetrade crowd, promising to review NAFTA and revise it, getting rid of the worst abuses in it. He was going to insist that no more free trade agreements would get approved without strong labor and environmental agreements in them. But now that he's in office he has gone 180 degrees on this. Reviewing and revising NAFTA is nowhere on the agenda for anywhere in his term, and he is pushing a free trade agreement with Panama that not only does not include strong protections, it also enshrines tax loophole laws that would let American companies hide profits there.

Another example is his position on LGBT rights. Instead of acting as a strong leader to advance our rights, as promised, we are off his agenda entirely for the term and his administration is pursuing anti-LGBT actions.

Economic Stimulus activities is another example. Anything significant that hasn't been done already essentially won't be done because there are no more funds.

On a whole wide range of issues the beginning of his term, the magic 100 days, were CRUCIAL. If we did not make ourselves heard in time then the opportunity is lost. Lobbyists know that, and I guarantee that they were in there on time making themselves essential, proposing draft legislation, offering their ideas and assistance, and being heard.

If you really think that we have all the time in the world to speak up and be heard, and you wait until the end of the term before you judge what Obama is doing or speak up to say anything, then it will be too little, too late. :(

[jakeXT]

106. But we knew the NAFTA thing was just rhetoric

...

Initial stories by CTV suggested a senior Obama campaign official telephoned Michael Wilson, Canada's ambassador to the United States, to reassure him that campaign rhetoric against NAFTA should not be taken seriously.

Later reports clarified the communication was a conversation between Austan Goolsbee and the Canadian consul general, Georges Rioux.

..
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/DemocraticDebate/story?id=4380122&page=1

[Proud Liberal Dem]

107. Well, it sounds like we are all screwn then

:shrug:

I guess it's time to start grooming a new candidate to primary Obama with in 2012? Obama's Presidency certainly seems to be the fastest "failed" Presidential administration that I've ever heard of in history- at least among a lot of people here at DU.

I would like to know if you've ever read Obama's "Audacity of Hope"? I think that if you read that book (if you haven't already) you might understand President Obama and his approach to the political process and how he thinks. He certainly seems a bit more liberal/progressive than President Clinton was but he is not a flaming liberal and, for that matter, none of the recent Democratic candidates other than Kucinich were either. He is definitely more what I would characterize as a "pragmatic moderate" and does not appear tied to any particular ideology but rather interested in finding out what works best and trying to implement.

Also, I would like to know if you have any special knowledge as to what is or what is not happening within the administration on a daily basis? Those of us whom do not work for the administration only have a partial picture (at best) of what is going on- most of which comes from the corporate whoremedia networks whom have repeatedly proven that they do not have any interest in being fair to Obama and Democrats in general and seek to create controversies they can report on- while ignoring real issues as much as possible. Maybe Obama really is just sitting on his butt all day trying to think of new ways to screw the average person (and especially GLBT individuals) and get more money to the corporations. Or maybe he is actually setting other, more positive, agenda items in motion. The point being, how can most of us know for sure what things Obama's people are up to on a daily basis and, for that matter, how can we just assume he isn't working to improve the lives of all Americans? Maybe it all just hasn't come into focus yet? I have a feeling that we may all be feeling differently about things in a year or two and then wonder why we were so worried. :shrug:

Just some "food for thought" FWIW Maybe I'm just naive or hopelessly idealistic but I feel tremendously better and more secure with Obama in office than I ever did with Buscho and ever would have with McCain/Palin *ugh* *puke*

[ThomCat]

14. Some people think that because this site has "Democratic" in the name

that we all took loyalty oath to the party in order to post here. No criticism allowed! :dunce:

They may have joined the party in order to cheer it on, but the rest of us joined the party in order to accomplish things. So they are here with pom poms, and we're here with goals and ideas.

[FLAprogressive]

20. I think/thought of this site as more "little d" "democratic"....but times are a changin' nt

[roody]

15. What does 'jumped the shark" mean?

I have wondered this for years.

[Kaleva]

22. An explanation of the term

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

[BlueJazz]

24. That it's "Purpose" in life is no longer being fulfilled.

[KamaAina]

16. Thank you for your concern

:eyes:

[FLAprogressive]

17. K&R -- there is an obvious cult of personality....just take a look at your average GDP picturethread

The hero worship over a politician makes me cringe.

[ThomCat]

31. Yes, the adoration and hero worship is almost religious.

The faith people have in him, and the way they defend him from any criticism (blasphemy) is borderline religious too.

People are treating Obama like he is a Saint. Anyone who dares to criticize him is a heretic, and too tainted by sin to see the miracles that Saint Obama is offering us.

:eyes:

[cali]

56. never mind the reality that there are at least as many threads criticizing Obama as

praising him. And your claim is simply bullshit. Furthermore the St Obama crap is just moronic flamebait- as is the pony and whiner crap.

[konnichi wa]

77. There is no need to canonize a politician for doing his job when he does it right...

that is what we pay them for.


On the other hand, failing to criticize when it is warranted is an exercise in shitty citizenship.

:-)

[Solomon]

90. LOL I get it. Don't give him any credit or tell him he's

doing a good job when he does something right, but kick the shit out of him when he does or doesn't do something you don't like.

Nice set-up you got there.

[DatManFromNawlins]

93. Doing something right is his freaking JOB

Does your boss come by and slap you on the back and tell you what a fine job you're doing every time you do one aspect of your job correctly? So why the heck should we treat Obama differently?

If anything, people NEED to be more vocal when he does things that are nonsensical or wrong. He lives in the White House echo chamber now, where everyone kisses his ass on a daily basis because he's the President. When he goes on those dumb little field trips with Biden, it's simply another checkmark on the daily itinerary. He makes small talk, but it isn't going to change his policy one iota.

It isn't that Obama is simply doing things that people disagree with. People can have disagreements on issues. It's that he's done a lot of things that have been completely antithetical to the type of President he said he was going to be.

[konnichi wa]

98. How ironic, the original Solomon was wise.

:eyes:

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[flvegan]

21. Happy One Year Anniversary!

Congrats.

That said, there are many different types of Democrats, and some will defend actions that other dems will crucify. Some are lockstep, some are not. DU has a great mix of both. I see lots of folks here holding our elected D officials feet to the fire. That's a good thing.

[FLAprogressive]

25. Unfortunately there's a large number on a certain board that considers DU critics of Obama

as "Freepers"....and they get away with posting anything they want, no matter how vile.

[hfojvt]

23. that's what Jets do. We jump Sharks.

Especially when we see them coming out of movie shows on Jet turf. Cracko-jacko!


Maybe from now on anyone who defends the Democratic President should get the pizza they deserve. Opinions that disagree with mine should not be allowed, especially if they are not derogatory towards elected Democrats.

[uppityperson]

39. When you're a Jet you're a Jet all the way, from your first cigarette to you last dying day

finger snap

[Javaman]

26. hey, thanks for the input. my secretary will get back to you!

So, if it indeed has "jumped the shark", why are you still here?

I mean, if all you are going to do is bitch and complain, hell, freerepublic has room, especially since they deleted von brunn's account.

I just love people that "need to set us straight".

don't let the door hit you in the ass, okay?

bub-bye.

oh and one more thing, cut back on the caffeine, it's making you, oh shall we say, a little tense.

[UrbScotty]

27. Seen the Greatest Page lately?

See much praise of Obama there right now?

"I am seeing people defend Obama everywhere I look here and it's getting really disgusting." Where?

[tekisui]

66. We heard you the first time!

:rofl:

[TheWraith]

29. Democratic website defends Democrats. News at 11.

This isn't AngryLeftUnderground or AntiGovernmentUnderground. If you're going to be pissed at all the fake bullshit whipped up without evidence by people who want to see the Obama administration as the bad guys, you're going to have to get used to the fact that you're in the 5% of the party who doesn't think Obama's kicking ass and taking names.

[spoony]

32. I see plenty of healthy debate and disagreement here.

Yes, some posters try to scold others into ceasing dissent, but there are many posters who are perfectly willing and able to hold tootsies over the coals.

[omega minimo]

33. we've still got good BULLSHIT detectors, though

:puke:

[Vickers]

34. Your concern is noted. n/t

[Old and In the Way]

36. 6 months and it's time to bail?

Most people here can be both critical of individual policies and supportive of his Presidency. Does that bother you? After 8 years of Republican rule, my outrage meter no longer works. I'm more than happy to give this guy another 7-1/2 years to get everything right.

[Rhiannon12866]

120. I couldn't agree more, my friend.

There have been certain decisions which have given me that familiar sinking feeling, but then I hear the outrage and hate speak by the RW pundits and immediately feel defensive. After all, it's been less than five months and all his staff isn't even in position yet. Compared to the nightmare of the past eight years, we have little to complain about. x(

(Spotted this post earlier and was sure it would be gone by now...) ;) :hi:

[MadMaddie]

40. Discussion is important

I can speak for myself, I am not happy about a few things that have occurred but overall I can definitely say that I can go to bed at night not worried about some cowboy wannabe jackoff with his finger on the button and a vp who was so power hungry he wanted to be the guy with his finger on the button.

I think Presidnet Obama's work has only begun.....he told you just as he told every American he may get some things wrong (And he has) and it is our job to call him on it. Maybe some weren't listening.....

[ingac70]

41. Thanks for your concern.

:boring:

[bridgit]

42. Meh, I'd rather keep drilling republicans

:kick:

[liberal N proud]

43. Again?

Jump the shark that is.

:rofl:

If I had a dime for every time this site has appeared to have jumped the shark, I could buy enough gas to fill my tank.

[Fuzz]

44. Jumpy jumpy?

[Chulanowa]

45. You must think you're being productive.

You know... If everyone like you, sitting at your computer, slugging red bull and cheetohs and bitching about obama's birth certificate position on issue X actually got off your fucking whiny asses and hit the streets and participated in the system, you MIGHT get somewhere. I know it's easier to bitch at the rest of us on DU and hope that we'll... We'll... Well, okay, I haven't the faintest fucking clue what you want from the rest of us, except perhaps to join you in sniveling about how Obama's not following the path you'd prefer.

Know what? He's not following my preferred path, either. The difference is, I know that he's not going to see me screeching on DU and go "My god! Chulanowa's right!" - But I know my congressman can get my phone calls. I know my Senators can. I know Democratic Party officials get my letters. I know that if push comes to shove, I and those who are with me can take to the streets and effect something meaningful. what the shit have you done, what the shit do you plan on doing?

[RoyGBiv]

57. Well said ...

Very well said.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

49. There's a thread about banning people who disagree with any part of the party platform.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5838469&mesg_id=5838469

[Swamp Rat]

78. Keep it up.

;)

[cali]

52. lol. because YOU say so? bwahahahahaha.

and not even true. there are lots of threads criticizing Obama here. And that's as it should be. What shouldn't be, is people making absurd false claims.

[madrchsod]

53. i woke up to read this? oh hell, i`m going back to sleep....

[Rhiannon12866]

54. Has "The Fonz" finally registered here?!

He did appear in a promo for Obama, after all... :evilgrin:

[SidDithers]

60. The phrase "jumped the shark" has jumped the shark...nt

Sid

[Vidar]

61. There are at least as many posters, myself among them, attacking Obama

for his broken promises as there are those defending him.

[WeDidIt]

63. LIAF

[Yukari Yakumo]

65. All I can say is...

and probably...

[redqueen]

67. Welcome to DU. I see you're making the most of the recent discord.

Can't blame you.

Enjoy your stay.

[Swamp Rat]

85. Yes

:hi: redqueen :hug:

Keep your eyes out for a few who are flying under the radar, encouraging the discord here. Though I have not been posting much, I have been watching very closely a couple of professional trolls who have been regulars here for months (with different incarnations over the years)... ;)

[Uzybone]

86. Its pretty clear thats whats happeneing

[redqueen]

129. Hah, love the vulbar pigboy pic.

Your posts are missed, you know! :hug:

[spanone]

68. ' Not defend a guy who is so worried about his legacy'...UTTER HORSESHIT

[CJCRANE]

70. It's official realitythink has jumped the shark

[Jennicut]

71. Gee I thought everyone was allowed to express their opinions here

positive and negative of Obama. But I guess positive posts are not allowed anymore.
Another thing, we can support the Prez AND criticize him. And there are varying degrees of political spectrum on this board from centrists to full fledged leftists. I thought that was okay...

[tomp]

72. there is nothing new about blind support for democrats here.

nothing has changed since the beginning.

[Swamp Rat]

74. Dude, you just got here. DU has jumped the shark many times over the years.

At least DUers aren't scum sucking neo-nazi freepatard Bushler-lickers who post from their momma's basement instead of joining the military to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Egnever]

126. You always have the sweet visuals :)

Great to see you posting again Swamp Rat!

[earth mom]

Yep, people are in denial around here. Politicians are ONLY interested in getting votes & money.

YOUR money that is.

Nothing is going to ever change until the masses hold them accountable.

Pitchforks, anyone?

[Arkana]

75. Gatorade!

Is it in you?

[Liberal_in_LA]

79. Obama isn't perfect but he's better than Bush/Reagan/Bush

[glitch]

112. Ouch.

Other than Cheney, who isn't?

[depakid]

80. How about getting a clue

What you just posted is equally as bad as what you accuse others of.

That might have been the sorriest jump the shark post that I've read yet, Sheesh.

[OmahaBlueDog]

82. Who is Welcome on Democratic Underground, and Who is Not

<<Democratic Underground is an online community for Democrats and other progressives. Members are expected to be generally supportive of progressive ideals, and to support Democratic candidates for political office.

We ban conservative disruptors who are opposed to the broad goals of this website. If you think overall that George W. Bush is doing a swell job, or if you wish to see Republicans win, or if you are generally supportive of conservative ideals, please do not register to post, as you will likely be banned.

People who repeatedly and willfully break the rules, or who generally engage in rude, anti-social behavior, will be banned. It doesn't matter if you are a fellow progressive, a long-term member of this community, or a donor.

If you have been banned from Democratic Underground, you are not permitted to log on again using a different username. Previously banned members will be immediately banned, regardless of behavior.>>

Based on a reading of the rules, it looks to me like the site is doing what it is supposed to do. Democrats are standing up for Democratic candidates, and other progressives are weighing in accordingly.

While understanding your POV, how can you really say that this has become <<the mirror image of the right wing sycophants that we've all come to recoil at>>? Have you seen those websites? Nobody here is suggesting bringing back sodomy laws or quoting Leviticus 20:13. Those websites do just that.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

83. Actually Ralph, The Reason This Website Is Here Is To Promote The Election Of Democrats.

Oh, and fuck nader.

[HughMoran]

141. Don't you mean Nuck Fader?

:rofl:

[Occam Bandage]

84. Obama ended extraordinary rendition. That's probably why people defend him on it. nt

[Wednesdays]

88. 284 posts since June 2008, and you're lecturing us on DU history?

:eyes:

[Amonester]

91. Sarah Palin would have been so much better as VP of US, and...

maybe, perhaps (God help us all), POTUS as soon as... (?) :sarcasm:

Feeeoooo...

On the other hand... NOT!

We're here to apply pressure: http://angryvoters.org/ http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

(OK, not ALL of us, but many of us, so join us in the "pressurization movement" and rally someone each day (get to work).)

[anonymous171]

92. I was wondering whether this would be a pro-Obama rant or an anti-Obama rant.

Anti-Obama rant it is.

BTW Maher is an asswipe.

[NJmaverick]

95. WRONG! The reason we are here is to keep the Repukes from ruining our nation

how quickly you forget

[Deja Q]

96. .....

[Deja Q]

97. On the plus side, most who disagree with his policies haven't compared him to Hitler...

Yet...

[Deja Q]

102. In all seriousness, I have to agree.

I can discuss any number of issues on other sites without ending up in some stupid flamefest or war... and there are many more opinions, of various levels, being added as well. No mob mentality either... (I obviously have some baggage, but who doesn't...)

[Skittles]

103. it's been that way for some time

it is very disturbing indeed

[Chemisse]

108. So, ummm, are those cookies ready yet?

[Motown_Johnny]

113. I think you are half right, since we are all divided on these issues, not like the right wing

sycophants that we've all come to recoil at. They all just fall in line.

[NNN0LHI]

114. I find people posting here 100% against issues that are important to me all the time

And then the same ones try to get me all interested in issues that are important to them.

I write them off as the usual trolls one finds on an anonymous internet chat site.

Some probably are. Some probably are not.

But they all get lumped in together.

Don

[Just-plain-Kathy]

115. Bravo!! Great post!!

Country before party!!

[RetroLounge]

116. But he's only, been president for, uhm, how long

1,2,3,4,5 months now?

Why do you hate puppies?

RL

[ThomCat]

125. But wait, it's only his first year!

You can't possibly judge him when he hasn't even completed half his term yet!

Give him at least a full term, and then you'll see!. Then, if you're still not happy, they you'll have a right to complain.

But how can you get upset? It's going to take at least two full terms to get everything done! Give the man time!

:P

[defendandprotect]

118. I think some of it's disappeared but wherever I see it, I reply . . .

The conflict here at DU is that supporting the Democratic Party automatically gives

posters here the idea that it's all about "my party right or wrong!" ....

Rather, it has to be about democracy and preserving it however we have to do it!

Short of violence!

[progressoid]

121. About every 3 months or so DU jumps the shark by someone's standard

yawn.

[tomm2thumbs]

122. Big kick - time to shatter the silence of bland acceptance

<<<< CLASH >>>>

[NBachers]

123. Forgive me for being dense, but

I've been on here over five years and I've never figured out what "Jump the Shark" means. Yes, I can get a picture of someone jumping on a shark and getting thrashed around as the shark swims fast. But that's not it.

Can someone please enlighten me?

[Baikonour]

124. It's the schooling system in America that has jumped the shark.

Apparently no one knows how government works anymore.

P.S. - Obama didn't write the brief, and I guarantee he didn't read it until after it wad submitted.

[TBF]

130. Extraordinary Rendition is too important to casually toss aside

as you are attempting to do with that remark. What kind of DOJ would submit briefs knowing their president wasn't in full support? They wouldn't, period. He's not some lazy partner in a law firm anymore (not that he ever made it to that level but still...). He's in charge and DOJ is not going to go off on tangents without his approval. We should be talking about why the administration filed that brief, and what it means for the privacy of American citizens as well.

[ThomWV]

131. Agreed.

[izzybeans]

133. I wonder what the average length of time is between the "DU has Jumped the Shark" posts.

[Joanne98]

134. He's trying to reach out to the right. A STUPID idea because it's not working.

He should just MOVE TO THE LEFT AND STAY THERE!

[Aslanspal]

135. Damn! take a breath it has only been 6 months

Jump the Shark!!! what kind of talk is that....are we all suppost to leave ....come on.

Gay Civil Rights are important here....but to kick the hand that is helping is just plain wrong.

you may hate me saying this.


Patience

[ThomWV]

142. 6 Months = one eight of a Presidency = 12%+ of a term, enough that it can't be dismissed lightly

[kpete]

138. thank you...

it needed to be said
peace, kp

[HughMoran]

140. I was wondering ...!

You post a lot of anti-Obama material without comment - thanks for letting us know where you stand.

[kpete]

143. never mean to be-

anti-anybody,

only anti-bullshit/pro-CONSTITUTION
imho, kp

[HughMoran]

145. Agreeing with this insane screed

..says an awful lot about you.

[kpete]

146. like...

i love my country?
i believe in what the Founding Father's were willing to die for?
i trust in the law of the land?
rather then in any one man?

Don't get me wrong, i voted for Obama
- i WANT to believe,
i just REFUSE to grant him or any other politician a free pass.

yep, pretty corny don't you think?
that's me...
peace, kp

[HughMoran]

147. Yep, corny

...making a it sound like it's a noble cause is cute, but corny. It's all in the tone of the criticism - finding the most loud/volatile language just to get attention is, well, isn't that what an infant does? I know the difference between debate and fit-throwing - too many here do not.

[sendero]

144. Every time I hear,...

.... Obama speak, I'm impressed and elated that we have an intelligent, thoughtful leader.

Then, I hear about his actions. And I'm beyond disapointed.

I LIKE Obama, but he is off the rails already and his decision to bail out the bankers instead of America will haunt him long after his single term is served.

[L0oniX]

148. Word up: Kucinich 2012

[hiphopnation]

149. methinks you have skewed expectations from an internet message board

what is it you expect from this place? oh and by the bye, you're free to leave anytime.

:hi:

[BzaDem]

151. Yawn.