We Have to Be Patient, Progressives - by Milt Shook

[Indigo Blue]

September 22, 2009

We Have to Be Patient, Progressives
Posted by Milt Shook on September 22, 2009 at 08:52 AM
http://pleasecutthecrap.typepad.com/main/2009/09/bepatientprogressives.html

I know there's a growing impatience with the Obama Administration among progressives. And I see a lot of articles and blog posts out there expressing a growing sense that he's abandoning his principles for political expediency. There's this crazy notion that 30 years of neocon politics can be made to go away with a wave of his hand; that he can simply bring everyone in this often bipolar country together for a chorus of Kumbaya, which all of us who have ever had a brush with the wingnuts knows is pretty much impossible. But if he's going to keep the moderates on his side -- and make no mistake; we need them on our side -- he has to at least look like he's including Republicans in the process, even if they choose to bite his hand.

Believe me, my son sits in a tent in Kandahar as I write this. He joined the Army because he felt as if the only way he could pay for college would have been that way, or to leave college with a six-figure debt. I truly wish the president could snap his fingers and all of our bad neocon dreams will go away immediately.But that's not how life works. A lot of things about the neocon view of things have seeped into the culture, and it will take a phenomenal amount of work to reverse them.

I hereby beg progressives to have patience. President Obama hasn't abandoned his principles; at all; if anything, he's done just the opposite. He's living by them, and the end result of his presidency will be something pretty special. Don't let your ADD get the best of you; it's better to do something right than to do something fast.

~ snip ~

President Obama is playing Republicans and Blue Dogs in Congress like a cheap fiddle, and a lot of progressives seem to be missing it. What a shame, because it’s a hell of a show. The right doesn’t know whether to shit or wind their watches, as the old saying goes. But you have to look at what happens after he does something to figure out why he does it. Every time he puts out a trial balloon that shows softness on the public option, he simultaneously gets the left fired up and makes the Republicans scream in horror, because the only part of the bill they can even think of attacking (again, without making shit up) is "government-run health care." You think they're going to come out in favor of rescission? Think they're going to go on the record as being in favor of "pre-existing conditions"? A lot of what he does is with the express purpose of shutting them up. It's the "put up or shut up" strategy. And it works. Every time he goes a little soft on a creation public insurance system, support for it rises.

~ snip ~

There is one thing about progressive rhetoric that bothers the hell out of me, to be quite honest, and that is the notion that, if a politician isn't seen openly "fighting" for something, then he has no balls, and he's not working to get something done. If I hear one more progressive say they wish President Obama was like Bush or Reagan, I'll beat ‘em up. (that’s a joke, folks; I’m quite the pacifist.) There are all kinds of ways to get what you want., but the LEAST effective way is to scream and yell and stomp your feet, especially in a democracy. In the last 80 years, Republicans have had control of the government exactly twice, and both times, they screwed it up completely because they did exactly what some progressives seem to be demanding President Obama do. We need a government that’s inclusive, and we have to understand that politics is about the art of compromise. And if you think of compromise as a “sell-out,” or a “capitulation,” or some other nonsense word, then you don’t get how the system works.

~ snip ~

President Obama wants to fix problems, but he can't fix everything in two years, and he'll be hard pressed to fix many of them within four years. But eight months? Come on, folks. Relax a little. If we play our cards right, this is the beginning of a long reform period; one that will undo a lot of bullshit that has been more than 30 years in the making. In order to change everything that needs changing, we'll have to change the culture, not just a few laws. That will take a lot of time, a lot of patience, and a lotof activism. Instead of complaining and wringing your hands about how "disappointing" Barack Obama is, transfer that negative energy to the positive, and start turning the people -- the moderates -- out there to our side. I mean, we got him elected, against all odds. Where's the energy to get him what he wants?

~ snip ~

Have patience, everyone; it takes a while to build a legacy that the next Republican Administration can't simply sign away. Keep fighting, but focus on the real enemies of progress in this country. I've had enough of the progressive circular firing squads, thank you very much.


http://pleasecutthecrap.typepad.com/main/2009/09/bepatientprogressives.html

About Milt Shook

One-Line Bio

Just a regular guy with a big mouth and a curious mind...

Biography

I'm just a "regular guy" who likes to read and write facts. I don't expect anyone to believe everything I say, and I challenge all to check my work. I'm not a journalist, although I have journalistic training, having written many newspaper and magazine articles over the years.

I am a single parent of a great young man who is now 19 years old, and has just been deployed to Afghanistan with the US Army. I have worked for the last 13 years as a paralegal and a research specialist, and I am currently Director of Investigation & Analysis, and Senior Analyst with a start-up company engaged in intellectual property enforcement. I ghostwrite content for several blogs, I've ghostwritten a biography, and I have written many magazine and newspaper articles, both under my own name and as a ghostwriter. I am a lifelong activist, and have played many roles in many political campaigns since I was in my teens. I am a lifelong Democrat, because I believe to be a progressive, you have to make progress. In a democracy, that means working within the system, not shouting from outside the system.

I have also written a novel, Talent on Loan, which can be purchased by clicking the link on the top right, just below my complete article deconstructing the right wing lies on the health care bill. The novel is good, and for every purchase from me, $2 goes to progressive candidates through ActBlue. And I'll autograph it for you, as well. (Be patient; I ran out of books, so it may take me a couple of weeks to get a new one to you...)

By the way, if you like what I write, feel free to throw a few bucks to me by clicking on the "Help Us" link (here on the upper left: http://pleasecutthecrap.typepad.com/main/2009/09/bepatientprogressives.html). I basically do this for free...

Thanks for reading...

But don't be so obsessed with who a person is. Check their facts. Don't trust anyone based on what they tell you about themselves; look at what they say, and check it out.


http://pleasecutthecrap.typepad.com/about.html

(Edited to shorten the looonnnng excerpt))

[Romulox]

1. Unrec for content and violation of DU copyright rules. nt

[scheming daemons]

10. Bullshit... you're unreccing because Milt Shook described you to a "T" and it's upset you

..

[Indigo Blue]

15. Don't be so hard on Romulox. Shook described me in his post, too.

I find myself getting really frustrated with Obama, and sometimes just wish Obama would squish those right wingers like the nasty little bugs that they are, instead of reaching out to them in the name of 'bipartisanship' (I hate that word more every time I hear/say/think it).

[Romulox]

23. It takes considerably less text to describe you!

[jonnyblitz]

2. what a crock. I feel bad for the kid in the army with the Obamabot

apologist father. it's sad the priority for that crowd is blind allegience to Obama over all else. his kid could get KILLED for fuck sake and this assclown is saying please don't criticize Dear Leader. :puke:

[Indigo Blue]

4. Obamabot? Dear Leader?

:puke:

[scheming daemons]

11. Yeah.... those aren't terms that real progressives/liberals use

If you call Obama "Dear Leader"... you're nothing but a freeper.

[appamado amata padam]

3. Just scanned the (long) excerpt, and

seems to jibe pretty well with my impressions. President Obama has to play a balancing game, and keep enough people from a lot of different camps reasonably satisfied to get re-elected. I think (hope) that after that happens, he will really pull out all the stops.

[Indigo Blue]

8. FYI - I shortened it, and

if he's looking at re-election, he needs to remember just who elected him.

[appamado amata padam]

14. I agree with that, but

it took more than the usual Democratic base to get him elected. Part of the reason "we" won is that the other side's team was so obviously incompetent, and out-of-step with ordinary Americans. If they manage to field a more viable team in 2012, it's going to be a tougher fight.

I don't agree with everything in the excerpt, but I do agree with the major points that President Obama is going to have to make some compromises to get things done, and that it's going to take some time.

[Indigo Blue]

20. You may be right, but I get frustrated with Obama's 'reaching out' & 'compromising'

"Compromise" is another word that I hate.

I remember John Edwards saying that when you give them a seat at the table, they'd eat all the food.

I think that they are grossly obese, and need to be put on a diet.

[appamado amata padam]

24. I think most of us

share that frustration. I think that some of the "reaching out" from President Obama has been part of his getting acclimated to the job. I hope that as he grows into it more, he will learn how to deal with the opposition more effectively.

[Juche]

5. I don't agree with much of that article

As far as Obama not giving up his principals, Obama supported single payer in 2003 and gay marriage in 1996. Now that he is president he opposes both. He used drugs but opposes decriminalization. He gives speeches on the importance of doing what is right and not what is popular, then he helps cover up Bush's crimes because he doesn't want to deal with the political fallout. These are valid criticisms.

As far as progressives taking the ball and going home, I'm not sure. Liberals make up 17% of the electorate, but 19% of all voters since our turnout is a bit higher. If anything, it is the right wing that is stuck to its base. That is why they had to give Palin the VP slot. To a large degree what progressives want are the same things at least 50% of Americans want. Gay marriage, single payer, ending the wars, progressive taxes. These are not unpopular issues.

As far as fighting not working, FDR and LBJ would disagree. Getting civil rights legislation passed in the senate back in 64 required overcoming a 2 month filibuster. Getting medicare passed required addressing the lies of people like Reagan. Reform isn't easy. There are tons of people who make a good deal of money off the current system, and a good number of people who are terrified of any sort of changes. You can't always be friends with those people. If you try to, child labor would still be legal. It took decades of hard work to outlaw that in the 30s. Before then industry would always threaten that factories would close and the economy would collapse if we banned child labor (the same way they threaten that now with unionization, environmental laws, cap and trade, regulation, minimum wages, health care mandates, etc).

Neocons are great politicians. They are incompetent leaders, but good politicians. They support agendas the majority of Americans don't agree with, and they get elected anyway. Humans are slightly more evolved monkeys, and sadly given a choice between a cerebral monkey and a self confident (but stupid) alpha monkey we are going to choose the latter. The GOP is made up of people who are pretty cocksure and self confident despite being ignorant as hell. The dems are full of apologists who have trouble defending their own beliefs and values. We evolved in a world where survival came down to brute strength and organization, not abstract ideas. And we will side with the guy who is stupid but cocksure over the wimpy, apologetic policy wonk.

But recommended since it is a new point of view.

[Indigo Blue]

7. Yeah, I don't agree with a lot of it either.

I feel like Obama is throwing everyone on the left under the bus, one by one, and wish he would put his foot down & do what we, the people (who elected him), want... instead of reaching out to the right wing in the name of 'bipartisanship'. I'm sooo sick of that word!). I wish he would take the time to listen to what Frank Schaeffer says.

[Juche]

12. I seriously hope it is part of a strategy to marginalize the right

That is the argument I keep hearing. Obama is reaching out to the right knowing they will blow him off in the hopes that by doing so, the public will abandon the right and not get upset if the dems steam roll the right in order to get legislation accomplished. So we accomplish a variety of things. The dems look good, the GOP looks bad and the public don't get upset about steam rolling the GOP to get legislation passed.

However, I really don't know. I do seriously worry if Obama is naive enough to believe the contemporary right wing wants health reform. They do not. Meaningful health reform will be a massive political victory for the democratic party that they can run on for years and years, and it will put the federal government back into the role of protector of the middle class, reviving the concept of a strong central government. The GOP has nothing (politically) to gain and a lot to lose by effective health reform. A bill that was affordable, made life far better for most americans and grew the economy is the last thing the GOP wants, because it'll marginalize them politically.

Obama isn't dumb, so I'm guessing he knows that. I really don't know what he is up to.

[slackmaster]

6. Milt Shook is a tool! There's even a Web site devoted to him.

http://www.allmax.com/milt/

[Indigo Blue]

9. Then I guess Thom Hartmann recommends "tools".

That's where I first heard of Shook's website, 'Please... Cut the Crap.'

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

13. "Patience" is DLCese for "trickle down".

Usually, with the "not as bad" consolation prize thrown in.

[scheming daemons]

16. You're seriously going to say that Milt Shook is DLC?

:eyes:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. I'm seriously going to say that his cry for "patience" is typical of DLC apologists.

And, his "work within the system" is even more typical of DLC type attacks on the left.

[MisterP]

18. but progressives aren't upset with the rate, but the DIRECTION

bank bailouts, Iraq forever, his "bulldogs" calling universal-healthcare supporters the "left of the left"
nobody complained that Gerald Ford was moving too slow, but that his ideas were poor

[alarimer]

19. This progressive is tired of being "patient"

Usually when told we have to be patient, that only means we are about to be screwed yet again.

Progressive values should be the heart and soul of the Democratic Party, and they always pander to us to get the vote, yet when it comes to actually doing something, we are told we must wait, until when? Until every other concerned is addressed? Until Hell freezes over?

Sick of waiting, sick of people dying due to lack of health care or the stupid bullshit wars.

[LiberalAndProud]

21. I'm with Milt on this.

Obama's doing a very good job in a very difficult situation. I'm all for holding his feet to the fire on the issues that matter. I'm disappointed that single-payer never got a place at the table. But here we are, cash-strapped and surrounded by wingnuts and blue dogs. Kucinich couldn't have done a better job, although he would definitely triangulate less.

[ddeclue]

22. yeah right I've heard THAT song and dance before...

it's always the excuse to impede progressive ideals: be patient... we don't need to rush women's rights...be patient we don't need to rush Social Security.. be patient we don't need to rush civil rights.. be patient we don't need to rush medicare...

:eyes:

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.

[Romulox]

25. Hey, calm down guys! All the stuff you progressives want is going to be part of a "side deal"!

:rofl:

[leftstreet]

26. It's chess I tell ya, chess!

Yes We Can (Wait)!

[branders seine]

27. patient while the fragile Democratic majority erodes?

I don't think so. Ever hear the expression "strike while the iron is hot"?

Or "make hay while the sun shines"?

[joeybee12]

28. More than happy to unrec...what a load of crap...n/t

[Romulox]

29. Remember when Obama said we'd come back to the issue of AIG, Citi bonuses? Patience!

:silly: