So lots of us were out in the elements during the primary, gave money, drove long distances to battleground states, made phone calls to strangers, etc. After the primary battle we were rewarded with the FISA bill that Hillary voted against and Obama voted for. Rachel Maddow asks if the Republican Party is at fault, Obama takes a pass. Now we've seen Proposition 8 legalize the stripping of Americans' equality and it barely merits a mention. Chuck Hagel and Dick Luger are possibilities for Sec. of Defense. Did we just work our asses off for a stealth Republican?
Feel free to "talk me down" on this one, but I'm not seeing any evidence that we really won anything other than sanity. Yes we have someone competent and intelligent in the White House, and it brings tears to our eyes to think of bringing honor back to America, but why on earth are we considering giving Republicans a say in the future direction of our country? Their ideas about the economy and taxes are wrong. Their views on national defense and security are wrong. Their positions on social issues are wrong. Their ideas about energy independence are wrong. Their ideas about diplomacy are wrong. What could a Republican possibly have of value to offer America? If Americans just delivered a mandate to the new President, why is he so willing to give a share of that power to the other party?
I knew going in that this guy was no true progressive, after embracing telecom immunity and shunning public financing. That's why I stopped giving money and time to his campaign after the primary and funneled it to actual progressives instead (all of whom lost BTW). But I'm genuinely discouraged that despite being elected as a DEMOCRAT, this smooth operator is acting like he just barely eked out a win and lost the popular vote. This was an electoral landslide and a popular vote victory.
I'm going to be looking to Congress, not the White House, to lead the charge on advancing a progressive agenda. I want to see the rule of law upheld and criminals throughout the government and Wall Street brought to justice. It doesn't seem Obama has any appetite for bringing these criminals currently roaming the halls of power and the studios of Fox News to justice. I'm bitterly disappointed already.
UPDATE:
Man you ppl are a tough bunch. A few months ago you were frothing at the mouth over Harold Ford Jr. and other DLC types and their criticisms. Now I mention that it seems to me that moderate Republicans will have more of a say in the Obama Administration than Progressives will and I'm a counterproductive fringe hate-monger. Well I won't apologize for saying now, just 48 hours after victory, that Obama will not fight for Progressive values and that more work needs to be done in Congress to advance liberal values. I don't have buyer's remorse, and I'm not anti-Obama. But he's not one of us. I might be among the first to say this, but I won't be the last.