There will never be enough Progressives in this country to make Congress or the President to do what you want. Yes, you're reading that right. I think most folks that come to DailyKos consider themselves progressives (I'm an independent Obamabot) but to think that most Democrats or a majority of the U.S. population is progressive is simply delusional. To think that if you explain your policy differences to someone you can make them support your ideas is also delusional.
I joined DailyKos two years ago because I supported the candidacy of President Obama and over that period, this site has become almost painful to visit anymore. I never, never go to Fox News because I know they push an agenda and point of view that just seems crazy to me. DailyKos is rapidly becoming the next Fox News in the left.
Today's blog titled, "Progressive Fail" by Green E., is one of the latest examples. For anyone, ANYONE to suggest that single payer was part of the initial debate was probably smoking something at the time. There was a 'minority' of Congressmen who suggested it but there was never any serious push because everyone knew it was a losing battle from the very beginning. And if you don't know that by now, after a year of debate and cajoling and compromise, you are DELUSIONAL.
To even suggest that the entire thing should be scrapped until "we" can pass single payer is not only irresponsible but scary to even consider. The current health-care bill WILL cover 97% of the U.S. population or 36 million people who currently don't have health insurance. Think about that. Think about that next time anyone suggest that this whole thing should be scrapped until single payer can be passed.
Here is a question that I posed to someone who is adamantly opposed to this or any bill because he thinks it will lead to single payer. I asked him: "please describe in great detail, how Congress can pass single payer with its current make up?"
Anyone who's in touch with reality knows that Democrats will lose some seats next year. That's just a fact -- I'm not saying that they will lose control of both houses by the way. So to make the statement of scrapping this bill altogether until single payer is as crazy as anything Glenn Beck would say. For as much as I try to understand the people who say such things, it has become an impossible exercise for someone who's trying to be empathetic to them.
I'm sick and tire of people whose only motto has been "all or nothing" on health-care reform. You are starting to sound like the "Decider" who said, "you're either with us or against us." You're becoming the enemy of anyone who's trying to move this country forward. Of anyone who's trying to fix the devastating last eight years. Of anyone who is trying to reach a compromise to move things along. You're becoming the very same people who you despise but you're blinded by your own despair to recognize that fact.
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Another issue is the War in Afghanistan and whether President Obama should or should not send more troops.
As many people have said in the past, this was something President Obama talked about doing when he was a candidate. If you missed it, or didn't believe him or you just simply tuned him out then it's your fault that this is all of the sudden a surprise.
I have a couple of questions, which I consider when I decided to support President Obama's decision to send more troops:
- Do you think there is a chance for another terrorist attack in the U.S., similar to 9/11?
- Do you think there are terrorists right now planning an attack inside the U.S.?
Hopefully, everyone in this site can say "yes" to both questions. Otherwise, I would like them to explain why "no."
After 9/11, President Bush declared war with the Taliban in Afghanistan. He also made the calculation of invading Iraq soon after. While there has not been more 9/11s since then, there has been plenty of terrorist attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan that have killed more Americans than 9/11. Please re-read the last statement to make sure you understand what I'm saying. This was an argument our side made to counter Rove's talking points of Bush/Cheney keeping this country safe from terrorist.
This is something folks in the Obama White House also understand extremely well. Think about what would happen if the next terrorist attack happens under this or any other Democratic administration. Democrats will lose all credibility in national security, not to mention that the majority of the nation will turn more inward and defensive and insecure. Imagine what will happen to the Bill of Rights. Imagine what will happen to individual rights. Imagine what will happen when you try to make the argument against torture. Imagine what will happen to Habeas Corpus. All gone. GONE!
President Obama has made some bold, unpopular moves in outlawing torture, moving detainees to the U.S. and prosecuting some terrorists in Federal courts. He is also is keeping his word in moving most combat troops out of Iraq by summer of 2010. Understandably most Americans are unsure or do not trust of all of these changes. For the past eight years, they have been programmed to trust Republicans in national security and terrorism.
It's unfortunate because the truth presents a different reality but for this to take hold, it'll take time and it'll take for this President to be successful with his style of governing. If by the end of his first term, he's able to say to the American public that he kept them safe and there has not been another terrorist attack. It's going to be a GREAT win for him and the credibility of Democratic Party principles.
Staying in Afghanistan longer will help him accomplish this because, just like in Iraq, terrorists will confront us there instead of U.S. soil. Fighting in Afghanistan is not the only answer to fighting terrorism or preventing another 9/11 but it's a BIG piece of the puzzle. For now.
Not since FDR, has any Democratic President been successful in prosecuting or conducting a war. If President Obama succeeds in transferring security to the Afghans in the period that he has laid out, he and his party will change the debate completely. Of course, you can say that what happens if he fails? If he leaves now, nothing he can do will change the argument that Democrats cannot prosecute a war. Nothing.
You may not like this or any war. You may not like the current plan. But if you care about changing the perception that Democrats are weak in national security, you'll have to play along until you can show most folks that your methods in confronting terrorism are better. That's something our President is doing and he deserves our support.