What has happened here?
We all didn't get a pony for the holidays and now everyone has their panties in a twist?
Now, because the President wants to cut about $25 billion in spending over each of the next ten years, a mass of Kossacks are about to shoot themselves.
My rant continues....
The Budget of the United States is about $3,500,000,000,000. If they cut about $25 billion from it, that leaves $3,475,000,000,000.
Oh Dear G-d... shut the shops, get the kids home, call in the dog and get all the canned goods you can, the world is about to end.
The President wants to freeze spending that amounts to less than 1% of the entire budget. You don't think that there isn't $25 billion of duplication, waste, unnecessary costs somewhere in that three and half trillion dollars?
Stop the insanity!
Stop attacking the President like a bunch of Red Staters.
You wonder why we always seem to lose the media game- go look in the fucking mirror.
In 2008, we helped to elect a President because we stuck together and stuck by the message of the campaign. That message has not changed. We have. We've become like a twitching finger on a hair trigger. We don't get everything we want, we're ready to toss every Democrat over the side, impeach the President, and other stupidity.
Heaven forbid we wait 48 hours to hear what the President actually wants to do. No, can't do that. We have to go off half-cocked, based on tweets and other rumor, and decide that the President has switched parties, found his inner Cheney and plans on invading 27 more countries by tomorrow all while cutting taxes on millionaires.
Enough of the insanity.
I first posted here almost two years ago. DKos has become one of my major sources of news. The links to sites I'd never see are incredible. Some of the writers here are just great. Yet, when there is a disagreement. When someone isn't far enough to the left for some people, all hell breaks loose. Several of those people had the will power to pen their GBCW diary and leave.
This site is seen by at least several hundred thousand people a day, logging in a few times a day. It is often quoted by other news sites. Yet it has turned into a laughing stock the last few weeks, made worse by the results in Massachusetts.
Take a lesson from the Republicans. Never air the dirty laundry in public. You don't like the President's idea on a spending freeze, fine. Give a well written criticism, not name calling..."He's Bush, He's Hoover."
You sound like spoiled three year olds.
Now grow the fuck up and grow a pair.
A Day After Update: (12:15pm ET 26 Jan 2010)
First, I am stunned at the response this has gotten. Five hundred tips and I can't even count the rec list. I can say thank you enough for the support. This is a tough audience and I am really flattered.
Yes, there are also 16 HRs, but that's fine. I have no problem with those who disagree.
Anyway, my apologies to those who didn't like the pony references, yes it is overused, but my basic argument remains and I typed the original part of the diary in about ten minutes, so originality wasn't exactly what I was looking for.
This site needs to offer constructive criticism and it can't go off the deep end every time there is a tweet we don't like. When we do, we become our opposition's best friend. Anyone who thought the President was going to wave Harry Potter's wand and fix everything was not being realistic.
Personally, I have a much bigger problem with the Senate inaction and actions than anything the President has done or not done. No matter what, to walk away from the President or the party solves nothing. Even walking away from this site solves nothing. We must continue to find better candidates to run for office and push the party to do what we support. To not do that just makes the opposition more powerful.
DKos shouldn't be an echo chamber for constant praise of the President, but it needs to criticize in a constructive manner. Walking away from the site, just leaves this place to those in constant panic mode and to trolls who seek to destroy it.
Walking away from the President and the Democratic Party will prove what? More Republican seats in Congress? Sure, that will help.
We need to do more than just blog. We actually need to take one lesson from the Tea Parties-- a more public way of showing our influence. I still can't believe there wasn't one major demonstration in the capital for health care reform. We elected a president and then figured he would do it all. That was wrong. He still needs our help. How might things in that debate be different today if 100,000 people turned up on the National Mall in support of Medicare for All?
So my advice- first, before posting a "world is going to end" diary, wait for a few more facts. Calm down and think what are the real implications. If you disagree with the President, express it, but don't demonize him like with comparisons to Hoover, etc.
This is an important place, and we saw that in 2008. Let's not screw it up.