Democrats Sitting Pretty!
Fellow liberals — listen up. President Obama and the Democratic Party are looking great going into 2012. Don’t let the media or our opponents on both the right and the faux left discourage you, that is their goal. The media wants every election to be close, it increases their ratings and we all know that is the only thing they care about anymore. Journalism, shmournalism! And of course the Teapublicans aren’t even living in the same reality as the rest of the country, they are running around chasing phantom problems that don’t really exist and holding prayer rallies.
As I always remind myself heading into an election year, 95% or more of the American people don’t pay a damn bit of attention to what is happening in politics until the conventions and debates start up. Sure, the hard core party folks are engaged in the primaries, but we know how many people actually vote in the primaries. The real fun doesn’t start until next summer, when people will begin to pay attention. Most everything that happens until then, will never even be seen or heard by that 95% of people who are going to work, playing softball, going to the beach, camping, going for bike rides and just hanging around the porch talking about bullshit. More of these people are aware of what Snookie did in Italy than anything that is happening in Washington.
So I say to you fellow liberals, don’t get bogged down in the heat of the moment. Don’t let current perceptions and media generated memes get you down or affect your motivation. We have an ace in the hole, President Barack Obama. Anyone who doubts his political abilities is fucking stupid, if you ask me. And when you consider all the stupid shit the Teapublican’s have done over the last 2 and 1/2 years that will be used as ammunition against them — once the campaigns get rolling in earnest, it’s going to be fun as hell to watch. The President has given us a taste of it in the last few weeks, but wait until he gets going.
When people try to get you to play the negative meme game or the “woe is me, I didn’t get my pony game” — be polite, cite some facts, some accomplishments, but mostly stay positive and remember that if the pundits were right, President George H.W. Bush would have served a second term.
Cross-posted at Extreme Liberal’s Blog
The singular advantage the Republicans have is this: They are fighting one enemy, President Obama.
We are fighting two. Both the complacency of those who felt that once they voted for Obama their work was done and the snarling bitterness of the non-pony-getters are what we face.
The good news is, those two are far weaker, even combined, for us than President Obama is to the Republicans.
The downside is that we have to divide our attention. This can lead to a loss of focus and that’s a perennial Dem shortfall.
I think that’s an accurate diagnosis.
“Both the complacency of those who felt that once they voted for Obama their work was done and the snarling bitterness of the non-pony-getters are what we face.”
And let’s not forget those who believe the craziest conspiracies, too:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=26210
Yeesh…not much I can say about that, since I’m gagging right now.
You just reminded me of this SNL skit.
http://snltranscripts.jt.org/91/91edebate.phtml
I really wish I could find the video.
“And I’d also like to take this opportunity to remind our viewers at home that democracy works only when you vote. When you don’t take the time to vote for the candidate you find the least offensive, you run the risk of electing the candidate you find the most offensive.” – Fay Sullivan (not really Fay Sullivan)
Great post! I’ve made the same point in comments on several blogs, every time someone’s hair gets on fire about the latest poll and what the PL is saying about it. I fail to be concerned, because I know that most people aren’t paying attention right now. In fact, if I weren’t a political maven, I wouldn’t give a damn about who was doing what in the Republican field or what the polls were saying about the President.
Back in 2007, I was one of those “not terribly interested” people. I didn’t get really into it until Jan 2008, and I was virtually the only one of my friends and family who was paying attention at that time. It wasn’t until the general election kicked off that they started paying attention.
Exactly! Politically active people here are more concerned with the recall election for Russell Pearce, scheduled for November 2011 than they are about November 2012. First things first and all the rest in good time.
Besides, for myself, I’m planning to just sit back with a shot of Hornitos, a box of Crunch n Munch and enjoy the Repug battle for the primaries. I will deal with whoever emerges from that WWE match when the actual time comes.
This whole ‘be polite, be respectful, concentrate on correcting misconceptions’ thing you’re pushing – I thank you for it. I have tried in the past to focus that way, but it gets frustrating and I, too, succumb to anger. The people who will never listen might be intimidatable if you can make them feel they’ve made a fool of themselves, but so what? It’s the people who will make reasonable decisions if they know the truth who should be courted. There’s a mountain of lies and narratives built on those lies floating around the liberal blogosphere. It’s enough to try and patiently correct them as they pass.
Most people do not pay much attention until it is close to the election. I am one of the very few who pay any attention at all. And, I do because I think that I should.
As for the GOP, they have provided Obama and the Democrats plenty to use against them.
As fo the ‘professional left’, I suspect that many of them will join the fun at the proper time. Those that do not, “have a nice day”.
Could someone please inform Richard Trmka(AFL-CIO) that PBO hasn”t negotiated away Social Security and doesn’t agree with teabaggers, Thankewverymuch!
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2011/8/25/124929/346
ON THAT! Check out Deaniac’s latest diary at TPV.
Well said.
Yeah, the guy who saved the auto industry from total collapse really sold out the labor unions.
Trumka needs a history lesson. The last AFL-CIO President to turn his back on a sitting Democratic President was George Meany, when he dumped on Jimmy Carter. The only thing that happened there was the Gipper busted Meany’s union ass and that was the beginning of the downturn in union power.
This can’t be repeated enough. I think I may copy and paste it all over the world wide web!
Great post, although I disagree with this one part:
“The media wants every election to be close, it increases their ratings and we all know that is the only thing they care about anymore.”
I spent years working in high levels of the Conglomerate-owned news media. I can assure you that as far as “news” programming goes, ratings have little to do with it. Sure, they’re happy if they can get good ratings so they can charge more for ads, but it’s more important for the owners of those Conglomerates to make sure people keep voting in Repubs and fake-Dems, and therefore against their own self-interests and in favor of the MegaRich. It’s strictly a propaganda mill and serves as sort of a “loss leader” as they say in Retail. It’s worth it to the Conglomerates to ensure they don’t get broken up or other regulations, and also have their taxes raised, and if “news” does make some money, then bonus for them!
I have many, many stories of my own from within to demonstrate this, and we can all see many examples of this in recent years going back to Phil Donohue being canceled despite being the highest-rated, same for Olbermann, and conversely Glen Blech being a ratings basement-dweller on the radio, yet gets a CNN show which quickly becomes a ratings-dweller yet he gets a better time slot, and then of course goes to Pox Newz.
In addition, just a casual viewing or reading of “news” clearly shows this by the EXTREME bias toward the Repub/MegaBusiness interests. If it was about keeping elections “close,” wouldn’t we see at least some reports that show some truth about Repubs horrendous actual fiscal record going back decades, or single-payer being the most cost-effective, or the amazing level of success of the Obama Admin? Instead, we get an almost 100% opposite view, don’t we? It’s Opposite World all the time in the MegaMedia. Is this the case because it bring in ratings, or is it on purpose to influence the public discourse in a specific way? I know what my answer is.
Thanks Extreme Liberal. This is why I love this blog and TPV.
It is sad to say, but bringing up Obama’s list of actual accomplishments to some liberals is like holding up a cross to a vampire. They actually get ANGRY when you start mentioning actual THINGS Obama has DONE that make a difference. Weird.
I know, it’s completely irrational…which is why I think a lot of it is racist. The hyperbole and blatant lying about him from people who claim to be liberal or left just doesn’t make sense. I guess I came to the realization during the health care fight that there are a lot of assholes on the left too.
Thank you for the gentle reminder, Extreme Liberal.
But, I must say I still haven’t received my pony as of yet. I asked for a hybrid-pony, so Santa Claus, er…I mean, President Obama, I’m waiting…. :)