Why are you liberals giving Obama a free pass?

[DC at the Ridge]

Originally Posted by ELOrocks17

I dont require any media person to figure out what Obama is doing. Day after day he is leading this country to ruin, and yet what do we hear from the media? Sarah Palin this, Sara Palin that, Sarah Palin are a chicken sandwich, Sarah Palin drives an SUV, Sarah Palin didnt throw her soda can in the recycle bin...yada, yada, yada. And the fact that NObama views Americans as pesants means nothing...why?

I don't care about Sarah Palin. I don't even bother with those stories now. I also don't bother with the stories about Obama's choice in beers, or his verbal missteps or Biden's for that matter. I don't believe that Obama views Americans as peasants at all, but even if he does, the news I'm interested in are the stories that affect me. I'm interested in the health care reform and what Obama wanted, and how the negotiations in the House and Senate have changed that. I'm interested in whether the economy is still just stabilizing or if there are signs of recovery. I'm interested in three women imprisoned in North Korea, and how Obama is handling that matter. I'm interested in exit strategies for Afghanistan, and is the Taliban showing signs of fragmentation.

I don't care if Obama sneaks a cigarette, or if he likes his steak rare. I don't care if Michelle is buying the girls their back-to-school clothes at the Gap. I care about the policies of this government. I care about how my tax dollars are being spent. I care about my country living up to the ideals it was founded upon. I'll discuss with you all day long the issues that confront us, I'll talk about socialism if you want, and I'll enjoy hearing your point of view on these issues because I respect that you bring a different perspective, grounded in different experiences, to the table. I'm interested in sharing ideas and opinions and viewpoints with you.

I just don't think we need to demonize the people we don't agree with. I will probably shut down when racism is brought to the table. I will withdraw when the discourse becomes more about personalities and less about policies. I know I sometimes put my views across as if they are the only possible views, and that I am often wrong. I won't apologize for my passion, or my optimism, or for my firm conviction that I am unbelievably fortunate to live in this country and to have the opportunity to share my thoughts with all of you, even when those thoughts are completely out in left field. Because as long as we are connecting on some level, we aren't just shouting at one another, we are involved in an exchange. The system that Jefferson and Adams and Washington all embraced was simply that ideas and power and everything that makes us what we are is based on the human ability to make exchanges. Democracy is the art of the deal, not behind closed doors, not in secret meetings, but right out in the open, above-board, everybody present.

I want our democracy to work, and I think most of us do. And that means letting go of our pre-conceived notions about Republicans and Democrats, about liberals and conservatives. Get rid of the labels, and start listening. That's all I'm saying.

[DC at the Ridge]

Originally Posted by obo

Because it is IMPOSSIBLE with you people. You are so stuck on the fact that you liberals think you are just smarter in every way than everyone else and only your ideals are worth anything. If you don't see that America is transforming into something has had failed policies for decades upon decades than that is your problem, not mine. If you want to blindly follow an IDEOLOGY off of a proven cliff, then go for it, I won't try to stop you.

It's not IMPOSSIBLE. It can be difficult. I'll be the first to concede I'm guilty of blindly following ideology. I need someone to penetrate that fog so that I don't go over the cliff. But I don't think that only my ideals are worth anything. I don't think I'm smarter or better than anyone else. I think I need to know why you believe the things you do. I need to understand you. Because I'm just as fallible as the next guy, but I believe, to the core of my being, that I can put myself in your shoes, see things your way, just a little, if you give me a little information. And that makes it easier for me to explain to you my viewpoint, my experience. It's just not acceptable that people want to give up on communicating with other people. Even though I don't agree with the conservatives on this forum very often, we do find things we agree upon, we do find common ground. That common ground is the place where we start coming up with solutions for the problems that face us, and start building relationships so that we can work together on those problems. It's not IMPOSSIBLE, it's so possible I can taste it. We just all have to reach, just a little further, stretch ourselves, reach out, and we can do it.

[ozzie679]

Originally Posted by ELOrocks17

After all this man has done to the US..why do you still defend him? Is it partisanship? I really want to know. Bush would sneeze and you would demand he gets impaeched..he wears a blue tie and you were ready to string him up as a war criminal. Why not hold Obama to the same standard?

I'd say 30 death threats per day is not a free pass.
The man is being terrorized.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by ELOrocks17

After all this man has done to the US..why do you still defend him? Is it partisanship? I really want to know. Bush would sneeze and you would demand he gets impaeched..he wears a blue tie and you were ready to string him up as a war criminal. Why not hold Obama to the same standard?

We do! If HE starts a war of choice based on LIES we WILL call for his impeachment!