Wowsers guys we are ahead of the RepubliCons?

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Firedoglake

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But this is crazy. Where is: Obama Deputy Steve Hildebrand: Liberals Need To STFU ?

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am looking forward to reading the article, though...

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Mr. Obama, some of us are very suspicious of the word "pragmatism." I have to admit that there is at least some validity to it -- for instance, if you named Noam Chomsky as Secretary of State, (i) you probably couldn't get him confirmed by the Senate, and (ii) even if he were confirmed, he probably wouldn't be very effective in persuading anyone in congress regarding their positions on legislation, because he doesn't know how Washington works; he doesn't know how to pull people's strings, etc. So you've appointed advisors who do have Washington experience, and unfortunately there are no leftists in that category, so everyone you've appointed is associated with "business as usual." Not a good omen for The Change We Need.

What bothers me, though, is not so much the people you've chosen -- I admit that you do need experienced people -- but the implications inherent in the word "pragmatism" itself. It suggests that we shall rise above ideologies of the left and right, to a more "objective" position, in order to carry out what evidently needs to be done. But that implies certain assumptions about what is "objective" and what "evidently needs to be done." Such phrases and assumptions put the agenda outside the reach of questioning, and support an authoritarian dogma. And they imply that the ideologies of the left and right deserve to be ignored equally.

But that's simply not true. The wholesale destruction of our ecosystem, our economy, and our security in recent years have demonstrated the complete, total, utter failure of right wing ideology. Deregulation has led to the biggest inefficiencies and thefts in history, and arrogant militarism has made us far less secure. The end cannot justify the means, because generally the desired end is not produced -- e.g., atrocities are committed as a road to utopia, but that merely leaves the roadside littered with corpses, and the road has a dead end at some bombed-out bridge. No, the "objective" conclusion is that we need to implement more of the left's ideology.

The preceding paragraphs are part of a longer blog, titled "Remember your dream," that I've posted at http://www.myspace.com/nonclassical .

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I am a sinced Recover 'Clintonian' What an absolute Bitch slap by Hillary's time in the Senate..her campaign not only slapped the Rose colored glasses off my face, She crushed them.
So being leary of those who step to far to the Right do give me pause.
But I bare one thing in mind, I voted for Kucinich in the primary (probably was read as a vote for Hillary though- MI). So I have always KNOWN Obama was more 'centrist' then I was feeling. I Knew Kucinich couldn't win and when he dropped out I volunteered for Obama. Not because he was the Fad, but because I had seen his '04 speech- Floored and elated, KNEW he was someone to support, He was gonna be something! I have not agreed with all his votes, nor his middle of the road stances on some issues...but he was the Step in the Right direction.
Let's shake our heads and clear the fog of utter hatred of this Cheney Regime. We have been waging a Politcal War since Nixon, and it has been intentional. We have so many BS Lies to untangle, so many Stereotypes to debunk, it's going to take a while to figure this 4 decades of ....Treason out. We need to know where all the bodies are buried, we need a map, we need an 'insider'( Like Busting ANY Organized Crime Syndicate)
I'm a Liberal, I believe in 'enlightenment', I beleive in Redemption and I believe in Giving people the opportunity to do so.
so I'll Watch, I'll even Grumble and If need Be I'll Bitch LOUDLY. but I am not going to Condemn his Presidency well before he even takes office, that would do nothing but help the Right wing Cause.And They need to become Irrelevant.

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and what appointee, or office-holder, anywhere -- indeed, what human being?? -- doesn't have "some troublesome baggage"???




Well, though, shouldn't we trust him? Isn't that why we elected him? And shouldn't we watch and see? I mean, really..... he's not in office yet! I was disheartened by the fact that Bill Clinton didn't get a single day's "honeymoon" from the Republicans and conservatives once he took office. Now some progressive Dems aren't even waiting for that to starting kvetching and complaining! And so far, I'm not seeing that these critics are disagreeing w/any statements that Obama has made in his many press conferences and speeches since the election -- only with his appointees.

They strike me as whiners, people who are just looking for a reason to be unhappy and to complain. Now they dont' have Bush to kick around anymore........ It's disheartening.

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The issue is not that Obama's appointments are filled with people who have have "troublesome baggage" like anybody does. The issue is that they all have the SAME troublesome baggage. Everyone he appointed in the economics realm is an adherent of the trickedown ideology, the idea that if you give corporations and the rich whatever they want, that will be good for the economy. That's pragmatism? I guess it's pragmatic in terms of furthering a political career, but it isn't good for the economy, as we've just seen proven yet again. Many of the people appointed were key enablers of the roots of the current collapse. You can have experience and be pragmatic without having had a hand in setting up destructive policies of the Bush or Clinton teams. How about choosing some who dissented, on either the economics or the foreign policy choices? ALL of the foreign policy people he's appointed were in favor of the Iraq war--it was transparently about oil and conquest and I don't buy that experienced and intelligent people actually believed Iraq had WMD and our security was at risk.
Yes, he is to be the President of all and not just the Left--but if he is to represent ALL, wouldn't that have to include the Left, for a change? Even if we are such a tiny perecentage, the mere two-thirds of America that would like to see a complete withdrawal from Iraq, for example? He has appointed nobody a whisker over the line from the exact center--everyone is center-right, except in the critical realm of environment/energy, where he has made quite good appointments so far. Nothing is more important than getting climate change under control--but can he do that if he continues the policy of keeping 700 military bases going all over the world and spending as much on the military as the entire rest of the world combined?
The idea that we should all shut up until he has been in office for awhile fails to see that we mere humans have to use all the leverage we have if we are ever to prevail over the corporate "persons" who dictate policy in Washington. And we have to start right away. Seems to me Obama actually stated more than once that we would need to keep his feet to the fire. I like to interpret this as a plea for support from the left (or below) to allow him to work against the overwhelming pressure from the right or above--namely, the corporate interests. The only way he can make any headway against these interests is if we give him loud and constant support. Sometimes that support comes in the form of criticism.

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The Three Dangerous Stooges, who do REALLY violent acts, (McCain. Lieberman and Graham) are coming back from a mission in Afghanistan to report to Obama. I whine why O would have these stooges with warped mindsets be his eyes and ears? My whining continues when I see there will be, according to O, many more tragic families seperated and murdered in that country. Obama is exchanging the war Bush gave him for Christmas for another war. Yes, I whine also that so many people are saying "shut up", "wait and see", and for what reason? Because they are the slow ones who take years before they see what is unraveling around them. So stop acting like right wing radicals by name calling those who see the obvious sick donkey five weeks down the road.

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We need a groundswell of voices now. Otherwise it really could be too late. From the bottom up was his constant phrase during the campaigns; why should that be on hold while he is forming his administration? We need a barrage of e-mails sent to the gov.change site he is touting. If we do not hold him accountable now, I surely do not see much chance later. Will Paul Krugman be an advisee? I doubt it.

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Obama and his "Change" which appears to be changing his opinions to get elected, were the straw that broke the camals back for me. I joined and voted Green party after Obama went pro Fisa. He voted against the FRIKKIN CONSTITUTION!!! This man does not deserve the office he is getting for doing that.

Get smart, at least LOOK AT the 3rd parties next election.

I would recommend www.gp.org

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I comfort myself that Obama is picking out the people he thinks can reason and who already are wise as to the truth about the Bush years.

It could be that they actually are redeemable.

But if not, he certainly has the option to choose someone more to his liking, and after he has had a chance to observe their behavior.

Do not despair before Obama has even had a chance to view the former crime scenes in person.

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...with Obama's circle of snakes. Especially NOT comforted that Obama seemingly doesn't plan to "look back", which is slang for saying he will do nothing to pursue criminal charges against the Bushites for their 8 yrs. of terrorism and thievery. They earned credits for time in prison and if this is not dealt with by "looking back", there will be no "going forward". What will we go forward to? To await a future like-minded administration that feels since Bush & Thugs got off Scot-free, then so can they. They must therefore be brought to justice. How can Obama not see this is necessary... and by not willing to act on it, he shows his lack of smarts and lack of ethics. For those who are suggesting it is not yet time to speak up, may I recommend that you reassess your timidity, stop calling those who are sounding the siren names, and listen to what they are saying. It's all there in black and white but evidently once Obama won many have retreated to leave it all up to him... and so far he seems to be lacking in judgment with the company he seeks. The clues to our future are evident and there is NO NEED to be on delay mode.

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are still in place, and it will be business as usual in the land of Oz.

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.... SAME AS THE OLD BOSS.

Won't get fooled again.... Ooops.

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STFU!!!

I thought the First Amendment gave me the right to speak up.

If not the First Amendment, then I earned the right to speak up when I sent that check... you know, the one you cashed to help pay for the campaign? Yeah, that one. It gives me the right.

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...I was never deluded about Obama being a liberal. I voted for Nader, and yes, I am disappointed with some of his Cabinet, etc. picks.

However, as an American who does not want to see another Civil War, I think he is making some incredibly wise decisions with his staff. I see him keeping everybody happy while acknowledging the huge potential for our country's much-needed evolution.

I agree with Mr. Hildebrand. As a member of the so-called spoiler faction, I encourage every self-proclaimed liberal to get a grip on reality.

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Geez. I can't believe this complaining. Obama doesn't even have to work yet but he's racing to get the best team possible and one who knows what failings led to our current mess. I BELIEVE in him and his ability to pull us as far out of this mess as anyone could. Give the man a break.

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Hildebrand did not say anything even remotely like anyone needs to "STFU". Here's the link, read the article.
AlterNet needs to remove this article, or at least change the heading, because it's more than a mis-representation, it's a lie.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-hildebrand/
a-message-to-obamas-progr_b_149089.html

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My latest email from O's team instructed me to hold more house parties (Dec.13-14), to stay focused and organized.
The O team did not instruct me on what to say or do during these house parties, rather I was instructed to figure out collectively what issues needed to be addressed.
While the left, center and right tinkers with the economy, throws metaphorical rocks at each other's bail out packages and stimulus plans and whine about appointments, cultural divisions etc., the one issue that needs and is not being addressed is our Constitution.
The last admin used it as a** wipe.
Posse Comitatus, Habeas Corpus, our Separation of Church and state laws, the basic rights of free speech, of assembly and association must be restored. The so-called Patriot Act needs to be repealed.
We need to regain our national identity first. Without it, we will stay a ship without a rudder, without vision or unity. We will continue in crisis management mode,putting out literal and metaphorical fires. Our collective national house is not in order.
It needs to be made very clear; no one has or ever will have the authority to take the U. S. Constitution off the table.
We asked for change and we got that. A new era of hope is dawning. While the last one gasps its last breath and is dying with a vengeance, we must unite around restoring our Constitution.

So gather your friends, your families and hold meetings. Throw your pennies in the hat and, if necessary, buy back our Constitution.
Our nation's highest office had to be purchased, it had a $750M price tag. This is not likely to change. I assume we all want Freedom and Democracy, let us not collectively haggle over the price. Money talks and all else walks.
Send PE Obama a letter (with $100.00 for the 100 Days Fund)instructing him to restore the U. S. Constitution. Thank you Alternet, for inspiring this action.
I posted my letter on his web site blog. I challenged all the euphoric and the disillusioned to copy the letter (or write their own) and send it with their own contribution to O's Chicago address.
If we do not get this right, our nation will slip even further into a figurative and literal
depression.

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Unless you are "off the grid", growing your own food, and making your own stuff you are dependent on markets. Markets will always be unfair to someone, but the alternative (socialism/communism) has proven to be ineffective. I have faith that the President elect has a plan to make markets more fair and to make them lean toward sustainability. The people that he has hired don't get to call the economic philosophy.

Our corporate media, whose goal is to maintain laissez faire economics, will use grumblings within the ranks as a wedge tool. Most of the rantings posted above are giving them plenty of fodder.

Obama, nor his team, can automatically give this world a healthy sustainable economy. The economy of the USA and world is in serious trouble, and the ones who caused it are going to fight Obama every step of the way. So, I am one liberal who intends to pledge to support the President that I worked to get elected. He has the advice and support of economists such as Warren Buffett and his newly elected cabinet will either work to restructure the economy according to Obama's philosophy, or they will be replaced.

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Well, I guess it's important to get that STFU message out early, avoid the rush when the big O takes office, and people are finally allowed to ask WTF???

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Let's get it straight - the liberal wing of the Democratic Party could not put a President in office if their lives depended on it! Progressives, as they now call themselves, are not the mainstay of any party, yet. What is, and what elected Obama, were the people in the center of this nation politically - the ones who understand the need for pragmatic decisions at this time in our history; the ones who understand that as much as they would like to see BushCo members in jail, there are some much more important issues to be dealt with right now like the economy and getting us out of the mess we are in. Why appoint some of the people who led us into this mess - maybe because since they left BushCo they have figured out that they need to undo the damage they have done and while Obama may not be a banker, he is a sane, adult, realistic leader who will control how his vision is put into practice, and has already said that if they do not work for that vision, they are gone.

So, while everyone cries and whines about what is happening now, understand that he must be pragmatic, get people who can be confirmed quickly, and then get to work. I can pretty much guarantee that once the economy is back on track, if the others are still undermining things they will be gone, as will any national security team member who touts their own policy agenda (including Hillary). So before you start throwing your stones, let the guy get sworn in so he has some power, let his team get confirmed quickly, and then let him do his job with that team.

He is not stupid and anyone who crosses him, I suspect will be asked to resign very quickly. Look at what happened in Illinois today - supposedly Rahm Emanuel was the whistle-blower on the governor and Obama was quick to disavow the man, so look closely at what happens when you screw around with this man and his policies. It is a lesson that the newly-nominated members of his cabinet should remember well.

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is neither the rejection of Hildebrand's attitude nor the obvious frustration and resentment stemming from always being told by the Dems not to make waves. These responses are perfectly logical and valid.

What is wrong is that the title made it appear that Hildebrand was more intemperate in his statement - and particularly his language - than he actually was.

Reading the title, I was led to conclude that the statement was a quote - and I resent being misled in such a fashion.

The right-wingers like to paint those on the left as hysterical, raving, or just plain loony. Why the hell give them ammunition? Let's leave the real hysteria and mischaracterizations to the neocons.

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There is a great speech that was given by John F. Kennedy describing what it means to be a liberal: Acceptance of the New York Liberal Party Nomination
September 14, 1960 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents
/35_kennedy/psources/ps_nyliberal.html

It is exactly these things that are important to me and most Americans yet we are being conditioned (again) that liberalism is bad. What has been my own party is treating me as a step-child, which will only push me to another party or cause me to become a more vocal opponent of their "conservative" causes. For example, moving more troops to Afghanistan, another bottomless pit of war to be escalated.

I am increasingly curious why there is such heat among Democrats insulting and denigrating the "left". Is not the Democratic party "the left" side of politics? At what point did it become important to be "centrist". I'd say right about election time.

Look at the Blue Dogs, they've been called Centrists since the election which is complete BS. They are pro-war, pro-life, tax cutting Bushites. They are exactly this: Republicans. They were a crucial part of Bush's policies in that they approved and gave them to us. Without the Blue Dogs, Bush would not have been able to pass as many of his heinous laws and policies as he has. Who's calling them Centrists? Both the Republican media and the Democrats!

I am or will be thankful each time a progressive policy is enacted, however, I will not idly sit by and watch a propaganda campaign be waged against my beliefs or what I am. To be a Liberal is to be an American in every right of the word. If not for Liberals, America would not have been the idol of people around the globe. Of course, Bush has tarnished the image of American Liberalism and all that it presents, however, Liberals (and Democrats) should be proud that what we stand for has put many forms of grace on this earth as President Kennedy so beautifully said: "But if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal."

And so I am.

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