Hearing the ramblings of Howard Dean, Arianna Huffington, Keith Olbermann, Ed Shultz and many other “progressives”, I’m beginning to think some progressives want to see republicans back in control of not only Congress but also the White House.   It’s as if some of these democrats ONLY know how to bitch, moan and complain and are completely out of their element when it comes to getting stuff done.  I can’t lie.  That’s partly why Democrats get on my nerve.  Where Republicans will pull a Dick Cheney and shoot their friend in the face, Democrats turn the gun on themselves and blow their own jaw off.  Listen, I understand everything Howard Dean was saying.  The Health Care Reform bill is not the greatest thing in the world.  It doesn’t include a Public Option that we really need.  However, its better than nothing.  Ed Shultz even admitted that on Morning Joe yesterday.  So while I can understand being a little salty that its not the perfect bill, saying he won’t ‘vigorously’ support Obama’s reelection is just a stupid thing to say on a morning show.  Keith Olbermann has lost a lot of points in my book because, well…he doesn’t vote.  He doesn’t vote and that’s part of why Congress is full of a bunch of idiots now.  Arianna’s site is useful but sometimes I think their headlines are as sensationalized as Fox News’.  Listen, at what point do democrats stop eating their own and just get it done?  Instead of trying (and failing) to get the most progressive bill possible, why not take baby steps?  No bill is ever perfect.  EVER.  It was asinine for progressives to think that they could elect a moderate President (yes, he was moderate if you were paying attention) and that he would throw all his political capital behind the most progressive Health Care Bill possible.  Really, what sense does that make?  This is POLITICS folks.

For those thinking that if there’s no Public Option, you’re going to stay home in 2012 and not vote for Obama:  Congratulations on cutting off your nose to spite your face.  The problem is not Obama.  Hell, as much as I can’t stand him the problem isn’t even Joe Liebermann.  The problem is “blue dog” democrats in conservative states. The President has no leverage over any of them.  At all.  Unlike Lieberman who is just being a douchebag, these other “conservative” democrats are representing the will of the people in their states unfortunately.  If you want the most progressive bill possible, then support your local elections and the elections for the House of Representatives and Senate in your states.  Vote for progressives there.  THAT’S how you’ll get change.  This is what politics is about people.  It’s messy.  It’s not fun.  It’s a lot of backdoor deals and back stabbing.  If you thought electing Obama meant the change of that, then sorry to say this, you’re an idiot.  One man can’t change the system.  Congress is the problem.  It always has been, always will be.

As much as I hate them, you would never see Republicans do this to a republican President in his first year in office.  NEVER.  Republicans, even if they disagree, will rally with their own.  It’s annoying because usually they’re rallying around a stupid position, but they give the support. Why do they do it?  Because they know that even if they don’t get everything they want, it’s still better than getting nothing.  This seems to be lost on progressives (and democrats as a whole).  The biggest “maverick” in the Republican party during the Bush years was John McCain and even he came home when it counted.  In 2000, Bush’s campaign team slandered McCain big time.  BIG TIME.  Yet in 2004, he was right there endorsing and hugging Bush.  Why?  Because he supported his own.  Progressives are being impatient little cry babies right now instead of looking at the big picture of what they are getting.  Sure, Gitmo didn’t get closed immediately…but Obama’s made huge progress in making sure that gets done (Holder says it might close by the middle of next year).  He hasn’t ended “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” yet but every indication is, that he will.  Despite the uproar of the anti-war crowd over him KEEPING A CAMPAIGN PROMISE in Afghanistan, he’s also making sure troops in Iraq are out by 2011.  He’s on the verge of getting a Health Care Reform bill passed.  That’s NEVER happened.  Sure, its not the best bill in the world, but its better than nothing and NO ONE can really argue with that. I appreciate that Democrats/Progressives hold the President accountable, but at the same time, I think they are going overboard here.  The man is trying his best.  Will I agree with everything he does?  No.  But I also see him trying the best he can with what he has.  Remember, its only been 11 months.  ELEVEN MONTHS.  It took Bush at least 3 before he really started fucking us over.  Obama’s just a man.  He can’t turn water into wine.  Stop expecting him to.  I just wish progressives were this vocal with their Congressman/woman when they cosigned the Patriot Act and Bush’s Iraq War.  I’m just saying.  Putting all your anger at Obama is misplaced when he’s working with a bunch of people that are part of the larger problem.