Why Now is a Good Time to Be a Progressive

    After the latest debt deal there does seem to be a good deal of pessimism for many progressives yet I want to argue that those who view the current situation as particularly bleak or see the times we are living in as especially bad-I  once saw a post by a blogger on FDL that claimed that this whole generation needs to die-lack historical perspective.

     There has been much bleaker times to be a progressive than today. No matter what you think of Obama is our first black Presdient.  He has been the most gay friendly Presdient in US history by a mile.

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/08/05/obama-bars-u-s-entry-for-violators-of-lgbt-human-rights-abroad/

 Just this last week in his HRC he got added that woman who need birth control will pay no co-pays. And earlier this week he reached a historical agreement that by 2025 US cars will average 54.5 mpg.

     On FDL there now seems to be an atmosphere almost like a funeral where they only hope seems to be that maybe, somehow Obama will lose. Why this is so desired isn't clear. Somehow-as they insist he's not a progressive-his defeat will somehow give us more progressive policies though it's pretty clear that his defeat would give us a President far more conservative-on who would support Paul Ryan's plan.

    The only thing that seems to energize them now I his defeat. Any drop in the polls or talk of third party is the only thing which animates them.   


      Today Mr. "afro-reeducation project" himself is at it again: Metamars. Now the excitement is Nader is declaring "a primary is a near 100% certainty." 

    http://my.firedoglake.com/metamars/2011/08/04/nader-%e2%80%98almost-100-percent%e2%80%99-chance-of-a-democratic-primary-challenger-to-obama/#comments

      A few weeks ago Mr. Metamars had recommended his newest version of he and jeffroby's "Full Court Press" which recommends among other things working with the Republicans to secure the Democrats defeat. When he says work with the Republicans is he including Karl Rove or Roger Stone one wonders? This went beyond his "Dump Obama" movement that he and jeffroby have worked on since 2009 to harming the entire Democratic party.

     Overall, as we talked about on my show yesterday I spoke with Turbo Kitty about the need for progressives to not get too down in the mouth. We both agree about the need for progs to come together right now and not give in to sectarianism.

     For the radio show
http://diaryofarepublicanhaterblogspotcom.visibli.com/share/8fC8WR

     When you look at the uprisings in places like Wisconsin-already 3 recall victories-Ohio, Michigan or the NY-26 race how can you not be excited?

      Those who worry about the recent debt ceiling agreement should realize that it's the 2013 Congress that will intimately decide what happens, so if we focus on 2012 we'll be in good shape in 2013.

     The boobirds have no meaningful answer to what progs/libs need to be doing in the future. Just this claim that all cats are grey and nothing can be done.

      In the interest of helping us feel better and not to give into despair let us pick the "firebagger of today."

      Who knows this could become a more regular feature here at Diary of a Republican Hater...

       Today we have 3 nominations! First we have Metamars the perennial favorite. I was Metamars who came up with the afro-reeducation scheme-which is what the NPA ultimately used in their "Obama is a Republican" bus ads in DC-high African-American areas only. Probably they didn't want to do it in a white neighborhood for feat that this might induce people to vote for him!

      In his latest, Mr. Metamars declares "Personally, if Romney is the Republican nominee, I’m thinking about voting for him. I’ve never voted for a Republican before, but hey! I’m sure he won’t be much worse than Obama."

     "While I like Bachman’s independence from the mainstream Republican insiders, I have questions about her religious propensities. What if God tells her to drop a nuclear bomb on Iran? Were it not for her questionable degree of religious zeal, I might actually get enthusiastic about her. Not because of the specific policies she would push (she wants to abolish the EPA, for crying out loud), but because she will force a dramatic response from establishment Dems, establishment Repubs, and, hopefully, that will create mostly unpredictable opportunities for galvanizing the sleeping and/or demoralized American public."

    Yea gotta really admire Bachman's "independence from the establishment" particularly the establishment of actual reality!

       Another prominent firebagger is Bin Quick. In his latest insights he talks of how Donald Trump is inspiring because he payed a little lip service to ending free trade. As usual Ron Paul is gushed over.

        http://my.firedoglake.com/binquick/2011/08/04/game-theory/

        In a previous post I pointed out-this was a Metmars post where he commended Rand Paul-not Ron, you read right!-for somehow "protecting Social Security" while Obama was supposdely threatening it. I mentioned the absurdity of support for people like the Pauls and mentioned Bin's support for Trump.

       Although predictably the firebaggers all tried to bum rush me and claim I was an "Obamabotic shill" I asked them where does it end? If Trump is attractive for-making a few rhetorical noises about ending free trade-what about Hitler? As they are willing to look past any of the appalling things Rand Paul or Donald Trump has espoused would Hitler get a pass? He too criticized free trade, indeed he called himself a socialist.

        So we have perennial firebaggers and favorites Metamars and Bin Quick! Can we get a third?
How about "Imka" who believes that we progs have a lot to learn from Alex Jones, et al. To achieve transaprtisan bliss he feels that both Left and Right must get over various" habits." The Right he feels should give up hating gay people and immigrants.

      The Left he believes must stop certain things too. Imka asks , "

can folks on the Left ever recognize that, while Choice is a good thing, abortion is NOT, in and of itself, a good thing? that defending Choice should never be the same as turning abortion into an icon of progressive achievement?

can Lefties ever stop snarking up Christianity?"

We should apparently admit that abortion is bad and not claim that abortion is a good thing in itself or an "icon of progressive achievement." 

That's my standard: I measure progress by the net amount of abortions preformed: the higher the more progress.  As Limbaugh says we liberals desire abortion on demand.

So there we have it folks! Metamars-afro rededucation and work with Republicans, Bin Quick and the progressiveness of Trump, or Irmka who desires a "transaprtisan" movement where we stop snarking about Christianity or making abortion an icon of progressive achievement in exchange for the Right stopping it's hate for gays/immigrants.

Who should win the grand prize? The runner up? Vote early and often folks! Make your vote count!