Harwood: Anonymous WH adviser says bloggers need to ‘take off the pjs, get dressed,’ and stop criticizing us.
Harwood: Anonymous WH adviser says bloggers need to ‘take off the pjs, get dressed,’ and stop criticizing us.
Yesterday, CNBC’s Chief Washington Correspondent John Harwood said that the Obama White House doesn’t view dissatisfaction amongst LGBT advocates — tens of thousands of whom marched in Washington, DC yesterday — as a “serious problem” because officials feel “that if they take care of the big issues — health care, energy, the economy — he’s [Obama] going to be just fine with this group.” As evidence, Harwood cited an anonymous “adviser” who bashed bloggers and dismissed critics as part of the “Internet left fringe”:
HOLT: But in general when you look at the left as a whole, have there been conversations about some things they thought would have been done but haven’t?
HARWOOD: Sure, but if you look at the polling, Barack Obama is doing well with 90 percent or more of Democrats so the White House views this opposition as really part of the “Internet left fringe,” Lester. And for a sign of how seriously the White House does or doesn’t take this opposition, one adviser told me today those bloggers need to take off the pajamas, get dressed and realize that governing a closely divided country is complicated and difficult.
Watch it:
On Saturday at the Human Rights Campaign’s annual dinner, Obama sent a far different message. “I’m here with a simple message: I’m here with you in that fight,” said the President, candidly adding, “I also appreciate that many of you don’t believe that progress has come fast enough. I want to be honest about that. Because it’s important to be honest amongst friends.”
That sentiment does not reflect White House thinking at all, we’ve held easily a dozen calls with the progressive online community because we believe the online communities can often keep the focus on how policy will affect the American people rather than just the political back-and-forth.
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Harwood is an idiot. The “internet left fringe” got Obama elected.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:08 amEat some breakfast, too, Wahn…
October 12th, 2009 at 9:08 amI don’t own any pajamas and haven’t acquired a taste for Cheetos, does this mean that I’ll never make it as a blogger?
October 12th, 2009 at 9:11 amIt’s amazing the media bias in this country against liberlism, and civil rights.
70,000 fringe teabaggers show up to protest czars? who couldn’t tell you the first president to start appointing czars or who they are or what they do for that matter.
Is represented in the corporate media as the majority of Americans.
150,000 people marching for civil rights on our nations capitol are called left wing fringe.
It’s ridiculous.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:11 amPresident Obama will face the most criticism from us Progressives on Afghan policy.
This is not a ‘war of necessity’. This is a war of the military industrial complex’s ‘need for profit’.
As Norman Mailer stated, with a different twist: “Bombing a country at the same time you are offering it aid is as morally repulsive as beating up a kid in an alley and stopping to ask for a kiss.”
We’ve been hearing for 8 long years that we’re building up the Afghan army. Where in the hell are they?
Obama will be a one term President if he lets military input escalate this invasion.
Surgeons want to cut. Generals want to kill. Politicians want the vote.
Let’s put the money we’re wasting in Afghanistan toward health care reform and begin the path toward World Peace.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:12 amI think this Harwood piece of shit made that up. Let’s see what the White House says about it.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:13 amAnyone have an official count for the marchers in DC yesterday? Or an overhead shot?
Anything to prove that there are more people who march to ask for progressive equality than those who march to complain for regressive inequality.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:14 amDamn! I hate being taken for granted. However, Harwood’s right. If Obama takes care of health care, the economy and the environment (I hope that’s what he meant by ‘energy’) it’s okay to put our civil rights on the back-burner. I’m not happy about it, but it’s true.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:14 amThe truth is if the “Internet left fringe” hadn’t gotten activated this past August, the Baucus bill would already be law and the insurance companies would be sitting pretty.
It’s the “internet left fringe” that is going to help keep Obama honest and doing the right things – and get re-elected.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:17 amhttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/us/politics/12protest.html
The organizers were rating the march a success, saying that at least 150,000 people had attended, though the authorities gave no official estimate of the crowd size.
WHY was there “no official estimate” for THIS march???
October 12th, 2009 at 9:19 amSomeone has been reading his big book of GOP political tactics…
October 12th, 2009 at 9:20 am“Simply apply the word “fringe” to the views of anyone who disagrees with you and you easily defeat their argument without having to justify your behavior or come up with a single fact.”
I’m going to take off my pajamas, get dressed and kick Harwood in the nuts.
Generic polling about the President’s popularity has nothing to do with gay rights. Let him run a poll on that. In fact, screw the polling. Just do the right thing, idiot.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:21 amLet’s listen to what Obama says rather than anonymous “advisors”. I believe he is committed to civil rights for ALL citizens. It took eight long years to get us in this hole we are in. It will take some time to make the changes we need on many issues. It is going to happen.
BTW, the contrast between the LGBT march yesterday, and the teabagger one, could not be more noticable. One group was dignified and determined, and the other was bat shit crazy and rude. Wow!
October 12th, 2009 at 9:21 amkaty, there haven’t been any official estimates (used to be the Parks Service, if I recall correctly) for a number of years. That was part of the issue with the teabag event because there was no “official estimate” to dispute their ridiculous numbers (and there was a second event at the same time, which distorted the photos). The AP has a photo which I refuse to link to, that shows the crowd not quite reaching the Washington Monument. IOW, it looks to be a very similar size to the 9/12 event and much smaller than previous gay rights marches that reached a half million.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:23 amPunkass Trolls, voting posts down, but too chickenshit to comment.
Where’s the Think Fast thread, TP?
October 12th, 2009 at 9:24 amThis is not at all pretty–letting a group of people knock themselves out to get you elected, then showing a fine contempt for them once you’ve been elected. It is a textbook case of classic bad politics.
PS: Celebrating A Pig of a Bill in song and dance.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:24 amIt’s Indigenous People’s Day.
Oh yeah, and that other guy who worked for Spain….
October 12th, 2009 at 9:27 amSince Obama apparently has this huge number of advisers/czars, the opinion of one anonymous one is a pretty low percentage. I don’t think “The White House” necessarily shares this one person’s views.
President Obama should NOT circumvent the current law and that includes DADT. He should, however, do what Presidents typically do – advocate for changes in the law. It seems to me that Obama has been strongly advocating for DADT to be repealed. Congress needs to do this. When healthcare reform passes, there will be both time and momentum for this and other changes. That is what I think really frightens the GOP – President Obama may not be spending political capital on healthcare reform, but investing it and there may be a huge return on that investment.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:28 amthe problem with the anonymous WH adviser’s comment is not the “internet left fringe” jab, it’s the assumption that the country is evenly divided. that, frankly, is not true.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:29 amnoseeum says:
——————————————————————————–
It’s Indigenous People’s Day.
Oh yeah, and that other guy who worked for Spain….
October 12th, 2009 at 9:29 amOh yeah, the start of the end of the first peoples.
Reggie says
October 12th, 2009 at 9:11 am
I don’t own any pajamas and haven’t acquired a taste for Cheetos, does this mean that I’ll never make it as a blogger?
______________________________________________________________
I’ve never understood why Cheetos are the foodstuff of choice, since eating them just winds up getting orange greasy cheese dust all over the keyboard.
Skittles are a LOT better.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:29 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
guessing that anonymous “adviser” who bashed bloggers and dismissed critics missed that Politico story about TP…
too bad… they could learn so much…
October 12th, 2009 at 9:30 amOh yeah, John Harwood? Well I heard from an anonymous internet blogger than you’re a pompous horse’s ass.
From a strictly political standpoint (and, let’s face it. For as much hope as the administration can give us, it is ultimately a political machine), gay rights is not considered a pressing concern. Barney Frank put it succinctly: the best way to get change is to lobby elected officials. The only pressure the protestors were putting on the White House was on the grass.
The issue of gay rights is also one that will cost comparatively little political capital from the White House. He can’t overturn DADT on an executive order, largely because DADT was the result of legislation, rather than an executive order. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act would have no problems passing the initial subcommittee and should get by the Armed Services Committee by a close margin as well. It will be law when the votes are scheduled.
The Respect for Marriage Act will be quite a bit harder to pass. It certainly has the votes to pass the House, but looks doubtful that it would get cloture in the Senate.
Civil rights activists can only focus so much pressure on the President; much of what needs to be done can only be accomplished by Congress.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:35 am“Skittles are a LOT better.”
Do you ever, like, late at night, put one on every key?
;)
October 12th, 2009 at 9:36 amAh, Columbus Day…
Well, 1492 wasn’t a particularly good year for my people, either.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:37 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Yes, “10’s of thousands”, much like the articles for the 9/12 “march”, doesn’t narrow it down. It’s an estimate and not an official count.
Perhaps we should ask the University of I Can’t Remember to do the count for us.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:38 am@katy (#11): The Parks Service stopped doing official estimates because they have become “political.” That’s why there was no good estimate of how many people took part in the “Tea Party” event there.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:39 amThere’s a big difference between a group of people who want the president to succeed and a group of people who want the president to fail.
There’s also a big difference between a group of people who hold a president they support accountable to them, and a group of fawning sycophants.
It’s the Republicans who marginalize as “fringe” those members of their group who don’t obediently march in lockstep — not us.
It’s the Republicans who squelch criticism of their leader from their own, not us.
There are a lot of people who protest the president — both bloggers and marchers — who truly want the president to succeed, but also want their voices heard on a specific issue. They should not in any way be conflated with the teabaggers, who only want the president to fail.
Harwood seems to have gotten the idea that this team operates the same way the last one did. It seems absurd that he actually speaks for the “White House” on this matter.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:41 amLooks like TP is heeding the “advice” (45 min pay hr and no Thinkfast thread.)
Either that or they’ve misplaced their pajamas.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:43 amLet’s see..what about all the things O said he would do YET he and his team at the WH have seemed to focus on ‘other’ things over the last nine months. AND, the ones they are focused on they are doing a REAL CRAPPY job! A recent example would be HEALTH CARE REFORM. The bill that seems likely to emerge from Congress is another subsidy and gift to the insurance companies.
IF the crap that’s in the hopper today passes without a STRONG PUBLIC PLAN and the govt wants the people to start paying new premiums/mandated purchase fees immediately – DON’T HOLD YOUR BREATH FOR THE MONEY TO SHOW UP…SERVICE FOR FEES..that’s how this will work….otherwise the people will tell you to jam it…
October 12th, 2009 at 9:46 amnoseeum says:
It’s Indigenous People’s Day.
Oh yeah, and that other guy who worked for Spain….
hey! show some respect for one of the “founding fathers”!!!
(seriously – a caller to randi rhodes last week pointed that out)
October 12th, 2009 at 9:46 amHarwood needs to put on his pajamas, crawl back into the ‘Right’ side of the bed and STFU.
He’s about as intelligent as David Gregory.
Q: What’s the difference between Al Qaeda & Christian extremists?
A: Nothing.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:49 amThe fact that the White House is intentionally insulting a core constituency on the one hand, while the President repeats bromides of “We will get around to you, count on it,” on the other, demonstrates exactly why the gay community needs to become more, not less, active and agressive in pursuit of their civil rights.
Snide, invidious remarks like the anonymous insider’s are indicative of how little respect these issues and America’s gay citizens have in this Executive branch. They will pal around with right wing pastors and born again frauds who say they were cured of homosexuality, all of whom voted for McCain, then insult the people who put them in office. I would like to tell a few politicians where they can shove their Cheetos. It’s the same place where their pinheads already reside.
The Democratic establishment had better realize that it was in some substantial measure the internet, the left wing and the bloggers who gave them their cushy jobs. They can also take those jobs away.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:49 amThe ‘pajamas’ comment is annoyingly dismissive, but it falls in the ’sticks and stones’ category.
I’m much more concerned about his contention that we live in ‘a closely divided country’. While our politics are very polarized, we have substantial majorities because there are many more Democrats than Republicans. We have a much stronger mandate than any in recent memory.
Bush ruled as if he had an overwhelming majority, when in fact, he never had more than the thinnist of margins.
It is time to enact the sweeping changes that we were elected to put in place. Timidity will not be rewarded.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:52 amI know Bush put in place some pretty invasive measures to monitor the internet. I didn’t know the government could activate my computer’s camera by remote and watch me as I blog. Maybe we should all give those folks at Homeland Security a thrill and blog naked!
October 12th, 2009 at 9:53 am“…one of the “founding fathers””
One of the founding fathers of the American Genocide.
So began the systematic enslavement, exploitation, and extermination of the Native Peoples of the Western Hemisphere.
Columbus may get a bad rap nowadays, he was after all simply an explorer, but to hear tell he was something of a brute in regards to the natives.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:54 am“Thank You, Sir! May I have another?”
Obama and the boys are shoving sharp, shit-encrusted ‘tools’ up the asses of the people who were his most enthusiastic backers, and expecting the people thus skewered to to be barbequed in silence?
Yeah, right…
October 12th, 2009 at 9:55 amOh please, stop with the bullshit. The internet has exposed the repugs for what they truly are, LIARS.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:55 am“bloggers need to take off the pajamas, get dressed and realize that governing a closely divided country is complicated and difficult.”
Wearing pajamas suppresses reasoning skills?
Being fully dressed in day clothes raises a person’s IQ?
What’s the key to this remarkable effect? Is it the underpants? I’ll bet its the underpants! Or the socks. It could be the socks. Maybe both?
October 12th, 2009 at 9:59 amI wouldn’t take to heart any comment that says “anonymous or unknown source”. Harwood should know better. When comments like this are reported it reminds of the Fox network statements like “some people say” or “many people feel”.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:00 amThese MSM types have no clue do they? Obama’s approval ratings are HIGHER than Regan’s this same time in office. As for The polls, we constantly hearing how the Dems will get crushed in 2010. Really? I remember in 2006, when MSM told us the Dems MIGHT get the House, but not the Senate. And in 2008, MSM told us it would be a nail-biter. Oh yeah? Obama got 365 electorals compared to McCain’s measley 160 something. When you look at the polls, the Repugs are lower than dirt. Oh sure the Dems don’t fare much better. But the GOPs negative ratings are through the roof.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:00 amP.S. I am a big fan of Barney Frank. I was fortunate enough to meet him and speak to him at some length, and he is a true gentleman. I believe him to be honest and principled. However, I respectfully disagree with him about focusing on our representatives. Perhaps there are a few congressmen and senators in blue states that would respond favorably to gay lobbying, but here in North Carolina, they would laugh us out of their offices.
Richard Burr? Give me a break. Our own governor–a Democrat–not only didn’t support gay marriage proposals, he actively, and unnecessarily, opposed them. We don’t have the numbers on a local basis to make a difference. Only when 500,000 to 700,000 of us show up on the ellipse does the government recognize we are a force to consider.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:02 amDo Mormons peel off the pajamas & just wear magic underwear to blog?
October 12th, 2009 at 10:02 am… which, of course translates into “1.7 million” in teabagger-speak.
A university said so. I forget which university.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:02 amOf course, we’re all missing the main point:
The uber-wealthy want a closely-divided country. It keeps us “little people” fighting each other instead of them. Our stings are being yanked on a daily basis; our reactions predictable.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:03 amLet’s keep in mind that this is coming from an “anonymous adviser” and the media love to create a conflict.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:03 am#38 Peter C
I agree 100%. I keep waiting for those sweeping changes and it isn’t happening.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:03 amThe fact that the “insider” recognized the criticism shows that, at least to some degree, our criticism is getting recognition. That is as it should be.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:07 amwait a minute… check out that wording under that screen shot:
Oct 11: Obama in trouble with his base?
the damned question mark… on MSNBC!!!?
hell yes! he’s in trouble with his base… congress too…
October 12th, 2009 at 10:08 amkeep the sht up and see just how much…
You’re right, BnF (@49),
This is the whole reason for ‘hot button’ issues which make people upset, but don’t really have an impact on their lives. They are the distraction that keeps us from addressing the broad inequalities in our system.
I think the only reason that business is against a single payer health care system is that when employers provide health insurance, it introduces a massive market inefficiency (in their favor) into the labor market which keeps the labor market from having upward pressure on wages.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:10 amFirst of all its the national PARK Service not Parks. And the statement “for a number of years” is false. We did a march on the Pentagon in March 2007 that began near the Lincoln Memorial and proceeded to the Pentagon. Helicopters hovered over the peaceful protesters all day. The National Park Service estimated 100,000 people took part in the protest. That was 2 years ago – far from “a number” of years ago.
It would have been more interesting to see the FBI estimate because I still think they were the ones in the helicopters not NPS people.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:11 amObama should count himself lucky if the “fringe” on his side only wants such reasonable things as him following through with some of what he promised during the campaign. And he should get on doing it.
For starters, Harwood should be made to walk this back. He’s hardly doing a service to his President if he’s out there undermining the message that Obama gave just yesterday.
Silly stereotypes like pajamas, Cheetos and Kool-ade don’t help the public discourse either.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:11 amThe point, the gay and lesbian rights backers are missing, is that it is CONGRESS that makes the laws. Sure Pres Obama can sign an executive order and things will change, but that can be easy reversed by the next POTUS. Same with the DOMA.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:13 amHowever, get it changed via Congress and it is long lasting (even permanent).
Speaking of incorrect crowd counts…
Get ready for another decent from the lunatic right fringe, this time on the media outlets that they feel aren’t reflecting Fox News’s views.
http://www.operationcanyouhearusnow.com/
They’re sticking with the “two-million” count for the 9/12 March and are going to protest the fact that the media didn’t apparently care about the march enough to cover it. I, for one, feel that I might have to head down to this and ask people what it’s like to organize a community effort, then ask them if a community organizer could ever become President.
Should be fun to counter-protest.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:15 amLet’s not blame Harwood, please. He was citing a White House source. The WH now needs to permit Harwood to reveal his source & let’s see where this goes from there. It isn’t going to be pretty.
The Constant Weader at http://www.RealityChex.com, a proud part of the Internet Left Fringe
October 12th, 2009 at 10:16 amI just love how the press builds up rumor or shaky gossip based on some anonymous low lever aide or even White House cleaning staff so they can breathlessly report some controversial story. Upset alot of people, mainly the left, and it has no basis in truth or what is really happening.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:17 amIn other words, I would wait a few days to see what comes of it because 9 times out of 10, it’s bogus.
There’s no way they’d call the gay community internet left fringe. What an dolt.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:19 amJuan says:
“Nevadans…”
The ones still in the casinos at 3 in the morning?
October 12th, 2009 at 10:22 amThe ones with the empty big gulp cups?
LOL
“one of those “low lever aides””
Nailed that one, didn’t I!
October 12th, 2009 at 10:23 amThrow a wrench in that f’n machine!
Don’t look at me, I didn’t do it ! (hehe)
October 12th, 2009 at 10:23 amAs the subject of Christopher Columbus has been brought up, there is probably no better example of the average American’s spectacular ignorance of their own nation’s history.
Every year the US officially celebrates Columbus’ discovery of America.
1) Leif Ericson found America about 500 years before Columbus was born.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:24 am2)Columbus didn’t even SEE North America on the horizon. What he found was Dominica and Cuba, which he swore were actually the west coast of India.
3)When he finally made it to South America, he swore THAT was the west coast of India.
JUAN! Are you a mexican republican? I thought we’d never find us one of those!!!
October 12th, 2009 at 10:25 am5th Estate says:
As the subject of Christopher Columbus has been brought up, there is probably no better example of the average American’s spectacular ignorance of their own nation’s history.
Wasn’t he also the first European to bring syphilis to America? What was he ‘exploring’ then?
October 12th, 2009 at 10:29 amIt’s sad that school children are still being taught the Columbus exaggeration, but few people actually celebrate the day in recognition of Columbus’ journey. At least in Jersey, it’s more a recognition of the accomplishments of Italian Catholic immigrants to the country.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:29 amThat is doubtful, what’s more likely is that Juan is a Latin King wannabe.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:33 am5th Estate says:
As the subject of Christopher Columbus has been brought up, there is probably no better example of the average American’s spectacular ignorance of their own nation’s history.
Every year the US officially celebrates Columbus’ discovery of America.
1) Leif Ericson found America about 500 years before Columbus was born.
2)Columbus didn’t even SEE North America on the horizon. What he found was Dominica and Cuba, which he swore were actually the west coast of India.
3)When he finally made it to South America, he swore THAT was the west coast of India.
Mark Kurlansky makes a good case in his book Cod that the Basques had not only been fishing the Grand Banks and landing on the shores to dry the cod, through much of the medieval era. For very good economic reasons, the Basques never identified the source of their massive supply of salt cod, and the only possible source was the northeast coast of North America.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:56 am“those bloggers need to take off the pajamas, get dressed and realize that governing a closely divided country is complicated and difficult.”
What a bigoted thing to say. What if I said…
The Right Wing needs to take off the hoods, spit out that chaw of tobacco and realize that governing a closely divided country is complicated and difficult.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:00 amI would not be surprised that some of Obama’s advisers are taking the tactic that the left has no alternative but Obama. They are incorrect. When voters don’t like either alternative, many of them stay home. The 2010 elections will have lower voter turnout and Dems cannot afford to ignore any voting bloc.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:09 ammissmolly says:
There’s also a big difference between a group of people who hold a president they support accountable to them, and a group of fawning sycophants.
So far, this is my favorite comment of the day ;)
October 12th, 2009 at 11:16 amaquarius2 says:
When comments like this are reported it reminds of the Fox network statements like “some people say” or “many people feel”.
It’s not just Fux. Nobody says “some people say” more than MSNBC’s Andrea the corporate whore Mitchell.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:24 amAnonymous WH adviser says bloggers need to ‘take off the pjs, get dressed,’ and stop criticizing us.
– - The president who was elected in part by the blogosphere is now at war with the blogosphere? Not smart, guys. We know “governing a closely divided country is complicated and difficult.” We also know that a civil rights movement waits for no-one. Do you recall a candidate who used the term “the fierce urgency of now”? To dismiss the younger generation’s civil rights movement with the classic swipe of the co-opted MSM is so culturally and politically off-base it shows how far the Obama machine has come from its moorings.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:29 amReally, you guys are sure full of yourselves. The Internet progressives didn’t get Obama elected. The independents did and the polls show that they are moving back to their middle/right leaning ways. In ‘12 the same dissatisfaction with the White House that prompted Obama being swept in by the independents, will bring about a Conservative president. It’s just the nature of things.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:39 amQuoting an “anonymous” anyone is just a way for reporters to LIE.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:48 amshakingmyhead says:
In ‘12 the same dissatisfaction with the White House that prompted Obama being swept in by the independents, will bring about a Conservative president. It’s just the nature of things.
So you are saying that Independents are going to vote for a party that has nothing to offer and that has spent the last four years trying to defeat the United States of America. I.don’t.think.so.
As to your contention that the independents are leaning Republic, read this and weep:
9/22/09 WSJ Poll
Generally speaking, do you think of yourself as a Democrat, a Republican, an independent, or something else? (IF “DEMOCRAT” OR “REPUBLICAN,” ASK:) Would you call yourself a strong (Democrat/Republican) or not a very strong Democrat/Republican)? (IF “INDEPENDENT,” ASK:) Do you think of yourself as closer to the Republican Party, closer to the Democratic Party, or do you think of yourself as strictly independent?
Strong Democrat..……….…………………. 22
Not very strong Democrat ………. ……. 9
Independent/lean Democrat..………... 10
Strictly Independent ……….………..……. 22
Independent/lean Republican ……….. 11
>>>>>> Not very strong Republican……….……… 8
>>>>>> Strong Republican ……….……….……… 10
Other (VOL)…..……….……….………….….. 5
Not sure…………….……….………….…….. 3
Democrats including leaning independent = 41%
October 12th, 2009 at 11:51 amRepublics including leaning independent = 29%
Isn’t John Harwood the guy that Olbermann stopped having on the show?
October 12th, 2009 at 11:58 amThe President needs to get a handle on his staff, and remind them who helped put all of them in their current jobs.
October 12th, 2009 at 12:25 pmFor the record, I’ve never blogged in my pajamas, not to mention I stopped wearing them …… long ago.
October 12th, 2009 at 12:27 pmTP doesn’t usually put up a Thinkfast thread on legal holidays. I don’t think they just got lazy today.
October 12th, 2009 at 12:30 pmFringe? WHF
Why is Bush and Cheney not on trial for WAR CRIMES?
Why the continuing of Signing Statements like Bush?
Why the continuing of Spying on Americans?
Why are they continuing the Wars, ones that you cannot win?
Why is “Don’t ask, don’t tell” repealed?
Why are they “playing nice” with the scum bag republicans?
Not exactly “Fringe” sounding at all.
October 12th, 2009 at 12:39 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
flag@whitehouse.gov says:
And give them to who….communists?
October 12th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
No, we’ll give the jobs to Pinko Nazi Leftist Stalinist Socialist Tories.
BOO!!
October 12th, 2009 at 12:56 pm.
“SOME PEOPLE SAY” that the left should shut up…
When Network News drops their anonymous “SOME PEOPLE” and start fact checking themselves, they will THEN be credible.
Until then, SOME PEOPLE SAY NETWORK NEWS SUCKS!!!
.
October 12th, 2009 at 1:03 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins says:
shakingmyhead says:
In ‘12 the same dissatisfaction with the White House that prompted Obama being swept in by the independents, will bring about a Conservative president. It’s just the nature of things.
So you are saying that Independents are going to vote for a party that has nothing to offer and that has spent the last four years trying to defeat the United States of America. I.don’t.think.so.
Shakingmyhead is correct in the statement that independents are the key to any elections. The idea of party identity has limited effects on elections. All elections are based on pocketbook issues. The people who perceive the economy is not improving at all will vote against Dems, but that does not mean they support the Reps. Usually, the party in power loses seats in an off year election. The upcoming elections will be a referendum on the economy. The people who are working tend to vote for the status quo. Since the economy has rebounded somewhat, the Dem losses may be minimal. People with investments have seen them rebound. The disturbing figure is the jobless rate which is still going up.
I think the Dems need to get the stimulus money pushed out faster to get it into the hands of state and local governments so that work begins well before the election. This will stem the jobless rate and people will see the stimulus money working. The Dems have extended unemployment and that may need to be done again. The last economic problem is the rate of foreclosures is still climbing. Programs that were designed to help have been ineffective. This needs to be rectified before the elections.
October 12th, 2009 at 1:03 pmEdit:”Fooling people into thinking that they are a divided country takes alot of effort”
October 12th, 2009 at 1:04 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
The way for the White House to resolve this issue is to reveal who the anonymous source is. If it is some low level lackey, no sweat. If it is Rahm, different story altogether.
October 12th, 2009 at 1:41 pmIt’s called taunting. Yeah leave the safety of your home, to go get added to the terrorist watch list, maced and shot with rubber bullets, arrested and charged with domestic terrorism when you ain’t done nothing.
WH advisor is well aware, American citizens have lost their constitutional toolbox, and in addition corporate media steers all the debates including desirable candidates right off the ballot before you get a chance to vote. So why not try to draw them out and zap em with microwaves, sound, bullets, and chemicals?
The “Constitutional Toolbox” I am talking about consists of
1. US Constitution
2. Voting
The Constitution is only symbolic now, it’s broken whenever a need arises.
Voting has been replaced by electronic vote tabulation devices, all of which are a broken chain of custody by their PHYSICAL design, as people can not see electronic signals. All electronic devices which tabulate votes must be outlawed.
The corporate media must be forced to put each of their station’s Public File online. If they did this, there would be so many complaints, the fcc would have to revoke their frequency allocation and station license.
Anonymous WH advisor = psyop agent provocateur
October 12th, 2009 at 1:43 pm” Edit:”Fooling people into thinking that they are a divided country takes alot of effort” ”
It’s also DOMESTIC TERRORISM
October 12th, 2009 at 1:45 pmZimzone says, “Let’s put the money we’re wasting in Afghanistan toward health care reform and begin the path toward World Peace.”
Israel won’t allow it. That would interfere with their goals in Palestine and the Middle East.
October 12th, 2009 at 1:47 pmFlaggie,
One skit on SNL that you agree with and now they are an astute observer of political reality?!?
We’ll talk again before the 2012 elections… that’s the time to talk about what President Obama has accomplished in his first term.
I have a feeling it won’t be his only term.
October 12th, 2009 at 1:58 pmIt is premature to rate Obama based on the short period of time in office. There are 3 years to go until the next election. In politics, 3 years is a long time because any event can change an election. The Republicans were doing well in 2008 until the economy collapsed.
October 12th, 2009 at 2:19 pmHarwood is an idiot and is simply jealous of the bloggers. It is amazing with the media. They bag the bloggers, yet, these same talking heads have blog and wants blogger to give them the scoop. Yes, the bloggers put Obama in office as well as fundraise in the Presidential race. But, Obama has invite the bloggers and their blogsites to participate in conference calls and WH press conferences.
Harwood and the media is simply miffed that blogsphere has become the community hub on the web [like TP] on how Obama policy will affect the American people.
October 12th, 2009 at 2:21 pmI don’t wear pajamas. I stop criticizing the Obama administration when they
1) abide by the Constitution and prosecute torture
2) halt warrantless wiretaps,
3) close Gitmo
4) close Bagram
5) withdraw from Iraq
6) withdraw from Afghanistan
7) fight for and pass a public health insurance option
8) repeal don’t, ask don’t tell
9) FIGHT FOR WORKING PEOPLE GENERALLY NOT FOR THE RICH, BANKS AND OTHER CORPORATIONS!
Did I leave anything out?
October 12th, 2009 at 2:55 pmHarwood: ” And for a sign of how seriously the White House does or doesn’t take this opposition, one adviser told me today those bloggers need to take off the pajamas, get dressed and realize that governing a closely divided country is complicated and difficult.”
People shouldn’t for this political tactic by Harwood. The media is simply driving a divide with the left wing bloggers and Obama with Harwood’s choice of words from an “anonymous” WH adviser as he claims. His words sound like Palin’s criticism of the bloggers in November 2008:
In Sarah Palin’s interview with Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren Monday evening, she referred to bloggers as “kids in pajamas sitting in the basement of their parents’ homes” spewing out mean and inaccurate things about her. Well, I am no kid, I am definitely not wearing pajames and I am living in my own house, thank you!
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-bergthold/palin-calls-bloggers-kids_b_142872.html
October 12th, 2009 at 3:17 pmCorrection: People shouldn’t fall for this political tactic by Harwood
October 12th, 2009 at 3:19 pmPajamas should be mandatory dress at the next world peace conference.
Humility is not conducive to war.
October 12th, 2009 at 3:20 pmFrom our old democrat pal Will Rogers….
“Democrats never agree on anything, that’s why they’re Democrats. If they agreed with each other, they would be Republicans.”
“I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat. “
October 12th, 2009 at 3:27 pm“From our old democrat pal Will Rogers….”
William Penn Adair “Will” Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935)
Times have changed.
October 12th, 2009 at 3:38 pmTry to keep up, will ya?
Have they?
October 12th, 2009 at 3:40 pmHave they?
Have you ever explained how a tip line is exactly the same as a ‘warrant less wiretap?’
Or why you continue to use an email address that is not yours as your screen name?
October 12th, 2009 at 3:43 pmyep.
October 12th, 2009 at 3:43 pmWhat’s wrong with PJs? Does Har(d)wood prefer to imagine us naked instead? LOL! ;)
October 12th, 2009 at 3:54 pmHere’s a little vignette from Will Rogers’ time, flag boy…
“The Great Depression in 1929 that occurred under Republican President Herbert Hoover and the Republican Congress set the stage for a more liberal government; the Democrats controlled the House of Representatives nearly uninterrupted from 1931 until 1995 and won most presidential elections until 1968. Franklin D. Roosevelt, elected to the presidency in 1932, came forth with government programs called the New Deal. New Deal liberalism meant the promotion of social welfare, labor unions, civil rights, and regulation of business. The opponents, who stressed long-term growth, support for business, and low taxes, started calling themselves “conservatives.”
October 12th, 2009 at 3:54 pmWill Rogers never saw the results of this momentous sea change.
Bellacifer, I am not a fan of the warrantless wiretap either. The “tip line” is ludicrous. The WH really needs to know who is spreading misinformation about a bill that hasn’t reached a final form? It was so successful, they haven’t done anything since August 4th.
It is not like people reporting criminals to the FBI….the WH are such babies, they want to get into he said, she said with the general public….utterly ridiculous.
October 12th, 2009 at 4:20 pmFDR and the New Deal Dems passed revolutionary programs. We cannot say the same about Obama. Change is coming in small increments and will not form the basis for Dems dominating Congress for another long period of time.
October 12th, 2009 at 4:20 pmThe WH really needs to know who is spreading misinformation about a bill that hasn’t reached a final form?
Sure, why not?
What’s ‘ludicrous’ are some of the rumors that are flying around the internet about this reform… why shouldn’t the White House try and combat those rumors as they come up? You admit it’s misinformation, why does combating it make the White House ‘babies?’
And why do you insist on using it as your screen name if you find it ‘ludicrous?’
October 12th, 2009 at 4:24 pmP.S.- they posted this morning…
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Reality-Check-AHIPs-Study-Hard-to-Take-Seriously/
It’s a good read, you should check it out, Flaggie.
October 12th, 2009 at 4:26 pmThis should be pounded into every conversation with “our” officals:
Why should we vote Democrat if you’re just going to act and vote like a Republican?
October 12th, 2009 at 4:44 pmflag@whitehouse.gov
is that site still up?
i thought the admin took it down when all the paranoid
screaming whining frighty righties pitched a huge fit…
i must’ve read it wrong…
October 12th, 2009 at 5:24 pmvote democratIC.
OR
vote FOR a democrat.
get it straight.
October 12th, 2009 at 5:26 pmshakingmyhead says:
Really, you guys are sure full of yourselves. The Internet progressives didn’t get Obama elected. The independents did…
Due to the messaging, coordination and donations delivered by the Internet progressives. A movement is more than a voting bloc.
.
shakingmyhead says:
…and the polls show that they are moving back to their middle/right leaning ways.
What polls? Where? When did anyone ever produce a shred of evidence that independents “normally” vote “middle/right?”
The simple fact of the matter is that the right wing in America has responded to Obama’s victory by completely imploding. Seeing as how the Democratic party represents the center and the Republicans pander to their fringe, don’t count on the independents to save you any time in your lifetime.
.
flag@whitehouse.gov says:
I think the good news depending on where you are standing is that Saturday Night Live may have it right. Our BO in the Whitehouse has turned out to be a do nothing President…all talk, no action.
You know, even choosing to start on these issues is a huge accomplishment. Bush refused to set a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. Now we may not be out of Iraq yet, but at least the timetable is there. That’s just one example of how, on every single issue, Bush refused to even start to address the problems that beset America. So I’d say the fact that we’re actually making a start on these issues is already infinitely superior to anything the previous administration did. And what’s the alternative? The GOP agenda, which at present still merely constitutes going back to doing nothing? If anything, Obama deserves the Nobel if only for getting the USA to take its collective thumb out of its butt, where it’s been stuck for eight years, if not longer.
Seriously, the chutzpah of the right wing is simply breathtaking. You have created a host of problems, foreign and domestic, complained bitterly at every step of the way about trying to find a solution, and then complain that the problems haven’t been fixed fast enough for your liking. Obviously your opinion is worse than worthless. You only open your mouths when you’re trying to hurt America.
.
flag@whitehouse.gov says:
From our old democrat pal Will Rogers….
A quote is not an argument.
October 12th, 2009 at 5:52 pmRE: Ennui Divine @ 28:
Are you by any chance referring to Torquemada’s pogrom against the Spanish Jews?
That was definitely ugly.
October 12th, 2009 at 6:14 pmObama needs to get in touch with his FORMER base.
October 12th, 2009 at 6:17 pmPJs? Who wears PJs? They constrict the brain.
October 12th, 2009 at 6:58 pmI sometimes blog in my bathrobe, but I only wear pajamas when it is the deepest cold of winter.
I wonder if fuzzy slippers are allowed when destroying the Republican Party online?
October 12th, 2009 at 7:50 pmPurple State, here’s a good shot of the protesters yesterday in Washington, DC:
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/National-Equality-March-Washington-DC/ss/events/us/101109gaymarch#photoViewer=/091011/480/fc2c2cb5315641afa56ab68e4561ac73
October 12th, 2009 at 8:30 pmlocomotivebreath
Really? We are waiting for YOUR first time you ignorant punkass troll
October 12th, 2009 at 8:34 pmShakingyouremptyhead
Really you are so full of STUPID it is embarassing. This country is NOT center right. It is center and if anything center left. They had lefty politics for about 40 years then gave you idiots a shot. That was a disaster. Polls on ISSUES show Americans consistantly poll about like Finnland on social issues. Get ready to be out of power for a generation. Your lies are wearing thin and not working anymore and you wingnuts dont have anything else
October 12th, 2009 at 8:39 pmI had just enough strength left after being locked in my basement in my pyjamas to close the zip on my pocket book and have decided to vote for a third party in the next elections. They give advice about our clothes, I would give advice about chosing bed-fellows. Go to bed with Rahm and you may wake up with a Republican majority.
Obama seemed to bring hope to the two party system but like the old South that too is “Gone With the Wind.”
October 13th, 2009 at 1:26 amPressure the politicians and let them know they are accountable. saç ekimi
October 17th, 2009 at 4:21 amThank you for your sharing.!
October 17th, 2009 at 11:08 am