What Are Rank-n-File Dems Saying About Obama Now? (Vanity)

Me | 3/24/2010 | Ocarterma

[Ocarterma]

My wife voted for Barack Obama. Although she is marginally a democrat (she grew up in a dem family), she's only voted twice since she became of voting age. Once for Bill Clinton in '92 and this last time in 2008 for Barack Obama.

My wife thoroughly hates politics and nearly sat out the 2008 election until she got swept up in the "Historics of the Moment".

Although I can't get away with "bashing" Obama constantly to her---she herself now deplores him and can't stand to see him or Michele on the tv.

Now after this HC debacle ("they can't even run the $#%@&!!! post office!!!!"---my wife says of the gov't), she has vowed to vote GOP no matter what come November 2010 & 2012.

Funny thing is the only Republican she likes is Sarah Palin, although she'd "take a trained poodle on a unicycle" over Obama now.

My question is, how wide spread is this discontent among other ran-n-file, average everyday Dems and Obama voters?

Anyone else have any real life stories to share?

[Randy Larsen]

First...Wash her mouth out with soap!

Second....Make her take a shower, she’ll feel better!

Third...Teach her to read instead of watching tv!

[Coyote Choir]

Honestly, the “ have the government force everyone into subsistence farming to save the earth” comments reminded me personally, at the time, of reading about the genocides in Southeast Asia not that many years ago by communists seeking to establish an agrarian utopia who emptied the cities and did things like execute people who wore glasses since, they reasoned, only intellectuals wore glasses.

It looks as though our country might enter a time of great suffering, but that may not be all bad for us in the long run. Suffering and hardship can have a way of tearing away fantasies and impressing one with facts and reality, rearranging values and perceptions. My grandparents and their generation, who lived through the Great Depression, were definitely not goofy people.

[timestax]

[sport]

I don’t care what the rank and file Democrats say.

[sport]

They may not get another chance to vote either for or against him.

[sport]

They would not know what “substence farming” is.

[OneWingedShark]

>I was just joking.
>I really know lots of O supporters !!!

I see.

>Am I forgiven?

Only if you watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjzSgceregI

;)

[bt_dooftlook]

I suspect the situation is more common than you think. In those situations, you have to think a bit about what you're saying and how you're saying it so as not to gratuitously insult). Best guess - keep conversations focused on actions and consequences, not on personalities. Give your POV in a measured manner and try to draw them over rather than push them away.

At the end of the day, most people want the same things: a growing economy with increased opportunities, safety for their children, etc. To the extent you can illustrate with historical examples how certain decisions have worked out in the past, maybe you can help them look at things in a new light.

Bottom line - don't expect/try to change people; recognize what you love about them and the commitment they made to you.

[timestax]

DANGER

[jetson]

We have to show every congressman’s and congresswoman’s picture EVERYWHERE that voted yes on the health care bill. On the internet, on telephone poles, on billboards with the message that these are the people who are responsible for socializing our country.

[Earthdweller]

"That is what the Democrats did, and that's what those young creatures are cheering."

The buzz from the young folks...

"Our Generation Is Screwed!".

[kaylar]

Not by any means all of them : Many of my other nonpolitical hobbies and interests have a more "liberal" fan base, and yes, I've seen posts "Woo Hoo!!!"-ing the new Medicaid eligibility they seem to think applies to them (it won't, if they're above federal poverty level) , posts applauding the defeat of "tea baggers", posts suggesting they think they're going (at least eventually) to get "free" health care, just like they do "in Europe"....I have seen other posts at these nonpolitical lifestyle /hobby sites decrying the HC bill's passage, but they're mostly unhappy because they see it as a 'giveaway to the insurance companies' : IOW, they're mad because it isn't socialist enough for them. Bottom line : Not much talk about the bill, but what there is seems to be primarily tribal : They may not be *happy* about the bill per se, but they're glad to see the democrats 'stick it" to conservatives and Republicans...And yes, I've seen posts that state as a given that all the "racist" accusations made against "tea baggers" are true. (Actually, nasty posts about "tea baggers", anti Sarah Palin posts, etc, are more common than HCRB posts pro or con, which is why I think that (for now...) most of the young, less politically oriented voters are just happy to see a republican/conservative defeat than anything else. But I anticipate that will change, perhaps dramatically, as the bill's economic costs become increasingly visible .)