Let’s get back to reality

Last year I uncharitably suggested that one of the liberal threats to Obama in 2012 boiled down to: "We'll think about running a primary challenge against you! Not that we will, of course, but don't you imagine for a second we won't think about it."  And here's what the editors of the SF Bay Guardian said in their endorsements for the June 5th primary:

Last fall, when a few of the most progressive Democrats began talking about the need to challenge Obama in a primary, we had the same quick emotional reaction as many San Franciscans: Time to hold the guy accountable. Some prominent left types have vowed not to give money to the Obama campaign.

But let's get back to reality. […] We're mad at Obama, too — but we're realists enough to know that there is a difference between moderate and terrible, and that's the choice we're facing today.

Here's another threat I suggested: "We'll vote for you again—but with slightly less enthusiasm!"  And here's Daily Kos himself:

"I’ll tell you what. If [Obama] shows that he’s going to fight for the things that I care about, I will fight twice as hard for him." And if he doesn’t? "Then I’ll vote for him," says Moulitsas.

As much as I'd like to say this proves I'm more prescient than Nostradamus, it's hard to make that claim when I was joined in these far-seeing predictions by the entire Democratic Party establishment.

FORGIVE OUR THOUGHTCRIME: But my favorite part of that Guardian endorsement:

No, this one's easy. Obama has no opposition in the Democratic Primary, but for all our concerns about his policies, we have to start supporting his re-election now.

Got that?  Even in this entirely meaningless exercise in which Barack Obama was literally the only candidate on the Democratic primary ballot, and despite the fact that he would have won a crushing victory in California even if he had faced token principled opposition, the Guardian editors felt that asserting the tiny measure of dissent of withholding their primary vote from him would have been going too far.  After all, if someone had looked at the vote total in San Francisco and noticed it was even one lower than expected, who knows what might have happened?

I imagine Obama's written down the Guardian's "concerns about his policies" on a roll of toilet paper, so he can give them all the attention they require.

13 thoughts on “Let’s get back to reality”

  1. It just gets worse and worse as November steadily approaches. And then I just saw some Hillary-Clinton-supports-gay-rights-and-isn’t-she-wonderful-so-that-makes-it-all-okay poster and my stomach heaved.
    I am gradually losing my will to live.

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  2. Nomad, I also.
    Have you seen that poster (or maybe just a Facebook post) that says, “I love waking up and knowing that Barack Obama is president”? Talk about heaving.

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  4. Bruce has cashed out* anyway after winning that silly lawsuit against the SF News, why even pretend anymore?
    Much of Bruce’s “left wing” politics consists of irrational NIMBYism anyway
    *The Guardian has been SOLD. To a BIG MEDIA company to boot!

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  5. I think much of the political output has come from (editor) Tim Redmond for years anyway, and he’s the model of a captured liberal gatekeeper. The Guardian is a perfect example of form-over-substance, lip-service liberalism: they think they’re edgy because they write about hip hop and act like graffiti is not just an art form but a sacrament, yet they line up behind corporate Democrats like clockwork.

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  6. Four years, they pass so quickly, it’s back to the future.
    IN CASE OF CRITICISM, FLIP RACE CARD
    http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/cbc-staff-opposition-obama-racist/592346
    I can see the fund raiser letter now:
    My Dear Liberals,
    With Obama’s 2008 election we overcame racism in America, but now we are having negative thoughts about Obama…OMG!…we are marching backwards. How…after four years of really kewl gadget buying, did we edge so close to becoming racist again? HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? We must once again overcome racism in America and vote for Obama! Let’s show our friends that we aren’t racist!
    Now I know some of you are having doubts, but you loved Obama unconditionally in 2008 didn’t you? Sure, Obama’s slapped you around a little since then with those repackaged Bush policies, but hey, you know…you wanted it that way! Besides,everybody deserves another chance don’t they?
    OBAMA 2012…ONCE MORE…WITH FEELING!
    Sincerely,
    Dr.Inc Coolaed
    PS One term Presidents get lousy payouts after leaving office…Clinton is up to 80,000,000.00…love him or hate him, don’t you want to see Obama get more than Clinton? Vote Obama in 2012 and be proud that it was your vote that helped him get into the .01%. Anything less is racist!

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  8. Roberto Unger, Obama’s Former Harvard Law School Professor, Says that Obama must lose the election in order for “the voice of democratic prophecy to speak once again in American life.” He acknowledged that if a Republican wins the presidency, “there will be a cost … in judicial and administrative appointments.” But he said that “the risk of military adventurism” would be no worse under a Republican than under Obama, and that “the Democratic Party proposes no new direction.”

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  9. Interesting to read a random Leftist’s website. I’m a Leftist too. Hope you post more regularly. Best wishes from London.

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  13. Agreed that there’s no shame, Drugs0r–I’m most definitely just another leftist too. And I appreciated the best wishes, by the way, and wish them right back across the ocean to you.

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