The Liberal Blogosphere Goes Fox News | Oliver Willis

How does one correct someone who is on your side but has bouts of straying like President Obama? Offer constructive criticism, rather than throwing his clothes on the lawn, for one. You’ve got a perfectly good right to bitch as well as moan about things, but the equivalent of crying “fire” in a crowded theater just makes for a crappy moviegoing experience.

Barack Obama is the center-left, charismatic politician he has been for most of his life in the public. There are numerous issues on which he should be much more progressive, not just for the overall fortunes of the progressive movement, but for the future strength of the country. But we won’t get there if every perceived misstep (especially one based on a less than clear story that is slowly being filled in) is greeted as if he kicked a puppy in the teeth. We shouldn’t help a media environment that already favors Democratic politicians wagging their finger at the base, nor should we allow Democratic pols to get away with conservative nonsense.

Measure pols like Obama on their words and hold them to high standards, but don’t profess anger at them for not holding up to a caricature you dreamily doodled in your Trapper Keeper.

Good, strong, honest, and thoughtful words from Oliver Willis.

I tend to agree with the premise. The downside of being a liberal is that you have to associate with really, really progressive liberals. They eat their young just as quickly as rabid, racist teabagger types…just for different justifications, if not reasons.

Look, overturning Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is important. Just not as important to as many people as, say, reforming health care. Also, Obama isn’t a liberal. If you believe this, you are as stupid as the Dittoheads who fervently believe this. No, you are actually MORE stupid than those morons. They at least have the excuse of not thinking. You probably don’t.

Point is, the concept of even considering to object to EVERYTHING Obama does reactively is just as inane coming from a Rethug or a Progressive. Stop. Think. Wait for the details. Think some more. If it still offends you, fine, take a stance.

That said, I’m not a fan of the budget freeze thing, but more of from a historical 1937 perspective than some “he’s taking pages from the McCain handbook!” kind of crazy. I just think it’s a bad idea. Hell, if both Bob Reich and Paul Krugman are against it, it might not be that hot of a plan.

Indiana GOP Chairman: ‘We Don’t Condone’ Senate Candidate Who Called For Armed Revolution If 2010 Elections Don’t Work Out | TPMDC

Indiana is pretty damn conservative. They really, really, really are.

That said, even that state’s GOP head is capable of walking away from some Tea Bag genius’ call for armed insurrection.

If only the rest of the GOP knew it was their duty as Americans (first) to condemn and maybe even imprison these traitors. Just because you are in the same political party doesn’t make treason okay.

Garrison Keillor – Salon.com

Meanwhile, one-sixth of our population is without health insurance, and Republicans have decided that defeating Mr. Obama is more important than the welfare of 50 million Americans: Let them die and decrease the surplus population and be quick about it.

Garrison Keillor still has some fight in him. Good man. Here is his assessment on the true face of the GOP.

We need more voices calling out the Republicans for being the opportunistic cretins they are.

Hold The Hallelujah: The Perils Of Rifles And Religion : NPR

The best rejection of the Talibangelical company trying to kill our soldiers by linking them with the Conservative Crusade comes from Marine Benjamin Busch. Give this a read and you’ll know what I mean.

This is what I’d like all Americans to be like. What we want all our soldiers to be like. And, more importantly, what you’d actually want our nation’s Christians to be like, instead of the angry bigoted hate-filled cretins many of them seem to be.

You Can’t Stop Science, You Can Only Learn To Contain It – 13.7: Cosmos And Culture Blog : NPR

In short, an article that states the obvious: progress happens and you need to prepare your society to handle it as best you can.

That means: no Luddites, no Talibangelical lies, no skimping on teaching kids FACTS. In short, do the complete opposite of what conservatives have tried to do in this nation.

You know what else doesn’t help? The media constantly lying, distorting, and hyping the wrong things about science.