I’ve been having a ball this week with the Komen shit-show. Not just because it was such a hideous blunder and there was so much hourly incompetence to chronicle, but because GOD DAMNED IT FEELS GOOD TO BE ON THE OFFENSIVE.
Say what you will about all the wingnutty things I said 2001-2005ish, at least I was looking for a fight with the opposition party and going after them. Since I became a Democrat, it seems like the only time we ever get our damned dander up is with other Democrats. The rest of the time we are on defensive, linking to logical explanations from TAPPED or Kevin Drum, talking about negotiating, etc. Or spending our time dealing with dipshits in our own party, like that jackass Rosen who tried to sink Sotomayor. Or we spend all our time angry about the stupid things teahadists do and say and snark about it, but nothing ever comes of it and they never pay a price. Or, as often is the case at this website, wailing about our worthless media.
This time, though, was different. It was nice to watch everyone go for blood, and sink their teeth in and get some. That’s what we need in the Democratic party. We need a killer instinct. We need to stop putting up with this bullshit from these crazy people. We need to fight back, we need to start running for local elections and state elections and running the show, and we need to go after them every chance we can. We don’t have to stoop to lies and innuendo, we can go after them with the truth, just like we did this time. They are lying about tax and regulatory burdens. They are lying about social security. They are lying about Obamacare and Medicare and Medicaid. They are lying about the environment and global warming. They are lying about poor people and black people and gay people and immigrants. They are lying about Obama. They are lying about everything.
There is nothing noble or wise about trying to have rational arguments, or acting like the mature people when you are dealing with fanatics. This stuff is important. You should be pissed off and fighting mad.
God damned this feels good for a change. God damn I am fired up for November 2012. No prisoners. No backing down. Republicans don’t want to negotiate or govern with you, they want you dead. So either reach down and grab a pair and fight back, or take what they give you. Your choice. I’ve made mine. And as we have seen this week, if you fight, and you don’t put up with the bullshit, people will join you and we will win.
Bruce S
“It was nice to watch everyone go for blood, and sink their teeth in and get some. That’s what we need in the Democratic party. We need a killer instinct. We need to stop putting up with this bullshit from these crazy people. We need to fight back, we need to start running for local elections and state elections and running the show, and we need to go after them every chance we can. We don’t have to stoop to lies and innuendo, we can go after them with the truth, just like we did this time.
“God damned this feels good for a change. God damn I am fired up for November 2012. No prisoners. No backing down.”
Because it bears repeating. Frankly, if it wasn’t a hassle, I’d go for all caps…
Somethings are so f—ing true, it’s okay to yell and wave your arms when you say it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Davis X. Machina
Let me fix that for you.
El Tiburon
Take it easy Charlie Brown. Lucy got to do what Lucy got to. When you swing and wiff, well, there you are.
Wiesman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1zjeYhJs7o
Exurban Mom
Fired up! Ready to go!
Watching Obama’s SOTU had a similar effect on me. I am fired up to see him crush the clown car survivor this fall. I want him to have a Democratic Senate, House, and a big ass MANDATE to get some shit done.
MikeBoyScout
Yep.
dww44
Wow, you motivated me, John. I think I will link this to my local Democratic party. The Dems own NOTHING in this state anymore. Might as well start somewhere and at the grassroots is definitely the best place. But it also feels damn good to have the person at the helm that we have now. I surely trust him far and above anything on offer from the otherside, but particularly at times like now when the forces seem to be ginning up for another military confrontation in the MidEast.
Mark S.
Either way works for me.
Fluke bucket
You are at your best when you ain’t sleeping much JC. Bravo
aimai
Holy shit I need a cigarettte after that. No body brings the rage like an ex republican.
aimai
magurakurin
@El Tiburon: what does this even mean? Is this comment in the Stonehenge Style?
Because I have no idea what you are trying to say in regards to John’s post.
Jenny
Don’t
fuckmuck it up!JCT
If we STAND UP — we can really put a stake though these fuckers in November. They’ve rode the crazy train to the cliff, we can just push them OFF.
Have you heard all the pathetic whimpering over the jobs numbers across the aisle? They’ve got nothing and they’re cornered.
mcd410x
hear, hear
ETA: JC, I think what you would have been called in the beforetime, in the long, long ago, is a liberal Republican. Before that was a complete contradiction.
eemom
@Davis X. Machina:
That, sir, was MEAN.
Amy C
Funny. Two days ago I made a donation to Planned Parenthood. I felt good. Later in the day, I donated to Obama’s campaign, too. And then I felt really good. And today I looked up my local Democratic party office, because hell they always need volunteers, right? And then I felt damn spiffy.
But I kind of didn’t think to connect these dots.
SuzieC
Right On, bro!
Moonbatting Average
@Davis X. Machina:
I’m still fired up, because “Republicans are worse” is plenty for me.
You go to war with the Democrats you have…
Davis X. Machina
@eemom: There are still people in the U.K. toasting The King over the Water. That was 300 years ago. Taylor Marsh is a piker.
gbear
Your parents are calling. They want you to behave.
Bud
A-fucking-men!
It has been very difficult to be a Democrat for as long as I can remember…the party can be so milquetoast in its response and it’s often so uncoordinated and fragmentary.
I don’t know why people say the Democrats don’t have the instinct for this sort of blood sport, because every Democrat I know is itching to shove some of the shit back into the faces of the whining self-pitiers of the GOP.
Bud
On this same note, I have a slogan for all the of the screeching hysteria of the GOPers who went batshit over Obamacare. They are on the verge of nominating a guy who passed almost legislation as Governor, including the individual mandate. Let’s rub that in their faces and say:
THANKS FOR ALL THE HOT AIR, ASSHOLES!
gwangung
Yeah, being able to go on in full attack mode…on a deserving target…and, very importantly, getting a QUICK win is damn satisfying.
Most political battles are more protracted and not nearly decisive, which frustrates many people, who keep thinking ‘But didn’t I just fight this same battle before?”
On the other hand, the right wing has no problem fighting the same battle over and over again. They seem to think they just have to win once.
gwangung
@efgoldman: Hell yes.
Gin & Tonic
No zealot like the convert.
existential fish
Wailing about the worthless media does make a difference, just not in the period of a week.
I mean, say what you will, but Glenn Beck now has an internet only show, not one on Fox.
There’s plenty of smaller victories (have you seen Pat Buchanan on MSNBC lately?) but substantive media victories take time and a strategy.
gogol's wife
Good man! Fired up and ready to go!
WyldPirate
This is why I had a case of the ass at Obama for 2.5 years. Always offering concessions and trying to negotiate with a bunch of obviously bat-shit insane motherfuckers bent on dismantling the country. Coming out with negotiated-down policy proposals at the start instead of asking for what he knows he couldn’t pass but what was really needed–and then beating the Rethugs unmercifully while he compromised down.
He’s gotten way more aggressive about ridiculing their lies and destructive lunacy since last summer. Time for him to turn the heat up more…
Prairie Logic
John, you just verbalized my thoughts. On behalf of my daughters for their future… my sister and sisters-in-laws who have battled breast cancer… (and let me preface that we had already arrived at this decision due to last year’s worth of BS)… My wife and I have pledged to each other to do no less this election than in 2008 (monetarily or on the volunteer front) to get the Prez and other D’s elected. Make 2010 the aberration it was. Destroy these Neanderthals!!!!!
Little Boots
so true.
so belated.
so true.
gbear
You may want to go back and check out some of the stuff that’s been happening in Wisconsin and Ohio over the last year…
iriedc
AMEN.
MonkeyBoy
@cole:
So basically bludgeon people with our giant balls? I really don’t like what this metaphor calls to mind.
(the laying of ones balls onto someone’s face as a humiliation technique has been a common form of hazing at sports teams and frats. A practice known as teabagging)
chrome agnomen
well, i live in wyoming waaayyyyy out on the range, but i’ll drive the 80 miles to sheridan just to make my voice heard crying in the wilderness, and see if i can scare a rattler into voting D.
Fezzik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD_AejDc1fA
(I can’t believe I’m first in with this)
Cat Lady
Lies are all they have. It’s getting really obvious, and this Komen thing has really opened a lot of eyes as to how they play the game. They can’t play fair because look what happens to them when they do, so they have to sneak, grift and rent seek. They’re shameless so they’re always going to have that advantage, but we’re learning how they think now so their advantages are narrowing. We’ve got them in our sights now, and we need to keep the light shining on them and keep the cockroaches from scurrying away.
The Lilac Hand of Menthol Dan
@Davis X. Machina:
Ahh, Taylor Marsh. AKA, Lanny Davis in drag.
SoINeedAName48
You looking for an “Amen”?
Gilles de Rais
THANK YOU, JOHN COLE.
Michelle
Well said!
JPL
AMEN but and it’s a big but
I remembered when a wealthy women’s sister died of breast cancer and she vowed to help by starting a progressive movement to inform people about breast cancer no matter how rich or poor, no matter the age, it could also attack you. Did the Komen foundation lose it’s way? Hell yes…but when it started it was not that way.
Also,too..I remember when the Patriots were the Boston Patriots so there’s that.
gwangung
@Prairie Logic: I’ll float up the thought that it would feel neither so satisfying nor so effective without the three years of being reasonable, patient and being able to compromise. There’d be the questions in the back of the head of whether a conciliatory approach would work…..
Now we now. Now we can let loose. Now we can be relentless.
jrg
I like short sentences. Short. Sentences. With purpose. And gusto.
…But seriously. I’m not quite sure how happy you should be about this. It’s not “taking the offensive” on the part of the liberals, it’s over-reach on the part of the right.
cathyx
John-
You’re so cute when you’re fired up.
redshirt
RAMEN! Damn right! I am Fired Up and Ready to Go!
Here, with pictures.
General Stuck
So does this mean your not depressed anymore?
Little Boots
a corner has been turned.
goddess bless you, wherever you are, susan b kormen.
Fucen Pneumatic Fuck Wrench Tarmal
i like the fight.
but we need stuart smalley to tell us to fight everyday.(i don’t mean john cole, or oddly al franken) we need daily affirmation to kick ass, it will get easier when it comes natural-like
fuck the class war
fuck the culture war
fuck the drug war
fuck the war, war
fuck all the other fucking wars i am forgetting.
fuck on!
Gust Avrakotos
What about Libya Cole? Libya…..did I mention Libya! Oh and the thing about the DOW going down. How did you say it. No end in sight or no light at the end of the tunnel or the light at the end is an oncoming train or whatever the fuck.
Stay gloomy Cole. Me, I was probably where you are now 2 years ago. So you got a long way to go to get back to reality. It’s NEVER as bad as it seems.
Anya
@Davis X. Machina: Good god, that was awful. What compelled Juan Cole to post the ramblings of a bitter PUMA?
Greg
I live in Madison, Wisconsin, three blocks from the Capitol. I’ve been feeling that way for about a year.
slag
Although traditionally a pacifist, I have to admit that there is something special about doing battle with the Bush Administration (which, let’s be honest, is what Komen pretty much is now). You’re right, I think they do bring out the best in us.
Evolving Deep Southerner (tense changed for accuracy)
God DAMN, Mr. Cole. Thank you.
Little Boots
even Obama finally gets it. what a waste, though. what a waste of time it’s been.
Garbo
DAMN it feels good to be a gangsta! Fuckin’ A Right!
Violet
Awesome rant, John! Right on! It has felt great to fight back.
3am
You need a +1 button or something.
ABL
this is why. THIS.
jill
that righteous rant reminds me of Steve Gilliard. Excellent outrage, well-written. More please.
novum
great post john….exactly what we need.
and positive energy to your dad
Omnes Omnibus
@MonkeyBoy: I’ve been on sports teams (including rugby) and in a fraternity and have never witnessed that. Seriously.
Evolving Deep Southerner (tense changed for accuracy)
I also have a father who was admitted to the hospital earlier today, John. You send good vibrations my way, and I will send good vibrations yours.
Little Boots
Mitt Romney is the most doomed candidate since Goldwater.
awesome.
txvoodoo
This post is the starting gun for 2012. LET’S GO!!
Hill Dweller
@Little Boots: I saw where Willard fired his new debate coach because he thought people/press were giving him too much credit for winning Florida. He looks like a spoiled child.
Little Boots
@Hill Dweller:
awesome. in all the wrong ways. he’s just awesome.
Omnes Omnibus
@Hill Dweller: Kidding, right?
Svensker
@Evolving Deep Southerner (tense changed for accuracy):
Jeez. Best wishes and big hugs and lotsa prayers for you and your dad, too.
burnspbesq
@Moonbatting Average:
I have no time for idiots like Taylor Marsh who convinced themselves in 2008 that Obama was something other then what he actually was and have been whining ever since about him breaking promises that he never made. I will tolerate them ,to the extent I have to, until November. After that, it’s on.
celticdragonchick
@Bud:
This.
I’m with John. I am ready for blood.
Little Boots
@burnspbesq:
true. I think he wasted a lot of his time and ours trying to deal with assholes who had no intention of doing anything for anybody but their richest constituents. but that said, he’s pretty much done what he promised. it was all too easy to invent some lefty Obama that never materialized, but that wasn’t his fault.
Fwiffo
This was viscerally satisfying, but you also have to appreciate the long, slow gradual victories too. We’re winning on gay marriage, and without a lot of blood and fury. The bigots are slowly but surely losing a slow tug-of-war.
By analogy, it’s nice to win a boxing match with a second round KO, but you have to know how to take satisfaction in winning on points after an exhausting 18 round tactical drag-out slog.
burnspbesq
This is cool. Eat this, senator Droop-Along.
http://www.samefacts.com/2012/02/taxation/more-on-the-buffett-challenge/
MonkeyBoy
@Omnes Omnibus:
I said teabagging is often use in humiliation hazing. Did your teams and frats engage in hazing and in particular sex based forms?
On the tubes you can many instances of the “sit-up trick”, such as this YouTube.
Little Boots
@Fwiffo:
true too. on the culture issues, the right is totally doomed.
On the economics though, there is way too much hesitation on the part of Democrats, including Obama, to push back hard upon the very real, very effective war on unions.
hopefully, that is changing.
Omnes Omnibus
@MonkeyBoy: Fraternity hazing involved being asked to push-ups. Rugby had some odd songs, but our team’s hazing of first time players involved a game that simply soaked them in beer. Anecdote =/= data, but still.
Chris
Righteous rant, Cole.
@Moonbatting Average:
“Vote for a crook, not a fascist.” Why is this so hard to understand or get excited about? It fired up the French electorate to record-high turnout back in 2002.
AnnaN
Someone will be sleeping well tonight.
Little Boots
@Chris:
and didn’t that actually work in Louisiana, when Edwards beat David Duke?
Vote for the Crook, it’s important!
Was that a thing? Am I totally making that up?
Little Boots
And voting rights.
there should be a really loud, really effective primal scream going on about the attempt to take the vote away from blacks, old people, and the poor.
Omnes Omnibus
@Little Boots: No. You are a weirdo, but that was a thing.
In this case, the situation is vote for the decent, well-meaning center-left pragmatist who moves things along slower that you wanted but in the right direction or vote for an administration that H.P. Lovecraft would have rejected as too horrific to write about.
Mark
@Omnes Omnibus: No shit. I played high school football and rugby, college hockey. Never saw anything like that. As they said in Office Space, I think you’d get your ass kicked for doing something like that.
Little Boots
@Omnes Omnibus:
and this is about right, really (even the weirdo part? well, who knows? who cares?)
but really Obama’s done about what he said he would and what could reasonably be expected. he did hesitate too long on some stuff, but by and large, he’s been really impressive. and who the hell wants Mitt Romney in office? certainly very few Republicans.
kvenlander
The very good thing about Obama continuously reaching out to Republicans for years now, is that everybody*, even the low information voters have heard the message: he is trying to get things done, but the other side is blocking everything.
Hence his good personal approval numbers. And I’m not even making the case that this is his eleventy dimensional long game chess.
*well, make that the 73%.
Brian
You just listed the reasons. There are just too damn many of them. It just gets diluted down in the both sides do it bs. This time there was no good both sides do it.
Not that easily fit the narrative at least.
Komen didn’t respond fast enough too, it allowed people time to figure out what happened, rather than hear both sound bites and go, ‘eh they both make good pts, I wonder what’s on people.com or facebook.
Little Boots
@kvenlander:
I think he let it go on far too long, but hopefully you’re right. hopefully everyone gets that John Boehner and Mitch McConnell do not give a shit, ever, about anything but their partisan advantage.
Omnes Omnibus
@Little Boots:
I think the dude has a preternatural sense of timing. It may seem too long to you because you already “got it;” others are slower.
Little Boots
@Omnes Omnibus:
hope so. I think he’s totally won already.
hopefully, the next term will not be burdened by false expectations. but maybe he really is playing the long game really well.
kvenlander
@Little Boots: Yeah, fair enough.
I hope the hapless DC Democrats are prepared to make Cantor and Boehner eat their reneging on the debt deal. Now that we’re elated about SKG showing their partisan ass and backing down, let’s make sure *everybody* knows that Republicans went back on their word and can’t be trusted.
See this TPM article:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/02/bait-and-switch-gop-leaders-renege-on-debt-limit-deal-defense-cuts.php?ref=fpblg
Jerzy Russian
Amen, Brother Cole. A-fucking men.
Little Boots
@kvenlander:
they will squirm and wriggle. Hope the Dems hold them to it until they do a tax increase. It can happen. And then they all lose.
WaterGirl
@kvenlander: What, they just get to say, never mind, we changed our minds??
Little Boots
@WaterGirl:
well not exactly really, but Dems will need to hold them to it.
fuckwit
Volunteer. Run for office. Join the local party. DO stuff, don’t just write about it. That’s what makes the difference.
Bruce S
One more thing about Komen…
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/02/03/418797/exclusive-ari-fleischer-komen-planned-parenthood/
The Raven
Yeah, we can go out and fight for a man whose biggest campaign contributor in 2008 was Goldman-Sachs.
Um, right.
Omnes Omnibus
@The Raven: Oh, fuck off, scavenger.
Little Boots
@The Raven:
as opposed to the humanoid created in the Goldman Sachs lab, yeah, i think I’ll go with the guy who got the donations.
Gus
I’d like to see us harness some of that in Minnesota this year. This isn’t getting a lot of national press, but the Republican controlled House and Senate has pushed through a divisive ballot measure to enshrine in the state constitution the “marriage is between a man and a woman” bullshit. They are now working on doing the same for requiring state IDs for voting and making Minnesota a “right to work [for lower wages and fewer benefits]” state. I’m enormously pissed because Minnesota used to be as progressive as it gets. Unfortunately we’re starting to look like Pennsyltucky, i.e. progressive cities surrounded by God bothering wingnut assholes.
Little Boots
@Gus:
yes, these are the real battles. ALEC is winning in way too many states. Not sure Walker will lose his recall, which would be a big setback in Wisconsin. these are the real battles. Obama will, I’m sure, destroy the Romneybot, but that doesn’t make things better in the Midwest and a whole lot of other places where public sector unions are being destroyed.
Aries
You had me at “I’ve”.
rikyrah
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
comrade scott's agenda of rage
@jill:
My favorite Steve Gilliard quote:
“I’m not writing to make conservatives happy. I want them to hate my opinions. I’m not interested in debating them. I want to stop them.”
Our ex-wingnut is channeling a little bit o’ Steve. I think he’d be pleased.
Odie Hugh Manatee
@WyldPirate:
One thing I prefer about Obama’s approach to dealing with the Repubs is that he has let them hang themselves. He’s given them all the rope he could, being more than fair in dealing with them as evidenced by the incessant moaning of manic progressives like yourself. Now that public opinion is souring against the Repubs due to their taking all of the rope they can and hanging themselves, especially with their choices of Presidential primary candidates, Obama is hitting back at just the right time.
If he came into office and went to war against the past administration as you wish he had then he would have been seen as arrogant and unreasonable, only making his job more difficult when he knows that the right would already be doing that for free. Despite what you think Obama has been very Presidential and that, combined with the insane antics of the right, is making him look pretty damned good compared to what the other side is offering. One thing I have noticed is that IMO Obama is all about timing and trying to do the difficult thing when the opportunity presents itself.
It sure the hell beats listening to some guy yelling his ass off and banging on the bully pulpit, demanding retribution for past wrongs that too many Americans would outright deny or rather forget about.
That’s sad but IMO it’s true.
Ruckus
This. Period.
It can not be said enough. Every time you back down or compromise with bullies, you lose. Every fucking time. Backing down, compromising, giving them your lunch money just gives them power. You may lose a battle or two when you stand up but you will win the war. And make no mistake, we are at war. We are at war for the soul of our country and the essence of what we are supposed to be about. Some one mentioned puritans in an earlier thread, may have been DougJ, just remember they didn’t leave Europe because they were being persecuted, they left so they could persecute others. And they are still here if in nothing other than spirit.
Hill Dweller
@Omnes Omnibus:
Not kidding.
The Romney camp hired Bachmann’s debate coach(Brett O’Donnell) before the FL debates. It paid dividends in the both debates when Romney effectively hammered Newt.
However, in-between the two debates O’Donnell helped Bachmann prepare for her appearance on Face the Nation. That pissed off some of the Romney camp, but the final straw was a Times piece giving O’Donnell all the credit for Romney’s improved debate performances in FL. Fee fees were hurt and egos were bruised, most prominently Romney’s, and he was sent packing.
Romney’s lived a cossetted life. When he isn’t shown the level of deference and/or reverence he is accustomed to, he lashes out.
PNW Warrior Woman
Armoring up in the PNW. This is how we do it here….just like this.
PNW Warrior Woman
Silence = Death. The Stranger breaks the silence.
boss bitch
@The Raven:
Actually it was the University of California. Goldman Sachs, who has donated near didley this time around, was second. Oh and it wasn’t the PAC, those were employee donations.
If you don’t want to support Obama that’s your business but at least get your argument against right.
opensecrets.org
Funny that you can only argue about donations from 2008.
asiangrrlMN
Fuck. Yeah. Cole.
asiangrrlMN
Fuck. Yeah. Cole.
Montarvillois
The Kormen saga continues, an exclusive from Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/02/03/418797/exclusive-ari-fleischer-komen-planned-parenthood/?mobile=nc
tamiedjr
@Hill Dweller: Was he fired before Mitt did his little “I don’t care about the poor people” thing? That was wonderful fail.
Gregory
Word.
AxelFoley
[clutches pearls]
Damn, you scared me with this, Cole.
I hope your dad is doing well, btw.
AxelFoley
@kvenlander:
This.
It pissed me off that many so-called intellectuals on the left couldn’t or wouldn’t see this.
WaterGirl
@asiangrrlMN: So glad to see you here! Just last night I wrote, on one of the posts about john’s dad, that I was missing you. It seemed like you should be there. And now here you are. I hope all is well, I haven’t heard a thing since I read all 5 of your posts about your changing life.
xian
@Omnes Omnibus: also a liar, since it was GS employees’ contributions, not institutional giving.
Rawk Chawk
Seconded. Now, could you pass this on to the Dem leadership and the white house?
AxelFoley
@Odie Hugh Manatee:
I couldn’t love this post more if I tried.
AxelFoley
@Rawk Chawk:
Guess you haven’t been paying attention. But, many on the left don’t, so what else is new?
Ruthroc
@kvenlander: I agree that Obama has been waiting it out for a reason. Those boneheads look really bad, like the dopes they are. GREAT RANT! thanks!
Charles Crehore
No more dialog! No more compromise!! ONLY WAR!!!