I wonder if someone might be able to write some Satire, to compliment this reasonable well known list of rules.
Scott -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Six Rules for Criticizing Obama Over Social Security Cuts These are confusing times for liberals. Theyve just awoken from a seven-week bender to discover that their number one sacred cow President Obama wants to take a butchers knife to sacred cow # 2, Social Security. Libs are feeling angry, betrayed, and sputtery. They want to hold Obamas feet to the fire but arent sure how to do so in a way that reassures Obama that they will always have his back. Thankfully, liberals themselves have developed and relentlessly enforced a number of rules about whether, when, and how its acceptable to criticize Obama. Libs love rules almost as much as they love their rulers so hopefully this will help them get through these troubling times. 1. It is not OK to criticize Obama for something he said he would do before the election. This rule was best articulated by uber-lib David Atkins, who took to the Daily Kos in 2009 to excoriate the timing of those who dare criticized Obamas plan to escalate the war in Afghanistan in a piece titled, Where Were All You People During the Campaign? I have watched with no small shortage of puzzlement as much of the progressive blogosphere has taken the Obama Administration to task for its plans to send additional troops to secure Afghanistan from the threat posed by the resurgence of the Taliban. . . . (W)here was all this sturm und drang from the progressive blogosphere over the need to leave Afghanistan during the primary process, when all the major candidates had made their positions perfectly clear? Where were the screaming cries of agony during the campaign? You get that? As liberals will always tell you, the time to for frank criticism of their guy is during the campaign. And what was Obama saying about Social Security then? Well, in the first debate with Romney, he said, I suspect that on Social Security, we've got a somewhat similar position. And as Matt Stoller documented back in July, cutting entitlements was always a major part of Obamas agenda for his second term. Bottom line: Obama told you he was going to cut Social Security its not his fault if you were too busy monitoring GOP Twitter accounts to notice. You missed your window for sturming and dranging, so STFU. 2. Obama is smarter and knows more than you do. "I'd literally trust his judgment over my own. I think he's smarter than me, better informed, better able to understand the consequences of his actions, and more farsighted. I voted for him because I trust his judgment, and I still do." Kevin Drum, Mother Jones Why does Obama want to want to cut Social Security? We dont know but the fact remains that we are not privy to everything that Obama knows and we probably couldnt understand it if we were. Maybe Obama is banking on the fact by the Post Office will be closed by the time the cuts take effect so there wont be anyone to deliver benefit checks. Maybe he realizes that shit will be so fucked up from climate collapse that no will live to see sixty-five in the coming years. Bottom line: Obama knows what hes doing so STFU. 3. Always consider the alternatives. For those complaining about Obama, ask yourself this: Is there another politician youd prefer to cut Social Security? Because we dont live in some utopia where grandma gets to pay for food and heating oil. Your choices were Obama cutting Social Security or Romney cutting Social Security. And personally, Ill take Obama every time. At least Obama will act humble and pained about fucking over seniors. Are you honestly telling me youd prefer Romneys smirk? Bottom line: Grow up and STFU. 4. Pause to smell Obamas greatness. And take gratuitous shots at Ralph Nader. Last night, Chris Hayes took to Twitter to express his dismay that Obama was considering cuts. When friendly Tweeters responded that they were surprised that Hayes was surprised since Obama has clearly been gunning for entitlements for some time, Hayes quickly dropped his Social Security complaints and moved on to weightier matters: Honest question for lefties who think Obama is horrible. Who do you see as better, more progressive American presidents? To which Dan Savage replied, Remember President Nader? He was so awesome. (For readers unfamiliar with American history, there was no President Nader! Savage is making a brilliant, biting joke designed to belittle anyone unhappy with President Obama.) Bottom line: Grow up and STFU. And Fuck Ralph Nader. 5. Remember Obamas heart is always in the right place. If you must criticize him, do so only on tactics. As liberals will endlessly tell you, if Obama has one flaw, its that he sometimes thinks too much of people. He has, for instance, failed to recognize that the Republicans are the party of Satan. He consistently tries to bargain with the GOP and sometimes, because of his desire to promote bipartisanship, Obama will sound and act exactly like the enemy. This combination of GOP evil and Obama magnanimity occasionally leads to people getting screwed. Badly. But we can all agree that thats not what Obama really wants. So while it would probably be best if you just STFU about Social Security, please remember the following if you feel, out of some nagging sense of principle or concern for humanity, that you must say something: A. Anything bad Obama does is primarily the GOPs fault. B. You can criticize Obama for caving. You cannot criticize Obama for wanting to cut Social Security. (You might want to forget everything you read in rule # 1.) Bottom Line: Fuckin Republicans. 6. Keep your eye on the big picture. It is tempting to lash out at Obama and the Democrats for slashing caving on Social Security. But remember, Social Security is an incredibly popular program and if voters start associating Democrats with benefit cuts, thats not going to help come November, 2014. Imagine Obamas last two years in office if we win back the House and hold onto the Senate in the midterms. We could restore the Social Security cuts, ban guns, reverse climate change, and maybe even bring those Pakistani kids back to life. But thats not going to happen if you keep whining about grandma, is it? Bottom line: We love you Obama. And if we ever doubted you, thats our failing, not yours. http://firetomfriedman.blogspot.com/2012/12/six-rules-for-criticizing-obama-over.html http://firetomfriedman.blogspot.com/2012/12/six-rules-for-criticizing-obama-over.html ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:laamn-unsubscr...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:laamn-subscr...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:laamn-dig...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:laamn-ow...@egroups.com?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:la...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/laamn@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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