Rightwing Nutjobs Who Call Themselves Republicans (not Republicans):
Obama’s going to take our guns
Obama’s going to socialize the healthcare system
Obama’s going to nationalize the banking and automotive industries
Obama’s going to abolish term limits
Obama’s going to establish government control of the media
[etc.]
2012 or 2016:
Hooray for us! We STOPPED them! Victory! Victory! WOO!!!
I saw a vision of this while staring into a bowl of water.
Imaginary victories are nothing new.
Obama’s going to take our guns
Context: Urban Democrats generally are hostile to private ownership of firearms, and in particular the Democratic leadership of cities like Chicago typically enact near or actual total bans on private ownership (much less permits to carry) of handguns.
Obama’s going to socialize the healthcare system
Context: Public Option, penalization of “excessive” insurance options, demonization of private insurance companies…
Obama’s going to nationalize the banking and automotive industries
Context: How many car companies are now in significant ownership shares by public(government) funding? How invasive will the directives of the “manufacturing czar” be?
Obama’s going to abolish term limits
Okay, this one’s nuts, but who exactly is claiming this?
Obama’s going to establish government control of the media
Context: Demonization of Fox News, Mark Lloyd yada yada
Fox ‘News’ has been demonizing Democrats since long before Obama was even in the Senate. Also, note that the government bought some shares in various companies; nationalizing almost invariably entails taking the whole enchilada. And if insurance companies didn’t act like soulless monsters (see: yanking coverage for epilepsy or something like it in New York State because one guy’s care was going to be expensive), nobody would treat them like it. Anyone who thinks guns are in Obama’s top twenty priorities is delusional.
I guess I’m wondering what Left expects from The Right - total submission? I expect The Left to demonize the Free Market, Christians, The Military and Rightcentric Press. I expect The Right to demonize The Government, Socialists, Communists, Agnostics, Atheists and Leftcentric Press.
I don’t recall Teh Left rolling over/being quiet/stop bitching during Bush43, and I don’t expect that of Teh Right during Obama44.
This is a bit like expecting cartoon cats and dogs to not fight. I expect Itchy and Scratchy to continuously slug it out.
Please…
“Obama’s going to take our guns” Context: Desperate Wingnuttery
*** The man taught Constitutional Law at Chicago Community College (or something), any reasonable mind would assume he’s got a pretty frim grasp of the intent of the 2nd amendment and his limitations as president; he’s never shaken the gun control tree, in fact he’s librulized gun-toters’ rights since he’s been president; he’s got about 90 other fish that desperately need frying before he begins to muse about alienating any portion of his base.
“Obama’s going to socialize the healthcare system” Context: Desperate Wingnuttery
A program that basically expands on the ideas of Medicare and Social Security (which old folks are scared to death to live without) in order to provide for basic health of the workforce is a bad thing?
“Obama’s going to nationalize the banking and automotive industries” Context: Desperate Wingnuttery
Looks to me like the government force-fed money into the banks with nasty-tasting incentives to get solvent and pay it back ASAP, and made the Automakers beg for money with similar accountability measures. These were economy-critical industries on the verge of a collapse which, if allowed, would have done more harm to the economy than throwing them a lifeline would.
“Obama’s going to abolish term limits” Context: Desperate Wingnuttery
Sorry, made this one up. But give it time, we’ll revisit it if he gets reelected.
“Obama’s going to establish government control of the media” Context: Desperate Wingnuttery
What about FOX? Dude called 'em out for being liars, didn’t revoke their license to broadcast or yank anyone’s press pass.
And I didn’t really mean for this to devolve into a slam-fest. I’m the first to admit there’s nutters on both sides who snatch at the reins of power, none of which deserve to have a (D) or a ® after their name. I just look back to Orgs like Hezbollah or Saddam who declare VICTORY! as though they scored a knockout whenever their adversary decides against coup de grâce. All I expect from either side is professional, constructive dissent and compromise in the name of progress.
Look, we had eight years of Itchy(Democrats) yammering at Scratchy(Republicans) during Bush43.
Now we’re going to have four-to-eight years of Scratchy(Republicans) yammering at Itchy(Democrats) during Obama44.
This is what you get in a two party system - varying degrees of reasonable and unreasonable opposition/criticism.
Do you honestly expect the right/center wing to just fall in line and support policies that they oppose as part of their party platforms and philosophy?