Sean the Liberal

I'm sometimes accused of being a liberal. Often I think the only criteria you need to be one is to have voted for Obama which is ridiculous. I'm not going into what a liberal is and what a conservative is. I've done that already. What's frustrating me is the reaction to the Massachusetts election results. In GOP soundbite after soundbite, I hear that this is some sort of referendum on Obama's policies. Huh? This was one state out of fifty! It's not like people against Obama quickly moved to Massachusetts to vote. Massachusetts is a state that has had a democrat in the senate for over 40 years! I think they're entitled to try something else if they want. The thing they are really frustrated about (according to exit polls) is congress. I agree with them wholeheartedly. What's interesting to me is that by losing that one vote, now Congressmen/women who represent 37 percent of the population control the fate of the party that represents 63 percent. Think that's how it was intended to work?

I want to go on record with some criticisms and comments (even against democrats as I promised my dad that I would):

• Democrats in Congress suck. There I said it. They have repeatedly shown that they have no leadership whatsoever. They check the polls as often as John Edwards checks his hair. They are so scared of the liberal left (which couldn't unify behind a single strategy if it's life depended on it) that they half-heartedly do nothing while pretending to do everything. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid should be ashamed that they can't keep their peeps in line and on message. Then again, I guess you need a message to stay on first, don't you.
• Regardless of party, Congress seems to have one thing on its mind. Getting re-elected. It has nothing to do with helping the country and everything to do with helping the right people so that you can get re-elected. This has got to change. We need term limits on some of these old fogies in office who are so out of touch with REAL America that all they have to go on is poll results and ignorant idiots outside their offices with picket signs.
• GOP in Congress has it's eyes set on getting a Republican in office in 2012. What better way to do so than to block everything that's good for this country because God forbid Obama can say in the 2012 election that he was able to solve some problems in his first term. Better to let him be a failed presidency. Even if that means you and I suffer.
• I'm very tired of hearing how the GOP takes care of the middle class. BULLSHIT. The GOP cares about their rich, factory owning campaign contributors (and now the corporations themselves... thank you Supreme Court) so they can stay wealthy and keep donating. Meanwhile, your benefits get cut, your salary gets cut (or at minimum doesn't keep up with inflation)... but the stockholders are happy and the executives are bonused and isn't that what matters?
• This whole talk of "cutting taxes to spur the economy". Really? We had 8 years of that under Bush Jr and our deficit skyrocketed. Not to mention that those 8 years LED TO the economic meltdown we're trying to get out of. Cutting taxes to spur the economy is a legitimate economic strategy, but it must be balanced with a giant national debt.
• If I hear one more person say Obama raised their taxes, I'm going to scream! I was self employed for six months last year. During that time, I racked up a pretty serious tax bill. Thanks to current tax law, I was able to take some pretty serious tax write offs. It lowered my bill down A LOT. Now, all that aside, do you really think we can pay for two wars and out of control GOP spending for the past 8 years without raising taxes? Everyone who's up in arms about paying more taxes should have been out there with me five years ago in San Francisco when I was protesting the war on a human emotion because THAT is where all the piping happened that we now have to pay the musician for.
• I do have some criticism for Obama. He's not LEADING us by way of leading congress. His standoffish attitude about Congress is like letting 4 year olds play with matches. They need supervision, they need leadership, they need deadlines and consequences. All of Obama's best intentions will fall to the wayside because of a spineless set of democrats and an arms-crossed, ears plugged GOP intent on sabotaging his success.
• Defense of Marriage act? Don't Ask Don't Tell? Letting the healthcare debate happen behind closed doors when he specifically said it would be on C-SPAN, Really? Not pursuing criminal investigations regarding torture? C'mon Obama. This stuff is simple. You either promise it and do it or you promise it and don't. If you want to get re-elected, I suggest you put a few more checks in the "do it" column. Either that, or hope that the GOP puts Sarah Palin against you in 2012.

Instead of you vs me. Instead of Democrats vs. Republicans. Instead of Conservative vs. Liberal, or pro-life vs pro-choice, or gay marriage vs no gay marriage, why don't we all just work together as Americans to solve the bigger goals we share. The you vs me stuff is exactly where the politicians want us to be. It keeps us distracted while they continue taking money from us and getting wealthier and wealthier. Whether you're GOP or Democrat or independent. Write your congress person and tell them: "Work together to solve our problems, or get your resume brushed up."

I feel much better now. Sort of.