Congress, Politics

Biden Tells Democratic Voters to “Stop Whining” and “Buck Up”

We previously discussed the disconnect between Democratic leaders and liberal voters in the increasing complaints of leaders like Vice President Biden over Democratic “lethargy.” Democrats in Washington once again seemed shocked that voters are not eager to fight for their retention. Now, Biden has added the helpful advice to Democratic voters to “stop whining” about things that they did not get in Washington and to “buck up.”

The “buck up” comment was meant as an improvement over the “whining” comment. It turned out that “whining” was not greeted by voters as an improvement over “lethargy.”

Here is the latest statement:

“And so those who don’t get — didn’t get everything they wanted, it’s time to just buck up here, understand that we can make things better, continue to move forward and — but not yield the playing field to those folks who are against everything that we stand for in terms of the initiatives we put forward.”

By “everything [we] wanted,” I assume Biden is including the fulfillment of our treaty obligations to investigate and prosecute war crimes such as torture — which the Administration blocked.

I assume it includes removing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which the Administration is trying to preserve by asking a court not to impose a national injunction freezing the policy.

I assume it includes allowing dozens of privacy lawsuits to go forward against companies, which the Administration blocked despite evidence of unlawful surveillance by the Bush Administration.

I assume it includes allowing torture victims to seek review in federal court, which the Administration has successfully blocked.

I assume it includes protecting pristine areas along the East Coast from drilling, which the Administration has fought to open up for development even after the BP accident.

I assume it includes reducing the faith-based programs of the Bush Administration which raised concerns over the separation of church and state, which Obama expanded.

Well, it includes a lot of things that democratic and independent voters wanted. What they got was a Democratic majority saw power as the end to itself rather than the means to fight for principle. For civil libertarians, “those folks who are against everything that we stand” include the Obama Administration which has been a perfect nightmare in the adoption and expansion of Bush policies.

Yet, Biden wants civil libertarians, environmentalists, and liberals to stop whining and buck up. The Administration made a cynical calculation that liberals and civil libertarians and environmentalists have no where to go and that they have to support the Democrats regardless of these obnoxious policies. Now, they are simply shocked that voters are not enthusiastic about their continuing in power.

The Democratic leadership has conveyed that the only principle that they are committed to is their retention of power. All other principles — torture, the environment, privacy, free speech — are immaterial to that one overriding goal. They just do not understand why everyone does not see it that way.

Well, I am one of those whining, lethargic voters and I cannot get myself to buck up to support leaders who turned their back on such core values. Perhaps if enough Democrats are replaced, the party may rediscover the benefit of being principled and standing for something other than their own insular interests. They need to actually represent something other than “we are not as bad as those guys.” The problem for voters is that, by retaining these leaders, we reaffirm that they cynical calculation by the White House was correct. There is no reason why Democrats should fulfill their commitments in these areas if voters do not hold them accountable. I know some on this blog may disagree, but I personally think I will stick with the whining for now.

Source: Real Clear Politics

1,014 thoughts on “Biden Tells Democratic Voters to “Stop Whining” and “Buck Up””

  1. I feel so jilted. 😉 lol Inconceivable! Never bet with a Sicilian when a lady’s affection are on the line! Damn you and your natty Cicero avatar, mespo!

    (Buddha woke up feeling extra silly.)

  2. Is there any evidence for what caused a second and third explosion in the manner to which firefighters described.

  4. Bdaman,

    I gave you a link that specifically debunks the claims of Richard Gage that you posted. There is no evidence that the collapses of WTC 1, WTC 2, or WTC 7 were due to controlled demolition and overwhelming evidence to the contrary. If you would like to discuss it (instead of your drive-by trolling), then please do so on one of the threads already hijacked by this conversation. If more people are coming to believe that the collapses are a result of controlled demolition, then it is an indication that more people are being deceived by unscientific propagandists. I repeat, there is NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OF CONTROLLED DEMOLITION IN THE WTC COLLAPSES AND SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY. This is manifestly different that the climate change debate where I have not personally considered the scientific evidence, so I just point out that your tactics and sources detract from your credibility (also, I take a position that even if everything you say is correct, anti-global warming policies are a good idea in the fight against pollution).

  5. P.S. I here they are still raising arguments in court.

    U.S. attorney: Nothing Americans can do about eligibility
    ‘Fitness of a president is political question for a very good reason’

    http://www.wnd.com/index.php/index.php?pageId=215901

    Wonder why the U.S. Attorney would bring up Fitness.

    The first invocation of the Section 4 of the 25th Amendment is on the table

    Section 4 has never been invoked. However, on two occasions it was almost invoked on President Reagan, after the March 30, 1981, assassination attempt against Reagan and in 1987 when Howard Baker took over as White House chief of staff from the fired Donald Regan. PBS reported that Baker’s team was shocked over what they heard from Regan’s staff: that “Reagan was ‘inattentive, inept,’ and ‘lazy,’ and Baker should be prepared to invoke the 25th Amendment to relieve him of his duties.”

    When asked by the Associated Press in March 1983 about White House plans to invoke Section 4 after his shooting in March 1981, President Reagan responded, “No one has ever mentioned such a thing to me.” White House Chief of Staff James Baker III countered Reagan’s statement by contending that Reagan must have forgot.

    During the Bill Clinton impeachment episode, there was talk in the White House of creating the position of a White House psychiatrist who would be empowered to ascertain the mental fitness of the president to serve. Clinton’s self-destructive sexual activities were cited as one reason for such a position. Lyndon Johnson’s war-time depression and Richard Nixon’s paranoia were also given as reasons for an “independent psychiatrist” on the White House staff. The issue returned during President George W. Bush’s term of office with reports of alcoholism and depression.

    1972 Democratic vice presidential candidate Senator Thomas Eagleton (D-MO) was stepped down from the ticket after revelations that he had been treated for mental depression. Presidential candidate George McGovern was forced to replace Eagleton with Sargent Shriver.

    A March 14, 1999, New York Times report addressed the issue of presidential psychological problems and quoted former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford as being against the idea of a White House shrink. Carter was opposed to a mandatory annual psychiatric evaluation as part of the annual physical examination of the president. He told the Times, “No — You don’t have a mandatory requirement in the law to check a President for athlete’s foot,” but he added, “I believe that mental illness should be considered with the same import as physical illness.” Ford also opposed the idea of a presidential psychiatrist, saying, “I don’t see the need for someone in that discipline being assigned specifically to the White House medical office . . . I think I was normal. I think I am still normal. If I had any problem along that line develop, the White House can acquire the best almost instantaneously.” Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) also voiced opposition, saying, “The signal to the world that the American President, the leader of the free world, is having to get advice as to his mental condition might destabilize a lot of things, including stock markets and negotiations.”

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-fifth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

  6. The best of luck and science to Mike. I will reserve my gratitude for the intrepid doctors and selfless surgical volunteers that bravely chose as their last act greater suffering for themselves in order to advance science, so that others would suffer less. They are an inspiration, and we should never forget it was people that made transplantation possible. Credit should be given where credit is due.

  7. mespo,

    I know. Having been through open heart surgery on my 1 year old granddaughter last year … the stress is off the charts.

    Anyway, everybody knows my affections belong to you … with appropriate bows and scrapes to Mrs. mespo

    (to make a deep bow with the right leg drawn back (thus scraping the floor), left hand pressed across the abdomen, right arm held aside … to show excessive politeness or servility.)

  8. I’m sure Mike’s wife is like mine. Despises him on the computer especially in his condition.

    Don’t take it personal Blouise.

  9. Thats the same thing you say about Global Warming Deniers or is that Global Climate Disruption.

    Maybe not credible to you but just like Global Warming more and more people are coming to believe this was a staged event.

    See Gulf of Tonkin incident for further details.

  10. Blouise:

    No need to fret, BLouise. Likely, just the stress talking. I am Mike S. understood the context.

  11. Bdaman,

    The Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth are a bunch of well-debunked whackjobs led by a man who thinks cardboard has the same structural properties as the WTC (that’s some impressive stupidity from an architect…). If you want to see their claims refuted, check out this site:

    http://ae911truth.info/wordpress/

    Once again we see you linking a site with little to no credibility…

  12. Oh dear, if that was Mike’s wife then I’m afraid she took my comment the wrong way as I was referring to Civil Rights marching and actions in my youth of which I had not, as yet, written. Such is blog life I guess.

    My prayers are with them all.

  13. I am a believer in the power prayer and the strength of tough, compassionate people –they may well be the same thing as most of my prayers are answered by them. Mike will get the former from me, and he has the latter in abundance. I can trust in that. Smooth sailing and a safe, speedy return to port, my virtual friend.

    ~mespo727272

  14. I don’t post here. This is Mike’s thing. I also do not plan on commenting on any of your responses if any. I have far more important things to deal with.

    Thank you from Mike for your healing thoughts. I will keep JT informed re Mike’s progress. Please do not call us. A few of you have on occasion and it was not appreciated. Throw our phone number away.

    One more thing ”
    Blouise
    1, October 12, 2010 at 11:43 am
    Mike S

    We are more than just political kindred spirits … you just don’t know it yet”

    @Blousie…. WRONG and totally out of line.
    Not a chance in hell. He’s mine. Too bad.
    Think before you say things. You never know who may be “listening”

  16. Dear Mike,

    May the “Force” be with you and your loving family during this magnificent healing transformation. Best wishes always.

    “Mahk Jchi” “Heartbeat Song” written by Pura Fe, Soni, & Jen.

    Mahk jchi tahm buooi yahmpi gidi
    Mahk jchi taum buooi kan spewa ebi
    Mahmpi wa hoka yee monk
    Tahond tani kiyee tiyee
    Gee we-ma eetiyee
    Nanka yaht yamooneah wajitse

    A hundred years have passed
    Yet I hear the distant beat of my father’s drums.
    I hear his drums throughout the land.
    His beat I feel within my heart.
    The drum shall beat
    So my heart shall beat
    And I shall live a hundred thousand years.

    1. I have been informed by the family of our friend Mike S that he is now in surgery. For those who wanted to pray, pour it on. I really appreciate his family letting us know. However, the family has asked that the members of the blog not call the house. We will remain a virtual village and they know that we are all pulling for Mike. I will convey any information as it is relayed to me.

      Thanks everyone.

      JT

  18. Slarti, BIL and other lovers of fractal geometry (or just the pretty images) I just saw this elsewhere:

    “WASHINGTON — Benoit Mandelbrot, a French-American mathematician who explored a new class of mathematical shapes known as “fractals,” has died at age 85 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the New York Times reported Saturday. … His seminal book, “The Fractal Geometry of Nature,” published in 1982, argued that irregular mathematical objects once dismissed as “pathological” were a reflection of nature.”

    http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/10/mandelbrot-fractal-geometry-dies/

  19. I am in Austin and just read that you are having surgery, Mike. I just got used to having you back on the blog and being able to read your words of wisdom. Hope your surgery is successful. We have to keep on fighting the republicans and their sympathizers. I will be thinking about you and keeping you in my prayers.

  20. Byron
    1, October 16, 2010 at 4:39 pm
    Blouise:

    “unless you want to hang out with republicans …”

    yep we are having fun and enjoying life while democrats are at the soup kitchens saving the world from democratic economic policies.

    ==========================================================

    lol … except for the fact that the democrats own the strip clubs

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