For years, we have had a spirited debate over whether civil libertarians could vote for Barack Obama after his expanding of Bush anti-privacy measures, “hit list” policy, refusal to prosecute officials for torture, and other actions. For those who now oppose Obama, there is now a theme song to express their angst and anger. Even for those who still support Obama, you have to admit it is pretty funny.
The parody of Gotye’s hit “Somebody that I used to know” is the impressive work of Justin Monticello and Ryan Newbrough who have lost faith in Obama.
The song includes a couple of digs at Romney like “You took Obamacare so far. But you left me like a dog strapped on Romney’s car.”
Here are the lyrics:
We could have been so much more than just friends with healthcare benefits
Now and then I think of that election day, November
When you won I felt so happy I could die
Chugged a fifth, paraded in the street
And I thanked God that Palin wasn’t Veep
It felt like change and it’s a hope I still remember
You can get addicted to a certain kind of message
Like this is change we can believe in, yes we can
But college ended, had to pay my rent
At least you’re the first gay president
But the change I got was that I moved in with my mother
Because you won and then you cut me off
Now your speeches never soar as high as unemployment
You took Obamacare so far
But you left me like a dog strapped on Romney’s car
Even the shirt that was on my back
Is owned by China or being arbitraged by Goldman Sachs
Just send in a Predator Drone
‘Cause now you’re not Obama that I used to know
Now you’re not Obama that I used to know
Now I need Obama that I used to know
Sometimes I think that Peace Prize winners shouldn’t have a kill list
But you dumped Bin Laden in the sea so maybe it’s all good
Said you’d rouse my economy
Your big package didn’t stimulate me
Still my American Idol, though
When you sang, “I’m so in love with you”…Obama that I used to know
But you won and then you cut me off
Made out like you’d close Guantanamo and we got nothing
Relocation shouldn’t be that hard
Just strap the prisoners in on top of Romney’s car
No, I don’t need you to legalize
Just keep the feds away from folks like you when you were younger
There’s nothing that you didn’t toke
But now that’s just Obama that I used to know
Obama
That I used to know
Obama
That I used to know
Obama
That I used to know
In 2012 I need Obama that I used to know
Lotta,
Goed judgement, how are your power use talents. Are you born in America? You are accustomed to working at odd hours I assume. Good candidate.
Rafflaw,
I am using you to spin off a joke, nothing personal.
Perfect, with the exception of me of course. Common failing we all have.
Well said lotta. Aren’t all elections a choice between two or more candidates? In my 61 years, I can’t remember any perfect candidates or Presidents.
HenMan, Its hell in a hand basket fast or slow, if that’s where you think it’s going then whatever buys you time to marshal your forces, plan your get away, stockpile your guns and freeze dried food, etc. is good, right?
(That’s not to minimize the attraction of bringing on the chaos sooner rather than later, just to see how it shakes out..,)
I had a rare opportunity in ’08, I got to vote FOR a candidate for president.
This time I get to go back to voting AGAINST a presidential candidate.
The right has nothing to offer in foreign policy and their domestic policy is a prescription for absolute disaster. I thought I’d have a problem with holding my nose and voting this time but no, I don’t. No principled stand for me. With the disenfranchisement of as many as five million voters, the abstentions, the third party voters and the voting machines, this election could actually be won (or stolen again) by a party that wants us to declare war with Iran and return the state of the citizenry to something akin to 16th century serfs while further favoring the gentle class.
So color me a whore to pragmatism. Throwing Obama out because he doesn’t measure up to my romantic ideal or the promices he made just isn’t an option. LOL, I’ve fallen for handsome (but deceptive) strangers before, you can’t let being disappointed get in the way of a future good decision. 🙂
Swarthmore Mom-
You have an endless supply of bad reasons why we have no choice but to vote for Obama.
Will your love affair end when you are being loaded into a boxcar, or will you just say, “This is a much nicer boxcar than Romney would have used?”
Karl,
Even if I misunderstood your comment, please tell me how abstaining from voting solves any f your real and imagined problems.
Sharon: “…and he had a majority in Congress for his first two years in office, hasn’t passed one single budget plan…..that’s a pretty bleak record to run on..”
Not quite- try 7 weeks. Sullivan is not a liberal BTW, he is a conservative apologist in disguise be even he is correct on occasion:
http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/06/the-big-lies-of-mitt-romney-v-obama-had-a-super-majority-in-congress-for-two-years.html
How can somebody be criticized for voting their choice or choosing not to vote? What’s THAT about?
KF,
“Raff: You apparently didn’t read my post carefully because I said the opposite and have been saying the same thing over & over ever since Eric Holder’s speech at NWU this spring, namely, that Turley will definitely NOT be voting for Obama again despite the fact that all his guest bloggers WILL be as they cannot conceive of principled abstention.”
That’s more than the second time you’ve made this baseless allegation against the guest blogger’s in general and against me in specific. I’ve said on numerous occasions that I won’t be voting for Obama. Got that? I. WILL. NOT. VOTE. FOR. OBAMA. Which does not mean I’m voting for Mitt and the Randian either. While some GB’s have indicated their choice, others have not said who they are voting for at all. In your zeal to criticize, you’ve once again let your ass overload your mouth. If you’re this sloppy with facts after you’ve been corrected multiple times, why should anyone consider what you say credible?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/13/game-of-thrones-author-republicans_n_1773283.html Games of Thrones author blast republicans for voter suppression. idealist, I saw the Ohio voter suppression law on Maddow, thanks.
BettyKath,
I meant the Peace prize. They stood at the WH with Clinton on another occasion. Had forgotten that Shimon had got the prize too. And Rabin got the bullet from a zealot.
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SwM.
Checking the details of voting schedules in Ohio shows accdg to ThinkProgress that dem majority counties have stopped all early voting after working hours.
On the contrary rep counties have generous open hours.
AG says cause are county budget constraints. Where the hell is superman when we need him. If PACs can buy ads, then Soros can hold the polls open for dem counties. But the AG and county boards would find another excuse.
Time for a revolt. National dem vote boycott?
You realize that if Obama wins you will be getting the blame the next four years?
Karl, Probably the one issue that Obama and Romney don’t differ enough on is national security, but the majority of Americans will not be voting on that issue.
There will be a lot of forced abstention, too, due to the newly passed voter id laws. if Romney and Ryan win through lack of partcipation, Americans that are not extremely wealthy will suffer.
Swarthmore: It’s crazy to think that a majority of people faced with the lousy choice of austerity or NOT having the right of habeas corpus, that is, being ruled by the equivalent of a medieval King who can decree the deaths of the citizenry without judicial oversight — that people would give up their inalienable rights.
Only you, Spindell, Esposito and a handful of others on this Constitutional Law blog are still giving a vote of confidence this November to a man who Turley argues has done more harm to the Constitution & Civil Liberties than any President in US History.
Raff: You apparently didn’t read my post carefully because I said the opposite and have been saying the same thing over & over ever since Eric Holder’s speech at NWU this spring, namely, that Turley will definitely NOT be voting for Obama again despite the fact that all his guest bloggers WILL be as they cannot conceive of principled abstention.
707, Rabin, Perez and Arafat. No Clinton
Cute, very cute.
But where’s the one showing what is very certain how we will have it with Ryan (a defining man) and fumble Romney. Romney, the man who only knows where his money is. All else is vague. That is why he chose Ryan, to keep him on course.
I don’t like riding their drone. Just the thought both scares me and makes me nauseous. Fear can do that to you.
With Obama, we know how bad he has been. Not how bad he can be. But a guy who has toked can’t be all bad.
BettyKath,
Did not Rabin and what’s his name from the Palestinian side share a Nobel Peace Prize?
Or was it just the stage with Clinton?
Bettykath,
Sometimes you just never know what you’re going to get. Life like love has an iconic twist some days.