Buh-bye, Blue Dogs

It may be that some of the stuff that was going on kinda floated under the radar — that some of these people were just a little more careful than others.

On a blog with a more mixed political crowd — a former “friend” from Yahoo got incredibly silly during the primaries. Obama winning the presidency sent said friend over the edge. As is my usual thing — I try hard not to react to such people — try not to let them take me over the edge with them (I don’t always succeed).

Anyway — that former friend got so crazy — was saying things so dishonest and bigoted that some other former Yahoo posters that many left leaners considered racist started treating that person as a troll and let my old “friend” know they were no longer welcomed by anybody there.

Yes. Believe it. Unlike my former friend — other “puma” types kept their cool and went on a mission. I don’t know if it’s racism — if it was because of that attempt to win by claiming Obama was cheating left people feeling vengeful — or what — but believe it. There have been and continue to be some “enemies” among us who worked even harder than Rush Limbaugh to try to make Obama fail.

Russ Feingold having to fight hard to keep his seat — GOP pouring money into that race because vengeful Democrats gave them an opening. Sometimes Russ is a little TOO uncompromising for this “pragmatic” — and he holds one or two positions I actually don’t like — but that man is one of my very favorite politicians. He’s committed and smart and he actually investigates issues. And he’s honest — it’s rare to see him do something “expedient.” I can’t say I’ve EVER heard of him doing anything for pure political gain — for selfish political reasons.

And when we tried to stop them — warn others about them — we were called “bots” and “fascists” and “shills.”

I have a different kind of GOTV message. More and more people are realizing there was something more going on than GOP obstructionism. The GOP saw what was going on — and they did their best to capitalize on it.

I hope left leaners who aren’t feeling it after these last two depressing years — and yes — I had to work hard to keep that noise from depressing me — will shake it off and send a message to people who would hurt the team for revenge AND the GOP who thought to profit from it. I hope Democrats and left leaners — even independents who appreciate the attempt to be inclusive and don’t appreciate the people who worked to prevent that unity of purpose will get up and send a message that it didn’t work. I hope we get out and go vote as a big bold FAIL stamp on the foreheads of Teapublicans and people like my former friend.

I usually don’t admit these things — ego tripping mostly — but also not to give somebody the satisfaction of feeling that they accomplished a goal — but that friend broke my heart. Just as an example of what hate and wanting revenge can do — i’ll repeat one statement I remember. I was going to be late for work and I commented that it’s a good thing I’m generally a very committed and good worker — because I’m late a lot. I said I’m sure it’s only because once I show up — I get busy and accomplish at least as much or more than was expected of me if I had been on time. That wasn’t a boast — just a comment. I am a rather “desirable” employee. I’m not big on small talk and I don’t like “playing around” with one thing longer than necessary — so I work quickly and I’m always actually working.

Anyway — with no provocation whatsoever — that former friend chimed in with “you probably only have a job because they don’t want to risk getting sued by a disabled black woman.” And for the record — I don’t claim disability status. Since the job didn’t come with insurance — they have no idea I even have any issues. I do have issues — as most of you know — but I sought a job I knew I could do well despite those issues.

I would have laughed that off had a rightwinger said it. The “old” pnh is still very much here — I would have come back with a good slam. I can still be that “mean bitch” they said I was — lol. I didn’t respond to it at all — I had long stop responding to that person. But — every time they did stuff like that — no matter how many times — it hurt my heart.

I don’t know if they thought black folks “betrayed” the Clintons (lol) or if we all became stand-ins for Obama or what — but not a few former “friends” started saying ugly and bigoted things after Obama won. If they thought it was betrayal — I have a news flash for them. That was “team player” stuff and the tendency to be non-judgmental stuff going on — that wasn’t any special love. I couldn’t and still can’t stand Bill Clinton — but I never went around bashing him for the hell of it. I didn’t like the Monica thing but the witch hunt was wrong — so I “stood by him” — and I certainly didn’t think of going on some campaign to bring him down just because I didn’t like him.

I don’t know why I’m telling you all this — and maybe I do. I’m doing that self evaluation I spoke of. Sometimes — it’s not easy for us to see that we’re reflecting baggage. Yet — I can see that sometimes I might have been somewhat overly aggressive and careless. I don’t know if it was noticeable — but just in case it was — I’m not making excuses for it. Maybe I just wanted you guys to have a glimpse into what the anger was about — wanted you to know that it wasn’t coming from any repressed hostility I was hiding or something. And well — sharing this and “confessing” to how that stuff broke my heart might be cathartic — it may help cleanse that negativity from my spirit.

Whatever. I felt like saying it — and I’m about to hit submit.