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Hillarysworld -> We Told You So The Kool Aid Recovery Forum -> No straws left to grasp (riverdaughter) 09-27-09 medical doctor & Obama fanatic has lost HOPE in O's CHANGE
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TOPIC: No straws left to grasp (riverdaughter) 09-27-09 medical doctor & Obama fanatic has lost HOPE in O's CHANGE
freespirit


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No straws left to grasp (riverdaughter) 09-27-09 medical doctor & Obama fanatic has lost HOPE in O's CHANGE
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This is priceless.  This guy bought the hope & change hook, line, and sinker.  Now, that kool-aid doesn't taste so good - worried about O's version of health care reform.


No straws left to grasp
Posted on September 27, 2009 by Stateofdisbelief

I recently met up with a friend I haven’t spoken to since the primary.  He’s the same age as me, and a successful doctor; but not the general MD type.  He’s one of those new-agey, alternative medicine, holistic medicine docs who graduated from that bastion of liberalism, UC Berkeley.  Anyhow, Mark (names have been changed to protect the innocent) was a kool-aid glugger of the worst kind.  The last conversation we had involved him telling me that he was supporting Obama over Hillary because “it was time to end the dynasties.”  After arguing for quite some time over many of the same points we are all too familiar with here, I decided to salvage my sanity and walk away from our friendship.   However, on this day our paths crossed and we decided to grab a coffee to ‘catch up.’
Not wanting to broach the subject of politics, I asked about his kids, he asked about my daughter.  We talked about the still-unsigned Pennsylvania budget.  We discussed our recent family vacations.  Unfortunately, with his occupation, the subject of healthcare was bound to enter the conversation; and so it did.  And when it did, the disillusionment of this former Obama supporter was palpable.  “I’m really worried about this healthcare plan they’re talking about” he said.  In his circles he was hearing about provisions that may not be on our layperson’s radar which impact his ability to customize treatments for his patients.  “I’m afraid that it’s going to create a system where we’re forced to treat everyone with a standard protocol.”
We discussed his focused concerns briefly and then I went in for the kill.  “What about the rest of Obama’s performance? Are you still enamored with him?” I asked.
Looking down, he responded, “I’m really disillusioned with him.  He’s just carrying on what Bush started.  And this healthcare nonsense is maddening.  I’m sick over the whole thing.”
With this I unashamedly launched into my tirade.  “You were the one who repeated all of the garbage about Hillary during the primary.  You and your candidate of “hope and change” who would fix everything that was wrong in our country.  You didn’t care that he had nothing in the way of experience for you to base this on.  You should’ve known better…you should’ve known  better!”
“Yes, but Hillary failed at healthcare!  She did everything in secret!” He tried to defend.
“Jeezus Mark, what television network are you getting your talking points from today?  What exactly do you know about what happened in the 90s that you haven’t gotten from the talking heads?  You’re a smart guy!  Use your head forchrissakes!”
People were beginning to stare and so I thought it might be best to lower the volume.  Mark was still looking down at the floor, dejected and defeated was written all over his face.
“Look, let me refresh your memory” I started.  “Bill Clinton was the president that wasn’t supposed to be.  The “plan” at the top was for H.W. Bush to have his second term.  But along came this smooth talking Governor from Arkansas.  They thought they had their bases covered.  They figured the Gennifer Flowers tabloid scandals would do him in.  But they didn’t.  They then threw their spoiler Ross Perot in the mix.  But still he prevailed.  Except it wasn’t by a majority and …”
“I know, I know, I voted for Clinton…two times” he interrupted.
“Yes,” I said “but you had amnesia, and piled on Hillary with the rest of the Obama crowd.  You should’ve known better!”
By this time I was again raising my voice and garnering attention from those sitting around us, so I took it back down a few decibels.
“…but let me continue with my original point.  Being elected by less than the majority put Bill in a difficult position.  He was opposed by both Republicans and Democrats and he didn’t have the filibuster proof majority that Obama does now.  So he worked, and he gained the respect of the American people.  The people recognized that he was on our side and that’s why his approval ratings soared and his re-election was overwhelmingly supported by the voters.  But he was the president that wasn’t in the “plan.”  Congress fought him on everything.   They fought him from both sides on healthcare, that’s why it failed.  Not because he didn’t want it.  See, you can’t even tell me what Obama wants, because all he says is what’s ‘on the table.’  He has no firm convictions, no line in the sand, no absolutes and he keeps talking about bi-partisanship despite the republicans telling him to pound sand and his super-majority in Congress.  He had the backing of the Democratic elite.  Bill didn’t.  So tell me why we’re getting such a crappy offer on healthcare, huh?  Why?”
Shaking his head he said, “I don’t know.  I just hope at this point it’s not horrible.”
So there you have it folks.  This disillusioned Obama supporter wants so badly to hold onto his vision of hope, change, and styrofoam Greek columns, he was willing to set the bar so low for this president that “not horrible” is an acceptable outcome.
We ended the conversation with his request that I “forgive.”
“Forgive what?” I inquired.
“Forgive all of the people you think wronged you in this election.  It’s not good for your health.  It can cause physical problems if you don’t let go.”  I assumed it was the doctor in him worrying about my health.
“Oh, no.  No forgiveness will come from me.  At least not until everyone who supported this guy and threw our only real chance at meaningful healthcare reform under the bus apologizes to me and admits how stupid and naïve they were to be sucked in by a media-created illusion.  Everyone who endorsed the sham of a primary is guilty of every ill that comes upon our children’s future because of it.  Forgive?  I don’t think so.”
With that, I stood up and bent forward to give him a hug.  “I’ll see you around” I said; and then I left.  I wonder where the bar will be set the next time I see him.
Yeah, I’m still mad.  Get used to it.
http://riverdaughter.wordpress.com/2009/09/27/no-straws-left-to-grasp/


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Carolyn_Rodham


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Ah, the sweet taste of, "I told you so."

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Mmm, and yet I think her friend would still vote for BO in 2012.  BO supporters are pretty committed to this presidency.  They usually reject evidence that does not portray BO in a positive way.  On that note, I'm in the middle of reading a chapter about self-justification from The Social Animal by Elliot Aronson and his discussion of cognitive dissonance helped me understand some of what is going on regarding the way people think about BO.  Here are some quotes I thought were interesting:

(p. 178) "...cognitive dissonance is a state of tension that occurs whenever an individual simultaneously holds two cognitions (ideas, attitudes, beliefs, opinions) that are psychologically inconsistent."

(p. 183) "...information campaigns are relatively ineffective when they attempt to change deep-seated attitudes....If people are committed  to an attitude, the information the communicator presents arouses dissonance; frequently, the best way to reduce the dissonance is to reject or distort the evidence.  The deeper a person's commitment to an attitude, the greater his or her tendency to reject dissonant evidence."

(p.184) "...people are not passive receptacles for the disposition of information.  The manner in which they view and interpret information depends on how deeply they are committed to a particular belief or course of action.  Individuals will distort the objective world in order to reduce their dissonance."

(p. 185)  "Dissonance-reducing behavior is ego-defensive behavior; by reducing dissonance, we maintain a positive image of ourselves--an image that depicts us as good, or smart, or worthwhile."

(p.186) Subjects in studies did not remember in a rational-functional manner.  "They tended to remember the plausible arguments agreeing with their own position and implausible arguments agreeing with the opposing position."

(p. 189) "...after decisions, people try to gain reassurance that their decisions were wise by seeking information that is certain to be reassuring."


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Alex


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There are some really helpful, thoughtful, and juicy comments at the site:

http://riverdaughter.wordpress.com/2009/09/27/no-straws-left-to-grasp/

Thanks, FreeSpirit!wink

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Hillarysmygirl16


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LMAO the sound of the koolaid wearing off.

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