Over the last couple of weeks, somewhere around 1200 neighborhood canvassers took to the streets preaching the message of trillion-dollar debt and generational theft. They were recruited from the President’s campaign email list of supporters, creating all sorts of questions about the place of politics in the Executive Branch. But come together they did, eventually collecting about 200,000 signatures to support the bailouts. These workers are arguably the most politically active Democrats in the country right now, with their massive ‘get out the vote’ efforts last fall and the willingness to come out of the woodwork again now. Citizens with less political efficacy in the middle certainly haven’t seen enough to convince them to take part in the persuasion, but what should we make of the dissent of politically active Republicans? To hear the liberal talking heads lately, one might believe that all of the wealthy, uncaring members of the GOP are watching the fall of the economy with joyous hearts.

The activists answered the DNC’s call to support the President’s efforts – does that make them more patriotic? Rush Limbaugh took a stab at that question, stating a desire for Obama to embarrass himself and get out of the way for a real leader in 2012, and he received a war comprised of personal attacks for his efforts. His initial statements were admittedly too brash to ward off such questions, but the resulting PR campaign was way over the top. Obscure billboards and hypocritical attacks (by leaders and the rank-and-file) attempted to paint the Right as a bunch of do-nothings who were standing in the way of success. No one bought it.

Limbaugh’s ratings have soared (so have those of FOX News) and the fundraising windfall that was expected never came. Considering all of that money spent to paint Limbaugh this way and that, as well as the time wasted pushing the issue in the media, the whole mess should be taken as a net loss for the Democrats – people understood that helping Obama to fulfill the most liberal of his campaign promises was not the same as supporting the Office of the President. So far, the Obama administration has notably accomplished three things, generally speaking:

• Pass the stimulus package, including the takeovers of several private enterprises, with more on the way
• Appoint a half-dozen tax cheats to his cabinet, and allowing those who wouldn’t resign to join in anyway
• Undo as many of President Bush’s executive orders as possible, while also threatening to release many of his confidential memos on sensitive topics

Where in this plan am I supposed to feel a swell of patriotism and pitch in? Is it the part where he disregarded the actions of the previous President? Or is it where he set a precedent of tax fraud being acceptable. Actually, with the 15th coming up quickly I think I could get behind that one.

Bobby Jindal doesn’t think that expectation should exist, and he said as much at the NRCC fundraiser where he called out President Obama for seeking the most partisan and politically-motivated goals so early in his administration. Instead of finding lasting solutions to complex economic questions, we’ve been given a trillion-dollar band-aid and Obama has moved on to releasing torture memos, The Tonight Show and raising his first tax to pay for the beginnings of nationalized healthcare. Governor Jindal has pointed out more specifically than Rush that the hope is not for the American government to fail, but for Obama himself to fail. It would be one thing for him be working in the best interest of Americans, as per his job description, but his actions thus far have been absurdly politically motivated. Are we, as patriotic Americans struggling as anyone else in this climate, supposed to rally behind the DNC takeover of the Oval Office?

Looking at the poll numbers being passed around over the weekend, Jindal’s sentiment seems to have struck a chord with Americans. The Obama Presidency is now the most divisive administration in history, breaking cleanly along party lines. The country doesn’t believe that Obama is working for the betterment of America, but for the advancement of the Democratic Party. This is why the Limbaugh character assassination never took off – those who bought it already knew about and didn’t like him, and those who didn’t understood exactly what he was saying. There was no one left in the middle for the complainers to sway, with the administration acting swiftly and aggressively to push out anyone who dared disagree. There is no longer any middle ground with this regime, nor even a nonpartisan policy where one might find common ground. All we have left are those who agree with the drastic actions taken and those who are appalled. With half of the country opposed to his choices on the issues, there is certainly no consensus that his actions are in the best interest of the country. But somehow it is still wrong to express one’s disagreement with that. So I say that if ignoring those Facebook canvassers is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.

Last 5 posts by Gideon D'Assandro

• The Reality of Racial Politics - August 17th, 2009
• Thank God Obama's President - August 3rd, 2009
• Health Care Coverup - July 23rd, 2009
• The Suppressed EPA Report’s Effect on Healthcare - July 12th, 2009
• Social Conservatism Going Forward - July 5th, 2009