I may disagree with some of what President Obama has done, or the way he did it, but he’s sane and intelligent and I think he’s trying his best to reverse our downward spiral from eight years of Junior Bush, selected by over 400 eminent historians as the Worst President in Our History. Compare the calm and serious Obama to the loopy three-ring circus act the Republicans are putting on for the benefit of the Teabaggers, bigots and religiously-insane on the right. Also consider what the Disaster Crapitalist Madhatter Republicans have done to Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Florida and other states — they are worse than a plague of locusts. Unfortunately, even after all that’s happened just since 2010, there are still some who call themselves progressive who are more angry at Obama than they are at the Republicans, their opinions often based on falsehoods, delusions, misunderstandings or distortions of Obama’s record and the way our system of government works. Those would be the ’emoprogs’ described below.
An Extended Definition Of “Emo Progressive,” And Why It Matters
by Shoq, September 11, 2011
Emo Progressive (or “emoprog”) is a self-described liberal or progressive, often with strong libertarian leanings, whose primary political orientation is to be angry, dissatisfied and unhappy with the state of the nation at any given time, because in their view, liberal policies are not being implemented quickly enough or articulated forcefully enough. They have particular contempt for Democratic presidents.
Emoprogs are ideological purists who disdain compromise and incremental change, which they see as “selling out” classical liberal ideas like full employment, an end to all wars, state secrets, and liberal social policy.
Emoprogs dislike Republicans but reserve their greatest disdain for Democratic presidents, whom they relentlessly attack for not meeting a set of ideological goal posts that are constantly adjusted to ensure that the president will be deemed a disappointment, “not progressive enough” or “just like a Republican” no matter what policy achievements are made.
Emoprogs routinely dismiss or ignore congress’ role in making or impeding policy, believing presidents can simply “use the bully pulpit” and “fight” in order to overcome constitutional or legislative obstacles.
Emoprogs have a strong affinity for third party politics as a way to punish Democratic presidents. They are especially hostile to President Barack Obama and deem anyone who expresses a lack of ill will toward him to be “Obamabots” and enemies of liberalism.
Example 1: After Eric Holder announced congress had blocked the Justice Department from trying 9/11 mastermind KSM in civilian court, social networks lit up with emo progressives complaining that President Obama had broken his campaign promise to end military tribunals. Their criticism did not mention congressional Democrats who helped block Holder.
Example 2: Emoprogs dismissed healthcare reform as a failure, saying President Obama should have used the bully pulpit to achieve a single payer system, despite the fact that Sen. Harry Reid made it clear that such a plan could not pass the Senate.
Read more here.
Also read:
A Short List of the Progressive Achievements of the Obama Administration
