I'm heading off to bed this evening, preparing to rest before my big LSAT exam tomorrow morning. However, it was going to be impossible for me to fall asleep without making a very necessary post. This week has been one of the most tumultuous weeks in politics that I have ever experienced in my life (as far as I can remember) I haven't been around a lot of years and perhaps I don't know much but what I do know is that I'm completely disillusioned. My fellow progressives insist I should be pissed at the President, but he's the last of my concern. My real concerns are about the number of friends and colleagues around the country insanely upset at the President's tax "compromise" with the Republican's this week. Believe it or not, as the biggest Maddow fan out there, I was extremely disappointed in the reaction from Rachel in regards to Obama's decision to move forward on this tax plan. After Rachel elaborated on her disdain for this plan, I was floored. For months she has been defending President Obama's policies and celebrating his accomplishments, despite the difficulties of a disastrous economic downturn and right wing nut jobs hijacking the media platform. But through all of that, understanding that the Dems are weak and unwilling to fight and the Repubs obstructing with every opportunity they have, Obama has in essence failed and has sealed the fate of his presidency.

After days of listening to friends, colleagues, and of course, Rachel and Keith and my numerous exchanging of tweets with fellow progressives, I was so happy to go on to Rachel Maddow's blog this evening and see this comment of the day, which was posted and shared with her readers. It stated:

Comment of the day (so far)
By Laura Conaway - Fri Dec 10, 2010 5:00 PM EST
On the tax deal -- what else -- @Just1MoreVoice writes:

Honestly, it isn't Obama I am upset with. He has consistently tried to get the results that we progressives are looking for through what he considers to be the best approach, which is through legislation and not executive action.

I am, on the other hand VERY upset with our legislators in D.C. They had everything they needed to put really forward-thinking policies into law, and the only time we have seen actual unity from them was when they voted on this recent resolution to send a resounding "No" to the White House concerning these taxes. Why couldn't they have shown us that unity a little sooner? If they had, if the Democrats in Congress had just held the line from the start, we would not be where we are today.

Let us all remember that our President is also a professor of Constitutional Law and give him a little credit for knowing the best way to go about this, even if we wish that he would maybe abuse his authority just a little more on our behalf.

I'm relieved to read that I am not the only person that believes this. The last few days have been unbearable, surrounded by my fellow progressives who are so upset and ready to throw the President under the bus. Yes, this compromise sucks! But the arguments, which have been stated throughout the last 72 hours, with such conviction mind you, is a bit too late. President Obama did what he had to do this week because the Dems didn't do it these last two years as a majority. Let's be honest, when Obama won the presidency, his base stopped paying attention. It's infuriating to me that for months Obama has been criticized for pursuing his "agenda," but the minute he goes off that agenda and appears to be a "moderate" (which he campaigned as, so there is this is no surprise) we are still critical. I agree with Jon Stewart's segment last night. The media should not focus on our own irritation with the President, because it's obvious he's irritated with us.

My hope is that Dems and progressives finally realize what we have not done in the last two years and make sure that we get organized and fight the necessary fight and remain united. I don't know how well I'll handle the next two years with a majority of Republican's in the House of Reps. But one thing is for certain, there is no way I will handle a Sarah Palin as President in 2012.