Is Liberal Gloating Going Too Far?

Yes, Obama won, writes lefty pundit, but there's no need to rub it in others' faces

In olden days, it was considered rude to be excessively immodest about one's accomplishments. But that was then. This is now.

Katherine Goldstein at Slate writes of the "liberal schadenfreude" she believes has reached epic proportions in the wake of Romney's defeat last week. After confessing to her own "hysterical," misty-eyed reaction to Kerry's defeat in 2004, which she admits could stir a sense of well-deserved revenge in Obama's re-election, she tells fellow liberals to cool it with the jabs at Republican-voting Americans.

"If there is one thing in this country that liberals and conservatives can agree on, it's that we live in a deeply divided nation," writes Goldstein. "I'd like to think that most people wouldn't dare say to a friend, colleague, or relative the mean-spirited gloating hatefulness that has become common in the last few days."

What is she referring to exactly? Pieces like this, dubbed "My Ten Favorite Kinds of Right-Wing Temper Tantrums," which feature's the GOP's elephant mascot appearing to put a gun to its head. Oh, and the racially charged, beyond-dog-whistling website "White People Mourning Romney," which it's safe to assume needs no explanation as to its content.

Via Slate.

Posted Nov 11, 12:30pm PST.

Do you agree that "Liberal Schadenfreude" is a problem?

[GetAwake]

Nowhere near as much of a threat as the "Liberal Agenda"...

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

@Neo_NtheMatrix - P.S. I meant to say for a week. I wouldn't want Dell to go out of business. But if a liberal actually had to hold a job of some consequence for a whole week, they'd have a vague idea of how the world works.

[Sonny]

@Neo_NtheMatrix That is 100% pure---SILLY!....And you know it!

[basedgod00]

no because if romney won then they would do the same its crazy because b4 obama republicans talked so much trash and now they lost they want to be all in ther feelings just take it in the face #4moyears

[DARSB]

I'm not so sure the worst any liberal might say would equal the frenzied cannibalism inside the GOP right now.

[Jim49418]

Really?
The fiscal cliff that is upon us in just a few weeks is a reality that you refuse to acknowledge.
Still Blaming Bush,........
You can gloat all you want to, but facts are stubborn things.
Just ask Petraeus!

[DARSB]

@Jim49418 You know, the quality of conversation tends to improve if both participants respond to what was actually said, not to what one side wishes was said.

[Jim49418]

@DARSB exactly!

[LetsAllBeHappy]

just because you have an answer for everything does not make you right-the words you choose are unnecessary-they are the words of a person who thinksthat the use of certain words or expressions make them smart.

[LetsAllBeHappy]

@LetsAllBeHappy -that was for @DARBS

[MBernard]

Remember how much was said against Obama before the election? Do you know how much worse it'd be coming from right wing nuts if Obama had lost??? Pay back's bitch.

[LALibertarian]

I've got to ask, why did you vote for Obama?(If you are willing to do so.) I've spoken with many voters who did and they cannot give me a valid reason.(One person said because he's black, and I respect her honesty. Another said because he's much cooler, which who can deny?). I'm a Christian, and I considered voting for him due to his personal faith; however, I voted Third Party. I'm not looking to demean each other, political parties, candidates, or beliefs. I'm curious and in search for an honest answer.(And, please don't throw Bush up. We both know when he had his faults, they were big.)

[MBernard]

@LALibertarian Actually, I have many reasons as to why I voted for Obama & some other reasons are b/c of who he's up against. First, he's a democrat. I'd never vote for a republican in my life. Second, b/c of his ideology of equality & fairness. He appointed a woman as one of the justices, he even appointed the woman who ran against him in the primaries. He even appointed republicans when he first took office. His vision, both economics & social freedom for America is much bigger & broader than his opponent. another reason I voted for him, b/c of Romney's commitment to ungovern corporate privilege. I was really terrified at the idea of a Romney's presidency b/c he would undo all the progress that was done the last 4 yrs. his idea that he thinks he can run a country like a company was one factor that made me vote for Obama. Last thing, I do not vote against my interests. I have nothing in common with Romney and b/c Romney doesn't believe in himself, was another scary thing, he feels he can say whatever he wanted to say depends on the audience not his core beliefs. That comes across as fake.

[MRMacrum]

@LALibertarian - Are you the "decider" of what is a valid reason? If so, I would say no matter what I say, it will probably not meet your stringent requirements. But hey, I like to spout off, I'll give it a shot,
__________

The two Parties are but two sides of the same coin. Survival is the primary objective of either side. Their hunting ground is finite. Both have to be concerned with who controls that hunting ground before any other concern. I definitely consider Obama our best chance, maybe our only chance at the moment to turn back the group I feel is more concerned with exploiting that hunting ground than maintaining it. But do not kid yourself, they both want to control it.
__________

Does that work for you?

[methinks]

@MBernard Your first reason negates everything else written after it: "First, he's a democrat. I'd never vote for a republican in my life."

To rephrase that statement: "I'm a bot. I'm programmed to only push the Dem button in the voting booth."

I also say the same for Republicans who only push the R button as well.

[MBernard]

@methinks Yeah, we'll, good. Since I've been living, NO republicans have ever made their case for me so why should I waste my vote on them?

[martydotcom]

GOP firing easily replaceable employees like David from Vegas did purely out of spite is worse than gloating

[CATTLEPROD]

Funny thats at a gas station. Is the owner still going to be happy when mobs set in after gas gets and stays at 5 dollars a gallon?

[Penn1699]

Why do you think he's so happy?! He's counting the money he will make!

[texas_cutie75]

@Penn1699
Gas stations don't make much in gas, the fluctuations in prices make it difficult. The station purchases gas for an amount, but they have to go by prices set everyday, usually losing money on that fuel delivery. That is why the stuff in the store is so expensive, its an offset.

[bck9900]

@texas_cutie75 SHhh don't tell them the truth, then they lose yet another thing to bash Obama about. Or how oil production is UP within the United States...guess who has soared to second place in oil production? Thats right! The United States!

[Penn1699]

@texas_cutie75 thank you for the lesson.

[Penn1699]

@bck9900 first of all to me both parties are to blame. Second you just keep on believing the rhetoric and fantasizing your superiority. That's ok with me.

[David944]

I mourn the death of liberty you celebrate the birth of tyranny and the destruction of the U.S. economy. I would gladly vote for Herman Cain over any of the commie whites in the democrat party. I did vote for Cain in the Georgia primary, while all the libs were calling him Uncle Tom and a traitor to his race.

[marine1]

they went after Cain because they knew he was the real threat to obama.

[Denizen_Kate]

@marine1 - Cain a threat to Obama? Good one! I knew you had a sense of humor!:)

[David944]

@Denizen_Kate You must be racist against free thinking African Americans. My son’s black boss is a lot like Herman; he had to lay my son off a few weeks ago. I don’t blame him I blame obama policies. By the way I know him personally and he is a great guy.

[Denizen_Kate]

@David944 - my assessment of Cain is not due to racism. You don't know me, so don't judge. Free-thinking is not the adjective I would use to describe Cain. Perhaps inept? Out of his depth? I'm willing to accept that he's a nice guy, just not up to the job of president IMO. I'm no more racist towards Cain than you are towards Obama.

[Equality7-2521]

Conservatives will have the final word as the U.S. sinks as a has-been country when the Obama Agenda achieves its purpose of destroying the United States saying, "Look at what you did to us. Have you no Shame?"

[Tralee]

Yep, we will, we will be able to say, sorry, you bought the pig in a poke, you now own the bad economy, the unemployment, the youths living home with Mommy and Daddy until they are 30, people having a few part-time jobs rather than one good paying one and a president who will probably still be blaming Bush for his own failures the day he leaves office. Voting PRESENT is not leading.

[AceLuby]

And when the apocalypse doesn't happen? What are you going to say then?

[Equality7-2521]

@AceLuby Doesn't Happen? Sweetheart, it's HAPPENING NOW! 1st signs have appeared. Lay-offs due to Obamacare. Investors leaving the Stock Market. Didn't take long. When the situation gets really bad, American People, as Hayek predicted in 'The Road to Serfdom,' will look for a strong man to take charge (Obama), and then you will have a Soviet-style socialist state. The handwriting is on the wall. Turn off the TV and read it.

[AceLuby]

@Equality7-2521 Care to provide real evidence of your claims? Do you even know what communism is? Can you describe how Obama would single handedly do that?

[Tralee]

@AceLuby Just sit back Ace and watch it happen, what to do we have now, 3 or 4 things the WH covered up before the election? How many more will there be? Notice the stock market sinking? Wait and see what the next unemployment number is, betcha it'll be over 8%, again. O puts in his tax wish, watch layoffs occur and more joblessness and another depression and O will continue to blame Bush. Uh huh, yeah, sure was bad under Bush, we averaged $5,000 more a year in salary, until the housing bust, unemployment averaged about 5%, the stock market soared and dang it, people were happy, gas was cheap, we could purchase and sell a house and use the proceeds of our own money for less. Yep, this is soooooooooo much better. So, YOU own it pal, whatever happens, don't whine, don't blame Bush, look to the supposed leader, it's his economy now.

[FollowTheMoney]

Not a problem, just bad forum.

[martydotcom]

Think this subject selection by Politix can best be described as "mental masturbation"

[Lpguy]

To be honest i have not even noticed it. But I don't know what they would be celebrating anyway, they re-elected an enemy of the constitution. AND by a very small margin. seems to me they made a mistake

[Tralee]

Nope, they are just being the usual run of the mill angry bitter progressives. They won and what are they doing? Complaining about the losers, throwing ugly and mean spirited words toward them, claiming that a less than 3% win is somehow a mandate and trying to suggest that since one side lost the winners are now ruled by a Dictator In Chief. Strange, normally, the winning president gets out there and tries to UNITE the country, Obama is doing more of the same, spreading the class envy and hatred, dividing the country between the haves and supposed have nots. Yep, just more of the same, they won, but the angry left is still angry and bitter, I guess the bitterness is because their little Dictator in Chief to be even had to run in the first place. Right guys? It was apparently beneath his dignity to even have to run, after all he walks on water, didn't quite live up to his pledge to cause the waters to go down, but hey, even a god can't do everything, right? Oh, and just wondering who he will blame for the bad economy he "*Inherited" this time.

[CoIntelProMike]

Lol. Read your own unkind words, everything liberals say works to get the right all upset. You thunk we libs, wernt nun good talkers on politix?! But 4 more years of gloating and whinning from partisan people in America.

[marine1]

It really doesn't bother me. I take for what it is,their selfish,selfrighteous indignant life style is nothing new to us. The only difference is, they gained a little ground this election but like always,they will be unable to accomplish much without sucking the life out of others and that will put an end to their dog and pony show real quick. The qualifier, however, for conservitives is can we get OUR head and ass wired together and pull our people back togeather? A far right conservitive is just a damning as a far left liberal.

[PoliticsPerson]

Being liberal is going too far. They're gloating has gone that far because they really worried that President Obama's failed presidency would result in getting the boot. Unfortunately, American voters by majority seem pretty damn ignorant on politics.

[Dallas_TX_Demz]

Failed Presidency? Well as we all know, the president is doing a fine job. That's why the conservatives aka IDIOTS are pissed. This nation has been moving FORWARD since OBAMA took over. The Conservatives (aka racist poor White People who vote for politicians who continue to bend you over with out using Vaseline) want us to move back to the 60's. Sorry, Guy... The Latin community is on our side. When I say our, I mean the intelligent BLACKS, LATINOS, WHITES, ASIANS, WOMEN, VETERANS and SENIORS who are just sick of this bulls**t the conservatives (aka not so intelligent people) is cooking up.

[hwyangel]

@Dallas_TX_Demz

This what you voted for:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/20...

[PoliticsPerson]

@Dallas_TX_Demz Sorry to break it to you, but he has had a failed presidency (so far, not that he can turn it around). It's funny that everything is the Republicans' fault, yet once the GOP obstructionists took back control of the House in 2010, the economy has improved better. Interesting... lower unemployment thanks to obstructing the Dem agenda-- but liberals don't want to point that out.

You sound very stupid in your writing. Frankly, you sound like you aren't even old enough to vote, which due to your idiocy, may be true. In your big, bulky paragraph of nonsense, you couldn't even bare to name what he's doing a fine job on and how the GOP wants to go back to the 60's. Seems like what I hear on MSNBC and other dem talking point outlets. Speak for yourself, stop regurgitating.

[RoyFloyd]

Maybe, but it was brought on by Rmoney's arrogance and over-confidence. Not only did his followers drink the kool-aid, he also had a few gulps. Posting his president-elect "transition' website on election day, only having a victory speech prepared beforehand, such chutzpah!. Only a little gloating here, but I do wish him speedy recovery after the proctologist extracts his head from his rectum.

[jamie91]

Actually I saw this sign before the election.

[fact-check]

FYI- butthurt by any other name is still butthurt.

[MRMacrum]

First of all I did laugh when I saw the Kodak Moment on top of the question. Does that mean I am gloating? Given the hate, disrespect, and contempt I have had to put up with for the last many years coming from the Right, I would say that they have reaped what they sowed. But they are a tough lot and the Left better be careful how far they push this. Do not kid yourself, the Right will rise again. That's what both sides do. This is America for chrisakes.

[zimm48]

not far enough. it was a landslide victory. america has spoke n get use to it repulicians.

[MRMacrum]

it was no landslide. Get a clue. A solid beat down maybe, but certainly no landslide.

[cr8z4amerika]

Sure is...lest they forget the other half of America? They jumped around like a bunch of animals & all over Romney for that 40% comment! But then again their half is living in ameriTOPIA.

[Denizen_Kate]

With all due respect, many conservative commenters on this site have spent months gloating, cajoling, scolding, and often taunting those who disagree with their views. Although there has been childishness and name calling on both sides, the rancor from the right has been the most extreme. Romney has not received half of the vilification that the president has gotten from the Obamaphobes here.

[cr8z4amerika]

@Denizen_Kate We can sit here & argue back & forth, but It's really not about which man won or lost anymore. America is the real loser here. Our REPUBLIC has been lost possibly forever & replaced with a hybid of a socialist democracy...the very thing we fought & died to escape from. The dumbing down of america has been a success. Both parties are a joke. If we really want to get back to reality we need to vote for true constitutional candidates, which cannot be found in the current 2 party system. From now on I am voting libertarian & for those backed by the TEA party, which by the way...millions of them stayed home & did not vote. They do not play when they say they only support constitutional candidates. They stood their ground. They know if you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything! I'll leave you with this quote to think about...

when the people find out they can vote themselves money, that will Herald the end of the Republic.
~ Benjamin Franklin

[Denizen_Kate]

@cr8z4amerika - I don't disagree about politicians in general. Both parties are awash with cheats and hypocrites only interested in lining their own pockets. And while I like Libertarians, and agree that we need leaders who know the constitution and will keep in close touch with it, I have to disagree about the Tea Party. At first I liked them, but they have filled their ranks with extreme right wing Christian fundamentalists, and their agenda is most certainly not mine.

I do want to sincerely thank you for a polite response. Not all who disagree here are able to do it so nicely.

[Penn1699]

Nah. Just excited their candidate succeeded. It's just an childish, obnoxious few that make the rest look bad...

[LetsAllBeHappy]

That is so true-many of my friends were over the top happy and was like dancing-but they did not go to far-they did not call names or an idiot as some here have called the GOP-it is as you said-just a few childish obnoxious few-There were a few just as childish and obnoxious in 2004