Obama: We have to recognize that on both sides there are people who are extremists But I will say that those extreme views were not in my White House. I wasn’t embracing them. I wasn’t empowering them. I wasn’t putting the weight of the government behind extremist views.
So well spoken!
Would have been more effective if he had left out the first thoughts about both sides. Both sides are not equal
Still trying to clean this fuck up🤬🤬 When they go low we go all the way to Hell🤬🤬🤬
Extreme leftists try to impose equal rights on all people. Horrific!! Extreme leftists try to empower all people. Terrible!! Extreme leftists try to force universal affordable heathcare on everyone. Horrible!! Both sides… 🙄🙄🙄🙄
Exactly! I’m so disappointed Obama said this!! WTF!!??!🤬
Obama was simply looking the other way while right wing extremism flourished. But at least the bankers got their bailout, right?
Oh yes that is true but he sure as hell didn't do anything to stop that s*** by either side in extremism during his eight years and the last four was the most important because if he would have actually did his job and honor the oath we wouldn't be going through this right now none of it would have
Happened and the Constitution would have been honored protected and preserved which it obviously isn't since the insurrection and yes that was by the Republican party
"I was selling Flint, Michigan down the river while de-facto pardoning all the crooks that collapsed the global economy with their subprime mortgage crisis but that's beside the point." www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQmC...
I guess this is Obama trying to stay out of prison.
Who is he talking about?
So this is the new TikTok?
Really, name the extremists on the Left Obama, Bernie Sanders? I guess he is extreme to the wealthy fat f'n cat Democratic elite that bow down to the wealthy
I adore this man, best President of my lifetime. But the time for bipartisanship and diplomacy is OVER.
Yeah, there are extremists on the left. They hold virtually no sway over anything. Extremists on the right? They're the mainstream of the Conservative Movement.
mixed emotion abt a Centrist doing the both sides thing-rage, fury, triggered. Call me an extremist when I think human rights should not be debated, when clean air & water is import. When I think free speech should exist, healthcare, housing for all, body autonomy. OMZ BE KIND
That’s true but I don’t like Trump
@barackobama.bsky.social Is we must be “Fired Up And Ready To Go” I met him personally when my sister was alive, she died from cancer which runs in our family it’s called Lynch Syndrome
Just leave X and stay on Bluesky thanks to my friend @maddow.msnbc.com
Imo. He needs to color his hair a bit ( low light). Grey is fine but pure white. . Makes him look 76-80 years. Same with cdc woman testifying today.
Extremists on the Left want everyone to have healthcare and livable wages.
those monsters!
😂
What's wrong with that?
That bum just fired loads of drones at people. US politics has always been a bit 'wild west'.
Taking the high road is fine, wonderful ... but we're not in the "when they go low we go high" era anymore. Democratic/Independent voices are silenced every hour/daily. This is the "gloves are off" timeframe to a fascist regime more bold by every lawmaker or judge the cowers down to them.
Maybe these two? bsky.app/profile/turb... But have yet to meet any one forcing someone to transition so maybe between this and the forcing women to code in parking lots & the students recently hung- I’m thinking there’s one side 🤷♀️ there’s just one fucking side
Who are the other extremists? Because I haven’t yet encountered any
I agree. I haven’t heard of far-left groups, but then again, I hadn’t heard of groupers until last week.
Been at this since 2017- haven’t seen it- stinky Did this the last time -it was bullshit then too
Groypers -they were a problem back in 2012 when wackaloons misogynists were on a missing to knock as many women off line as they could- they went after especially those who were academics & experts -I really don’t want to hear his shit right now
Right 👆
Left
Good call- I should have gone with Correct!
I learned something new today. Groypers are Accelerationists They are kinda like the extreme Christians who want the apocalypse. Both are death cultures, despite their differences. Crazy human drive to self destruction, I don't understand it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERzD...
Holy Guacamole! I also learned something new today. Thanks for sharing. A quick (prox 7 min) informative watch.
I think it's the path of least resistance, blame the good kids, put pressure on them when you don't know what to do about the bad kids. Look what they did to Jimmy Kimmel.
Yeah, naw. Not getting out enough President Obama, I know of no extremist on the left.
👏👏👏👏👏
Someone tell Barack that he's really putting is Late Night career in jeopardy. Oh wait...
Well said! Leadership matters!
There aren't extremists on the left. This is both-sides bullshit. Putting the left in the same sentence on the right is dangerous and cynical nonsense.
No! There are extremists on the left, they typically don't tend to be violent.
Who are the extremists? And if they're not violent, my point stands -- equating them and putting them in the same sentence is cynical, dangerous nonsense
For MAGA, extremists on the left include BLM (“defund the police”) and the George Floyd rioters (who “burned down cities”), pro-Palestine protestors (especially those on college campuses), and Luigi.
The "extremists" on the left are people who think every American should have free healthcare, we shouldn't commit genocide, we shouldn't destroy the environment, and billionaires should pay taxes. And yet this guy just grouped them together with deranged right-wingers
I am not arguing with you! Factually there is left wing violence throughout the world! Yes, the vast majority of political violence in the US is right wing violence, but the left has also committed some violence throughout US history. I mean it's like 90 Right/10 Left, but it's not nonexistent.
He's talking about right now. He used the present tense. And you're just explaining why both sides-ing this is insane. Obviously you don't expect anything but milquetoast statements from Obama, but bucketing the two together is dangerous and plainly wrong
Well technically wouldn't Luigi Mangione be a left wing extremist who murdered the CEO of United Health to highlight the greed of the US healthcare system? I agree with his message, not the actions he took to raise it!
no - Luigi is objectively not left-wing: jacobin.com/2024/12/luig... Being enraged by the healthcare system is in no way an exclusively left-wing position, nor does hating that system make someone left wing
Ok Mangiones own journal saying he was doing what he was doing to highlight to the American Public the GREED of the US Healthcare system is not left wing?
You could go into the deepest-red counties in America and find plenty of people who would want retribution against health insurance companies who'd ruined their lives
It's icons and words on the far left. There hasn't been a murderous left extremism since the Weathermen in the 1970's. What's extreme on the left nowadays are: the guillotine icons, writing "Eat the Rich", praising Luigi's actions and saying it should happen to more CEOs. That sort of stuff.
But Mangione did murder a health care executive to push the left wing agenda that the US Health Care industry is broken because it is consumed by greed! Profits over benefits!
I 100% agree with his message, his means he will have to face the consequences for!
Leftist extremism: Peaceful protests Right-wing extremism: Mass shootings We are not the same
Obama was being over-subtle. He wanted to make the point that Trump is encouraging right-wing violence (and also gas-lighting Americans with the lie that all violence is left-wing). It's a fair point. But Obama may have been too oblique to get it across.
Empowering was the word I was looking for earlier, when trying to say that Trump is empowering law enforcement to return violence because someone threw a rock at a patrol vehicle is insane. Trump will have to answer for this during his Nuremberg!
bsky.app/profile/ianb...
Sadly, there is a WHOLE so-called admin and gov't filled with radicalized extremists bowing down to their orange master! ONE IS NOT LIKE THE OTHER!
i feel like there’s a name for state-sanctioned extremism
Great, now Obama is saying both sides are the same.. One wants to kill homeless - one wants Healthcare.
The worst extremists were the racist extreme!
E X A C T L Y
don’t get too excited about the “both sides” key is that he’s sufficiently pointing at the primary problem - the maga führer
He could have phrased that differently while pointing that out… the “Both side’s” statements just make MAGA feel they are fighting someone that really isn’t there
Agreed he’s pretty careful with his words, so maybe he’s trying (too hard) to get his larger message across
So sick of hearing about left wing extremists. As if there is such a thing as too many protesters or an exteme number of signs FFS
there arent just two sides.
Don't get me wrong, Obama was a much better president than the orange menace. However his lack of action is LARGELY to blame for what is going on at the moment. He has an opportunity to teach republicans that bad behavior have consequences, and HE CHOSE NOT TO. I will never forgive him for that 1/2
2/2 May be he should have listened to the left wing of his party a little more. Maybe he should have cared for the future more than for his donors. Maybe he should have listened to people like this guy bsky.app/profile/whit...
Both sides! BS!
Yup... As usual. Spreading the blame around.
Insufferable. Dishonest. Narcissist. That is Barack Obama. Those extremist views were certainly apparent in The Biden White House. Obama said NOTHING. And who, btw, selected Joe Biden as his Veep? Side Note: The left has been calling Trump and his supporters Fasc!sts and Naz!s FOR YEARS now.
A one sided mouthpiece. Your opinion carries little weight in the overall discourse.
That's the best you can come up with? Try engaging.
Engaging? I'm married.
Fell victim to a bot, silly me.
Unsurprising. The Oppressor vs. Oppressed binary is part and parcel of the neo-Marx!st mindset. Slavish leftists necessarily self-identify as victims. It’s who they are. It’s what they do.
90% Side A : 10% Side B Both Sides! Side A : murder. Side B : jaywalking Both Sides!
Sorry this is bullshit. And he knows it. Show me how left/right violence is equal.
Not what he said!!!
best years of my life were UNDENIABLY the Obama years.
Both sides, you say?! 🤬
Dems are gonna both-sides us into oblivion, JFC.
Therein lies what should be the focus in the media. There is meaning to the word leadership—for better or worse.
Just 3 more words, sir: But Trump is.
Bothism crap.
They both are guilty of running a country by feel.
Yep. And you are greatly missed sir.
Yeah, thanx for letting Mitch McConnell treat u like a bitch…u fucks created a path for Trump.
I'm sick of this "both sides" bullshit. There's no "extreme left" equivalent to White Nationalism or Neo Nazis. There's no "Joe Rogan of the left", nor should there be.
The extremists on one side are better armed than those on the other 🔫.
Perhaps you have been led to believe this and swallowed it whole, but there is no 'who do you vote for' question that must be answered to purchase firearms. Perhaps extremists on one side tote their weapons as a status symbol more than the other, but that just means they're also stupid.
Medicare for all and taxing billionaires is apparently extreme F all the way off
The "Grappling" should have begun when Newt was in office demonizing Democrats.
A lot of people didn’t like Charlie Kirk. The one who killed him though was raised in a family steeped in gun culture.
I keep wondering where this "radical Left" is the Trumpy commentariat keeps talking about!? I seem to remember there were radical anarchists in Seattle years ago, but I have to reach back to the '70s to recall warmed-over '60s Maoists. But precious little of a real Left in the U.S. since the '30s!
It’s propaganda and ties back to Mamdani. Mainstream Dems are pushing it as hard as the GOP. All to hold onto their institutionalism. That’s why we’re in hell now…our democracy was sacrificed so they can continue to pretend they actually care about the people while protecting their fictional norms.
This is what REALLY angers me. The Dems & the GOP are both part of a system that enables billionaires to accrue more wealth, and screws over the 99% who are just trying to get through life. The reasons they’re so threatened by Mamdani is that he represents a departure from that ideology.
Mr. Obama - This is from the Cato Institute. You are giving “capitulation speech”, but it’s not honest, nor is it helpful!
Since 1975, damn
I’m terribly sorry/sad to say that I’m offended by Pres Obama’s “balancing act”. The “extremists” on the left are far fewer, far less menacing and intrusive, far less hell-bent on turning this country into a medieval autocracy - oligarchs and serfs. They are NOT comparable. Help by being frank!!
No, you were being the eagle in between the two wings. When the whole worked together, we were able to fly.
Center right guy says milquetoast bullshit
From its inception in 1919 until at least the 1970s, the FBI regularly engaged in unconstitutional activities from surveillance to theft and blackmail under J. Edgar Hoover. Without complicit Attorneys General, the insane scope of illegal activity could not have been possible. Be worried.
Well, there ARE Marxists and communists...but they're not banning private property ownership and confiscating businesses. I think Obama is just trying to seem fair handed because there ARE ZERO far-left politicians in America.
lol what extremists on the left side????? Where are they and what have they done? I’m confused
There was a guy who held some folks hostage in an office building over climate change, but he was the only one killed or injured. Some people say the Unibomber was left wing and of course the House baseball game shot up by a Bernie supporter. abcnews.go.com/amp/US/gunma...
A gentleman for the ages...
What a different country we would be living in if Obama could, once again, be our leader. He is not perfect (who is?) but he understands what it is to be loyal to the Constitution and humanity.
I have never thought Military Coups were a good thing. However, to all those who took an oath to defend the Constitution, where are you?
I am so sick of the word "extremists". We live in America. We have many mentally ill people who can get guns easier than they can get food, money or medicine..
Yes, according to Government report it’s 85% extreme Republicans to 15% from all other extreme Groups, sides? Yes there are other bad guys, but not in way the same level as Republican MAGA Fascist! 👀🤔
How can he just sit and watch the house burn down .
True, but the right has a LOT more
Perhaps he should have... just saying sitting on ur hands isn't the same as playing nice. Should've held Podcasters accountable for lies, not let them control the narrative. Could've sued when lies were liable, instead they rose unchallenged to complete unchecked power....his reign was no Camelot
Passion for what, and how much you believe in something, is important, but if it empowers you into violence, you want to harm more than be heard. "I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent."- Mahatma Gandhi
Yaddy yaddy yadda
Both sides?
I get the feeling Obama is going to be dragged outta retirement to help fix all the things Trump has destroyed when he majorly fucks up, the military wakes up and he has to flee to Netenfuhrer
You are delusional
There are extremists across the political spectrum. But there are no organized billionaire funded paramilitary groups except on the right. There are no billionaire funded religious groups proselytizing bigotry on college campuses. Stop this both sides nonsense.
Yes but there are easily more nut jobs on the Trump right than there are on the left. Way more!
Miss him!
@down.blue
⬇️ Tá na mão, aperta aqui pra baixar!
Its the massive bribery thats never admitted too !
If THAT were true, they would have pressed legal charges with lawyers and courts. The fact that there hasn't been should tell u the CONVICTED FELON lies
Not when the courts were packed by bribed loyalist, Hes a professional criminal liar !
”My donors told me to mention both sides.”
Did you all watch the clip? Many comments are missing his point: the right constantly paints the left with broad strokes because they cherry pick when someone random on the left foments hate and then say we are all like that. Meanwhile the people in power on the right are the ones fomenting hate.
The voice of reason. Thank you Mr. President.
Finally, someone with some clout saying what needs to be said every time some hack does the “both sides” side step.
On one side there is Good and on the other there is Evil. And we must, must if we really consider ourselves Good people listen to what Evil people have to say, we are far to quick to judge. Satan has some good points afterall….
Stop being nice, and call it what it is.
Stop with this both sides mess. One side is remarkably worse.
Amen!!🤯🤯
Corporate DNC fine with droning anyone they think needs killed. This is not extremism says Obama. Just main street ole amerikka. Bombs away.
What is an extreme left wing view? Universal health care? Free college? Rule of law? These dont seem extreme, as many other countries have them
Ummm, NO, Obama should know better than to keep "both sides" BS out of the conversation. That ship has landed us here. "Extremism" is VERY different from one end to the other. Saving trees and Healthcare or kidnapping you brown neighbors?? 🤔
I appreciate the point he’s making but the extreme of liberal ideals is quite different than the extreme of conservative ones.
@lazytato.bsky.social
That sir, is because you are an awesome human being! Miss you & your family @barackobama.bsky.social
The problem with the ridiculous bothsides argument that was instrumental bringing us to this sorry state is the left extreme is on discord servers and the right extreme is the President, the Supreme Court, every serving member of the Republican Party, most media, and almost every CEO so far.
And fact: Obama deported 2 million Djt not coming close
bsky.app/profile/ianb...
It looks like he's on between 2 ferns again 🤣
This current “White House” should be painted yellow….. for cowards!
That right there is the key difference between trump and all the presidents who came before him
Excellent interview!!! I’m watching it now!! I miss when we had an articulate, educated, well-spoken, good looking, respectful President!!
Obama; Blah blah blah blah blah something about something blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah something about something else and more blah blah blah.
I miss that guy more every day.
for every greenpeace activist who went Luigi there are how many Obama drone bombings?
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I wish they would stop with the both sides crap
But you did support Israel by bombing Syria and billions to pay for Israel’s universal healthcare, pensions for military and
EXACTLY
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I respectfully disagree, Mr. President. This is not a “both sides” issue. The data and facts show this is not the case. And I think this only emboldens those extremists who are doing us harm.
it aint often we see a fucking L take for the ages from Obama, but damn if he aint spewing one. there are no such thing as "Extreme" leftists in america. at MOST you have folks who could be described as center-left.
Oh yes they both sides argument of the extreme left which says all people should have health care and the extreme right which says let's just kill all the homeless people
Always playing the middle of the road. #FlintWaterCrisis #standingrock
Left-wing 'extremists' in the US would be considered moderates in Canada. The US has no left-wing extremism.
I don’t believe I do have to recognize both sides have extremists when only the one party is committing atrocities daily.
Extremist views like universal health care and bailing out the homeowners instead of the banks.
Funny how basic security like healthcare and keeping families in their homes gets labeled extreme, while bailing out Wall Street is called stability. Who’s really being radical here?
You godless communist.
Seriously. FUCK Obama for that bank bullshit all the way to the bank. Why reward the people that fucked the economy, and WITH taxpayer money??? Shit, they’re gonna call you a socialist regardless. Maybe just do the socialist shit in spite of it and win some goddamn elections
It's the same with Biden, why water down any legislation to try and get Republicans to sign because all you end up with is shitty bills and no Republican Votes. Exactly, they're going to say you are trying to be a dictator, communist, socialist no matter what you do so...
BINGO. The Dems lost control of congress during Clinton’s administration when he abandoned labor and adapted Republican neoliberalism for the Democratic Party. It’s been backsliding into authoritarianism ever since
You should learn the history of the congressional vote on that. Obama was not a tyrant and this is when Fox disinformation kicked into overdrive.
What are you even talking about? When Obama sided with the banks over American homeowners, and bailed the banks out? Did that NOT happen?
I’ve been tryna catch myself back up on all this stuff as the day has allowed www.pbs.org/newshour/eco...
Obama’s HAMP program was an attempt stop the bleeding of the housing crisis during the 2008 Great Recession, and it saved many from foreclosing, though not as many as hoped for. The program was funded from Bush’s TARP program, which collected back on the bank bailout loans.
The bottom line is that it’s not always a left vs right issue; it’s rich vs not rich. Lenders and traders that signed off on sub prime mortgages for those who just needed a home for their families are responsible, but still got bailed out by the taxpayer, who has still never fully recovered.
It’s their little game they historically and continually play with us and our hard earned money. It just shape shifts each time.
First, that legislation was passed by Bush. Second, it was mainstream.
It did, and that's one of them most angering things about Obama's presidency.
No other president has caused more black homeowners to lose their homes than Obama. Have you all forgotten about “robo-signing”? I come from Germany and will never forgive Obama for this. Fuck him.
This is the most ridiculous thing I have read today and that is REALLY saying something. Congrats. You pointed the finger at the wrong person.
“BLUE MAGA”
Obama talked about doing this on many, many occasions. I dont know what the fuck you're whining about . He suded eith the vanks, and then appointed the fucking criminals to Cabinet positions. Where were you??
Sure thing. Who was president from 2009-2016? The data doesn't lie. The GFC was the biggest bank robbery of the superrich until pandemic. But keep on lying to yourself. I don't fucking care.
My own opinions on the subject aside, I'm still seeing people talk about how Obama was strong on gun control while gun rights actually *increased* under him. That's one thing both republicans and liberals refuse to believe.
No Democrat has been strong on gun control since Clinton signed the assault weapons ban
How
Read a book about the GFC, google 'robo-signing' and the foreclosure crisis afterwards. The banks got bailt out, the people took the losses. That's capitalism for you. Obama went with Wall Street and his donors instead of the people.
And picked Fucking Larry Summers to help sort out the mess?
For serious. At every step then Democrats have made to get in bed with capital, they have paved the way for authoritarian takeover. WHO represents Labor???
The TARP money was repaid with interest. Taxpayers made money off of the loans to the banks. Quite a bit, to be honest.
Sided with the banks how You're freaking idiot.
Mate. The the truth. Obama saved the banks and left the people behind. I voted for him twice. But he was a neoliberal shill the whole time.
The banks had the economy by the balls. Obama averted a second depression but the problem wasn’t solved. It’s worse and it lies in the in the 1%. How does a democracy work when 1% hold the bulk of the power. This is no longer a democracy it is an authoritarian oligarchy. And it will only get worse.
No no no… go further left. Where they want to actually dismantle the system in its entirety. Universal Heath Care and homeowner, student loans relief still works within the confines of the system. FR left wants the ENTIRE system destroyed.
Please, show me some of these examples of 'extreme left', especially among politicians and pundits. Being left of fascist is not extreme left.
Umm leftists - who I usually do not support- didn’t threaten to kill Kamala they just withheld their support. Leave it to Obama to force me to defend leftists JFC
They still caused more problems and are not producing solutions that work effectively.
Of course
Look at all the success they've had with ending genocide in Palestine... I mean--what sorta fool helps elect the guy who literally wants to bulldoze GAZA for a resort, banned Muslim countries from traveling to the US, bombed the heck out of Syria with--how many bombs was it?
40,000 bombs dropped on Iraq and Syria in 2017 alone... Intentionally made poor decisions are just as dangerous as intentional violence.
Are these "left wing extremists" in the room with you now?
I remember. No drama, Obama! No scandals and no corruption. Did I agree with him on everything? No, but would I expect to agree with anyone on everything? I'm an independent thinker and don't expect to agree with anyone on everything. However, I do expect to agree with my President on something!
A Real President ❤️
A both sides that actually not both sides. That's a clever rhetorical trick.
Lol, there's way more right-wing extremists. Also, extreme actions taken to defend civil rights are not extreme, they are American. This anti-free speech rhetoric, even from left-wing politicians, is deeply alarming and will lead to more violence.
Yeah but he didn’t say the balance was equal he said there is extremists on both sides which is true
Half-truths are lies
Half-truths are still better than what we get now a days with Trump full lies
Lol, true sadly
It was an entirely unnecessary point with no purpose behind it at all other than to deflect criticism of Nazis.
You are correct, even if he should have stated that violence leans to one side. Being a victim of your own rage is not political. Hate breeds hate, and some will eventually snap. The violence is not justified, and the hate is not justified.
Hate, and incitement is so often delivered by these "conservatives". This creates extremists amongst their supporters, while also turning people who feel attacked and oppressed into extremists too. I guess what we could say is that this a problem with humanity.
why, WHY, do leaders on the left feel obligated to make false equivalences? “...data suggests we should be taking right wing domestic terrorism way more seriously than many have done...The ‘Fox News angle’ that Antifa is just as dangerous as the Proud Boys just doesn't hold up.”
Come back
Sorry President Obama… I love you but it’s not a both sides thing. 3/4 of mass shooters and extremists are MAGA
.75/1.00
It's not a both sides thing. I don't believe that is what he said. What he did say indirectly that Trump's White House is irresponsibley stoking tensions. Maybe it was too subtle for some?
Classic Obama, measured words, but a heavy point. Do you think today’s politics leaves any room for that kind of subtlety?
Give us an example of 1/4 extremist? Just one
7/8
15/16
Closer ot the truth.
bsky.app/profile/ianb...
There's quite a difference between the extreme view that trans people should be left alone and allowed to live their lives peacefully, and the extreme view that they should be institutionalized or stoned.
Wow. Buncha people in this thread think the far extremist left is Medicare for All and free college. Maybe read about horseshoe theory, read some history books about Mao, Lenin, the Khmer Rouge and stop getting excited when some US Maoist group tells you America needs its own Great Leap Forward.
Horseshoe theory is bullcrap. It just describes an imaginary 2D political spectrum. What it describes is AUTOCRACY. You can have religious, oligarchic, communist, libertarian, etc autocracy. Or they can all be benign. Vietnam is a benign ACTUAL communist state. USSR was not. Denmark is a benign
capitalist (ie in the oligarchic spectrum), Russia is not. Malaysia is a benign religious state, Afghanistan is not. Stop this "fascism = communism" horseshoe crap. It's redneck political theory for high school And I know, because I'm a redneck.
Where TF did you get fascism = communism out of what I said? Whatever oversimplified terms you require, far left extremism is just as bad as far right extremism. Far left authoritarianism looks a lot like far right authoritarianism in practice whether you want to deny it or not.
ALL extremism is bad. This artificial right-left 2d spectrum though is kindergarten simplification. Political spectra is at LEAST 3d, and I've seen 7d that aren't ridiculous. It's not a horseshoe. Not even close. It's not 2d bent into a U shape.
Yep...until autocracy. Then everything stinks.
"Horseshoe Theory" has no academic backing. It's a made up idea to try and suppress the left. "The extreme right and extreme left bend toward each other!!!" Motherfucker, the center of the Horseshoe is LITERALLY ADJACENT TO MONSTERS. "What is the center, if not one step from the darkness?"
Correct. Centrism in its purest state wants a compromise between civil rights and literal obliteration of minorities and state enslavement. "I just want all the arguments to stop so I can watch TV and drink my beer".
I mean... since when is the opposition to fascism an extreme position?!
Horseshoe theory is just a simplified metaphor for how far left authoritarianism looks a hell of a lot like far right authoritarianism. But I’m talking to someone who’s angry I besmirched the Khmer Rouge so I doubt we’re gonna find any common ground. 🤷🏻♂️
"Those poor nazis that get crushed by the "extreme" left. Won't someone think of their feelings?" Ya'll truly are one step from the darkness, indeed.
You’re adding a bunch that I’m not saying or even implying. Life must be hard with such poor reasoning skills.
Boom!!
Because that's how a real leader leads
A reference to a specific person who is an example of a leftist extremist would be helpful. I'm not coming up with anyone of consequence.
I too would like one name of someone on the left who is the equivalent of all the lunatics on the far right. I’m so tired of this shit. It’s not a debate. Th evidence is overwhelming where the violence comes from. It’s absurd anyone saying otherwise.
Brian Kilmeade? Oh, wait…
🤣
Where are the extremists on the left?
They're the ones who think every American should have free healthcare, we shouldn't intentionally destroy the climate, and billionaires should actually pay taxes. They're out of control
But they’re not going around shooting people and inciting violence.
💔😡🤬:(
Those aren't leftists. And definitely not "extreme left". Obama and Biden were centrists, arguably center right. While Trump is right wing.
This is liberalism, not leftism. We don't have a leftist party in this country. This is also why I'm not a Democrat.
dnc aren't "the left"
In this case, I, too, am a left-wing extremist, which I had not realised until today! But, as I am not American, my views don't really count, as I live in a very different culture, closer to the Canadian viewpoint.
Way out of fucking control.
His voice speaks volumes,when he clearly stated on “both sides”🌹🍷. While not entertaining such madness during his tenure as President. Says alot for sure.
Anyone who believes that treasonous scumbag Obama, needs their friggin head examined…which pretty much encompasses the entire mentally ill population here on BlueSky. Check yourselves in! 5150!✅
Obama needs to go away
It's the issue that there's countless times MORE extremists on the right.
Fuck off with this "both sides" bullshit. The "extreme" left wants healthcare and housing for all, the right wing wants us dead, and liberals are still trying to split thr difference.
I get what you’re saying. But, there are more extreme lefties than what you described as leftist extremism. There are so cooky ppl. Imo, it’s not really splitting the difference. They are just trying to leave at least a small window for righties to agree with & to start their path back to reality
For about half a century I called myself a liberal. Then people started using the word to mean things I didn't believe in at all. I guess I should call myself a Leftist instead.
I’m in the same position. I don’t even know what my beliefs and ideology would be labeled. I want healthcare for everyone. I want affordable housing.and living wages. I want the rich taxed like they were before Reagan. BIPOC and LGBTQ rights enshrined. Guess I’m a “dirty leftist now.
Sounds like common sense to me. Guess that's leftist nowadays.
Holy leftist
Moral Leftist Principle
It's nuts. These things are simply liberal, but our nation's political ideology is SO far to the right that these values look radical. Democrats still think they are taking the high ground & that they might win some Republicans with that "both sides" concilatory language. It hasn't worked yet...
Progressives
or an “antifa terrorist”. (me too by the way, except i’m european)
That makes you a radical communist by the American definitian.
“Republican” definition
Democratic leadership thinks a moderate like Mamdani is too extreme. We need to beat both parties to build a better America. The Democrats could maybe be taken over from within, because there are a few good Democratic public figures, while the Republicans are too far gone.
Democrat is not a dirty word. Don’t let them muddy the waters about what we stand for and don’t let them divide us with labels that don’t define us. Liberal, progressive, leftist, whatever. We have to be unified under one umbrella rn otherwise divided we fall.
The right spits at me for being Dem & Liberal. The progressives call me a neoliberal shill because I want democracy to work. Feels like I’m going in circles.
Ignore em all. Labels are a way of putting people in categories. Like music genres, they are confining. Break that mold and be something limitless.
The Democratic party leaders are supporting Israel's genocide, and the liberal think tanks are trying to blame queer people for Democrats losing and throw us under the bus to compromise with fascists. If you want "Democrat" and "Liberal" to stop being dirty words, clean your damn house.
I see you read my comment thoroughly but you might want to re-read my comment. Did I say the Democratic Party? Did I mention it’s leadership? Nope. I’m literally advocating for cleaning house and it starts with us. Thanks for providing an example of internecine (which was my entire point).
Your post claimed it was labels that divide us, which is not the problem. The problem is that policy divides us, and that most people who call for unity actually just want leftists to stop having standards. If you want unity, start from good principles and stand by them.
I am confused as to the “divide”… it is usually (now and in the USA) meant to divide republicans and democrats. You don’t sound republican, yet you seem to feel “divided”… standing for a third alternative? And the political division is mostly being used to distract from the real, economic division.
I wouldn't use the term "third alternative". But I am against genocide, against concentration camps, and I want the rich and powerful, including every living US president to be brought to justice. The Democratic party disagrees on all 3, so there is a divide.
Yes,I wish we were at the stage where we could talk about how to improve the party of our choice. It’s what I used to like about the democrats. But they took over what I used to perceive as Republican methods. And at the current stage of affairs, I am not sure it is all wrong. 😔
You are confusing the current party with the ideology.
The ideology is as the ideology does.
Agreed. I don’t see ideology doing what you seem to be seeing it is doing. 🤷♂️
Then you just aren't paying attention.
You're a humanist, and that's a very good thing thing to be.
Human???
Maybe you're just a Socialist and too cowed by over 100 years of capitalist propaganda to say so. I want the government by the workers and for the workers, not by the investors for the investors.
When I retired and drew my first SS check I instantly became a Socialist.
Progressive. We want PROGRESS
„Radical communist”, probably 🤷♂️
Progressive is my term
Right!? Liberal used to just mean you wasn't racist, smoked a lot of weed, and believed in reproductive rights. I think somebody hijacked the label and assigned it new ideals. Probably whomever decided to hijack "woke" 😉
No! No! No! Don't give a word away to the trolls. Liberal democracy, liberal sharing of your gifts and treasure, liberal-minded to new ideas. Signed, A Snowflake youtube.com/shorts/M54eF...
Take it up with the liberal party leaders who support Israel's genocide and accept the blood libelous idea that queer people are a threat.
Who says "liberal party leaders" are liberal? My definition of liberalism, rooted in Christianity and western thought (due to the coincidence of the time and place of my birth) says the first value is kindness. Then, be sure everyone gets fed. Then, give everyone a chance to be themselves.
Words are defined by collective understanding. Your definition is not at all what people broadly understand the word to mean. When you say you are a liberal people will take it to mean you support people like Biden, Harris, Schumer, and Jeffries.
👍
This. I want to call myself a liberal because I want to fix the system instead of replacing it, but seeing how many liberals are basically republicans makes me reconsider
That seems to be the main difference: left ideology wants education and (economic) safety for your kids and family, no matter Which side you lean towards 🤷♂️
Actual Leftist extremists are complicated and I’m no expert, but they are supposedly more anarchic and nihilist. Right wing propaganda pretends The Left wants to destroy capitalism and all forms of government. That’s actually what Trmp regime is doing right now!
I am a moderate leftist, and my goal is to destroy corporate and capitalist power completely, and radically reduce state power. Also nothing means anything beyond the meaning we create together, so yeah, anarchism and nihilism are accurate
Sometimes government is the solution. The Civil Rights Act, the right to unionize, safe food, caring for the earth, social security and Medicare so the elderly aren’t destitute. Now we need universal healthcare, living wages, affordable housing and higher education or technical school.
Absolutely! I’m no Leftist, I’m just a Liberal. What is the point of being a nation if we aren’t responsible for creating and nurturing a society that improves all lives? I grew up thinking that was the goal and benefit of civilization.
That wasn't the point of what he said. He said, "Yeah, there are extremists on both sides," which is a true fact; he then said, "But my White House didn't throw the weight of the government behind the extremists on my side, now, did it?" That isn't "both sides." It's a direct criticism of Trump.
Sidebar: the OP cuts the quote off too soon (for character limit reasons), but Obama did not simply say "people who are extremists" but "extremists and who say things that are contrary to what I believe are America's core values." The focus there is that one particular breed of extremist...
...not merely people who "want healthcare and housing for all." In other words, the actual extremism he speaks of is the kind of extremism where one dismisses democracy as an impediment to [insert agenda here], and actively seeks to remove that impediment.
Except those people don't seem to actually exist, and when we call for healthcare and housing for all through democratic means, we get called extremists. So fuck off with this "both sides" bullshit.
Ah, I see, so you're one of those people who just repeats themselves and ignores facts. Alright, well, this conversation is a waste of time and I can just mute you, then.
Exactly. The so-called “extreme” left, like AOC and Bernie advocate for the green new deal and universal healthcare, and the extreme right advocate blowing up fisherman in the Caribbean, killing all the homeless, and want to bring back smallpox and polio. But both sides!
Obama started this.
what did he start pray tell?
uh oh someone is gonna call and try and get this guy fired from his job now
bsky.app/profile/ianb...
Why are we still playing the “both sides” games here?!
Trump and his FCC are silencing liberal perspectives and opinions on mainstream channels. Can you imagine if we had done this to Fox, or X ... for their racist, violence inciting views? Even as recently as a week ago -- we should "kill" homeless people? FFS! We are at war for our Republic.
Name one extremist on the left.
He is the milquetoast corporate voice that is the DNC, part of why we now have fascism. Both siderism talk is ridiculous.
Each GOP Pres. crimes escalated and Dem following them would tell us, “move on”, unite”, “norms and institutions”…Here we are. I loved Obama but letting Bush walk on war crimes & Guantanamo, not coding RvW with his supermajority and not fighting McConnell over SCOTUS emboldened the GOP immensely.
That's the difference and that, my friends, is the source of all this upheaval.
Based on the responses, I think many stopped listening when he said "both sides" without listening to the very important point he was making. Trump is in league with the crazies. They're in the White House. The power of the Federal government is behind them.
Of course there are people on the left who are extremists. How could there not be? It's a distribution just like everything. Are there as many? No. Are they as violent? No. Are they embraced by the party? Also no. But are there extremists? Certainly. Open your eyes
They made posters of him as a "spearchucker"....this both sides shit is horse manure.
Obama’s most extreme was having the audacity to wear a TAN SUIT!!
The horror!
TRUTH! 1,000%!
HERE'S ON OF THE MANY! rumble.com/v6z4v6a-char... #CHARLIEKIRK @safety.bsky.app
Story checks out... he was roasted by Republicans on Health Care and by Democrats on immigration reforms.
Yeah, we noticed when we still don't have universal healthcare
Maybe he should run for a third term
No shit because it isn’t the right thing to do… Do the right thing! Everybody….
Name names, Obama, because I sure can’t think of any extremists on the left.
He'll blame LQBTQ people like he's told to.
We've had a few transgender mass shooters but they are really rare. A Christian School near Nashville. www.pbs.org/newshour/amp...
yes. I was thinking of public figures. Maybe Obama thinks Mamdani is an extremist.🥺
Zohran Mamdani represents our future — a way out of the messes created by Republicans, the patchwork clean-ups attempted by Democrats, and the system that keeps us all excluded from the wealthy lifestyles built on our labor and our money.
At least they were reasonable and sane enough to shoot up a christian school. They deserve a medal of honor.
Genuine question: Did they actually site leftist ideology as their motive for the violence or were they transgender and thus assumed to be from the left?
And this could have been motivated by something other than politics such as, I don't know, religious trama? (Honestly I don't remember if there were stated motives.) Also, not all trans people are on the left, oddly.
Happy Constitution Day! Friendly reminder that Harvard is offering Civics/Government online classes, many you can audit for FREE!! Knowledge is power - arm yourselves! pll.harvard.edu/subject/gove...
This is true. He did not do enough.
Extremists on the right want to murder LGBTQ people and take away Black people’s right to vote and deport all non white immigrants. Extremists on the left want a higher minimum wage and public healthcare. Yeah, both sides are the same.
He was too busy drone bombing kids overseas, catering to wall street, utilizing brutal immigration laws that Conald would exploit, among other things. There are many ways to be against the people, to be an extremist. They don't look the same, have different degrees-but still hurt people.
I would take Obama over Conald any day of the week. But neoliberal, corporate dem policies and loyalties would ensure I'd just end up with a Conald at some point.
This was what leadership looked like on stage‼️
I miss President’s Obama calm, rationale and intelligent speech.
Says the predator drone president. I love him, but goddammit!
now obama likes the "both sides" argument>? who are you trying to appease now>?
@barackobama.bsky.social Have you made the necessary phone calls yet to mobilize and actually stop this madness? Otherwise, it’s just hollow and complacent rhetoric.
Oh how I Miss President Obama.....
What exactly is an extremist view on the left. We want people to have food, earn a decent living, be able to love who they love, think everyone should be treated equally. Where exactly does the extremism come in?
Both sides lol
It's quotes like this that the right loves - "Progressive" idols preaching the lie about left-wing extremism, when "...right-wing extremist violence has been responsible for [...] approximately 75% to 80% of U.S. domestic terrorism deaths since 2001." theconversation.com/right-wing-e...
That's the difference. Trump espouses extreme views. He promotes them. He has no self control over his mouth or actions. Unlike other presidents. He is not a president... he's a constant threat.
Fffffff you!! Go back to making playlists and recommending books and movies
Deporter-in-chief killed #MedicareForAll #NeolibsFuckOff
I'm glad he was a two term president, but really, he is an insufferable prat.
Republican Party = Domestic Terrorists
Yes, according to Government report it’s 85% extreme Republicans to 15% from all other extreme Groups, sides? Yes there are other bad guys, but not in way the same level as Republican MAGA Fascist! 👀🤔
Obama needs to be out MORE saying stuff like this. He should also be talking about running again even if he’s not serious about it.
Oh so missed 😢
I would love for @barackobama.bsky.social to explain in explicit detail for me what the extreme views of the left are? Defending a POTUS for years from BS birther claims?
@barackobama.bsky.social healthcare for all? Is that an extreme? What are they?
I’m curious too. Universal basic income? Free university? Public and non market housing? Mutual aid? Trans rights? Defund the police? Abolish ICE? Protect the environment? Citizenship for immigrants? Banksy graffiti? Are these the “both sides” equivalent on the left of shooting someone?
Centrists probably would say defunding the police & abolishing ICE are extremist views. Although they don't understand, any more than the right, that "defund the police" also means to fund social services that actually make communities safer.
But let's be real, Obama knows better than that.
This kind of talk is outdated and useless against the republican agenda. It is not the time to speak of accepting what they are doing. It’s time to take action against it before it’s too late.
Why do Dems have to acknowledge thay the left isn't perfect every single time they mildly criticize Republicans? Haven't they said it enough? Nobody needs to be told this. Just criticize the right-wing extremists!
Obama is a corporate lapdog who got paid. Wealth makes people insane and hate everyone who isnt wealthy. You're not wealthy. He hates you now.
I don't think it's hate, it's intellectual apathy due to classism. I think we're currently seeing the distinction, although it's little comfort to those who have suffered under both.
I hate that too. That qualifying is weak-kneed and spineless virtue signaling and hedging their bets.
I don’t like this both sides shit because it’s not true. Do better.
Fuck him. Ain’t shit at all equivalent between “people need a livable wage, healthcare, and representation” and “let’s kill the queers.” Fuck Obama. Fuck democrats that are complicit to fascism. Fuck this “bipartisan to a fault” BULLSHIT
You are a little fucking troll❗️
You’re “BLUE MAGA.” Critique is the crucible by which improvement is made. Sorry I’m crashing into your cognitive dissonance, but that shit needs to come down. I ain’t wrong. You’re just a d*ckrider
Thanks for proving my point, you little shit.
Actually, you’re proving mine. You haven’t refuted a single point I’ve made, and you’re just throwing BS at me. Either cite examples as to why I’m wrong, or FUCK OFF MY LAWN
Obama capitulates. Really didn’t see that coming. 💔
obama jumps the shark
bsky.app/profile/ianb...
I love that the source is the Cato Institute
bsky.app/profile/af68...
I like the orange diaper wearing rapist kiddie diddler currently occupying the White House.
There's more to life than the "two sides" we constantly hear about
The left has extremist views like people who break the law should be held accountable, regardless of how rich they are, and everyone deserves food and shelter.
And what, pray tell, are the 'extreme views' on the left? Anyone?
I still look up to this guy even tho he was a fuckwad when it came down to #Occupy
So A N T I faz has a chance!!!!
