Can you criticize administration, yet support the people?

Is it alright to criticize the actions of a government, of an administration, of a State, yet still be supportive of the people?

My country, love it or leave it? Or criticize those in power yet be empathetic or supportive of the individuals who dwell there?

Remember when rw fundies called (some of us) unpatriotic for not supporting the bush administration?

As they seem to consitantly do the bidding of the 20% of the country that more resembles our home grown fundies than anything else.

Strange how their whims seems to go hand-in-hand with corporate interest most of the time...

and you ought to be run out of town on a rail...

What's scary is how many do think that way, even here.

You can't be an bigot and then claim to support the same people you're a bigot against.

Do you fly a flag?

Because if you criticize Israel then you're an antisemite or in my case, a self loathing jew

I have friends from several different countries which are, in different ways, being brought down by their leadership (and in the case of at least two of the countries concerned, are practically mortal enemies). I criticize the actions of the governments, but support the people. Perhaps I criticize the governments more *because* I support the people.

I often criticize the actions of my own leaders, hated Thatcher, and was disgusted by Blair's betrayal. I am certainly not anti-British.

Still, LePen is the WORST!

Support often depends on the specific issue. I was supportive of Healthcare reform. I became less happy with the bill over the course of the year, but ultimately supported it, and the authors of it, in the end. I want the Democrats and especially the Obama Administration to do well. I support them when right, and speak out when I think they are going in the wrong direction.

This is why the repeated and tired argument of comparing to mccacin or bush rings so hollow. It is because I support the Democrats that I push for them to do the right thing. Decisions have political consequences. I see the Democrats making decisions that I don't agree with ideologically, that is to be expected. I also, though, see them making decisions that are going to hurt them politically. When they make poor political decisions, they are weakened and vulnerable. The last thing I want is for the Dems to become weaker politically. So, my critisms are issue-based and in regards to political consequences. But, I support President Obama and the Democratic Party.

And we need none of the "with us or against us" crap we heard from the Bushistas.

Whoever voted no is just doing so for the snark factor.

Hrmmm...