But, yes, Obama, as with ALL progressives, lacks "patriotism" as one would normally define patriotism.

That is because if one has chosen to define themselves as "progressive", they have BY DEFINITION eschewed the status quo. If the status quo is the nation as it stands, then the progressive, by definition, is not "patriotic". Rather, the most positive thing that could be said of a progressive is that he/she is...

...HOPEFUL

Progressives are hopeful that, as much as they dislike this country, they MIGHT be able to change it into something they COULD find tolerable.