Remember when Obama was going to singlehandedly fix everything that was wrong with America, with socialism? And everyone would feel a great awakening of consciousness, and all our old hatreds would vanish, and we'd all become One in a vast field of organic fair-trade ironic mustaches? That didn't happen, but at least the National Labor Relations Board is finallycharging Wal-Mart with violating labor laws! 

ABC News dot com via AP:

The National Labor Relations Board says Wal-Mart illegally fired, disciplined or threatened more than 60 employees in 14 states for participating in legally protected activities to complain about wages and working conditions at the nation's largest retailer.

We'd wager that probably a lot more than 60 employees got a non-zero amount of Wal-Mart's shaft, but you take what you can get. As an American worker, you are allowed to do certain, specific things to advocate for yourself at your job without your employer retaliating, which makes this problematic for Wal-Mart:

The complaint alleges that In November 2012, Wal-Mart spokesman David Tovar went on CBS News and said there would be "consequences" for workers who engaged in strikes and protests ahead of Black Friday, the big shopping day after Thanksgiving. Similar comments were made to employees at Wal-Mart stores in California and Texas, the complaint said.

To everyone who has forgotten why they voted for Obama: THIS! THIS IS THE REASON! Do you really think Mitt Romney's NLRB would be up Wal-Mart's ass about this? Hell, Romney's entire platform was basically "I will personally execute any worker caught asking for higher wages, better benefits, and a modicum of respect from their employers!" If Romney had been elected president, Senate Democrats would still be filibustering Romney's NLRB nominations of Sarah Palin, Joe the Plumber, a trained seal, and a scrap of brown yarn.

If you're disappointed that your magical fantasy Obama turned out to be a magical fantasy, buck up. This is not even another "better than the alternative" argument in Barry's favor. Obama has appointed an NLRB that is genuinely trying to put labor and management on equal footing. See also: the time when they tried to stop Boeing from opening a factory in right-to-work South Carolina, which was downright ballsy and even made us feel a little squeamish until they decided to drop the case.

Now, if Obama really does reform the NSA and doesn't stand in the way of marijuana legalization, maybe our friends the Disillusioned Liberal Fantasists will aim their whining at more deserving targets. They probably won't, though; they'll come up with something else to be pissed about, like Obama didn't convert their student loans into artisanal hand-killed baconcakes.

Follow Alex on Twitter, even if you hate Obama since he sold out, but still dig his solo stuff.

[abcnews.com via AP / NYT / MoJo]