It's about time...for a fairly dramatic political shift...

[pipoman]

With an Impactful leader who actually does affect real change in this country...I thought it may have been Ross Perot.... it might have been under mildly different circumstances...

Who doesn't love the real life drama and suspense of this season? Usually high hopes at this point, followed by a sick feeling following the election regardless who wins...my recollection is a change after Nixon, before NIxon each new president brought their own hope and a belief that the president and politicians were actually working for the US (and us) even if we disagreed with them...Bernie gives me hope for this election cycle...18 months is a long haul...I think I'll put on my slippers and get some tea...

[kenfrequed]

1. Truth

And we need a massive course correction that the republicans have continued to deny us. By electing a president even more progressive than president Obama we would send them a message saying. You cannot deny the poor and working class access to the system. We will stick to it and we will fight!

[pipoman]

3. See I expect it of Republicans

The last 40 years of Democratic Presidents are what has stolen my hope...I hoped for the change President Obama promised...realized soon after he was just the next president in the WH...preceeded by exactly the same...

[kenfrequed]

5. I don't blame President Obama

Not completely anyhow. I mean he has some responsibility for this, but he picked some serious problems in his first four years. Rahm Emmanuel as COS wrecked a lot of possibilities. His financial team was also terribly bad. Between all of them they made progressive messaging very difficult and he was probably sold on the glories of running to the middle and triangulation by any idiots Rahm packed his office with. I think he had great intentions that were thwarted by institutional corporatism and the remnants of the DLC and blue dogs.

Ridiculous representatives like Blanche Lincoln stabbed him in the back repeatedly before demanding his help in running for office a year later. Steny Howyer sold out every good grace his father had built up. Max Bacchus wrecked healthcare reform by knocking single payer debates right off the table.

And it would be outrageous to leave out the most fanatical right wing party we have seen in American history who functioned as one of the most obstructionist minority parties during the president's first half of his first term. The republicans efforts and tactics were repugnant but predictable. Short into the presidents career anyone could see the filibusters and anonymous holds stacking up. I pointed out early in this constant appeasement and moderation strategy that "...of course they are opposing everything. They finally got things the way they want them."

But this does come back to messaging. Had we been aggressive and policy focused and less lackadaisical we could have pinned the republicans for their obstructionism. Instead three months were wasted trying to court Olympia Snowe. (She voted against us).

I want Sanders because I am confident of where he stands and because I think his experience will get us there.

[CharlotteVale]

7. +1

[Doctor_J]

6. "even more progressive than Obama"

-snark-

That doesn't seem too hard, until you look at HRC.

[kenfrequed]

8. Let's stay positive

Heh...

I prefer to say nice things about the candidate I support than joke about the one I do not.

[JHB]

2. An "impactful leader" can only make dents without legislative back-up...

18 months is not such a long haul, compared to winning and holding seats in congress and in state legislatures.

[pipoman]

4. This is especially true when both or all candidates

In the general election are in agreement on what is next in the fucking of US workers in favor of the 1%..which is what we've had for 40 years...maybe the dynamic would shift if we had a president for real change in favor of the masses with a mandate in the form of 70% of the popular vote?

[840high]

9. That would be good.