Time to Think the Unthinkable: A Democratic Primary Challenge To Obama's Reelection

[bc3000]

Clarence B. Jones at the Huffington Post

It is time for Progressives to stop "whining" and arguing among themselves about whether President Obama will or will not do this or that. Obama is no different than any other President, nominated by his national party. He was elected with the hard work and 24/7 commitment of persons who believed and enlisted in his campaign for "Hope" and "Change."

You don't have to be a rocket scientist nor have a PhD in political science and sociology to see clearly that Obama has abandoned much of the base that elected him. He has done this because he no longer respects, fears or believes those persons who elected him have any alternative, but to accept what he does, whether they like it or not.

It is time for those persons who constituted the "Movement" that enabled Senator Barack Obama to be elected to "break their silence"; to indicate that they no longer will sit on their hands, and only let off verbal steam and ineffective sound and fury, and "hope" for the best.

full editorial: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clarence-b-jones/time-to-think-to-unthinka_b_792237.html

[Skittles]

1. it is long past "unthinkable"

Obama has a very short amount of time to get his act together

[bottomofthehill]

2. He better act like a Democratic President or I will vote for the insurgent no matter who he or she i...

[potpolpilot]

14. By my calculation he has - 12 months. That's REALLY not much time!

[ProSense]

3. Can't even get the facts right

Lyndon Johnson was one of the greatest presidents in the history of our country. He enacted Immigration reform, bills establishing a National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, a Highway Safety Act, the Public Broadcasting Act, creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a bill to provide consumers with some protection against shoddy goods and dangerous products, Social Security and Medicare, Voting Rights Act of 1965, only to mention a few. But, he squandered and threatened the viable implementation of these legislative achievements by his aggressive pursuit and escalation of the war in Vietnam.

<...>

The pursuit of the war in Afghanistan in support of a certifiably corrupt Afghan government and the apparent willingness to retreat from his campaign commitment of no further tax cuts for the rich, his equivocal and foot dragging leadership to end DADT, his TARP for Wall Street, but, equivocal insufficient attention to the unemployment and housing foreclosures of Main Street, suggest that the template of the 1968 challenge to the reelection of President Lyndon Johnson now must be thoughtfully considered for Obama in 2012.

LBJ did not enact Social Security and President Obama did not inplement TARP. Yeah, let's follow the LBJ model to a Republican President.


Stop the madness.

[Hannah Bell]

39. Social Security Act of 1965, the most important amendments of which were

Medicare & Medicaid.

I allow that he didn't speak clearly, but I doubt he believes, or meant, that Johnson founded the program. He was MLK's personal advisor & lawyer, & rather involved in political events of the time.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clarence-b-jones



Bush to Ask for TARP; Obama to 'Rebrand' It

President-elect Barack Obama asked President Bush today to request the release of the second $350 billion in federal bailout funds so he would have "ammunition" if the country's fragile economy weakened further...

Obama and Bush have teamed up to get the money released. Bush has agreed to request the funding, and Obama will lobby for it by arguing that he will "rebrand" the program and make better use of the money.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Economy/story?id=6626721&page=1

[bc3000]

4. I doubt Dean would do it, so I'm thinking Alan Grayson

[The Second Stone]

5. I am displeased with Obama

but a lot of that has to do with the way he is going about his agenda, not his lack of getting things done. He is not kicking ass and taking names. He is being very polite.

Consider that in a few weeks or months, DADT will be history. All our efforts in the past 20 years in this regard will come to fruition. And this will be undoable. People like me wanted to do it with a stroke of a pen. Obama wanted to get a law passed, which is harder, but it will be impossible politically to unwind. This is almost done.

He got us health care reform. Everybody will now be able to buy health insurance regardless of pre-existing conditions. It's not everything we wanted, but it is the first major step that we've made in health care reform since Medicare.

He has reduced troops in Iraq. I'd like them all coming home, but he was unable to do that.

He has kept the country from going into a major depression.

Nobody of any name recognition is going to challenge him in the primaries. And nobody will get any traction if they do.

At this point Gingrich, Palin, Huckabee and Romney look like they might run. All of them have serious weaknesses, with Huckabee having the least weaknesses. Obama will easily defeat all but Huckabee.

The fact is that if we don't like what Obama is doing, we have to make him do what we need him to do with rallies, letter writing campaigns to newspapers and elected officials, etc.

I'm not happy with what he has accomplished so far, but it is probably better than I could do, and it is certainly better than any Republican. It's time to start getting our act together and electing some liberals.

[silverojo]

7. Your point being?

The end of DADT, while laudable, would be a lot less important if we weren't still engaged in this illegal war.

Maybe he got YOU health care reform, but it's done nothing for me and many more like me. Creating a mandate to buy insurance I can't afford, and threatening me with a fine I can't afford, isn't going to get me to a doctor nor make me healthier. By caving to the Repukes and the conservadems, Obama has basically handed the insurance companies tons of money for years to come. No, thanks--at least, when I had no insurance, I wouldn't have to worry about being fined for it.

"Depression" or "recession" is a matter of semantics at this point. Here's how you get people working again: Bring the jobs back from China and India. But no, Obama goes abroad and tells us all that outsourcing is GOOD for America. Let's outsource his job, and see how he feels about it then.

Rallies and letter-writing campaigns do nothing to change his mind. No matter what people do, he spins it as a mandate for more of his failed "bipartisan" kowtowing.

Once he starts in with his policy of "let's gut Social Security and Medicare in the spirit of bipartisanship," Obama won't be able to get elected dogcatcher.

There's only one thing that's going to whip him into shape, and that's a primary challenge to make him see that he could lose his job as easily as the rest of us have.

Screw these neo-liberals. We need a real liberal, or at least a moderate Democrat with the spine to stand up to the Republicans.

[The Second Stone]

27. My point being that things do not happen instantly

He is not kicking ass and taking names. That isn't how politics works in this country. He is getting done what can be done with the Congress composition he has in front of him.

[cyr330]

33. Thank you for your post.

I agree with you 100%

[ProSense]

6. Hmmm? Clarence B. Jones

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Glenn Beck's 'Restoration of Honor' Rally

As nearly anyone with an even passing interest in Fox News knows, Glenn Beck is convening a "Restoration of Honor" Rally at the Lincoln Memorial this Saturday, Aug. 28, in Washington, D.C., in front of the Lincoln Memorial. His rally is schedule to occur at the same place, 47 years later to the date, of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's "I Have A Dream" speech to more than 250,000 people assembled at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Mr. Beck summons us to "come celebrate American by honoring our heroes and our future."

For some time it wasn't clear whether Mr. Beck scheduled his rally to coincide with the
Anniversary of Dr. King's historic address by design or accident, but the fact that Dr. King's
niece Alveda will be appearing with him on the steps speaks volumes . Beck says it is a "non-political event that pays tribute to America's service personnel and other upstanding citizens who embody our nation's founding principles of integrity, truth and honor." Until otherwise indicated, we take him at his word.

<...>

Indeed, I agree on that point. Beck and his followers have a unique opportunity to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. as an extraordinary example of one of America's "great leaders and noteworthy citizens," who by enabling our country to peacefully end American apartheid, changed our nation's course for us to live as a free people. The substance of Dr.King's speech 47 years ago at the Lincoln Memorial was a plea to America to "Restore its Honor." Or, in the words of Beck, "to restore the values that founded this great nation."

<...>

The Lord works in mysterious ways, and he has wonders to perform. Accordingly, we extend the hand of fellowship to Beck, Palin and their followers this weekend, and ask them to symbolically join hands with us to recommit ourselves to Dr. King's "Dream."

Follow up: King's 'Dream' Message Survives the Latest in 47 Years of Flawed Messengers

Seriously, this is the person who thinks President Obama should be primaried? A guy who bought into Beck's hype?

[jaxx]

10. Wow, someone had the nerve to post a beckers ideas as good?

This place gets weirder by the day.

[tpsbmam]

28. Do you know *anything* about the civil rights movement or about MLK?

These snips comes from a MLK sermon entitled Loving Your Enemies given on 11/17/1957 (my second birthday!). It's a long sermon that can he read here:

<snip>

So somehow the "isness" of our present nature is out of harmony with the eternal "oughtness" that forever confronts us. And this simply means this: That within the best of us, there is some evil, and within the worst of us, there is some good. When we come to see this, we take a different attitude toward individuals. The person who hates you most has some good in him; even the nation that hates you most has some good in it; even the race that hates you most has some good in it. And when you come to the point that you look in the face of every man and see deep down within him what religion calls "the image of God," you begin to love him in spite of. No matter what he does, you see God’s image there. There is an element of goodness that he can never sluff off. Discover the element of good in your enemy. And as you seek to hate him, find the center of goodness and place your attention there and you will take a new attitude.

Another way that you love your enemy is this: When the opportunity presents itself for you to defeat your enemy, that is the time which you must not do it. There will come a time, in many instances, when the person who hates you most, the person who has misused you most, the person who has gossiped about you most, the person who has spread false rumors about you most, there will come a time when you will
have an opportunity to defeat that person. It might be in terms of a recommendation for a job; it might be in terms of helping that person to make some move in life. That’s the time you must do it. That is the meaning of love. In the final analysis, love is not this sentimental something that we talk about. It’s not merely an emotional something. Love is creative, understanding goodwill for all men. It is the refusal to defeat any individual. When you rise to the level of love, of its great beauty and power, you seek only to defeat evil systems. Individuals who happen to be caught up in that system, you love, but you seek to defeat the system.

<snip>

Somewhere somebody must have
some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a descending spiral, ultimately ending in destruction for all and everybody. Somebody must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and the chain of evil in the universe. And you do that by love.

<snip>

So this morning, as I look into your eyes, and into the eyes of all of my brothers in Alabama and all over America and over the world, I say to you, "I love you. I would rather die than hate you." And I’m foolish enough to believe that through the power of this love somewhere, men of the most recalcitrant bent will be transformed. And then we will be in God’s kingdom. We will be able to matriculate into the university
of eternal life because we had the power to love our enemies, to bless those persons that cursed us, to even decide to be good to those persons who hated us, and we even prayed for those persons who despitefully used us.

There are others who were part of the civil rights movement who I could also quote along the same vein (e.g., Bayard Rustin). And there are MANY of King's speeches where you can read the same beliefs. This was at the heart of MLK's message -- achieve equality by embracing your enemies, finding the good in them, learning how to embrace that good....Clarence Jones was very much a part of that movement and was a close friend/ally of King's. Jones is absolutely carrying on MLK's message. You're dead wrong on this.

[Catherina]

31. So extending the hand of fellowship is only ok when Obama does it?

Not only extends the hand but gives them what they want?

You can't use the same argument to both attack and defend.

[Demeter]

8. Way Ahead of You, Clarence

I don't think President Obama ever seized the reins of the party...just had his reins seized by the banksters.

Which will prevail, the banksters, or the People of the Democratic Party?

This could be an interesting event in historical terms. Has ever a party been so captive to the Corporation before?

[howaboutme]

26. That is the core issue

Wall Street deserved to be smacked down big time. They needed a special surtax on all their earnings and assets because they were all ill-gotten; they needed aggressive prosecution for those on top, instead of lip service; the too big to fail banks needed busted up; and the USA needed to move in a direction of putting corporate America (if their still is such a thing) in its place.

Obama had the political clout to do all of these things, but instead did nothing to them. Instead he put the bill on we average taxpayers and gave the rich a permanent tax cut. (it will be permanent too if it is extended because the GOP will be in control when it expires). The Democrats know all this too but many are now controlled by the same ultra rich players as the GOP.

The media is corrupt; the elections are corrupt; and politicians are corrupt.

[MedicalAdmin]

36. Yes - many times in our past.

Of course those parties either died out, self destructed, or withered away. But not before they almost destroyed the country or parts of it.


And of course there is the repubs. If the dems are now getting on their knees and opening their mouths when big biz steps into the room, the repubs are permanently on their knees and faces with a tube of sandy KY stuck to their butts.

[BlueMTexpat]

9. Sorry, but I don't take advice from a Beckbot. nt

[TexasProgresive]

11. Get used to saying; President Palen or Gingrinch.

That is almost always the result of a strong primary challenge of an incumbent.

[Dr.Phool]

12. Boo!

Look out for the Beckyman under your bed.

[TexasProgresive]

19. When has it ever worked? BOO! yourself

Even if you don't like Obama's governing- think of the judges Palen or Gingrinch would seat on the Federal bench.

Once again, when in the history of our country has an incumbent president been seriously challenged in the primaries and the White House didn't turn over to the opposing party?

[Laelth]

13. The Democratic Party can not afford to alienate African-Americans.

I doubt anyone will mount a serious primary challenge to Obama.

-Laelth

[DonCoquixote]

16. I hate to say it

But they used to say that about LGBT.

[ladjf]

23. Obama has already cost the American people who needed help

four years. Now, I think that we will lose four more years regardless of which Democratic candidate runs in 2012. Sorry for the pessimism. It just seems as though all of the news is bad now days.

[TheWraith]

15. Clarence B. Jones is a supporter of Glenn Beck.

And yet, some people on DU buy into it, never realizing that they're feeding right-wing attempts to divide the left.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=573983&mesg_id=573993

[Stuckinthebush]

17. Kiss the presidency goodbye then

While it might feel good, it would be a disaster for the party. The GOP would love to see a challenger to Obama. For better or worse (depending on your viewpoint), Obama is our guy.

[ladjf]

18. I've already "kissed" the election good-bye. Obama won't win nor

would a challenger. We are totally out of position until at least another election cycle.

[Stuckinthebush]

22. Could be

in that case, it may be wise to make a statement that says, "This is what the Dem party stands for." Of course, it could mean more than one or two terms in the wilderness.

[Larkspur]

20. I Obama wins the Presidency, we lose; If a Repuke wins; we lose

We lose regardless if Obama wins re-election or not.

Obama, like the Repukes, doesn't give a damn about Main Street. He's a puppet for Wall Street.

[MissDeeds]

35. I agree

The only hope is to have a primary challenger who has a strong record of fighting for Democratic policies and ideals. We know what we've had with Obama, and we know what we'll get with a Republican. Neither is acceptable. We need a real Democrat in the White House.

[fatbuckel]

21. I will vote Democratic, I may not vote for Pres. Obama.

[Joanne98]

24. I'd like to see Sherrod Brown run.

[Laelth]

29. Interesting idea. Might work. n/t

-Laelth

[Steve_I_Am]

25. Draft HOWARD DEAN in 2012!

[hay rick]

30. Lose-lose choices.

A presidential election between Obama and any Republican is a clear lose-lose choice for anyone to the left of Mitt Romney.

Would I vote for Obama if his opponent was Palin? No. I would write in the name of a progressive. As long as we accept the lesser evil choice, we will continue to be "stuck" voters who never get a better choice.

[pokercat999]

32. Mr Jones has some interesting recollections. Having a few

memories of the 60's myself (Vietnam Era Vet). I seem to remember a national press that showed the horrors of war on the front page. The pictures of an execution of a bound prisoner right on a public street in Vietnam, a running child burned head to toe by American napalm. It was Democratic Presidents and Congresses that allowed the Vietnam War, it was the American press and the draft that caused the people to move against it. The people marched by the millions and this scared the crap out of the politicians and the military industrial complex. So they learned, first, control the press, then control the pols, limit the nasty effects to the public and you control EVERYTHING.

So today we have two wars without a draft so only those that for one reason or another "volunteer" and their families are effected.

We do not "see" the crimes and damage that our troops commit and cause as the press is contained by corporate ownership and US policy.

The money spent is hidden with off budget accounting and charges of being unpatriotic against those who would vote against funding these criminal wars.

Mr. Jones you must be very comfortable being a Stanford Professor making what, $200K a year or more?

It's time you got off your ass Mr. Jones and bring a few of your elite friends with you. Typically after all you sighted from your past your strongest response is a primary challenge, what a tough character you are Mr. Jones.

[Steve_I_Am]

34. Clarence B. Jones was the man who wrote the first draft of MLK's . . .

"I had a Dream" speech. He also worked tirelessly to get BHO elected.

Losing Jones' support speaks volumes.

[JohnWxy]

37. there are a lot of people looking around for a suitable candidate ritght now. Mr. President, you

have an uphill battle convincing most (?) Dems you are in fact a Democrat. Better decide if you are able or willing to fight the fascists or not. If you can't we need a leader. A Democrat in the WH.

[MasonJar]

38. Obama

Obama long ago decided that we liberals had no choice but to vote for him next go round. He ignores us and our wishes for a better America. I agree with the Huffington Post author that it is time he heard from us about our ability to look elsewhere. If all he does is cater to the Pugs, what difference does it make whether we keep a Democratic president? I am willing to support someone else in a primary battle, if it is the right someone else. He was clever early on; he neutered Hillary by choosing her for Secretary of State, but there are other strong possibilities.