"Yes we can" what? Seriously, wtf does that mean?

[MagsDem]

Yes we can get along with rethugs in congress? No, we fucking can't. Yes we can all come together on ideals? No, dude, we fucking can't. They want everyone to sing in the Christian choir, and then kill the "ragheads" and the "queers." They want endless war, with anyone. They want rich people to be richer, and for the rest of us to work for 8 bucks an hour at two jobs the rest of our fucking lives.

No, Barack, we cannot all unite behind that shit. Yes we can, my ass. Hope is not a precription for change. Not when the other side of the partisan coin is rethugs.

[Clarkansas]

Yes we can beat a bad candidate like Hillary, and nominate a good one like Obama.

That is my interpretation.

[MagsDem]

3. Well than you haven't listened to his speeches

[Clarkansas]

6. His speeches have very little to do with

why I am voting for him.

[MagsDem]

13. LOL - you and everyone else

Makes sense, because the stuff he says is such completely naive crap. So I'm not surprised most of his supporters have never really listened to it. He's a media creation, and people in this country do what the media tells them to do.

[SammyWinstonJack]

21. Media creation. Yes he is. Not all of us do what the corprat media tells us to do.

[awaysidetraveler]

65. If you'd ever seen or met him in person, you wouldn't think of him as a media creation.

But if you're really worried about the substance, please check his issues.

Obama's better than Clinton on Iraq, poverty, ethics and even health care in my book.

[Clinton Crusader]

70. Oh come on MagsDem, buck up and fall into line...

like another poster told me, keep saying

Hope!
Believe!
Change!

Keep saying it over and over and it will all become crystal clear like magic!

I'm going to my cancer treatment at the hospital Monday, and when I'm in my hospital gown, I'm going to skip down the hall, throwing rose petals at everyone singing Hope! Believe! Change! maybe my cancer will disappear! Maybe they'll put me in the mental ward!

In any event by then it should all be crystal clear to me, according to CNN, MSNBC, Tinkerbell and most of his supporters.

[SammyWinstonJack]

5. Real deep.

:eyes:

[CJCRANE]

1. It's the "can do" attitude. Remember that?

I prefer Hillary, but I can't knock Obama's optimism.

[MagsDem]

2. You can call it optimism, I call it naivety

[KennedyGuy]

4. right on!

[CJCRANE]

10. Well

I'm sure there are DUers (more educated than me) who can provide you with examples of American "naivety" that changed history.

[kurth]

11. Naivete on the part of his worshippers, you mean

Obama himself is neither naive nor stupid.

[water]

66. Yeah, as much as I wish he wouldn't do it, he's certainly preying on emotions.

[emilyg]

79. So do I.

[jasmine621]

55. You mean Hillary has no optimism? Is she crying "No we can't?"

I need a little more substance here.

[Danger Mouse]

7. Sigh. Yet more nastiness out of you. Wish I could say i'm surprised.

:thumbsdown:

[DesEtoiles]

8. This >>>

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Yes_We_Can_Barack_Obama_Song

[MagsDem]

37. Kumbaya -- yeah, right

And who are the rethugs that will go along with this and sing the new Kumbaya song with us?

[DesEtoiles]

9. All obnoxious Hillary supporters go on my Ignore list, starting today

[K Gardner]

16. Mine too.. because.. YES WE CAN !!

[ursi]

12. haven't you been wishing we could take our country back for the past 7 years?

[MagsDem]

18. Very much so, but pandering to the right....

"Hoping" and "dreaming" that they will work with Democrats is not going to make that happen. He is either trying to establish a conservative agenda or he is hopelessly naive, or he is just plain bullshitting people.

Have you ever in your life see a conservative campaign on working with democrats? There is a reason for that, you know.

[Radical Activist]

28. Yes, Bush campaigned on working with Democrats.

Remember the state of the old union address when Bush bragged about working with Ted Kennedy on a bill? I know its all bullshit from Bush, but the truth is that this is what voters want to hear. People want a leader to TRY to work with the other side.

When Republicans refuse to go along then its Obama that ends up looking like the good guy who reached out and the American people side with Democrats. Its a smart strategy.

[MagsDem]

38. Yes, and then he steamrolled them

Now do you get it?

[Radical Activist]

45. And Obama will steamroll the Republicans with the same strategy.

It only takes a few Republican Senators to reach 60. Get it?

[MagsDem]

50. By voting present, or what?

Seriously, give me a single instance where he has shown the courage to oppose the rethugs on the war? Just a single time. He hasn't.

[Radical Activist]

54. Nice change of subject.

You're really brining up the war? How many Democrats had the courage to speak at an anti-war rally at any time, much less in 2002 when very few were speaking out against it. His bill calling for withdrawal by 2008 and the fact that he's now voting against funding are two more examples.

[MagsDem]

62. The subject is exactly the same

He does not have the courage to vote on controversial bills, and I am supposed to believe he can steam roll the rethugs? I don't think so.

[Danger Mouse]

32. It's not 'pandering' it's promoting bi-partisanship.

The Neocon slimebags WANT disunity and partisan behavior...it's tougher for their to be change when the two sides won't work together.
And if you think Hillary won't work with Rethugs, then you're the one that's naive.

[MagsDem]

41. Hillary has spent her life kicking rethug ass

[MzShellG]

64. Not exactly...

She campaigned heavily for the repuke ass, Goldwater. Then, apparently, she came to her senses. Maybe you'll come to YOUR senses once President Obama is sworn in next year.

[MagsDem]

68. She was 18 yrs old, so define "campaigned heavily"

LOL. Man, that is just desperate.

[MzShellG]

78. Not gonna split hairs with ya....

There's no need to define anything. In her book, she says herself that she volunteered for rethug, Barry Goldwater. Also that she was raised in a conservative household, and even called herself a 'Goldwater girl'. Now I guess now you wanna know what the definition of Goldwater girl is?

[foxer]

77. That's Licking not Kicking

[Danger Mouse]

80. Being president is about more than kicking ass.

One of the reasons Bush was a lousy president was because he was so partisan.
You can't expect to get your own way all of the time. Whether our president is Hillary or Obama, they will have to work with the Rethugs at some point.

[bidenista]

14. BOB THE BUILDER!

Looks like Obama got his campaign slogan from kid's TV - "yes we can" is a slogan from Bob The Builder.

Song here.

And here's the DVD:

[Danger Mouse]

17. I respect Hillary Clinton. I have to keep in mind that the sleaze posted by her supporters on DU...

doesn't reflect on the woman herself.
Frankly, I think she'd be disgusted with some of you.

[bidenista]

31. it's kidding, not sleaze.

For the record, I doubt Obama got his campaign slogan from kid's TV. It is a cool song, tho'.

[Danger Mouse]

33. Yeah, my little sister did that song for a dance class thing a couple years ago.

It was fun.
Kidding, fair enough.

[robbedvoter]

34. Are you saying my kids watched sleaze on TV? Bob the Builder is a cute show for tots!

[Danger Mouse]

81. I was refering to the perceived insult.

[peoli]

15. "We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics that will only grow louder..

and more distinct. We have been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hopes.
But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope."


You are the chorus of cynics. Congratulations.

[globalvillage]

24. Hopemonger

;-)

[MagsDem]

27. LOL -- omigod!

Name me a rethug in congress that is going to work with him? Name me a single one that will work with him on healthcare, getting out of Iraq, getting out of this huge deficits by raising taxes, etc, etc.?

It's all well and good to say shit like this, but it is NOT the reality. Rethugs are NOT going to sit down and play nice because some inexperienced democrat has a fucking dream.

[peoli]

39. you are a wall. /sadface for you

[mrreowwr_kittty]

19. Much better to support the candidate who votes for their wars, right? nt

[MagsDem]

29. HE votes for their wars

He has given Bush every single thing he has wanted when it comes to Iraq, and he has BLOCKED democratic efforts to end the war, and Bush's blank check.
How can any Obama supporter not realize that by now???

[calmblueocean]

20. Hey MagsDem! Nice to see you!

You asked what "Yes we can!" is about.

On the most basic level, it's a campaign slogan. "Yes, we can win in the primaries. Yes, we can win the presidency."

It's also about stepping out of some of traditional limiting perceptions of each other. Instead of only being separate groups, blacks, whites, Asians, Latinos, Native Americans can see ourselves again as part of a larger community, a national community that includes all of us. Yes, we can overcome those prejudices and divisions that keep us from discovering our common strength.

And yes, it's about overcoming the baser sort of cynicism that keeps people sitting at home, cursing politics instead of sucking it up and getting out there and making the good things that need to happen, happen.

Obviously, as a campaign slogan, it's broad enough that it can be misapplied, too. It doesn't mean, "Yes, we can eat a ham sandwich," or "Yes, we can fly" or "Yes, we can pretend that everything's going to be okay without hard work and standing up for what we believe in." Anyway, I hope that you'll keep some of this stuff in mind in the future. Thanks!

[MagsDem]

36. It's not cynicism, It's reality......

And it might as well be Yes, we can fly. Politics IS partisan, and out ideologies are 180 degree different. And it is NOT a bad thing to oppose rethuglican ideology. You can wish, pray, hope, and dream that rethugs will stop persecuting gay people and let them marry, you can wish they'd realize that drowning govt in mounds of debt so rich people can richer is a bad thing. I could go on all day. But Obama is not going to change their ideology any more than McCain is going to change yours.

PARTISANSHIP IS GOOD! It is opposition to really bad ideas, and a really bad agenda. I want someone that will fight for the Dem agenda, not roll over like they did on the FISA bill today.

No Obama!!

[calmblueocean]

51. Tell me if you agree with this.

"Partisanship is ideal. Partisanship is crucial. Partisanship is based in ideals and principles, and people who hold those principles dear and are loyal to them will not compromise them. Partisanship founded the country; partisanship propels the country. What we do not need is an end to partisanship. If we finally come up with this notion of bipartisanship across the board and the country's unified, one of two things is actually going to have happened. One side is going to have lost. So the question is, "Who wins?" The question is victory, not bipartisanship."

That's pretty much your argument.

Here's who else holds it, and where I got that quote from.

Honestly, I don't even think Obama's "Yes, we can!" slogan is even about bipartisanship in the Senate. I think he's talking about the American people, not the Congress. But your quote brought this issue up, and so I thought I should share with you the fact that you're Rush Limbaugh's ideological twin here. And I don't think Rush is valuable, and I don't think we need to be more like he is.

Anyway, I know we disagree, but I like our talks here.

[MagsDem]

60. That's the whole point about Obama

He talks out of both sides of his mouth.

"It's not easy to stand in somebody else's shoes. It's not easy to see past our differences. We've all encountered this in our own lives. But what makes it even more difficult is that we have a politics in this country that seeks to drive us apart - that puts up walls between us."

That's why I don't trust him.

[calmblueocean]

75. So you're fine holding to the same philosophy as Rush Limbaugh?

You didn't address that point.

Also, I don't see what about that quote above you mentioned makes you not trust Obama.

[blm]

22. Yes we can OPEN GOVERNMENT to the people instead of protecting BushInc the

way Clintons always have and always will.

[MagsDem]

43. And how have the Clinton's "protected" Bush Inc?

Do tell, please.

[blm]

85. Here's a start for you....

http://consortiumnews.com/2006/111106.html

They ALWAYS HAVE and ALWAYS WILL.

Jackson Stephens didn't bankroll both GHWBush and Bill Clinton's political careers for nothing.

[BenDavid]

23. Folks would buy a used car from obama too...folks you being

snookered.................

[Danger Mouse]

26. This from a Hillary supporter.

:eyes:

[Radical Activist]

25. You can't make change if you don't have hope.

Its step one.

[robbedvoter]

35. Having a bunch of coins of different denominations is also helpful

[MagsDem]

52. Hope ain't going to get you anything

Hope is like going into battle completely naked. Only thing that is going to get you a dem agenda is a dem willing to fight for it, and hard.

[robbedvoter]

30. But, but - they surrendered! They gave up - they let us have fair elections now!

You don't believe me? It sez here: BREAKING NEWS"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4348096
"
Notice that there is no current campaign of collusive corruption coming from the right. They are standing back to not interfere with our primaries to guarantee a fair process, because they respect our institutions more than they need to retain power."

"They have simply given up - and they are stepping aside to allow us to choose a guaranteed winner - Barack Obama.

And at the end ...ponies, dude!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4194873
"

[MagsDem]

40. LOL -- yes, lots of pretty ponies!

[polichick]

42. Watch this with an open mind and an open heart...

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=89786&mesg_id=89786>

[MagsDem]

48. Trust me, I've seen it

And frankly, it's enough to make one puke. Kumbaya does not work with rethugs. Never has, never will. In fact, just today Bush got everything he wanted on the FISA bill on a silver platter. You know why? Because Harry Ried said "yes, we can" work with them.

I am so damn tired of spineless democrats, and this is just complete spinelessness wrapped up in a media package.

[polichick]

57. You've watched it without SEEING and listened without HEARING...

It's about what THE PEOPLE can do ~ what Americans have already done, and will continue to do once we believe in ourselves again. Giving in to Republicans is what Dems do when they DON'T believe in themselves.

Here's one example of Obama's approach ~ last fall he met with a group of fundies and listened to their pro-life views. He LISTENED to them without mocking or looking down on them ~ and then explained that in his view all women are prayerful about the abortion decision and that he was pro-choice because he believed it was a private decision. He didn't cave to their views, or change his position ~ but built a bridge of understanding so that they saw Dem women more like them (prayerful) and they saw him (a Dem Senator) as approachable and nonjudgmental.

[MagsDem]

67. No, I'm sorry, that's not the case

I just think it's baloney. As for your example, so what? Those same fundies are still going to stand outside abortion clinics and harrass women, and they are still going to go to the polls and vote that gay people don't have the right to exist. I don't give a dang if fundies like Obama, that doesn't do a damn thing for me, or for poor people, or gays, or women who want to make decisions about their own bodies.

That's actually the problem with Obama. He thinks "talking" to people and singing Kumbaya is going to solve problems in this country. And it's not. We are never in millon years going to get healthcare in this country, for instance, with that kind of thing.

[polichick]

73. Okay, just for you, here's another example:

A friend told me the other day that her die-hard Republican husband is hoping Obama will get the nomination because he wants to vote for him. "He likes what he's hearing from Obama," she said.

So I asked why he liked Obama's policy positions but not Hillary's, since they are close on most issues.

The answer: "He'd never listen to Hillary long enough to hear her positions."

Because Obama doesn't demonize the other side, but will listen respectfully to Republicans and present his own views without judgment, people are willing to hear him out ~ and MOVE TO HIM, instead of the other way around.


(Not that Hillary "demonizes" ~ she's just lumped in with the idea of devisive politics.)

[stimbox]

44. All of this "Yes We Can" stuff is for the Barney generation.

[robbedvoter]

47. I always thought subjecting one's kid to THAT may have untold consequences

Some had seisures then, some got sensitive to repetitive words later.

[MagsDem]

53. Exactly -- time to grow up, Dems

Hope got you the FISA bill with everything Bush wanted on a silver platter. Honestly, I am so sick of dems who refuse to fight for me, who persist with these childish notions that kumbaya with a bunch of thugs is going to win the day. The rethugs must be salivating over the prospect of Obama in this election.

[BlackVelvet04]

83. Exactly....

the one's buying into it are the generation that was told how "special" they all are. The same ones who believe they are going to be the next American Idol. They think because they believe it, it will happen.

[pstans]

46. Yes we can bring this nation together and demand real progressive change

Obama knows that Republicans like Dick Cheney won't compromise, but they will be forced to (or thrown out) if enough people are on our side.

This is from my endorsement I wrote before the Iowa Caucuses for my blog...

Obama is talking about changing Washington on a macro level by bringing people together behind common values and once enough people are behind him then corporations and lobbyists will be forced to change. That reminded me of what John Perkins, author of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, said at a lecture earlier this fall...

The corporations have great power, but we, as consumers, have great power over them. We can use this power to transform the empire into a viable model.

We must use consumer demand to change the corporatocracy's goal from windfall profits to creating a stable, sensible, and peaceful future. No CEO wants Florida to go under water, terrorism, or polluted water. They all have kids and want them to have a quality life.

Perkins said this will be the easiest revolution ever because it is bloodless and the opponent, deep down in their hearts, is on our side, even if they don't realize it. He said, "we need to turn the intent of our economy around."

Obama described this kind of change at a speech last week...

I’ve learned in my life that you can stand firm in your principles while still reaching out to those who might not always agree with you. And although the Republican operatives in Washington might not be interested in hearing what we have to say, I think Republican and independent voters outside of Washington are. That’s the once-in-a-generation opportunity we have in this election.

To lead this kind of change, a leader must have strong core principles and not back down. When I saw Obama speak last week, I needed to see if he had a back bone and hear what his core principles were and I did.

Because I know that when the American people believe in something, it happens.

If you believe, then we can tell the lobbyists that their days of setting the agenda in Washington are over.

If you believe, then we can stop making promises to America’s workers and start delivering – jobs that pay, health care that’s affordable, pensions you can count on, and a tax cut for working Americans instead of the companies who send their jobs overseas.

If you believe, we can offer a world-class education to every child, and pay our teachers more, and make college dreams a reality for every American.

If you believe, we can save this planet and end our dependence on foreign oil.

If you believe, we can end this war, close Guantanamo , restore our standing, renew our diplomacy, and once again respect the Constitution of the United States of America.

That’s the future within our reach. That’s what hope is – that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better is waiting for us around the corner. But only if we’re willing to work for it and fight for it. To shed our fears and our doubts and our cynicism. To glory in the task before us of remaking this country block by block, precinct by precinct, county by county, state by state.

I truly believe that Barack Obama has the strength and conviction to lead the nation, not just to right the ship, but to lead it in the direction it needs to go. Obama has the ability to fundamentally change the way we live in our nation, not just the way Washington works. I hope you get on board.

[okasha]

49. It's cribbed from the United Farm Workers/Cesar Chavez' "Si, se puede"

UFW, of course, has endorsed Hillary.

[psychopomp]

56. Cesar Chavez came up with it during his 25-day hunger strike

It works.

[Jim Sagle]

58. It means he's a Republic Con artist who can 't lower himself to actually say anything.

[Egnever]

59. Yes we can Rise above the negativity you have bought into so heavily

Yes we can reach out to people with common goals to accomplish things despite the naysayers that stand in the way. Yes we can open up the windows on government and let the light shine in again. Yes we can put aside prejudice and divisiveness and reach for an america that doesn't pit black against white rich against poor, and yes even republican against democrat.

Yes we can engage our youth to become involved again.

Yes we can break the cycle of cynicism and restore the faith of the american people in their government.

Or we can take your view and continue to hate our fellow americans and continue to demonize our political opponents, We can continue the hopelessness that prevents us from trying because we think the only way to accomplish things is to bludgeon enough people into our way of thinking.

I'll pass on your brand of hate on your brand of defeatism. I will chose instead to reach for the moon. I'll take the chance on a higher calling and set aside the corrupt politics that says the only way to win is to destroy.

Your derision is noted and utterly rejected by me at least and clearly a whole lot of others. Its making you crazy isn't it?

[MagsDem]

72. Um, no we can't...

Because half our legislators are rethugs. And if they weren't we wouldn't NEED hopes and dreams. We could just get it done.

[workinclasszero]

86. Yes We Can!

Thank you for putting into words how I and my wife feel about Obama. That was beautiful.

Some people can never let go of their fear and hate because, sadly it defines their very life.

I'm looking foward to a future of hope and a great America once again doing the impossible!

GO OBAMA!!!!

[demo dutch]

61. Rethugs need someone like Hillary to slap them around! The proof is in the pudding!

[Evergreen Emerald]

63. That is what Pelosi said in 2006

[eridani]

69. Yes we can have universal health care?

CARE, not "coverage" or insurance? Hey, let us know about it then, 'kay?

[MagsDem]

71. Not with Obama's plan you can't

It might upset the rethugs he is trying to unify with.

[Control-Z]

74. Sí se puede!

"Sí se puede" is Spanish for "yes, we can". Human Rights Leader Dolores Huerta came up with this United Farm Workers motto in 1972.

Both she and Hillary Clinton were at the March for Women's Lives in DC, 2004. There, at the rally following the March, she (Huerta), still using HER chant, fired up the million plus crowd with "Sí se puede", "Yes, we can".

On another note:

5/18/2007
Human Rights Leader Dolores Huerta Endorses Clinton
Huerta will Help Lead Campaign's Hispanic Efforts

Washington, DC -- Hillary Clinton received today the endorsement of human rights leader and community activist Dolores Huerta, the co-founder and President Emeritus of the United Farm Workers of America. Huerta will serve as co-chair of the campaign's Hispanic outreach efforts.
...

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=1707

Seems to me the motto would have been more fitting had Clinton been the one to borrow it.

Just sayin'.

[Yael]

76. "You can't nice these people to death"

:hi:

[WillyT]

82. You'd Have To Be Latino, No ???

:evilgrin:

[Control-Z]

84. What does that mean?

Seriously? I don't get it.