LAST WORD: Nader, Grayson, Rabbi -For Obama to take the LEFT Seriously He Needs a Primary Challenger

[frugal99]

Run time: 13:04 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhHEshPRj3M   Posted on YouTube: December 10, 2010 By YouTube Member: tickledropstop Views on YouTube: 2   Posted on DU: December 10, 2010 By DU Member: frugal99 Views on DU: 2006

 
Part 1 of 2

A very thorough and fascinating discussion with Rep. Alan Grayson, Ralph Nader, Jane Hamsher, and Rabbi Michael Lerner.

They discuss why Obama is undeniably afraid of the right and unwilling to fight for the left. They conclude it is because he follows power and in Washington the Right IS the power so he doesn't think Left issues are important.

So for Obama to understand and remember who elected him in record #s there needs to be a serious primary challenger so the tug of power can pull Obama toward the left and he can begin to work for Left causes.

Alan Grayson is also asked if he would be that Challenger to Obama.

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZjlBERsVy8

[Mosaic]

1. Quality television

A rarity these days. Obama is taking a shellacking from more than his republican colleagues. I really wonder if the U.S. is ready for a real progressive.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

2. Obama knows he isn't representing his voters, he's representing his donors

theres a big difference.

IMHO, a primary won't change his behavior.

It doesn't even look like he cares if he has another term.

Obama is finishing what Bush did - emptying out the national treasury into
a few wealthy hands, placing the debt on the back of the poor.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[A wise Man]

4. Some think its because....

he's a Black President. It isn't because he's a Black President...it's because rethugs are so hated for what they are doing to this country. Some haven't forgotten about the 8 years with Bush and the rethugs. They are the ones that started this mess we are in now. They hate Obama now for selling us all out to the rethugs. Majority or Minority they get what they want...Black or White President. EVERYONE IS ANGRY AT THAT AND SO AM I. He gave the rich more and we get crumbs. Disgusting!!!!

[tavalon]

11. I hadn't heard a single person blame this on Obama's blackness

I've heard plenty about his challenge aversive personality and his tendency to conduct negotiations in secret with the wrong team and just overall not supporting Democratic ideals, for which he is supposed to be the flag carrier, as the leader of the Democratic Party. Not once in the last few, very contentious days, have I heard mention about his race.

I have something to say that is a bit race based. I am damned sorry that a man who showed such promise, who could have been not only the first black President but one of our greatest Presidents is going to settle for just being the first black President. And he isn't setting the bar all that high for the next black and/or Latino President. Damn it all, our first black President needed to be amazing just to be considered good enough in our still racist country. He hasn't been amazing, he isn't even hitting the mark for good and if I were a member of his race, I think I might be pissed. As is, I'm just sad. I knew he would be better than he's been - he's an incredibly smart man and seemed to be a savvy politician. What the hell has happened here?

[bobbolink]

31. Yes, sad, indeed. It is a tragedy. Of Shakespearean proportions.

[frylock]

32. there a handful of posters here drawing the race card

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x556001#556167

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x556001#556196

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x552907

[davidwparker]

28. Didn't you post this same comment under Part 1?

No need to copy/paste your black comment. Nobody has mentioned it but you. He didn't run on race.

The reason people are upset is because, after the fact, we've all discovered Obama has no backbone, is confrontation-averse, and has no executive skills.

IOW, all mouth and teleprompter.

[pokercat999]

7. The best we can hope for is Obama to take the "Palin Option"

resign now and hit the lecture circuit. Jan 1 he could call it quits, let Biden take over and "retire" from politics. We would all be better off (couldn't get worst, could it?) and Biden would have two years to earn his chops.

[ladjf]

22. Good post! nt

[timefortherevolution]

5. Obama has decimated his base.

And DAM, is he a weak character or what?

MORE FOR THE RICH!

[JTFrog]

6. Nader is a fucking tool. n/t

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tavalon]

12. Um, that is so last decade

See, right now, we can't really see a difference between the Republicans and the Democrats, well, at least the Democrat in the White House. Right now, Nader is fucking prescient. So, you're just going to have to stow that knee jerk reaction.

[emulatorloo]

17. I live on this planet, I still see differences in Republicans and Democrats

Nader's POV may sound cool on discussion groups where anything goes. OTOH Republicans in the Senate have fucked up every good piece of legislation that came out of the Democratically controlled house. We would have a middle class only tax cut package right now if Republicans had not killed it this past Saturday.

There is a reason the COC and CROSSROADS spent gazillions of dollars to run Lie Ads against Democrats in 2010 election cycle. And that reason is not that "Dems and Republicans are the same"

[JTFrog]

24. I'll have any reaction I want.

Who the fuck are you to tell me I can't?

The difference is crystal clear and I plan to enthusiastically vote for Obama again in 2012.

[harun]

15. A tool that was and is right.

[JTFrog]

25. There is nothing right about giving power back to the Republicans.... AGAIN. n/t

[harun]

29. From where I sit, they never lost the POWER.

[JTFrog]

30. So come back down to ground.

I am never going to buy into the ridiculous notion that we aren't heading in a much better direction than the last administration was going, but then I don't have short term memory issues.

[ladjf]

23. Did you hear Nadar's comments? If so, what did you object to?

[JTFrog]

26. I object to destroying the Democratic party and putting the Rethugs back in the whitehouse. n/t

[ladjf]

27. We are in total agreement on that point. Our difference is that I

believe Obama is destroying the Democratic Party and facilitating the Republican's efforts to retake the WH. Who knows? All of us are mere bystanders without a very good view.

[frylock]

33. and he is fucking right..

yet again.

[JTFrog]

34. I wholeheartedly disagree.

Pretty cool we can do that eh?

[frylock]

35. indeed

[PADemD]

9. I'm glad LO apologized to Alan Grayson. He was very rude to him.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

10. I wish Grayson could/would run as a Dem challenger to Obama n/t

[harun]

13. Fantastic group for discussion. Fan's of all of them.

[disillusioned73]

14. Nader & Grayson were on point....

ughhh, I can't believe it's come to this - where have all the populist gone??


edit; I am glad O'donnell apologized for his unprofessional outburst the day before, good for him even though I am officially leery of his intentions from here on out.

[emulatorloo]

16. What was O'Donnell's take on all this?

Sorry my computer is toooooooo slowwww for YOUTUBE.

O'Donnell usually introduces historical material and practical issues into these discussions. Did he contribute?

[TatonkaJames]

18. Sometimes I think Obama was elected by.....

the owners of this country just to distract us all from what's happening today.
They knew the consequences of Bush's actions and the result when he left office
so what better plan than to have the first African American president ? And then,
as evil as they are, make him look bad so they spread more racism (look at the
language even representatives use, ie; "Urban") to describe him. I think this was
all planned. How can Obama run for the change he did and with a democratic house and senate
allow the republicans to run the agenda ?
It's all B/S, most everything done today is B/S, it's like ZB said, it's a "Chess Game" only they
are playing with real players, US !

[democracy1st]

19. Nader never imagined in his wildest dreams that this would happen!

[davidwparker]

20. Oh, this was so good. I watched it last night and good to

see it posted so I can see it again.

[davidwparker]

21. Welcome to DU.

[Uncle Joe]

36. I believe Grayson makes some excellent, critical points around the 9:16 mark.

Thanks for the thread, frugal.