Barack Obama is not going to represent ALL of our concerns

[bigtree]

. . . at least not all at once.

He still has to manage our concerns through a Congress which has a balance of power which will require a significant amount of compromise to effect our concerns into action and law.

The most effective way to influence the new administration with our (conflicting) views will be to pressure our legislators who will be tasked with enacting the initiatives and proposals coming from the White House. That influence from us, through our Senators and Representatives, is an essential part of our political process.

In that effort, it is perfectly reasonable and expected that we, on the outside of the political process, continue to argue and debate the issues and concerns which affect us in order to promote understanding and to garner support needed to press those concerns onto the agenda of Congress and the president.

That process doesn't happen automatically with our votes. The advocacy we participate in here and elsewhere is an essential part of our democracy. We shouldn't be lulled into the assumption that all of our concerns will be addressed without continuing pressure. It rarely happens that way.

Keep pushing, DU!

[ingac70]

1. He's got a huge mess to clean up.

I imagine most of that will have to be tended to first.

[Corkey Mineola]

2. Thanks. Good point. NT

[BeFree]

3. One problem

When you say we are..."on the outside of the political process" you let yourself be excluded.

Instead become part of the political process. Being part of the political process is as American as apple pie, and who doesn't like pie? 'They' may not want to give you any of the pie, but in America you can take all you can eat. Fuck 'Them'.

[bigtree]

4. well,

I consider myself 'outside' and the elected folks and their staff, 'inside.'

Semantics.

[BeFree]

6. See, that's a failure

They are dictating to you and telling you where you stand. Screw that. Is this their country or yours'?

Yeah, they want you to believe they are the master and you are a peon. Well, things have to change if we are to change things, eh?

[bigtree]

7. I have a fine impression of what my role is.

I intend to influence my government from the outside, with my advocacy and my votes. Define that any way you want.

[BeFree]

9. My experience is

... that one becomes influential only when they place themselves in a position of power. And as you say, being inside is where power is exerted. We are only outside because we let them exclude us.

[bigtree]

11. we do need better representation

And, as I wrote, we need to keep pressing our concerns by organizing and advocating to and through our elected officials.

[ROakes1019]

5. compromise

Governing is the art of compromising. Obama isn't going ultra-liberal; if he does, he'll be as bad as Bush going hard right. Yes, we should push for government that aids our interests but we must remember that Obama isn't just our President; he's President of all the people and the most powerful player in world politics. He will have a better chance of getting through legislation with a stronger Congress. More important is to see whom he will gather around him to advise him. Also, remember that he's a pragmatist at the same time he's an idealist. Remember to pick your battles and only go after those that are best for the country.

[gratuitous]

8. No he won't

Most adults understand that. But we know damn well that we'll at the very least get a hearing for our concerns, something that has been sorely lacking in the last eight years.

There's a story posted recently at Digby where early on in his first term, FDR met with a group with very specific Depression era demands. He listened, agreed that something should be done, and that the proposal the group had brought might very well have merit. He concluded by telling them, "All right. Now, make me do it." That is, we need to remain organized, stay on message and on task, and shepherd our proposals through the legislative process so that it gets to President Obama's desk as pure as we can make it, and then he can sign legislation that we want to see enacted.

It's a lot tougher to propose and enact than it is to gum up the works and stop everything. And the Republicans are masters at stopping progress. We have to work to get things through Congress so that President Obama has no choice but to sign legislation into law.

[bigtree]

10. that's it

democracy

[bigtree]

12. .

[dkofos]

13. I'll be happy if he can just get the economy on track and not fuck anything else up.