My Friends Here Who Support Obama are Right

[placton]

We who know he has sold us out need to propose something better, not merely criticize. Seems there are 3 things we can do, proactively:

1. Set criteria for a primary challenger in 2012: what must she support? And, not only support (Obama promised his support on many things, than sold them for a mess of pottage), but show a RECORD OF HAVING SUPPORTED - no more Hopey Changey bullshit. The left (read: the Democratic wing of the party) has its highest influence in primaries.

2. Stay home for '12 if Obama prevails in the primaries - to show that the Dems cannot count on us to vote for lesser of 2 weevils.

3. Become single issue voters - on lotsa issues. Levin in my state just voted for no drug importation - and I will not support him based on that. We need to list a dozen or so issues that will keep us from the polls, and KEEP our promise.

We do need to act proactively - I agree with Obama's supporters here. I don't agree that the opposite of perfect is the enemy of the good.

[mdmc]

1. I think that Obama will win huge in 2012

All we need to do is keep fighting for what we believe in (#3 perhaps? - single issue voters).

It should be obvious that the DLC, the corporations, the war machine.. these will all be provided for no matter who wins the election.

We should just work on being the change that we want to see in the world. Obama's own words.

I for one, will be working in NYS for 2010 and 2012. I will fight for a progressive senator unless Ghouliani runs for office. Then I will lock step with the DLC to ensure that the dem beats ghouliani..

I will be running for Newburgh city council in 2011.

Bring it on..

[placton]

3. I wonder how Obama is gonna do that

with about 1/3 of his base staying home? Maybe he will attract Goopers?

[salguine]

7. He's gonna ride to victory on a wave of insurance company money.

[mdmc]

13. The black base won't stay home

If civil rights (or other issue) activists want to stay home that is their choice in our democracy.

I still think Obama will landslide in 2012.. The GOP might have a base, mass media, and cash.. but Obama got the DLC and the DLC is corporate safe. How can we go wrong?

[sendero]

2. I agree...

... the only way we will break the corporate stranglehold on our government is to make incumbents understand that no amount of money will buy an election if you have let the electorate down.

[cali]

4. Obama will not have a serious challenger

in 2012. Oh, Dennis may run again but in that regard he's really not so different from Harold Stassen. Dennis is not a serious candidate.

Nope, I won't stay home in 2012 even if I cast a vote of protest for a non-viable challenger in the primaries. I prefer the lesser of two evils.

You can't be a single issue voter if you're focused on "lotsa issues". It's a contradiction.

I'll be voting for Senator Sanders and Rep Welch in 2006.

[Walk away]

6. If this man sits on his ass while I go broke trying to pay for...

health insurance I will write in the first real liberal Democrat that comes to mind. Even the Bush family never thought of forcing us to pay these crooks. This is a new level of being screwed.

[izquierdista]

10. You sure got it

Obama gets lesser and lesser each day that goes by.

[99 Percent Sure]

12. 2006? n/t

[RevCheesehead]

5. You know, it IS possible to both support and criticize him at the same time.

I support him, I want him to succeed, but I also think he's making some seriously bad decisions.

[KharmaTrain]

8. Walk Away Now and Have No Leverage In 2012...

Stay at home or vote thrid party in 2012 and be prepared for lots of frustration. Unless you can find 50 million other friends to do the same as you, then any attempts to "primary" this President and then go on to win in November is a pipe dream.

Yes, Democrats need to be more proactive. We had our asses handed to us on several of these debates and pissing and moaning on a message board won't do much. There should have been pro-single payer or public option rallies and a stronger push to not only get people to understand what was at stake but the Democratic party as well.

The job in 2010 is to get more and better Democrats elected. My suggestion is to find 5 to 10 candidates...including challengers...that you want to support. Mix 'em up...a couple in the Senate, the rest in the House.

The betrayal wasn't in the White House...while they didn't do much to help. It was in the Senate...and that's where the real change needs to be made. Picking up 2 or 3 seats with Progressive candidates will put more pressure on this administration to pay attention to the growing Progressive/Liberal caucus and make the national party work for our vote...not the other way around. Then demand new leadership in the Senate.

The next change is in our hands...and it starts now...learn from this situation and prosper...or give up and keep feeling "sold out".

[NJmaverick]

9. Your "friends" also thought all that hyperbole you use causes a loss of credibility

[graywarrior]

11. 2012 is 2 years away

A lot can happen between now and then. Don't project.

[Major Hogwash]

14. Fund raising starts in a year.

Let's see him get reelected without the millions of $10 dollar donations this time!