Damn right, I'll support this Democratic president

[bigtree]

I don't have any use for casting this Democratic presidency aside in favor of some second-term challenge. Any such effort would only serve to divide and suppress support among potential Democratic voters and advantage the republican opposition.

Further, I can't see the wisdom in just abandoning this presidency to the political winds of opposition - from either the left or right - just because I have fundamental disagreements over some of the policies he's enacted or supports. Those interests of mine won't be served by a politically weakened Democratic administration and I won't cheer or wish that on them.

Thing is, as a lone voter out here, it's pretty clear that beyond our Democratic primaries, we ultimately have to make our voting choices between imperfect and uncertain candidates. In support the advancement of our wider progressive agenda, we are challenged to organize as large coalition of concerns that we can manage.

The most relevant and able coalition available which most closely supports our progressive ideals and concerns is the Democratic party. We do the best we can to advance our concerns into action or law by working to elect like-minded candidates under our Democratic banner. None of our voter advocacy and action guarantees the success of our efforts in the political system we invest in, but it is the only process in our democracy which has any hope of transforming our issues and initiatives from advocacy to action.

Likewise, in the election of our present Democratic presidency, we have enabled a sizable amount of our Democratic agenda to advance - legislation approved; executive orders enacted; regulatory, judicial, and administrative positions filled; and other vestiges of authority and influence of our government now under Democratic management. Damn right I'll defend that presidency; right through it's second-term and beyond. I'll defend this presidency as the best that our coalition of concerns could manage (so far) under our Democratic banner.

That's far from some guarantee that I'll get everything of my own agenda out of the Obama presidency, but I'm damn sure determined (through advocacy and activism) to work to keep this president in power and to promote this presidency's Democratic influence; to hopefully have a chance for my own views to find their place in the political process.

[HipChick]

1. K&R

[Ineeda]

2. Well said. K&R

[still_one]

3. The fact is the next presidential election will be between Obama and a republican

and yes, there is a difference between Obama and any of the republican hate filled candidates

I understand the frustration of progressives and liberals with many of the actions of this administration, but cutting off your nose to spite your face will not change a thing, in fact it could possibly allow for an even more consolidation of power for the republicans, and those naive enough to believe that they will get a better deal from a loss of Democrats at the polls because "people" will be so disgusted that they will suddenly vote for liberals or progressives, are not recognizing the demographics of the country

The argument is how does one get your representative to listen to progressive ideas?

[lonestarnot]

4. I'm sure we're better off than with a Lumpy and McMoose.

:D

[Bluerthanblue]

5. Well said, and I agree- we shouldn't abandon our causes or

principals, but to think that ANY person who can be elected president in this country is going to govern the way 'i' think is just plain stupid.

We don't have to like the choices that are being made- we can and should talk about why we don't think things like 'drilling' are good- using facts and logic, rather than just bitching about how 'this is a republican cave' or 'he didn't campaign on this' or 'that's it, I'm done-".
Will stating the reasons why we don't like a policy change anything? Probably not, but it may educate some.

What possible good comes out of just complaining about the Pres. and saying over and over "this isn't what Ivoted for" while patting ourselves on the back saying "I knocked on doors, volunteered countless hours etc." thinking that somehow entitles us to avoid being disappointed?

I didn't like Pres. O's plans for Afghanistan pre-election, or the fact that he didn't see universal health care as achievable, or his view that nuclear energy was a necessary evil that we needed to use until we could put other safer, renewable sources into place- BUT I could understand why he held those positions, and grudgingly admit that his perspectives were frustratingly realistic.

It's good to have strong opinions and high ideals- but we do have to live in the NOW- and while I believe the view I have for how things are sposed to be is by far the best, there are millions of other people who share this country who don't agree and we have to find a way to live together despite our differences.

[Frances]

6. I'm with you bigtree

As someone who was born and raised in the segregationist South, I want a leader who agrees with me some of the time rather than none of the time.

FDR did some things that were appalling (internment of Japanese in World War II for example). But without his leadership, we could have lost World War II.

Truman made mistakes too, but he was infinitely better than the Republican candidates.

LBJ has Vietnam to explain, but he gets credit for Medicare and the Voting Rights Act.

No way Gore would not have been better than W in 2000. Some Dems fooled themselves into thinking that the contest was between Nader and W. We all know where that kind of thinking got the country. And the Nader supporters refused to see that they would not have agreed with Nader's every decision as President either.

[placton]

7. LET'S VOTE FOR THE LESSER OF 2 EVILS!

who cares what policies are supported? that nothing much is done for tens of millions unemployed? we need to support our team!

[bigtree]

10. it's because of our concern for those

. . . that we organize under the Democratic banner. 'Our team' is the only player in town with any interest in recognizing or responding to those concerns. Most of what the President or our Democratic leaders aspire to advance through legislation ends up tabled; much of it revived in other legislative vehicles, often to eventual passage.

We work to, at least, keep our coalition of Democrats in place as we continue to organize the votes. That's our political system. We press on.

edit: typo, broken wrist

[uponit7771]

12. I'll vote for the one I can persuade the most

[laughingliberal]

24. A very inspiring campaign slogan if I ever heard one. Lol. nt

[H2O Man]

8. There will be

no serious challenge in the 2012 democratic primary season. There may be someone making a symbolic run, but they will only get about 3-5% of the votes.

[Moochy]

9. And besides we'll have nuclear powered offshore oil drills

So Suck it, Hippies! USA!

[dgibby]

11. Quite honestly,

in light of the recent SCOTUS ruling about corporations being able to buy any election, I don't really think it matters who the average voter supports anymore.

[Toasterlad]

18. For True. We Won't Ever Again Even Get to PRETEND We Elected Someone.

They'll just be appointed from now on.

[Still Sensible]

13. Pitch Perfect. K&R n/t

[madamesilverspurs]

14. Yeppers.

-

[bigtree]

15. .

[Scurrilous]

16. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Toasterlad]

17. Translation: "Follow Me, Fellow Lemmings! I Know a Shortcut!"

[bigtree]

20. not hardly

not following a wish and a prayer to replace this president tho . . .

[laughingliberal]

23. ROFL!! nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. I'll support, and vote, for him when, and if, he ever earns my vote.

So far, he hasn't done so and as a self proclaimed centrist, I don't expect him to.

I don't waste my votes on "not as bad" candidates who escalate wars, bail out corporations, gives the go-ahead to offshore drilling, backs busting teacher's unions, and then tells us that it's all for our own good.

The vote is the only weapon we have against the establishment in a democracy.

[bigtree]

21. my vote was a 'weapon' in the last election

. . . against the republican 'establishment' which is decidedly not centrist.

[bigtree]

22. .

[Bobbie Jo]

25. K&R

:kick: