List five things the administration HAS to fight for to keep or REGAIN your trust

[Ken Burch]

Obviously, we know now that it's meaningless simply to "re-elect the Democratic president". What just happens makes that worthless as an exclusive end result.

In the next two years, the question of whether this administration can deserve to be re-nominated hinges on its recognition that it has to work to hold the trust of some Democrats and regain it among a huge number of others.

In order to encourage a positive process of getting the administration, through words and through actions, to make the choice or reaching out to the party rather than simply DEMANDING renomination as if it's their right by liege law, I'd like everyone who wishes to participate here to list five things you HAVE to see the administration fight for without compromise and with actual passion.

I'll start:

1)Campaign finance reform(it won't pass in the Rich Man's Congress, but it has to be introduced and we have to see the administration pushing the GOP to allow a vote, and then we have to see the administration nailing those who won't vote for it).

2)A combat withdrawal from Afganistan and full withdrawal of ALL remaining troops from Iraq by the end of THIS year. We know the troops in Iraq no longer serve any meaningful and have done all they could, and it's now clear that "victory" would be meaningless in Afghanistan even if it were possible, since there are no non-repressive forces there that have any chance to take power. Obviously, no one should ever die over a difference of degrees.

3)NO cuts to social spending. It's not a Democratic adminstration if it ever makes the poor suffer MORE than the Republicans did. Obama has a moral obligation to fight against austerity, since austerity and fiscal conservatism can only benefit the rich.

4)Reintroduction of labor law reform. Put Taft-Hartley repeal in the 2012 platform. Nobody who wants unions weak ever votes Democratic anyway.

5)Electoral reform. The administration needs to put platform commitments to seeking the repeal of the Electoral College and to encouraging the states to distribute electoral votes proportionately rather than winner-takes all until repeal happens. There also needs to be a call for the removal of the 435 seat size limit on the U.S. House(so that it can actually be a house that represents the country by population again). And there needs to be strong encouragement for proposals for proportional representation in as many levels of elections as possible.
There is NO excuse for a Democratic president NOT seeking to remove the anti-democratic aspects of the American electoral system.

Those are mine. Add yours below. Let's use our anger as a motivation to starting a complete renewal of this party and this country.

[jtown1123]

1. Social Security, public works program, public option, no DADT, tackling poverty

mehh not going to happen but I can dream can't I?

[Ken Burch]

3. Well, nothing's actually going to HAPPEN in the next two years

What this period is about is seeing if the administration will finally show some fight.

Truman did in 1947 and 1948. In those two years, he moved strongly to the left in his proposals on domestic issues(unfortunately, he started the Cold War and created the mindset that eventually trapped us in Vietnam as part of his foreign policy). The result was an unexpected re-election in 1948 and regained Democratic majorities in both houses.

[jtown1123]

12. There is no fight left in that dog.

[Ken Burch]

18. Even hearing the admin say they'd fight for those things would help, though?

It's completely bogus for them to reduce the whole thing to "you MUST support us, no matter how Republican we get, or it's YOUR fault if we get 'President Palin'".

THAT is politics as an abusive relationship.

[Vincardog]

2. JOBS, Full employment, Fair TRADE, Paper Ballots Hand counts, Jobs at a LIVING WAGE

[Ken Burch]

7. Good list

That's what we need here.

The work of changing the terms of discussion has to start now.

[reformist2]

4. Campaign Finance Reform is my #1as well.

We need to get money out of politics, as much as is humanly possible!

One solution that might even win over some Republicans is free airtime on TV and radio for all candidates that make the ballot.

[dennis4868]

5. they never lost my trust :-)

[Ken Burch]

11. Do you at least have a "that's going TOO far to the right" point?

Clearly, the tax thing was that point for actual progressives.

[dennis4868]

13. the tax thing was also too far to the right...

for Obama....Obama has been campaigning against tax cut extension for the wealthy for the past 3 years but he was not going to go into January 1, 2011 without a deal that included tax cut extensions for the middle class, lowest tax bracket and UI for 13 months....like he said the repubs were holding us hostage for things that needed to be done (i.e., tax cut extensions for the middle class, lowest tax bracket, UI for 13 months, and additional college tax credits). Remember, it was the repubs that said no to UI for 13 months and everything else until there was a deal in place for tax cuts for the wealthy that passes both houses of congress.

[bobbolink]

6. Thank you for remembering us in #3. But only no more cuts?

Why can't we need and want actual CHANGE????

[Ken Burch]

9. There does need to be change. I was trying to set the bar low enough

That the admin might actually consider it. But you're right, there does need to be more.

Why don't you add five things that specifically need to be done for the poor? You know the details of those issues better than I. Let's see your list.

[bobbolink]

27. The very first thing that is necessary is to LISTEN TO US! We are treated as pieces of furniture to

be refinished and auctioned off.

Obama claims to have been a neighborhood organizer... the people who went house to house and listened to what people said their needs were.

What we get now is people who see us as flawed, don't ask what we need, and TELL us what is wrong with us. That is very destructive, and doesn't accomplish the goals they want, so then we get blamed for not reaching *their* goals.

Jim Wallis, in his book "Faith Works", has a whole chapter called "Listening to Those Closest To The Problem". He talks about letting those of us who are suffering define what it is we need, and then how to go about getting that. I talked to him personally about it, and he said that when they can get groups to actually do that, they see how much better the results are, and they are sold on it. But, as he said, it is very difficult to get people to be willing to LISTEN. They are much more comfortable in the authoritarian position, and just can't be budged.

As for other things .... I have written them so many times, and it isn't heard. Putting the energy and time into communicating and being ignored is just draining, so I will leave it at this.

Thank you for listening, Ken. I wish others would.

[mmonk]

8. I'm just going to try and change direction through my representatives.

That way, I'm not leaving it up to someone else.

[rurallib]

10. I started to list, but i can't see anything our guy would stand behind

Free choice Act?
Public option in health care?
public finance of campaigns?
public works during the recession?
raise cap on SS tax?

[treestar]

14. Why five things?

Why not six? Or ten? Or three thousand?

[Ken Burch]

15. It seemed like an achievable number, and a number that would likely result

In different lists from different posters.

Establishing a number like that, I also felt, would make people stop and think a moment about what their true priorities were, and this is always a good thing.

No numerical fascism was intended. If you want to post a larger list, I can't actually stop you.

[Warren DeMontague]

16. End DADT. End The Drug War. Legalize Marijuana. Marriage Equality. Public Option.

You didn't say they had to be realistic.

[Ken Burch]

19. "Realistic" is a code phrase anyway.

It's Rahmemmanuelian for "shut up and know your place".

[LiberalEsto]

17. Social Security in a lock box

Just like Al Gore used to say.

[Democrats_win]

20. Prosecute the banksters, make usury illegal, end the wars TODAY, foreclosure moratorium, create

national bank.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

21. Please rethink the usury one.

If it's not possible to make a profit lending money, people will stop doing it.

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that civilisation as we know it would collapse within months.

[librechik]

22. Ban electronic voting machines, Single payer, cut Pentagon budget in half, close Guantanamo, &

new 9/11 investigation, with no torture evidence allowed.

I would also like to end the filibuster and ditch the electoral college for direct representaion with election run-off.

[kenny blankenship]

23. They have REAGANED my trust for the last time.

Sorry. Will never trust him again.

[Ken Burch]

26. You're entitled to your grief and rage.

n/t.

[robcon]

24. The Obama administration already has earned my trust.

n/t

[grahamhgreen]

25. end the wars, tax the rich, medicare for all, end free trade, prosecute the criminal elite