I got a donation request from President Obama in the mail.

[county worker]

I have been saving it not knowing whether I wanted to contribute or not this time. I gave several hundred in 2008 but I don't feel like I did then. I have thought it over and I am going to mail it back with a check for $0.00 dollars with a note. The note will say that if Obama comes out and publicly supports OWS and puts an end to the police state that has formed, I will send as much as I did in 2008.

[Vincardog]

1. Net recommendation: +1 votes (Your vote: +1) Why exactly should I vote for BO?

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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

[gateley]

5. Brilliant. That'll show 'em and we can gloat while we're

basking in the love of a President Romney administration.

[Vincardog]

8. He is not as bad as them is a lousy argument. How about a reason FOR him?

[gateley]

10. DADT. There's one.

[TheWraith]

25. And ending the Iraq War. Beginning the pullout from Afghanistan. $20 billion more for food stamps.

$4 billion more for healthy school lunches. Free preventative care. The banning of pre-existing conditions. The banning of rescission. The elimination of lifetime limits on insurance coverage. $10 billion dollar investment in community health centers. $33 billion in SCHIP expansion. $60 billion for renewable energy. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Eliminating the Medicare prescription drug gap. Requiring every hospital receiving Medicare or Medicaid funds--virtually every hospital in the country--to provide full visitation rights for same sex partners. Banned job discrimination based on gender identity throughout the Federal government. Extended the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover Gay employees taking unpaid leave to care for their children of same-sex partners. Extended unemployment benefits for 7 million Americans. Trimming $78 billion from the DOD budget. And negotiating the new START treaty to reduce and dismantle nuclear weapons.

[brooklynite]

21. My wife and I are already maxed out to President Obama...

...because we live in a reality-based world where politics is about available choices and the best achievable outcome from them.

[gateley]

23. I live in a reality based world, too. And if the bottom line is

there ISN'T a real "choice", then I'm not going to shoot myself in the foot by exercising a right that will come to nothing.

The reality is we need another VIABLE alternative and we don't have one. We need to get to work on providing that alternative so we're not over a barrel again in the future.

[brooklynite]

33. "exercising a right that will come to nothing"

So, you are saying that there is absolutely no difference between Barack Obama a Mitt Romney or anyone else in the GOP Clown Car? Nothing at all? Because, while Obama hasn' turned out to be everything I hoped for, I see him as light years different than any Republican alternative.

And, if you're saying that he's too much of a disappointment compared to a liberal alternative, let me ask this: You say "We need to get to work on providing that alternative"...well, for starters, what have YOU done so far? Called anyone? Sent an email to Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren? Or just complained from behind your keyboard?

[gateley]

35. That is exactly the OPPOSITE of what I am saying.

I consider writing in a candidate who has no chance of winning or not voting does nothing but hurt us. We saw that in 2010.

I am happily supporting Obama, so I don't know why you're jumping down my throat -- if you honestly misunderstood or if you just like being a jerk.

And finally, let met tell you what I have done:

I call/e-mail my Reps at LEAST once a week - and not just if there is something on the books, either.

I have contributed to Bernie and Warren's campaigns (not much, but the best I could)

I am a MEMBER of the Progressive Party of Washington State and attend the monthly meetings.

Since you're so eager to point your finger at me and demand that I do more than just "complain from behind my keyboard", perhaps you'd like to return the consideration and show me/us why you are qualified to be so judgmental?

Do I pass? Do I live up to your expectations? I'm dying to know.

[brooklynite]

39. Please remember, you replied to MY original comment...

...in which I said I was supporting Obama as the best choice of the available candidates.

You replied by saying that "...if the bottom line is there ISN'T a real "choice", then I'm not going to shoot myself in the foot by exercising a right that will come to nothing".

Any reason for me not to interpret that to mean that you don't see a real choice between Obama and the Republican alternative?

And kudos for you supporting Sanders and Warren's Senate campaigns, but it you feel the need for a liberal Presidential candidate, I repeat my question (which I have been asking others for six months now without a reply): what have YOU done to find an alternative candidate?

[gateley]

40. Then I really misinterpreted your comment and I apologize.

I had originally responded to the post (since deleted) saying s/he was going to write-in Bernie Sanders. I got on the roll that Bernie isn't a VIABLE option. He would never win.

I feel the party is moving too far to the right - DLC on the march, which is why in an IDEAL world we would have a more progressive party (the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party as Paul Wellstone said).

I see a WORLD of difference between Obama and any Republican and wouldn't dream of not voting or writing in someone else thereby (I'm convinced) giving the Republicans my vote.

One of the things I keep saying to those who will not vote for Obama is -- if you think it's bad now, you have no idea what we'd be in for if a Republican gets the Oval Office.

So we're both on the same side and again, I apologize for totally misunderstanding your post -- I was on a roll but as usual, none too clearly.

The only thing I'm currently doing is attending the meetings, visiting the site, supporting local "progressives". I'm not chomping at the bit for a third party, I'd just like the Democratic party back but don't know if that's possible at this point.

[roguevalley]

32. yawn. he'll get in. the others are too stupid but he can use

wall street's billion, not my few bucks. I have a shrunken life to pay for. He can whistle out his ass.

[Tesha]

41. At some point, it would be good if *DEMOCRATIC* politicians finally understood that they must...

support *DEMOCRATIC VOTERS* and *DEMOCRATIC POSITIONS*
instead of triangulating upon Republican positions and
screwing Democratic voters.

Tesha

[county worker]

6. I suggest we vote for Obama as a vote against the right.

[Vincardog]

12. How about the right in the Democrat party? What does a vote FOR BO say to them? It says that they

can go as far to the right as they want.

[county worker]

14. You have one bullet in your gun. Do you shoot yourself or shoot at the repubs?

[Vincardog]

15. I am saying I will never vote for a Repug of either party. The Klown Kar Kapade in the GOP Primary

show that they have their man in the WH already

[TheWraith]

38. Not voting Democratic IS voting for the Republican.

And the fact that you believe there is any similarity between Obama and a Republican shows you've been far too long inside the internet left wing bubble. Get out there a little and listen to the things that actual Republican candidates are proposing.

[Tesha]

43. Actually, you have a new set of bullets every two years.

Play to win the "long" game.

Tesha

[jwirr]

27. That is my reason. I am old but my memory is not gone. I know how

this nation got into this mess. I am not so stupid as to hand it back to them.

I plan on voting for Obama and then sit on his tail the next 4 years like he cannot imagine.

[ellisonz]

36. Supreme Court.

A vote against Obama is a vote against the rights of women.

[Fumesucker]

3. Obama should not support OWS .. He should condemn official violence against peaceful people..

Not criticizing your action, just a little different twist..

:hug:

[county worker]

9. He publicly supported every other country on the globe where democracy battles are being waged why

the hell should he not support his own people?

[lamp_shade]

4. Oh..... never mind.

[frazzled]

16. Yeah, I was going to say something snide, too

Like, "oooh, that's original," or "that's going to really make him think." But then I remembered I've made a vow to stick to contesting facts as much as possible, not attitudes. There's no changing people's attitudes. And they won't change mine, either.

[gateley]

28. Good for you - and I'm taking YOUR attitude to heart. Why bother?

:hi:

[PragmaticLiberal]

30. This is my philosophy as well when it comes to DU.

I find it makes things much easier.

[zanana1]

7. The problem here is....

What is the option? I don't know about you, but the idea of a president Romney or Gingrich scares the hell out of me. I'm volunteering again this time around for Obama. Let's not shoot ourselves in the foot, America!

[county worker]

13. I didn't say not to vote for him. I talked about giving money.

Personally I don't like him and prefer a more progressive candidate but that isn't going to happen. I will vote for him but most likely will not give money to his campaign.

[pnwmom]

18. Don't give him money then. But don't CHARGE him the postage either

in one of those prepaid envelopes.

Unless you really are trying to help the Rethugs.

[LWolf]

11. I haven't gotten anything in the mail.

I didn't donate to Obama in '08. My donations went to local and state candidates that I actually wanted to vote for.

I have gotten plenty of email requests, from Obama and from the Democratic Party. Here is a recent response I sent:

The statement you quoted is correct. The rich should pay more taxes than those who make less.

The president, though, is waging a neo-liberal war on public education, and on labor, despite what he says in speeches. He gets not a dime, and not a vote, from this Democrat. He's a better friend to Republicans than he is to my profession: education. If he'd like to earn the support of teachers back, he can do this:

1. Immediately fire Arne Duncan and replace him with a real educator. A PUBLIC educator.

2. Immediately withdraw his support from privatization schemes rampant in his blueprint, in the federal TIF grant, and in RTTT. No merit pay, no using standardized test scores to bully public education, no high-stakes testing, period.

Those two things can earn back the support of teachers. Despite what our union presidents tell the public, we do not stand behind him.

When he does those things, ask me again. I might be able to scrape $3 together.

That was in response to this request:

President Obama just threw down the gauntlet.

In case you just missed the President’s speech from the White House Rose Garden this morning, I wanted to make sure you saw this key quote:

“It is wrong that in the United States of America a teacher or a nurse or a construction worker who earns $50,000 should pay higher tax rates than somebody pulling in $50 million.

Anybody who says we can't change the tax code to correct that, anyone who has signed some pledge to protect every single tax loophole so long as they live, they should be called out.”

That’s where you come in ******.

Contribute $3 or more right now to help us call out Republicans who are putting millionaire tax breaks before middle class jobs. House Democrats will match your gift dollar-for-dollar.

[LonePirate]

17. Obama will not receive one dime from me until he announces his public support for marriage equality.

His cowardice on the issue deserves to cost him some contributions.

[DirkGently]

19. How about, "A donation to OWS has been made in your name?"

[Huey P. Long]

20. Good Idea.

[Danascot]

22. I've been sending dem mailings back

with a note saying, "I am currently donating to support the OWS movement which I feel better represents my interests at this time."

[janet118]

24. I tell all Dems who contact me that I'm giving every extra cent to . . .

Elizabeth Warren because she supports people like me.

[Martin Eden]

26. Instead of $0.00, how about $0.02?

Now THAT would be putting in your two cents :kick:

[INdemo]

29. I assume the person that opens your envelope will chuckle and throw it in the

trash...Obama doesn't care about the little people

[quinnox]

31. You are nicer than I am, I would tear it up and throw it in the trash

He is on his own after numerous failures and broken promises. Bush tax cuts renewed, gulf ocean environmental destruction continued, public option rescinded, etc.

[NICO9000]

34. We got a call a few weeks back from the campaign

It was pathetic. The poor woman who called asked if we could contribute $250.00. Mind you, we donated $0 in 2008, so I'm not sure why they'd think we have this kind of money to piss away. When I told her that we haven't worked in two years, she sympathized, but then asked if we could help out with a $100 donation! WTF part of "we have no money?" do they not understand. We got the same pitch from DiFi; same dollar amounts. My wife answered that call. If I had, they would have gotten an earful from me on what a POS Feinstein is and has always been as far as I'm concerned.

If I had any money right now, the only ones who would get any of it would be Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

[ellisonz]

37. Bad contracting...

[lamp_shade]

42. Oh get over yourself. Here > >

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-outpaces-gop-rivals-and-his-own-2008-results-in-small-donations/2011/11/04/gIQANhTJWN_story.html

[zanana1]

44. The campaign is ON!

I start making phone calls tonight for Obama. I'm not giving up on him.