Should President Obama be primaried?

[Pryderi]

Keep in mind the upcoming SCOTUS vacancies.

[old mark]

1. YES!...nt

[meow mix]

2. yes by anyone..theyll have my support

[MineralMan]

13. Anyone? Really? That's the extent of your criteria?

Hmm...

[meow mix]

19. any democrat, even put feinstein on there lol.

my criteria is seeing a political price be paid.

[AndyTiedye]

45. A Huge Political Price Would be Paid by Everyone if the Repiglickins Win

You seem to want that. I can't imagine why.

Do you really want Huckabee or Palin to be President? :hide:

[meow mix]

49. i dont respond to threats, and fear-mongering

sounds a lot like obamas current campaign, but try again

[MineralMan]

52. That's clear. You appear to think that electing Democrats is the

same as electing Republicans. I give you the 2010 election.

Have a great time in 2012. I'll be out drumming up votes for Democrats, just as hard as I can. I can see the difference, and the Republican alternative is no alternative at all, as far as I am concerned. You do whatever you want. I have work to do, and it's already started. I don't have time do deal with your misunderstandings about politics as it is.

[Erose999]

83. And some of you seem to think that just electing DLC "Democrats" is the solution. I give you the

2006 and 2008 elections.

The tent is so big now that we're letting Big Oil, Big Rx, Ma Bell, and even the damn NRA in.

It really doesn't mean anything to call yourself a "Democrat" anymore. I read in another post that Fred Phelps even calls himself a "Democrat" nowadays.

[MineralMan]

85. In 2008, we elected Al Franken in my state, and re-elected

Betty McCollum. You have a problem with those two? Both are Democrats. You have a problem with that?

When you say "some of you," to whom are you referring. Me? No, I work to elect progressives in my own state and district, and we've succeeded. Why do you suppose that is?

In any case, I will take a Democrat over a Republican in any election. Every time. 2010 did not go well.

[Erose999]

59. They don't have a chance. The real GOP nominee will be Mittens or Bitch Daniels or some centrist.

Falin' Palin is only in it for the fame and money so she'll drop out early and Fuckleberry has no support outside the deep South.

If Obama isn't primaried, I'll register Republican and vote in the GOOP primary for the least evil / most centrist candidate. I think the Republicans call that strategy "operation CHAOS". Of course I'll vote AGAINST whatever candidates the GOOP fields in the General. Straight (D) ticket as usual for the local and state offices.

May or may not vote for president in the General. If its Mittens v/s Obama I really have no opinion there. At least opposition to Mittens would be galvanized unlike Obama... who gets a pass on his Rightwing/corporatist agenda from many Dems because they are fooled into thinking that there's some sort of "strategy" at work behind the capitulation.

[meow mix]

69. exactly. they just want to bully me... no biggie.

thugs never change

[readmoreoften]

72. We're already paying a huge political price because they're clearly in control anyway.

[Donnachaidh]

73. okay -- elaborate on that HUGE political price hanging over our heads

Come on -- school us. Tell us how things could get so terribly horribly different.

We'll wait.

[AndyTiedye]

80. Huckster or ImPalem Would turn the USA into Jesusland and Restart the Crusades (With Nukes)

That "End Times" think that they are into. :nuke:

[Donnachaidh]

107. yeah right -- and pigs will fly out her butt as well

Got news for you -- most of this country is already Jesusland, and after this mess in Japan, I doubt seriously anyone in our government would even suggest using nukes.

But keep trying on that fearmongering -- practice makes perfect, dontcha know :sarcasm:

:eyes:

[CakeGrrl]

53. "Anyone BUT Obama" - not very choosy, is it?

:crazy:

[MineralMan]

90. No, it isn't. I've heard that crap many times in these threads.

"I don't care who it is. I just want someone to run against Obama." What a moronic sort of thing to say, in my opinion. It demonstrates either a lack of knowledge or utter opposition to a Democratic President who has strong popularity.

Sometimes it seems as though there are people who want a Republican to win in 2012. That has always seemed very odd to me, somehow.

[defendandprotect]

14. No -- make sure it's a dem who isn't pre-bribed and pre-owned by corporations ....

and we need Pres and VP candidates who are not only outside of the party --

as Bernie Sanders is -- and maybe Tom Hayden -- but two who are strongly anti-war!

I'm sure there's a long list of dems outside of the party --

We have millionaires and multi-millionaires in Congress who are not legislating or

voting in our interests -- but in their own interests!!

Bernie Sanders is a better dem than most Democrats and could run on the Dem ticket.









The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know, pass it along!

:)

[Recursion]

41. Lyndon LaRouche and Fred Phelps are both Democrats

But more seriously, I think there are more people to his right in the party than to his left.

[Erose999]

50. Ahh, the perils of being a "big tent" party.

[SidDithers]

88. Lee Mercer has already announced...

Have you sent your donation yet?

:rofl:

Sid

[ReturnoftheDjedi]

115. you would probably vote for Palin over Obama.

[golddigger]

3. Yep!

[Autumn]

4. yes n/t

[MineralMan]

5. No. Have anyone in mind who has expressed any interest in

running? No? I didn't think so. What's the point of this poll unless someone of prominence who has any chance of defeating President Obama in a primary has expressed an interest in running?

Or are you posting the poll to express your general unhappiness with the President? If so, I suggest you come up with a candidate first.

[Scuba]

6. I've made three trips to Madison in the past six days....

...and spoken with dozens of Progressives. Each and every one is disappointed with or angry at the President. I doubt he has any chance of re-election.

Kucinich, please.

[hfojvt]

33. I think a primary will increase his chances actually

Obama won't lose, but at least progressives will get to blow off some steam and probably force some concessions and influence the platform. It will make it easier to swallow our bile in November.

[in_cog_ni_to]

40. BO will not be reelected.

There's not a chance in hell he could win again. We must have someone run against him for the nomination.

[lutefisk]

57. If the Teapublicans really screw up their campaign, he still has a chance...nt

[Donnachaidh]

74. you really think those millions out of work for the same amount of time as his term

are going to vote for him again? REALLY?

:wow: :rofl:

[Little Star]

7. Yes. but he won't be. Well ,maybe some nut bag might do it?

But no one serious. He is our historical president.

[Autumn]

35. He's not the only historical president. When you consider

Bush's Presidency was historical in that he was not elected. Al Gore won the election. Bush was appointed by the supremes. My neighbor pointed that out to me.

[polichick]

8. Hell yes, by a candidate who isn't afraid to lead with Democratic principles...

Even if he or she loses to Obama, the prez would be reminded of what it means to be a Democrat.

[MineralMan]

10. Name one who has expressed any interest in running.

I'll wait...

[polichick]

16. The question was SHOULD he be primaried...

Read and try to get it - I'll wait...

[TheKentuckian]

29. The who isn't important. Just demonstrate there is a vacuum and someone will fill it.

A candidate becomes "viable" by having enough support.

[polichick]

36. True - and as likeable as the prez is, there are a lot of people who...

...yearn for STRONG DEMOCRATIC leadership instead of tepid Republican-lite maneuvering.

[MineralMan]

Nope. If you added up all the frustrated progressives

who are refusing to support Democratic candidates, you'd have less than 1% of the voters in that line. About the same as the Libertarian Party manages to bring to the polls. Useless.

[TheKentuckian]

114. Not my point. You are looking for a flag bearer and I'm saying that if the demand exists

then a flag bearer will fill the void.

I did not state that the necessary space was there, only that the space comes before the candidate rather than a candidate being required to make the space.

There are certainly more votes available to challenger than those who refuse to support Democratic candidates.
I not only voted for Democrats but worked campaigns again but I believe Obama should be primaried to either replace him or force the dialog left. In fact, he should draw a primary just to demonstrate that corporate lackey policies are not liberal policies and that rehashed Republican solutions are not liberal solutions.

Failing to primary Obama means accepting a further shrinking of the national ideological spectrum and no candidate is worth that as we are forced to fight a multi front war with no effective tools.

"Centrist" policies are just as failed as Republican ones since they are essentially the same with a little different rhetoric and some underlying sense that a few crumbs must be tossed unless you want the masses at the barricades.

I also think some Obama supporters slips are showing a bit, if there are so precious few malcontents that want a challenge then why the fuck is it discussed so often by you folks?

Like in 2010 we will lose not because of a few liberals staying home or voting third party but because we cannot hold independents (despite a full court press to placate them and to tailor efforts to soothe and attract them) and cannot motivate less than regular voters to show up.

If all you folks from Obama down to the casual supporter would cease and desist with the transactional poll watching and do what is right for the people, we'd be in way better shape and the cries for a primary would be few even in the left wing blogosphere.

[Maru Kitteh]

9. No. It didn't work out so well against Carter, if memory serves. Got us that asshole Regan.

[stevietheman]

58. Exactly, and this time the result will be far worse.

n/t

[whatchamacallit]

67. You mean Reagan, Obama's idol. (nt)

[gkhouston]

91. The manipulated hostage situation got us Reagan. n/t

[MannyGoldstein]

11. Remember when disgruntled Kennedy supporters failed to vote in 1980?

Me neither. I do remember Reagan asking the following question:

"Are you better off now than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago?"

[Smarmie Doofus]

31. +1. The Kennedy challenge actually boosted Carter in the polls.

He got to play CIC.

[Ichingcarpenter]

12. Obama 2007-2008 should run against Obama 2009-2010

Boy would that be a contest and debate
Both are great orators .... I wonder who would win?

[iwishiwas]

18. Laughing out Loud

[polichick]

22. Good one - too bad the first was just faking it.

[Scuba]

25. +1

[EFerrari]

26. LOL

I'd vote for that guy. :)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

38. But, leave out the part about escalating a lost war.

Then I might vote for him.

[nc4bo]

42. Interesting thought. nt

[mmonk]

84. In that case, Obama wouldn't be re-elected.

[sad sally]

111. You know his campaign machine is in the planning stages,

so don't be surprised if what you're suggesting actually happens. He won't be able to blame old Chimpy for the country's current woes, but betcha' blaming that hope and change guy just might buy him another four years.

[nosmokes]

15. Why not? He's the most half assed president since Ford.

who the fuck needs a fan of torture and endless war in the WH?
can'tproofread

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. Yes. The only way to get the party to move left is to vote left.

Voting for "the lesser of two evils" or the "not as bad" candidate in the general has moved the party to be a pale imitation of the Republicans.

[AndyTiedye]

47. That Never Works. Losing Makes the Party Move to the Right

[Donnachaidh]

77. Really? Then explain to me the move to the right they've done since we WON in 2008?

:eyes:

[NOLALady]

20. Of Course.

I am sure they can find a better leader.

[Scurrilous]

21. Early and often!!

:thumbsup:

[Ikonoklast]

23. FFS.

[closeupready]

24. If Sanders or Dean or Kucinich had a serious chance, I would be so there.

nt

[cascadiance]

79. Or Feingold too, if he doesn't go for Wisconsin governorship after Walker's recall

[closeupready]

81. I love Feingold.

So yes, +1.

[Scuba]

97. Folks I talked to in Madison indicate ....

...John Erpenbach is the front runner for Governor, which would leave Russ free to run or CIC.

[ecstatic]

101. Do your homework. Dean is a centrist, and Kucinich

is ineffective.

[vi5]

27. Yes, but it won't happen and won't make a difference....

It would only be worth it if he were primaried from the left. And even if that happened rather than take it as an opportunity to move left to win voters, like everything else he'd take the complete wrong message away from it and simply use it as an excuse to brandish his "moderate" credentials.

Despite what many naive people on here believe, he's not trying to "be the president for all Americans". It's clear his main concern is being president to the Richard Cohen's and David Brooks and Chris Matthews and Joe Scarboroughs of the country.

[readmoreoften]

28. Yes.

[Dappleganger]

30. YES

[Johonny]

32. go with other

not until the fall will I decide on such subjects.

[readmoreoften]

34. These numbers are sad. I expected 5% for primarying.

And its not just DU, my Obama-sticker coworkers are pissed off at him too. Maybe he'll get the new Tea Party recruits in Wisconsin and Michigan--they're obviously naive.

[in_cog_ni_to]

37. ABSOLUTELY, YES! Bernie Sanders.

He would be perfect.

[cascadiance]

75. The key question would be should Sanders become a Democrat to do so...

I like Sanders a lot too and would love him as president... But have some mixed feelings here...

I like his independence, which would have him be a candidate for the general election, but I think perhaps that becoming a Democrat and primarying Obama might be a better choice.

It would help by:
1) Preventing the Democrats from putting in a Democratic challenger for his Senate seat in 2012, which they would likely do if he were to challenge Obama for president as an independent instead of staying out like they did last time when Howard Dean headed the DNC. I'm sure the Dems would feel by doing that they'd force him to withdraw to make sure he won his Senate seat rather than trying to run two costly campaigns at the same time to have some sort of seat.
2) Sanders could easily win a Democratic primary in Vermont for Senate, no matter who they ran against him, and therefore he wouldn't have to put as much time or money in to that campaign if he were simultaneously challenging for the presidential primary.
3) Primarying Obama instead of challenging Obama in the general election would avoid splitting the vote to give to the Republican. I think if Sanders were to win, he actually might bring out MORE of the progressive base in elections around the country not only for president but other seats than Obama would.
4) If Sanders could do a campaign on something like "I'm going to help the progressives retake control of the Democratic Party" and send a message to other disaffected Green Partiers or independents that have given up on the DLC controlled Dems to come back in to the party under his leadership, would also help get out the progressive vote as well.

As Thom Hartmann would say, it is about taking over the Democratic Party to become again what it used to be and then rallying the base, instead of still "compromising" too much like the DLC and other corporate Dems have an infatuation of doing now that is turning off the base, and is what had us lose so much in 2010...

[uponit7771]

39. *********NO!!!! HOW MANY TIMES IS THIS QUESTION ASKED AROUND HERE EVERY WEEK?******

[DJ13]

43. Have you noticed that the numbers of "yes" keep getting bigger?

[Pryderi]

51. that's why I asked. n/t

[gkhouston]

93. As many times as it takes for us to remember that the Presidents are elected to *four* year terms?

If another Dem wants to toss his/her hat in the ring, I'm willing to listen.

[el_bryanto]

44. Are you wondering if you should run against him?

I mean somebody will run against him won't they? i think a better question would be should we support someone running against Obama.

Bryant

[Moondog]

46. Meg Ryan said it best -- Yes! Yes! Yes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9hstRfZVCY&feature=related

[tekisui]

48. Yes! I hope it happens.

[stevietheman]

54. No, why on Earth should a good President be treated this way?

n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

60. "...treated this way?" You mean, democratically?

God forbid we should have elections to choose our candidates.

[readmoreoften]

64. +1

[stevietheman]

66. Yes. "Democracy" ignores what's on the other side: HORRORS.

Yeah, let's elect a GOP fascist by primarying a pretty good Democratic Preisdent (who's not perfect, but who would be?)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

71. If, as you say, he's that good then being put to a vote should win him the primary.

At least that's how it usually works. And, if the "other side" is that horrible it should be a cake walk.

[msongs]

55. depends on whether we live in a democracy or Obama dictatorship I guess nt

[Arkana]

56. Every day I am more thankful

that this place doesn't represent reality.

[readmoreoften]

65. Actually, I'm not sure why you think it doesn't. It's not an invitation-only site. And everyone I

know who is actually paying attention agrees, even the Obama supporters at work who don't know about DU are done with him.

On the other hand, he will get much of the Republican vote so he'll probably win.

[Kennah]

61. A primary challenge ensures President Sarah Palin

[readmoreoften]

70. Who wouldn't be able to get away with the shit Obama does.

If Palin tried to dismantle public education, people would be outraged. If Palin supported the torture of Manning, people would be outraged. Obama does most of what Republicans do, and then let's Republicans do what he doesn't want to do. His phony presidency confuses the center who would normally be outraged by these policies. In many cases, he has outright pushed the centrists into defending war, torture, and privatization.

[Kennah]

82. Where were the people when Bush was waterboarding?

I wish I could believe it, but I don't buy that the people would reign in a GOOPer.

[killbotfactory]

62. Yes, Let's put a lot of time and effort into not fighting republicans

Instead let's channel that into a political act that is sure to fail and not accomplish anything.

[gkhouston]

110. That very "strategy" is one of the reasons some Dems are so disaffected.

So it's chess when the President does it, but an unthinkably bad idea for anyone else? :shrug:

[dkofos]

63. If for no other reason to wake him up.

[lutefisk]

68. How about some long shots, like Rocky Anderson?

Progressives people across the political spectrum might really connect with...

Hey, these are desperate times.

[cascadiance]

78. Rocky Anderson might be a good VP selection for someone like Bernie Sanders...

[Better Believe It]

76. The Progressive: Why a Primary Challenge to Obama Is a Bad Idea

Why a Primary Challenge to Obama Is a Bad Idea
By Matthew Rothschild
Editor of The Progressive
December 9, 2011

I’m as unhappy with Obama as the next progressive, but I don’t think it’d be a good idea to mount a primary challenge to him, and here’s why.

.... the boomlet for challenging Obama reiterates the fallacy that Presidential politics is the crucial arena for political activism. We, on the progressive side, have been investing way too much time and energy here.

Getting behind a Presidential candidate, whether a challenger or a frontrunner, rarely builds a movement. It invariably inflates a personality and, when successful, turns that into a phenomenon centered around one charismatic figure rather than a program for substantive change (see Obama). As such, it is a diversion and a drain.

If, as Howard Zinn taught us, progressive social change happens from the bottom up, let’s focus our attention at the grassroots: organizing unions, fighting at the local and state level for raising the minimum wage and getting paid sick leave, legalizing gay marriage and marijuana, converting to solar, rallying for peace and for getting out of Afghanistan, and passing resolutions at city and county councils, and then in statehouses, to amend the Constitution to say, once and for all, that corporations are not individuals and may not spend money on elections. Other crucial issues—like single payer—cry out for attention, and for volunteer hours, and for funds that all too often get squandered in the Presidential playoffs.

Please read all the reasons for not running a primary candidate and the full article at:

https://progressive.org/wx120910.html

[pokerfan]

87. How did you manage that?

December 9, 2011? What, do you have a time machine? Can you tell me who's going win the basketball tourney? :)

Anyway, a stranger stabs you in the front; a friend stabs you in the back. I really don't see a lot of difference.

[Better Believe It]

105. December 9, 2010. If you would bother to read his article you would know that.

A typo error

You didn't know that?

But, thanks for the bump on the article.

[pokerfan]

112. Oh come on!

I was injecting a little levity or did you miss the emoticon? :) :) :) :) :) :)

Anyway I read it and my response still stands: "A stranger stabs you in the front; a friend stabs you in the back. I really don't see a lot of difference." I welcome a primary challenge. Anything to improve the debate, or we might as well make the 2012 general election one ginormous republican primary.

[Better Believe It]

113. I missed that and I clearly hate humor!

:mad:

[readmoreoften]

96. Way to misuse Howard Zinn, Matthew Rothschild.

If Obama is so irrelevant why am I even bothering to vote for him. The man is a disaster.

[kentuck]

86. No problem

They know the base will come crawling back to the Party just like they always do. They are not really that worried about it.

[SidDithers]

89. Tim Kaine was right. The only primary challenge will come from the fringe...nt

Sid

[gkhouston]

94. No, the only primary challenge will be *defined* as "fringe". n/t

[Moondog]

104. + 1

[apocalypsehow]

92. No. You've got to be kidding me. n/t.

[dawg]

95. Of course he should be primaried.

Primary elections are the proper mechanism for expressing dissatisfaction with the party's standard-bearer. I don't suppose there is anyone who would beat Obama, but it would force him, right-leaning congressmen, and future Dem pols, to consider their left flank as well as their right.

While it is true that primaried incumbents usually lose, we have no way of determining that correlation equals causation. I strongly suspect that it does not. Incumbents invite primary challenges by appearing weak in the first place - whether angering their base, presiding over a poor economy, or just plain failing to set a presidential tone. Does anyone really think Carter would have beat Reagan in 1980 had he not been primaried by Kennedy? To me, that is a ridiculous idea.

[gkhouston]

99. +1. Best post in this thread. n/t

[Erose999]

109. +2 if the party keeps ignoring the base eventually the base will ignore the party.

[NYC Liberal]

98. Absolutely not. And considering the amount of support he has from the base

and the rest of the party, it's delusional to think it's a possibility.

[ecstatic]

100. a new nominee has no chance, so what would be the point?

THIS young lady (and millions of other people) would sit home for any other Dem nominee besides Pres. Obama.

[Patriot 76]

102. You all do whatever you think is best.

As long as you're not forgetting how evil the R's have become.

[TNLib]

103. Personally yes but I think this president is very popular

and I doubt someone will go up against him in a primary challenge. I think the R's don't really have anyone either except Newt and Palin, Romney I don't think could get support of the crazy base to win the primary.

[Motown_Johnny]

106. NO! It could very easily cost us the white house

and everyone qualified to primary him knows it.

[stlsaxman]

108. I always VOTE... but not this time.

Enjoy the game!

[Spider Jerusalem]

116. How badly do you want a Republican president?

Divided party, bitter infighting, net result is pretty much a guaranteed win by the Republicans. Make no mistake. That's what we're talking about here. There've been two primary challenges to sitting presidents; Reagan ran against Ford for the GOP nomination in '76, and Kennedy ran against Carter in '80. How did that work out, again?

[Major Hogwash]

117. Only 17 more months before I vote for Obama again as an early voter.

So, go ahead and talk, talk, talk, talk about it.

Won't make a shitting bit of difference.