Obama wants to raise between $750m-$1 Billion for reelection.

[Fuzz]

There is something just wrong and obscene about that.

[tallahasseedem]

1. It will take that amount to counteract

the Citizens United ruling. Sad, but true.

[Skinner]

6. Exactly.

President Obama is doing what he has to do.

[atreides1]

8. The ends justify the means?

[Skinner]

14. In this case: Yes.

We have nothing to gain from losing.

[handmade34]

20. Thanks for saying this!

We get him elected than fight like heck to keep him on the correct path

[Fuzz]

23. But we all lose from the system that requires that much money to run an election.

[TheWraith]

41. Well said. And we have nothing to gain from unilateral disarmament.

Particularly when we're already operating at a disadvantage to the Republicans because there are some dirty tricks we won't play. The Republicans have no such qualms. If they thought they could make Americans believe that all Democrats are child-rapists, they'd do it.

Yes, 2012 is going to suck up a ton of money. Not all of it is going to be from the best or most noble sources. But the small matter of campaign finance reform takes a powder in the face of much larger issues: the environment, the Supreme Court, the economy, and on. Even if you're not a fan of President Obama, I don't think anyone in their right mind would argue that a Republican is better, particularly when the next Republican nominee is likely to be much worse than Bush.

[Fuzz]

42. So all in all, pretty damn depressing, huh?

[TheWraith]

45. Only if you have unrealistic expectations.

I for one never really expected that one act of electing a Democrat to the White House would seriously solve all our problems overnight. Or even in eight years. But there's a big difference between that and "Goodbye cruel world."

[roguevalley]

44. and there are hungry children in this country who want a quarter for a hot

dog. this country sucks.

[Fuzz]

7. Oh, I know. I wasn't posting for a comparison, just as an amount to consider.

[FiveGoodMen]

2. Obscene

[JustAnotherGen]

3. ditto tallahasseedem

And he's getting right up in the Koch Brothers face and daring them to go into bankruptcy. I hope he raises 10 billion.

[monmouth]

4. He should send his request to Wall Street....n/t

[NightWatcher]

5. Shut the hell up and send in your cash (if you've got any). What, you want a republican to win?

And thanks to the Citizens United ruling, he's basically asking for bribes from big corporations, millionaires, and billionaires.

More war, more torture, more Bull Shit, same old gimmie gimmie. He got some of my cash last time, but he can pound sand if he thinks he's nickle #1 from me (unless I see some real Change)

[Fuzz]

11. Um, calm the fuck down. I don't want a republican to win. I think you are

over-reacting a bit. Take a Valium.

[NightWatcher]

18. sorry dude, that's the Official campaign mantra for 2012. I'm not falling for the threat

Vote of me or else! is pretty damn close to political terrorism

[Fuzz]

21. Lol, I misread your post.

Sorry about that. I thought you were saying I wanted a Republican to win!

D'oh.

[NightWatcher]

24. that's the threat. Just as it's our fault we lost the majority, us f*ing retards

It's not Obama's fault for not being "democrat-y" enough or failing to end the wars, stop the torture, end the looting by Wall St......

It's our fault for not trying hard enough for him.


This will not end well

[truedelphi]

38. That's a good idea. I think

I'll send the WH some sand that I gather next time I am on California beaches.

Of course, I need to think this out. I am sure if the stuff registers as being radioactive, I'll go down as a terrorist, despite all the reassurances there have been that our air, water, sand etc is free of serious nuclear fallout contamination.

[Bragi]

9. Imagine this...

Imagine if Obama announced he wanted to raise a billion dollars during his campaign, but since as President he has all the platform he needs to reach voters, that he will personally donate every penny he collects to addressing, say, poverty in America.

I think he'd be re-elected by the largest margin in modern times.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. Since he's given them so much business, maybe the MIC can chip in a few billion as a payback.

[Lucian]

12. Well, he's not getting $1 from me.

His corporate sponsors can donate money to him. I'm not giving him anything.

[piratefish08]

13. wow. it costs 20,000 teacher's salaries to become president.

perhaps all hope really IS lost.

[ecstatic]

15. That's probably what is needed, but I wonder why they released that number

It is a huge number.

[CoffeeCat]

32. They're very busy lately...

...galvanizing Obama's 2012 campaign. They know that Progressives are incredibly unhappy, and
so are many others who voted for Obama to end the wars and the rampant corporatism--which has only
exploded during Obama's tenure as President.

The high number has been thrown out to demonstrate to everyone--that there is NO OTHER
OPTION on the Democratic side. Who else will be able to raise a billion dollars?

Furthermore, throwing out the point that Obama hopes/plans to raise this much--creates an aura of legitimacy
and success to his campaign. An obscenely impressive number like that gives his campaign credibility.

In short--No other Dem can compete with this guy (don't even try to primary me, bitches!) and you'd all best climb
on board if you want to go with a winner.

[ecstatic]

34. interesting. nt

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

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

[Fuzz]

26. If he's the D nominee, which is going to be the case, he has to get my vote.

The way it is now, there is no one else.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[snot]

17. Imagine THIS:

WE form a progressive citizens' trust. We create and publicize a document setting forth reasonable demands that Obama CAN do within the next year if he wants to, even without Congressional help. We tell him the money is his IF he carries out those demands. Otherwise, not a penny -- the money will go to those candidate who actually DO what we need them to do (Kucinich et al.).

Ok, fire away; but we're not utterly helpless here, esp. if we get CREATIVE.

[L0oniX]

19. *

[apocalypsehow]

22. And I intend to help him, small in the overall scheme of things as my modest donation will be.

I consider the possibility of a GOP president in 2013 to be much more "wrong and obscene" than these fund-raising goals.

[TheKentuckian]

28. He can get his money out of the bankers, BP, the insurance cartel, pharma, the nuke industry,

military contractors, education deform champions, the wealthy, and Republicans.

My money was already used once to further the interests of those folks. What little good that comes down the line can come off their dime.

[lumberjack_jeff]

27. Boy, he's really going to have to pander to a bunch of rich people to come with that kind of cash.

Should be no problem.

[bobbolink]

29. THE DEFICIT, THE DEFICIT!

Nevermind, it can easily be made up by cutting low-income housing.

[justabob]

31. a billion dollars?

I know what we are up against, but DAMN! Wrong and obscene is an understatement.

[Renew Deal]

33. There is something wrong with that, but...

That's the game we're in right now.

[Solomon]

35. It's called inflation. It's always taken an obscene amount of

money to win. Why do you think all the damn presidents are related?

And while I'm at it, it's always been the lesser of two evils. Nothing new there either. Somehow, all of a sudden, things have changed, and now we're stuck with voting the lesser of two evils.

[WinkyDink]

36. And donate it to the Social Security fund? Ha! I crack myself up.

[progressoid]

37. I was about to post the same sentiment.

ugh.

[Autumn]

39. 4 more years of The Best Democracy

Money can Buy.

[WatsonT]

40. So some industries are doing fine

Lobbying and electioneering seem to be recession proof.

[piratefish08]

43. our new Corporate Citizens have plenty of money to buy their influence.

[moondust]

46. That's the fucking game.

Play or punt?

(It is sick.)