I Fully Support the Re-election of Barack Obama in 2012.

[MineralMan]

I also support the election of every Democrat running for the Congress, Senate, and every seat in every state legislature. I will not flag in that support, and I will continue my campaigning in my precinct and beyond for Democratic candidates. I will donate to these campaigns as I am able, but will work wherever and whenever I can to help get out the vote and assist Democratic candidates. No non-Democrat will get my vote. Not any third party, and never a Republican.

That is my promise. You can visit the website for my precinct in Saint Paul, MN by clicking the link in my signature line. As the DFL precinct chair for that precinct, I promise to walk the entire precinct again in 2012, as I did in 2010.

I encourage all DUers to do the same. It is our best way to ensure that Republicans do not gain further control of government. I cannot imagine a higher goal for 2012.

If this post doesn't appeal to you, I encourage you to read my signature line.

Thanks to everyone who supports Democrats in elections. You make it all possible.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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

[mike_c]

2. good for you....

I will not be supporting him-- again. Never did, never will. There's just something about tools of the rich and the military that I don't like.... Your mileage may vary, of course.

[Liberal Veteran]

4. But will you be voting for him?

[mike_c]

22. not unless pigs fly...

...or Guantanamo is shut down, the U.S. withdraws it's military from lots of countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan-- I mean, let's just cut the military budget by about 75 percent and start from there-- we get health care reform that shuts private insurers out of most care, the administration stops attacking teachers, workers, and the middle class, some wall street criminals see the inside of prison cells, we get a sane foreign policy that doesn't piss on the rest of the world in order to keep GE profitable-- oh, and let's throw in some actual taxes for GE and their cronies and smash capitalism while we're at it!

THEN I'll vote for Obama, LOL!

He has disappointed me just about every day since his swearing in. I don't think there's much he will do between now and 2012 that will change that. But if he does, I'll happily vote for him. Otherwise, not.

[tekisui]

3. Didn't you just tell us that?

[MineralMan]

6. I'm sure I did. And I'll be repeating it from time to time between

now and the 2012 election. Is that a problem?

[tekisui]

12. Time to time is one thing. Spamming is another. It loses any effectiveness.

Do what you will, of course.

Edit to add: This probably belongs in GD: P

[MineralMan]

17. Thank you for the permission to post.

I appreciate it very much. I can't imagine how expressing support for Democratic candidates can be construed as spamming, though. Really, I can't.

[panader0]

5. My rec brought you back to zero................

[MineralMan]

7. Recs and unrecs don't matter.

They truly don't. Action matters. But thanks for your support!

[Paradoxical]

9. My unrec countered your rec.

[11 Bravo]

23. Newb unrecs only count for 50%.

[deaniac21]

82. Ah, the military. Always pulling rank.

:hippie:

[Wait Wut]

10. Mine brought it back to +1!!!

I feel special.

:)

[Name removed]

69. Deleted message

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

[Angry Dragon]

8. I personally think Obama is a weak President

I also do not plan on voting for a republican, however I would like to see Obama actually work for democratic ideals and stand up and fight for them

[MineralMan]

13. Give him a filibuster-proof Senate and a majority in the House,

and you will see what happens. That's the key to all of this. The house should have a minimum of 67 Democrats. If that happens, anything can happen. Unfettered by Republicans, and President Obama will amaze you.

[Liberal Veteran]

21. From your keyboard to the deity whose existence I can neither confirm nor deny eyes.

:thumbsup:

[MineralMan]

24. No deities required. Just dedication and hard work.

We did it in 2008. We can do even better in 2012.

[Angry Dragon]

59. I feel that is a cop-out

If we were to give him those things then I could get a lot of things done or even you............

[Kalun D]

78. Bullship

Obama fights for the corps, not the working class. The corps business gets done but not the workers. He just talks about stuff for the workers.

[davidthegnome]

11. The dems will get my vote...

because most of them, at least, are the better choice between two evils. I'm not sure I'd call that full support. I'll grudgingly support Obama and the other dems and dream of and hope for (naive as it may be) the kind of change that really could move this Nation forward. I'm with you, grudgingly, with reservations and a great deal of disappointment... but I'm with you. K & R.

[MineralMan]

15. Whatever your reason, it's fine. As long as you show up and

vote for Democrats, your reasons are OK. We can win this and regain control of the country.

[Texasgal]

14. While not jumping for joy at everything

Obama has done... I will stand up, vote and volunteer his campaign. I am a DEMOCRAT.

I will also start weaning myself away from DU. This place is going to go absolutely manic.

[MineralMan]

18. Thank you. There is no perfect candidate. This is too diverse

a political system for any candidate to please everyone all the time. That is not what we need to look for.

[bluestate10]

29. Good move to support President Obama. Wish you would reconsider leaving DU.

I plan to stay on DU and fight tooth and nail with angry progressives because I see their positions as wrong and absolutely shortsighted. I don't see how any progressive can accept that if a republican wins the Presidency in 2012, progressive causes will be buried as several more rightwingers are added to the Supreme Court. I strongly support President Obama. I am not happy with all of his decisions, he should have fought for more taxes on the wealthy and stinking rich. But, the republican alternatives are absolutely scary.

[MineralMan]

36. Thank you for sticking to your guns. I'll be here, too.

I cannot do anything else. I'll also be on the streets, getting out the vote. I hope everyone does the same.

[Texasgal]

57. I salute you...

I am just not sure if I can handle day in and day out insults, snark and outright hatred.

I really salute those who can stay on message and fight for what's right.

[bluestate10]

16. So do I. The stakes are too big to fool around. nt

[MineralMan]

19. Indeed they are. Thank you.

[MannyGoldstein]

20. I prefer a Democrat in the WH, thanks. nt

[MineralMan]

26. You have one. He's shackled by an unfriendly Congress, but we

can correct that, too. Will you help?

[MannyGoldstein]

32. Appointing a commission to slash Social Security is a Democratic value?

I guess I learn something new every day.

[MineralMan]

33. Is President Obama proposing to slash Social Security?

Do you have a link? Last I heard, that commission closed without reaching a decision on a report from the commission. But, if you have a link that shows President Obama saying he wants to slash Social Security, I'll go read it. I don't think such a thing exists, though.

[MannyGoldstein]

64. He appointed a commission designed to recommend deep cuts

And they recommended more than $50,000 in lifetime cuts for the average recipient:

http://fdrdemocrats.org/the-common-sense-guide-to-social-security/7/

You're thinking this was N-dimensional chess? Really?

[BzaDem]

70. "he appointed a commission designed to recommend"

And you have the gall to accuse others of believing in N-dimensional chess?

Last year, DU was all the rage about the utter certainty that Obama would propose cutting social security. When the debt commission failed to agree on anything (failing to meet the extremely high bar that Obama's executive order demanded), then there was utter certainty that he would still support the failed commission proposal (or a variant). Then, when Obama did nothing of the sort, people had utter certainty that his support for such a plan was just around the corner -- at the state of the union.

In fact, I remember that you were so certain that Obama would eventually propose cuts that you were actually trying to bet people money that you were right, and they were wrong. When people refused to bet money with an anonymous poster, you cackled that this was just more evidence that Obama would cut Social Security.

And then, at the state of the union, when he again proposed no such thing, and weeks and months later, when he STILL proposed no such thing, you and others fell back to complain about "appointing a commission designed to recommend." Simply amazing.

Apparently, you and some others won't be satisfied until the only possible outcome of your strategy comes to fruition: the ACTUAL ending of Social Security and Medicare by the Republicans you enable in the voting booth.

[Paradoxical]

25. We are slaves to an unjust political system.

As long as we are forced to vote for the lesser of two evils.

The only way to overcome this is through ethical political participation and the willingness to vote based on a candidates values.

[MineralMan]

28. You're free to vote as you choose. I've said how I'll be voting, and

for whom I'll be campaigning. You may do as you please. That's how our system works.

[Paradoxical]

35. How stupid do you believe I am? You must think I'm pretty dumb.

Because this pseudo equivalency argument is not going to work on me.

Your support of Obama out of fear is support for an unjust political system.

You support an unjust political system.

[MineralMan]

38. No, actually, I do not support that.

I've been supporting progress since I started being an activist in 1965. I have no opinion regarding your intelligence. I do not know you.

[Paradoxical]

41. By assuming I'd believe your nonsense, you made the assumption that I was dumb.

At least dumb enough to believe said nonsense.

Turns out I'm actually not that easily swayed.

You support voting for a candidate based solely on the fact that the candidate is not as bad as the opposing candidate. You support the lesser of two evils.

You support the corrupt, unjust political system.

[MineralMan]

44. Actually, no. I assume nothing about you. I do not know you.

I posted my opinion, and a statement about my intent. You posted your opinion about what I posted. I made no assumption regarding you at all, nor would I. You can post your own opinion without my assumptions, and I can read it right here. Why would I make any assumptions about you? Why would I bother, when you can state your case, just as I did?

[Paradoxical]

50. Because not every opinion on Earth is correct. It happens to be the case that you're wrong.

Wrong in your promotion that other Democrats vote for Obama out of fear.

Wrong in thinking that I'd buy into such nonsense.

And now you're trying to write off your position as some sort of benign observation? Uhh no.

You are actively promoting that we support the corrupt function of an unjust political system. You're only serving to further damage this country.

What you say is not merely an opinion. Neither is it inconsequential. Maybe you should consider handling your words with a little greater responsibility next time.

[MineralMan]

52. Now you're trying to read my mind. I don't care whether you

"buy into" what I wrote. As I said, I don't know you at all. I stated my position. You're free to state yours. I fail to see the problem here.

[Paradoxical]

56. The problem is that you're wrong in both a philosophical and practical sense.

You wrongly believe that we must support one candidate because we fear another.

From a philosophical standpoint, you are essentially stating that we should not risk losing in the name of progressive ideals. You want to zero out any risk at all. Instead you want to take the easiest route while completely disregarding the fact that you're voting for someone who has failed the progressive movement in more than one way.

Will you at least concede that there are better candidates out there?

From a practical standpoint, your support of a corrupt, unjust system only serves to further solidify the corruption.

[BzaDem]

67. "Will you at least concede that there are better candidates out there?"

No. Why would someone concede to a falsity? Of course, if you broaden "candidate" to any person on the street, it loses all meaning.

Defined in a meaningful way (one who has a non-zero probability of being inaugurated), there are no better candidates.

The only person who is wrong in both a philosophical and practical sense is you. Philosophically, you shirk from fear (as if fear is a bad thing) when fear can actually be a very good thing. Practically, your strategy has led the country on the road to ruin before (see 2000) and will continue to do so whenever it is successful. Your strategy does nothing but enable the most corrupt, unjust system that could possibly be conceived. By abdicating your responsibility to select a candidate to govern (and instead selecting a "candidate" with a zero probability of governing), you are enabling others to make the decision for you -- and those others only serve to further solidify the corruption.

[BzaDem]

66. What's wrong with fear? You say "Your support of Obama out of fear." How is that even a bad thing?

Can't fear be a good thing, when the thing to fear actually exists? Of course, fearing something that doesn't exist isn't a good thing, but if there is something to be feared, what's wrong with fearing it?

Fear is an evolutionary response. You should think about why we have evolved that way.

Your decision not to "support an unjust political system" does NOTHING to hurt the political system -- not the slightest bit. The political system is more than happy to have lower turnout -- in fact, lower turnout strengthens the elements of our political system that make it less just. You are playing right into their hands -- exactly as they planned it. The more people do what you are doing, the more they would be laughing their ass off

What you are doing is enabling the greater of two evils. Because not voting for the lesser of two evils BY DEFINITION enables the greater of two evils. You can wax on and on about how that's a bad thing, but that doesn't make it the slightest bit untrue.

[ThomCat]

27. Nobody ever had any doubts.

Based on your posting history the party could run a cardboard cut-out of a candidate in an election and it would have your full support and you would insist that it was an excellent candidate that deserved unqualified support as a wonderful democrat. :eyes:

[MineralMan]

31. Hmm...that's very interesting. Yes, I am a staunch Democrat.

Is there a problem with that? I vote for Democratic candidates, because the alternative is unthinkable.

[ThomCat]

81. Not usually. I'm a staunch democrat too.

But I'm a staunch progressive and liberal first. A democrat second.

People who are a staunch democrat first, and anything else second, put party and politics ahead of principles and goals. That is inherently corrupt. That is how we end up with democrats who let the political spectrum pull further to the right, as long as someone with a D after their name stays in office, and issues and goals be damned. That is how we end up making sacrifices we can't afford to make in the mistaken belief that goals aren't worth fighting for, and people aren't worth fighting for, because only power and position is worth fighting for.

We keep hearing that you can't achieve anything without power and position. But that's a false choice, because if you fight for people and their goals, people will back you and GIVE YOU the power and position in the long run. The people who back party and politics first always take the short view and don't really trust or involve the people we're supposed to be representing.

[hfojvt]

77. a cardboard cut out

might actually be an improvement over some of the back-stabbing a$$hats we have under the D banner today. And I'm not just talking about this guy http://www.koch2congress.com/

[ThomCat]

85. Yes, I agree.

That is a big part of my point, in fact. :)

[WolverineDG]

30. Looks like the "anyone but Obama" fan club has arrived

to swarm your OP.

:eyes:

Keep up the good work, because supporting anyone but a Democrat will guarantee the GOP takeover of our government again.

dg

[Scurrilous]

76. ...

:thumbsup:

[Demit]

34. Me, I support better Democrats.

Your 67 Democrats in the Senate won't mean much if they're Blue Dogs. It'll just mean Republican policies passed in our name.

[WillyT]

37. That'sa Real Nice...

:smoke:

:hi:

[MineralMan]

39. Dave's not here.

I am, though.

[Maru Kitteh]

40. I support Democrats! I support Obama for 2012.

[MineralMan]

46. Thank you! Thank you very much!

[leftstreet]

42. Now that the campaign has started, these threads need to move to GD:P

yep

[quinnox]

47. good suggestion

I don't want to see a barrage of these kind of loyalty oath threads on DU general discussion every day.

I can understand a couple, but spamming is spamming.

[MineralMan]

48. Really. I've never posted in that forum. I don't plan to, either.

[leftstreet]

49. But that's what it's there for. "Presidential" things

Nothing wrong with that

[MineralMan]

51. You know, a sizable portion of the threads in GD are

about President Obama. I've noticed that. This is another one about President Obama.

[leftstreet]

53. Economy, jobs, Fukushima, attacks on unions, Libya, capitalism, class war

Good grief! GD is expected to handle a wide variety of discussions

That's why the DU Gods created "GD:Presidential"

[MineralMan]

54. Well, thanks for kicking the thread.

I appreciate it.

[leftstreet]

55. Yes, It's a good way to make everyone aware of GD:Presidential n/t

[Bobbie Jo]

58. So when does your mod term start?

Until then, etc.....

[Rex]

43. I fully support your rights to support Barack Obama in 2012.

[Doctor_J]

45. Unrec'ing - vanity thread

Will be voting for all Dems though, as I do every 2 years. I can honestly say at this point that the worst Dem in Congress is better than the best Repuke. Wasn't true when Jeffords & that fucking loser from GA were Senators.

[jaxx]

60. PBO gets my vote.

As do the Democrats who will be on the ticket. No teabaggers for me.

[slay]

61. My opinion is very different

i do not feel Barack Obama has earned my vote AT ALL in 2012. He has betrayed us at every step and supports a very right-wing republican view of government. he's not a strong leader - even though he gives good speeches. the Dems have abandoned their values and principles and yet they still think our votes are guaranteed because republicans are worse? well, that's some pretty backwards thinking.

from here on out i will vote for who deserves it - regardless of their "chance of winning".

i can no longer support a system that survives on the population being forced to choose between the lesser of two evils.

like you said in your OP MineralMan - yours is your opinion, and this is mine.

[grahamhgreen]

62. Good on ya. I'll do the same if Obama pulls all the troops out of the middle east and taxes the rich

at pre-Reagan rates, and abandons nuclear power.

[Shiver]

72. The first two require the votes of a disagreeable Congress.

Not something that can be done alone.

[grahamhgreen]

73. As commander in chief, he can pull the troops out tomorrow. nt

[Shiver]

75. Right... for some reason I keep thinking Congress is needed for that...

Keep forgetting they only vote to fund.

[Name removed]

63. Deleted message

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

[dflprincess]

65. For the first time since 1972 I may not even bother to attend my precinct caucus

between Obama and Amy Klobuchar running for reelection there is just no point unless one of them has a challenger - hopefully someone from the Democratic wing of the party. Or, in Klobuchar's case, from the Farmer-Labor wing of the DFL.

I won't be voting for any Republicans and that includes the ones who put a "D" after their names.

[Scurrilous]

68. K & R

:thumbsup:

[a kennedy]

71. D*mn it, so do I

GO BOMA, GO BOMA, GO BOMA. :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[donheld]

74. With blinders on

[Kalun D]

79. I support Democrats

I DO NOT support DLC/DNC-ers like Obama

UNREC

[Keith Bee]

80. Happy to Kick & Rec

:-)

[Liberal_in_LA]

83. k&r

[Initech]

84. I'd much rather have Obama than combination of Newt/Huckabee/Palin/Romney, etc.