Here is an idea. Rather than a primary for Obama, push him to the left by winning back the HOUSE

[wndycty]

. . .all of the energy folks are going to put into bitching about Obama and looking to primary him folks should be focusing on putting the House back in Democratic hands. He ain't going to lose in a primary and he is poised to win the general election, its up to us if he has to spend another 2-4 years with the House under Republican control.

[liberal N proud]

1. There you go making sense again

:hi:

[wndycty]

2. If the tea baggers were successful in not only winning, but getting their agenda moved in Congress

. . .there is no reason to expect those Congressmen/Congresswomen that PROGRESSIVES can claim responsibility for wouldn't be as responsive.

[mikekohr]

4. 25 in '12

OBAMA!

[disillusioned73]

3. I agree, but I also believe if some want to push

for a primary - they have the right and the reasons for it. I've suggested a "virtual" primary challenge from 2008 candidate Obama in order to nudge him back to the left...

[polmaven]

5. And by getting a larger, filibuster proof

majority in the Senate. Shut down the HELLNO party and the president can move much further left.

[Scuba]

6. Yeah, that worked so well between Jan 2009 and Nov 2010. n/t

[wndycty]

7. So go right ahead and make it worse. . .go right fucking ahead

:kick:

[Scuba]

12. My point stands. BHO did not move left between Jan 2009 and Nov 2010. n/t

[JoePhilly]

23. 1) When was Al Franken seated. 2) When did Ted Kennedy die?

That would be the actual window for a filibuster proof democratic majority.

And that's if you assume that the blue dogs, and Lieberman, would be reliable members of a filibuster proof majority (which would be a false assumption).

[paulk]

40. the OP references the House

not the Senate.

[tblue37]

52. But the Dem House did pass progrressive measures. It's just that

those measures were blocked or watered down in the Senate.

[karynnj]

8. Actually it did - look at the issues at play then versus now

Then, we passed healthcare and financial reform, now they are passing useless bills to defund healthcare and bills to cut every one of the security net programs. Would a Democratic house have put that atrocious budget out?

Look at the environment, last year the problem was not enough votes in the Senate, no matter how many concessions Obama (or Kerry) offered - but at least the Senate blocked stopping the EPA from doing something. Now, that is in jeopardy - as the House is trying to stop the EPA and if the Senate can not filibuster it, there will be NO federal action on climate change at all.

[Scuba]

11. My point stands. BHO did not move left between Jan 2009 and Nov 2010. n/t

[karynnj]

16. He pursued policies as far to the left as could pass the House and the Senate

There was no change in who held the House between Jan 2009 and November 2010, so why would there have been a shift?

You forget that you, me and I bet almost everyone here, are to the left of many of the Democrats in the House and the Senate.

[Scuba]

21. OK, now you're getting warmer....

I'll bet MOST AMERICANS are to the left of the House, Senate, Executive and SCOTUS.

So, should we make that point and try to move the Country to the left, or should we acquiesce to the right, just because they managed to win the House back in 2010?

Why isn't this the 2012 Democratic Platform? What here is a unicorn? What here is a rainbow?

The 2012 Democratic Platform


We will pass new tax laws that spread the tax burden fairly across the economic spectrum, with those benefiting most from our society contributing commensurately.

We will pass law to protect the right of workers to organize and have a voice in the operation of US businesses. This will include raising the minimum wage to $15.00 per hour to ensure a reasonable standard of living for all working families and to stimulate our sluggish economy.

We will pass law to provide Medicare for All so no American is denied care or has to suffer financial hardship because of health problems, and no American businesses are saddled with health costs that keep them from competing fairly with foreign competitors. This plan will include a “safety net” to guarantee every citizen is provided the food and shelter necessary to survive difficult challenges in their lives.



We will withdraw of all US military and contracted personnel from Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead of the hundreds of billions of dollars and thousands of lives being wasted on these wars, we will instead provide aid to these countries, and to other depressed areas where atrocious conditions breed terrorists.

We will order the Department of Justice to investigate those who led us into these wars to determine if war crime charges are warranted. If so, they will be prosecuted with vigor and any ill-gained profits shall be returned to the people.

We will order the Commerce Department to present a holostic plan for maintaining and advancing the infrastructure of our great country.

We will order the Secretary of Education to present new plans to guarantee all Americans have access to our public schools, from pre-kindergarten through advanced degrees.

We will order Homeland Security to present a new plan for securing our borders from those who would do us harm while allowing appropriate travel and visitation to our many friends around the world. This plan is to include a path to citizenship for those who serve in the US military, or who came here as children and are now productive members of our society.

We will order the Department of Energy to begin another “Manhattan Project” to enable us to cease our dependence on fossil fuels. At the same time, I am announcing the nationalization of all US oil and gas reserves, as well as other reserves owned by the citizens of the US that are currently being extracted from our soil for private profit without regard for our environment.

We will order the Department of Justice to begin immediately to root out crimes of corruption within our government. In concert with this, I want Congress to pass laws to ensure elected officials are serving for the benefit of the American people as a whole, not to gain wealth or power for themselves or their friends.


And finally, we are asking you, the People, to help with the most critical problem facing our Democracy today. We’re asking you, the People, to pass a Constitutional Amendment prohibiting political spending by corporations or any other entity or individual not qualifying as a person with citizenship in this great country.


These and other policies we will put in place will cause a sea-change in how our country serves the citizens - We the People - rather than a tiny handful of super-wealthy who would subvert our democracy and plunder our wealth while denying even the most basic services for our citizens. Thank you for your support and thank you for standing up for the rights of all citizens.


Vote Democrat - 2012

[ProudDad]

41. Revisionist bullshit...

What was passed was a windfall profits bill for the health insurance mafia and big PhRMA - NOT A HEALTH CARE BILL...

What was passed was a crumb in the form of a rump "consumer protection agency" (note the fucked up consumer label) under the control of the Sec'y of Treasury (a republican asshole)...

And it was Obama punting on 1st down with the cave in to the republicans on the tax cuts for the wealthy, beginning the shredding of Social Security, fucking over Federal Union Workers before Scott Walker started his little crusade that "cut .. social safety net programs"...

All of those things you've detailed are a result of coddling the democrats' obeisance to corporate power when they were briefly "in charge"... The Corpos continue to pull the wool over your eyes...

There's a class war going on. Which side are YOU on?

[mazzarro]

13. Yes indeed - it worked so well...

Obama and the Dems in congress gave us the endearing nickname - "the professional left" :sarcasm:

Give me a f*cking break! These clowns only care to look our way when an election rolls around. After that - we wight as well be cow dung for all they care!

[wndycty]

19. We got health care reform

:kick:

[Warren Stupidity]

53. No we got health insurance reform

which is quite different than health care reform.

[derby378]

77. We didn't even get health insurance reform

What we got is a system where UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, BCBS, WellPoint, etc. can do whatever they want to their customers - but get this: it's now illegal to not support Big Insurance. Thank you, Obama!

[wndycty]

20. Don't ask don't tell was repealed

:kick:

[BklnDem75]

18. There were more conservatives in the Senate than Progressives/Liberals

So your point don't stand at all. If you want to pretend that blue dogs aren't conservatives, that's your problem. Bills came to the Senate to either die or get dramatically changed. You can keep blaming Obama til your face turns blue, it doesn't change reality.

[treestar]

29. It worked better since this year, Jan. 20, 2011?

Get real.

[ProudDad]

39. +1000

[vaberella]

45. Majority of the Dems weren't progressives. Problem! n/t

[tblue37]

51. We didn't (and don't) really have a majority in the Senate. Blue Dog Dems don't vote for progressive

legislation. They vote for Republican legislation and block progressive legislation. The Democratic House passed a lot of progressive legislaton, but it was blocked in the Senate.

[vroomvroom]

9. Wait a minute...Didnt we control the house and the senate and the WH but still...

we didnt get much done?
But then i guess i'd rather have bad than more bad in Congress...so cheers to not as bad by going out to vote.

[MannyGoldstein]

58. That was totally different

Perhaps someone will tell us how.

[NorthCarolina]

10. Push Obama to the left by winning the House?

:rofl: Been there, done that, and he still didn't move to the left. Nothing, I repeat: NOTHING, is going to "Push Obama to the Left". See, how it works is if you WANT Left, you VOTE Left. You don't vote for a Right of Center politician, and then HOPE that he can be pushed to the Left. Remember, hope in one hand, shit in the other...see which one fills up faster.

[readmoreoften]

56. They live in a world of excuses and made up talking points. What do you expect?

He's got the people who brought down the economy as his economic team. He's off promoting education deform with the Bushes and talking anti-union against teachers in RI. The only thing he's done right is do a little bit for his gay constituency this year because he was on the verge of completely losing our votes.

The guy is either a coward or a con artist. But he is "better than Palin" so let's line up and Bush that lever. Apparently we can't do better.

[quaker bill]

78. The only proof that President Obama needs pushing

is to actually put progressive legislation on his desk. If he does not sign it, then I will conclude that a push is needed. Right now, if he moved left of Saul Alinski and Bernie Sanders wrapped together, it would make absolutely no difference, except perhaps that a government shutdown would be assured, and last a good long while.

[vroomvroom]

14. Lets be Honest --Obama will NEVER move Left--So I vote cuz smelling shit is better than tasting it

Democrats are just republican lites...lets be honest so voting for them is merely a way of just not having republican-absolute in charge. But i despise both parties.

I will hold my nose and cast my vote but if they lose in 2012 i wont care that much since the US is moving right regardless of who is in charge...it is just the pace at which it is happening (fast or faster).

[vroomvroom]

15. In Canada the U.S. Democratic Party is considered Extreme-Right

Just a fun fact in how far-right democrats have gone from true left and its original ideals of being for the people.

[harun]

31. If someone is actually paying attention they consider it extereme-right

here in the U.S. as well. Of course 99% of the people aren't paying attention.

[Tesha]

17. We *HAD* an acceptable House from 2009 to 2010.

Obama and the "Democratic" Senate made sure that
much of the good work that the House did never saw
the light of day.

Tesha

[wndycty]

22. That House gave us health care reform, that House repealed Don't Ask Don't Tell. . .

. . .

[Tesha]

24. But the House gave us much more than just that.

The House would have even given us the Public Option.

But all sorts of good legislation went over to the Senate
where it died, unsupported by Obama.

And based on the tranche standing for election in 2012,
you can reasonably expect a more-Red Senate to emerge.

Tesha

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

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

[treestar]

28. So dumb. What about the one we have now?

[Tesha]

33. Could you please write more clearly?

The suggestion was rather than complain about Obama, that
we elect a more-tractable House. I reminded the suggestor that
Obama *HAD* a perfectly-good House and threw away most of
its efforts and cast many of its members adrift.

The Problem of 2009-2010 *WASN'T* the House; it was Obama
and the "Democratic" Senate.

Tesha

[treestar]

46. So if it was not good enough, the the Republican House surely is not good enough

A Republican Senate will be even worse.

[Armstead]

36. BINGO +1

[Pisces]

25. Windy you are just too rational for words. Of course that makes sense, therefor

many will do the opposite. People forget how laws are enacted. Obama lost his scepter and people are pissed.

[creon]

70. Congress

Congress passes laws.

The President does not pass laws.

[LiberalFighter]

26. We need to elect better Democrats then we have in the past too.

That goes for the Senate too. None of the blue dogs that don't give a damn about the people.

Some of the reasons why Indiana lost the Senate seat in Indiana: Bayh didn't campaign effectively for Ellsworth, Ellsworth campaigned as if he was campaigning in his district seat instead of for the whole state, Ellsworth didn't have campaign offices and staff in critical areas of the state, Ellsworth was almost as bland as Bayh, Ellsworth didn't have any worthwhile positions, Ellsworth got a late start because Bayh waited too long to be a cry baby and leave, Bayh didn't provide a means to help him sufficiently financially by encouraging supporters to give.

[treestar]

27. Rec'd.

Let's look at reality. The House and Senate are very important.

[On the Road]

30. Much More Realistic Idea

[whatchamacallit]

32. Ha right, you mean embolden him to move even further right.. .

:eyes: faith-based reasoning

[JoeyT]

34. That would be a noble goal.

If he hadn't already had a democratic controlled house and shown he was willing to not give a damn about what the left wants.

I'm all for winning the entire house if we can get it, but it won't push Obama to the left.

[handmade34]

35. bravo!

:applause:

[slay]

37. I'd rather do both

or perhaps neither - and here's why:

Obama owes the American people a LOT of answers as to why his first term looked so much like Bush's or a republicans - answers we will only get with a primary challenger.

As far as "winning" the house - didn't really do us much good when we had it from 2008-2010 did it? I KNOW - you'ld think it would! I realize they passed a lot of shit that died in the senate - but then shouldn't we be pushing for the senate to move more left? yeah, keep that pipe dream alive.

At some point people are going to have to admit that our 2-party monopoly the corporations have bought just isn't working anymore.

[ProudDad]

38. 'Cause the "democrats" aren't "left"!

They're the near-right-wing of the Corporate War Party...

You were not paying attention from 2006 until 2010???

[jeff47]

47. So elect better democrats. (nt)

[ProudDad]

54. First, (metaphorically) Eat the Rich

The plutocrats determine who you get to vote for...

[jeff47]

66. Only because you let them

The pool of Democrats for national office comes from state and local office. When was the last time you found out who was the good democrat in the county commissioner race?

[readmoreoften]

57. No. She was too preoccupied with Obama Talking Points meetings.

[ecstatic]

43. Some people want Obama to rule through executive orders

They have no idea how government works so all they do is complain and expect miracles.

[Name removed]

63. Deleted message

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

[vaberella]

44. I've been saying this for ages. They don't listen on DU.

We get a House that is very progressive and give him a super senate of as progressive people and we win. End of story.

[wndycty]

49. Yup

:kick:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

48. ..and push him to the left by doing everything possible to hold on to the Senate!

The Senate can easily fall into Republican hands. If the Senate falls into Republican hands, we'll see MORE judicial appointments being filibustered and/or voted against.

Elect MORE progressives at the state and local levels as well.

Redistricting is going to hurt us badly!

Hate Obama if you want to just as long as at the end of the day, you vote Democratic at EVERY level of government.

...and that includes judgeships, school districts, police chiefs and so on.

[Enrique]

50. he had the biggest majorities in both houses that we're going to see in a LONG time

and he extended the Bush tax cuts.

[readmoreoften]

55. Give me a break. The only thing to the right of Obama is Palin.

He's even standing side-by-side on the speaking podium with Bushes now.

[liberal life]

59. No matter what, we must stop the Republican Nazi party

They are behaving as if they do not care if we vote for them or not, and I really think it is because of Diebold. I don't actually believe they won all those seats last time. Americans are not stupid, we didn't all forget who made the mess and actually think Republicans would fix it.



http://fucorporatemedia.com/

[eridani]

60. Working at the local level is the only thing we can really do.

[GameOn]

61. Because people here seem hell bent on blaming Obama for everything. They get joy from it. nt

[ProudDad]

64. I don't "blame" Obama for anything more than being who and what he is...

If I "blame" anything it's the corrupt system within which only the needs of the Plutocrat class are satisfied...

And where your needs, and my needs and those of the creatures of Earth are meaningless...

And I wonder about anyone who can't see that... :shrug:

Believe me, I've gotten NO FUCKING JOY out of the last 47 years of decline nor the impending collapse of the Web of Life that we large air-breathers depend upon...the habitat that's being destroyed for the short-term gain of capitalist assholes.

[damonm]

62. THIS.

[ProudDad]

65. Ya can't "push him left"

'cause he don't wanna' go there...

Obviously...

[Avant Guardian]

67. When we had the house, he lurched to the right

...all by himself

[wndycty]

73. He got health care reform. . .no small feat

:kick:

[ncteechur]

80. Just having the house and senate isn't enough. You've got to have working majorities.

We never had that. Too many blue dogs and ben nelsons.

[Mimosa]

68. Leaders lead, don't need to be pushed.

Do we have a leader in the White House? If so he is not interested in the middle class or the poor.

[creon]

69. Yes

That is what needs to be done.

Congress passes laws.

If you want liberal laws, you need a majority of liberals in Congress.

[pinto]

71. Kick. We need the House.

:kick:

[Life Long Liberal]

72. I think this is a good idea.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

74. And while they're at it, why not start at the grassroots, working for progressives running

for local offices and state offices, hell, school districts.

This is where the righties clean our clocks. They have put these crazy-ass Teabaggers throughout local and state offices, not to mention school boards and judgeships.

[Exilednight]

75. He didn't move left when we had the House. n/t

[Ter]

76. Not gonna happen so soon

I guess it could, but the chances of the House flipping after it just flipped is slim.

[KoKo]

79. Didn't we DO This after Bush vs Gore..where DU was FOUNDED..and KERRY/Edwards..in 2003?

THEN...WE ELECTED OBAMA..with a MANDATE of DEM ..HOUSE AND SENATE! And STILL our DEMOCRATIC PARTY said "It's NOT ENOUGH...! SO....we MARCHED ONE WASHINGTON...we PHONED, FAXED and E-Mailed our HOUSE & SENATE REPS! and...still it wasn't enough...for Health Care Reform for Gitmo Closing, for End to Bush Wars, for Bailing Out Wall Street that TRASHED ALL OF US...and now they say it's "Old Folks" that are Driving the DEFICIT and NOT DEFENSE/WAR SPENDING!

We Dems have WORKED OUR HEARTS OUT..there's nothing left...WE HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

WHY...WHY....WHY...:shrug: YOU, TELL ME?