Liberals, Progressives And Other Democrats Will Come Out In Force To Vote For Pres. Obama

[bigtree]

Those folks won't threaten an Obama re-election at all, despite the grumbling and invectives thrown around by folks with a platform to speak their mind. We could very well see a noticeable number of DUers who've been so vocally opposed to this President put their votes where their mouths are and refuse to support our Democratic nominee. But, if history is any guide, there will be little defection among Democrats come time to vote for President.

Where we're losing support is on the conservative side of the political spectrum. That shouldn't be an impetus for our politicians to bend over backwards to avoid alienating these conservative voters, but there will need to be an explosion of support from Democrats of all political stripes to outmatch the enthusiasm of conservatives to disrupt this presidency and put one of their craven minions in his place.

The problem with our Democratic nominee making such an overwhelmingly progressive appeal in the presidential contest is that it can have the effect of alienating that margin of independents and others who aren't identified with either party who made up the difference in the last elections.

Is there ever going to be a time where an overwhelmingly progressive appeal attracts enough support from voters to elect an alternative to the republican nominee?

For as long as I can remember, presidential elections are won by Democrats who have some sort of appeal to that conservative margin of voters who give us that electoral edge. I don't remember any Democratic presidential victory where our Democratic coalition carried the day.

Now we can certainly argue the merits of one position or the other, but how does a Democratic nominee overcome the dynamic where one appeal threatens to alienate that mushy middle that looks ready to bolt from supporting the President as I write this?

Is there ever going to be a situation where an overwhelmingly progressive appeal from presidential nominee garners enough votes to elect them? We can talk about the rightness of this policy or position until we're worn out, but what about the politics which threatens to put a republican in the White House? How do they overcome that dynamic with an uncompromising progressive appeal?

This isn't some call for a more conservative appeal or agenda. If I had my choice or my way, I wouldn't give conservatives from any party the time of day, but progressives alone (normally maxing out the percentage voting Democratic) have never produced enough votes by themselves to elect a Democratic president. At the very least, let's not pretend this isn't so.

I wish someone would show me a way around this, but I'm not sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for an answer. I think I understand the dynamics of these elections and I'm not under any illusion that the dynamics I described are going to change any time soon.

[Edweird]

1. If you say so.

[bigtree]

5. name ONE presidential election

where republican and independent votes weren't needed to provide the margin of victory for a Democratic candidate.

[Edweird]

14. You gotta dance with the one that 'brung ya'

and Obama's been ignoring Naomi Klein while chatting up Ann Coulter at the Sadie Hawkins. Naomi leaves out of disgust, but Obama isn't worried since he's got Ann. He NEEDS her. And he believes that Naomi will come back to him no matter what - she's got no place else to go. Only problem with the plan is, Ann's already got someone. Even if she didn't, she wouldn't give him the time of day anyway - he's not her type. Still, Obama believes that he has what she wants and needs. Even if Obama does have what she's looking for, she doesn't want it from HIM. She's only using him for free drinks. She's making fun of him while he's buying. Where does that leave our hero when the 'ugly lights' come on? What's he gonna do when when Naomi doesn't take his calls? What if Naomi is so disenchanted that she decides to remain single while she figures things out? She has to put her own needs and well being over that of some guy that clearly doesn't give a shit about her in the first place and was only taking advantage of her.
Now our protagonist is on the shoe sole express....


**Disclaimer: The characters used in this story are fictitious and any similarities to any person living or dead is purely coincidental.**

[Name removed]

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[babylonsister]

So don't. Enjoy all those other stellar choices you have. nt

[Edweird]

15. Fear, uncertainty, doubt..... A winning campaign if there ever was one!

[villager]

2. If only Obama came out "in force" for progressives and liberals!

n/t

[jaxx]

3. Why? It wouldn't be good enough.

[sendero]

4. If only Obama would..

.. come out in force for ANYTHING that isn't a continuation of Bush.

[woo me with science]

6. +100000

[bigtree]

10. what about the energizing effect that normally has for the opposition

Look at what we're facing now. The President isn't seen as anywhere near progressive enough by some critics, yet he's not losing any significant amount of support from Democrats as he is losing independent and conservative votes right now. How would coming out in force for progressives and liberals generate the margin of support needed for victory?

[woo me with science]

7. OWS will continue to mass in protest of our corporate-bought government. nt

[babylonsister]

8. And guess who the majority of them might vote for? A rethug? nt

[woo me with science]

9. The point is that there is nobody to vote FOR.

Only against.

And that's no minor problem.

[Enrique]

11. I think you're probably right

the president can take progressives for granted and still win re-election.

Next time, let's pick a president who doesn't take progressives for granted, even though he can.

[bigtree]

12. how do you get one through the Democratic primary?

that's another dilemma

[woo me with science]

13. Thank you. nt

[Name removed]

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[Zorra]

18. No. All that Kochsuckling that Democrats did between 2008 and

the 2010 election destroyed us. Obama is losing support right now because he won't take a progressive stand. People don't like fencesitters.

“Given the choice between a Republican and someone who acts like a Republican, people will vote for the real Republican all the time”
Harry Truman

The elections on Nov 8 of this year were a landslide for labor and Dems. There is an anti-Wall St. awareness taking hold of the country:think:.

Jump on it.

The truth is, almost everyone with half a brain wants to see the money taken out of campaigns and government. Get behind this, we attract wayward progressive Dems, progressive and conservative independents, and even some moderate conservatives. Sit on the fence, continue to appease the people that will never vote for you anyway, and it's hello Mittens.

The only reason a progressive has not been able to get nominated for President is because the media has been taken over by the 1% and they control public opinion to a large degree. Can't be allowed, threat to corporate profits.

But honestly, my good liberal dog could have beaten McCain in 2008. People were totally done with Bush and the republicans. DONE. DONE. DONE. They would have voted for Maggie for sure over any republican. But Dems squandered this edge by gorging on corporate pork.

Now, however, the Wisconsin folks, and OWS, are raising awareness of corporatism, cutting a hole to let the light through the wall of conservative control of media.

If Obama becomes even a smidgen more conservative than he is already perceived by what is left of his progressive base, we'll get our asses kicked so bad that the debacle of 2010 will be remembered fondly as a great election year for Dems.

We'll get totally slaughtered again, and republicans will gain more seats in the House, gain a huge majority in the Senate and win the WH.

[Bluenorthwest]

19. I'll vote against the GOP, in no way will that be FOR Obama

and don't expect to hear that it is. He's opposed to the rights of my family, and he's a mediocre sucker of the money teat who continues Bush policy instead of making his own. Pathetic that he's all we have.