Democrats Fret Aloud Over Obama’s Re-election

[alp227]

Source: The New York Times

Democrats are expressing growing alarm about President Obama’s re-election prospects and, in interviews, are openly acknowledging anxiety about the White House’s ability to strengthen the president’s standing over the next 14 months.

Elected officials and party leaders at all levels said their worries have intensified as the economy has displayed new signs of weakness. They said the likelihood of a highly competitive 2012 race is increasing as the Republican field, once dismissed by many Democrats as too inexperienced and conservative to pose a serious threat, has started narrowing to two leading candidates, Mitt Romney and Rick Perry, who have executive experience and messages built around job creation.

And in a campaign cycle in which Democrats had entertained hopes of reversing losses from last year’s midterm elections, some in the party fear that Mr. Obama’s troubles could reverberate down the ballot into Congressional, state and local races.

“In my district, the enthusiasm for him has mostly evaporated,” said Representative Peter A. DeFazio, Democrat of Oregon. “There is tremendous discontent with his direction.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/us/politics/11obama.html?pagewanted=all

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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

[OffWithTheirHeads]

6. Like you actually have a choice?

A Republican or Rick Parry. Some choice.

[No Elephants]

276. There is still a Democratic primary.

[BlueIris]

292. There are at least two other options I can think of.

At least one will be employed to, er, change things.

[elleng]

7. There still are Americans hoping we all can survive,

for those who were wondering.

[peace frog]

2. The WH is counting on voters to choose

the lesser of two evils, Obama. Word to the wise, ya'll: get a better stategy, pronto.

[teddy51]

3. "the lesser of two evils" Thats where I am at, whats your take? n/t

[peace frog]

5. Same here, however my point is

the WH shouldn't get too comfortable with this strategy. It shouldn't be all they've got and right now, it is.

[roguevalley]

17. someone needs to get obama alone and read him from the book

before he makes the big mistake of depending on the strategy that he's the lesser of two evils. What a completely arrogant and disgusting position that is. Why not just call us all assholes to our faces. It feels the same.

[Bo]

181. Hillary needs to run again......Obama is Carter take 2

Wake up and smell the coffee...Obama is a Disaster

[trud]

191. Hillary would be worse than Obama

Why are people suggesting Hillary? Do you not remember her DLC/Republican Lite policies?

Half the reason I voted for Obama was to vote against her loathsome policies (little did I know Obama would morph his political stand into a clone of hers.)

Hillary would be, if that's possible, worse than Obama. We'd probably be not only as bad off as we are now, but we;'d be at war with Yemen and Iran if Hillary were Pres.

[creon]

255. No

[No Elephants]

278. What would that accomplish? Hillary is at least as DLC as Obama, if not more so.

Besides, Democratic voters have never been kind to candidates who lost in the past.

[ooglymoogly]

287. Though Hillery has a lot of baggage, she does not have the phony 'God'

baggage or the Ayn Rand and Milton Friedman baggage that "0" has, which is just a simpleton's lame excuse for unbridled greed and heartless curelty. Of the two, now having seen the deadly duplicity of "0", I think we would have fared marginally better under Hillery even though she has become "if you can't beat them, join them" to accomplish what she wants to accomplish; wherein lies the very big question mark.

She at least understands that you can only screw your base so far; something "0" in his greed for power, does not.

I believe the Clintons want a legacy, now that they already have a fortune; and they know the only way to get a legacy is to work for the betterment of mankind, rather than the betterment of a few as "0" does.

I think they both used the DLC to advance themselves and made it their excuse for calling themselves Democrats (which neither of them are) as all the blue dogs and DINOs do.

I also believe that Hillery has already achieved the status of super rich and that is what makes her a better choice than "0" who is still kissing butts to achieve that status; and if faced with the same choice today I would have chosen differently.

Politically "0" is a child compared to Clinton's political savvy.

[pnorman]

88. Are you referring to a clearly announced strategy by the WH,

or to something you read in the NYT?

[Yon_Yonson]

67. The problem is that we have been voting for the lesser of two evils

for so long that they have both become evil!

[creon]

254. It is not mine.

I have no problem with Obama. And, I had no difficulty voting for him in 2008 and 2012 is the same.
The Party has to get up and go, as there is an election to win.

The focus is winning seats in the HoR and the Senate.

[No Elephants]

280. My focus will be on putting left of center Democrats in those seats.

IMO, rRight of Center is not the lesser of two evils, unless you think the U.S. should have a one party system some day, extreme Right and moderate right.

[creon]

294. I agree

I am focusing on helping to replace the GOP rep in my district with a Democrat.

[No Elephants]

277. A Democratic primary?

[sethgrogen]

56. please not the lesser of 2 evils again.

[Lorien]

70. I'm done with indulging them in that game

as long as we keep voting for the lesser of evils that's all we'll ever get. None of us owe them a thing; they need to EARN our votes by giving us something to vote FOR.

[sethgrogen]

72. so withhold? or go green?

[ooglymoogly]

202. Not voting is NOT an option.

Your vote means something...even if its a protest vote...writing in a true progressive is a protest.

[No Elephants]

282. Not voting is THE worst thing a leftie can do, IMO.

You know both Democrats and Republicans will spin poor turnout as a reason for Democrats to go further to the right.

[No Elephants]

281. Have you read DU rules?

[emilyg]

76. Not for me this time.

[Hawkowl]

108. I fight EVIL in all its forms!

Choosing lesser evil is still evil! Don't do it!

[CakeGrrl]

4. Doing what Dems do best - enabling the opposition with public displays of Nervous Nellyism.

:eyes:

[elleng]

8. Right, Grrl, and shooting ourselves in the face.

:(

[Auntie Bush]

12. Maybe we should try to hire Dick Cheney

He'd be happy to do it for us.

[elleng]

15. Yes, he would be,

and some around here seem to prefer that approach.

[Voice for Peace]

43. or throwing them off guard

[ThoughtCriminal]

46. We fret better than they govern

on the other hand, Republicans may also be better at phony outrage.

[MsPithy]

106. Compared to repeating Republican talking points, which is what the President does best,

well, nothing enables the opposition like becoming them.

[truedelphi]

120. Clever thought. If the President uses this phrase of yours as his

Slogan, maybe he'll pass you some chump change for it?

Ah, slogan writing as the only on going cottage industry in America. Someone has to write things for bumper stickers.

[shotten99]

123. [phone]

[dotymed]

143. You are toasty.

We know what the repubs are about; money, evil and greed. President Obama fits that mold perfectly (bipartisanship must altar a solid form...,benefit of the doubt there).
\
Let's shout it from the roof tops, Bernie Sanders, our nation needs you more than we have ever needed a real leader. None of the current field of corporatists will do anything but destroy America, further.

[Cosmocat]

164. +1,000,000,000,000,000

Going into his second term, GW Bush was an unmitigated disaster.

But, the Rs to a man and a women got behind two memes and defended him like their lives depended on it - he is keeping us safe, and you might not like him, but you know where he stands. The most bizarre defense of a total imcompetent who allowed the worst domestic terrorist attack we have seen on his watch.

But, that is what they do.

With a guy who has been 10 times the president Bush was, we are hearing people on our team scream right wing talking points against him and hoping he does not run.

The republican party to a man and women defended Bush, what portion of our party that is not throwing our guy under the bus is cowering in a corner.

:wtf:

[trud]

192. Cosmocat

Obama has been ten times the President Bush was?

Please elucidate. I am busy reading about no change in war (spending in Afghanistan increased to offset drop in spending in Iraq.)
Environment trashed. Nothing done about outsourcing, so economy still in the toilet. Torture condoned. Civil rights trashed.

[Cosmocat]

283. Really?

You are a democrat?

[Jack Rabbit]

203. (Obama) has been 10 times the president Bush was . . .

10 x 0 = ?

EDITED to add:

Iks-nay with the Bush comparisons, already. Do you see what's wrong with them?

No one is going to sell the idea of re-electing Obama on the slogan "He's better than Bush!"

[Cosmocat]

284. Jesus Christ ...

Really, THAT is what you got from that post - the need to force a "not bush" meme?

He ain't perfect, but he has been a darn fine president.

I was born in 66, and started to know presidents and politics when Nixon was in office.

Carter, Clinton and BO are the only D presidents I have known.

I have suffered through Nixon, Ford, Reagen, Bush I and Bush II.

I know this makes some salty when they get called on it, but, grow the F up.

We probably agree fundamentally on a lot of things, but reality is reality.

[creon]

256. exactly

Congress.

We need a majority of Democrats in Congress.
nervous nelly will not help at all.

[33Greeper]

9. nuff said

dance with the one that brung you.

[bengalherder]

225. WE brought HIM.

And he keeps going off to dance with the DLC kids.

[mistertrickster]

10. It's not what you say . . . it's what you do. nt

[ProSense]

11. "some party leaders sounded upbeat ..."

<...>

At a gathering of the Democratic National Committee in Chicago this weekend, some party leaders sounded upbeat after they toured the Obama campaign headquarters. But others expressed anxiety that Mr. Obama’s accomplishments were not being conveyed loudly enough to ordinary people, that Republican lawmakers were making it impossible for him to get more done, and that Mr. Obama’s conciliatory approach might be translating to some voters as weakness.

<...>

Problems for Mr. Obama in Florida, Mr. Ausman said, could trickle down into next year’s Senate race there, where Bill Nelson, a Democrat, faces re-election. “Too many people here have lost their jobs,” Mr. Ausman said.

For all the hand-wringing among Democrats, some party leaders say Mr. Obama has time to reverse his slipping fortunes — but not much.

“I think there’s an uneasy feeling, but it’s a little early for an ulcer to develop,” said Representative Gerald E. Connolly of Virginia. “Obviously, the dark cloud over everything is the economic performance.”

<...>

Easy remedy, start conveying the President's accomplishments loudly. On the economy, the President's job proposal will help. Also, it's too early for handwringing and ulcers, especially when Republicans are struggling even more.

[David Durham]

13. De Fazio Is a Bad Dem and Should be Primaried

The first person quoted in the article is Rep De Fazio of Oregon, who voted against Obama's stimulus bill and has been a vocal critic of the President. Nancy Pelosi should call De Fazio and tell him he has to get on the Dem team and run with the President, or she'll do very little, if anything, to help him win reelection. He's become such a blowhard that he could easily lose a primary or the general election. If he is threatened with the loss of DCCC support, I bet he'd come around or at least stop slamming the President in public.

[former9thward]

14. There is not a better progressive on the West coast.

You are full of it.

[David Durham]

18. DeFazio's Repeated, Public Attacks on Obama Are a Disgrace. He Needs to be Told to Shut Up!!

De Fazio has become a self-important blowhard who needs to be slapped down hard by Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the House leadership. De Fazio is so dumb that he must not realize that the only way the Dems can retake the House is to run as a team with Obama and have Obama win big. Pelosi needs to make clear to DeFazio that he must stop his repeated, public attacks on the President, or he'll lose DCCC support and that will mean he may well lose in the fall of 2012 or, better yet, we will get a loyal Dem to run a primary and beat this blowhard.

[INdemo]

20. A bloo dog Democrat the and I will second the comment

STFU

[David Durham]

22. De Fazio May Not Even Know by Repeatedly Attacking Obama, He Really Hurts Dem Chances in 2012

We Dems need to run as a team to win the House and keep the Presidency and Senate in 2012. Dems like De Fazio, who repeatedly attacks Obama in the press in OR and nationally, do great damage to not only Obama but also Dem chances of retaking the House.

[dameocrat67]

35. by repeatedly attacking real dems like defazio in favor or republidems

you are destroying dem chances in 2012.

[Name removed]

92. Deleted message

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

[dotymed]

146. I have voted Democrat, all of my voting life.

The Democratic party has become a corporatist repub clone. We must field real FDR Democrats if we want a future of freedom and equality in America. Party before people is an old repub tradition and I want no part of it.

Bernie Sanders has shown us the that he will fight for the people of America, just like the Democrats of old. He isn't even an "official Democrat", but he is a person that puts forth the best of democratic traditions.

IMO, we must persuade Bernie to primary our failed President. No more "lesser of two evils" for me either. That has ben destroying America. We must not allow the PTB to pick our candidates.

I cannot afford (nor do I have a place to stay, I am a senior disabled heart patient also) to go to D.C. on October 6. None of us can afford to miss it.

IMO, the die hard party wonks are as bad as the rethugs. This is America, the top 400 PEOPLE now own more wealth than the bottom 150 MILLION and it is getting worse, on "our watch." Fuck that, we must really

choose our candidate. Then we can rise or fall on our merits, our morals, not THEIRS. This may well be our last fight for Democracy.

[tcaudilllg]

243. You're a republican plant.

[former9thward]

23. Yeah you go get that "loyal Dem" to run a primary.

You will get smashed. Come on, we are waiting. Where is he/she????

[David Durham]

29. OK then no DCCC money for De Fazio until he shuts up in his public criticism of Obama

De Fazio is a blowhard who hurts Dems generally with his criticism of Obama. He needs to shut up or be denied DCCC support.

[dameocrat67]

42. he has never gotten much anyway

they always fund republimoles, so it is not a credible threat. his compaigns are funded by blue america.

in fact i do not contribute to the dccc because they fund dinos and not defazio.

[Larkspur]

173. Obama-bots are blowhards, not De Fazio

De Fazio is a good Progressive Democrat. Obama is a corporate whore who has no problem making us breathe in more smog and toxins. Obama will go down as this century's Grover Cleveland, the 19th century pro-banker Democrat, who hurt the Party so much that it took over 30 years for the Party to recover from his bad policies.

[StarsInHerHair]

266. go bow at the altar of O already, dead wrong about DeFazio

[INdemo]

31. Deleted

[former9thward]

40. I think you are replying to another OP.

This one is about a poster who wants to take out DeFazio in a primary by a "loyal Dem". DeFazio is a good progressive.

[on point]

45. That's right! Don't listen to legitimate concerns. Use oppression until it blows up in your face

[Name removed]

117. Deleted message

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

[Odin2005]

196. Oh look, a DLC tool.

:puke:

[suffragette]

213. Sounds like he IS being a loyal Democrat to his constituents

And last time I looked, that's the job description.

[truedelphi]

240. + my household. n/t

[truedelphi]

239. No this is what you need to consider when you look at why DeFazio is

Upset: the stimulus bill that allotted tens of billions of dollars to SOME parts of the country was so badly worded that DeFazio could not use the money in his home state.

Obama's people failed to realize that in the ill-conceived wording of the stim money legislation, most of the money had expiration dates. The longest period of time allowed for a project was eighteen months. And many states in the US have rules that say money from the Federal Government cannot be received unless the money comes with a guarantee that more will be provided to see that a project is completed.

This is basic legislation 101. But Obama and his Administration doesn't care.

Often a project takes six months just to go from drawing board through EIS through finalizing. And only then do the bull dozers roll.

Obama's people also failed to realize how the Paulson/Bernanke/Geithner money crowd would slip their buddies so much dough that the rest of us will be paying for those mistakes until are grandkids are middle aged. And the Health Care Reform Act has left us with a nation of people who have to forgo groceries to deal with the exorbitant premiums charged by insurers, when it would not have been difficult to put price constraints in place. (Nixon put price constraints in place, and no one called him a Socialist.)

If DeFazio finds fault with the President, it is only because of the incompetence that the Administration has demonstrated again and again. And if not incompetence, then the actions of this Administration are outright deceitful.

[dameocrat67]

25. defazio is a real progressive who fights for things i like

i would rather sacrifice obama and primary him.

[David Durham]

30. President Perry will thank you for your opposition to Obama in 2012.

[dameocrat67]

33. well primarying defazio might result in a repuke too

i know it will, since the CONservadem you replace him with will be a dino.

[eilen]

285. Gee, forcing out Democratic Congressmen has worked so well

Just look at Weiner's seat.

Sorry, no room under that bus for DeFazio, you might just need to LISTEN to his concerns and gasp! criticism.

[blackspade]

110. Straw man alert!

Maybe we should start saying, support unions or say hello to PONTUS Perry/Romney.

This cut both ways. Maybe Obama will wake up to that fact (or his idiot advisers).

[StarsInHerHair]

267. good idea

[Name removed]

135. Deleted message

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

[tcaudilllg]

244. A hypothetical argument if there ever was one. n/t

Perry will never be president because America's army will never serve under him.

[FLAprogressive]

41. Peter DeFazio may be the best congressman in that whole place and one of the very few left with

principles.

[RBInMaine]

150. Then let DeFazio run for President and get CRUSHED. He needs to find reality.

[Solomon]

286. Or better yet. Win so we can see what

a spineless, gutless, traitorous compromised he will have to be in the real world.

[golfguru]

113. There is no chance in hell DeFazio loses, primary or general

He is a legend in Oregon.

[lib2DaBone]

126. DaFazio is one of the best DEMS in the house, along with Marcy Kaptur.

[Enthusiast]

159. PLUS ONE!.......nt

[ibegurpard]

137. I'd take one DeFazio over a thousand Obamas any day

[Enthusiast]

157. DeFazio should be the

Democratic candidate for president in 2012.

If you aren't a vocal critic of the President you are brain dead.

[Divernan]

158. DeFazio voted against Nafta,Gatt,taxcuts for wealthy,bank bailouts,told O to fire Geithner/Summers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_DeFazio

DeFazio has a strong progressive voting record. He voted against the Telecommunications Act of 1996—one of only 16 congressmen to do so. DeFazio particularly objected to a provision that deregulated the cable television industry. According to DeFazio, many of his fellow Democrats later realized "they were idiots" for backing the bill. He was also the only Oregonian who voted against both NAFTA and GATT. On the issue of abortion, DeFazio is strongly pro-choice, earning a 100 percent rating from Planned Parenthood in 2010. He is a founding member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and was its chairman from 2003 to 2005.

In 2008, DeFazio and California representative Pete Stark signed a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi proposing a one quarter of one percent transaction tax on all trades in financial instruments including stocks, options, and futures. Subsequently DeFazio introduced the No BAILOUT Act.

Somewhat controversially, DeFazio declined to support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, voting against the final stimulus package on February 13, 2009. He was one of only seven House Democrats to vote "nay" on the bill. DeFazio said that his vote against the bill was due to his frustration over compromises made to win support from moderate Republicans in the Senate, saying, "I couldn't justify borrowing money for tax cuts," in reference to a bipartisan group's decision to cut funding for education and infrastructure initiatives the Oregon congressman had supported in favor of more tax reductions. He also advocated that the U.S. Senate change its cloture rules, doing away with the filibuster that, in the current 59–41 Democratic majority, gives Republicans the ability to block legislation from coming to a vote.

At a closed-door meeting of the House Democratic Caucus in late March 2009, President Obama reportedly upbraided DeFazio for his vote against the stimulus. "Don't think we're not keeping score, brother," Obama quipped, according to the Associated Press, while urging DeFazio to support his budget proposal. DeFazio, speaking to press after the exchange, professed that he was honored that Obama recognized him and the issues of his constituents.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/18/rep-defazio-fire-timmy-ge_n_363093.html

DeFazio made headlines in mid-November 2009 when he suggested, in an interview with liberal MSNBC commentator Ed Schultz, that President Obama should fire Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers. "We may have to sacrifice just two more jobs to get back millions for Americans," said DeFazio.<15> The quote made top headlines at progressive news blog The Huffington Post.<16> DeFazio also suggested that a formal call by the Congressional Progressive Caucus for Geithner and Summers to be removed might be forthcoming.

[Divernan]

161. Obama threatens DeFazio (We're keeping score); good progressives threaten Obama's corporate buddies.

And we can see the venom of Obama supporters on this thread, can't we.

DeFazio represents his Oregonian constituents, not elite corporate special interests.

"At a closed-door meeting of the House Democratic Caucus in late March 2009, President Obama reportedly upbraided DeFazio for his vote against the stimulus. "Don't think we're not keeping score, brother," Obama quipped, according to the Associated Press, while urging DeFazio to support his budget proposal.<13> DeFazio, speaking to press after the exchange, professed that he was honored that Obama recognized him and the issues of his constituents.<14>"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_DeFazio

Nothing enrages corrupt (bought and paid for) politicians, and their supporters more than that rare politician who is not for sale and demonstrates integrity.

[TheBigotBasher]

232. I see just one person attacking Peter DeFazio

and that person is not part of the regular crew of "Obama supporters". I'll just say, to try and attempt remaining within the rules, that if you see someone attacking one of the most progressive members of Congress for not being liberal enough, you may not be doing that for the best of intentions.

So there isno "score to keep". Some poster on DU attacking DeFazio is not Barack Obama acting in the role of President or Leader of the Democratic Party.

[Odin2005]

197. You DLCers are getting so desperate that it's pathetic and disgusting.

[Mr Deltoid]

19. "start conveying the President's accomplishments loudly"

That is Obama's job. He needs to start to get out in front of things. He needs to force the message. He needs to send his principles out every weekend and flood the sunday talk shows with his message. He needs to crack the whip on his PR team. Messaging has thus far been pretty weak with this whitehouse.

[eridani]

129. I'm hoping you are pushing messaging and values over laundry lists

You are, right?

[Mr Deltoid]

223. Yep

Laundry lists come across as grasping at straws, especially when the situation is rapidly deteriorating.

[obxhead]

245. I find that his message has been quite clear.

Corporations and the elite will always come before the common citizen.

[eridani]

127. Unfortunately, average voters don't give a good goddam about laundry lists

They vote VALUES, and Obama has no vision, period, even though he has actually done a lot of useful things.


http://www.mediatrainingworldwide.com/blog/2011/09/09/obamas-report-card-for-last-nights-jobs-speech

From Media Training Insider, an organization I'd never heard of before, but which seems to offer professional analysis and training for people that speak to the media and public:

"Passion: A+"

"Platform skills: A+."

"Civility and warmth: A+."

"Policy Impact: F-. This president is either unwilling or unable to package his ideas within a greater narrative, story or philosophy. He didn’t explain his vision of how we got into this financial mess and he didn’t explain why his approach is different or better than the Republicans."

"Political Impact: F-. The president failed to make the American people angry with Congress, therefore they won’t be screaming and demanding that Congress make any big changes. Therefore, very little of Obama’s agenda will be enacted."

"Combined Weighted Score: F+"

[mcgarry50]

16. obama's re-election

obama blew it. he's a liberals worst nightmare. i wish he
would not run for re-election because i am going to have a
hard time to fill in the box next to his name. he is not a
leader, plus he is a wallstreet republican.

[on point]

21. We need a real dem to run, like Bernie Sanders. He needs to be primaried

[David Durham]

24. Sanders Is Not a Dem. A primary would be self-defeating for Dems as in 1980.

[dameocrat67]

38. 1980 had nothing to do with a primary and everything to do

with iran.

[alp227]

49. then how did Ted Kennedy get over 35% of the vote?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_%28United_States%29_presidential_primaries,_1980

Carter: 51%
Kennedy: 38%
Jerry Brown: 3%

[dameocrat67]

50. that looks like a primary and not a general election

since Raygun is not listed. whether he got 35% of the vote in the primary has nothing to do with why he lost the general. kennedy supporters were personality cultist like obama supporters and would vote for a kennedy over any other dem just because he had jfk dna. kennedy supporters did not vote for raygun. he lost because lieberdems like obama voted for raygun.

[on point]

44. Neither is Obama. Having a center right repub in the WH is not my idea of dems winning the election!

[iamthebandfanman]

118. and neither are you. go back to free republic, troll.

[Enthusiast]

160. PLUS ONE!.......nt

[man4allcats]

138. Re: "Sanders Is Not a Dem."

What's that have to do with it? Despite the D after his name, neither is Obama.

[wisteria]

28. Sanders, isn't a Democrat. n/t

[trud]

193. Bernie may not be a Democrat, BUT

he has Democratic principles, which is more than I can say for a lot of elected DINOs.

[eridani]

130. If we had been serious about an actual progressive in the White House in 2012--

--the time to start on that project would have been around 1975.

[Enthusiast]

162. We didn't know in 1975

that in 2012 there would be a White House "Democrat" that would propose cutting the funding mechanism for social security, among other things.

[eridani]

272. No, what all too many on the left did was to abandon electoral politics

A moderate Republican posing as a Democrat in the White House is one of the results.

[CarmanK]

261. Bernie is an Independent and his policies are "extreme" for some!

Bernie Sanders is my hero. I love watching him defend the middle class and working people. But, he cannot win the Presidency because he is unique.

[wisteria]

26. I am not that worried. The two Repub leads are very flawed and even though

the economy isn't improving as we all would like, it was Obama who stopped the bleeding. I think people still remember who got us all into this economic mess. And, as on of those Americans who are struggling, I still intend to vote again for President Obama.

[bvar22]

216. And nobody was "worried" that Smirk could beat Gore in 2000,

and Kerry in 2004.


Solidarity!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[AverageJoe90]

295. Not to mention Bush's idiocy backfired badly on the GOP........

Seriously, not many people knew just how truly stupid Bush was until after 9/11 happened.

[RobinA]

27. I'd Be More

worried about the next president being Repub if one of these gloom and doomers could tell me WHO they imagine will beat Obama. I have yet to hear of a credible candidate to challenge him.

[David Durham]

32. Romney is ahead of Obama in several recent national polls, and even Perry leads in one poll.

Fools like De Fazio need to learn that Obama bashing is self-defeating for Dems generally.

[dameocrat67]

37. and why is it ok to attack defazio when he actually represent my views

on most things, where as obama seems like a dino.

[blackspade]

111. Blah Blah Blah,

You sound like a broken record.

De Fazio is not the problem. It is Obama and his crappy record and messaging.

[eridani]

131. The record has actual accomplishments. The messaging sucks

Voters vote values, not laundry lists.

[SixthSense]

122. of the two

I take DeFazio over Obama anyday.

of the two it's not DeFazio bringing the party down.

[Divernan]

163. No, Obama needs to learn he's defeating himself by abandoning traditional Dem. programs/values.

[Deep13]

34. Too late.

There's not enough time left to turn things around. He had to do it while he still controlled Congress. Once the 2010 elections happened, it was too late.

[Guilded Lilly]

36. I'm not fretting and I don't give a damn who doesn't agree.

[ThoughtCriminal]

39. The best strategy

persuade the GOP to nominate anybody who is currently running.

[FrenchieCat]

47. Good ol' NYT!

It's been giving us a lot of negatives lately! Maybe they just caught on that it's the latest thing.

Guess they figured, if Democrats are crying, we should too!

Printed after the speech, in the middle of 9/11, and everything! How neat!

Thank you New York times. We need you there, doing what you do.
Guess I'll have to write them back....assholes!

[eridani]

132. Why not write to Obama and ask him to develop a message instead of a laundry list? n/t

[creon]

258. I guess

I guess that I am an "obamabot". No problem.
I will vote for Obama in 2012.
And, do what I can to replace that Republican in my district.

I do not do circular firing squads.

[FrenchieCat]

48. And got folks recommending this shit?

Tell me there are trolls working for the other side here, and I would believe it.

[theaocp]

171. Vous savez, n'est-ce pas? n/t

[truth2power]

229. And denial is a better strategy? Did you read the entire article?...

I didn't see any ad hominem attacks there. The article mostly discusses Obama's actions and policies, with which people are allowed to disagree.

There's a lot about the weak economy being a negative for Obama, and whether one wants to saddle him with the blame for all or part of that, it's true that the blame tends to fall on the imcumbent. Therefore, it's an issue for his 2012 prospects.

Some polls suggest - according to the article - that Obama's attempts to claim the political center are not pulling in Independents and moderates. Maybe time for a change in strategy there.

The article points out that many people are encouraged by Obama's more energized tone displayed in his recent speech. some supporters are looking for more of that, and 'messaging' is a prime topic.

If Obama has problems going into the election (as noted above) dismissing them as "shit" isn't very productive.


I guess this comment makes me a troll. Whatever.

[wordpix]

51. "tremendous discontent with his direction.” What IS his direction?

Giving in to the R's while getting almost nothing for his base is what I'm seeing.

[Mr Deltoid]

52. To the right of the Democratic party

Would be my guess.

[90-percent]

53. Keeping Obama

Keeping Obama only prolongs the misery, in a twisted unintended consequences kind of way.

Our political leaders are all so corporate corrupt and totalitarian that we need a Michelle Bachmann to send our society back to the stone age. Wealth distribution alone is enough to force our society to collapse into civil war and anarchy and Great Depression 2.0. We all have to suffer so much we really need to have another revolution to overthrow the tyrants that want to turn us into corporate serfs and indentured servitude while working till the exact moment you keel over. We are enduring way too much boiling frog suffering and make this the country of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We are working harder, producing more, and scared shitless of losing our jobs and health insurance and then the home and your entire life's earnings down the toilet.

And then there Guantanamo, all the stupid wars based on the words of lying traitors, wall street swindles and the unjust grossly perverted big bank bailouts, while foreclosing on those the bailout was meant to help. They knowingly destroyed lives to get their obscene six and seven figure bonuses. How many bonuses have you or I received lately?

The selfish sociopaths that run our institutions are soon going to get a harsh lesson in American history, because they are going to relive the nasty parts we thought we fixed over 100 years ago. We need a Teddy Roosevelt to bust the trusts right now and get back to being a first world democracy again. I think there are spots within my lifetime when we could be safely put in that category. Mostly well before High School.


-90% Jimmy

[shanti]

54. with obama's attitudes about

SS and medicare, i'm not really sure he cares if he's re-elected :shrug:

[Enthusiast]

165. I believe you are correct.......nt

[theaocp]

172. See, now THAT'S looking ahead!

I believe Obama himself said he doesn't care if he's a one-term president, yes? I'm sure Clark will be here any moment to tell me to prove it. :eyes:

[russspeakeasy]

188. And he will bring his poster....

I think the poster came from a chess tournament..:evilgrin:

[KeyserSoze87]

55. Obama must win next year's election. If not, I'm not living in this country anymore.

Although both Mitt Romney and Rick Perry seem like the same person (they both look like giant anthropomorphised ken dolls), they are different in terms of policy and have their own unique strategies in which they'll destroy this country. If Romney becomes president, he'll essentially be Reagan on steroids. He'll pass tax cuts of unprecedented size to corporations and the wealthy, which will further increase income inequality. Eventually, the entire country will become one giant corporate empire. The gap between the rich and poor will eventually become so large that our society will turn into a Neo-feudalist utopia, reminiscent of Europe during the Middle Ages. If Rick Perry becomes president, separation of church and state will be abolished, and America will turn into a theocratic society that would give Ruhollah Khomeini a run for his money. Under Perry, anyone who isn't Christian will be forced to either adapt to Evangelical ideals or be kicked out of the country. Civil liberties will be crushed, voting rights for women will be repealed, homosexuals will have basic human rights taken away, and all schools will be required to teach creationism and ban all talks of evolution. Friends, the Republicans cannot win next year's election. If they do, this country is done for. Never in my entire life have I been so scared about this nation's future.

[alp227]

82. Right on point. I second this! n/t

[KeyserSoze87]

95. Thanks!

[man4allcats]

142. I fear your predictions could prove painfully accurate.

I regret being in the "lesser of two evils" dilemma yet again, and as with all dilemmas, I'm not presently sure how I'll resolve it. To me, the reality seems to be that no matter who wins, a Republican will be elected. The only question is whether it will be Obama, Romney or Perry? Obama is terrible, but he's not as terrible as the remarkably evil Romney or Perry alternatives. I wouldn't blame anyone for staying home or writing in someone acceptable. I may decide to exercise such an option myself. I'm just not sure yet. Unfortunately, the very real threat of a genuinely evil Romney or Perry presidency may be compelling enough to justify setting principles aside "one more time" (wink wink) much as I hate the idea of doing so. Otherwise the only remaining emerging option I can see is revolution though I'm not sure just what form that might take. Nevertheless, this keeps coming to mind ever more frequently:

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

[KeyserSoze87]

184. My predictions really aren't that far-fetched, ridiculous as they may sound.

The Republican Party is currently moving so far to the right, they could do all sorts of crazy things if they get back to power. When Scott Walker was elected governor, no one thought he would act as some authoritarian ruler and strip workers of collective bargaining. Ultimately, anything can happen. As I've mentioned before, Republicans are now so far right, there's starting to be no limits for them.

[man4allcats]

251. I wish it weren't true, but

I think you're exactly right. Take care.

[BeyondGeography]

57. This is the best Troll Fest I've seen in quite a while

[Number23]

83. Actually, the "if Perry wins because I don't vote, that's okay" thread was Trollapalooza

This one will probably be in the top ten though.

[BeyondGeography]

148. Wow, missed that

Sheesh.

[unkachuck]

58. "In my district, the enthusiasm for him has mostly evaporated,"

....here too, sad but true....

....unfortunately, many have concluded that although he looks and talks progressive-black, he governs wall-street-white....

[OwnedByFerrets]

59. Well, that shouldnt bother him too much since he says he

doesnt mind being a one termer.

[mrgerbik]

60. Oh how I wish I could fool myself

into believing in our media controlled, culturally accepted La-La land of empty rhetoric again -- To live happily and asininely within the bounds of blatantly acted theater (on both sides btw) is, to me, the ultimate form of self-denial. Why go there people?

[McCamy Taylor]

61. Romney is the one to worry about---but can he make it through his primary?

Perry does not have the name of a popular ex-president and he does have an association with a despised ex-president. Perry looks ok until he opens his mouth. Perry is not the kind of guy you would want to have a beer with. I think the bubbas are gonna reject him. I think Perry was chosen by a bunch of rich oil men that know shit about the American people and what they want in a leader. They think they can buy the White House with a guy whose hair is more elaborately coiffed that John Edwards and whose last name rhymes with...but let's not go there.

[wordpix]

64. you think Tax Haven Mitt has more of a chance than Merck-man Perry?

:crazy: It's a nut fest all around, whoever wins

[JJW]

62. School Days

Are Oregon kids still only getting 4 days of schooling per week because the state doesn't have enough money?

[neverforget]

104. No, We're at 5 days still but the days off for kids are over the top

[bluestateguy]

63. Such lamentations need to be kept private and behind closed doors

Not on the front page of the biggest Establishment paper in the world.

[jaysunb]

66. Bingo

and then posted on the front page of DU....:evilfrown:

[zentrum]

65. Obama

And most of the top democrats and all of the pundits will interpret this loss of enthusiasm as Obama needing to tack right.

They absolutely cannot or will not understand that it was his failure to be progressive and tell a progressive populist narrative that turned the majority away in despair.

[on point]

91. Super Majority on wrong track #'s. Obama still headed in wrong direction

You got it. Very large super majorities consistently say the country is headed in the wrong direction.

NOT because they want a pendulum swing back to the right, but because the country is still headed in the wrong direction TOWARDS the right wing and Obama is actively helping.

That's why his numbers are down, because he is headed in the wrong direction.

[Enthusiast]

166. Will not understand or refuses to acknowledge. nt

[TacticalPeek]

68. Shut your eyes

and these problems just disappear.

[MissDeeds]

69. Obama is a vulnerable candidate

We need to face the fact and deal with it. If we go forward and nominate him, we stand to lose the election. The right, of course, hates him, he has alienated much of his base, and independents are not particularly inspired to support him this time. He can't run on his tepid record, and his firey rhetoric lacks credibility as what he says is often not supported by what he does. A strong, decisive leader is needed now, and Obama is not that person.

I think it's also important to realize that the pool of Republican candidates is not necessarily set. A Democratic victory is absolutely necessary in 2012, and I'm not sure Obama can pull out a victory.

[demgrrrll]

71. I'm part of his base and I'm not alienated at all. Don't fret hon

Obama will pull this out.

[MissDeeds]

73. Don't call me "hon"

:eyes:

[Lorien]

75. Those identifying with Right Wing positions

certainly don't feel alienated, dear.

[Dragonfli]

124. Ever since the Republican party turned batshit crazy, we are stuck with all the R castaways calling

themselves Democrats, they still love Heritage Foundation and Chamber of Commerce policies and quite frankly Lorien, they are starting to stink up the place.

They are horrible guests that go around crying because the Democrats (that actually believe in the Democratic platform) refuse to replace Democratic Ideology with theirs, my god what a buch of screaming babies they are, and they expect us to clean up their shitty diaper policies while calling us names and flinging the content of those diapers in our faces.

They have been absolutely insufferable now that one of their Ideological bretherin has reached the status of POTUS.
They are like a virus that is killing it's host without thought as to what living in a dead host will mean to them.

I hope to Goddess the batshits get their own (for real this time) Tea party so that they can all go home to the party of Reagan and Bush where they all belong.

Just them wearing the name Democrat has caused serious damage to the real party and the infection is spreading, gangrenous and smells of dead fish.

I am not even sure if the party can survive the infection.


Now, share a few beers with me and I will tell you WHAT I REALLY THINK OF THEM LOL.

[Enthusiast]

167. Good posts, you guys. nt

[defendandprotect]

79. Really...? Anti-FDR/anti-Social Security/anti-Medicare forumla will "pull this out" ... ? ROFL

[Enthusiast]

169. Not to mention ignoring

the growing organized labor energy in Wisconsin and Ohio. No TRUE effort was mounted to capture this grass roots populist advantage.

[defendandprotect]

208. Great point -- and it's another part of reality which isn't challenged here --

Where are the Democrats standing up against Obama?

And where is the fight back from Obama and the Democrats?

From Day #1 there has only been a corporate agenda being put in place

with no squawking from the Democrats --

The first and greatest need for the nation was to bring these wars to an end --

and here we are with Obama taking us into the second decade on this --

Far too little challenge to the wars from DU'ers imo!!

The second greatest need was for universal health care --

and again, no effort by the party to spur Democrats to come out and rally for

MEDICARE FOR ALL.

We are both pointing out what's so glaringly obvious -- but I can only conclude

that it would be too crushing for many DU'ers to acknowledge it.

That's not true of the rest of the country, however -- they get it!!


There's also a lot of $$$$$$$$$$ caught up in supporting the Democratic Party --

[Rosa Luxemburg]

74. I think Obama will win

any Democrat will have the same problem as long as there are Blue Dogs

[eilen]

288. Blue dogs are not his problem

He is a blue dog. Blue Dogs are our problem.

[Lorien]

77. He can't. He lost 2010 for us, and it will be worse by 2012

since he learned nothing from that defeat.

[defendandprotect]

80. +1 -- True -- 2010 message should not be ignored --

[MissDeeds]

84. Yep

Past is prologue - He's not changed one thing since the debacle of 2010, unless it's to move more to the right. Perhaps that's his base...?

[pnorman]

105. Obama was "too far to the right" to suit the voters,, so they

voted even further to the right last year?

[eridani]

133. Republicans successfully posed as defenders of Medicare against "Obamacare" in 2010

http://www.gop.com/index.php/briefing/comments/reach_out_and_touch_medicare#ixzz1US9aru7F

REPUKE MAILER

For The Record…It Was Obama Who Offered To Cut Hundreds Of Billions In Medicare During The Debt Debate

OBAMA AND DEMOCRATS PUT MEDICARE CUTS IN DEBT CEILING DEAL

USA Today: “Cuts in Medicare and other entitlement programs are on the table.” (Susan Page and Fredreka Schouten, “Political Damage Even If A Debt Deal Is Done,” USA Today, 7/31/11)

Obama Agreed To Medicare Cuts In Debt Ceiling Deal. “The deal announced on Sunday by Congressional leaders and the White House would make across-the-board cuts in military spending, education, transportation and Medicare payments to health care providers if Congress does not enact further deficit-cutting legislation by the end of the year.” (Robert Pear, “Congress Must Trim Deficit To Avoid Broader Cuts,” The New York Times, 7/31/11)

Obama Said “Adjustments” Must Be Made To Medicare. OBAMA: “Yes, that means making some adjustments to protect health care programs like Medicare so they’re there for future generations.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks On Budget Control Act, Washington, D.C., 8/2/11)

DURING DEBT CEILING DEBATE, OBAMA OFFERED $650 BILLION IN CUTS TO MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY, AND MEDICAID

Obama Put “Major Changes” To Medicare On The Table During Debt Ceiling Negotiations. “To hit the $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, the congressional committee is likely to reconsider major changes to Medicare that the White House and congressional leaders put on the table during this summer's debt-ceiling negotiations.” (Janet Adamy, “Debt Deal May Hit Medicare,” The Wall Street Journal, 8/2/11)

Analysis by Democratic pollster—
http://capsules.kaiserhealthnews.org/index.php/2011/08/pollster-medicare-not-just-a-seniors-issue

Her bottom line: It is an even more important political issue now than in the past. “It’s not just a seniors’ issue by any matter or means,” she said. The Medicare changes in the budget plan advanced by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., “really elevated it, because it was such a clear distinction” between the Democratic and Republican positions. ”You saw it play out in the N.Y. special . And it is the top testing message in congressional races right now,” Lake added.

She’ll be watching how aggressively Democrats rally around protecting Medicare but believes it will be harder for the party “to draw the distinction that many of us believe in” because President Barack Obama talked about Medicare cuts in the context of the budget deal. “So I think it’s going to depend on how strong a stance Democrats take or whether they muddle it.” Regardless, she adds, “it has the potential to be THE voting issue in 2012.”

[Enthusiast]

170. You are missing the entire point.

It is a matter of voter enthusiasm. Voter enthusiasm must be cultivated. A Democratic President accomplishes this by standing behind Democratic Party ideals -like organized labor, the environment and the New Deal.

[totodeinhere]

107. Yes, and a lot of the same people who are saying "don't worry" now are the same ones

who said that before the 2010 election. When I see some of these people say "don't worry" then I know I must worry.

[Arkana]

233. Bull. Clinton was in a way worse position at this point in his Presidency,

and he ran again and won convincingly.

These "alarm bells" are being overblown by a Republican media desperate to take down a Democratic President at the behest of their corporate owners.

[Beacool]

237. No, he wasn't.

Obama's low polls have now surpassed Reagan and Clinton. Besides, the economy was starting to look up when Reagan was up for reelection and Clinton had a booming economy. Obama will have neither one in 2012. His reelection chances at this point are indeterminate.

:shrug:

[Arkana]

273. I love your blind, indiscriminate defense of all things Clinton, I really do.

Clinton's polls were consistently in the 30s at this point in his Presidency and the disaster of the health care bill had just as many Democrats calling for his ouster.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

238. He Won Convincingly

He won convincingly because unemployment was 5.6% in 11/96 and the GDP was growing at an annual rate of 4.0%.

If unemployment is 5.6% in 11/12 and the GDP is growing at an annual rate of 4.0% in 11/12 Barack Obama will win reelection convincingly too.

And if I was Brad Pitt I would be living with Angelina Jolie

[Arkana]

274. And Reagan got reelected with unemployment well over 9%.

You people think the unemployment rate is the be-all and end-all of the question of who wins the next time around, when people like Nate Silver have shown time after time that it isn't.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

289. The Unemployment Rate In 11/84 Was 7.2%

http://www.davemanuel.com/historical-unemployment-rates-in-the-united-states.php

[krabigirl]

234. Eh, if the republicans nominate a moderate, maybe, but they won't.

Obama will beat a nut bag like perry. And I am a huge critic of Obama, but no, I would not prefer a nut job like perry.

[defendandprotect]

78. Why would we re-elect this man? We need a new candidate for 2012 ... someone who isn't

pre-bought and pre-bribed by corporate interests!!


We need prominent democrats to get busy finding us two candidates --

two candiates who are strongly anti-war --

and strongly in favor of MEDICARE FOR ALL --

Two issues that would financially and morally begin to put us back on our feet in America!!


Look at what Biden alone has been doing -- in calling for Israel to attack Iran for a year now!!

"Israel would be justified in attacking Iran!" -- YIKES!!

These people have to go --
\

[RBInMaine]

149. And just what ultra liberal purist is going to win nationally? You need to find your local planet.

[theaocp]

175. You're right. Fuck liberalism. Only conservativism can win.

Oh, did I put words in your mouth? Sorry about that. Please clarify. :eyes:

[RBInMaine]

226. Yes of course you put in words in my mouth. "Liberalism" doesn't mean non-reality purity. Get it?

Obama has accomplishment more PROGRESSIVE legislation than any president since LBJ if not FDR. The fringe here who call Obama "conservative"
are just that.

[theaocp]

231. I guess if you believe progressive legislation is contingent

upon what conservatism is at the time. I call Obama conservative based on what conservative was during the time of FDR, LBJ, AND Reagan. Genghis Khan and Hitler can have a fight over who was more right-wing, too.

[paulk]

194. it doesn't need to be an "ultra liberal purist"

it settle for a standard issue moderate Democrat, myself - rather than a Rockefeller Republican like Obama.

[defendandprotect]

209. And you think you're winning with "ultra liberal purist" insults -- ? Obama is finished --

Mask is off and it's over --

And it has been over since Day #1 after the election when he eloped into the

White House with Koch Bros/DLC Rahm Emmanuel --

[Mr Deltoid]

262. There is no such thing as an 'Ultra liberal purist'

You made it up.

[november3rd]

81. Not To Worry

The "Cave Man" is so reasonable and compromising he's bound to get more than enough Republican and Independent votes to win, even if half the registered Democrats stay home, like they almost always do.

[Name removed]

85. Deleted message

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

[K8-EEE]

89. LOL!! The tin foil freeps have arrived, CALL THE NIGHT NURSE. NT

[K8-EEE]

90. No worries! Romney is the viable one and the primary voters are bigots

As much about LDS as non-whites. Non of the others stand a chance.

[on point]

93. Isn't there a Sarah Palin re-run you should be watching before bed time?

[ThoughtCriminal]

98. Oh I have just got to find your other two posts

I'm sure they're just as funny.

[Frisbee]

86. All it has to do is get close...

and the repukes (with the help of the e-voting machine manufacturers) will be able to steal the election. And Obama is helping to make it happen.

[closeupready]

87. Since he's powerless, it's hard to care either way.

I think Democrats should focus on Congressional races.

[progressoid]

94. Nonsense. He has a 387% approval with liberals.

It's a true fact!

[Indykatie]

99. While Your 387% Figure is Meant to be Sarcastic

the point is that he does have an 80% or so approval among Democrats. I realize that number is not representative of DU but then DU is not representative of the overall Democratic electorate.

[progressoid]

112. True. DU tends to be ahead of the curve.

The rest of the overall electorate is catching up with us. That 80% or so is now more like 70% or so.

75% among Dems. 68$ among Liberals


This administration needs to kick it up a notch or three.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/149225/Obama-Weekly-Average-Approval-Holds-Term-Low.aspx

[ooglymoogly]

291. And you are not taking into consideration that most of us

when polled say we support this president because we support the Democratic party. At least that is the case with me and everyone I know. I have been polled twice. Both times I have said I support this president only because the other side is even more dangerous.

However if ever polled again I will not.

Meanwhile I think this president is the most disastrous thing to happen to the Democratic party in all its history and have thought so very soon after his inauguration and the picture of this unknown quantity began to come into focus and his true colors became known.

[dorksied]

96. This country needs 8 more years of Republican Ideology to show the morons who keep voting for them

exactly WHY they're unfit to rule.

I hate to say it, but this is going to happen, because Obama was too weak. FAR too weak. Hell, he's so weak that its practically Manchurian Candidate level, the betrayal of his own base to try to appease the right wing.

[Harry Monroe]

102. This country cannot afford 4 more years of Republican idealogy, much less 8!!

8 years of this shit and we'll be a 3rd world despotic shithole. We're careening in that direction now.

[FlaGranny]

155. No, we can't

but we probably need to. This country is going downhill at a rapid rate. I've been watching, to some degree, the politics of this country for more than 50 years. It is worse now that it has ever been in that time. All the parameters of the USA being #1 have fallen except for one - we are still the richest country in the world and people seem to be proud of that. When you realize, though, that all that wealth is in the hands of just a tiny percentage of Americans you can see what is really happening. We are rapidly on our way to becoming a third world nation. I have come to believe that this needs to happen. We need to hit rock bottom before people wake up and we can start on a path to recovery. It sounds pessimistic to be sure, but my joy of 2008 has turned into such pessimism that I feel real despair for our country. I fear that I will never live in a progressive country - not enough years left of my life for that.

Edit: Actually tearing up as I wrote this. I guess I'm feeling sadder than I knew.

[Enthusiast]

174. I'm feeling pretty sad right there with you, Granny.

I don't think a bunch of sad and demoralized Democrats will make for a very enthusiastic electorate in 2012. Kind of a repeat of 2010.

[A Simple Game]

201. I too think we will have to hit bottom before things will get better.

No more lesser of two evils. The lesser of two evils is still evil.

I will no longer choose compromise over my conscience.

[bengalherder]

230. I'm with you. n/t

[defendandprotect]

211. No ... and it's not only economics and capitalism's continuing crimes ... it's Global Warming ...

We do have to keep trying to end the wars -- stop the bankrutping of the Treasury --

Move to MEDICARE FOR ALL --

Those are two things which could begin to help put America back on her feet and help

citizens --

But the most serious issue we face is Global Warming and everyone has to understand that --

even now in reading my Town newspaper today, I can see that still the public isn't

connecting IRENE and the flooding with Global Warming -- and certainly our Town leaders

and weathermen aren't mentioning it!!


But agree that Obama has betrayed voters on both universal health care, wars and support

for Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid! That's also why Democratic voters stayed home

in 2010!

[RickFromMN]

97. His accomplishments need to be boiled down to sound bites. He must shed his appearance of weakness.

People won't remember a professorial dissertation. They need sound bites.

Like it or not, President Obama's attempts at compromise have the appearance of weakness.
I wish it were different. President Obama is trying to govern as if everyone played nice.
I wish everyone played nice. I wish we had a certain level of decorum. We don't.

Some say it's our fault people don't know President Obama's accomplishments.
President Obama has the bully pulpit. He must use it. He has weekly addresses.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/weekly-address

Does the man on the street remember what President Obama says?
President Obama talks like he's a college professor educating people.
The man on the street doesn't listen; his eyes glaze over.
The man on the street doesn't remember anything President Obama says.
The man on the street might remember President Obama is a "nice" guy who wouldn't hurt a fly.
There's a saying about "nice" guys and how they finish.

President Obama has to show some fire.
I say to President Obama, if the Republicans say you aren't being bipartisan or fair...tough.
It's tit for tat. It's an eye for an eye. Do to them what they do to you.
Don't apologize to them if they ask you to apologize. They never apologize to you.

I say to President Obama. The Republicans want to cut Federal spending...fine.
Close the military bases in their districts. That will cut some Federal spending.
Veto any legislation that has pork for their districts. They want austerity. Give it to them.
Don't even bother asking for their opinion when you want to craft legislation.
They won't work with you anyway; no point in wasting time with them.

Don't forget to punish the Blue Dog Democrats who oppose you. They need to know there's a price.
Why oh why did you let Joe Lieberman keep his Committee Chairmanships?
You're a "nice" guy. Politics is a dirty, rough game. Where do "nice" guys finish?

Read some of the transcripts or listen to some of the videos.
President Obama is too nice to the Republicans. He doesn't name names.
He doesn't call the Republicans out. He doesn't call out Blue Dog Democrats or Lieberman.

Republicans pay no price when they cross President Obama.
Would you pay a price for crossing Richard Nixon or Lyndon Johnson?
Richard Nixon had an enemies list.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nixon%27s_Enemies_List
Lyndon Johnson had a saying,
“Hug your friends tight, but your enemies tighter - hug 'em so tight they can't wiggle.”
http://www.1-famous-quotes.com/quote/1050952

The bullies do not respect you, President Obama. Time to show you aren't a 98 pound weakling.

I want President Obama to win. I want a Democrat nominating the next Supreme Court Judges.

At this moment President Obama is the lesser of two evils. It's easier to tear down his opponents.
It's hard listing President Obama's accomplishments, and yes, he has accomplishments.
The man on the street doesn't know what President Obama accomplished.
Their view of Health Care Reform is still summed up, both good and bad, as Obamacare.

The man on the street believes the economy sucks.
Good or bad, it sucks on President Obama's watch.
Saying it's not President Obama's fault won't fly...he's the President.
And yes, I believe President Bush deserves a huge amount of blame for the current economy.
Tax breaks for the rich, some wars to fight, letting banks gamble, happened on Bush's watch.

But it's President Obama's economy now. How he fixes the economy matters.
Will President Obama cut spending and plunge us into a deep recession?
Will President Obama push for a large public works program like FDR?
The rich won't spend us out of recession; the poor and middle class have no choice but to spend.
The poor and middle class need money in order to spend.

The man on the street won't care President Obama has a belligerent opposition,
willing to filibuster anything and everything in the Senate,
and in the house, Republicans so insane they are willing to wreck the world economy.

The man on the street cares about his welfare, and the welfare of his family and friends.
His welfare looks bad. The Tea Party and the Republicans offer a pack of lies sugar coated as hope.
What does President Obama offer? A professorial dissertation?

Come on, Mister "Nice" Guy. Stop being a teacher for once. Show some fire and determination.

I'm going to convince people to vote for President Obama by telling them
the Republicans want to destroy their Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid.
That's something the man on the street can understand. That's something they can believe.
The Republicans keep talking about Social Security and Medicare as Ponzi schemes (thanks Perry!),
or talk about privatizing or pushing Social Security down to the states.

I think the man on the street can be convinced the Republicans will destroy Social Security.

Yes...it's negative. It's also true. What else can I do? What else can we do?

[Enthusiast]

177. This is why Obama's position on

social security should have been uncompromising from the start.

If Democrats compromise on the environment, labor, social security and medicare they are finished as a party. Because these things are what distinguishes them from Republicans.

[defendandprotect]

269. Obama isn't weak when it comes to destroying single payer or Social Security/Medicare ....

If you boil down Obama's "accomplishments" versus his back room deals with

Big Pharma and the private H/C industry --

vs putting Social Security/Medicare "on the table" --

vs extending tax cuts for the rich -- and forcing us to BORROW to cover those cuts --

vs Global Warming and the need for immediate action --

vs Obama's protection of the oil industry/BP -- and pushing a new generation of

nuclear reactors in America --

It's in fact a disgusting record and --


You'll be giving people endless reasons to vote for someone else!!

[jimlup]

100. This is irrelevant

We have no choice at the moment. If we had worked differently in the past we might have a choice but right now we had better make damn sure he is re-elected and that he gets a democratic congress. We might wish for a better partner but in this case we have to "dance with who brung us."

I also say that this article is old news. Obama has cast the die and it will fall where it will. He has better chances than the media understand. He will gain on his "Jobs bill" because of the way he has expressed it. It is now clearly on the shoulders of the Republicans to explain why the economy can't be fixed - and they can't.

Obama has shifted the blame (correctly) to where it actually lies. And he has made it clear for the American people to see. I believe that either:

1. Enough Reptilians are still sane and care about the people of their country to pass some version resembling Obama's bill and it will actually help just barely in time or ...

2. The Reptilians will vote it down but have to face the wrath of the voters.

Granted not the multi-dimensional chess we all secretly hoped for but at least the correct opening move for the combination leading into the end game of the 1st term which will win him re-election.

Now we had better get off our asses and elect him a liberal-democratic congress!

[SavWriter]

101. But what if?

What if the stimulus is passed exactly as President Obama requests, and unemployment remains high, and even more economic doom happens? Then not only will we lose the White House, we'll lose the House and Senate as well. There are those, myself included, that think this second plan isn't nearly large enough to have any real impact, any measurable impact prior to the election.

Can't you imagine the Repugniks and their smarmy campaign ads? I can see it all too clearly. We tried it the Democrats way, we passed the bill, spending money we didn't have, and accomplished less than nothing. Tell me I'm wrong, tell me that the Repugniks don't love telling and retelling the lie that each Stimulus job cost the taxpayer a quarter million dollars each.

The danger here is not only that we may lose the White House to the Repugniks. It's that we will be the minority party for years to come. That would destroy this nation, and I would join many of you in moving to Canada or Europe.

We may have to consider cutting our losses, and instead shooting for a Democratic House and Senate to counter a Repugnik White House. I'm starting to worry that we're risking the whole thing in an effort to save President Obama.

[jimlup]

103. The Repuks are smart enough to do that and further...

It will help -

granted if they vote to pass it then the road ahead is harder but after reading some analysis (I have not had a lot of time to ponder it this week - or even read the views of folks I trust like Krugman and Reich) there is enough in the bill to turn the tide on the economy if it is passed. The dems must draw the line on only passing stuff that actually helps. We are going to have some losses (medicare entry age is going to go up as will SS like and these are dumb losses for a dem) but we have no other game to play.

That is the problem. It is the only game in town for us. We can certainly be pessimistic if we want to be but if you think we're headed in a fatal direction - then propose and alternative game plan and fast.

[SavWriter]

121. My problem is this

We passed an $800 Trillion stimulus. Granted, for people like you, and me, it kept us from going into a full depression. But it's effects have arguably worn off. According to those same people. Krugman and Reich, it was supposed to turn the economy completely around, not merely give it a branch on the cliff to cling to.

They have since said that the Stimulus was just not enough. Krugman has said we needed twice as much as we got. So if $800 billion wasn't enough, why are we betting our future on a hail mary pass with half as much?

I was in town yesterday. I had lunch at the cafe where many of the local like to kibitz. They don't call it that, but that is what it is. I talked, I listened. The impression of the people is that this Stimulus plan is a desperation move on President Obama's part. In short, the people I talked to there, and at the Pharmacy where I got my prescriptions refilled when I mentioned the Jobs program snorted in derision about it. IN JOHN BARROWS district. John Barrow, a Democrat.

President Obama won this county in Georgia in 2008, even though he lost the state. HE WON THIS RURAL COUNTY IN GEORGIA. He won a county with a lot of Military and Ex Military in it. That was the appeal of his campaign, and that is the depth of the dissapointment I heard just yesterday.

As far as an alternative. The only thing I can come up with is to focus our efforts on winning back the House and keeping the Senate. Because right now, I wouldn't put it past the Repugniks to win a majority of both houses as well as the White House.

[eridani]

134. The problem with the stimulus was too many stupid, useless tax cuts n/t

[Enthusiast]

178. Just like the payroll holiday proposed this time

around. Useless fucking tax cuts.

[defendandprotect]

270. BILLIONS in lucrative new contracts for business ... and Rahm/Obama crowed about it -- !!!

Obama's Stimulus was only 20% of what advisors recommended and Obama took less ...

[jimlup]

183. Obama will not have the "popular" support that he had in 2008

We already know that. People are skeptical because the stimulus wasn't enough. They don't know that - they accept the Reptilian meme that "it failed" because it is too complex an argument for them to reason through that it wasn't enough - to them the Reptilian idea that it was an old idea that doesn't work is perfectly acceptable.

You are right - "it is the economy stupid!" - as people said in the Clinton '92 days. But ultimately Obama gets the easy 2004 Blue states (except Pennsylvania) because they won't vote for the Reptilian - they just won't. Then he only needs Two of three: Florida Ohio Pennsylvania. I think he can get Pennsylvania and Ohio with rational argument because people there are awake enough to understand.

Yeah - I wish things were better for us - I'd like it to be a shoe in for the Dems in '12. But they are not - this is our game. We need to stop diverting ourselves with worries of defeat and start working towards getting stuff done so that we are set up for '12 to win.

If I were in congress I would push hard for a low-compromise version of Obama's package and insist on this. Fortunately or unfortunately the election hangs in the balance. And as I explained - it is the only game in town - time is now short.

[SavWriter]

249. I'm not so sure

First, Both Florida and Ohio have betrayed us in the past. I know, 2000 the election was stolen, but that's my point. Sure, we have Congresswoman Wasserman-Shultz. But we also have Marco Rubio who was picked over the far more moderate and former Governor Charlie Christ and the far more attractive candidate Mel Martinez.

Florida shows no signs of becoming more moderate. If anything, they're becomming more hate filled and thus Repugnik.

Ohio. 2004 could well have been the end of the Bush legacy of torture, lies, and incompetence. After four years, we all saw what a dolt he was first hand, no one could deny it. Yet John Kerry was defeated because of Ohio. Florida could be called close only by a stretch of the imagination.

Pennsylvannia stands to lose a lot of jobs, and have rolling blackouts for years if the common sense regulations from the EPA go into effect. Of course, explaining to the Rural folks that their ability to breath is what will be lost if we don't do that isn't going to sell.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Category:Existing_coal_plants_in_Pennsylvania

78 of the power plants in Pennsylvannia are coal powered. I can easily imagine the Repugnik campaign in Pennsylvannia. A vote for Perry will keep the lights on. A vote for Perry will keep electricity affordable. Imagine it. That map of existing coal power plants and then segway into a house where a woman turns the lights on to gaze lovingly at her children. She turns to the camera and says that she uses the electricity to keep her elderly mother warm in the winter, and her children safe in the night. Then she turns the lights out and says. This is the future President Obama has for us. Then she lights a candle. I can hear the paid for by friends of Rick Perry, or Mitt Romney, or even that flaming idiot Palin in the background as I consider it for even a second.

I'm not sure any state is safe from the half truths and outright lies that the Repugniks will unleash.

I'm not willing to mark any state as safe. The reason is simple. 1984, a year which should have seen the end of the Reagan Cabal ended up like this. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/showelection.php?year=1984

[jimlup]

271. People act irrationally but only when they don't know what to do...

Obama has attempted to make the case. I hope it succeeds for all of our sakes.

I guess my original question still remains. What do we do instead? I mean I guess we could panic or something but I don't think that will help. Just sayin' My point is we only have one rational path. We can only control our own actions not those of others so the best that we can do is to give people correct information.

Are you advocating a primary challenge or a 3rd party? I'd vote for a primary challenger just to let Barack no that I'm feeling alienated by his endless bend over backwards to "compromise" but I don't think we have time to mount a primary challenge; certainly not a successful one against a sitting president.

Going 3rd party is dangerous for reasons that we should understand if we lived through the election of 2000

[SavWriter]

275. Sorry I thought I had been clear

I think the thing to do is withdraw support from the President, and instead focus on a goal we can acheive. In only one poll are we as Democrats winning, and that is the Generic Congressional Poll. Democrats are up there, if only slightly.

I think it is very possible, if not likely that we will lose the White House. President Obama hasn't led us, except too far to the right. Democrats could and should immediately start pushing left, and focus on taking the House, and picking up some Senate seats. By controlling the Legislature, we can blunt, or even completely stymie the Teabaggers. If instead, we Democrats close ranks behind Obama, I fear that the Repugniks will pick up a couple Senate seats, and maintain control of the house as they swear in Romney.

Bad day, Repugnik in the White House. Worse day. Repugnik in the White House with Teabagger controlled House. Nightmare scenario is obvious. Repugniks in control of all three. Imagine all the damage they can and will do.

In a way, we're like Doctors. Amputating a limb to save the patients life. The patient is the nation in that analogy. I fear if we try to save the President Obama, we'll lose everything. Run the house and senate seats local races. Run on local issues, and take control of the Legislative. That way we control the bills, and limit the actions of the Repugniks.

That way we keep the Roberts and Alitos off the court. We keep the TeaBaggers in the minority, and we minimize the damage from the Repugs. Otherwise, we could well find ourselves so far in the minority that we can do little but complain from the cheap seats as Paul Ryan writes the new Social Security plan, which he practically is under President Obama's comprimise.

[Divernan]

257. We progressive Dems brought Obama to the dance & he dumped us at the door to the ballroom.

You keep repeating we have to "dance with who brung us".

Let me be perfectly clear.

WE brought Obama to the presidency.

He dumped us.

He filled up his dance card with Big Oil & Gas, Big Pharma, Big MIC, Big Health Insurers, etc.

[markmyword]

109. Stepping Down

Let's face it, Obama gives a great speech,unfortunately, he
doesn't have the backbone or toughness  that you need in a
president, to stand up for America.

He gives a great speech, we're all inspired by it, then he
back pedals on everything he's said. He never stands up for
the people who elected him. Obama's is out there helping Wall
Street and the Corporations.

So now the Democrats are worried that he's not a good choice
for 2012. Surprise, surprise, where have they been for the
past couple of years?

Obama should step down and allow the Democrats to run someone
who is tough and will FIGHT for the American people.

Joe Biden, hasn't forgotten where he came from and he's a
fighter.
Alan Grayson would be a terrific fighter for the American
people.

As smart as Obama is, and he is smart in academia, but in the
REAL WORLD, and especially in Washington,the gloves have to
come off, when you're dealing with today's Republicans. 

I don't bother listening to Obama's speeches either, they're
just a bunch of words. 
President Obama needs to step down for 2012.



 

[bhikkhu]

114. What a ridiculous article

...it basically pulls out every little rhetorical trick it can to justify the headline, and to make a leading story out of a few people speculating about trends - which suspiciously rely not on any surveys, hard numbers, or even informal surveys. Making stuff up to report on, in other words.

Obama has the full support of a solid majority of the party, if you look at national numbers in any overall or "attributes" breakdown.

[GoCubsGo]

144. Yep. It's just aimed at discouraging Democratic voters.

Same shit, different day. The more they spew crap like this, the more people they'll get to throw up their arms and say, "Oh, he's going to lose anyway. Why bother voting?" It worked in 2010. They're doing the same to the economy. All they report is gloom and doom, and that's part of the reason businesses aren't hiring, and people aren't spending money.

[AverageJoe90]

189. I smell a fucking rat too.

Hopefully not too many people get suckered by this rag piece.

[Che Billy]

115. Obama needs to become a community organizer again

I've been saying this for a while: Obama doesn't have the balls to do battle with the Repugs. He's in the big leagues now and the opposition is eating him alive. It's time for him to realize his limitations for the good of the party and announce that he will not seek reelection in '12.

Let's find a true progressive to get behind who will put Repugs in their place, and pronto. I'm thinking Howard Dean or, better yet, Bernie Sanders. Someone with some intestinal fortitude would be such a welcome upgrade!

[JohnnyRingo]

116. Once it settles to one Republican candidate, Obama will gain approval.

Sure, polls reveal that Obama has a dangerous level of discontent against an unnamed Republican, but once the contender is selected, half of those disgruntled voters will change their minds. Few people like both Romney and Perry, and if it's one of the wild cards, it'll be even for for the GOP.

[theaocp]

176. +1 for a fantastic fucking point

even though I disagree with it. Thanks, Johnny.

[democrank]

119. President Obama squandered a historic opportunity.

Squandered it.

[peace frog]

125. From our perspective he did, however

that historic opportunity existed only in our minds. In reality once Obama was elected his actual goals were quite obviously aligned not with his LW campaign rhetoric but with what was later discovered to be his true RW agenda. It was we the voters who had squandered our time, resources and belief - for a promise of hope and change that was nothing more than a campaign slogan.

[lib2DaBone]

128. Yes he did squander an opportunity.. big time... and left the entire country in a hell of of fix...

Unless we can get a strong primary challenge.. this could be the end of the DEM party.

There are 14 months until the election... I don't think this country can hang on that long.

[RBInMaine]

151. Squandered by passing the largest amount of progressive legislation since LBJ? You have no reality.

[MrTriumph]

235. Say what?! Carter & Clinton both outperformed Obama. LBJ, of course, put them all in the shade.

x

[Bluebear]

136. Will the White House call people worried about our retaining the executive "bed wetters" again?

[peace frog]

168. They will gleefully engage in dirty pinko commie hippie punching

of some form or another. And if Obama loses the election, you know whose fault it will be.

[mdmc]

139. I am sure Obama will win

no doubt in my mind..

[BumRushDaShow]

140. DU has now devolved into putting "if it bleeds, it leads" news on the main page. n/t

[Vidar]

141. Maybe Obama's real job is "designated loser" in the Kabuki Theater that passes

for our elected government.

[Enthusiast]

179. Maybe.

Who could know for sure?

[panzerfaust]

145. “There is tremendous discontent with his direction.”

Yep.

If the country had wanted another Republican, we would have voted for one: Turns out, that is exactly what we did vote for & now we are pissed.

You had the country behind you
You blew it through lack of courage

[RBInMaine]

147. WAY too early for dire predictions, and some typical whining nonsense.

First, WAY WAY WAY to early for dire predictions. Few people are focused on 2012 at this point. Any Dems who are bitching about Obama not being progressive enough and willing to say they won't vote for him are whining like silly babies, are outside of reality purists, and would STUPIDLY rather stay home or somehow vote for someone else (wasting their vote somehow) and allowing a scumbag puke to possibly win. There has been no real campaign yet. The pukes have no nominee yet. And people actually do vote on more than just the economy, even if that is their chief concern. Obama enjoys overwhelming support from the base. ANY sitting president/incumbent regardless of party has signifricant challenges in a tough economy. And understanding of the complexities of economic problems and who is too blame is beyond the imagination of most voters. Many just say, "Ah uh um well, unemployment is high and so it must be the President's fault. Gee, he's had time to fix it and hasn't fixed it." As though fixing the national economy is like fixing a broken can opener.

Obama and his team understand the challenges. I do agree at this time they need to pivot and go from the "calm compromiser" back to the "impassioned fighter for jobs and the middle class" taking the fight hard to the Pukes. It is time to do that. He had a great speech the other night. Now he is doing the right thing and going national with it. He needs to draw a clear line between Dems and R's, and continue to paint the R's into a serious corner: "I am leading on a jobs plan that you have no excuse for not passing. Pass it NOW or face the wrath of the public."

[panzerfaust]

152. Yep. Am SURE Obama will be taking the gloves off Real-Soon-Now !!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Oh, just in case, this is what is called: :sarcasm:

:boring:

[William769]

153. K&R.

[Vinca]

154. Obama could turn this around . . . there's time . . . but

he's not going to do it promoting trade agreements.

[Enthusiast]

180. Yeah, just imagine,

millions of good manufacturing jobs were lost from the midwest because of trade deals and globalization and the President somehow believes this is a perfect time, with 9% unemployment, to push for additional trade deals.

Is this even real? It does not seem possible. This is a recipe for electoral disaster.

[Dragonfli]

268. He appears to take his advice from the Chamber of Commerce, he mirrors their

recommendations for job growth. I have a suspicion that he actually agrees with their views, but what is not a suspicion but a fact, is where most of his ideas have come of late: http://www.industryweek.com/articles/u-s-_chamber_of_commerce_unveils_job-creation_plan_25482.aspx?Page=2&SectionID=3

[leveymg]

156. Dems need new leaders -conservatives, centrists, and triangulators have been wrong about everything.

But, this isn't anything new.

[bread_and_roses]

182. "all Obama needs to whoop-the-tar out of crackpot Perry in 2012..."

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article29068.htm

Look, all Obama needs to whoop-the-tar out of crackpot Perry in 2012, is just to be the guy that everyone thought they were voting for in 2008. That's all. No more kowtowing to Wall Street, no more pandering to the GOP, no more bipartisan claptrap. Just focus on three things: "Jobs, jobs, and jobs". That's the ticket for a landslide victory and the admiration of 300 million working Americans.

Just be the President we thought we elected in 2008.

We see no signs of it, but there's still some time ...

[A wise Man]

185. I ve read most of the post on this subject....

I 've never seen the disgust of a bunch of sorry democratic quitters. All you do is complain complain and more complaints. Where have you all been in the last 11 yrs. The rethugs are the ones that has dragged this country into quicksand and now you want to give it all back to the rethugs so we all can be sucked into a non existant country. What happen to the fight you gave to get the rethugs out because what they did to this country...NOW THEY ARE WORST AND YOU WANT TO TURN THE COUNTRY OVER TO THEM AGAIN. You are so much like the republicans that all of you make me sick to read your disgusting points. WAKE THE FUCK UP PEOPLE...ONLY 1 TERM FOR THIS PRESIDENT AND YOU ALL WANT TO HANG HIM HIGH. If we quit now on Obama we just have signed this countries death warrant. I know Obama hasn't been perfect to no degree......THINK THINK THINK.....GIVE HIM THE CHANCE TO TELL THEM ALL TO GO TO HELL..MEANING ALL THE RETHUGS AND THE LIKES OF THOSE THAT HAS LOST FAITH. DAMMIT WAKE THE FUCK UP AND START THINKING AND STOP BEING LIKE THE EVIL RETHUGS. THEY ARE OUT TO GET YOU NOT OBAMA.

[Mosaic]

186. So true

The operatives come online to brainwash us Dems, remember that. Don't trust anyone. Stay true to your liberal values. Obama is far less corrupt than any repugnant violent scumbag, vote to keep that trash out of our lives!

[Bluebear]

215. You make me sick reading your disgusting post too so bleeeah

[The Backlash Cometh]

187. If he loses, he loses doing it his own way.

He has no one else to blame. He had the support to take this country in another direction. He decided to go his own way.

[Daemonaquila]

190. Should've thought about that before promoting all those DINO candidates.

Hey, Democratic Party - this is what you get when you select non-Dem "Dems" and promote your candidates as "not the Republican guy" rather than for actual left-wing credentials and agenda. You got yourselves a one-term wonder, and will have to work many times as hard to convince lefties to really support the next candidate. Many of us are done voting for the lesser of two evils, so good luck. You should be very worried about Obama being reelected. If you had any sense, you'd consider a primary so that real left candidates could challenge Obama.

[A wise Man]

195. and your suggestion is??????????

Throw away your votes so rethugs can take over this country again or are you one of them yourself??????

[defendandprotect]

214. We need two strong anti-war candidates in 2012 -- let's get busy -- !!

[Divernan]

253. You keep saying "two". Do you mean for Pres & VP? Cause we don't want TWO primary challengers to O

That would just split the vote between two O challengers. There's nothing an incumbent of any party likes better than multiple challengers, whether in a primary or a general election.

[defendandprotect]

264. Two ... as in Pres and VP ... VP Biden is also warmongering re Iran!!

Biden: "Israel would be justified in attacking Iran" -- !!

Yikes!

[gristy]

242. The rethugs HAVE control of this country

The D next to our President's name notwithstanding.

[RBInMaine]

224. Hogshit ! Your head is nowhere near political reality.

[DFW]

198. This is a re-run of what I heard at this point in 1995

And I fully expect a re-run of what I saw in the presidential election of 1996.

[totodeinhere]

219. What about a re-run of the presidential election of 1980? Isn't that also

possible? You can point to both encouraging and disappointing precedents in history.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

241. I Wish Folks Wouldn't Use Clinton's 1996 Campaign As A Template

Unemployment was 5.6% in 11/96 and the GDP was growing at an annualized rate of 4.0%.

This election will most likely be like every election in my lifetime; a referendum on the economy.

[skyounkin]

199. He lost my vote a while ago.

And sadly he has not disappointed me in my decision.

[chelsea0011]

200. When the campaign finally get going the choice differences will be staggering

On health care do you think seniors will want to lose the closing of the donut hole and pay more for meds (don't republicants call this a tax increase?) and I think families like to have children insured until their 26th birthday. Do you think people will be very wary of the republicants wish to eliminate SS, Medicare, and Medicaid (an yes, the word is eliminate). And Obama will have the upper hand on all things foreign policy. This whole republicant message does not play out nationwide.

[totodeinhere]

220. The GOP will do it's best to confuse the electorate and bring up straw men. And they will

appeal to the worst fears and instincts in people. They will try to pit one group of Americans against another. They are already trying to disenfranchise as many of us as possible. And who knows what other dirty tricks they might have up their sleeves?

Sorry if I seem pessimistic. On paper everything that you say seems very logical and reasonable. But the GOP will try it's best to ensure that logic does not win out in the end.

[certainot]

204. the swiftboating is nearly complete! and still the left ignores the right's most important weapon.

the collective left lets 1000 coordinated radio stations take free pot shots at their reps and ideals all day long and dominate the rest of the media and still there is NO organized opposition to it.

we let our universities endorse the racism and global warming denial and teacher bashing by broadcasting sports on them, without a whimper.

our favorite local businesses sponsor those stations with their ads and never hear a complaint.

even though those stations blast the country with pro corporate think tank talking points al day long and play the dominant role in creating the alternate reality in which george bush, palin, and bachmnan and perry could actually be considered acceptable presidential candidates, they are never picketed.

it's the only reason the republican tea party is even in the race.

[Loge23]

205. Republicans have destroyed this country.

Regardless of President Obama's shortcomings, the reasons for America's rapid decline invariably fall at the well-clad feet of Republicans.
It is Republicans who have warred against the interests of the middle and lower class labor and their policies that have eroded the so-called American Dream for the same.
It is a Republican administration and legislature that squandered the surplus and plunged America into a seemingly endless cycle of war and runaway economic destruction.
It is Republican-supported judicial appointments that bungled the 2000 electoral decisions and elevated rampant corporatism to a legitimate entity.
It is Republican propaganda that has turned vast numbers of middle and lower class citizens into misinformed enablers of policies that work against the interests of these same citizens.

Republicans have destroyed this country. Nothing can change that fact. As angry as I am about Obama's turn away from the left and his subsequent tacit legitimization of republican policies, I can never turn away from our only alternative - as tenuous as that alternative may be.

[lsewpershad]

206. NYT

Is another rag for the filthy rich. WE stiil have the vote.

[totodeinhere]

217. That's not entirely true. The allies of the rich are doing their best to disenfranchise as many of

us as possible. You can say that we had the vote in 2000 and 2004 too and look what happened.

[lsewpershad]

207. NYT

Is another rag for the filthy rich. WE stiil have the vote.

[Trajan]

210. Between Republicans and Democrats-Who-Act-Republican.

We are pretty much stuck between a rock and a hard place ....

So, a Democratic President adopts conservative policies in order to appear 'moderate' to the electorate, and when those policies fail to promote the economy (um ... Isnt that what happens to Republicans when THEY proclaim conservative economic policies ? ... ) .... So when a Democratic President triangulates the electorate by adopting conservative economic policies, and those policies fail to deliver - Are they Democratic party failures or conservative policy failures ? ....

I despise the fact that our Democratic politicians would embrace certain GOP policies, and then get blamed as 'Democrats' for failures, when they shouldn't have adopted those policies to begin with ....

Obama's biggest problem is NOT the moderate independents .... It is the very base that brought him here ....

It isnt DeFazio's fault ..... (Some posters on this thread ....... ) .... It is clearly the administration's fault ....

[ProSense]

212. Elected Democrats respond to the President's jobs proposal

Elected Democrats respond to the President's jobs proposal

[disndat]

218. To all the Nervous Nellies -

It's the Supreme Court, Stupida!

[joanbarnes]

221. High time for a true progressive candidate.

[AndyTiedye]

222. The Repigs "Party of NO" Strategy is Working Perfectly

All they have to do is obstruct, obstruct, obstruct, and they win, because Obama gets the blame for everything they do!

We are so fukt!!

[RBInMaine]

227. Silly article. Nuff said.

[saras]

228. Why settle for the lesser evil? Cthulhu for President!

<:sarcasm:>
It's the same logic that got Nixon elected with such a huge margin. If you HAVE to have an evil leader, you want the biggest, baddest, evillest leader of them all.

Unfortunately, not only is Obama not it, but none of the Repubs are even close. Sure they're batshit crazy - that's cheap these days. But none of them have any kind of a solid record for actually ACCOMPLISHING a lot of evil shit. They're barely competent. In THAT regard, Obama's the best by far.

Now if Dick Cheney was the Republican nominee, I think Obama would have a real problem on his hands. A LOT of Americans would vote for Cheney just BECAUSE he's such an unrepentant evil fuckhead - kind of like Rush but with brains, balls, and charisma.



http://www.cthulhu.org/cthulhu/positions.html">His platform
</:sarcasm:>

Yeah, if I have to choose between Romney and Obama, that's a no-brainer for Obama. Likewise Perry - he's a sadistic idiot with no redeeming features. But Cthulhu - that's a harder call.

[Beacool]

236. Frankly, I stopped caring a long time ago.

He gets reelected, he doesn't get reelected. Either way, we are screwed.

:shrug:

[slay]

246. As well they should - next time don't run on Hope and Change

if it's just Lies and Betrayal to republicans! people voted in CHANGE and got more of the same old shit!

[BlueMTexpat]

247. When we Dems keep repeating the Rethug memes,

we are doing their work for them. Rove and the Koch Bros must very happy with reports like this.

I can understand disappointment and disagreement within ourselves over various aspects; that's why we're Dems. Will Rogers had the right of it.

But I can't understand this constant obsessing over how "bad" Obama's performance is - considering the SOTU he inherited which was the direct result of eight years of total mismanagement and criminal actions by literally the worst administration in US history which seems to have been forgotten quite quickly - and the fact that the Rethugs have been marching to the same drummer as the Party of No - from the get-go, which is also never mentioned by our corporate M$M.

The fact that any one of the Rethug candidates is considered anywhere comparable would be laughable if it weren't so frightening.

I myself will be doing everything I can for the re-election of President Obama. As for those of you who are sincere when you express your disappointment constantly (I am presuming that those who truly are Dems are not Rove trolls, although I am sure that we have plenty of the RTs who are not now and have never been Dems who are doing this as well), you can follow your own consciences, but mine will be very clear in doing that and I am one who was not an Obama cheerleader from the get-go. I just understand consequences very well and I am not willing to live with the consequences of another Republican Administration - even though it bothers some that they must think of voting for a Dem as the "lesser of two evils." What on earth have they been smoking for the past 10 years? I am SO tired of hearing that meme over and over again. If the past 10 years haven't proven to you that there ARE major differences, then literally nothing will.

I will also be looking forward to 2016 and working very hard to elect good liberal Dems everywhere I can.

I will not be sitting around obsessing about a hypothetical perfect replacement candidate who DOES NOT EXIST, nor will I be expressing angst - even though I may feel it - because he is not doing everything that I think that he should when I think he should (believe me, he isn't, but I do believe that he is doing the best that he can in the godawful situation that he inherited). He is Our Guy and generally he makes me very proud.

I am a Dem; I am a proud Dem; I am a proud liberal Dem. And I will go to my grave being one.

[bemildred]

248. Well then, they better do something quick. nt

[craigmatic]

250. If he wants to win he has to become a real progressive. If he stays centrist he'll lose.

Give people a choice between a progressive dem and conservative repub, don't copy them because you don't think we have anywhere else to go.

[BlueIris]

293. He's already lost.

That ship has sailed. Why DUers are still in denial about it, especially when the Democratic Party is not, is beyond me. There will be another nominee because if there isn't, we'll lose. Not just the election but what is left of the Party. The Party knows that.

[creon]

252. Good

There is an election in Nov 2012.
The party will have to get very serious - focused and disciplined about it.

WE need good candidates to run against those republicans and an excellent campaign to win the election.

[Tarheel_Dem]

259. What a warm and fuzzy feeling I get reading this. NOT! I can't remember....

the Congressional Black Caucus undermining Pres. Clinton like this, even after learning that he was a serial whoremonger, and getting his johnson waxed in the oval office. No matter what we thought of him in the privacy of our homes, we would never have given Repukes the satisfaction of trying to humiliate him publicly. Let's not forget, Bill Clinton gave us some pretty conservative legislation, that's still affecting us today. But as a people, African Americans were among his most hardcore defenders & loyal constituents.

Rep. DeFazio could learn a thing or two about loyalty. I understand exactly what he's doing. Like so many Dems who rode the wave when the president was riding high, they're now distancing themselves to save their own political hides. While it's understandable, it's just baffling as to why Rep. DeFazio felt he couldn't get a private audience with the president to express these concerns.

I must say, as an African American myself, these past couple of years have truly been eye opening. :shrug:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

290. Are you insane?

"Rep. DeFazio could learn a thing or two about loyalty. I understand exactly what he's doing. Like so many Dems who rode the wave when the president was riding high, they're now distancing themselves to save their own political hides."

Pete DeFazio has been the Representative for his district since 1987. He is well-respected by his constituents. He has been utterly consistant in his voting record. And his "loyalty" has been to the people he represents, as it should be.

"...rode the wave when the president was riding high..." -- good lord what a load of bullshit.


I understand that, as an African-American, you have a lot personally invested seeing Obama as a success and his detractors as suspect, but the sentiments expressed are moving into the absurd.

[0rganism]

260. tonight i'm gonna party like it's 1979

the Bad news: when Obama goes down, he's taking a lot of the Democratic party with him

the Good news: by the time he's done with the country, President Perry will have made our concerns about SSI and Medicare solvency quite obsolete

[davidwparker]

263. If there are no jobs _and_ the stock market is down, O

will only see a second term in his dreams. His mandate was to reverse what * had done and gave him a supermajority with which to do it. Is there any disagreement here with my understanding of O's mandate?

With the thread posted today that Hagel could enter the race, if there is no change in economic fortunes, the next President may be someone who has not yet announced.

It is as simple as that.

[Arctic Dave]

265. I wrote a post about this very thing a couple of days ago and it was deleted.

I guess the truth was too much to bear for some people.

[No Elephants]

279. Obama is not the issue. The issue is Democratic Leadership Council, Progressive Policy Institute,

Third Way, New Democrats, No Labels and their ilk.

As long as the likes of them control and/or dominate the Democratic Party, we will be heading toward a one-Party system.