Saving Progressivism from Obama

[NorthCarolina]

Progressives must move from disillusion to action and offer the kind of political movement and counter-narrative that the President should have been leading.

....I cannot recall a president who generated so much excitement as a candidate but who turned out to be such a political dud as chief executive. Nor do his actions since the election inspire confidence that he will be reborn as a fighter.

The president's defenders offer an assortment of alibis for the epic defeat. The in-party always loses seats in the first mid-term (but not this many). The recession was far more protracted than anticipated (Obama's own chief economic adviser, Christy Romer knew how bad things were pressed for a much larger stimulus than Obama was willing to embrace.) The Republicans blocked him at every turn (yes, and he kept trying to conciliate rather than fight.)

<---snip--->

So our task is to step into the leadership vacuum that Obama has left, and fashion a compelling narrative about who and what are destroying America. Our movement needs the passion and single mindedness of the Tea Party movement, and it helps that we have reality on our side. If we do our jobs, we can move public opinion, discredit the right, and elect progressives to office. Even Barack Obama might embrace us, if only as a last resort.

<---snip--->

Link: http://www.alternet.org/news/149007/saving_progressivism_from_obama/

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I would love to see a Liberal - Progressive uprising the likes of the Tea Party.
It's a good read....hope you'll take a moment to do so.

[Skittles]

1. we are stuck with him

and he is NOT done

I like Willie Nelson's idea to a TEAPOT party that tilts to the left

[tavalon]

2. It's a good read until the last word

and I was left saying, and???? How do we achieve this vaunted goal of filling the power vacuum left by an uninspiring President with conciliation on his mind instead of fire in his belly?

[NorthCarolina]

3. Maybe thats the starting point for discussions. nt

[tavalon]

4. That's my beef and also my Achille's heel

So many, myself included, can talk about the problems facing us, but few of us have any concrete solutions.

[NorthCarolina]

5. Every movement requires a leader.

When a true progressive leader steps forward, he will have little difficulty rallying the masses behind him. Folks were led to believe Obama was such a leader, and they flocked to him in 2008. They were duped, but I believe they will not be fooled a second time.

[tavalon]

6. Unless they are a leader with proven street cred,

I would say many of us who were Obama's ground troops will be once burned, twice shy.

[NorthCarolina]

7. I agree, but there are prospects out there with street cred.

You might be interested in this:

http://www.progressive-independence.org/

[yurbud]

8. Republicans did part of the job for us by clearing out a lot of blue dogs

We need to convince the DNC, DCCC, and DSCC that backing corporate Democrats is going to cost them more grassroots support than they gain in corporate donations.

[Citizen Worker]

9. You left out the DLC, the corporate wing of the democratic party, or what's left of it.

[yurbud]

10. they are essentially the same thing as Blue Dogs only without the rednecks