God spoke to me last night, and he told me this:

[alberg]

In a 2 party system voters have limited options to express their outrage.

If you listen to the buzz around the country, what you hear repeated is the message: "Vote whoever is in power out, and maybe they'll get the message that we aren't happy and want things to change in a fundamental way." It was this sentiment, "Change", that got Democrats elected in 2008. It's this sentiment that will remove them, unless they show the voters that they are sincere in working for real change between now and the next election. People are really pissed off this time. It's not going to go away. Unless a strong Progressive voice emerges on a national level that aligns with the outrage people feel about HealthCare, Jobs and Wall Street we are destined to suffer major electoral defeats. Obama will have one more shot at turning this around. Unless he uses the State of the Union address to acknowledge past mistakes and make a new start, we are in real trouble. He could start by firing Summers and Geitner, proposing a federal jobs program and opening up Medicare to everybody. Sound drastic? Yet that is precisely the kind of message that will regain the support of 70% of the electorate. It's a fool’s game to try and win over the other 30% - they are the same folks who supported Bush no matter what and believe Global Warming is a myth.

[FredStembottom]

1. Yes. This election has Jesse Ventura written all over it.

In the sense that flailingly angry and ignorant voters will go in the booth and search for some kind of "newcomer" - never mind who he is or what he stands for.

[alberg]

3. They are flailing and angry because they feel powerless.

Most Americans want the same things:

Among these are:

"The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

The right of every family to a decent home;

The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

The right to a good education." - FDR

They see the good life slipping away, and it doesn't seem to matter what party is in power. They thought that Barack Obama was the Change they hoped for, but so far they have been seriously disapointed. This is part of the reason for the rise of the so called "teabaggers" - many of whom are simply concerned retirement age people who don't want their Medicare benefits tampered with. There is certainly some ignorance out there, there always has been. But most Americans are smart enough to know that the wealth of this country is increasingly concentrated in a small elite, and they want that to change. If a strong Progressive leader steps forward, the majority of the country, 70%, will support them. Barack Obama proved that during his campaign. Unfortunately, the Change did not happen once the Democrats took power. In fact, Democrats appear to be unwilling to even fight for real change. And it is this lack of fight that has many of their supporters so disillusioned.

[FredStembottom]

4. I agree with nearly all you write here, alberg.....

It's just that so many of us Democrats and Lefties think that folks will come running back to us once they see how terrible the Radical Right's ideas are.
Well, they have seen how terrible those Neo-Con ideas are but we make a mistake thinking they remember what Progressive /Liberal ideas once were.
A couple few generations of Americans seem to have received their entire political education from Rush Limbaugh. I mean this literally. Before him they were merely ignorant and uninterested, avoiding all political discussions like the plague. But Rush hooked them with his embrace of their ignorance and then took them all the way to radically mis-informed. Right now, to about 50% of the population, "liberal" or "progressive" means forced nude encounter groups for all, macrame' plant hangers in every home and govt. confiscation of all vehicles.... to be replaced with mopeds. The lies are the only game in town.

(I used to say back in High School (1970's), jokingly, that some day someone would take advantage of Americans perceived birth-right to be ignorant.
The joke came true.)

This has been Obama's BIG mistake - thinking he's ever understood by the average American. The entire administration must begin with constant re-stating of the most basic tenets of Liberalism. Again and again. Countering the lies. This will be the first time for many, many people.

He must do something unusual for a President.... he must educate as he goes.

[riverdale]

6. Ignorant I do not see

I've heard Jesse Ventura on a lot of interviews, and he always has appeared to be anything but ignorant.

[Maru Kitteh]

7. Oh I beg to differ. Ventura is a performer first and foremost.

He's an actor. Jesse Ventura is to smart guy as Doogie Houser is to M.D.

[FredStembottom]

8. Read again. "Ignorant" was used to modify "voters".

Not "Jesse Ventura".

[piratefish08]

2. God makes a few valid points.

[bemildred]

5. Well, you have to vote all of them out, or most of them out.

And that takes organization.