Hey Progressives, what happened to our "Fierce Urgency of NOW?"

[Lucky 13]

Remember that line? Man, that was a good one. That line was used to make sure we all got out and voted for this President. That line made us believe the agenda he outlined, that we were so enthused about, would be pursued we a ferocity and velocity that would match the rhetoric. That line got us FIRED UP!

But since 2008, those of us who have been desperate for action, thirsty for change of one variety or another... have been ridiculed for not having "patience". For not understanding politics. For naivety. For short sightedness.

We were ridiculed for taking him at his word.

These things take time, after all. He can't accomplish every thing at once! Chill the fuck out! He's got this! He's playing multi-dimensional chess!

And in the blink of an eye, two years went by. I look back on them in sheer disbelief. We had a golden opportunity. Two whole years with a Democratic President, House and Senate. Two years primed for actual change... not just operational, but substantive.

And it was wholly wasted.

I could list a hundred things I had hoped would be accomplished. And perhaps the President HAS accomplished some things... I know his ardent supporters constantly tell me he has. But he hasn't come close to addressing key issues on my priority list. The environment, renewable energy, end to the wars, full equality for LGBT, help for the middle class, some kind of fight against the corporations that have us in a choke hold....

We had two years of the perfect conditions with which to stage the fight. And he let it slip away.

There was no "fierce urgency of now". Or maybe there was... just not for the things important to me.

In the last 6 months, I've become seriously disheartened. If this is the best we could do with the most ideal political conditions I've ever known... then I have no reason to hope that "change" will ever happen. Not with the current players.

I believe he was right when he said that we need to fundamentally change the way things are done in Washington. I no longer am sure what HE actually meant by that. For me it has taken on a new meaning: succumbing to the current prevailing idea that the "lesser of two evils" is the best we can do is cheating ourselves and does a disservice to our nation.

Now, it's possible that I'm just a naive, drug-addicted, pony-demanding, retard. I'm sure approximately 1/2 of DU will tell me so. But the way, I see it, we Progressives can do one of two things:

We either pursue a three (or four) party system... or we take our fucking party back. Those are the choices.

Maybe the effort will be futile. Maybe changing the entire political paradigm of our country is impossible. Maybe there aren't enough progressives to get it done. But I keep coming back to one quote:

Mahatma Gandhi: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

Well, we've already been ignored and laughed at. I think it's time for the fight.

[SidDithers]

1. Unrec...nt

Sid

[Lucky 13]

2. So the two party system and the current Dem agenda is working for you?

What do you suggest?

[Dragonfli]

5. Our system does not affect Sid in the slightest, he is Canadian

He just takes sport in watching us and trying to end OUR discussion of OUR system.
Bored I gather.

[Bluenorthwest]

7. That explains the contempt for the process

and for the community here at DU.

[Poll_Blind]

9. Well, that finally does it for me- he's on the Ignore list. That's 2 DUers total for me after...

...almost 10 years on here. Even people who call me the devil bother to take the time to explain why.

PB

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

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

[Lucky 13]

24. Like someone else I know... all dithering.

[jonnyblitz]

15. Sid never responds. nt

[racaulk]

39. Don't bother.

You posted your OP at 3:41 EST. Sid replied at 3:43 EST. If he took the time in those two minutes to read and consider what you had to say, I will gladly eat my own shorts.

The best he could offer to this (or any other) thread is a simple and dismissive knee-jerk reaction. There is never any discussion or engagement in his replies.

Typical. :eyes:

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

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

[xiamiam]

32. silly silly Sid..so sad....nt

[leveymg]

3. I strongly suspect that more than half of DU is with you on this. Eloquently stated.

Thanks for capturing what a lot of us think around here.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. So to be clear, this is not about the National Organization for Women

Not being snarky, that is what the title lead me to believe

[Lucky 13]

16. This IS about the National Organization for Women NOW, NAACP, ACLU, GLAAD, AFL-CIO, SEIU, MoveOn,

EMILY's list, American Athiests, HRC, NGLTF, PFLAG, PETA, HSUS, NORML, NARAL, Planned Parenthood, Green Peace, Progressive Majority, Media Matters, and any other Progressively leaning organizations to wake the fuck up and realize that the only way we're ever going to actually accomplish anything left, liberal, progressive, or DECENT in this country is to completely and literally subvert the dominant paradigm.

The left either needs to take back the fucking party or destroy the two party system's reign over us.

[grahamhgreen]

6. To take the party back we've got to get someone to challenge him in the primary, prepping

whoever does this to get out in front of the pack for the run in 2016.

Without the challenge, our progressive solutions will be painted with Obama's pro-corporate brush.


Great post!

[Lucky 13]

17. Where do you think the challenge should come from? From within the party or outside the party?

I think the strategy needs to be for 2012, to attempt to wage a primary battle. We'll lose and we'll understand that we'll lose right from the very beginning. The point is to be out there... LOUDLY arguing the progressive view point. By 2016, see how the landscape shakes out. If we have enough support from within the party, that's where we run from and hope to get back to some old Democratic principles. If not... if this looks to be like a Kucinich type situation, we start building that third party. Thoughts?

[grahamhgreen]

42. I think it needs to be within the party. We need to use FDR as a model. the

regular talking point from the DLC'ers is that we will lose if we have a primary challenger - the answer to that is that we will lose anyway if Obama continues on his present course of Bush lite policies.

Without a progressive challenger, the entire party will fade into meaninglessness.

I don't think we need to believe we will lose - no one thought Obama could win, but his did, because he conned the populace into believing that he was onother FDR type, when he wasn't.

With the real deal, we might actually win.

OR, we could pressure Obama to tack left and retain the WH. He can not win with his present policies, even I would have a very hard time voting for him again.

[dreamnightwind]

21. Indeed

This really needs to happen. Keep pushing that meme, as will I. I'm tired of our good progressive reputations being ruined by those who fly our flag but serve other masters.

[Bluenorthwest]

8. The Fierce Cynicism of the Candidate

That is what happened.

[Poll_Blind]

10. Lucky 13, I'm not being facetious but I don't know there is another chance left.

I am, let's say, more than a little freaked about that possible reality.

PB

[Lucky 13]

18. I don't think there is another chance left under the current structure.

I think a wholesale shake up of the two party system may be all that's left. But if we could change that landscape, yes, I think there may still be a chance for us.

[xiamiam]

31. i hear people saying that everyday..what a squandered waste..after all the hope

two years ..who knows if we'll ever get that opportunity again..that's the only word that comes to mind..squandered..i am pissed and disgusted with the whole mess..

[laughingliberal]

11. Thanks. K&R. nt

[Greyhound]

13. More and more people across the spectrum are becoming ready

for this fight.

"Gentlemen, we are about to brave the storm in a skiff made of paper."

This time we don't even have that much, it is going to be ugly.
:kick: & R

[struggle4progress]

14. What happened is this:

large numbers of people apparently believe that democracy consists of

(1) voting, and
(2) complaining about the President when Congressional Republicans block progressive legislation

It's like we've thrown alway the whole toolkit: "Hey! I have a shamwow! What else could I possibly need?"

[Lucky 13]

19. Please tell me what the Congressional Republicans blocked that he proposed?

Was it the offshore drilling ban? DADT? Tougher emissions requirements? What?

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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

[Lucky 13]

23. Insult me instead of giving me an example. Condescend as if I should know what you're talking about.

It's all WAY too predictable. Just adding to the list
naive
drug-addicted
pony-demanding
retarded
need to wake up and have some coffee.

Insult with no substantive dialog.

I'd like at least one example. Then tell me why, if it was such a great idea, that we didn't push them. Didn't make them filibuster once. Didn't push it to a vote to make these assholes either vote for what is good for the public or face the public outcry.

If you can't recognize that in the last 2 years he couldn't have done any better, then you are the one that needs to wake up and have some coffee.

I seriously hope you wake up to the delusion. It wasn't until 6 or 7 months ago that I started to wake up. If you are a "progressive" or anything more than a triangulating centrist, you will too... eventually.

[struggle4progress]

25. What could I possibly be talking about, eh? Complete fuggin mystery to ya? Here:

Republican Opposition to Obama Economic Stimulus: Enough Already
By JOHN ALOYSIUS FARRELL
Posted: February 6, 2009
http://politics.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/john-farrell/2009/02/06/republican-opposition-to-obama-economic-stimulus-enough-already

Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Republican Leaders Increase Opposition to Obama on Health Care
http://www.californiahealthline.org/Articles/2009/7/21/Republican-Leaders-Increase-Opposition-to-Obama-on-Health-Care.aspx#ixzz15PKd2K4Z

Republican Opposition to Sotomayor Widens Court Gulf (Update1)
By Greg Stohr - August 6, 2009 12:10 EDT
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aKEsSzO34SQI

Guantanamo in Illinois: GOP-fueled opposition growing. Obama White House braced for fight
By Lynn Sweet on November 15, 2009 3:02 PM
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/11/guantanamo_in_illinois_gop-fue.html

GOP Opposition Slows Obama's Judicial Nominees
by NINA TOTENBERG
November 17, 2009
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120482368

Republican opposition emerges on Obama's Afghan plan
By: Susan Ferrechio
Chief Congressional Correspondent
December 2, 2009
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Republican-opposition-emerges-on-Obama_s-Afghan-plan-8614427-78273407.html#ixzz15PKuyGA2

Republicans Oppose Obama Deficit Panel
By JACKIE CALMES
Published: January 20, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/us/politics/21deficit.html

Obama nominee withdraws amid Republican opposition
By Ross Colvin and Jim Vicini
WASHINGTON | Fri Apr 9, 2010 7:59pm EDT
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6385QK20100409

Unified GOP To Block Senate From Debating Wall Street Reform
First Posted: 04-16-10 02:01 PM | Updated: 04-16-10 11:05 PM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/16/unified-gop-to-block-sena_n_540823.html

UPDATE 1-Obama pushes immigration reform, seeks broad support
Thu Jul 1, 2010 5:28pm EDT
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0116542720100701

JULY 19, 2010, 11:14 AM ET
Obama Chides Republican Opposition to Unemployment Extension
http://blogs.barrons.com/stockstowatchtoday/2010/07/19/obama-chides-republican-opposition-to-unemployment-extension/

July 27th, 2010
07:56 AM ET
Obama blasts GOP opposition to campaign finance bill
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/27/obama-blasts-gop-opposition-to-campaign-finance-bill-2/

[Marr]

27. Just out of curiousity...

...what other items would you count in that toolkit?

[struggle4progress]

28. For generations, people won have fights on issues by assembling activist

movements that handed out leaflets, bought newspaper ads and billboards, held public educational events, formed study groups to examine legislation and regulation, building mailing lists, sending out newsletters, building phone trees, organizing telephone actions, knocking on doors to raise money and get signatures on petitions, holding regular grassroots meetings to discuss current developments and to pick local targets and plan upcoming actions ...

It's not a big mystery: it's just nut-and-bolts stuff

[Scurrilous]

37. LOL

:thumbsup:

[somone]

22. Beautifully stated

Thanks!

[Radical Activist]

26. Obama has done a lot on the environment and clean energy.

He already did more in two years than Clinton and Carter did in 12 years combined.

The fact that people don't know this reality is a problem. It's a problem first with the corporate press. But it's also a problem that left pundits and bloggers aren't doing anything to inform people or pressure the press to give decent coverage.

[Stinky The Clown]

29. SHAME ON YOU!!!!!! You seem to have forgotten. It wasn't as perfect as you might think.

We only had 59 votes in the Senate.

One vote. But that was a BIIIIIG hurdle. Too big to overcome . . . . . or something like that.

[xiamiam]

33. we're toast..nt

[unkachuck]

34. you are correct....

....if there was a ever a liberal who came to power with a liberal opportunity mandate, it was the Prez....Progressives were encouraging, even before he was elected, to,'Lead from the Left, America will follow!'....and America was prepared to follow him anywhere....

....bailouts, stimulus, healthcare reform, surrounding himself with corporate America, etc. is now viewed by most Americans as 'caving in to the corporations and big-money interests' rather than a strong display of decisive leadership that benefited the American people....

....the die is set, the mold is cast, progressive opportunity squandered according to corporate plan....

[disillusioned73]

35. Hmmm, well I choose...

option #2 - take our fucking party back!!

"We either pursue a three (or four) party system... or we take our fucking party back. Those are the choices."

[nashville_brook]

36. very well said.

[TxVietVet]

38. Take the party back!

I have been working for a progressive agenda with the local Democratic Party for years. Only to be ignored. We progressives need to become more active in the local party structure to take it over. I'm getting older. I'm retiring because I'm getting worn out. I've fought for the underdog since my days in Vietnam. I'll take the fight to my grave. If we don't take back the party, it's just a one party system with two sides: one rabid conservanazi side and the other a bunch of spineless yes-men.
Right now, we've got the best democracy money can buy and it's killing us.

[boston bean]

40. It's turned into "The Farce Urgency of Then" nt

[Hannah Bell]

41. kr