What's the best way to drive Administration policy to the left?

[struggle4progress]

Poll question: What's the best way to drive Administration policy to the left?

[NJmaverick]

1. Work to create a more liberal Congress and work to win the hearts and minds

of the general public. If you accomplish the later, the former will be easier

[frog92969]

2. Why I chose the last one

Several were tempting

[IndianaGreen]

21. It doesn't work! The people can't outbid the oligarchs.

Can't reform a system that is as corrupt as ours. We can only topple it by mass resistance.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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

[frog92969]

4. Also kept in mind when I chose

One way or another.

[OHdem10]

5. Logically and rationally keep posting how their policies are

Center Right--just about where GWB and Tom DeLay Governed.
Instead of change they are digging the same ole Bush Hole.
That landed the country in a disastrous position. We do
not want a Double-Dip Great Recession.

[Political_Junkie]

6. What?

No option for storming the gates?

[27inCali]

7. convince the state of Maine to send Dems to Senate

instead of Repugs.

see if there aren't any blue or purple states with moderate Repugs that can be knocked off by a Progressive.

ignore the blue dogs and let them fend for themselves.

cultivate and support more and more Progressive leaders.

[WonderGrunion]

16. Our repukes aren't up for election until 2012.

There are plenty of swing district repukes and blue dogs that are up in 2010. Primaries start soon.

[JVS]

8. Give them a lot of shit. The silent wheel gets no grease.

[Hutzpa]

9. I've always said electing

as much Democrats as possible to major offices is the way to go,
I hate the idea that progressives cannot win in red states or
red districts.

[stray cat]

10. Have good practical ideas and a smart message that actually helps people and pays for itself?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

29. Makes sense. Like single payer for instance. -nt

[PBS Poll-435]

11. You forgot "voting in online polls" nt

[nenagh]

12. Begin by Calculating the Cost of Liebercare

vs buying into Medicare... for age 55 - 64 yr olds.

Because of Lieberman's vote, those nearing retirement will be paying thru the nose for health care vs a medicare buy-in..

Point a finger at him!! Just an idea..

[niceypoo]

13. Other

Attack the problem from within. Get active and infiltrate your local Democratic party.

[cornermouse]

14. The real question.

Why do we have to drive them to the left? why aren't they already there and/or leading us that direction?

[WonderGrunion]

15. My vote is obvious considering I used it as an OP in GD last week.

Elect more progressives. Attend local democratic meetings and put forward candidates that match your ideal. Primaries start very soon in the states. This is the time to take the party back.

Or you can just whine about Obama some more. Your choice uber-pure lefties.

[LWolf]

17. A few of the choices in the poll, PLUS:

Institute authentic election reform:

1. 100% public financing, no funds from anywhere else allowed.
2. Absolutely equal, and equally neutral, media time.
3. Public debates organized by a public entity, including all candidates answering all questions, and 100% equal talk time.
4. IRV
5. And, in the case of national primaries, either one election day or one vote-counting day, with no ballots counted until that day, and caucus results withheld until that day.

[mkultra]

18. our reps are our only truly bendable target

[DailyGrind51]

19. Raise public hell, like the teabaggers, to scare candidates "Left"!

[tomg]

20. I have one problem with the

poll. In addition to a number of the suggestions ( the most logical being work to get more progressives in), I would suggest that when someone on the Dem line is also running on a more progressive ticket, vote on that line. if you don't have that option, and in some instances when the seat is completely safe, vote third party left (hi kids, don't try this at home if home is, say, Florida).

[zulchzulu]

22. The real effort is to move Congress and the Senate more to the left

Obama can come up with the farthest left idea in the World, but if it's any indication on how Congress and the Senate have been acting, it would never get passed.

I have no idea why people think that if Obama "goes left" that anything will actually get passed. It's Civics 101.

[Vattel]

23. Imagine a massive progressive boycott of the next election

or even a serious threat of one. Would that scare the Democratic Party to the left, or drive them further to the right to make up for the lost votes? I don't know, and I realize it's only a fantasy, but at least it would be an attempt to use the power that we actually have. What leverage do we really have with the party? Money? We don't have that much. Protests? They are rarely effective. Persuasion? Good luck with that.

[DutchLiberal]

24. Organize coup d'état. Make Manuel Zelaya head of state.

He's out of a job anyway.

[RepublicanElephant]

25. the best choice to strengthen the democratic party...

"Elect as many progressives as possible to state and local governments in 2010"...
and the CONGRESS!

then this progressively-controlled congress can pass REALLY good legislation to help working families, without having to compromise with no-longer-existent blue dogs in the house or senate.

voters will show their appreciation at the polls.

[depakid]

26. Block administration and congressional policies that pander to the right

Too bad progressives didn't have the good sense- the political fortitude or in some cases the numbers to do that in the past- but there still time to learn- and to act.

Otherwise, every piece of responsible reform coming down the pipeline will be written by and for lobbyists- and held hostage by every two bit corrupt extortionist in the Senate.

[RoadRage]

27. "Attack Blue Dogs representing conservative congressional districts" - WRONG

IMO, this policy will actually move things further to the right. Look at how many Republican moderates are getting outsted because they're not "right" enough. Typically a liberal comes in to replace them.

The same can & will happen on the left. If you vote to push out Blue Dogs like Ben Nelson.. you might feel good for a while. Until you realize that at least he finally voted for the health care bill, and still works to push through some liberal agenda's. A far right Republican (which is exactly who will be replacing him in 2012 - by the name of Dave Heineman) isn't going to even pretent to vote left. He's going to be the guy putting the senate at 59 Dem votes (or less)... and that means nothing gets done. NOTHING.

So pushing out Blue Dogs on our side is equally as dumb as the Republicans pushing out Arlen Specter. It might feel good for a moment.. until you realize that by doing so - they gave us 60 votes and healthcare on a silver platter.

Ben Nelson is the MOST LIBERAL candidate who can currently get elected in the state of Nebraska. A more progressive, left leaning candidate will NOT win votes in this state. It's over 65% "pro-life". Running a "pro-choice" candidtate sounds great here on DU, but it's political suicide in this state - they simply won't get elected. Same for several other issues.. so pushing out blue dogs makes things worse long term.. NOT BETTER.

[WeDidIt]

28. Get more progressives into Congress

Obama will be no more progressive in his policies than the Congress he has to work with.

[TheKentuckian]

30. Where from?

The House is gerrymandered into almost being locked up and red states that are drastically over represented in the Senate aren't going to elect liberals.

On a good day there are maybe 30 pretty liberal Senators and it is damn hard to see how those numbers change to the point that Lieberman, Nelson, Conrad, and friends won't be able to dictate terms. Anything less than 50 liberals and a willing to be liberal President and we end up right back here.

Its past time to stop pretending we aren't up against it.