Can you see yourself working to re-elect Obama in 2012?

[undeterred]

Poll question: Can you see yourself working to re-elect Obama in 2012?

[cliffordu]

1. Absolutely.

Is there any other clear choice?

[Cirque du So-What]

3. Well, yes, there IS a clear choice...

but anyone who entertains thoughts along those lines is definitely on the wrong message board.

[cliffordu]

5. Ah, yes I did write a murky sentence. I'll leave it, though,

as I don't want folks to think you are overusing non-sequiturs.

:rofl:

:hi:

[undeterred]

8. I didn't ask if you would VOTE for him, I asked if you would WORK for him.

Lots of people at Democratic Underground do not work on campaigns. So, there is a choice whether or not to work on the Obama campaign. That is the choice I am asking about.

[FailureToCommunicate]

19. "Lots of DUers don't work on campaigns" Really? So far the response is zero. I'd guess that

most DUer worked darn hard on his campaign, even if they are pretty queazy about it these days.

Work for Obama, probably not. Vote for him - unless Jimmy Smits (aka Matt Santos) runs- sure, I guess so.

[Kurmudgeon]

98. Obama certainly beats any GOP alternative. Has everyone forgot Dubya already?

[Erose999]

121. I'm constantly reminded of W's legacy by the remnants of it that are still in place

Namely the PATRIOT act (which was just renewed, BTW)

warrantless wiretaps (again, renewed as part of the PATRIOT act)

GITMO is still open

Enhanced interrogations are presumably still taking place (no definitive legislation against them)

Tax cuts for the rich, taxes raised on the poor (everyone below 20k).

Deregulation is going full speed ahead.

Occupations continue on AFGN and Iraq.

Meanwhile House Republicans are plotting to defund the CPB, LIHEAP, social security, Medicare, etc etc

Either you believe Obama is a weak leader or you believe he's complicit in all of this. Neither is good for the future of progressive principles in America.

I will not work for Obama's campaign, and I'm not even likely to vote in the general election unless Obama is against somebody like Palin or Bachmann. I think the difference between Obama and Mittens or any of the other "country club" Republicans is pretty negligible. At least opposition to Mittens would be unified.

[chowhound]

146. remeber the next president could be picking 1 or 2 s.c. judges

"Meanwhile House Republicans are plotting to defund the CPB, LIHEAP, social security, Medicare, etc etc". right now they are plotting if people sit out this election that is what they will do.
"I'm not even likely to vote in the general election" that pathetic attitude is why the potus has more repubes to deal with and why he has to do some of what he's doing. if more people had voted in 2008 maybe he wouldnt have to make these hard decisions.
these cuts are being made because he asked us to give him more dems to work with but too many decided to make a point and sit out in 2008. these cuts are a result of that, sitting out 2012 will give him more repubes and you'll see more cuts.

[Kurmudgeon]

187. You and Dems like you are biting off your nose to spite your face, enjoy the next GOPer

You're aiming to help elect them. Then the cycle continues, who do you think will die for GOP profiteering next time?

[Erose999]

194. I already elected voted for a Dem in 2008 and I got a GOP'er. I don't enjoy Obama now so

the next GOP'er will probably be just as bad as the current DLC'er.

When I say I won't vote I mean that I won't be casting a vote for Fauxbama. I'll still be voting/participating for progressive candidates in the House and Senate elections, and for the State gov't, and local gov't. I'll only be sitting out on the Presidential election... unless a progressive 3rd party comes along, or I might write in DK or Jello Biafra or somebody just for shits n' giggles.

Honestly I think the party and its current DLC leadership need to lose a Presidential contest or two so they learn that they can't just take voters for granted. They will see what happens when they pull away from the party's traditional bases of progressives, unions, the working class, minorities, gays, atheists, etc etc.

[Le Taz Hot]

192. No, in many ways W's still with us.

Patriot Act. Guantanemo. Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tax cuts for the wealthy. Bank bailouts. Geitner. Summers. Hugs and kisses from the Chamber of Commerce. Rick Warren at the inaugural. Torture. Cat food commission. Cabinet members referring to progressives as "retarded." Yeah, BIG difference. :eyes:

[grahamhgreen]

2. Only if he starts advocating for Democratic principals. Tax the rich, end the wars, Medicare for all

[peacebird]

7. : )

one can hope, but realistacally I just don't see it....

[Radical Activist]

135. He already advocates to tax the rich and end the wars.

You must not be paying attention.

[Andy823]

4. Yes I will

For some strange reason I don't want to go back to some dumb ass republican in the WH, and the right wing morons running both houses of congress! I mean it worked so damn well the last time when Bush was in the WH and republicans had complete control of congress! :sarcasm:

Who else should we support? This president has done more than any president in ages, and I want him to do more!

[neverforget]

6. Vote for yes. Money and time-nope. He can get the billion from his

wealthy friends. I'm tapped out.

[n2doc]

15. +1 n/t

[SteveG]

Presumably he will be the nominee

and considering the likely choices of the opposition, to fail to support him will lead to the destruction of this nation. The Republicans want two classes, the very rich and the very poor, they hate the middle class. My wife and I are getting our passports, we will be leaving if one of the current crop of Republican fascists gets elected President.

[flvegan]

9. If I've got no other choice.

Meaning no other dem to work for come the general.

[mmonk]

10. No. Been there, done that.

I'll be just a voter this go around. May work on a local campaign, don't know yet.

[vssmith]

11. Fool me once .... you know how the rest goes

[Radical Activist]

get discouraged by an obstructionist Senate and give up.

Is that how the rest goes?

[Luciferous]

12. Hell no- exactly what I was thinking when I read the question :)

[tekisui]

13. No. Come November 2012, if Obama is the nominee, with no

3rd party from the left, I'll vote for him. But, that's as far I as can go.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

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

[bigwillq]

14. No (nt)

[msongs]

16. will there be a democrat in the race? nt

[H2O Man]

17. "Other."

Important question. I think it's interesting to read the responses here.

I respect those who will, those who are unsure, and those who will not. Everyone has the right -- and, indeed, the obligation -- to think for themselves, and to do what they believe is correct.

In my own case, I tend to invest time at the local democrqatic headquarters. Thus, my efforts generally go towards supporting democrats. However, I also break bread with those to the left of the democratic party. Because of my respect for this forum, I do not go into much detail about that, other than to say that as a member of the democratic left, I sometimes am able to get support for local, state, and/or national candidates from outside of the party. For example, I got votes for Obama in 2008 from friends on the left. But I could not approach them with a straight face in 2012 to ask for their support again for Obama.

[burrowowl]

59. I know how you feel!

"But I could not approach them with a straight face in 2012 to ask for their support again for Obama."

Hell, if Gus Hall were still alive, I would feel like writing him in!

[Beacool]

20. Work to reelect him?

Heck, I'm not even sure if I'll vote for him.

:7

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

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

[Lyric]

21. Voting (if I have no other choice), yeah. Working? Not a chance.

When he stops punishing the oppressed and rewarding greed, I'll think about it.

[HughBeaumont]

22. Yes. Unequivocably.

Not because I support his economic policies or right-leaning and corporate appeasement (I DON'T), but the nightmare scenario of a President Theocrat Wedge-Issue-Pushin' Reaganite on Steroids is far fucking worse. And that just speaks VOLUMES about how badly this country is screwn.

The corporations and the wealthy are the problem. They're the WHOLE goddamned problem.

[rucky]

23. I'll vote. Not sure if I could bring myself to canvas again.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

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

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

26. Not unless he is miraculously transformed from a pro-war centrist into an anti-war progressive.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

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

[uppityperson]

112. "deleted message" does tell me a lot about you and what you stand for.

[Name removed]

127. Deleted message

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

[uppityperson]

142. Dick who? Dick and Jane? DIck Cheney? Mobey Dick? Or are you using "dick" as a euphamism for penis?

However, pointed to a deleted post for an explanation does tell me something about you.

[Lisa0825]

28. Yes. nt

[sellitman]

29. A Centrist Democrat is still better than ANYONE on the right

Yes I will.

Not without some reservations though.

[readmoreoften]

46. Calling him a "centrist" is part of what is moving this country's discourse to the right.

Someone who cuts heating for the poor, expands war, cuts student loans, cuts taxes for the rich, wants to privatize public education, cuts social security: these positions and actions are not "moderate"; they are free-market, right-wing positions. The only thing Obama is "center" on is LGBT issues--neither here nor there.

[tpsbmam]

61. +1,000,000! nt

[sellitman]

63. The budgeting isn't final

It isn't finished. Have faith.

Besides what choice to you have?

You going to vote Nader again?

That worked so well the last 2 elections.

[LooseWilly]

78. What choice do we have?

It's that sort of sanctimonious drivel that ... wins elections.

Good on ya! You've just convinced me to vote for Nader... again. Feel proud.

If Romney/Paul/Palin win... remember the work you've done this day.

[tallahasseedem]

93. Awww...were your feelings hurt?

Your vote shouldn't hinge on an anonymous poster on a Democratic messageboard. If it does, well then your thin skin will usher in an era that you'll surely be bitching about after the 2012 election.

[Tesha]

148. Man, you just roam all over this board insulting the people whose vote you want, don't you?

D'ya think it works as a sales tactic?

Tesha

[Forkboy]

164. Some of Obama's biggest supporters are also his biggest enemy.

[Tesha]

171. No kidding! (NT)

[LooseWilly]

190. Hehe... thank you for thinking of my feelings, but you really should add a denigrating image...

What snide response is complete without??

And, if my choice wasn't liable to usher in bitching on your part too, then you wouldn't've bothered with the carpal tunnel contributory keystrokes to assuage your conscience...

If the next two years go like the last two... I won't have anything new to bitch about after the 2012 election, no matter who wins. :+

Hehe... though I like the thin skin insult... and the attempt to convince me that offense at the veiled threat of the post I responded to was something I'd taken personally, rather than simply offense at the notion that people should be cowed by such cheap political threat-mongering (the Republicans are WORSE boogey boogey boogey... :patriot: ) — I actually find it kind of laughable, and your insults as well.

[Bluenorthwest]

30. He's opposed to equal rights for my people, I do not work for

bigoted hypocritical religionists. No way. He's not my cup of tea, nor am I his, he and his ardent supporters have been very clear about that all along. They don't like us. Some of them call us vampires and urge war against us, no less.
I do not even feel safe in OFA settings, too much bigoted shit in the air. Read how they are here, just personal, petty, divisive, dividing, labeling, name calling bullies. I'd rather go work with good liberal people than a bunch of snarky church folk.

[Dawson Leery]

31. I will most likely work to elect Chris Murphy to succeed Lieberman.

[Toon Me Out]

32. President Obama is going to win again.

It's not even gonna be close; his rethug opponents are the axis of evil.
Don't get faked out by the li'l House Hall Putsch.

[L0oniX]

33. OTHER: FUCKING HELL NO!

[grahamhgreen]

34. If this poll is a reflection, Obama stands no chance at being re-elected, which is why

it's so important that we put up a primary challenger who can expound the values that built the Dem party.

Like taxing the rich, ending poverty and war.

[undeterred]

39. +1000

Yeah, I didn't think there would be this much "Hell no". We've got to find a Democratic candidate we can really be enthusiastic about.

[BzaDem]

41. ROFL

[Historic NY]

42. +100

[readmoreoften]

44. +100000

[jefferson_dem]

55. HaHa...

Do you really think attitudes of a handful of people on DU accurately reflects the attitudes of a hundred million plus American voters? One could even argue the contrary... The more Obama is smeared here at DU, the more popular he probably is with the "real" rank-in-file electorate.

[grahamhgreen]

71. Just imagine how a similar poll would look on a right wing site....

[Tesha]

149. So you figure he can get elected with no workers?

'Because "rank-and-file" Americans won't do jack shit
to get him elected besides (maybe!) voting for him.
It's the motivated folks in the party who do the
work, and I have to tell you, based on the last
*OFA* meeting I went to (a week or so ago), this DU
poll is trying to tell you something very important
about the Democrats who usually do the work required
to win elections.

Tesha

[Forkboy]

165. There are people truly hurting out there.

Do the homeless and poor make up the "electorate" that seems to drive your approval? No, probably not, and they probably won't vote either. I guess you got them there. Of course, your attitude doesn't feed them or provide shelter, but it lets you feel good about the way things are.

[sabrina 1]

179. Yes, DU's overall opinion was reflected when Ted Kennedy's seat

went to a Republican and it was reflected in the last election. Democrats don't vote against their own, or against the interests of those they care about. That is why DU can be a reflection of what might happen in 2012.

Republicans vote against their own interests.

But not to worry, Obama is working hard for the Republican vote. He's already lost the Independent vote that helped get him elected in 2008.

However, he could change things by starting to act like a Democrat, that's entirely in his hands.

[bigwillq]

56. I wouldn't get too worked up, or inspired, by a DU poll.

I am, however, all for a primary challenge. I think all incumbents should face a primary challenge. Unfortunately, I don't think anyone is much of a threat to Obama in a primary, or even the GE.

[BzaDem]

62. Sorry to burst your bubble, but Gallup's approval of Obama among lib dems this week is 87%. n/t

[grahamhgreen]

70. That still is not enough to win.

[BzaDem]

77. His support among Democrats exceeds that of every President in 50 years save JFK. n/t

[grahamhgreen]

84. But the number of people who identify themselves as Democrats is down 5 points

Link - http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/06/dem-id-down-five-points/

And the people he's losing are the base supporters who work on campaigns and got him elected.

Right now, the corporate media is playing nice, six months before the elections, they will bury him.

[Pisces]

115. Key word is "democrats". Of course the President will be reelcted and have voluteers out the wazoo.

People love a winner and that is Obama. For those that don't want to volunteer there will be ten more behind you that do.

This is a democratic board intent on electing a democratic president. If you are not for that there are boards for you over at Free Republic. Sabotaging the democrats by running a primary challenger
(as history will show) is a Rovian tactic. Sowing dissention on a democratic board is another Rovian tactic.

[xocet]

74. Well...

Kucinich said on C-SPAN about a week ago that he is not going to attempt to get the nomination. He believes that it will be difficult enough to be re-elected with redistricting going on in his state.

I wish that he had been allowed to debate the other presidential candidates in NM in the last presidential election. Thank you MSNBC(sarcasm)!

[grahamhgreen]

85. Hopefully, Gravel will challenge so we can at least voice our side of the debate.

[Shining Jack]

79. +a Brazillion!

[SidDithers]

81. Too fucking funny...

and internet poll on a message board, made up mostly of disgruntled leftists, Marxists and slogan-shouting keyboard activists is an indication that Obama "stands no chance at being re-elected" :rofl:

Why even hold an election in 2012? After all, hundreds of DU'ers have spoken and the results are in. :banghead:

Sid

[truebrit71]

88. How'd November 2010 work out for you?

Done :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: yet? That is what happens when people stay home from the polls. You think the M$M is going to be NICER to him over the next two years? You must be mad...

[grahamhgreen]

91. +1

[tallahasseedem]

96. Yeah, LOL!

Cut off your nose to spite your face! LOL! Soooo funny!

[Radical Activist]

140. 2010 is what happens when the left piles on with the attacks

instead of defending and celebrating progressive accomplishments once in a while. Some very significant things progressives care about happened in those two years and all we got from most left pundits was to ignore the positive and exaggerate with misleading bullshit about the rest. The strategy failed!

[Union Scribe]

159. The left is that powerful eh?

You guys have to make up your mind.

[Forkboy]

166. They can't even decide if Nader was Satan or a throwaway statistic.

I've seen people here say that Nader voters were the root of all evil, and then in the next post say his 3% was irrelevant. They can't even get their blame game straight.

[Radical Activist]

186. I believe the left has power when we organize.

I believe in the power of the people. I don't know what "you guys" you're referring to. Suddenly pretending that the left is powerless as a rhetorical defense is pretty pathetic, imo. It says that you're not only willing to sabotage the only progressive President in my lifetime, but you're also willing to badmouth and belittle the power of the entire progressive movement when it suits you. Counterproductive to say the least.

[truebrit71]

193. Absolute bollocks.

Democrats stayed home because for all of the beautious speechifying all we got was essentially more of the same...Plus the rightwing media went into full-on hate the President mode, conveniently forgetting their self-imposed rule of 'don't attack the President at a time of war' that was in place during his predeccesors reign...

[JI7]

169. so you are saying the left didn't come out for Feingold and Grayson ? but they came out for Harry

Reid.

[grahamhgreen]

89. But that's the whole thing

These are a reflection of the actinides who did what we were told was impossible, and put Obama in the White House.

It wasn't his wall street cronies - they will throw their weight behind the Repubs, as will all the other plutocrats he's been sucking up to.

He erroneously believes that his work on their behalf now will engender their loyalalty in 2012.

IMHO

[tallahasseedem]

92. Word!

LOL!

[Inuca]

90. "IF this poll is a reflection"

A reflection of what? The public at large? No, it's not (but I am sure you already knew the answer).

[LiberalAndProud]

99. I'd be willing to bet he will be re-elected. Easily.

That isn't a reflection of my opinion of how well or how poorly he has performed, but of my belief in inertia. Obama is certainly no worse than GWB was. In fact, there is some evidence to support the suspicion that he is actually much better. Nonetheless, GWB served a second term. So will Obama. There will be no primary challenge. There will be a token GE challenge (Pick from a list of stellar candidates from the other party. Pick one who will be more savory to the general populous than our President. I dare you.)

Obama will be re-elected easily. Even without my work or my dollars; because they will be absent, this time. Yet the world will still turn.

[grahamhgreen]

104. Wait til

the corporate media smear machine starts up again.

6 months before the election, they will bury him.

He can't win without the support of left wing activists, and he can't get our support without fighting for left wing solutions to our problems.

[LiberalAndProud]

108. I think that will be highly entertaining.

Obama is nothing if not a masterful campaigner. It will be high theater to watch the David and Goliath matchup: Obama vs. The Talking Heads. I will watch with some sort of dark amusement. If Palin is the contender, it will be smashing! They had to bring her into the 2008 deal just to keep interest peaked. For political junkies, there will be enough controversy to keep it interesting.

I still think it's a foregone conclusion.

[Pisces]

110. Luckily this isn't the poll of the US, and no we won't run a primary challenger to sabotage the

democratic party.

[Lucian]

117. + a jillion

[Starbucks Anarchist]

158. DU is an incredibly small bubble that doesn't even represent most liberals.

[JI7]

167. hahha, Edwards was popular on DU in 2008, he sure did great didn't he

and you can't blame the RIelle hunter crap because he was losing even before that came out

[lonestarnot]

35. Don't know yet.

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

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

[UTUSN]

37. Yes and asking in flabbergasting, why not n/t

[Liberal_in_LA]

38. yep. Come one folks.

[Historic NY]

40. Who's voting Repulican in 2012???

http://FunnyOrDie.com/m/11ki

[grahamhgreen]

72. Who owns the machines?

[readmoreoften]

43. No. No support from me.

(Is that vague enough?)

[markpkessinger]

45. Poor poll design

The responses are not discrete from one another, and allow for too much overlap. Some of the responses appear to be answers to a different question than the one that was asked.

For example, I voted "Hell no" in response to the question, "Can you see yourself working to re-elect Obama in 2012". But the first possible response ("No, I won't work on campaigns") is a response to a question that was not asked. Also, voting "Hell no," as I did in response to question posed does not preclude also agreeing with "I can see myself working for a progressive Democrat."

So given that, it's really hard to get an accurate picture of things. Might I suggest rewriting the poll?

[undeterred]

50. My consultant who usually does these things is taking a poll

regarding the local election tomorrow. Sorry.

Edit: The poll says No I don't work on campaigns, not No, I won't work on campaigns.

[jefferson_dem]

47. Of course.

Duh.

[WinkyDink]

48. I'm a retired public-school, pension-receiving citizen. I should work vs. myself?

[bvar22]

49. I used to mercilessly ridicule "Middle Class Republicans"....

...for working against their own economic interests.

NOW, the Democratic Party is asking me to do the same?


"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone

[jefferson_dem]

53. Funny that you point that out...

Because that's exactly what the cynics and "sideline sitters" will be doing ... in reverse. ...if you plan on NOT working for your economic self-interest by supporting the Democcratic presidential nominee. Unless, of course, you would argue that your economic self-interests are more alinged with the teabagging GOP.

[undeterred]

54. Its getting harder and harder to make the argument that

either of the political parties support the average working persons economic self-interest. By 2012 it may be damn near impossible.

[jefferson_dem]

58. Nah... Dems-Obama versus the RWNJ-teabaggers?

That "distinction with a difference" will become more and more clear as election day nears. Watch.

[bvar22]

119. Great Campaign Slogan!

If you Work for a Living,
the Democrats are going to screw you,
but not as hard as the Republicans!!!


Yep.
All fired up now.

[sendero]

173. Obama is NO DIFFERENT.

.... than a Repub when it comes to economics. You are living in a complete fantasy-land if you think otherwise.

[jefferson_dem]

175. Obamer...

Just like Boooosh!

Why then are the teabaggin' republicans bashing him for not cutting enough? Doesn't that kind of suggest that they would take a different approach to the budget / economic affairs? Hmmmm...

[burrowowl]

51. We don't have much of a choice

I got sciatica going door to door last time.
Can't say I'm enthusiastic just more afraid of the country's very fascist turn, but a repuke would be even worse and we also have to take back the House.

[Joe Bacon]

52. I'm a veteran of the Kennedy 1980 campaign.

I set up The Pennsylvania Kennedy campaign in 1980. I am far more disgusted with the current appeaser in the White House than I was with Carter in 1980. I will gladly support a Real Democrat. I will not support, contribute to, or work for Obama.

[undeterred]

57. I miss Ted Kennedy.

[Roci]

65. I said

the same thing, in public on many a blog months ago, when I thought we'd been had. Turns out Obama wasn't even half done yet. I've taken some flack for it, but I'm a Kennedy Liberal, and I've seen to many people paying for Obama's lack of backbone. Despite what some will say, some things in Politics are not for sale or negotiation. I have not felt this way about a sitting President since 1968, when LBJ boxed himself in and nailed the lid shut. I worked for Bobby that summer, so you know where I come from.

I've spent a lot of time soul searching, looking objectively at events, reasons, and excuses offered, looking for some new type political strategy from Obama. I could not bring myself to believe of Obama what some have always said of him.

Now, whispers and high politics be damned.

I can only evaluate what I see. What I see is people being hurt, harmed, and even killed to not a single sand grain of purpose. Overseas, we are fighting not one, but two continuing wars whose "Money pit" policies have brought us to the point of having to fight greedy and opportunistic political hacks for the cost of every box of paper clips being used to precariously wire this Nation together at home.

This is not political strategy. It is a deadly waltz thru a minefield, by a man whose clumsy missteps end in explosions that harm everyone but the rich, and himself.

Obama is a sitting President. I do not for a moment underestimate the power of that. But he is also clearly arrogant in that power. His actions and the shifting sands of his policies and principles show that he has little fear of any sort of backlash, political or otherwise. All I can think, is that LBJ thought that way too, once upon a time. Until the last day of March, 1968. I used to think Obama could learn from history. Now, I doubt that. Perhaps his own ignorance is our eventual salvation.

[BlueIris]

86. I was wondering if you Kennedy veterans would speak up.

I think a real discussion about that part of our history could really help this site understand the current situation.

[tallahasseedem]

97. Thanks for Reagan!

You rock!

[Joe Bacon]

125. Carter was a DINO!

Let me refresh you about Carter:

His obsession with deregulating everything,
His obsession with Right To Work laws,
His opposition to a woman's right to choose
His obsession in squashing Labor's #1 prioirity--Common Situs Picketing,
His refusal to help the steel industry in my native Western Pennsylvania,
His constant moving to the right after he was elected, and worst of all
He opened the door for the Religious Right to come on in.

If Carter had acted like a Democrat, I would have supported him. He didn't. And neither does Obama.

[Radical Activist]

136. Climate change and clean energy.

Reagan set us back 30 years. When millions more die from climate disasters it will be due to Reagan's energy policies and turning away from what Carter started. Thanks for destroying civilization, asshole.

[Joe Bacon]

147. Carter's answer to everything was deregulating

You may not have been around, so let me remind you what Carter did on energy. He did do a couple insignificant acts such as putting Solar panels on the White House, but ever other action he did was geared toward deregulating all price controls on energy, which led the oil companies to make record profits. He would boast about turning off hot water in all Federal buildings, but he made NO proposals or formulated any energy policies outside of that. Oh, by the way, he did authorize the building of a thorium breeder reactor in Shippingport that turned out to be a boondoggle.

I also remind you that Carter ran the dirtiest smear campaign against Kennedy that I ever encountered. Carter used the NRA to flood Pennsylvania with bumper stickers that said "A Blond In Every Pond" and "Have You Drowned A Polish Girl Lately?". Real nice campaigning by a guy who wore a cross on his sleeve...

[Radical Activist]

153. You're leaving out a lot.

Carter was wrong to wait until too late in his term to propose more serious energy policies. Few of his proposals were adopted by Congress, but your portrayal is still misleading. We were burning less coal and had better auto mileage when Carter left office. Any chance of getting the better proposals he offered in '79 died when Reagan took office.

By comparison, Obama has already done more to support clean energy than Clinton and Carter did in 12 years combined. Here's your chance to correct your mistake and support the President who's doing what Clinton and Carter left undone.

[WinkyDink]

168. I do not believe your charge about those bumper stickers. AT ALL.

[Joe Bacon]

178. They were there. En masse.

Which is why a lot of Kennedy supporters either sat the general election out or they went for Anderson.

[H2O Man]

172. Not.

There were many reasons that Carter lost to Reagan in 1980. Ted Kennedy was not one of them.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

60. I didn't work for him in 2008 (although I did vote for him)

Why would I work for him in 2012 when he's done the opposite of what is right on so many major issues?

[BlueIris]

87. Given the way it's all worked out, I thank god I followed my instincts and stayed

the hell away from that campaign. It's bad enough that I helped vote this disaster into the White House, but if I'd made the sacrifices I did in '04, '05, and '06 in 2008? I can't imagine how much worse I'd feel. I feel awful for those who did put in campaign hours...or, you know, years. There are some very broken hearts there.

[Doremus]

64. Sadly, I don't see a reason to. Leaving it to chance will produce the same results.

Might as well use the energy on productive pursuits.

[Art_from_Ark]

66. It doesn't matter who I vote for

I'm stuck voting in a state that always votes for the Republican presidential candidate, unless the Democrat is a Southern governor.

[Lil Missy]

67. Fortunately, DU is not representative of Democrats in real life

[apocalypsehow]

68. Truly. +1. n/t.

[Art_from_Ark]

69. Why is that fortunate?

[tallahasseedem]

94. Absolutely!

It's like a FR poll, only in reverse. Not surprising whatsoever. People just like to post these so they can get a warm and fuzzy AMEN!

[LoZoccolo]

101. Conversely (I hope that's the right word), I haven't met many DUers volunteering.

I think I've met less than ten who had heard of DU.

[Radical Activist]

133. Or of any Democrats. It's not really a Democratic board anymore.

[Union Scribe]

160. Then what's the point of all the whining about this poll

in this thread and another attack thread aimed at DUers?

[handmade34]

73. absolutely!

I expect we are going to want him to win in 2012...

[Raine]

75. His re-election will be without my help

or donations.

[Liquorice]

76. I don't think he's been that great of a president so far, but I do want him to

win reelection because a republican would be far worse. And there's no other choice. I didn't want him to be the nominee in the first place, but after he got the nomination and won the presidency our fate was sealed for the next 8 years. It's him or the nightmarish republicans.

[MineralMan]

80. Absolutely! Just as I did in 2008.

The alternative is completely unthinkable.

[sufrommich]

82. I'll be working to re-elect him in 2012,as will many others. nt

[jtrockville]

83. OTHER: Not in the primaries

[Joe Fields]

95. Wow, ONLY five people are saying elections are fixed?

There are a lot of du'ers that need an education.

[LoZoccolo]

100. Very few DUers work elections to begin with.

I post threads before the elections asking people to share what they are doing and where to go if other people want to get involved and they sink like rocks. I would doubt that many of the people saying "no" did much as a group in 2008.

[tallahasseedem]

102. Exactly...

and they're the ones most likely to bitch the most.

[superduperfarleft]

120. So what do you do? n/t

[Bluebear]

131. ---

:thumbsup:

[Oak2004]

105. You are assuming that those of us who do work wanted to chat about it.

I do. And I think it is a waste of time during an election to sit on a message board having a chat about what one ought to be doing with the time being wasted during the chat. Hence I have never responded to such topics.

A lot of topics on this board sink like a rock, and it's often not because no one agrees with the poster, but because virtually everyone agrees and finds the topic, for that reason, trivial.

[closeupready]

109. No, that's not it; I think he's sounding off reasonable-sounding things why so many are saying Hell,

No.

[Tesha]

155. Probably because we're tired of being told our heart-felt positions are "fucking retarded".

And being told we're whiners.

And being told we want a pink pony.

After all, why would you want people like us working
on your beloved campaign? Surely you're better off
without us!

Tesha

[LoZoccolo]

156. Rahm said that in reaction to a specific threat; the widened notion of its significance is

Fire Dog Lake spin.

[Tesha]

157. Rahm shouldn't have said it in response to anything.

Now, how about all the things that are said here
(which I also alluded to)?

Tesha

[LoZoccolo]

111. And they wouldn't want to because...?

People who volunteer are always looking for more volunteers. I am soliciting people to find a place to serve with every post with the links in my signature. It's not "trivial" to me.

[closeupready]

107. ROFL

:rofl:

[TheKentuckian]

143. More interesting is that I have NEVER come across a centrist working a campaign.

No, not even for a centrist candidate.

Nobody is going to answer to you.

[Tesha]

154. That's certainly been my experience as well. (NT)

[Hello_Kitty]

189. Oh I know plenty. They get well-paying consulting gigs.

We have several here in AZ who get paid big bucks to lose election after election.

[TheKentuckian]

196. Fair enough. I was thinking operational staffers and volunteers.

[Blue-Jay]

170. Dude, you've drawn the wrong conclusion about why your threads sink.

[LoZoccolo]

180. The explanation fits several other observations as well.

What's wrong with those posts to begin with?

[tallahasseedem]

103. You betcha!

Anything to keep the Republicans away from the Oval Office.

[closeupready]

106. Why would he need us? He has conservatives and Republicans clamoring to do that instead.

Right? :sarcasm:

[Rex]

113. If he is the only viable candidate on the ticket, then what choice do I have?

Can you see us having 5 or 6 political parties in America? I can.

[WI_DEM]

114. Of course, unless you want to see a GOP president with a GOP congress, too.

[Thunderstruck]

124. oops, wrong place.

[Name removed]

116. Deleted message

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

[Edweird]

118. I've never been a campaign worker. Trust me, I'm not 'campaign worker' material.

If I was - the answer would be "no".

[quinnox]

122. As a liberal Democrat I can't support Obama in 2012

in any way at this point in time.

If Obama finds his way back to the Democratic party and starts acting like a Democrat again, then that can change.

[Ikonoklast]

123. Yes. I'll do all I can to see him re-elected.

As will mnost Democrats.

[Pisces]

126. Hell yes!!!

[we can do it]

128. Right Now, I Have To Honestly Say No

[Monique1]

129. ???

I don't know yet. Where I reside it really doesn't matter because this is not only a red state but a Nazi state that our gov Pearce controls - Brewer is his puppet. Maybe I should say Dictator Pearce.

[we can do it]

138. Since You Asked

I volunteered near full time hours in all elections beginning in 2004. I am in Ohio, I feel my time and energy was totally wasted this past election. Poor planning and not allowing any input from area volunteers who know the neighborhoods - I spent all day election day, door knocking and I estimate that at least half the houses I had on my list already had the hangers for that day on them. I am very disappointed and tired with the broken promises and the fact that Obama has forgotten us, dismissed us and is more interested in placating Wall st and the Repubs. I just don't know if I can drum up the enthusiasm again. Right now I can't.

[Radical Activist]

145. wow. what?

First, Presidential campaigns are chaotic by nature because you can only build a large national organization so quickly. Obama had the best organized Presidential campaign I've ever seen by far.

You wrote: "I spent all day election day, door knocking and I estimate that at least half the houses I had on my list already had the hangers for that day on them."

So what? Do you think campaigns just leave a door hanger and give up on that person for the rest of the day? No, you keep harassing people until they vote. If they haven't voted yet that day then you bug them again. The fact that they had already been visited once before you got there is a GOOD thing, not a reason to be discouraged.

[we can do it]

176. READ it helps in understanding. I SAid I spent all day the past election nov-10

I worked phone banks and canvassed 4-8 hour days for MONTHS prior to the elections since 2004. did you miss that part?

and "harassing people til they vote" must have been your idea? how about reaching more than the same convenient well off neighborhood suggested by columbus every damn day and the hell with the poor neighborhoods who might actually need a ride - or encouragement that they have not been forgotten, or that they DO MATTER.

YES OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN WAS ORGANIZED - this past midterm was not.
as far as obama's campaign, i canvassed 100+ houses EVERY DAY for a month and a half prior to the election as well as phone banking and fact-checking rapid response. - you?

[Bluerthanblue]

130. Yes-

without hesitation.

:hi:

[mediator]

132. Yes, if he gets the nomination but I wouldn't break a sweat for him in the primaries

sorry...

[Radical Activist]

134. The most progressive President in my lifetime. Of course I will.

[madamesilverspurs]

137. In a heartbeat.

And that's from a disabled recipient of Social Security and Medicare.

-

[JimGinPA]

139. Yes

[JoePhilly]

141. DU members don't have the impact or influence that some of them think they have.

DU is a great site with lots of great debate ... but at times, some on DU seem to think that THEY got Obama elected and that, if he doesn't meet standard X (insert your favorite standard here) ... well ... DU will withdraw its support, find a primary challenger and throw him out.

It is a totally unrealistic view of the world, but I get the sense that it gives some a feeling of greater control over events that they don't / can't control.

[Union Scribe]

162. Uh, that's how voting works

If you vote for the winner, then yeah, you got them elected. If they don't do what you think they should, you withdraw your support. That goes for DUers as much as anyone.

A lot of you, all strident Obama supporters for what that matters, constantly dismiss DUers as somehow less than real and invariably unimportant. We're "not representative" "not Democrats" and depicted as either liars or incognito Right wingers. What's with that streak of casual dismissal you bunch have going on? Is it that it's easier to belittle people who disagree with you than converse with them?

[JoePhilly]

191. You clearly miss my point.

There is a very loud segment of DU that screams with fresh outrage anytime Obama does anything.

Let's go back to the weeks before the State of the Union address. The constant prediction here on DU was that Obama was definitely going to announce cuts to Social Security. Then when it didn't happen ... poof ... drop that, and switch to new outrage ... Obama is working behind the scenes to keep Mubarak in power, yup, you wait, Obama is going to make sure Mubarak stays .... then poof ... Mubarack goes, and the meme changes to ... well, Obama didn't really do anything to make him go.

Same story for DADT ... outrage, outrage, outrage ... poof.

There is a segment of DU that jumps from outrage to outrage, and when it doesn't play out as predicted, they just hunt down a new outrage and then restart the fantasy discussion of a primary challenge for Obama. And many of those folks think they are more representative of "Obama's base" than anyone else.

Meanwhile ... poll after poll finds that support among democrats for Obama is around 82% approve, 11% disapprove.

As for "strident supporter" overall I support what Obama's done in most cases and I have a pretty good idea of why he has made the decisions that he's made, even the ones I don't like ... probably why I'm in the 82%.

As for "Dismiss DUers" ... I certainly don't dismiss all DUers, just those who knee-jerk from outrage to outrage. Given Valentine's day was this week, I half expected to see an OP declaring that Obama was in the pocket of "Big Candy" because he gave Michelle the wrong kind of Chocolates.

[Raine1967]

144. pretty sure GD is NOT pro Obama.

I wonder how this poll would look in another place on DU. (my point that polls such as this are really dishonest.)

[tammywammy]

150. Yes n/t

[Morning Dew]

151. At the moment, I'd have to vote HELL NO,

But that could change.

Voting, of course, is a different question.

[ReggieVeggie]

152. ouch!

that's an interesting poll

[Major Hogwash]

161. Oh hell yeah, now that everyone knows he is a Muslim, it'll be easier the 2nd time around!

We tried to keep that under wraps the first go-around, but hell, it slipped out.

[Bettie]

163. Of course I will work to get him reelected

I'm disappointed in some of what he's done.

Heck, I'm disappointed in a LOT of what he's done, but given the unholy mess he inherited and the "I'm gonna hold my breath till I turn blue" attitude of congressional republicans, he's gotten a lot done.

I'd like to see some more, but if he's the nominee, I'll work for him because anyone with an R after their name will ruin us.

[Catherina]

174. No. Will not lift a single finger. n/t

[marlakay]

177. I didn't answer because of the way you worded it

I am not going to say hell no, but the answer this time is no. I worked on the last two campaigns even going out of state and door to door and more.

This time I will vote for him and that is it. If I make any calls it will be for my lady senators I like.

Obama is doing what it takes to be re-elected but doing so without his base and has mostly treated us like crap and used us in the last election. I don't forget being used.

[DefenseLawyer]

181. There's an old saying in Tennessee, I know it's in Texas, probably Tennessee,

that says 'Fool me once......., shame on....shame on you...'

[cynatnite]

182. He will always be better than a repuke. n/t

[Carolina]

183. Not just

Hell, no but
hell, fucking NO!
Biggest disappointment ever
Appeaser, capitulator, traitor to them that brung him

[KansasVoter]

184. I'll vote for him, no money or time this time

[era veteran]

185. Of course, who else?

Palin, Romney, Huckabee, Bachman( damn that was hard to type), and any other sold out Republican, shouldn't forget gold standard racist Ron Paul.
President Obama, not perfect, and faced by realpolitik has not satisfied all of us if any but would McCain Palin administration be better?
People can never satisfy all other people but President Obama is more on our side than any other. He sure had a fold hand dealt to him as soon as he got the keys to the White House. Put aside your dreams and go after the best we can do against the RICO worthy Republican Party.
We must have solidarity. Thanks for reading. R

[Jonlovit]

188. No Way

Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice...well you know the rest.

[Historic NY]

195. Does this mean we will get a 48% increasing in whining when Obama loses? ??

Besides the Koch suckers & the chamber of commerce we might as well just throw this one over to Bohner & MCconnell and any oneo f the GOP nominee's we know they won't care.