How do we get Obama and the corporatist Democrats to listen to us, the base

[tavalon]

We're being shunned in favor of corporate money and corporate rule. It seems the Democrats just assume that they have our vote because after all, we're not gonna vote for the Republicans. They are correct that we aren't going to vote for the Republican but many of us will just sit out the next presidential election. I'm hearing it everywhere. How do we make sure they are also hearing it?

[Techn0Girl]

I suppose we have to group together....

Somehow. Raise money - become active and visible and get the message across to the Dems somehow.

We've seen large sites like Firedoglake and DK get that message across to certain Dems - maybe we all need to organize and do that as well?

[Clio the Leo]

6. That's precisely the problem....

.... as Rachel pointed out the other night. Unlike the conservative right, the progressive left has no organizational system. "They're just a collection of bloggers."

Until the far left can move money and bodies in large blocks, we're screwed.

[tavalon]

8. Yeah, it looked like MoveOn was going to be our vehicle

but they decided to go for a top down system and they don't listen to those of us on the ground anymore.

[Clio the Leo]

14. But look at what we're up against......

..... the far right not only has an organized movement, but each comminuty in that movement has their very own buildings .... where the meet at least once a week.



We're too far behind to start something new. We need to form a union, go with something already established ..... the International Order of Bloggers or something. :)

Then we could become a part of the AFL-CIO. lol

[tavalon]

23. So, because our side is Godless heathens, we are doomed?

It might actually be so. My congregation rarely numbers more than 13.

[Clio the Leo]

29. Nope, because our side lacks any cohesion we have a tough row to hoe...

.... And as for the other matter, *I* believe as the President has said, that we choose to cede the faithful to the right at our own peril. Our "big tent" seems to have a sign on the door that reads "believers need not a apply." The far right has a vice grip on religious voters .... because we have allowed them to.

Personally, I feel the Democratic party more closely reflects the fundamental tenants of Christianity, (inclusiveness, brotherly love, a fundamental command to watch out for "the least of these," etc.) than the GOP does. It's obvious.

But it says something about our party when I feel hesitant to even post that I "pray for the President" .... which .... (looking around to see if anyone is watching) ... do. ;)

[tavalon]

39. I've decided to start praying for him

For his protection as well as for the personal strength and clarity to do the right thing. I hope he doesn't mind that a witch is praying for him. I'll be happy to pray to Jesus for him - Jesus is allowed to be in my pantheon. I don't allow his father, Yahweh, because he doesn't play well with others.

[RepublicanElephant]

35. some churches worked pretty well during the civil rights movement.

...and still do in the black community.

i think too many of our disillusioned white progressives abandoned the church as a catalyst for social justice and then the self-righteous, pious wingnuts took over.

time to take it back, my brethren (and sistern)! :)

[beltanefauve]

51. MoveOn lost me

in 2004 when they wouldn't touch the issue of election theft with a ten-foot pole.

[Skittles]

1. I think they already know it

they're in it for the short haul

[tavalon]

5. Why?

[Skittles]

15. $$$$$

[tavalon]

18. Is it all really about cashing a big check?

[FrenchieCat]

2. I think they know it.....

but they are in it for the long haul....

cause there ain't no short term fixes
that can answer all that is wrong

some yell louder than others,
because it makes them feel they were right
about Obama all along.
For some, that's all that counts, anyways....
and they could give a damn about those things that have changed,
as long as they can find things that aren't changing
far as they are concerned.

[DKRC]

3. I don't have an answer

but you're not the only one hearing it. I'm hearing the same thing from family & friends all over the country.



K&R ~ to undo the immediate Unrec you received.

[tavalon]

4. I never even notice the unrecs

I don't believe in the new system so I just ignore it, shun it really. But thank you. I really would like to have a wide discussion about this. I'm feeling a bit impotent in this situation and I would welcome ideas.

[donheld]

7. Obama said "Make me do it" but

how can we make him do anything if he tunes us all out. Seems to me he tuned the majority of real progressives out November 5, 2008

[tavalon]

9. I know Rahm did and the President seems to filter too much through him.

I really dislike that little weasel.

[uponit7771]

27. Do you have any evidence for this?!

[tavalon]

36. Actually, no

He calls us complaining jackasses, so I have to assume he's heard something if he makes the effort to belittle us.

[salguine]

33. And you know what? Why should we have a leader who won't do the right thing without

having to be "made" to do it? The more I think about it, the more I think, "fuck him". I'm so over Obama right about now.

[jmondine]

10. We need to find ways to get loud... louder than the idiot teabaggers

Get some press... make some waves

[tavalon]

12. Lets you and I form a think tank

Call it the Flooby Nooby think tank!

[RufusTFirefly]

11. Uh, become a corporatist scumfuck??

Note: If it requires loads of money simply to gain the ears of our democratically elected leaders, then guess what?
Game over. We've already lost.

[tavalon]

13. And yet Obama raised unheard of amounts of money from small donations from us, his base

When appropriately engaged, we are a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, the Obama team is busy squandering their political capital.

[onenote]

46. and what evidence do you have that most, or even a significant amount, of those donations

came from individuals who are "anti-corporatists" -- or even have the faintest idea what that means?

[Djinn]

16. you don't need to reinvent the wheel

see what has worked before in America and elsewhere - forget electoral politics, stop wasting time and energy stumping/campaigning and fundraising for a party that couldn't give a stuff about your needs. ORGANISE, take to the streets and keep at it, it's all that's ever worked.

[ej510]

17. Vote for someone else!

[RepublicanElephant]

19. expand the base until the party is completey taken over by progressives...

...like how the base completely took over gop.

[kenny blankenship]

20. Start a bank ?

[OneBlueSky]

21. like all politicians, they respond to two things, and two things only . . .

money and power . . . and, unfortunately, the corporations have all the money and, by virtue thereof, have all the power . . . and a million people massed on the Mall demanding "meaningful change" won't alter that equation . . .

want real change? . . . start a drive for a constitutional amendment declaring that corporations are NOT persons, and that they must take into account their impact on the environment and on society as well as their profits when selling their products or services . . . nothing short of that will mean much of anything in the grand scheme of things . . .

[KoKo]

30. ....and get the Lobbyist money out of elections...n/t

[HamdenRice]

22. You are not the base. If you want to be listened to, represent the views of >1% of voters

The people who think they are the Democratic base here aren't. They're the fringe of the fringe.

Keep in mind that Kucinich gets around 1% of the Democratic primary vote.

The left base of the Democratic Party was more represented by the views of Edwards and Dean than UFOnich.

[tavalon]

24. Sadly, I'm coming to realize you are right

I am a socialist. I don't think we have any representatives here. I guess I would do better in some European country.

[HamdenRice]

26. Bernie Sanders is the man --

But keep in mind he is way more pragmatic than most people who consider themselves of the left here at DU, and is closer to Edwards/Dean than to Kucinich.

[Sebastian Doyle]

52. Bernie Sanders is like John Edwards? Uh.... fail.

Edwards short lived campaign of 2008 was all rhetoric. He might legitimately care about poverty and things like that on some level, but he was just co-opting most of the "progressive agenda" he was running on. Edwards was totally in line with the DLC crap in 2004.

[KoKo]

31. What's "Lefty Fringe" about this post? Explain Please, or are you a "Hunt and Run"

who doesn't read past subject lines. Your post has nothing to do with the TOPIC ...more about your personal differences with what you "perceive" are the posters "political inclinations" which you know nothing about.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

42. It is par for the course for Hamden n/t

[QC]

50. At least he's not telling us about how he singlehandedly ended apartheid. n/t

[treestar]

34. True and the Republicans don't really do much for the far right when

you really look at it. Abortion is still legal. That's what amazes me. I know some people for whom that is the only issue, so they vote for Republicans, yet have made no progress (as it would be from their view) for over 30 years. Yet they doggedly vote for the Republicans.

They haven't gotten the government out of much of what it regulates. Hardly anything at all. They have to put up with tolerance of other religions to a great degree in this country. They do not have prayer in the schools and seemingly no hope of it.

If anything, the Dems do more to listen to the far left.

[onenote]

40. +1000

[Kdillard]

25. I am sure insulting him and members of his cabinet make

The decision easy.

[uponit7771]

28. The PRACTICAL answers is to take over local DNC parties with progressives, that's the MOST influenti

...step.

Then with those local parties start getting a local message out in red districts...

FCC rule changes would help too but that's not coming soon

[salguine]

32. The sad fact is, the only thing you can do that ever gets the attention of money-drunk

corporate whores is to turn their worthless asses out of office. That's the only thing that actually causes them to take notice of "the People".

[Tarheel_Dem]

37. Stay home! That'll learn 'em. And when the Palin/Beck WH finally...

lights the fuse, that pisses off Iran & N. Korea, we all get vaporized. That solves all our problems, because we won't need healthcare, or financial regulations, or homes, or jobs. Yeah, that'll show 'em.:eyes:

And FWIW, I don't believe all these anecdotal stories from the "sky is falling" wing of the Democratic party. If it were true, then poll after poll, wouldn't show the president maintaining such a healthy approval rating among Democrats. Those of you (uber-liberals) who live in an alternate universe most of the time, can maybe get your pony from Sarah Palin?

[2tr4nqued]

38. Protesting in the streets.

All over the country, because we sure can't depend on media to cover it.

[onenote]

41. go for it. it will quickly show exactly how small the anti corporatist "base" really is

Its pretty much undeniable that the vast vast majority of people who identify themselves as Democrats -- including members of traditionally Democratic leaning segments of society such as African Americans, Jews, union members -- roll their eyes at "anticorporatist" rhetoric.

Want to know who the base is? Its the people that donate the bulk of the money to the party. And it should come as no surprise that those people, overwhelmingly, made the money they are donating either by running or working for.....a corporation.

[Dinger]

43. They'll Come Around In 2012, Campaign Season

Be patient.

[Raineyb]

48. That's the problem isn't it?

They always come around when election time rolls around looking for votes and money but once in office there's always some excuse as to why they can't even throw progressives a bloody bone. But they'll come around looking for support for the next election because they can't stay in power to do nothing without the votes.

[HughMoran]

44. Replace them with more progressive Dems

If we can't do that, then we're stuck with slow progress and lots of bickering.

[Umbral]

45. Stop voting for them.

If you don't have the courage of your convictions... Quit Whining.

[WeDidIt]

47. The "base" is one hell of a lot wider than anti-corporate pacifists

Sorry, but it's true.

Personally, I find the anti-corporatists to be alarmists in nature and unrealistic in approach.

Corporations are neither good nor evil. They are amoral. Once you discard the "CORPORATIONS ARE EEEEVIL!!!!" screed and accept the reality of the situation, you might begin to make some headway on that end.

The pacifists who will oppose any and all wars will never be listened to because, again, they are unrealistic. There are enemies to our nation and the military option must always be open for a president in order to force our nation's security interests. That is a fact of our world and the sooner pacifists face reality, the sooner their concerns will be heard.

So the bottom line is, what you refer to as the so-called "base" is a small percentag4e of the actual base of the Democratic Party and the least likely portion to be taken seriously.

[Aramchek]

49. don't flatter yourself, you're not the base

Anyone who would call Obama a corporatist is in the fringe.

[ShortnFiery]

53. Think again, President Obama's behavior speaks for itself.

Corporate Citizens, especially the Corporations comprising the MIC, not unlike the Bush Presidency, are DoublePlusEQUAL in President Obama's world view.