It is critical that Democrats and other Progressives demand the President move left.

[Scuba]

I voted for Barack Obama in 2008 because he espoused a Progressive agenda - end wars, single-payer healthcare, fair taxation policy, etc.

When dealing with right-wingers and Gallop-style pollsters I still defend the President with vigor.

But fact is I'm bitterly disappointed and think it is critical that Democrats and other Progressives demand the president take an about turn on policy. Not baby steps. Take off the gloves and fight for the American People. If he doesn't do this - and very soon - he should be primaried from the left.

Three more years of DINO behavior followed by two years of lame-ducking is not what I signed on for, and I will not support it in 2012.


The future of America - you know, the People - depends on it.

[Hart2008]

1. Eugene McCarthy's Heir: Who Has The Courage To Challenge Obama In The Party?

The question is not if Obama will be challenged from the left. The question is who will make the challenge. My prediction is that it will not be a sitting Dem Senator, Congressman, or Governor, but someone who has been out of Washington and doesn't need to worry about paybacks.

Eugene McCarthy's Heir: Who Has The Courage To Challenge Obama In The Party?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x739102

:patriot::toast::patriot::toast::patriot::toast::patriot::toast::patriot::toast::patriot:

:kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick:

[fasttense]

33. Why wait for someone else to do it?

We need to challenge Obama now. We need to move him left now. This is the only way.

http://october2011.org/welcome

Join us in the prolonged occupation of Washington DC.

[JoePhilly]

2. Obama did not run on ending the wars or single payer.

[HereSince1628]

4. "Obama Says End of Combat in Iraq Fulfills Campaign Promise"

Obama has acknowledged he had a campaign promise on ending the war.


http://www.cnsnews.com/node/70405

Obama Says End of Combat in Iraq Fulfills Campaign Promise, But Withdrawal Deal Was Set Up by Bush Administration
President Barack Obama told disabled veterans in Atlanta on Monday that he was fulfilling a campaign promise by ending the war in Iraq "on schedule."
Monday, August 02, 2010
By Penny Starr

President Barack Obama speaks about Iraq and Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 2, 2010, at the Disabled American Veterans national convention in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
(CNSNews.com) – President Barack Obama told disabled veterans in Atlanta on Monday that he was fulfilling a campaign promise by ending U.S. combat operations in Iraq “on schedule."

[JoePhilly]

16. He also said he would INCREASE troops in Afganistan ... no?

He did not claim he would end both wars.

[Mr Deltoid]

Ending one would be a good start

[JoePhilly]

18. Irrelevant relative to the OP.

[Mr Deltoid]

19. I was commenting on your post

[HereSince1628]

6. People are understandably confused by Obama's single payer stand

which was on both sides of the issue...

“I have not said that I am a supporter of a single-payer system,” Obama tells the crowd in New Hampshire.

The Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire, August 19, 2008: “Obama Touts Single-Payer System for Health Care”:

Barack Obama said he would consider embracing a single-payer health-care system, beloved by liberals, as his plan for broader coverage evolves over time.

“If I were designing a system from scratch, I would probably go ahead with a single-payer system,” Obama told some 1,800 people at a town-hall style meeting on the economy.

[nc4bo]

7. Back in my hayday, I'd call that being shady, talking out both sides of your mouth

even being two-faced. What's worse is being so nonspecific and vague about a topic that no one really knows where you stand or if we should be concerned or not and being chastised when we publicize our concern.

I'm not sure what it's called these days, some would say it's just poli-tickin'.

[noiretextatique]

he does that a lot...did it re: public employees unions too

he went on and on about how great unions are, then pull out the "shared sacrifice" card. yeah...it's talking out of both sides of your mouth. the appeaser in chief.

[noiretextatique]

24. he does that a lot...did it re: public employees unions too

he went on and on about how great unions are, then pulled out the "shared sacrifice" card and talked about pension "reforms" and how mad private sector employees might be at public sector employees if they don't "share the sacrifice.' but, hey, unions are really great :sarcasm: yeah...it's called talking out of both sides of your mouth. par for the course for the appeaser in chief.

[JoePhilly]

17. Your last sentence on this is perfectly clear ....

I don't think Obama needs to apologize to people who only heard what they wanted to hear.

[BzaDem]

26. He ran ads all over the US opposing single payer and saying it was "extreme." Not sure how much

clearer it could possibly be.

[Enthusiast]

30. Can you provide us with these ads

a film clip or print ad showing Obama's opposition to single payer?

[BadgerKid]

40. It sounded good, but in retrospect he's only suggesting

that he would be open to the idea of a single-paper system.

I had hoped he would lean on the legislature-critters to help push a Democratic agenda, but apparently that's not his style; it's been hard a time to have to accept that. Maybe a Dem-favorable Congress would help next time around.

[socialindependocrat]

3. Sent my letter off last week!!!! n/t

[nc4bo]

5. Just heard a clip from him in Iowa - he's still talking that compromise/bipartisanship crap

I so wish someone would ask him at one of these events one question: Since it's obvious that the Republicans refuse to compromise anything (not even the obscene notion of cutting our precious SS/Medicare/Medicaid), will you continue to whine about it or use the bully pulpit to affirm and promote the Democratic principals the majority of Americans voted for.

People voted for a (D) in '08 not half a D and half an R.

He told us to look forward instead of looking back and by not correcting the past mistakes of the previous Administration, he's allowed the elite to continue their strangle hold on the country, especially effecting the poor and working class.

We can't even be assured that our votes count.

We don't have much to look forward to if the course isn't changed.

[HereSince1628]

8. If you don't strap yourself to the mast the sirens' songs

will surely bring you to your doom. We're living with the insidious consequences of the role of triangulation. Triangulation requires freedom of navigation, and so the party cut itself free from the traditional moorings of a democratic party--including support for labor and the national social nets.

[Enthusiast]

31. In other words,

the Democratic Party is now the Party of Reagan -love it or leave it?

[Major Hogwash]

9. "The President is not obsessed with being re-elected." ~ WH advisor

Of course, there is no name given for who said that, but I think Obama had better get obsessed or else we are in some deep shit!!

[Autumn]

10. If he isn't obsessed with being re-elected he needs to

announce that he will not run. And them someone who wants to fix these problems can run.

[Major Hogwash]

13. I report, you decide. I've decided to become DU's man on the inside at Faux Snooze.

Next week I will report on a story uncovering Glenn Beck's 2-year love affair with Sean Hannity.

[mazzarro]

28. IMO - he has doen enough damage to liberal policies and should step aside

Compelling liberals to endure another four years of DLC/Third Way/New Democrats/Corporate crappy policies will be bad enough and will place us in a situation in which rethugs can successfully drown the government as they have openly asserted they want to do. I am almost at the point of tagging Obama as a major DINO.

[robcon]

11. I think he IS obsessed with winning re-election - that's why he's become a centrist.

The election will be won by whoever wins the independents.

Dems will vote for Obama - Repubs will vote for their candidate.

The election, as usual, will be decided by those who don't belong to either party.

[Enthusiast]

32. We must have an alternative to Obama......nt

[madrchsod]

12. i`m waiting for your results today....

[LiberalFighter]

14. The best way to get Obama to move left is to

elect more good Democrats to Congress.

Congress is the one that creates and passes legislation.

The President and his executive offices are the ones that oversee how the money is spent and set the policies and appointments.

[nc4bo]

15. But that won't address how quickly those elected become influenced by the corporate money machine

it buys them positions of influence no citizen can compete with.

[Hydra]

21. We had that

And he wasn't happy with it, because he couldn't sell Social Security down the river in that climate. Therefore, he started with health care instead.

[jeff47]

20. You're not doing any favors by lying to pollsters.

Crashing poll numbers is about the only way to get Obama to change course.

[Hydra]

22. This is true

Everyone I see talking about it says that they give him favorable marks to keep the Repubs from jumping on him.

DON'T. DO. THAT!

[swilton]

23. K&R

[BzaDem]

25. He campaigned AGAINST single payer as "extreme," and campaigned on ESCALATING the war in Afghanistan

Where did you get your information to the contrary?

[Fumesucker]

39. He also campaigned against an individual private mandate..

:shrug:

[eridani]

27. How about we just move left and ignore the President

I'm focusing on making sure that nominees in WA-01 and WA-10 are steadfast supporters of our safety net.

[peace frog]

29. Progressives can *demand* all they like

In no way will it induce Obama to move leftward. The evidence is clear in the past three years of his presidency. Ain't gonna happen, cap'n.

[tomp]

35. thank you. nt

[tomp]

34. it is not critical.

this is because it will not work.

developing an progressive movement independent of and in opposition to the democratic party is what may work.

[humanityisfree]

36. He will not move left

We will have to vote for someone else this go around if you truly believe in progressive ideals. Obama has proven himself to be a centrist corporatist that has pretty much maintained the status quo in Washington.

[on point]

37. No More words. 180 degree turn and take real action. Fight for his positions.

The people of the country thought it was headed in the wrong direction under Bush. It thinks it is headed in the wrong direction, not because it wants movement towards the repukes as the media suggests, but because Obama is STILL headed in the same WRONG direction as Bush was.

We want a change of course. We want action, not pablum.

The dem party should know the game is over. Either act on behalf of the people or we will have to bypass you.

[MissDeeds]

38. K&R

:kick: