Some talk of a Democratic or progressive challengers to President Obama -Where are they?

[bigtree]

No sign of any significant movement from the left to unseat the President, despite plenty of harsh criticism and complaints of betrayal and abandonment from some quarters.

It's getting late for any challenger (from the left) to enter the race with any expectation of a serious run, but I guess I can't rule out someone still emerging and casting themselves as convincingly enough of a progressive alternative to draw away some of the Democratic votes.

I'm inclined to think that the negative impact this presidential election on the incumbent of any significant opposition from the dissatisfied or opposed progressives will come more from their absence at the polls, or scattered among disparate alternatives, than from organizing behind any one candidate.

[bluestateguy]

1. Tic tock tick tock!

Time's a bitch, isn't it?

[brooklynite]

2. Boring me to death since last May...

They pontificate every month or so from behind the safety of their keyboard, but can never be troubled to actually reach out to the prospective candidate of their choice.

[BulletproofLandshark]

3. So what happens if someone does announce a challenge?

The crying from the True Believers about how the party should be uniting behind Obama would be endless.

[TheWraith]

10. Given that Obama has the overwhelming support of the party base...

I think the only crying would be from anyone foolish enough to sign up with the challenger, after Obama finished curb-stomping them.

[JoePhilly]

45. Not. Happening.

[FarLeftFist]

4. Obama has an 82% approval rating from the Left.

[PETRUS]

7. How is "the left" defined (for that stat)? nt

[TheWraith]

8. Liberal Democrats, per Gallup. nt

[FarLeftFist]

9. Liberal and Progressive Democrats.

[PETRUS]

11. Thanks

(to TheWraith, too)

[dameocrat67]

29. self-described which assumes a coherant definition of liberal or progressive.

n/t

[bigtree]

12. loosely

as opposed to the right

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

15. Link to the poll

Scroll down a bit to see his ratings among Dems.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/124922/Presidential-Approval-Center.aspx

[defendandprotect]

34. OWS is immense and they certainly

understand that Obama is Wall Street -- and pro-corporate --

and they understood it in 2010 --

Obama took his mask off the day after the election and he can't take it back --

Further, he proceeded to move to the right with ever more pro-corporate decisions --

and pro-military/intelligence decisions.

It's not gonna work --

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

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[Iggo]

6. Some people say he's still out here in the woods waiting for the chance to kill again. And I say...

...they're right!

[blkmusclmachine]

13. 2 blank votes for Pres. in 2012 from here:

However, we WILL vote for REAL Democrats downballot from Obama. We don't vote for GOP policy dressed up as Democratic "bi-partisanship." That's rubbish. We won't be played for fools again, Mr. President.

[SidDithers]

16. Good for you...

Sid

[tblue]

28. Two?

Just asking for clarification. No snark intended.

[TBF]

14. Old news. I think most progressives are working with OWS now. nt

[Kurmudgeon]

17. Obama isn't perfect, but have you looked at the GOP contenders?

[defendandprotect]

35. Great campaign slogan -- ROFL

No one is looking for "perfect" ---

But we are looking to vore for someone who doesn't wear a mask --

Someone who isn't buried in corporate/Wall St. money ---

Someone who has true human compassion and will speak for the sick the homeless

the unemployed -- all of our citizens who need MEDICARE FOR ALL --

All of our citizens who need SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICAID!!


Citizens who need and want justice -- not corporate decisions benefiting BP and

other polluters --

Citizens want to see the true criminals in our society brought to justice --

not those who require Medical Marijuana -- but those who have stolen from our

nation and damaged it financially in the meltdown.

Clearly Obama's Wall St./Elite team were picked to do just the opposite.

[tblue]

18. There are 226 people running for president, 26 as Democrats

http://www.votesmart.org/election_president_search.php?type=alpha

Not saying I'm voting for them, but there's your answer.

[bigtree]

20. no Ted Kennedy there

. . . or even a Nader. No organization, no following.

[NNN0LHI]

47. Randall A. Terry claims to be one of the Democrats on that list

[SidDithers]

19. The filing period for the New Hampshire primary opened on Monday...

Republicans have been streaming into the state to file their papers. Joe Biden will visit NH tomorrow to file papers for Barack Obama.

The filing period closes Oct 28.

Sid

[bigtree]

23. a formality

. . . getting late early for any serious challenge.

[SidDithers]

25. Yup, only 9 days left...nt

Sid

[bigtree]

26. 9 days

. . . for anyone other than obvious spoilers to step up and throw their hat in the ring.


"Throw in his hat, and with a spring get gallantly within the ring."

-Hamilton Reynolds, 1820

[McCamy Taylor]

21. On Wall Street, I think. Holding his feet to the fire. FDR did not start out progressive.

The times made him that way.

[bigtree]

24. right, I get that

. . . he campaigns (governs) to appeal to the protestors. All good.

I wondered (more broadly than the query) about the consequence of the protesting on the election and the protestors' notion of how they expected or wanted that action to impact the prospects for a second term. The movement's wonderful to witness, and undoubtedly politically transforming, but does it have any intention regarding this election?

[libbyhart]

22. Oh wonderful idea. [sarcastic]

Let's just divide the vote, or better yet sit it out. Look what happened in 2010 when these post were leaning the same way, that worked out so well. They almost got their wish and shut down the government. We need to swallow hard, I got mad at Obama also, but he's the best for now. I almost vomit every time I hear the re pugs talk, they are so anti-progressive, they're reptilian in thought. SO united we stand divided we fall, what do you fear more?

[Bobbie Jo]

27. Well, I hear Bloomberg got a pretty impressive endorsement.

:rofl:

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

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[ClassWarrior]

31. Why is it only the Obama-can-do-no-wrong folks who try to stir up a primary challenge around here?

Hmmm?? Curious...

NGU.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

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[bigtree]

46. sounds like you're projecting own insecurity

I didn't create the reality of our two party system and I don't have to answer for its shortcomings. My primary interest in this presidential election is in keeping republicans out of that office. With all that's complained about here about the President's policies and all the issues that folks who criticize the President claim to care so much about, it's always curious to find them so sanguine about the possibility of relinquishing that office to the neanderthals in the republican party.

[libinnyandia]

48. GOP & keystone

Please don't insult neanderthals. You'd have to go very far back in human evolution to find Republican.

[bigtree]

42. you can't be talking about me. I've aired my differences with the President here many times

I just don't wear them on my sleeve. More importantly, I'm knowledgeable enough and experienced enough to realize that there is more at stake and more to benefit from this presidency than to just focus solely on those differences I have with his policies or his actions.

I don't see how you can be so self-satisfied with such a myopic view.

[defendandprotect]

33. One major problem for challengers and all of us is the vast corporate $$ backing Obama --

Any challenger who might come forward -- someone fairly well known -- has to

look at the possibility of not only being defeated by that money -- but of being

completely destroyed, as Howard Dean was -- !!

Elites/corporations are making sure that there is no threat to their lies and myths --

or their candidates!!

[MilesColtrane]

36. It may only be a coincidence, but talk of Obama being primaried...

seemed to wane once the Republican debates started showing up on TV.

My theory: Folks saw them and were starkly reminded just how disastrous it would be to have one of those evil bozos in charge of the country.

[coalition_unwilling]

37. Your theory is ludicrous. OWS rendered a Dem primary

irrelevant. There's a new hoss in town.

[MilesColtrane]

38. Sorry, I didn't realize that Obama had adopted the One Demand(s)...

as his mission statement for a second term.

[inna]

40. nowhere to be f*cking found, you're absolutely correct on this.

why is an absolute, dumbfounding mistery, afaic.


Every people *deserves* its rulers - is that an ancient Chinese proverb, or did I dream that one?...

[Bonobo]

41. That is a sad reflection of the lack of choices and the overwhelming importance of money in politics

Yes, Americans do not have any real choices. But that is a symptom of the problem, not a reflection of the lack of one.

[LWolf]

43. You're probably right. nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

44. Randall Terry is running as a Democrat:

http://www.terryforpresident.com/