Paul Krugman Quote

[lame54]

http://blog.buzzflash.com/davidow/262

Paul Krugman had this to say: “…progressives would be foolish to sit out this election: Mr. Obama may not be the politician of their dreams, but his enemies are definitely the stuff of their nightmares. At the same time “…he can’t expect strong support from people his administration keeps ignoring and insulting.” (NY Times, 7/30)

[HughBeaumont]

1. Absolutely correct.

Another Bewsh/Reagan Redux Times 1,000 and this country would be in a hole 8 miles deep.

That being said, we need a better menu and voters in general need to get smarter.

[BridgeTheGap]

2. We need a BIG change. Can the Dems deliver it? That remains to be seen. One thing is damn certain

the repubs have no business being anywhere near the halls of power. 8 years of Bush with 6 years of them holding congress damned near wrecked the country. Obama and the Dem congress were handed a pile a shit and evidently, are supposed to perform miracles.
I want politicians in there who are willing to challenge the power structure that is bent on destroying our middle class and have no problem keeping their boot on the throat of the working poor.
It should be patently obvious that repubs are an integral part of the problem. But the "power structure" has been given permission to buy whomever they need to fulfill their dastardly mission.
They will and do buy off Dems too. It needs to stop!

[zipplewrath]

3. Over stated

The degree to which "progressives" will be sitting out the elections is probably overstated. There has already been alot of activity in the primaries which indicates a fair amount of liberal/progressive activity. The DSCC, DCCC, and DNC may not be seeing the amount of cash they are used to, and OFA may be having trouble, but there is money flowing through other channels, often straight to candidates themselves.

And Krugman is right, "...at the same time..." He's got a long list of statements and actions from day 1 that have been intended to insult or demonstrate their independence from, the left side of the party, and a very short list of things to which they can enthusiastically embrace.

[lame54]

5. you won't see the door knocking or the phone calling...

or a fraction of the enthusiasm as their was in last general election

[zipplewrath]

7. Individual candidates

I actually suspect that a savy candidate could tap into the discontent to bring them out for his campaign. Would have to be "local" in a sense, but it is there and ready to be accessed.

[Jackpine Radical]

6. Yeah, those dirty fucken Liberals got nowhere else to go.

What they gonna do, vote for a Repubican? A Green? A socialist? I mean, hell, we know they're retarded, but they ain't that retarded. Right?

[depakid]

4. Easy enough to reconcile

The Obama administration doesn't want a pesky Democratic House- but would prefer dealing with a far more corporatist Senate.

A progressive House might hold his feet to the fire- the Senate allows him to play to the country club crowd, where he and members of his administration have a need to feel accepted.

Moreover, if Republicans take the House, Obama's crew has a much better chance of being reelected- and they can continue with their bipartisan fantasies and corporate right pandering while insulting or screwing their constituencies- who they think have nowhere else to go.

[jaxx]

8. Really? What is the source of that crystal ball?

[depakid]

10. Just critical thinking using the evidence at hand- you should try it sometime

You might come to your own conclusions that differ from mine. Or anyone else's.

[jaxx]

11. Critical thinking, or just criticizing.

I highly doubt the Obama adm doesn't want a Democratic House.
Or wants a corporatist Senate.
Buzz words don't make policy.

[KansasVoter]

9. I doubt any of us will sit it out but many will not work for it.

[Smarmie Doofus]

12. One has to be energized to cross state lines and canvass...

... battleground states. I did it last time but can't see it happening in 2012.

Parting with cash is also difficult for some of us.

I'll vote for Obama if he's the DEM nominee but the braintrust is tripping if they think I'm going beyond that for people who are not with me on the main issues .... which are Peace, GLBT rights, and school ... ugh!... "reform" ( i.e. union busting and privatization).

It's just not gonna happen.