Obama lost his "progressive" base, because he's done nothing progressive.

[merkins]

Obama has lost his "progressive" base, because he's done nothing remotely progressive. He has lost the middle because his Administration has overseen their gradual impoverishment at the hands of Financial Power Elites. He has offered them phony facsimiles of reform slicked down with the tiresome "soaring rhetoric" of a con artist so besotted with his own story that he actually believes the BS himself.

###

Nothing important has been fixed; nothing important has even been addressed. The institutions of governance are captured and corralled by the monied Elites to the point that the government has lost control of its own institutions, which now rule as quasi-independent fiefdoms. The citizenry, bought off on the cheap by stale Bread (rapacious student loans, food stamps which offer the veneer of normalcy, extended unemployment benefits so no angry mobs form, etc.) and dazed and distracted by the Media Circus, keep quiet in their complicity, while the Power Elites revel in the freedoms offered by a caretaker Administration.

###

His signature accomplishment, the "Obama-care reform" of the nation's sickcare system, simply extends the power of existing cartels and fiefdoms and delivers an ever-larger slice of the national income to their coffers. In its basic parameters, the "reform" could easily have been supported and passed by socially liberal Republican presidents such as Richard Nixon. There is nothing remotely progressive or radical about "pooling" insurance cartels and wet-paper-bag bureaucratic tests of "the most effective treatments."

###

The President is now a candidate hoping to scoop up a cool $1 billion to blow on another long, greasy media blitz, but I would be surprised if he rakes in much from the commoners and serfs straining to keep the wheels of their household finances turning. He will of course collect big bucks from various crony-cartels and contractors who have benefited from his bogus "reforms" and unstinting support of the banking sector, but his true-believer supporters will be thinned down to a few Elites, die-hard Democratic hacks and the delusional by mid-2012.

_________________________________________________________

More Analysis Here:

[Davis_X_Machina]

1. His 'base' isn't progressives...

..except on the internet, in its noisier corners, where delusions of grandeur and dreams of indispensability abound. We flatter ourselves.

The base is union households, women, people of color, the LGBT community, and folks making less than about $35,000 a year.

[Pholus]

12. Ummm, union household here, in some agreement with the OP. Wisconsin. Shoes.

So, while you try to marginalize people with my opinion, you simultaneously lump me in your description of your base. Exactly who is suffering from those delusions of grandeur?

Besides, if all those centrist compromises worked, we should have flocks of eager centrists ready to vote and contribute so the noisier corners of the internet shouldn't be worth your attention.

[Davis_X_Machina]

15. Want to make a bet on his two-candidate margin of victory? n/t

[Pholus]

19. Perhaps. The agitation and speed of your response is a bit of a "tell"

Seriously. Why are you even *worried* about the kvetchers if this is such a lock. Shouldn't you be spending your energies elsewhere?

[Davis_X_Machina]

21. I like sucker bets.

The great progressive stay-home will have zero detectable electoral significance.

[Pholus]

22. Again, *why* are you wasting your time on me then. I'm irrelevant!

Besides, I'll vote for him -- probably. I'm much more enthusiastic downstream this year.

I'll let you guys carry the water on the national level.

[emulatorloo]

26. Obama Job Approval among Liberal Democrats 83%

We're wasting time on you so you will begin to understand that just because loud people on DU believe that they represent some kind of majority of the Democratic base, they don't.

Obama Approval Rating March 28 thru April 3rd, 2011:

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

Among Democrats 80%
Among Liberal Democrats 83%
Among Moderate Democrats 77%
Among Conservative Democrats 61%

You will note that his lowest numbers are with Conservative Democrats

[Pholus]

33. More amusement. So am I a far leftist fringe progressive or a conservative democrat?

And where does a conservative democrat fit in relative to a centrist voter?

In any case, I'm supposed to be irrelevant. Stop wasting your time. Seriously. I'm chilling the f' out cause you got it!

And, maker forbid, if 2012 doesn't go well remember that I was irrelevant, NOT the critical missing support that made it all fall through.

To summarize: either pick one side (irrelevant) or the other side (to blame) and stick with that meme all the way. No fair shifting! :)

[emulatorloo]

36. What are you talking about?

Maybe you have me confused with some one else.

My only point is that you are incorrect in your characterization of the Democratic Base. And your claim that Obama has lost the Democratic base is false.

It is important to remember that internet groups like DU are self-selected and as a consequence can sometime become a bubble. Just because a bunch of loud people post the same things over and over again on an internet board does not mean that it is true or reflects reality.

[Pholus]

49. Ummmm, have you been READING this thread?

Okay, please take a breath here. And read a few less threads cause you're
getting mixed up.

1) I NEVER claimed to speak for a group as Deus (and you) do.
In fact, please READ the thread. I pointed out that I could
be classed on both sides of his dividing line (noisy fringers
and the base). I also took exception to the high-handed tone.
My original point that I actually belonged on both sides of Deus' line
(fringe vs. base) was actually better made by XenaSab who asked who
progressives were if they weren't the groups in the base.

2) I. ALREADY. ACCEPTED. YOUR. ASSERTION. BEFORE. YOUR. POST.
I'm irrelevant. So why are you guys sooooooo hyper about it?

3) Your poll is interesting but it was apropos of nothing in the subthread.
Frankly, I'd be a bit worried about that since I'd place conservative democrats
midway between independents and liberals that declining support there with the
rightward side of the left might be saying bad things about the center right now.

4) Your poll used the term "You will note" which I take as drawing attention.
But Deus says I'm a fringe progressive. How was your "You will note" relevant
then? So I took a guess at the most likely interpretation and replied.
Based on what you replied, you obviously didn't mean what you wrote.

5) Let's summarize the thread cause there is a theme.

Deus: You're irrelevant.
Me: Okay, but I also fit your the classification of the "base" as you use it.
Deus: I'm so confident we're going to win that I'll bet you on it.
Me: You seem a bit hyper about this. Besides, why are you wasting time on me
if I'm irrelevant.
Deus: Ummmmm. You're irrelevant?
Me: Fine. See we're mostly on the same side. I like the local races this year,
you guys can do the national ones.
You: We argue with you cause you're irrelevant. See this poll? It's a poll.

The commonality -- you guys are breathlessly wanting me to know I'm irrelevant.

Ummmm, okay? Does that make you feel better?

Just remember, if something goes wrong you've already absolved me of any blame.

Remember, I'm irrelevant! :)

[Avant Guardian]

58. That whole exchange should be enshrined

Classic

:rofl:

*edited to add lol

[emulatorloo]

84. Reread my posts. I never said you were irrelevant, that was somebody else

My points were

-- you are incorrect in your characterization of the Democratic Base. And your claim that Obama has lost the Democratic base is false.

-- DU is a bubble and does not reflect reality.

-- Conservative Democratic Numbers. I pointed them out to you because they contradict your assertion. If Obama has "lost" anybody, it is 40% of Conservative Dems. I think it is safe to say that no-on considers Conservative Democrats to be the Democratic base.

I have no idea why you thought I was claiming you were a Conservative Democrat. It doesn't follow from what I wrote at all. That is why I said "What are you talking about?"

[Pholus]

136. So you're going all in on a "9 high" then?

You said: "We're wasting time on you so you will begin to understand that just because loud people on DU believe that they represent some kind of majority of the Democratic base, they don't."

Ummmm, so define irrelevant compared to your statement. Please. Try. I love nuanced cop outs and yours will be pleasing to my eyes as I laugh myself into a stupor while reading it.

1) Quote me exactly where I claimed that the President lost the Democratic base in this thread or accept that you have a massive reading comprehension issue. I said that the OP couldn't cut "the noisy fringe" via his definition of constituencies in the base cause guess what, we belong to both "the noisy fringe" and the other groups he prefers.

2) Great. We agree.

3) Again, you are soooooooo blinded by your boosterism that you are apparently hearing dog whistles that aren't there.

My *only* "assertion" (besides agreeing that I was "irrelevant" which I think you'd agree is a good thing from your point of view) was that I was simultaneously a union household and a member of the "noisy fringe." It's the first poster who wants his "base of the people" to have labels independent from "the noisy fringe.:

Are you guys *really* this insecure about 2012 right now? Heck *I* seem to have
more faith in the President than you are showing here.
~

[dotymed]

140. I really do not know

what comprises the "Democratic Base" anymore. Really, most of the pols who claim to be Democrats would have been considered RW'ers not long ago. I doubt my own allegiance to the "Democratic Party" and I never thought I would even think that.
Anyway, the OP was about Progressives, of which I do claim to be a member of.
If I vote for Obama this year, it will be with my nose pinched shut. Last election, I canvassed for him.
If there ever were a time for a Relevant Third party in America, it is Now.
Where is Eugene Debs when you need him? .....Bernie Sanders? The tee vee has not made him irrelevant. Yet.
IDK... I do like Bernie and Dennis.........

[axollot]

95. Nope. Union house hold here too. And I'm mad -

but seriously what are the choices? Weak tea or GOP insanity. I'll take weak tea.

Cheers
Sandy
progressive and proud of it!

[w4rma]

105. 'Centrist' voters don't exist. 'Centrist' donors, however, do exist. (nt)

[reggie the dog]

109. because as liberals we know how fucked we would have been

with grandpa simpson and failin palin in office, conservative dems would have like the conservative values of old graps and think that obama is too far to the left.

i "approve" of what he is doing in the sense that it is not as bad as what mccain would have done. as a liberal i think that many of us simply "approve" of the democrats because we would never say such a thing about the republicans.

having said that there are many issues which can be improved upon.

[truedelphi]

112. However Democratic voters only represent some 34% of the

United States Voting Public.

Although that is significantly higher than the Repugs at 25%, it shows that most voters are aware of how both sides will screw us, if there is a way to better the Corporations at our expense.

[Myrina]

120. Lies, damn lies and statistics.

... and Faux has higher ratings than MSNBC.
Which means? D'oh!

[ooglymoogly]

138. boolo crapo....its like CNN bringing on a right winger and a bluedogger

and calling it fair and balanced....the pundits would not recognize a liberal even while stepping on one.

[Sherman A1]

72. He will most likely be re-elected in 2012

but, he will do so without the money or vote of this Union household.

So, count me out of "your vision of his base" as I do not find he has done anything for Unions..... EFCA being an example.

[Kalun D]

126. All That Proves

is how corrupt the system has become

you get a "choice" between two candidates

they decide who those two are

[XemaSab]

24. You don't think that's the majority of progressives?

:shrug:

[L0oniX]

59. Ah ...ok ...I get it ...so he doesn't need us then.

[leveymg]

74. It was. He's also lost support among organized labor, blue collar, lower-income people. They may

not vote against him next November, but millions of them may not vote this time, either. That, if it occurs, could hand the election to the other leading national brand.

[SusanaMontana41]

116. Exactly. In 2008, 23 million young people

registered and voted for Obama. In the 2010 midterms, only 9 million of them voted. Fourteen million stayed home — one of those 14 million was my son.

We had Barack on layaway in 2008. He'll do without us in 2012.

— one disillusioned and bitterly disappointed (d)emocrat

[grahamhgreen]

78. But it used to be.

[PassingFair]

79. He would have lost the primary to Clinton without the Progressive vote.

"The base is union households, women, people of color, the LGBT community, and folks making less than about $35,000 a year."

Lots of these people are Progressives.

[mod mom]

81. BS..I worked both the primary & general for him in OH & progressives

handled a BIG part of GOTV.

[snooper2]

94. And folks making more than $35,000 a year

Some of us are happy that the economy didn't totally collapse...

Some of us are happy with a lot of what the new Health care law does, especially forcing them to cover kids with pre-existing conditions.

Some of us are happy with the major draw down in Iraq.

Some of us are happy that we can see light at the end of the tunnel after 8 years of fuckhead Bush, while others still see a bottomless black pit. Some people will always see a bottomless black pit as that is their nature.

[zalinda]

118. Some of us are down in that bottomless black pit and

Obama didn't do one thing to give us even a pin prick of light. I'm happy that you are making more than $35,000 a year. I get $711 a month on SSI, and there are probably more people who are living day to day like me, than are coasting through life at $35,000 a year.

zalinda

[snooper2]

133. I'm also supporting my father and mother in-law

One is on SSDI and the other hasn't worked since being layed off in 2007...
35K a year is not coasting through life FYI

[zalinda]

137. I could only hope to get 35K a year

Not only does my son (who can't find a job)live in the apartment upstairs, that we haven't been able to afford to remodel, so the kitchen and bathroom work. But, also living in the house is a friend of his and her two daughters, who haven't contributed a dime to running the house. My son repairs computers when he finds the work. All the repair jobs advertised, you must be able to drive. He can't drive, he can only see out of one eye. And, with that eye moving around like it does, you don't want him on the road. But, his sight is just good enough, where he can't be declared legally blind. We are living day to day, selling whatever we can to make up for the shortfall. When we run out of things to sell, I'm not sure what we'll do. I'm hoping that the small yard space we have will give us a big enough garden so we can sell the produce.

Let's see you are getting 35K a year, plus the SSDI, which is 3 to 4 times what we are getting. To me, 35K is coasting. I haven't seen that much money coming in except when I was married, which was over 30 years ago. We who had the unfortunate luck to be born in a poor family, really don't ask for much, just a job where we can keep a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, and a little left over to splurge on an evening out at Pizza Hut or a new outfit bought from Walmart or the thrift store.

But, Obama doesn't believe it's the governments role to create jobs. So excuse me when I get angry that bankers are getting bonuses off the banks bailout that the taxpayers paid for. And, I'm so sorry that those who gave the money to the banks, don't know where the money went. Excuse me when I get angry that the people who created this mess, are the same ones that Obama appointed to his administration. And I'm also angry at all the poor kids coming out of school, who find their future so bleak that they have to join the military in order to help their families out. I'm betting they would love 35K, just about now.

zalinda

[bobbolink]

142. Very very well said. Too bad it's not likely to be heard.

It is just our fault, all the way around.

Useless eaters that we are.

To hell with the COLA, to hell with anything resembling getting our needs met. We should just buckle down and vote for him because they tell us to, for the sake of a Supreme justice. Doesn't matter if we have nothing to eat, or nowhere to live... just vote to make them happy.

[liberation]

117. You do realize your avatar is the logo of the socialist party, right?

Just checking.

[AlbertCat]

134. You do realize your avatar is the logo of the socialist party, right?

I just wonder if "Merkins" knows what a merkin is!

[Name removed]

2. Deleted sub-thread

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

[monmouth]

3. No he hasn't...Sorry...n/t

[Donnachaidh]

4. thanks Captain Obvious! k&r n/t

[Arkana]

5. Yeah, that ~10% of angry "progressives" who do nothing but bitch on the internet

about how much they hate him are his base.

Ya hit the nail on the head. Yep.

Also, I'd love to know what the DADT repeal was if not "progressive". Oh, right, I forgot--he didn't do it fast enough for you.

[bluestate10]

13. Bitch on the internet and don't have a damned solution. nt

[NorthCarolina]

83. Or that ~1% of Right Fringe Dems that post here on DU, incessantly

claiming they somehow represent the majority of the Democratic Party.

[_ed_]

97. Who's bitching on the internet?

Projection?

[mistertrickster]

102. You mean the progressives who massively worked to elect him, donated money and time?

Progressives did a lot more for the O Man than he has done for us.

But thank God, he's not Bush . . . or McCain.

[reggie the dog]

111. the courts did that

they waited for the federal court to decide against DADT before they did anything.

obama is a progressive on some non economical issues, having a preaher who talks about being "formerly gay" speak for you is not progressive.


i bitch online, i strike, i have marched in dozens of protests, i write to those who govern me in both the usa and france, i vote, and i offer solutions.

1. End free trade with all countries which have pollution, salary, and labor standards inferior to our own standards.
2. increase taxes on the rich, tax income at 60% for the richest 1 percent and 50% for the next 10 percent of the rich
3. tax corporations instead of giving them welfare
4. tax each and every transaction on wall street, a tax on each and every share, put, stay, commodity, everything
5. bring back glas steagal
6. get the fuck out of iraq and afghanistan
7. create single payer national health insurance
8. back our unions
9. increase funding for schools drastically, reduce class size to 15 students, hire many new teachers, make universities FREE
10. increase the minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour and mandate 6 weeks paid vacation after one year on the job
11. create jobs with a new CCC type program
12. new jobs in the new ccc could do like the TVA but green and create huge green energy parks
do you want any more solutions? i have lots and they are taken from what i see in practice here in europe and what used to exist in the usa

[howmad1]

127. Geezzz: that list sounds so "socialist".

[reggie the dog]

147. damn right

i just looked at what we have over here in socialist infulenced western europe, our social democracies are quite the example to follow. take a bit of france, a bit of finland, a bit of denmark, a bit of germany and make the usa great and once people saw the benefit in their personal lives you would crush the opposition in elections for a good 30 or 40 years. One of the reasons that france is right wing and highly social is because charles de gaulle was a staunch supporter of the social welfare state, he nationalized a shitload of key industries after the war when he ruled basically as an emperor until elections were set up, when he was elected president years later he still supported our état providence.

[robcon]

6. He hasn't lost anyone. He's in a position to be easily re-elected.

He's gained far more independents (vs 2008) than he's 'lost' of fringe progressives.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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

[Wait Wut]

10. "Utopia ain't fucking running"...I friggin' want that bumper sticker.

You get full royalties, of course. I just want one.

[Windy]

50. Love it!! I want one of those too! I think it should have a unicorn on it with stars

and rainbows coming out of its arse as well!

[Liberal Veteran]

8. Your concern is duly noted and filed.

[Botany]

9. Please

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/vp/37937282?submit#37937282

Although I have my few gripes Obama has gotten more done than any President up to
and including FDR.

BTW Obama will need that $1 billion .... ever hear of citizens united?

[Donnachaidh]

11. done more than FDR? Really?

oh wait -- that's right. The Goldman Sachs Boys Club is doing better than ever.... :sarcasm:

[Botany]

41. Look I don't like everything he has done but President ...

..... Obama has gotten a hell of a lot done.

[sendero]

68. He's gotten a lot.

...done for big business. For the people, well not so much.

[derby378]

141. DING-DING-DING!

You nailed it. :hi:

[RKP5637]

34. Sadly that's true, he will definitely need the $1 billion. We are now in the era of

sold to the highest bidder. It's a hell of a way to run a country to me. Any not getting by now the intent for the future of the country by SCOTUS has to be an ultra fool. By 2016 we'll just be voting for the corporate logo, and the white house will be renamed for the current occupying corporation.

[Botany]

43. that is why we must re-elect the President so he can ..

.... pick anywhere from 1 to 5 Supreme Court Justices and get "Citizens United" overturned.

Scalia = 74

Kennedy = 74

Thomas = a very old 63

Chief Justice Roberts = 56 but he has something wrong with him ...... epilepsy ?

Ginsburg = health problems

[RKP5637]

46. I've lost a lot of respect for SCOTUS over the years. It's not blind justice in the

least. It's become a political cheer leading team with absolute authority. "Citizens United" really borders on corruption.

[Botany]

48. bush v Gore didn't do us any favors either

Obama has picked two winners for the Supreme Court and he will get
lots more picks for the federal bench too.


"Citizens United" really borders on corruption. No Citizens United legalized corruption.

peace!

[Ignis]

14. You're just begging for a post of The List.

But keep on keeping on, I say.

[Generic Other]

40. What you blacklist people who don't agree with you?

Then what? Send them to a FEMA camp?

[Ignis]

57. Yes, that's exactly what I do. *facepalm*

...Or I could be referring to the List of Accomplishments that's trotted out ad nauseam (especially in GDP) to shout down criticism.

[Generic Other]

64. Just wondering...your tone sounded a bit McCarthyish

my bad.

[WA98296]

16. Obama: Fool me once shame on you...

Before it even got started "healthcare for all" single payer was off the table.

The wars haven't ended, as promised, and now let's see where Libya goes

He has not been a friend to labor, rather a friend to Wall Street and Big Oil

What happened reforming the Patriot Act?


He's a brilliant orator and a complete disappointment because he could have been a great president.

[BzaDem]

18. Newsflash: He took single payer off the table IN THE CAMPAIGN. He specifically called it "extreme."

Obama convinced the American people that he would be a better President than John McCain. How could you be "fooled" when the underlying proposition is indisputably true?

[Enthusiast]

67. Provide me with

evidence that Obama took single payer off the table DURING THE CAMPAIGN. When did he call single payer extreme?

[Recursion]

82. Seriously? Do you remember the campaign?

I suppose you could start here.

Or you could jfGit.

From the primaries until HCR passed, he said that single payer would be the best answer if we were starting from scratch, but that it would be too rapid a change with too many unintended consequences if it were implemented in the US in the short term.

[NorthCarolina]

86. He did that because he was pushing the "Public Option" meme,

knowing full well that, post election, he would support NEITHER option. His goal was obviously to entrench For Profit Insurance into the American health care system. Talk of a "Public Option" was strictly campaign fodder with zero basis in reality, as evidenced by the fact that he took that off the table early on in the negotiation process (and I use that term lightly). The House passage of a PO was strictly for show to quell the base, much as the GOP budget proposal with the ridiculous stipulation that the House version become law should the Senate fail to act was strictly nonsensical fodder for the GOP base.

[Recursion]

91. What are you talking about? He threatened to veto a no-public-option bill for a long time

And only gave in on that when the Senate replaced it with a mandated not-for-profit in the exchange (which amounts to largely the same thing, though the ways it doesn't amount to the same thing are troubling).

[BzaDem]

17. If you take the exact opposite of your title, you care correct. He has NOT lost his base, because he

has done MANY things progressive. His support among the left is the highest among any president since JFK (including 87% of liberal Democrats).

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

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

[ThomCat]

61. HA! Enjoy your Hyperbole much?

:rofl:

No, Progressives just didn't like being kicked and insulted.

LGBT folks didn't like being attacked in court, and not helped at all, by the person who claimed to be our advocate.

We expected the person who accepted a peace prize to actually do something to work towards peace, instead of embracing endless war.

We expected a candidate who came in with record support from low and middle income voters to care about low and middle income voters instead of giving a tax brake that mostly benefited the top 1%, and mostly hurt the poorest.

We expected a president who didn't give away most of what he was negotiating to protect before negotiations even began, and who allowed experts at the table who represented the public good, not just those who represented corporate profits.

We expected him to keep the progressive advisers he had during the campaign, not to fire them as soon as he got elected and replace them with conservative, republican, and corporate advisers who immediately moved his administration far to the right before he even took office.

We expected him to keep him campaign promises on regulating derivatives, holding the bush administration accountable, ending torture, restoring and respecting the rule of law, opposing the patriot act, and far more.

We expected good choices, not the bad ones we got.

[Recursion]

93. DADT is repealed. DOMA is not defended by DoJ.

It's like the fact that he did stuff slowly and carefully pisses you off so much that you don't care that he did it.

[ThomCat]

132. He didn't repeal DADT. Others did. He only signed it when others

dragged it to his desk despite his lack of help.

DOMA is no longer being defended, but it is still being enforced. If it is still being enforced, how is that "not being defended."

He's not doing anything to get it overturned either, and there is no plan or idea when or if he'll do anything to get it overturned.

Carefully? You mean like going to court to defend the thing he's supposedly trying to overturn? That's careful? :rofl:

You have no idea what you're talking about.

[Recursion]

148. I forgot the unicorn brigade lives in a world where Presidents make laws (nt)

[axollot]

96. EXACTLY! Well said!! n/t

[ChiciB1]

37. No, The Reality Is That "The Left" Has NO OTHER CHOICE! Simple As That!

It's really a very sad case as far as I'm concerned. I will probably HAVE to vote for him, but there will be NO JOY doing it! I WILL NOT CAMPAIGN FOR HIM THOUGH! I worked my butt off for him, but never again.

I so WISH we had someone else to run, I no longer even try to defend him to people who aren't Democrats. Actually, most of my Democratic friends and family no longer defend him. But those in power are correct, we have NO OTHER CHOICE, so we can be ignored. TPTB don't seem to give a rat's ass, it is what it is. Cake please?

JMHO!
:shrug:

[Rowdyboy]

20. How silly. He hasn't lost much of anything..Just because you're unhappy doesn't mean everyone is..

[eridani]

30. Right, fuck the long-term unemployed, the poor, the homeless

They aren't very large populations, percentage wise.

[bluestate10]

44. Wrong. Make permanent change that solves the problems that have

made people unemployed, poor and homeless over the last three decades.

[eridani]

53. By agreeing with Repuke framing every chance he gets? n/t

[rhett o rick]

65. Of course you're happy as can be with his shift to the right. That's what you like. Corporatistism

[elleng]

23. So you're supporting the repuglican in 2012. Thanks so much

NOT.

[TimesSqCowboy]

25. I voted for Obama because I thought he was the candidate

least likely to bomb Iran. So far, so good.

[emulatorloo]

28. LOL. True, McCain had a song about it n/t

[Old and In the Way]

27. Liberals support Obama at a higher rate than moderates.

Forget what poll, but Lawrence O'Donnell (I think) had it on his show the other night. It surprised me. I thought to myself, "You'd never know it on DU."

I'm disappointed with Obama, but I'm not stupid. I'll happily vote for him in 2012. Because the last thing we need is another Republican president...ever.

[Liberal Veteran]

29. Amen!

Took the words out of my mouth.

[emulatorloo]

35. Job Approval Liberal Dems 83%, / Moderate Dems 77%, / Consevative Dems 61%

Dems over all 80%

I posted the link above, it is Gallup polling, March 28th thru April 3, 2011

[Lorien]

66. Lemme guess; they polled 100 people in Georgia

you can keep repeating that lie, but it's as much a bunch of BS as the first time it was posted here.

[emulatorloo]

92. "you can keep repeating that lie"

Why is it a lie? Because you say so? That's ridiculous.

If you want to know the methodology go to the Gallup site.

[RKP5637]

39. Yep, it's like the old saying we used in the corp. world, don't throw the baby out with

the bath water! There are far worse things lurking out there than Obama.

[leftstreet]

51. That actually says more about 'liberals' than it does about Obama n/t

[Bodhi BloodWave]

60. so those who think that are not real liberals is that it?

or am i misreading your 'liberals'

[GreenArrow]

128. Oh, those who think that are "real" liberals;

maybe it's just that "liberal" doesn't quite mean the same thing it used to?

[spanone]

31. he may have lost you, but not me.

[Nye Bevan]

38. How about abolishing lifetime maximums on health insurance policies?

Helps out the chronically ill but may cost the big health insurers many millions of dollars.

A teensy bit progressive, perhaps?

[ProSense]

42. "Obama Will Lose in 2012"

"he's done nothing progressive"

Nothing?

[enough]

45. I agree with this post, and I also expect him to be re-elected. (nt)

[mochajava666]

55. +1

[EndElectoral]

47. If you put an R beside his name and he ran on his record, people here would be appalled.

I agree with the poster.

[upi402]

52. ^+1,000 He won't get a dime from me

I'll write-in a real Dem rather than piss my vote away on a guy who disenfranchised actual Democrats.

done

[brooklynite]

63. I'd like to see a pro-choice, pro gay rights Republican...

...who supported preservation of unemployment insurance.

[progressoid]

100. Richard Nixon...

except for the gay rights part.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/us/politics/24nixon.html

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=2117#axzz1Il27OwbL

[ProfessionalLeftist]

103. SNAP! n/t

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

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

[jefferson_dem]

71. As if he ever "had" a progressive base.

I suggest those who have not been paying attention watch his 2004 DNC speech. He hasn't changed since then.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

56. Yes. But, he did nothing with some great slogans and a dollop of panache.

[Safetykitten]

62. Spectacularly spot on.

[malaise]

69. Please present the data to back the nonsense on this OP n/t

[jefferson_dem]

70. The more I see nonsensical posts like the OP...

the more I am convinced that Obama will WIN BIG in 2012. Thanks. :bounce:

[robcon]

73. It'll be an easy win for Obama: he has the independents, where the election is decided.

But he may face a Congress that is Repuglican in both houses. Keeping the Senate Democratic will be the #1 challenge of the 2012 elections.

[_ed_]

98. Way to ignore what he said

and just pull out the pom-poms to cheerlead.

[Name removed]

75. Deleted message

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

[TBF]

76. Dunno if Jeb is 2012 or 2016,

but yes the fix is in, and Jeb will be next.

[dionysus]

87. yeah, obama's a trojan horse who ran to win so he could throw the presidency to jeb...

:rofl::spray:

[Name removed]

77. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

80. Deleted message

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

[leeroysphitz]

85. I just wish this president would do more to reach out to the business community. n/t

[Shagbark Hickory]

88. Saying progressives are the base of a centrist are like saying nutbags are the base of bernie sander

[Life Long Liberal]

89. What proof do we have that Obama lost his base?

[RegieRocker]

90. Sure he has. He has changed the party from it's ideals of helping the

little guy to helping the rich. Now that is progressive.

[onenote]

99. Really? Because I consider my politics "progressive" and he hasn't lost me at all

My ideals are progressive. I also recognize that achieving those ideals is something that, based on history, can only be achieved over time, incrementally, with some steps forward and with occasional steps back. The fact that Obama hasn't given me a pony doesn't bother me because I never expected a pony.

One question for the OP: if the guy who works at the mailroom at a big bank gives $200 to Obama, do you consider that a contribution by a "commoner" or is that a contribution from the big banks?

[mistertrickster]

101. I think the headline is a little harsh but essentially correct.

He did repeal DADT finally.

That was progressive.

He got a form of health insurance reform pushed through. That's a start he can build on.

But he's a lot more like Clinton than FDR.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

106. Actually....

The historical FDR was a lot more like Clinton than the mythical FDR.

Voting rights of blacks were effectively curtailed by his political allies in most of the country under him.
In response to public pressure, he made deficit reduction a major policy at the beginning of his second term.
Social Security was the "compromise"; liberals of the day were pushing for a far more radical one.
His lend lease program got us involved in a war that the vast majority of the public was dead set against.

I'm sure that if the D.U. were around when he was, there would be screamers crying about how much he betrayed them.


- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[mistertrickster]

119. You raise some good points. On the other hand, he brought us the National Recovery Act

the WPA, the CCC -- that is direct gov't hiring of the unemployed.

That's not Clinton and NAFTA. Not by a long shot.

[femrap]

104. I didn't make calls nor

knock on doors nor give money the last time around....and there will be NO CHANGE.

I'm tired of choosing the lesser of 2 evils. I wish we were able to vote for 'NONE OF THE ABOVE.' I hope the Tea Party has a candidate and I hope Ron Paul runs....just so I can have a big Circus, but my bread supply is running low.

[girl gone mad]

107. I also felt that he lost the election..

the minute he chose to align himself with the charlatans who destroyed the American economy. There were so many options available to him after winning in '08. Why Geithner, Rubin, Summers, Bernanke, Emanuel? Why appoint Volcker, then stuff him in a janitor's closet for 2 years never to be heard from? Why double down on the disaster economics with Immelt and Sperling? A clusterfuck of appointments, start to finish.

Now it's the Republicans election to lose. Considering their gross incompetence and unparalleled ignorance, they could well lose it. But it didn't have to be this way. Obama could have been a real contender. He could have had it all.

[on point]

108. You nailed it! Progressives know the hour is dire and we seek real leadership, not pablum.

[russspeakeasy]

110. I repeat, he didn't sell out, he bought in.

[Zoeisright]

113. BULLSHIT.

Those of us who support stem cell research support this President for his ending of the insane Bush ban on stem cell lines.

Also, ask the gay community what they think of DADT ending.

[NeedleCast]

114. There are zero polls that back this up

Every poll I've see shows that Obama has a 75-80% approval rating with liberal Democrats.

[fascisthunter]

115. very true

[roman7]

121. leadership

the president is faceing the biggest challenge to the united states goverment since the civil war and just as lincoln couldnt state that he wanted to end slavery because of all the different self intrest groups but he was able to do everything needed to end slavery . the main point is we can trust pres. obama to do everything possible for all of our own good. i for one believe hes up for the challenge

[WVRICK13]

122. Obama Has Lost The Progressive Base

including me. However, if he is the man on the ticket I would rather vote for him than any Republican. I will just hold my nose and vote.

[cliffordu]

123. Aw, come on....

Don' be hatin'

:rofl:

[dhpgetsit]

124. If the point of this is to convince "the base" not to vote

then shame on you. I am disappointed in many ways by the Obama administration but I am NOT going to stand by and let someone like Donald Trump or Michele Bachmann slid into the WH in '12.

[Kalun D]

125. ++++++1000

A HEARTY KICK AND REC

[trud]

129. On the other hand

I was all prepared to writein in 2012, until the Repugs scared me sh*tless with their budget attacks on Medicare and Social Security.

[usregimechange]

130. Wrong, evidence: Kagan, Sotomayor.

[thanks_imjustlurking]

131. He's not getting any money from this serf.

I'll let the corporations buy their candidates themselves.

[txlibdem]

135. Kick - the bottom 80% need to wake up and take back our country

The power elites have enriched themselves at our expense for far too long. One of these days the deluded will wake up and take this country back.

[BlueIris]

139. This campaign, short lived as I believe it will be, is an offensive joke.

The idea that he feels entitled to demand my vote, fluffed up by a cushy fund of no less than one billion, after not only not doing anything positive but actually making our situation worse, is horrifying to me. The idea that anything he has done is "progressive"? I don't know how anyone can claim that with a straight face.

[roman7]

146. wishey washey dem are why the repukes got back in

[sulphurdunn]

143. Hypothetical question.

Would consistent single digit voter turnouts in a country like ours de-legitimize the political process?

[Name removed]

144. Deleted message

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[joentokyo]

145. He lied like a rug pretending to be progressive, but

he was a corporate owned candidate from day one.