Primary Obama from the Left? I’m Now Thinking “Maybe”
It could be my recent trip to Vermont speaking, but I’m coming to the conclusion that Obama needs a primary opponent to pull him to the left. While I realize that a hard fought Democratic primary would be a godsend for the eventual Republican nominee – I just don’t see another way to wake the President up to the fact that he was elected by people who want a Democrat in the White House.
and I mean in this in an non-confrontational tone…
What would a candidate do to change Obama, Jason? I mean, Obama ran as a LEFT LEANING candidate. I dare you to go back and watch some of speech footage while he was stumping. It’s really hard to watch with all that has gone on since 2007. The guy has just flat out lied to us from Iraq, to Afghanistan’s 2nd surge, Gitmo, Patriot Act, Tax cuts, on and on and on
It’s really sad man but, a 2nd candidate isn’t going to make him do shit. Only lie more.
Oh, but the DOW is over 12,000. I remember when O was in office the first few months how that was all that mattered to the right.
Perhaps you are right, but I think that voters should hear at least one doctrinaire Democrat on the campaign trail.
Voters have proven that they favor the Democratic message of a more just society, but when all the messages are versions of the Republican talking points, we lose sight of the fact that we are basically a liberal country.
Primarying Obama from the left is a great idea. I’m sure you’ll be able to find someone who can match Obama’s plans to raise $1B and can beat an incumbent with 90% approval from Democrats, all without raising a major riff in the party.
What would happen is a leftie would get completely ignored, but money and attention that could be used to get a better Congress will be diverted.
If we want better legislative outcomes, we need a better Congress and state and local gov shouldn’t be ignored.
I just keep coming back to something though when you speak of “message” There’s two answers to why we don’t hear “Democrats” speaking the message when it’s so blatantly freaking obvious to us, that they could swat away the obvious bullshit the GOP is slinging.
1. The believe what the GOP is saying
2. They are weak
Now, given that every single one of these guys in the US Senate is a millionaire and a very powerful person in there home state, in this country and world for that matter, I am finding it increasingly hard to believe they are weak. they all get money from special interests and corporations now a days. You don’t get money from Bank of America b/c you think wealth should be spread around via taxes.
We aren’t a center right nation. We are a center right Congress. I swear to God, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear Obama come out and say Americans need to pick themselves up by their bootstraps in the coming weeks/months.
“We aren’t a center right nation. We are a center right Congress.” Props.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to hear Obama come out and say Americans need to pick themselves up by their bootstraps in the coming weeks/months.”
Neither would I.
Not sure if this means anything, but…
During the primary between Hillary and Obama my brother and I were debating with my parents (two Hillary supporters). They kept calling my brother, myself and Obama progressives – and it wasn’t said in a very complimentary fashion. My brother and I both pointed out that Obama was a centrist, not a progressive.
I point to this story because it seemed that my parents were comfortable in calling Hillary a “liberal” and a “Democrat” and they applied a new term (for them) to Obama – and the younger generation. IMO, they applied the wrong term.
I also think many Obama supporters weren’t comfortable in the similarities between Hillary and Obama so they voted for Obama thinking he was different than Hillary. From the beginning I stated I would support either one, since I didn’t see much policy difference between the two.
Finally, the only thing primarying Obama would accomplish is a stronger GOP Presidential candidate.
Donviti, I disagree w/ you that Obama ran as a left leaning candidate. On most issues, he came off as a moderate, which is how, on the whole, he has governed. That’s why I think a primary challenge by a left Democrat would be good for the nation. It would educate the public about the difference.
Jason, how did your recent trip to Vermont contribute to your view that a primary challenge from the left would be helpful? (Wouldn’t it be great to live in a state that is capable of electing someone like Bernie Sanders to the Senate?)
Maybe sanders should run. I’d vote for him.
Though I guess he wouldn’t run as a Dem but as a Social Democrat.
Which reminds me, has everyone told a local Teabagger they’re a socialist today?
Vermont is an interesting state. They “get it” when it comes to quality of life issues that require “investments” in the future.
While I was there they passed a single payer healthcare system that is expected to save Vermont businesses about $160 per employee annually.
“The Constitution says Congress has the power to declare war. Calling it a ‘kinetic military action’ is pure mumbo-jumbo and doesn’t excuse the President’s usurpation of a Congressional prerogative. I’d like to think that the House Leadership will be looking into an impeachment action, but unless polls start showing massive voter opposition to this war I’m afraid he’ll skate on this.” — Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY)
Donviti, I disagree w/ you that Obama ran as a left leaning candidate.
Roll the tape… Obama ran on the two biggest issues of the left, taxing the rich and public health care. The weight of those two issues puts Obama’s 2008 campaign squarely on the left. Candidate Obama ruled out single payer, but did advocate a public option, which puts him squarely in the center-left on health care.
But once in office he implemented further privatization of health care, and tax cuts for the rich, which puts him squarely on the fiscal right. A primary opponent would have no end of material for flipflop attack ads.
“We aren’t a center right nation. We are a center right Congress.” Props.
I like this comment viscerally, but it is a bit out of date.
Last year we were a center-left House and a center-right Senate, with a President who sided with the Senate.
Now we are a far right House and a center right Senate and the same President. So that now leaves Congress to the right of center right.
A leftward correction would have been useful while Obama was still getting good Democratic bills from the House. But the time has come and gone. The damage has been done.
What issues do you want to force Obama to the left on now? It’s over, the Republicans won on taxes and health care privatization.
And losing the tax battle inevitably meant that we would lose the budget battle, which is happening now.
A non-serious primary would do more harm than good. The only justification for a primary now would be to win.
I think it is dangerous to believe that somebody, anybody, would put in the sort of work it takes to become a presidential primary candidate and then step back and let Obama win. This is fraught with potential LEFT-wing-nut splinter groups. And splinter groups are good at one thing – splintering the party. Risky when the consequences could be another 2000 election year.
Remember, there are two electorates here. The Democrats who vote in primaries and the entire electorate who vote in November. Think about Mike Castle and Christine O’Wacko.
Sorry Jason, but the lovely people of Vermont are exceptional in this country. The rest of the country looks at Michelle Bachman and thinks she might be okay.
Auntie Dem, What do we regard as more important, the country, or Mr. Obama’s political career?
I realize that there are risks, but there are risks to the country if we continue to be the “Republicans who are a little sad” when they cut services to give the wealthiest individuals and corporations tax breaks.
Ok, so I think Obama ran sorta left, Anon does too, sorta. Geezer thinks he ran in the middle and so does Pandora.
So there are three scenarios I see here.
a) I’m right
b) Geezy and Weezy and her bro-in-law is correct
c) Obama pitched such a good campaign that he was whatever someone wanted him to be.
I’m leaning towards C at this point. But that can’t be right, b/c Obama didn’t break promises or talk out both sides of his mouth.
Why Hillary Clinton must run in 2012
Los Angeles Times 04/04/2011 John Phillips
If Hillary Clinton’s primary voters and President Obama had their relationship status listed on their Facebook pages, it would change from “Married” to “It’s complicated.”
To be fair, Hillary voters never fell in love with Obama, they just fell in line. Their relationship is less like a Julia Roberts chick flick and more like a Bengali arranged marriage.
Because of their arrangement, Hillary-loving Obama voters are quick to jump ship whenever Mr. Hope-and-Change looks like he’s getting played again by his political opponents, is in over his head or is dissing their girl.
Despite Obama’s anti-climactic campaign announcement just now, according to all the recent polls, Hillary voters aren’t only jumping ship –- they’re taking their fins, snorkels and pina coladas with them….
If Palin’s biggest booster agrees with me, I must be wrong. I hereby retract this post.
Obama will have plenty of BIG BUCKS to answer the LEGITIMATE questions asked of him by a primary opponent to his left and STILL kick the ASS of ANY of the third string BLUNT-SKULLS tip-toeing around the Rethuglican primary “adventure” into WHACKO land.
You know… Obama’s FISA vote was a pretty big tip off.
his book was a pretty big tip off too. I’m sure we could find all kinds of actions to prove our point.
which further proves the point we were had.
I think the notion that Obama “ran” as a moderate is revisionist history. The only non-liberal position that he risked was the lack of support for California’s Gay Marriage Law. As an eye witness to the campaign I can testify to the fact that even if the policy details were not liberal – the campaign ethos was liberal. His brand equity was tied up in the outsider message of “Change” and “Hope” as some of you may or may not recall.
Yes, and now I “hope” someone will “change” my diaper as I feel as helpless as an infant as this chicanery washes our country to the right.
Bend to their will, clean it up and sell it to the masses behind me.
And Joe sucks this drivel DOWN?
I want to TEAR MY TEETH OUT!!!!!!!!!!!
As a party hack I gotta say I never believed Obama leaned left. You only had to compare his proposed healthcare reform to Hillary’s and it was clear who was pandering to the insurance companies. And it wasn’t Hillary. So if my vote counts Geezer and Pandora are right.
And the point my friends is that Democratic primaries don’t elect Presidents. Just candidates. The whole enchalada comes in November and a lot of factors play in that. But if you plan to win you better convince somebody that you are centrist. That’s how Obama ran.
“I think the notion that Obama “ran” as a moderate is revisionist history. The only non-liberal position that he risked was the lack of support for California’s Gay Marriage Law.”
How are these for moderate? A phased withdraw from Iraq, the time table for which did not significantly differ from Bush’s. Escalating the war effort in Afghanistan. A health care proposal that resembled Romney’s in Mass but which was actually more conservative in some respects because it wasn’t universal. Expanding the use of charter schools (a conservative proposal). Increasing the military budget. Support for NAFTA and “free trade” agreements.
“…the campaign ethos was liberal. His brand equity was tied up in the outsider message of “Change” and “Hope” as some of you may or may not recall.”
Yes, there was a liberal ambiance about the campaign. It was a hook to garner liberal support (forgive my cynicism about it). An “outsider message” is hardly a brand emblem for progressives only. Ron Paul claimed that mantle as well.
I’m not saying that some of Obama’s policy proposals during the campaign weren’t left leaning or liberal (ones pertaining to unions, for example), but I think that, on the whole, Obama planted his flag in the center.
Excellent points, the both of yoos.
So really, what needs to happen is an actual 3rd party candidate that isn’t some libertarian quack that thinks the EPA should be vanquished…
I crack me up
Obama has been more successful at moving us to the right than we ever will be at moving him to the left.
Obama’s claim to fame one day may be that he turned off the juice in the political third rails and made politics safe for teabaggers.
Tic,tic,tic…..to May 21?
Isn’t that the date?
If heaven has a Liberal Runway, I’ll see you all there, hopefully.
We can STRUT!!!
UI wrote:
And you think you can get a more liberal Congress than the eleventy-first? 🙂 Good luck with that!
Jason wrote:
Yeah, that would explain why the Tea Party came into existence, and why the Democrats got their butts kicked last November, wouldn’t it?
Face it, you got a lot of your agenda passed: ObaminableCare, the stimulus plan, and sky-higyh borrowing and spending, and what did it get you? Y’all lost the House, and seven seats in the Senate.
If I thought that there was a glimmer of a chance of getting someone like Dana to understand the causes and effects of the mid-terms, I’d comment. Since there is no chance in hell of that happening, I will not.
Suggested Obama 2012 Slogans
dougpowers.com
Every good campaign starts with an effective and descriptive slogan, so here are a few early suggestions for Obama — feel free to add your own:
–”It’s the stupid, economy!”
–”On your Marx, get set, go!”
–”Is government better off than you were four years ago?”
–”If they could see us Mao!”
–”Making Jimmy Carter look good since 2009″
–”Ramen noodles in every pot and a czar in every garage”
–”It’s not socialism; It’s the free market owned and operated by the government!”
–”Give Chris Matthews the tingle back!”
–”There’s a bear in the woods; isn’t it important to understand the bear’s perspective?”
–”Did I mention that Biden’s not on the ticket this time?”
–”Obama ‘12: Too over-hyped to fail”
–”Spare change we can believe in”
–”Don’t start thinking about tomorrow”
–”It’s mourning in America”
having fun guacamole?
remind me again who the Great White Hope of the GOP is.
k-thanks-bye.
Obama doesn’t need a primary opponent to “pull him to the left”. All he needs is to get re-elected, then he’ll go about as “counterculture McGovernik” as you can get because he’ll be a lame duck. He’s playing the middle so that he can get re-elected.
Delbert, we used to call that “eleven dimensional chess.” It ain’t happening.
Tea Party came into existance as a rebranding effort, nothing less than that. The Dick Armey gathered the distilled crazy as the catalyst, to start, and the always-in-search-of-conflict traditional media did the rest.
TPers could advocate killing every third person as a cut spending measure and the trad media would act if it was a plausible idea. Why? Because the only assessment the trad media will ever make is if the shit sells soap.
Delbert wrote:
Like Bill Clinton did, huh? 🙂
Of course, you do realize that you are saying that President Obama is simply lying about everything to get re-elected, don’t you?