How Progressives Can Move Obama to the Left | 22 comments (22 topical, 0 hidden)
only one way to 'move' fauxbamaco. (none / 0)
While all true you have yet to ennuciate something concretely doable that will ACTUALLY and EFFECTIVELY accomplish that task. Rahmbama and the DLC aren't concerned with the progressives, no matter how intelligent, perceptive, reasoned and unfoolable they are, for the simple reason they currently lack sufficient organization and numbers to mount a challenge the dlc doesn't think is a joke in practice.

But thanks to the democratic parties recent sweep in the elections and their record since that sweep a newly emerged opportunity that didn't exist before DOES exist NOW, an opportunity to start an actual viable, very fast growing and, soon, VERY powerful progressive party. That 40% of democrats that currently plan to sit out the next election ... the similar numbers of 'independents' that are turning away from Obamaco ... the rapidly disillusioning youth ... ALL looking for precisely what an authentic progressive party and movement provides ... SANITY, INTEGRITY and FAIRNESS.

And that's where YOU can really make a difference, Cenk, because you, through your hard work, internet savvy and presence, true authenticity and even-handedness, and ever growing reach and highly enthusicastic audience, are perfectly positioned to take advantage of this newly born opportunity and MAKE IT HAPPEN. Obama effectively kindled HOPE FOR REAL CHANGE in tens of millions of americans and then, after winning the election, immediately kicked them and that hope into the gutter to die a slow painful death, but now, after the health care debacle, the dems have destroyed any remnant of their 'cry wolf' credibility and when they do their 'ralph nader' scthick ... 'if you start a new party you are destroying our chances to bring real change to this country' who will take them seriously.

And there those people and that hope lay in the gutter, fading embers, but NOT yet extinguished, and just waiting for someone authentic and enterprising to pick it up out of that gutter, blow those fading embers into new fiercely burning life and MAKE IT HAPPEN.

What do you think would happen if you were to announce on your show you were going start a fund to create a new progressive party and movement? Are not the possibilities endless?

In this internet age, and done right, I see no reason why there couldn't be a Progressive Party 10 million plus strong (and growing fast) marching on the november elections with a hundred million dollar warchest in hand. Where do you think that 'Washington center' would be moving then?

And since the progressives really ARE in the mainstream, why not position themselves as the party in the center?

Put a thought ot two behind it.





 

by spigzone on 12/24/2009 10:52:33 AM EST

Point and set, but not the match. (none / 0)
"Rahmbama and the DLC aren't concerned with the progressives...for the simple reason they currently lack sufficient organization and numbers to mount a challenge..."

I agree about the organization, but I disagree about the numbers.

Every issue-oriented poll shows that Americans favor progressive policies.  That means that most Americans are progressive, doesn't it?

So why do they vote for Reagan and Bush?  It's because they think Reagan and Bush are nice guys.  It's because the left doesn't speak out.  It's because progressives aren't organized for action.  It's because Republicans are always in our faces but we're never in theirs.

You're right about the lack of organizaiton and action.  But most Americans are progressives.  They just don't know it yet because no one has told them.

If I can elaborate a little on what Cenk said, we have to be on the streets every day, in their faces and in their cameras.  We have to let the progressives in Congress know that we've got their backs, not just with our letters and phone calls, but also with our money and with our bodies.

That is how we can change things.

by EveningStarNM on 12/24/2009 11:11:44 AM EST

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the4 progressvies need a HOME (none / 0)
You're right about the numbers. My wording in that sentence was poor. What I had in my mind as I wrote that is the progressive blogs and their readers. Sizeable in aggregate, but ... homeless really ... what is needed is a STRUCTURE that they and the like minded multitudes can call HOME politically. Something they can help build and contribute to and work for. Something that can wax POWERFUL and EFFECTIVE. That role was historically fulfilled by the democratic party, but the last year has put the final nails into that possibility.  

A political party would provide a FOCUS for the progressives, something for them to pour their hearts, minds, souls and energies into so they and their children and their grandchildren have a shot at building a future that doesn't have armageddon written all over it.  

Another part of the equation is the necessity for a single WORD that LABELS and DEFINES the financial/corporate elites for what they are and what they are doing. A single word that becomes associated with the insatiably greedy asshats that are trying to own this country lock, stock and barrel. I suggest 'eliticon'. Right now there is no one word that defines these pricks. One is NEEDED.

by spigzone on 12/24/2009 01:27:41 PM EST

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You're right (none / 0)
We need a simple marketing slogan that doesn't take up too much time in a sound bite.

It should personalize our battle with the ultra-rich elite and bring home the fact that this really is a class war.  It should be a pejorative but uncensorable name for the bankers and CEOs.

And it should fit into a three-word or, at most, four-word slogan.

Unfortunately, I haven't had enough sleep to be able to brainstorm right now.

I'm going to start a new article that hopefully will help generate some ideas about this.

by EveningStarNM on 12/24/2009 06:21:59 PM EST

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the system (none / 0)

What would a new progressive party have to offer, other than "hope" and "change"? People have heard that before, and they are disillusioned enough to know that change cannot be achieved by electing a certain person or party into office. Change means that a lot of people stand up for what they believe in. The fundamentals of the political system need to be changed: Without campaign fincance reform, a real progressive, non-corporate party will never succeed! People will have to "coerce" the Democratic Party to do this, and they will need the media in order to win. Otherwise, there's no legal way to get it done.

The corruption of politics in Washington and its servitude to corporate interests need to be addressed on the largest scale possible. If the people's voice is not heard then, there's nothing else to hope for.

by OldGerman on 12/24/2009 11:32:21 AM EST

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Agreed (none / 0)
The people will need to coerce the Democratic Party to fundamentally change the system. That will NOT be easy, in fact, it'll be nearly impossible. Same case with starting a new progressive party. Too many progressives are disillusioned for it to have widespread support, which leaves us back with the democrats. I'm sad to say that I'm not sure there's any way out of the current situation for the left in this country, at least not for a while.

by polyglot on 12/24/2009 12:09:51 PM EST

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do you BELLIEEEEEEVE ......... ? (none / 0)
I would say progressives are disillusioned because they don't HAVE a party. I think they would rally in a massive way behind the formation of a new party of their own, founded on authentic progressive principles, IF they trusted the leadership behind the formation and organization of the party. That's where people like Cenk come in.  

 



by spigzone on 12/24/2009 01:37:34 PM EST

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How Progressives Can Move Obama to the Left | 22 comments (22 topical, 0 hidden)