dagblog - Comments for "The Democratic Revolution Is Now: the grassroots movement is on the ground and the domestic policy that will define Democrats in 2012 is on the House floor"

The "major and high profile

Dan Kervick — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 01:58:44 +0000

The "major and high profile mea culpa" is the American Jobs Act.

I think you misunderstand what I mean by a "mea culpa". A mea cupla by Obama would require that he address the nation in some way, list in detail the many errors he has made, and take full responsibility for those errors. At this point, the only way Obama can build any kind of foundation for regaining the trust and confidence of Americans is that he gives clear evidence that he actually knows what he has done wrong.

It draws a line in the sand between his vision of the future and that of Republicans.

Obama has never once presented a comprehensive statement of his vision of the future, at least not one that is compelling to progressives. His lack of success in mobilizing people to follow him can be tied directly to the fact that nobody really knows what the Obama vision of the American future looks like. I think there are more windmills in it, and it's supposed to be a future where we all get along, but otherwise it's a bit vague

As far as I can tell, Obama IS going "nuclear" on Republicans, as his plan contrasts quite starkly with their ideas, their policies, and their ideology.

You and I just seem to have vastly different conceptions of what it would mean to take a strident line against the Republicans.

Right now there seems to be a huge gap between the majority of Americans and those who view America from the Washington and major media plane. I listened to the Diane Rehm show on Friday and was stunned by the total disconnect between the complacent and establishment-oriented patter of Washington pundits, and their major-party horserace obsessions, and the roiling political and intellectual ferment and disaffection that is taking place across the country. I worried that it was just me. But the initial calls that came into the show were on the theme of "What in the world are you out of touch people talking about?"

We have people on the streets right now, in case you haven't noticed. Obama needs to figure out how to connect with something deeper, or he will increasingly be seen as irrelevant and out-of-touch. Americans of many stripes are increasingly convinced that greedy overlords have destroyed our prosperity and are stealing our future. What side is Obama on in this fight?

Actually, 70 percent of

MuddyPolitics — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 03:43:00 +0000

In reply to Obama is in major trouble. A

Actually, 70 percent of Americans still blame Bush and his policies for the current economic conditions. Obama's at 53 percent, according to polls.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/21/poll-majority-of-america...

The "major and high profile mea culpa" IS the American Jobs Act. It focuses the nation's attention on solutions, which the Republican Party are opposed to. It contributes to solving the country's debt issues (The American Jobs Act reduces the annual deficit). It draws a line in the sand between his vision of the future and that of Republicans. One wants to further deregulate the markets that created the recession; one wants to protect consumers and invest in infrastructure, green technology and education.

You have three suggestions. What policy should Obama use to accomplish them? Rhetoric won't work alone, obviously. He can't prove himself as a job creator if he doesn't try to create jobs. He can't chart a new course without a chart. He can't regain national support simply by firing people (he would need a plan, too). The American Jobs Act compared to the Republicans' "Real American Jobs Act" actually does nothing to help the unemployed, the underemployed, or the people living in poverty. As far as I can tell, Obama IS going "nuclear" on Republicans, as his plan contrasts quite starkly with their ideas, their policies, and their ideology.

they may be worried about

Richard Day — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:04:55 +0000

In reply to The Democratic Revolution Is Now: the grassroots movement is on the ground and the domestic policy that will define Democrats in 2012 is on the House floor

they may be worried about supporting a bill that Republicans have vowed to defeat, but that too is misguided.

I know. I agree.

But this entire 'movement' still might boil down to this:

Thanks for posting, Muddy.

Michael Wolraich — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:55:38 +0000

In reply to The Democratic Revolution Is Now: the grassroots movement is on the ground and the domestic policy that will define Democrats in 2012 is on the House floor

Thanks for posting, Muddy. Nice piece. I agree that web-fundraising, which Obama utilized very effectively in 2008, has great potential to change the balance of corporate donations.

It has some limitations, however. It works extremely well for celebrity candidates like Obama or (shudder) Sarah Palin. Sharron Angle exploited Fox to raise a lot of money that way in 2010. But I suspect that it's much less effective for your average congressperson who is unknown outside his or her district. There may not be a large enough pool of donors. I also worry that the Super Pacs are going to kick the asses of the web donors.

Regardless, I hope that Democrats do distance themselves from big business.

Obama is in major trouble. A

Dan Kervick — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:03:44 +0000

In reply to The Democratic Revolution Is Now: the grassroots movement is on the ground and the domestic policy that will define Democrats in 2012 is on the House floor

Obama is in major trouble. A majority of Americans now, for the first time, blame him for our economic problems. He is also on the verge of irrelevance. Conservatives despise him and progressives and liberals pay little attention to him. America is in the process of tuning him out. He appeals only to the most meekly compromising of bureaucrats. Nobody with any heart or passion looks to him as a leader. I don't really see much that he can do right now, because he seems to lack the stomach for the kinds of dramatic changes he needs to make and risks he needs to take. But anyway, I would recommend some steps:

1. He needs to issue a major and high profile mea cupla. He needs to take responsibility for the egregious strategic and moral errors he made in 2010 and 2011, and announce a complete change in direction. He needs to repudiate debt hysteria and the Wall Street money barons who are behind it, and chart an entirely new course based on work, prosperity, equality and justice. He needs to stop addressing himself to Republicans and begin addressing himself to the majority of Americans who are not Republicans.

2. He needs to fire Tim Geithner, Eric Holder, Geoffrey Immelt and others on his staff, and bring in a new team. He should recognize publicly that Americans can have no faith in the progress of prosperity, eqality and justice so long as these individuals are in charge of their respective departments.

3.He needs to go nuclear on the Republican party, and denouce them as the twisted and implacable enemies of human decency, justice and prosperity that they are.

... and (c) have already

SleepinJeezus — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 06:16:38 +0000

In reply to As I understand it, Democrats

... and (c) have already responded asking why Obama would even ask for our few measly scheckels when he is expected (like last time) to take obscene amounts of money from Wall Street and others along with all strings attached? You see, I can't afford to outbid Wall Street in an auction.

As I understand it, Democrats

Dan Kervick — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 05:41:57 +0000

In reply to The Democratic Revolution Is Now: the grassroots movement is on the ground and the domestic policy that will define Democrats in 2012 is on the House floor

As I understand it, Democrats have been trying to raise lots of money from small donors. I seem to get a couple of such solicitations each week. Unfortunately, those small Democratic donors are now (a) poor and (b) massively disillusioned with Obama.