by Dennis K. Fischman in Government Reform, Politics
Posted on December 3, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Last Modified on December 3, 2008 at 11:05 pm
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I’ve been reviewing some of the reasons Obama will need to be pushed if he is going to be a progressive President, and some of the major areas in which we need to push him. The key thing is, we can’t wait.
Already, Obama is selecting Cabinet members and advisors who put the counsels of caution and the interests of corporations over the needs of the poor, the unemployed and under-employed, immigrants, people of color, youth, women, gays, and even the middle class–in short, ahead of everybody who helped Obama get elected.
Already, Obama is signaling that left to himself, he will use the economic crisis as an excuse not to do some of the things that would solve the economic crisis more speedily–let alone create more economic justice in the future.
It’s traditional to give new Presidents a grace period, a time to wait and see what they will do. We can’t afford that now. We just threw big business, the war hawks, and the religious right an eight-year wedding party. We can’t afford to give Obama a honeymoon.
We need to follow the advice of another Democratic President during times of economic crisis, Franklin Roosevelt. “FDR was, of course, a consummate political leader. In one situation, a group came to him urging specific actions in support of a cause in which they deeply believed. He replied: I agree with you, I want to do it, now make me do it.”
We can make the administration do what we deeply believe it must do. It’s not too late, but it’s not a moment too soon. As Dennis Kucinich said, “Wake up, America!”
What if Moveon were on the air today with videos calling the new administration to keep its campaign promises? What if all the $10 contributors to the campaign were now sending $10 a month to advocates and community organizers? What if people who went door-to-door for Obama and for a Democratic majority in Congress were out there today, signing people up for massive demonstrations one month after Election Day?
What would the next four years look like then? Let’s find out, shall we?
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Dennis:
Here’s another idea, it’s called
backoff.org.
Regards,
Steve
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Dennis, exactly. You need to keep hammering Obama and calling him out on all his promises or – more accurately – failed promises. Wherever and whenever he falls short of what he promised (even if only in your private Idaho) — hammer down on him. Call him out at every opportuniy. He got elected with promises to do some pretty wacky things and if he doesn’t come through then you really need to take gloves off. I’m talking demonstrations, emailings, yelling/screaming…. the whole nine yards. Pretend he wants to cut down a willow tree – if that’s what it takes to get the blood boiling.
He got elected in November – how come no changes yet anyway? He seems to be just a Clinton lackey…. is that what you progressives thought you were getting?
Funny thing is we on the right seem to be willing to give the guy more of a chance than the left will. LOL.
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Hi Dennis, your frequent postings analyzing prez-elect Obama are great, but I think SV is not the appropriate venue for them. This blog is really meant for discussions about local, not national life.
By the way, you might be interested to know that the consolidation of executive power at the presidential level has been paralleled at the local level in our strong mayor form of government (although not quite to the same degree). Just check out the SV posts about Mayor Curtatone’s Charter Advisory Committee.
I hope you’ll continue to engage in discussions about local issues here on Somerville Voices. Regards…
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Barry, you\’re quite right, and this is the last in the series. Folks who are interested can check out what I have to say about national politics from time to time at dfischman.blogspot.com.
Steve, that is a good statement of another idea. I think I\’ve made it clear why I disagree. \’Nuff said.
Imux, it\’s pretty clear you have no idea what progressives really think, or that we can have just as many differences of opinions as conservatives or rightists. But just look at the discussion between Steve and me.
So far, Obama IS just what I thought–and worried–we were getting. I think it\’s the job of progressives to push the country toward social justice, not just to elect the candidate who will do less harm and perhaps a little good. Whether we\’re quiet or raucous, or both, we cannot be silent.
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