I've noticed a great deal of anger lately at the site; and I generally try to lurk and not participate. I've read copious amounts of negative assessments expressed about President Obama. Some of the opinions include but are not limited to:
Obama is a precompromiser.
Obama is a corporatist.
Obama is naive.
Obama is providing Bush's third term.
Obama fails to use the bully pulpit.
These reactions go up to and including a call for primary. And I understand why you would like to primary President Obama.
Admittedly, the reaction is fairly demoralizing for me, probably because I am someone who is enthusiastic about President Obama. Furthermore, I am happy that some progress is being made in fixing the damage to our country. But what I see just reinforces why I never, ever, want to hold public office.
Given this, I'd like to spend a few moments articulating my position before I bring forth a proposal. Personally, I am very satisfied with the direction of how things are going. I am relatively happy with the outcomes on the healthcare bill, though I have a cousin that keeps arguing with me that it's "government run" and "government shouldn't run anything." I hope to not encounter that again.
I'm happy with the progress made on DADT and the schedule for it, and I am convinced that said law will be repealed. This is despite what I believe is a generally regressive legislative environment in many states, what with the failure of marriage equality bills even in New York.
My personal assessment of President Obama is that he's done a great job given that there's really...little to work with. There are very few progressives in elected office compared to "traditionalists," sadly. I'm very, very fortunate to live in the district of Louise Slaughter, a true blue progressive. But our guy to the south (Higgins)? Not so much. This is what we have to deal with. And that's why progressives have no leverage unlike conservatives.
Do not be fooled...a great many Democrats are NOT progressive in any way, shape or form. The limit of their progressiveness may well be just for belonging to a union. Where I live (Buffalo, NY)...and there are numerous places like it...politicians are nominally Democratic but generally very conservative. As an example, our incumbent and previous mayors, both Democrats, are pro-business (read: reduce business taxes, give handouts to business to encourage them to locate).
So this allows me to understand the difficulty in reconciling Candidate Obama (or even any candidate politician) versus President Obama. I'm disappointed in that some of the legislation like the stimulus and HCR did not go far enough. The stimulus disappointment for me stems from there not being slightly more transit funding, though I am grateful for that which did accrue. I'm a public transit activist, and any time we get a new system or an expansion, it's a good thing! That being said, I understand why the bills and initiatives didn't go as far as desired, especially with the fetishization of the deficit.
But I also understand that others...are fed up. They've had enough with President Obama. He is not following what Candidate Obama promised, as Jon Stewart pointed out. The anger is probably going to keep rising here.
So I have a proposition, and some suggestions.
I would like to see if Daily Kos may start a drafting movement for 2012. I am of the opinion that President Obama is written off by a great many Kossacks. I admit that I am not one that has written him off, and that I am again satisfied with his stewardship.
What I would like to know is:
What person is seriously interested in being President? And now here's the twist for the draft idea:
From what I've seen, the great hangup here is President Obama's perceived lack of twisting arms in Congress in such a way that the outcome most desired by Kossacks comes to fruition, in a timetable that's more Kossack time and not legislative time. The sheer length of legislative time is certainly frustrating, and it's the root of the reason I got laid off from my previous job.
I have my own opinion as to why the outcome was not to our liking. I am confident that there is a certain "street cred" that accrues from opposing President Obama in Congress...especially if one is conservative (Nelson, Landrieu, Lincoln, et al.) or one is a 'ratfucker' (Holy Joe Lieberman). My impression of Holy Joe, for example, is that he is spoiling for a fight, and just wants to cause trouble and make sure anything progressive is destroyed except when it suits his interests.
But this is a significant problem for gaining progressive legislation. Therefore, the draftee should arguably have a particular strategy for dealing with Conservadems and Republicans. Republicans are unfortunately not irrelevant especially since the numerous Conservadems will vote along with them. This strategy should be specific.
In addition, I found that a lot of trepidation came about from the selection of President Obama's cabinet. As a result, I believe it may be helpful if this draftee supports specific cabinet choices, and pledges to do so. Said choices would be "true" (as well as one can determine) progressives determined by Daily Kos.
This brings me to the last point; accountability to campaign promises. Said draftee would sign a pledge to those on Daily Kos, promising that any of the progressive positions they've advocated will be followed to the letter.
In my opinion, these items may help 'seal the deal' and bring forth a President that Daily Kos can get behind, and remain enthusiastic for. As I said before, I am still enthusiastic about President Obama, but it is completely understandable why many here are not.
I, too, want to see the major positions like a public option, more stimulus, etc. added, and perhaps this is the way to ensure that there will not be any further betrayal.
Thank you all for your time. I'm going to just throw in a poll on a few names I've heard tossed into the ring at one time or another as a Presidential choice on this site. If your preferred option is not there...well that's the point of the diary, to find out who should be drafted.