President Obama is not running for election in 2014. I mention this only because there's a lot of

talk around here about how effective/progressive/cute/whatever people's opinion about President Obama are, and the chatter that arises is pretty interesting. A lot of us are disappointed. If the 2008 primaries were coming up, would we still be as enthused? Because it's important that we know RIGHT NOW, in April of 2014, what we think of the President, because that's what we need to be clear about before November!" Pointless, navel-gazingly, time wastingly dumb, but interesting.

Also interesting are Stephen Colbert's possible racism, Obamacare numbers and what they mean to the Sunday talking heads, and "rape culture" because that's what's important six months out of a national election.

Now, I'm a stranger in a strange land, here, but may I suggest that each of us ask ourselves the following:
1) What state am I in?
2) What congressional district am I in?
3) Who are my governor/state senate/state assembly/county supervisors/mayor and city council members?
4) Do I like the incumbents? Are there primary challengers?
5) What districts, national, state or local will matter the most in 2014? Keep in mind that the Koch brothers are not only opening field offices to GOTV, but moving into[link: http://irjci.blogspot.com/2014/03/koch-brothers-take-big-money-pro.html| smaller and smaller elections].
6) DO I WANT TO SPEND MY TIME ARGUING ABOUT WHAT TODAY LOOKS LIKE, OR INVESTING MY TIME TODAY FOR WHAT I THINK OF THE PRESIDENT TODAY? BECAUSE THERE IS A TOMORROW...Really, no kidding, I'm new here at DU, but this is a place with an audience. This is an organization, and an organization can choose action or discussion. I am more than willing to discuss how awful the prez. is, or whether Stephen Colbert is a racist, or whether or not Obamacare sighnups are working for or against us. But, here's the thing about these discussions: I DON'T CARE!!
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I care about November 4, 2914. A Progressive Presidential win in 2016 is unlikely. A Democratic Presidential win in 2016 is likely. So, we're (probably) electing a Democratic Party president with a (maybe) Republican Senate and House. Yay, us.

Let me, as a newbie, make a suggestion. Everyone who reads this discussion looks at where they are. Start from step 1) above and ask; here am I What races will be on MY ballot?
Then "Who do I want to be on my ballot?" Primaries near me? Where can I make the most of what I believe in? What are the dates of your primary elections? And for that matter, if there's no primary challlenger to someone you don't like, why don't you run? Just sayin'.
After the primaries, same deal; "Where can I make a difference?" Maybe you'll want to drive to the next House district over, on the weekends. Maybe there's a way for you to take Tuesday, November 2, 2013 off of work to drive a van, or sit by a phone. There are a lot of anti-voting laws being put into place, who has plans to take Tuesday, November 2, 2014 off of work?

I'll preempt any ad hominem, I live in the CA-14, and the only political seat in question where I am is my state senator, who was just busted for arms dealing. No matter how this turns out, there's no way I'm working for him (if he can run) or his opponent in November, because it just doesn't matter. Our state government is ALEC-free, as far as I can tell, and a Republican representing me in my State Senate is, really, me worry? I am CA; Diane Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Jackie Spier, Sen,(08) Leland Yee (arrested, not ALEC but not smart) , Assemblyman (19th) Jerry Hill. My county, and city governments are safe. So, I get to put miles on my car.
So, I'm looking at GOTV, US House races, or maybe NV-02.Steve Israel, of the DCCC is an idiot. I quit donating to the DCCC/DSCC when I realized that incumbancy was their agenda, not policy. But that's not my point.

My point is that we have November to deal with. DU is a big, big ship and you can't turn a big ship around quickly. It's time to start turning the ship NOW to organize for November, 2014. Right now, I'm looking at House races that I can drive to and volunteer. I'm in California, my Governor, Senators and Rep. Spier are fine. Who's close that I can put in the House? Who can I put into/preserve in the Senate?

Dammit! Everyone here knows that 2014 depends on GOTV and we're talking about "car salesmen" WTF! The Bannockburn Street Project only covers 12 states senatorial races, we need to look at a 50-state strategy, fighting for every house seat, fighting for every election where we can sniff out the stench of Kock-Cash. Can we please stop talking about President Barack Obama until maybe the second week in November of 2014? Pretty please?