As we work to elect Obama

How can we move him to the left? What can we do to ensure that the next 4 years will be a true revival of America, not just a delaying action on the republican sponsored destruction of the country?

I am feeling a bit negative. My vote is in no jeopardy, my support is fully with Obama. McCain is Assured Destruction, and under no circumstances will I be any part of that. I am still working on registering people to vote. But FISA came as a kick to the gut. All these other "center movements" are things I could see through. The Iraq thing was nothing inconsistent to his previous message, for anyone who listened. His faith based initiatives was no big shake to me, consistent with what I had seen of him in the past. But FISA caught me off guard. I didn't believe that Obama would vote for it. I have to admit that I deluded myself. I was certain that he was saying he would vote for it so that we could all call in and persuade him not to.

So, back to my main point. What can we do that is productive in getting him elected, while also productive in getting him to listen to the people? How do we successfully skate that line?

He said what he would be doing on June 20th.

What we can do to get him elected is start
writing to the media about the good of Obama
and about the not good of John McCain.

The media will decide, and so far,
they favor McCain.

doing last October. The ol' 180

The voters decide. Not the media. The #1 most effective way to get more voters for Obama is to knock on doors. Canvassing works best. AT least that's what they taught us at Camp Obama.

Posting to discussion boards isn't very effective. Which is why Obama staff doesn't waste their time posting to discussion boards. Don't believe me? Ask them.

I remember the last go-round on FISA. The statement Obama made that forced Hillary to come round, Them both showing up to vote when everyone said "its a done deal". They managed to set things back a step. That was when I became an Obamite, when I decided it was time for me to get involved with what little money and time I have. Thats when I started donating, when I became a solid, even avid Obama supporter.

If the media decides, then we lose. That simple. They are not a people supported forum at this time, and the money behind them says McCain, so they say McCain. We need the people, and we will keep them despite the media, not because of it.

can get a health care system that isn't monopolized by corporate insurance.

I've been talking with a local union activist who suggests demanding outcomes instead of pushing a plan.

By that he means a health care system that has to be

1. Affordable for everyone

2. Cover everyone without any pre-existing conditions.

3. Offer free choice of health care provider to everyone

Then we should demand that the Pres and thew congress come up with such a plan that will priovide those outcomes. The beauty of that is that there is no plan offered by citizens to be shot down, just outcomes for a plan.

And of course the only way they can meet those outcomes is with single payer fee for service. Or hey if they can do it some other way, cool.

He's working on a universal plan which is "getting good response" from both sides of the aisle.

He also mentioned a cohort in the House who is laying the groundwork there.

Their hope is that they'll have all the nuts and bolts ready to go by the time Obama takes office.

http://wyden.senate.gov/

I really hope we manage to oust Smith this time so that he can't cancel his votes out anymore.

"'both sides of the aisle" sees as a really good plan might not look the same from out around the country.

Also, if it does look good to the grassroots, it's sure to look bad to the insurance industry.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6485430#6485486

My hopes is that everyone cool their jets til November.

:hi:

most democrats vote against it?

I don't buy the red state argument. I have as yet to meet a single person, online or irl, for whom voting for FISA was important. I know some who think voting for it was a capitol sin, and some (myself included) who find it unfortunate. But nary a one who advocated for it. Right, Left, or Center. Those for whom this would be an issue are already firmly in the pocket of the Right, and will require no facts to hate him, which is exactly what Fox will provide them. No facts, and they will hate him, FISA or no. He could come out against abortion, for the rapture, against the gays, and personally go hunt down Osama with an AK47 that he promised to legalize, and they would still hate him just as much.

That said, my intent was not to rehash the issue. Smart or not, realistic or not, it was a kick in the gut on an emotional level, for me. Subjectively. I have been avoiding commenting on it, but it slipped out. My intent is to ask what can we do that is both helpful in getting Obama elected while also holding him accountable to a better future(eg one that involves available social services and constitutional rights)

For the complicated piece that it was, with some useful elements, and the various ways it can be modified, maybe these good democrats differ of how to proceed.

and perhaps it was CYA and appeasement for most of them.

Why did the senators who I regard as the most likely to support the continuing good of the nation all vote no? Dodd. Boxer. Biden. Durbin. Feingold. Wyden. Hell, for that matter, since it was "going to pass", why not take the same position as McCain (not present).

That aside, why not deal with my question rather than fight a battle that we will likely never agree on. What positive, solid, realistic and doable things can we do that will achieve both the goals of getting Obama elected and keeping him accountable to the people?