Rolling Stone: Obama's Re-election Organization Is Already In Place
Rolling Stone's Tim Dickinson did a bang-up job in the new issue dissecting what happened to Obama's campaign apparatus -- and why. Lots of meaty stuff. For one thing, there were a lot of unintended consequences to rolling Obama For America's volunteer organization into the DNC.
It may interest you to know that the same president who can't seem pull it together on healthcare -- the same one who both Obama and David Axelrod insist isn't even thinking about re-election -- already has his reelection infrastructure in place:
OFA has quietly deployed paid staff to all 50 states, building a network from state directors all the way down to a corps of supervolunteers, trained in organizing, who recruit an army of neighborhood team leaders. "There's a skeleton of a re-election campaign already set up -- beyond a skeleton," says Figueroa, the campaign's former field director. "There's already meat to the bone in every state in the union. Three years away from the next election, that army is already being continuously fed. If you're Barack Obama and his political operation, revving the engine, how is that not a good thing?"
For the rest of us? Perhaps not so much. If Obama's putting this kind of effort into his re-election, and not into passing healthcare reform, well, it seems he's getting ahead of himself.
Anyone that thinks not preparing early is a bad idea, isn't paying attention.
* There are two types of Republicans: millionaires and suckers.
"Mugsy's Rap Sheet": Recording history for those who seek to rewrite it.
Fer dog's sake, are we at the point with the firebaggers that everything Obama does must be by definition an outrage? I'd be more worried if he didn't have such an apparatus in place.
I'm waiting for slinkerwink to post a GOS diary with exclamation points on this. Then I know it's a result of firebagger talking points.
Come on Mugsy and Dr. Squid, let's go have cocktails because I'm with you guys.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Too bad 'early prep' doesn't include getting single payer passed though.
me-oww!
indeed.
but Obama never even put single payer on the table..
and the less-good public option looks a long time dead.
While I was living in Pittsfield, Massachusetts last SUMMER, while all the Town Hall Meetings were out in full force, I was notified of an "Organizing for America" meeting in Northampton.
So, my healthcare activist friend and I schlepped to Northampton so we could join in, what we THOUGHT, would be a dialogue regarding the healthcare reform legislation.
Ehhhh!!!!! WRONG!!!!
There were about 50 people there and when my friend and I started asking questions about the healthcare legislation the OFA "leaders" informed us, quite COLDLY, that, "THIS IS NOT A MEETING ABOUT POLICY. THIS IS STRICTLY A MEETING TO ORGANIZE FOR THE RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA."
After the meeting adjourned, a few people came over to me and my friend and started in on us accusing us of being "disruptive teabaggers" who were only at the meeting to bring down Obama.
Long after we left the meeting I realized that all I had to do to convince them that I actually had worked to get Obama elected and that I contributed $$ to his campaign was to scroll back on all my cellphone's text messages from the night of the election (plus many more before that!!) to show that I had backed Obama.
Even two young college girls from the supposedly "liberal arts" college acted like Stepford Obamabots. When we offered to give them information regarding the mandates/fines/estate recovery etc., they declined and said, "We are on the OFA team and we don't need to see any information you have."
O-kaaaayyyyy.......
I needed two glasses of wine to bring me down from that nasty experience.
So, yes Susie....OFA is not only at it now, Obama's hand had barely been raised off the Bible Michelle was holding in D.C. on Inauguration Day before the OFA team was hard at work.
It's all about POWER, not PEOPLE.
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
It's the things he hasn't done that are the outrage.
A former award-winning journalist and lifelong class warrior, keeping a jaundiced eye on the Washington elite.
This kinda chit is the mark of opportunistic professionals. Not professionals at running a government, but of something far more involved. (again, not with government!)
I am sure if Obama had taken the bluedogs and the repigs out behind the woodshed and given then a spanking they would have all gotten on board with the public option et al. NOT
Politics is ugly
No, but if he did I'd wager that his approval ratings would jump 30%.
Obama should not give a damn about the teabaggers and the small segment of independents who are actually conservatives. The reason his approval is down is because progressive democrats and left leaning independents are disgusted with his weakness and bipartisanship. Obama's reelection is not threatened by a bunch of religious cretins crying socialist. It's threatened by the exodus of the above mentioned groups because he refuses to act on the mandate that got him elected.
The people of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage." J.K. Galbraith
And the thing that bothers me the most is, while Obama piddles around in a centrist fog, the teabagging maniacs are organizing. Mr. Obama, please listen: You will never, NEVER, get the republicans on board for anything -- ANYTHING! And you are alienating everyone in your own party except the blue dogs with this mamby pamby bullshit. Pleeeeease, kick some republican and blue dog ass and, I promise you, you will be amazed at how quickly your base will rise to support you.
Susie, it has been a sad, predictable journey this past several months-- seeing you and John A. both-- Morph from optimistic cheerleaders for HCR, only to be slapped down, time after time after time. You both should have known better. You're as familiar with the inevitable charade that accompanies anything progressive, as any other political animals.
Coming to a State near you:
New and Improved, Change you can pretend in, version 2.0.
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
I sincerely doubt the President is using much if any of his personal time on this. And even if he is, hell, the man might just be able to do more than one thing at a time. He can't threaten the senators lives to get them to do what he wants.
Maybe everyone would feel a whole lot better if Todd Palin was a heartbeat away from the oval office.
Next maybe we can complain about the color of the ties the man wears.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Now, now 'pissed off.....' Be fair, I recall- you have done your share of "complaining." If something is amiss, it's okay to discuss whether or not it has any meaning for the rest of us. Especially when it involves presidential activity.
And to be perfectly candid, you could acknowledge there is ample reason to closely examine all the 'fine print' these days.
Strikes me as a non-story since the alternative would be to dismantle the apparatus completely.
Actually the preferred alternative would have been to use the apparatus to push for what was promised during the campaign.
YOU are the defacto HEAD of the Democratic Party. No?
Then get these assholes to get in line! Just, for once, get in line!!!
If you don't do it, who will?
We want you to be re-elected. But, if "'we're' the ones we've been waiting for," how about a little help here? I've been calling, e-mailing, signing petitions, etc..., but my voice is a meaningless whisper in the whirlwind shouting on the MSM.
YOUR voice count's. You're starting to use it. Good.
More, Sir, MMMMMMMOOOOOOOOORRRRRRREEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Makes no difference. I and million others are going to sit this election out. Is it possible that Obama will change and FINALLY become a leader and not a GOP enabler? Sure. But I sure don't expect it.
That sounds to me like cutting off the nose to spite the face. One thing for sure is, none of the teabaggers are going to sit out the election.
I can tell you in one word, why, despite the dithering, that Obama was the right choice: Sotomayor
Maybe there's no reason to vote for any particular person, but there may be a reason to get out and vote against a person or agenda.
I watched some of C-span's coverage of the tea party convention today live. They were holding an entire seminar about how to get the tea baggers out to vote across the country and how they were going to organize voters on the net just as the President did. These people are crazy mad and they are going to turn out. So are we supposed to just sit back and pout while they put the likes of Bachmann, Palin, and others in control of our country? I can tell you that I sure as hell won't.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
The tea baggers are trying to take over the Republican party. We need to take over the Democrat party. If there is a progressive candidate in the primaries, we need to turn out and vote.
The corporations know that turnout in the primaries is low, and that's where they stack the deck with corporate controlled candidates to run in the general election.
But, if it comes to the general election, and the choice is two corporate controlled candidates, I'll still turn out and vote against the enabling of the Republican social agenda.
really, why is 'sitting this one out' considered a viable option? At least go and write in "None of the above," scytherius. It's bullshit to just stay at home. People have died so you can vote. There are people in countries that would give anything to vote. And you treat it like it were garbage with that attitude.
'Sitting out the vote' is just lazy and disrespectful. I suspect it's a meme or idea started by some duplicitous asshat who will benefit from your not voting.
It gives a vote and power to people you definitely don't want in charge. I didn't vote for Obama nor have I voted for any major party presidential candidate since 92, but I voted every time I had a chance to.
me-oww!
sit out the Presidential election, but vote for state & local pols you like. I think the authentically progressive ones only exist at that level anyway.
"For the rest of us? Perhaps not so much."
Susie, maybe you think Jeb Bush would be better. Sorry he hasn't personally sent you a support payment yet but he's the best we have right now.
In other words, you want us to support someone that is willing to compromise in order to go along with 95% of the Republican agenda instead of the truly bat-sh!t insane. At least, be honest with the rest of us ignorant masses.
is - every public office term is now part of one continuous election cycle. And what's wrong with reassembling the grass-roots organizations that elected Obama and have fragmented away. We need people to get on board. Remember the conservative agenda since the day Obama raised his right hand is to do whatever it takes to prevent his re-election, and they have shown that no bar can be set too low. How much worse can it get? Much, much worse.
Hmmm... I wonder when they will institute the leadership team?
Obama showed his true corporate colors with the health care bill. There's nothing he can do to win me over. Even George Bush didn't try to force me to buy insurance from the same private industry that everyone says is corrupt and needs reforming. Corporatecrat!
all Bush did was try to dismantle SS. What do you think would have been next?:
obama revealed his intentions by starting negotiations immediately conceding the more progressive and fiscally stronger position of single payer in leu of the weaker public option position. he then proceeded to eviscerate the public option's effectiveness and likelihood of passage via the phrma deal and by underutilizing his bully-pulpit in support of the option.
obama hasn't gone to the mat once for the progressive base that worked so hard to put him in office. speaking for myself, if he doesn't start governing towards his base instead of the opposition, i'm going to support a progressive democratic primary challenger in 2012. i like gov. dean.
oh, and mr. president? rahm, is a vast vortex of suck.
Who is surprised? Obviously things can be done when they really matter to the good of the American People (i.e. one particular American Person).
supreme court
so all of you need to stfu and make sure that this man gets reelected
cuz if he dont, you will be choosing between enron and some other corp for your prez in 2016
Walt Kovacs you are invited to go cocktailing with Mugsy, Dr. Squid and me. (see comment up thread) I like your style.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
got me not invited.
me-oww!
Ah, come on, but the second round is on you. :)
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
doubles all 'round!
me-oww!
I'll buy you guys a bottle of absinthe and you can try to convince me the Dems are egalitarian and in it for the little guy.
What if Kucinich threw his hat in the ring? Or a decent third party candidate? Would you still support O'Disappointment?
didn't vote for him, and this state would have to take a huge right turn for me to vote 'the lesser of two evils' path. But face it, if Clyde McCrashcup had made it to the Holy Grail in 08, the Forrestal would look like an office trash can fire in comparison. If the office trash can had a very tiny piece of paper in it.
I just hope, if we keep speaking out, and do everything we can, we could turn this bitch around. I don't know if it's possible, but with no way to go live on another planet to get away from this mess, I can't give up. I have to try to make it better.
me-oww!
Which third party candidate could help us avoid a huge right turn....AHA! Ralph Nader! Somebody fire up the bumper sticker machine.
one smaller right turn coming up!
It's O'Bummer, so I read elsewhere. ;-)
But, seriously, the 2010 elections are Congressional elections only. So, one needs to ask a simple question. Will things improve if Republicans gain seats in the midterm elections?
I don't think so.
As far as whether "the Dems are egalitarian", remember, Kucinich is a Dem. Anthony Weiner is a Dem. I think there is a wing of the party that is egalitarian, mostly in the House. But, they are a minority to the corporate owned and operated Dem.
... and that is progressive power within the Democratic Party.
A Blue Dog loss to a Republican is not necessarily a bad thing.
Corruption favors the wealthy.
Well it's nice to know he cares about ONE American. Maybe the habit will grow on him.
*
... former volunteers?
Corruption favors the wealthy.
Hooray! Let's get him in for a second term! I can't wait to see what he will accomplish in that term. I think he should replace Biden with ATT or Goldman Sachs, however.
Obama hasn't fixed the country in 1 year? OMG he fails so hard. Let's vote for Brown/Palin 2012.
Third party.
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
How could I forget...they're having their convention today!
If you can point me to one that works towards mid-term elections.
In some states the Green Party, for instance, will work on down-ticket elections, to get folks elected to state and local seats. In the rest of the nation, we have 'Green Party for Nader' voters that ONLY show up for Presidential elections.
The next time we need a lying piece of shit in the WH we will let you know. It is way past time we voted them all out and started fresh. Out of the 455 or so their are only four or five that do as the people ask, the rest are nothing but crooks on the take, looking out only for themselves, while running this country into the septic tank. (Don't say anything about the septic tanks or the war mongers will want some to help spread freedom.CEO,citizens,eyes,open.
...and this time, I ain't gonna be one of them. Worked really hard for him last time around--ringing doorbells in the rain, in the dark, talking him up to a lot of people, contributing time, effort, money--like a lot of others did once (and even before) it became apparent that it was either Obama...or McPalin.
Not this time. At least I won't have to worry about donating and having my contributions derided...you know, being a "fucking retard" and all, like I am, eh Rahm?
My money's going to the local Humane Society this time around. Or the local food bank. Two organizations who can put it to better use. Screw the "Coke vs. Pepsi" debates.
and I still will not vote for him again if he doesn't make massive progress on health care reform and human rights/civil liberty restoration.
Another four years of submission to the GOP. Fuk him.
Poppy Bush and Jeb Bush rolled up to the White House at 9:35 AM Jan. 30/10 for a meeting with Obama.
I see why you would want to keep constantly making a case for that in and attempt at an Alinsky type "big stink" but polling data contradicts that point of view. Fact is the public is rejecting progressive policy and the more the President beats the dead horse of healthcare reform the more he will expose himself as an ideologue.
reply to: Sat, 02/06/2010 - 13:44 — Trantorian
... is putting it mildly. In my view, as bright and as nice a guy as Obama appears to be, he has not earned reelection.
I voted for Obama once. But unless something changes soon, I will not vote for him again. In the immortal words of George W. Bush, "fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."
being a good President being more important then serving a second term, heh?
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