Danny's post election thoughts: Obama has two choices

OK the 2010 midterm elections are over and the dust has settled. I think they were very interesting and are perfect for clarifying where this country is and where it might go from here.

The republicans will try to prevent Obama from being re-elected in two years and Obama will either continue trying to work with them, or he will stand up firmly against them. The success of the Democrats in 2012, in my opinion, depends on which he chooses to do.

First I am fairly relieved since Meg Whitman and Carli Fiorina lost in California. They were just awful. (I actually know a lot of first hand info about Meg that I cannot tell you) But self funded corporate CEO's are not the ones we want running our government regardless.

I am most sad that Russ Feingold, Alan Greyson, and some other progressives lost their jobs. Russ Feingold fought in the senate for the people and against big government (what the Tea Party that ousted him claim to care about). He was the only one who voted against the patriot act, he voted against the bank bailouts, against NAFTA and every free trade agreement, authored political finance reform, etc. He was a truly independent (going against the Democratic establishment often) progressive. Sad to see him go to a corporatist millionaire.

Of course the Citizens United case has played out with the most expensive election in history!

So in a bad economy what always happens happened, the party in Power lost. In fact the last three elections have seen the party in charge lose. People are not happy with the economy or our government. The economy is bad because we deregulated the banks and lowered taxes on the wealthy. Just like when we did this before the great depression, it led to speculative bubbles with all that money the wealthy were playing with. The bubble burst, the economy collapsed, the banks and wealthy who caused it have actually made record profits during the recession. Obama and his government catered much more to wall street than they did main street. The Republicans of course did everything they could to prevent the economic recovery so they could win. For instance making sure the the stimulus was too small to make a big difference.

Obama tried to compromise with the Republicans and placate wall street rather than take on the Republicans and fight for the people. The horrible health care bill is an example. Obama took the public option (which 60% of Americans according to USA Today STILL SUPPORT) off the table. The weak stimulus another. The lack of a climate change bill another.

Now John Boener, the new speaker of the House, says he will repeal the health care bill because it will bankrupt the country and will push for extending tax cuts for the rich. (Of course this is crazy as the tax cuts will add to our debt while the health care bill is actually projected to lower it - but we know the Republicans don't play with the facts)

Republicans have also said now their number one goal: make sure Obama does not get re-elected in two years. Carl Rove has promised to continue running secretly funded attack ads nonstop even after the election to turn public opinion against the Democrats. Citizens United is a flood gate that has been opened that could wash away our democracy - this is scary stuff. Imagine providing the evil genius Carl Rove with UNLIMITED SECRET CORPORATE MONEY with which to wage the biggest advertising war the world has ever seen - and all to the detriment of our democracy)

Obama and the Democrats have two choices: work with the Republicans, which will not win over Republican votes and will not motivate the Democratic base, leading to a sure loss of the white house and senate in two years.

or stand up and fight against the Republican agenda. This will be a winning strategy as the majority of the people actually want a public option, they want the banks to be regulated, they want foreclosures to stop, they want job creating stimulus bills, they want to take action on climate change. The people will be on the side of the Democrats if they fight for them and against the corporate interests. This was shown in the two million people who went to the Mall to see Obama sworn in, in the young people who outvoted old people for the first time when they thought Obama was their guy. (Young people failed to vote in large numbers this time)

Fighting Washington is the only way Obama will win in two years. Becoming Washington he will lose.

Now I must say that we cannot blame Obama or expect him to act on his own. He never said he was a progressive. He talked of Change and people projected what they thought that meant. I never expected him to be progressive. But for most people, change meant fighting for the people and not the corporations. Unfortunately it seems change for Obama meant ending the divisive politics and trying to be a uniter, a compromiser. Well that has not solved the countries problems and did not help him politically either.

And we the people need to be loud and clear with what we want. We need to start organizing and calling the White House TODAY. Tell him to let the Republicans repeal the lousy health care bill and then fight to replace it with Medicare for anyone who wants it. Tell him to fight against the tax cuts for the rich in a time when our economy is so bad (he even has Alan Greenspan on his side). Tell him to push hard for green stimulus that will get people back to work and reduce out carbon emissions. Tell him to let the Republicans kill Cap and trade and instead fight for a carbon fee that will be returned in dividend checks to EVERY AMERICAN.

Obama will not chose this fight unless a loud movement of people PUSH HIM INTO THE RING. We need a Green Tea Party (unfortunately we are not backed by toms of money and the corporate media like the (White) Tea Party but we do have the true numbers on our side!

If Obama chooses these fights and makes the case for each one plane and clear and drill it home then he will reignite the passion that got him elected. At the same time when the Republicans fight him he needs to point out over and over again that it is the Republicans who are blocking progress, fighting for the corporations, and that in 2012 we need to give them the boot so we can actually get these things done.

Obama, the choice is yours, do you want to move out of your house in two years?