this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2024
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[–] Uncle_Abbie@lemmy.today 38 points 2 months ago (4 children)

Barack Obama had a lot of great ideas, but I think people have forgotten how many times he gave up without a fight. His motto seemed to be, "We can't win, so why try." I really blame him for the demoralized Democratic base that stayed home and allowed Donald Trump's win.

Harris needs to fight for progressive ideals, even if she doesn't always bring home a victory.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 25 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (17 children)

Obama lost the House of Representatives in years 3 and 4. And again in years 5 and 6. Then he lose both the House of Reps and the Senate in years 7 and 8. That was the thanks he got for the ACA. He pushed for progress, got it, and the left voters never showed up for more.

You want progress? You need to vote and give Dems consistent and overwhelming victories.

[–] Dkarma@lemmy.world 20 points 2 months ago (1 children)

To be clear the ACA was Romneycare...not progress.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Romneycare that didn't kick into action until 2014. And because state agencies got to rebrand their programs, you had some crazy A/B poll testing results.

In Kentucky, a new Marist poll conducted for NBC News finds that 57 percent of registered voters have an unfavorable view of “Obamacare,” the shorthand commonly used to label the 2010 Affordable Care Act. That’s compared with only 33 percent who give it a thumbs up – hardly surprising in a state where the president’s approval rating hovers just above 30 percent.

By comparison, when Kentucky voters were asked to give their impression of "kynect," the state exchange created as a result of the health care law, the picture was quite different.

A plurality – 29 percent – said they have a favorable impression of kynect, compared to 22 percent who said they view the system unfavorably. Twenty-seven percent said they hadn't heard of kynect, and an additional 21 percent said they were unsure.

[–] Krauerking@lemy.lol 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (23 children)

I look at it as a Mexican standoff. The protest left voter is not going to win this Mexican Standoff because the Dems have an out, to go for the center voter. Which is a voter that actually shows up. The leftist has no alternative. Bemoan the two party system if you want, but there is no alternative.

When the left doesn't show up, Dems just go to the center even more.

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[–] AbsoluteChicagoDog@lemm.ee 6 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Except every time Democrats do win then the excuse becomes that they can't unite the party.

[–] Lasherz12@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Walz is the perfect solution for this excuse. He passed progressive policies weekly in the governorship with a 1 seat majority. There are plenty of reasons to be excited about this ballot that are new. You could of course argue the same thing about early Obama, but I trust Walz.

[–] newfie@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

What evidence is there that Kamal will even try to pass an agenda that is similar to what Walz did in Minnesota?

I think Walz is the most progressive governor in the country and would love to see his policies implemented on a national level. What evidence is there that Kamala's administration will even attempt to enact those policies? She has been light on policy, with the exception of supporting Israel and building the wall via the bipartisan immigration bill that the Dems are now running on.

I'm assuming Tester wins in Montana and dems have a blue house and 50/50 senate. But even with that, idk why we would presume she would be as progressive as Walz

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

When do they win? They need all 3 of House of Representatives, Senate, and Presidency to do much of anything. And they've had that for, drumroll please, 4 of the last 24 years. Or 6 years of the last 44 years. They basically never win. So they are forced to compromise and then they go to the center to find voters.

And when they do get all 3, Obama passed the ACA, Biden passed green energy, student debt, drug price control, etc,. And the thanks they get is to then lose the midterm elections. Thanks voters that don't show up!

[–] newfie@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Biden did historically well in the midterms tbh. If it wasn't for gerrymandering and a population capped House, Dems would still have complete control of Congress

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Yeah but it still kneecaps them. He can't even do a sweetheart border deal without the House.

[–] newfie@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yeah my point is that voters did show up. Dems did historically well in 2022 for an incumbent party

Its just that the structure of our electoral politics favors rural areas and gerrymandered districts. Which currently means the red team benefits. Which isn't the fault of recent voters

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[–] Leviathan@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Honestly, voting for representatives was a hard sell back then but after 2020 young people actually showed up to vote between presidential elections. Uniting the party is easy if all the elected party members are progressives.

[–] chakan2@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

The ACA is a huge black mark on Obama's legacy. Clinton certainly wasn't going to push for universal healthcare. She was just a terrible candidate.

It was just really hard to get excited to pay 1100$ a month for bare bones family insurance. (At the time...it's closer to 2500 a month today).

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (23 children)

Oh the most progressive healthcare reform ever is suddenly a bad thing? Fucking lol.

Want more? Vote and give them consistent and overwhelming victories. 2 years every 16 years is going to be slow. Bump that up champ.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

Oh the most progressive healthcare reform ever

In America? That was Medicaid, and was established in 1965 by adding Title XIX to the Social Security Act. The PPACA was the biggest increase in enrollment since it was established, but was by no means universal or even approaching the scope of the original act.

[–] Dkarma@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Your first sentence is a joke right? Most progressive health care ever is a misnomer. It was Romneycare rebranded.

Get a clue

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[–] ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 months ago

It is really quite something how Obama almost categorically opted to give up without a fight on virtually every issue. He had to be dragged across the finish line for the ACA and was trying to kill the public option before Lieberman even took that charge up.

The backroom politics of the Obama years should have primed anyone for what came after.

[–] 4lan@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

never forget he authorized the extra-judicial drone-bombing of an American child.

Obama is just a character. He is the charming face of the bloodthirsty elite.
Look at his record

If he were not attractive and charming people would be treating him like Pelosi

I'm convinced liberals are really just sneaky centrists. We need to rid the party of neo liberals

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