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Obama is a center right politician. The Republicans vying for the White House in 2012 are currently far-right Tea Bag Republicans. There is a huge void on the left that inevitably will be filled by a third party candidate splitting the Democratic vote and ensuring a Republican victory in 2012. The only way to avoid that outcome is to replace Obama with a progressive Democrat.
The country voted in 2008 for a progressive and they will do so again in 2012 if we give them that opportunity.
I started a bus ad campaign in Washington D.C. to create some noise and hopefully start a discussion among the media about the future of the Democratic party and the weakness of our current candidate. It was my hope that this discussion would create the opening for a primary challenger to come forward.
Today I am happy to announce that the bus ad campaign was successfully funded and the ad will be going up in D.C. along a high traffic route sometime in the next month. Thank you to all who supported this effort.
Here is the winning advertisement;
![epicstep_starter [Converted]](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5068/5613417029_1fc74a56d7.jpg)
I know people are searching for answers and looking for ways to elect a candidate that represents the progressive community. Many are desperate to take action instead of just wallowing in disgust. This was how I chose to act and I hope more will follow. Anyone can start a crowdsourced ad campaign through www.epicstep.com with as little as $1.
I would be happy to help anyone with their designs at no charge if you do not have that skill set. I am done talking. I am done wallowing in disgust. It is time for us to come together despite our differences of opinions and to start taking concrete actions to change the current dynamic in Washington. Let’s put some meaning behind that tired campaign slogan, “Yes We Can!”
You can see the other designs for this campaign at https://www.epicstep.com/campaign/199/obama-needs-a-primary-challenger/
Unfortunately my favorite design did not win but the choice by the supporters was overwhelmingly clear. People are outraged and the most outrageous design won hands down. Let’s keep up the pressure. The drumbeat to replace Obama is starting. Please add your voices.
54 Comments
Wow. Well done Fig. I wasn’t aware of your efforts before this.
Could 2012 be shades of 1968, as progressives mobilize
against the old/new counterinsurgency and the new publicly
known “kill lists” — “Afghanistan is the new Vietnam”?
Certainly we have Kucinich, who’s been weighing where and
how to run in view of redistricting. I don’t know if he
would consider a primary run for President — or Barbara
Lee, for example?
But I remember the “Dump LBJ” movement, an interesting
precedent.
I have serious doubts. The rich Clinton elitist corporate centrist Democrats control the leadership of the Democratic Party. They essentially want the same things that the Tea Party/Republicans want. Until we let go the myth that they are not the same, nothing will change.
If anyone thinks that the Democratic Party is going to run anyone other than Barack Obama for President in 2012, I think that they are dreaming. No way in hell and Kucinich is not near strong enough of a presence to carry a presidential race. The pundits would rip him a new one. I’m not saying that Alan Grayson would be the best, but the Democrats would need someone similar. Kucinich is too meek and Americans would perceive him as weak and small.
If anyone thinks that Obama is going to act any different than he has for the past 2 years they are dreaming. The two-party system is a myth. We have a one-party system of the rich. Obama even plays the good old boy ivy league routine appointing advisors and committee chairmen who graduated from Harvard–Republicans such as Alan Simpson and Jeffrey Immelt CEO of GE–a corporation that hasn’t paid income tax for two straight years. That is a slap in the face to the majority of Americans who pay on average 25% of our income in taxes every year. Obama may as well just say f you to the majority of Americans. He is as big a liar as the rest of them. He doesn’t give a damn about the American people.
What has he done for education? He doesn’t give a damn. He sends his two daughters to a private school where the tuition is $28,000 a year per student–a total payout that is more than most single parents in the USA earn in a year. What about that jerk he appointed as Secretary of Education? What the hell has he done in the past two years? Since he sends his kids to private schools too, he is probably backing school vouchers. You notice how no one in the Obama administration has spoken out against school voucher fraud that is in full swing.
That is the Obama strategy: Let the Republicans run wild and control the conversation. Then when it is totally out of control, step in and effect a compromise from that point–well duh. We all know where that strategy get us a big fat zero.
It is ABSURD to think that we can have a democracy with 261 millionaires making our laws.
The leadership of the Democratic Party and the majority of them in Congress are as much a part of the problem as the Tea Party/Republican wackos.
Well done, figaro. The ad won’t change the Democrats in any way – as your ad makes clear, the Democrats are Republicans and thus don’t care about people who might be anywhere near a bus – but the ad might get some of the people to wake up.
And Liz Berry, you’re spot on with your comment “The leadership of the Democratic Party and the majority of them in Congress are as much a part of the problem as the Tea Party/Republican wackos.”
The D’s are actually far, far more of the problem, since the Tea Party doesn’t control diddly, but the Dems have had the White House and Congress and they’ve chosen to use that enormous power to do exactly what we’ve seen: be Republicans.
Though the truth that the problem is as much the Democrats as the Republicans will certainly irritate the mindless clique of supercilious Obamabitches.
Don’t let Randi or Big Ed hear you talk like this. They will point out how “getting obl” cures all.
Bravo to Figaro and
Liz B. scores again.
nice work!
(though I agree, in spirit, with others comments, it is mainly symbolic at this point)
I am so disappointed to hear the resignation in your voices but I completely understand.
We have the opportunity to vote for whichever candidate we want in the Democratic primary. Obama does not control who wins; the Democratic party does not control who wins; the media does not control who wins. We are the ones who get to vote.
So many here have given up the fight. Nobody can blame you with all that has happened. The consequences of giving up are huge. The consequences of letting life beat you down are huge. Find that little spark that still believes and nourish it. We will need every one of you in this fight if we are to succeed. And if we fail, at least we made the attempt. At least we fought for our country like all the soldiers who have gone before us. This is not the time to call the election and announce the winner. This is the time to take the hill and force our enemies into retreat.
Out of curiosity, how much did this cost and who do you send that payment to?
I think you don’t quite get it, figaro. It is not resignation or defeat that you hear in our voices. It is a realistic appraisal of the Democratic Party in general. We are not giving up, far from it! But I applaud your initiative. This is a wonderful thing – my only wish would have been that the photo show Bush plus Obama, to really drive the point home. But bravo to you! That’s a huge accomplishment and I hope it filters up to the upper echelons of power and puts grit in their grits.
Actually, the Democratic Party does control who wins. Party primary elections are not civic elections and their outcomes are not binding. They’re just a tool that the party uses to help them select who they think will perform “better” in a general election.
This is the piece of analysis that seems to be constantly missing from the “primary them to the left” strategy. That and the fact that all it dies is possibly push them to the left when they’re in campaign mode. After they secure the office they can go “right” back to where they were.
Anyway the point is, primaries aren’t going to disrupt much because they have no actual force behind them. They’re just glorified marketing surveys for the parties.
If they admitted the truth about Obama they’ed be out of a job.
I should note that many states have “binding” primaries, but that thus modicum of citizen input is easily nullified by the presence of superdelegates. So while it’s true that a particular state’s primary outcome can be binding for that state’s delegates; it is not the case that the aggregate outcome nationally is ultimately binding.
This was all crowdsourced. Some people gave $2 some gave $200. Go to http://www.epicstep.com for details.
I hear that argument all the time. There are many who believe they are the ones who are being pragmatic or realistic while the rest of us just don’t get it.
You couldn’t be more wrong. I understand your point of view and I reject it because the reality is we have a dysfunctional system in which we have to work to create change. We can’t just start a new party and expect people to jump on board. We can’t expect a third party candidate to win the White House.
The reality is we have to work within the primary system if we want to avoid the Democratic vote being split ensuring a Republican victory. You could argue, and I would agree, that there isn’t any difference between Obama winning and a Republican winning. Where we disagree is that you claim not to have given up but yet you won’t support the only avenue we have to create change. What is your plan? How have you not given up?
Nathan, the idea that the Democrats could nullify the Democratic presidential primary, while factual, would be highly unlikely and would ensure Obama’s loss due to the outrage it would cause among the populace.
Yay! I don’t really have anything to add beyond that, but I did want to say thanks and congrats!
First of all, I think this undercuts the obvious fealty to the “team” that huge swaths of the Democratic electorate exhibit. The justification would be, “Well, the Democratic leadership must have thought that other person would stand a better chance in the general election.” And the party leadership would blitz the media with the reasons why, and the media would be complicit in this because it’s to their advantage to make sure that pro-corporate, pro-war candidates remain our only real options.
Secondly, I think this also undercuts the obvious fealty to money and deeply entrenched power structures that the Democratic Party exhibits. It would be better to lose an election than to significantly upset the balance of power and money.
I reject the idea that the Democrats are particularly interested in allowing for, or pushing for, significant reforms because there is no evidence to suggest that they are. If Obama wanted to secure his re-election, then he’d pursue popular policies. He doesn’t. Likewise for Democrats. It doesn’t matter if he gets re-elected as long as a real reformer doesn’t take his place.
Anyway, it’s just something to consider when investing in activism. :-)
Thanks!
Meanwhile, back on planet earth………………
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/29/how-liberal-is-president-obama/?ref=natesilver
LOL, it sure does feel like I am hitting my head against a brick wall here.
You just keep on keeping on. Ignoring the naysayers and apologists is at least half the battle when you are doing activism.
Good for you!
Thanks for that!
I’m hoping we can all at least agree that there is no harm in pursuing a primary challenger, supporting the New Progressive Alliance, and looking for qualified third party candidates all at the same time. Something about eggs and baskets …
Good for you, Figaro. A journey starts with the first step. Keep it going.
Nice work Figaro!
Your post, and MatthewJ’s post yesterday (http://my.firedoglake.com/matthewj/2011/05/12/no-confidence-protest-vote-2012/) got me wondering…What if everyone wrote in Nader/Kucinich on the ballot in 2012?
Concur.
Let’s do it. But who? We need real names of electable people. We need someone who wants to do it..someone somewhere has to step forward. We have time…the real repub challengers won’t really surface until the last minute…like a Jeb. To beat BO you need someone who is not perceived as kooky or weak, and certainly not someone open to corporate bribes.. Has to have name recognition and a good record.
Who, who, who???
The Repubs would landslide..
Bernie Sanders. Taken much more seriously than Nader or Kucinich, both of whom I distrust a lot.
I think this is a great piece of theatre Figaro but that is all it is. We need more of this kind of activism. I don’t want to burst your enthusiasm bubble but the Dems will never allow a true Progressive to compete with Obama and none will. Together the dems and repugs will never allow a strong third party to develop and compete with them.
I hope someone does choose to stand up and challenge Obama so more people will see the dirty low down methods the dems will use to discredit and marginalize them.
Elections are no longer decided by dems or repugs they are decided by Independents.
Yeah, and unfortunately, most “independents” are just low information voters, people who only tune in to what’s going on in an election year. I don’t blame them for paying so little attention–I wish I could do that and live more stress free–however, they are susceptible to all the Madison Ave crap thrown at them by the Kochs as well as the parties.
I think most great movements have to start somewhere and great theatre is a good place to start. I love Figaros’ bus ad. If we keep finding ways like this to show that neither party stands for the people, even the village elite will have to start “discussing” it as an issue. Once that starts to happen, stronger actions may begin. At least I hope so.
2001-2009
How soon people forget.
Touche’!
Forget? As my Republican uncle says, “What’s changed?”
Electable? There’s no one who is “electable” right now who can defeat Obama in the Democratic primary and win the general election.
In the long run, It. Does. Not. Matter. In the long run, which, I think, isn’t all that long(less than ten years), our current economic and political system simply cannot survive. I think there will be radical and revolutionary change of some sort.
In the short run, Obama will be re-elected. Because he is a corporatist, meaning he is one who believes that advancing corporate interests by the use of governmental power is a Good Thing.
IOW, according to Mussolini, he’s a good Fascist. And the PTB like him. Therefore, he will be re-elected.
Right now, the Presidency cannot be changed. Congress? Governors? State legislatures? Possibly, maybe, and probably, in that order.
Act locally. Not all of the Democrats who are running for those positions are corporatist swine. In fact, a lot, maybe even most, are not.
I really like the bus ad idea. Get it going in several major cities and it has to attract media attention and drive both parties nuts.
Really,Barbara Lee ?what will she do…her district is steaming in Foreclosure & what has she done to help ‘em…….she has been silent hoping no one will notice.
BTW,she is another Democratic politician barely better than a GOP politician.
Regarding write-in candidates – they don’t *have* to be Nader/Kucinich – the point is that We the People need a meaningful alternative to the Republicans & Democrats.
If We the People are unhappy with our government as-is, it is up to us to change that…our own founding fathers and mothers didn’t wait around hoping for change, they made it happen.
I’m not at all saying that we need an armed revolution – given the 300-some million folks in this country (talk about a sleeping giant!), all we need is a common goal, a game plan, and some action on election day.
We don’t have oodles of money to throw at politicians like the PTB do, but we do still have votes and voices. We can reach out to friends and neighbors…but a clear, concise message is a must for success.
Despite Mr. Obama’s abyssmal performance as POTUS, the 2008 campaign showed America something: that grass roots action can work.
Why should we wait for the two reigning parties to spoon-feed “electable” candidates to us? Why should we have to settle for choosing between the lesser of two evils? Why in the world can’t we have GREAT people leading our country?
“If We the People are unhappy with our government as-is, it is up to us to change that…our own founding fathers and mothers didn’t wait around hoping for change, they made it happen.”
Yes. That is exactly what will happen. It happened before, in a long war that effectively ended in 1781. But I don’t think it will happen within our current system. Not peacefully, anyway. It certainly didn’t happen that way then, did it?
Unfortunately, and I truly mean that, it will only happen through violent change. It is inevitable. It is our destiny.
God, I hate it when I sound like the Emperor of the Galactic Empire. Someone please convince me I’m mistaken.
I resoundingly applaud your initiative and encourage more of the same. I’m utterly skeptical that we expect anything but more of the same from our present-day corporatist “Democratic” party. That said: well done & carry on! A very very good effort.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure that I can convince you that you’re wrong. Albeit I see most citizens as so lazy and/or so overworked and busy that I cannot see anyone really getting out of their houses to protest, whether utilizing more foreceful or more peaceful means.
That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do it, however. Time will tell.
Good going. I’m all for efforts like this and would like to see more. If nothing else, it’s a good way to shake things up a little and to, maybe, get citizens thinking. I’m more interested in waking up the populace and getting them to “think outside the box” for a change… and start realizing that we’re way beyond any “two party system” paradigm.
The Oligarchs are running the show. In today’s Russia, the citizens know and get it. In today’s USA, the citizens still believe in American Exceptionalism, as well as believing that somehow that inures to their direct, personal benefit… even as the nation falls apart before their very eyes.
Go for it!
Drop “lazy” and substitute “propagandized.”
There’s a difference. Wisconsin? Michigan, Ohio? You know, less promoted efforts?
Quit insulting people-at-large as that never helps.
Ditto!!!!
I think you would be suprised at how informed Independents like myself and others are. The way i see it the people who tow either party line are the low info followers who stand in the way of change.
I’m still not clear on who organized this ad effort, and who paid for it (org), or where the funding to pay for it came from (source of money).
Am I to believe, Fig, this was all NPA related, and that you have some position in NPA?
I’m a little slow sometimes, thanks for indulging my questions.
It’s all very interesting.
On, it’s only a matter of time before the rabid citizenry has no shelter, food or care.
N ewe kin betcher bippy at some point, the rabid citizenry WILL act rabidly. It’s inevitable, as inevitable as the system as is collapsing.
It’s unsustainable, don’t discount the rabid citizenry, by any means.
I started this campaign with three designs that I created myself and $15. Anyone can start a billboard campaign through a new website called http://www.epicstep.com.
How this works is that any person submits a design and starts a campaign for as little as $1. Then, you go around and tell people about your campaign through blogs, or Facebook or just your own email list. People who like your campaign can support it for as little as $1. You get to vote on which design you like and each dollar you give gets you 1 vote. If you give $15 you get 15 votes.
Other people can also add their own designs to your campaign and get votes as well. The artwork is all crowdsourced. The funding is all crowdfunded. There were people who gave $2 to my campaign and people who gave several hundred. I had no control over which design won and no control over who could add designs to my campaign.
The campaign lasts for 30 days and if you don’t reach the funding goal, which is determined by epicstep depending on the cost of ads in the city you choose, then nobody’s credit card or paypal account is charged. There is no risk of losing your money on a losing campaign. If you do reach the funding goal then the accounts are charged and epicstep places the ad.
They provide you with video and photographic proof that the ad has been placed. There has already been one successful campaign on http://www.epicstep.com for Wikileaks. If you go to epicstep, look up there successful campaigns and you will find it. They placed a billboard in LA and Chicago. It was actually covered on CNN and some of the other big news networks.
Anyone can do this for $1 and a design. There is no risk. I spent a few hours of design time and $15 and now there is going to be a bus ad traveling around D.C. on a heavy traffic route. Doesn’t get much better than that! I can’t think of a better way to get our message out.
Thanks for the clarity . . . this is a most unusual routine, process, effort and such. I wonder if the money flows as you suggest.
And may I ask, what cut does epicstep take for their work? N where does that cut come from, off the top of all ‘donations’?
A very suitable link to this diary.
http://www.obamatheconservative.com/
You would have to go to their site for more specifics. The funding goal includes their fee and I believe it is quite small. They do all the legwork and provide the platform and all you have to do is have an idea.
This is the way of the future. Everyone is connected through social media and that seems to be the best way to fund these things. If your idea resonates, it will spread through word of mouth. They have buttons on each campaign where you can share it through Facebook’s “like” button or through Twitter or one other way I can’t remember. I’m not on facebook which was a huge disadvantage.
Excellent link! Thanks for that. I’ll be forwarding that to some people for sure.
Really great. A footnote to this ad might say. “We’re all Republicans now” I guess this is why Sunday Talk Shows only have Republicans on them. Democrats just don’t rate or nobody is really listening to them because they’re all talk no action.