by @zizii2
Okay, let’s cut to the chase here. It seems as if Democratic Party poobahs think President Obama’s back-to-back electoral feats were a cake walk that anybody with a “D” beside their name can replicate. And so all we need is to dispense with an actual primary contest, crown our fore-ordained nominee, sprinkle some liberal pixie dust on a fawning electorate, then presto! we crush Republicans in 2016. At least that’s what I’m hearing from Liberal doyen, Barney Frank.
If that is what he and the Democratic Party establishment believe then they really have another think coming! I gotta break it to him and his ilk: We will suffer an apocalyptic bloodbath in Nov 2016, that will make 2014 look like a summer picnic by comparison. Here’s why: That mindset of entitlement is not how Barack Obama won TWICE. Let me repeat: Barack Obama re-wrote the blueprint for WINNING hearts and minds across a wide demographic swathe in this jungle of American politics.
He earned our vote the hard way; callused hand by callused hand! Policy detail by policy detail! Registered record numbers of new voters! Devised novel ways to motivate voters! Gave ordinary people a stake in his campaigns! In 2008 how many of us did not anticipate David Plouffe’s weekly maps and low-key video updates about strategy with bated breath, then headed out on the neighborhood canvass beat? It was OUR campaign afterall! We owned it with our individual 2 cents.
Even when he was an incumbent in 2012, in a tough political and economic environment, President Obama came back to us voters in humility to seek another mandate. Never took us for granted. NOT ONCE! He didn’t assume that the magic of 2008 would carry over to 2012! And he’s the one who electrified us in the first place but never himself basked in the hype. Always focused on us and the betterment of this country.
So the likes of Barney Frank and the braying “unnamed” advisers in a certain campaign have the nerve to ask that we avoid a tough nomination process. The latter have the gall to start undercutting VP Joe Biden, just cuz MoDo’s asinine mischief in the New York Times has spooked them? And where are the voters going to come from in time for the general election if they are not activated earnestly during the primaries with a contest of ideas?
Here’s the dirty secret. The Democratic Party Establishment has refused to come to terms with the depth of Barack Obama’s electoral feats. They think it was no big deal. I keep reading all kinds of reasons given to diminish the scale of his victories; 1) Oh 2008 was a Democratic wave election so anybody with a “D” would have won. 2) Hillary’s 18 million votes were super awesome and would have done well in the general. Sure! And if my Uncle wore a dress he’d be my Aunt!
All the Democratic candidates were going to fight on the “Kerry Map” and hope to take one swing state, with zero margin for error. Nobody except Barack threw out the fraidy cat Democratic Party minimalist map. We took the fight to Republicans in their stomping grounds and won ALL 9 of the battleground states; Iowa, Virginia, Colorado, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Florida, New Mexico. Unheard of, but we won.
As a matter of fact President Barack Obama’s victories have masked the true state of the ossified Democratic Party. But for the blood infusion Barack Obama gave the Democrats in 2007-2008 and 2012, the truly abysmal state of the party, especially at the state level would have been even more glaring for all to see. Democrats have zero to write home about in terms of building followership at the grassroots level or any level. The Party has no movement, let alone movements, on the streets that fights for progressive values or applies the art of persuasion to unabashedly win NEW voters to our values. Nada.
The party turns tail and runs from Republican paper tigers at the sight of the slightest breeze. Democrats gave up competing in local races eons ago. So what do we get? The most rabid madmen and women taking over schoolboards, state legislatures where they shred constitutional protections with impunity. Why not? They have nothing to fear from a lily-livered opposition that does nothing but send howling emails from DNC headquarters that there are GOP monsters under its bed. Ferchrissakes at least break out the torchlight and LOOK under the bed!!! Naah!
In some swing states, the party headquarters look like a nook from Dickens’ Miss Havisham’s cobwebbed manse. Yet they had the nerve to complain about OFA’s style of activism, while sticking out grubby hands to get “the OFA donor List.” They want you and I to fork over our small donor money so they can buy and suckle the latest fancy blinkie!
So yes, Barney Frank, the target of your article may have been Bernie Sanders, but its reasoning has been invoked to tarnish any potential run by VP Biden. It IS wishful thinking to assume that we all rally pronto behind Hillary without energizing the coalition of voters who put President Barack Obama in the White House twice with record vote tallies; 69 & 65 million.
Democratic Party honchos, you know, just ask the MAN who KNOWS how to beat Republicans, how he did it. More importantly don’t take us voters for granted. No need inventing square wheels. Not gonna turn!
GM TOD! Happy B-day POTUS 😎 ……and great post, Zizi!
“What’s sad is how easily people are manipulated. I’m not insulted because I cannot be insulted by stupidity. Everybody’s entitled to have uninformed opinions. Everybody’s entitled to be dumb. But I’m not dumb, so I see through the manipulation. We have something to learn from this. That is that the educated people or the people with great human values have to wake up, because they are under the illusion that most of this country is like them and sometimes they don’t even go to vote.”
I think that is so cool. Once again, the genius of PBO’s administration – floating balloons – PRICELESS!
not to forget, kenyan is the first president in more than five decades (since dwight) to win at least 51 percent of the national popular vote twice.
if only there was a honest media.
The GOP would not exist (at least not in its present form) if not for a deceitful media. Propaganda is infuriatingly effective in swaying the gullible and infantile electorate.
Good Morning/Afternoon TOD
Happy Birthday Mr. President!!!
OMG!
JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESUS!!!!!!
No wonder Twitter was on fire.
This is me right now:
I’m still trying to recover myself, NW!!! …he gave Meek a participation certificate 😀 😀 😀
I know, right?
A GAHTDAMN participation certificate. I was like, I NEED OXYGEN.
Drake didn’t start this but he is going to finish it. Drake has no chill left. None. At. All.
This is the beef for the digital age. 😀 😀 😀
I knew Meek was slayed when the Soundcloud released for “Back to Back” was a picture of Joe Carter hitting the World Series winning home run (clinching back-to-back championships)….against the Philadelphia Phillies!!!
THIS….THIS….THIS!!!!
That was the point I knew I was going to enjoy this beef because Drake was going to serve some A+ realness.
Meek was so dumb firing off tweets that couldn’t be backed up and the hilarious thing is that Drake is all, I’m not just going to hit you back with lyrics that sting, I’m going to hit you back with smart undertones so that when people peel back the layers, the punch of my hits will be felt for a looooooooooooong time.
LP & NW, I don’t know what the Drake v Meek Mill is all about, but you two crack me up with your responses 😀 😀
LOL, GGail. 🙂
It’s the greatest beef for the digital age. Drake didn’t start it. He was just there minding his own business and living his life and Meek Mill decided to roll up and flap his Twitter fingers.
Drake said okay, I didn’t start this but I will DRAG you for FILTH…..and it has been GLORIOUS. 😀 😀 😀
The memes from this digital beef have been AWESOME. Plus, Drake has blessed us with 3 awesome new rap songs. We win. 🙂
😀 😀 😀 Okay, maybe I’ll put it on my “must read list” for this weekend and go over to Drake’s TL and read up on this smack down. I do like Drake and don’t know squat about Meek Mill.
Not to worry. Nothing could take me away from the TV on Thursday.
I bought my popcorn this morning. White wine is chilling in my frig. A box of tissues will be on the coffee table so that i can wipe the tears of laughter from m cheeks.
Good to go!
This is why President Obama wants you to tune in….the clown show is gonna be out in full force!
I still LOVE ride or die biden’s smirk right before he knew that smackdown would be coming.
Thank you NW for featuring zizii’s brilliant analysis!!
Dear Mr Vice President,
I write in abject humiliation this morning, to apologize and ask your forgiveness for an error I made in a TOD blog comment on Sunday evening.
I was encouraged to forward the comment to you on this site, and did so on Monday morning.
It was not until Monday night I re-read the comment I sent to you, that I became woefully aware of a grave mistake I had made. I had taken the liberty to use your initials, and I used the wrong initials.
I used JRBIII, which are Beau’s initials. It was an honest but stupid error, and dawned on me as I was sitting in my favorite chair, beside my One-In-A-Million invitation to the 2009 Inaugural, there it is, written clearly:
Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.
I trust you will understand, and even forgive me. I hope eventually I will able to forgive myself. And I shall now go online to the TOD blog and scold those others who were so enthralled with my thoughts and sentiment in the piece, and were adamant that I send it on to you. None of us caught the error, so while I am the main ignoramus, I will lovingly tease the heck out of them all as well, and make them carry the weight with me.
I pray I have not caused any pain to your gentle heart, or to the heart of Dr. Biden. I love you both so very much.
Many blessings,
Pamela in Seattle
MP – great letter and glad you caught the error!! However, I doubt seriously that VP Biden was offended.
Take care!!
Dear MP – please don’t beat yourself up over an error none of us caught. It was done out of love.
Pamela, don’t be so hard on yourself. It was truly an honest mistake which I believe VP Biden would understand and freely forgive. ((hugs))
You guys are so good, I am pretty much hanging on by a slender silver thread these days. Love and big hugs all around. ❤ 🐻 ❤
Thank you zizi2 for a wonderful post on President Obama’s two-time victory. It was HARD work and he got a lot of people involved because from the very beginning he said it was OUR election. I went to OFA meetings, donated money, walked door to door in my area and in Orange County, because I knew the stakes were high to have another Republican in the WH and the importance of allowing PBO to continue his work for US! Running for office is not for the faint of heart or the lazy. PBO does make running for office and presidenting look easy but we know it aint easy. You have to be a strong secure person in your own skin and be OK with the fact you are not perfect. The people who said they “love you”, “got a thrill up their leg hearing you speak” only to turn on you like Judas turned on Jesus. If Hillary is too lazy to shake hands and go door to door then she does not deserve to be president. It is too bad there are NO younger men and women to take over for President Obama. I hoped that O’Malley or Deval Patrick would run but they turned out to be disappointments. I am still hoping that VP Biden will step in if he is strong enough and willing to put in the hard work.
So appreciate the wisdom of this post, ZiZI! Congratulations to LP on first place. Obama 08 ignited a whole generation and re-inspired boomers like many of us at TOD. I don’t see that happening this time. Around liberal Portland there are a few young women wearing those creepy “Feel the Bern” t-shirts. Makes you wonder why they don’t want to help Hillary bust through that infamous glass ceiling. OFA is NOT the DNC, and those old dinosaurs are making a huge mistake if they think Obots will fall in line unquestioningly with a coronation. All the candidates currently running are distancing themselves too much from President Obama.
Great piece zizi – sadly, these Dems are clueless as ever.
❤
BRAVOOOOOOOO zizii2…..Excellent Excellent ….Telling it like it isssss
this is what scares me the most:
“As a matter of fact President Barack Obama’s victories have masked the true state of the ossified Democratic Party. But for the blood infusion Barack Obama gave the Democrats in 2007-2008 and 2012, the truly abysmal state of the party, especially at the state level would have been even more glaring for all to see. Democrats have zero to write home about in terms of building followership at the grassroots level or any level. The Party has no movement, let alone movements, on the streets that fights for progressive values or applies the art of persuasion to unabashedly win NEW voters to our values. Nada.”
*****************
Much has been said about the GOP Clown Car….we laugh…but the GOP Faithful will vote for one of those clowns….
and if the DEMs do not vote in 2016….one of those clowns will win and bcomee our next President…
as zizii has said….the DEMS have not learned from the master in the White House…in fact in 2014 they asked him not to campaign for them…what has changed?….
today we have DEMS who are going against the President…as it relates to the #IranDeal…DEM Presidential candidates who seem to be uncomfortable endorsing the successful policies of the President….
Obama Derangement Syndrome is not just in the GOP it is very much a part of the Democratic party…
I’m fascinated by this fella …
#WHDemoDay
Our president fires on all cylinders. It is so awe-inspiring to see so many issues that he talked about throughout his political life start coming to fruition near the end of it. PBO has been able to get so many things done in part because he never said anything that he did not mean. Other politicians say what sounds good on any given day to any given group, while Barack saw what we could be and worked hard with everyday people to be elected POTUS so that he would be in a better position to bring them about. He had a purpose, a vision and held to it from day one in the White House and stayed focused on it through all of the sound and fury of governing this wild west that we call the USA. The idiots on both side who are currently running keep thinking “If a Black man can be elected president anyone else can be also, so why not me?” Barack Hussein Obama is a brilliant, purposeful, clear-eyed but pragmatic idealist whose love and concern for his fellow man, even those who despised him, was elected by the people that he invited to share his vision of what we and our country could be. He just happened to also be a bi-racial man of Kenyan and American parents. PBO did, in two elections what no republican, democrat, or republican candidate has ever done before. You would think that by now more of these candidates would be trying to emulate PBO instead of being so dismissive.
This is great and should be shared and utilized by everyone!
I have never ceased to be amazed by PBO’s election victories. That a proud Black man (not a hint of Uncle Tom) could twice win the presidency of this profoundly racist country is a testament to the brilliance of the candidate and his team. His victory was so resounding and unexpected that the folks who control this country quickly went to work to change the rules. Citizens United was a direct response to PBO raising record amounts of money through small donations from ordinary citizens. The Supreme Court had to counter the people power exemplified in PBO’s campaigns by unleashing the full financial might of the owner class. PBO’s campaign also mobilized the Black vote and the young vote in an unprecedented manner, which directly lead to the Supreme Court gutting the voting rights act, red states imposing voter id laws and making it harder for college students to vote. PBO is hated by the political establishment in this country (left and right) because his victories served to restore a semblance of “democracy” to this country, which is counter to their agenda. That he turned out to be the best president this country has ever seen (dealing a serious blow to this country’s real national religion, the doctrine of white supremacy) only further infuriated the political class, left and right. This is why they have the reflexive need to diminish his presidency and accomplishments, left and right. They are so blinded by their hurt egos and shattered (racial) pride that they fail to see that they only diminish themselves by such childish behavior. The blueprint has been given to the Dems, and their refusal to utilize a proven winning strategy tells me that they value some things more than winning elections.
Eric, you and zizii2 are on fire today!
ALL of this, Eric!
Right ONNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
The blueprint has been given to the Dems, and their refusal to utilize a proven winning strategy tells me that they value some things more than winning elections.
****************
and this is what scares me…
BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO!!
The old Orange Satan site is 100% BS for POTUS even though Kos is behind his fellow ex-repub Hillary. They don’t want to even consider VP Biden as an alternative to HRC. There are so few people that go there and all they talk about is the “bern”.
That was a damn good read zizii2, I agree with every word you wrote.
Hello TOD.
TOD is Great and TODers are Awesome.
Excellent piece, Zizi2. Brilliant Post.
Congrats, LP on your Au ⭐
To all the Gold ⭐ winners in the last 3 posts 🍸
I loved the Renaldo Video…….I equally loved it that Only a Child played with him and he was rewarded. People flocked to him, after his mask was removed……….So true so true of our Humanity these days.
Nice try 😉
But due to the hold 20-35% of their base…….Teabaggers, Fox, Talk Hate Radio Hosts and MSM cheering from the side…..CIR remains unattainable for now.
zizii2, thank you for your Post. I especially like this sentence…”Gave ordinary people a stake in his campaigns!”
Scary stuff, truly. I find it beyond reason that the democratic party doesn’t even want to try PBO’s strategy. the democratic party needs youth, vigor, and energy to shake things up. instead they are laying down for Hillary’s coronation. (how is that going to fire up new voters??) I really hope biden runs, but even he alone isn’t what this party needs. it needs fresh faces, new ideas representing the best of PBO’s coalition to move this country forward, not backwards to the 90s.
8-4-15……..
WH Presser with Josh “The Voice” Earnest LIVE, momentarily…….
Thanks Zizi. It’s good to see you writing again!!!
To honor #44Turns54 I’ll give a few facts that people may or may not know about PBO:
BWD 😉
Thank you Donna, those are great tweets.
LOVE This 😀
Something POTUS has been advocating for quite a while …
Donna – I really like this one. Maybe you could turn it into a tweet 🙂
“He applied to appear in a black pin-up calendar while at Harvard but was rejected by the all-female committee.”
Hey GGail!
I know they are kicking themselves in the butt now….Just think how much those would be worth now 🙂
Anybody else notice how no matter which party controls the White House or Congress, we are bombarded 24/7 with polls and stories about what Republicans want? I don’t remember Dem voters’ views mattering much during GWB’s presidency. Propaganda to stroke the egos of folks who vote against their own interests, but more importantly, it set the parameters of the national “conversation”. Dem voters and their wishes are invisible, which has the result of automatically putting Dems on the defensive and at a disadvantage. The psych ops the media perpetrates on the American public is a sight to behold.
100% on target. Yet again, Eric. Thank you for your wonderful contributions to TOD.
Thank you Vicki. I appreciate your comments and POV too.
THISSSSSSSSS….
This is why PBOs lame status of not being a lame dick is so important…because he is setting the agenda for the next POTUS…hands down
the beat is on ….
So much good will towards our President on his 54th birthday from all over the WORLD! 🙂 His birthday is now the #2 trend – so I don’t even need to start a hashtag birthday as I was originally thinking! 🙂
To Zizi,
I am grateful for every word you wrote and heartily agree.
The tragic thing to me, seems to be that the Dems are stuck in their losing mode. I have wondered for some time if Losing is the plan.
They picked a strategy in 2014 which was to stand apart from PBO and they stuck to it as they and especially The Clintons LOST every contest they engaged in.
Thank you for writing a lot of what I feel as I see the 2016 vista unfold.
THIS!!!! Thanks so much for expressing this Zizi.
zizi and vicki. I totally agree. during the last election, when I went to the local office to make calls, I asked why my purple neighborhood…only had republicans going from house to house…. no dems…I was told they did not think that was an effective way to campaign. Well one of the judicial candidates case into the office and I bent her ear…..Next day I saw her talking to people in the neighborhood…..She won. the rest of them lost. Its frustrating they do not listen and ceertainly give the impression that grass root workers are dirt……
Nationally, I have echoed many of the thoughts of Todders….follow the Obama way in policy and principle and good things will happen, but many dems turn away. It is disgusting.
YES!
The day of the GOPers’ “Debate” on Fox Cable TV……..
Perfecto!
It will be LIVE Streamed on the WH Video platform……..Nationwide, Yes!
Excellent news Nena – thanks for posting!
🙂
TY Nena for alerting us to Senator Kaine’s wise decision!
😉
Senator Barbara Boxer also a Yes.
6 Yes senators now.
34 Yes needed to sustain PBO’s veto.
We will be able to do this.
In a better world, we’d stand with Our President in favor of Peace. (There are 46 Dem+Ind senators.)
After he gives that speech tomorrow….watch out….
#YesWeCan
Happy Birthday President Obama. Just want to let you know you are doing a great job!. And I’m from the United States.
In NY alone……81% affected are Black and Brown
That, my Friends is How The STATE undermines the ability of the Black and Brown from Moving Upward.
This is so Brilliant zizi!!! Just BRILLIANT. I have to read it a few more times to take it all in.
All. Of. The. Tears.
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/08/04/white-house-demo-day/
Aug 4th, 1961
Yep, It’s Obama’s Fault ❤ 😉
ZIZI,
you absolutely rock!
thank you for the truth.
Thank you, Zizi, wonderful Post. Glad to see you back.
Happy Birthday President Obama!