President Obama Isn't Enough

by atdleft, Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 04:05:33 PM EDT

(Proudly cross-posted at Clintonistas for Obama)

I know so many of us are excited about the Obama campaign. I know we all want to see Barack Obama become President next January. But you know what? This isn't enough for me.

OK, OK, so what the hell am I talking about? Well, why don't you follow me after the flip for more...

President Obama won't be enough to solve the climate crisis. President Obama won't be enough to make universal health care happen. President Obama won't be enough to advance equal rights for all. Believe it or not, President Obama will need help from a Democratic Congress.

Don't believe me? Well, you should. Presidents don't get everything done all on their own. They need Congress to work with them to make things happen.

So why am I dwelling on this? I want you all to remember to support good Democrats running for Congress in addition to whatever support you're providing Barack Obama. If we have not just a Democratic majority, but a strong progressive Democratic majority, we can turn our dreams into reality.

So who should we support? Let me start with some good candidates running in my neck of the woods, working hard to turn Orange County, CA, blue. Bill Hedrick is a Corona school board member looking to oust one truly corrupt Rethuglican still in Congress. And believe it or not, his district is looking increasingly competitive. If you can, please support Hedrick as he's a great progressive who will support President Obama's agenda.

Also, let's not forget Debbie Cook. She's an amazing progressive Democrat, an accomplished Huntington Beach Mayor, and a brilliant energy policy wonk who is challenging a complete and utter disaster of a CReepy incumbent. She's someone we need in Congress... We should support her.

OK, so you don't like my suggestions? That's OK. Give to the party to keep the "50 State Strategy" successful. Give to HillPAC so Hillary Clinton can help more Democrats win. Give to PAC for a Change to help Barbara Boxer help more Democrats. Just give to Democrats, dammit!

Remember that President Obama isn't enough... We need more & better Democrats to truly win! :-)

Tags: Barack Obama. Debbie Cook, Barbara Boxer, Bill Hedrick, CA, CA-44, ca-46, Congress, Democrats, Hillary Clinton, Orange County, progressive values (all tags)

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Tips? Flames? Suggestions?

You know what to do... :-)

by atdleft 2008-07-14 04:06PM | 0 recs

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Re: President Obama Isn't Enough

Don't forget Rick Noriega who has a solid shot at taking down the jr. Sen. from Texas John Cornyn.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_c ontent/politics/election_20082/2008_sena te_elections/texas/election_2008_texas_s enate

by TxDem08 2008-07-14 04:10PM | 0 recs

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Re: President Obama Isn't Enough

John Cornyn?!?!?

My FAVORITE Republican in the country (snark).

Watch this with the whole family, GUARANTEED your kids will not grow up to be repubs......

by DemsLandslide2008 2008-07-14 04:15PM | 0 recs

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Re: President Obama Isn't Enough

I'm not sure we should mess with BIG JOHN. He seems pretty dangerous.

by Reaper0Bot0 2008-07-14 04:20PM | 0 recs

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Re: President Obama Isn't Enough

Whats even funnier is I think Cornyn has removed the original from Youtube.

by DemsLandslide2008 2008-07-14 04:21PM | 0 recs

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Re: President Obama Isn't Enough

Well you can't really blame him, Larry Craig kept trying accidentally find out just how big he really was.

by January 20 2008-07-14 04:40PM | 0 recs

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Made lesser states squirm?? n/t

by grassrootsorganizer 2008-07-15 02:06AM | 0 recs

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Oh yeah...

Cornyn's pathetic. Noriega, OTOH, rocks the casbah! Good luck to you in Texas! We need more Senate seats, too! :-)

by atdleft 2008-07-14 04:20PM | 0 recs

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Re: Oh yeah...

Rick Noriega sent out an e-mail saying that Cornyn had actually changed his vote on the medicare bill last week (voting against it).
That should show people that these downticket races are having an effect on the republicans we're targeting.
Go RICK!!

by skohayes 2008-07-15 02:59AM | 0 recs

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Re: President Obama Isn't Enough

Yep. We need a big year.

A rising tide lifts all boats.

by Reaper0Bot0 2008-07-14 04:11PM | 0 recs

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Re: President Obama Isn't Enough

Cameoanne, how the hell was that worthy of a TR?

by Reaper0Bot0 2008-07-15 09:00AM | 0 recs

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Re: President Obama Isn't Enough

Sorry, Reaper0Bot0 - that was accidental. I meant to give you Mojo as I do very much believe that "A rising tide lifts all boats".

by cameoanne 2008-07-15 08:00PM | 0 recs

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Re: President Obama Isn't Enough

Excellent point!

This is something that none of us should lose sight of.

Highly recommended.

by January 20 2008-07-14 04:13PM | 0 recs

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I have fantasies

of Vivian Figures taking down Sessions, but it'll never happen in this neck of the woods. Still, I'm digging her more and more.

Donating to downticket races is key, as always.

by sricki 2008-07-14 04:16PM | 0 recs

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Oh yes...

It is! And don't forget...

http://www.actblue.com/page/vivianfigure s

For anyone who wants to send your candidate some $$$$ love. ;-)

by atdleft 2008-07-14 04:25PM | 0 recs

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Re: President Obama Isn't Enough

Not only that, but we have decades'-worth of Republican monopolization of the courts to reverse.

by rfahey22 2008-07-14 04:19PM | 0 recs

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And with a solidly Democratic Senate...

We can get better judges. Don't forget...

http://www.actblue.com/page/roadto60

;-)

by atdleft 2008-07-14 04:21PM | 0 recs

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I love your diaries atdleft

But as a foreigner/alien, I have one concern.

Ultimately, both the 'brand' of the US, as well as the deployment of its vast and overpowering armed forces, is determined by the president. These down ticket candidates, though I know of some, are largely unknown to the rest of the world.

My fear is that a lot of the netroots double-take on Obama in the last month or so has led to a drop in funding for his campaign. Or perhaps people were bled dry by the primary wars. The worrying side effect is that McCain and the RNC now have a financial advantage, just at the moment everyone is diverting their money down ticket.

Forgive me for being ignorant/uncaring about congress, but the message a McCain election would send to the world - and the potential for more thuggish republican foreign policy - is more of a concern outside the US. Let alone the financial ripples of Bush/McCain's disastrous economic policies.

I can't donate to Obama's campaign. I can't do anything by argue on MYDD for the future of the free world.

So London Calling...

Please concentrate on getting Obama elected president.

by duende 2008-07-14 04:50PM | 0 recs

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I understand...

And please understand that I am NOT saying we shouldn't help Obama. It's just that he won't be able to do much as President if we still have enough GOP whiners in Congress to block every move he makes. That's why I'm doing this. While Congressional races aren't as "sexy" as the Presidential race, they're not any less important!

by atdleft 2008-07-14 05:13PM | 0 recs

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Re: I love your diaries atdleft

As president, he won't be able to get much done without 60 friendly votes in the Senate. At this point, we'll need a miracle to get 60, but its at least possible. We have a bunch of vulnerable Republicans, a bad year for Democrats, and really strong challengers.

We're not going to forget Obama. If the top of the ticket does well, if draws out a lot of new, younger voters, then that will help candidates down ticket.

But we also need to support our congressional candidates as well. That's really important to changing this country.

by psychodrew 2008-07-14 08:04PM | 0 recs

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Well said, Drew...

Of course, we will all help Obama win this fall. It's just that for us to see a true victory for the Democratic Party AND the progressive movement, that means we need to make sure all the enthusiasm for Obama ALSO translates into support for our Democratic Congressional candidates and our other downticket Dems. With a true & strong majority, we can actually start to see the change we want to see in 2009. :-)

by atdleft 2008-07-14 08:13PM | 0 recs

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i can't donate either.

but i can say that you are an incredible democrat and to everyone else - vote blue!

by canadian gal 2008-07-14 05:14PM | 0 recs

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Are you saying

that a Pres Obama and a Democratic Congress means a guaranteed solution to the climate crisis ?

If that is the case, then you have my vote.

If not, then I will wait to decide !!

by SevenStrings 2008-07-14 07:30PM | 0 recs

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Re: President Obama Isn't Enough

Oh hell yes. This had to be said.

by spacemanspiff 2008-07-14 07:50PM | 0 recs