Would you like to be a Rhode Island delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention?
With the declaration period approaching, the Rhode Island Democratic Party is calling on Democrats across the state to declare their candidacy and run for delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention to officially nominate President Obama. Delegates will travel, at their own expense, to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina the week of September 3, 2012.
If interested in running, you must be a registered Democratic voter in RI – the deadline is Monday, January 24.
The RIDP will be hosting informational workshops: RIDP 2012 Delegate Academy: How to Run for Delegate. We will focus on filing deadlines, garnering signatures and other matters related to the convention. While attendance at an academy is recommended, attendance is not required in order to become a delegate.
Go to our Website for dates, RSVP info and more: www.ridemocrats.org/about-the-party/convention.html
Quick! Anyone! What’s wrong with this thread?
Um, it asks for nothing from the President in exchange for our support, which is exactly what progressives will get in the second term?
Let me get this straight:
Obama works for every Republican demand, appoints nearly all his senior executives from Wall Street, refuses to prosecute any wrongdoing from Bush/Cheney/Wall Street/Bankers, makes the Bush Tax Cuts permanent “Obama” tax cuts for the wealthy, destroys habeas corpus (among other civil liberties), refuses to support marriage equality, stifles DADT repeal efforts at every turn, destroys Clean Air and Clean Water regulations, appoints a Simpson Bowles Commission to reduce deficits by cutting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and sends our education system careening off into the fantasy land of No Child Left Behind.
The first time Rhode Island really needed Obama was during the floods, and he flew right past us to go raise coin for Deval in Mass. BUT, he managed to show up at a posh dinner party fundraiser here a few months later, only to tell high dollar donors that he’d rather leave early to go shovel dogshit on the White House Lawn than spend 20 minutes eating with the likes of us…….
This same President will raise over $1 Billion dollars from Wall Street and corporate America for the 2012 campaign. But his campaign can’t even pick up the fucking tab for a few delegates to cheerlead him on to another 4 years of fucking us over? We are supposed to travel at our own expense to this?
That is some nerve.
I have to disagree with you forsanri. Your arguments are misguided. To say that President Obama has worked for every Republican demand is simply not true and ridiculous. Starting with your claim of the lack of Wall Street prosecutions, Obama has stated that the most damaging and least ethical behavior was not illegal at the time. It is because of republican leadership and insufficient oversight that this country and economy was put in the position that it is. That is the motivation and reason why Obama helped put in place the toughest financial reform package since F.D.R. and the Great Depression.
I was also under the impression that Obama DID repeal DADT and in fact signed it into law. I also disagree with your statement regarding clean air and clean water. As recently as December 2011 Obama announced new and tougher air regulations regarding power plants. The administration also blocked several pieces of legislation that would have had DEVASTATING effects on our environmental regulations proposed by a Republican House. Your Simpson Bowles argument does not hold water either. The commission did not advocate cutting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. The commission proposed modifications to those programs, which would have only affected the providers not the beneficiary. While he did appoint six of the commission members, the remaining twelve, were appointed by the minority and majority leaders of the house and senate. This is all moot however, because the report issued by the commission failed to pass a vote by committee members.
I also did not expect my president to sling sandbags during the 2010 flooding. I did expect him to help recovery efforts in the form of monetary assistance, which he has done. As recently as this month WPRI.com reported a story of RI receiving 6.45 from the government in federal disaster relief funds for infrastructure repairs needed as the result of those 2010 floods and tropical storm Irene.
I believe your criticisms are not backed by factual information, extremely off base and driven by the media narrative that so often gets diluted by talking points and lofty rhetoric. To use those unsubstantiated arguments to make your point that he should pay the way for delegates who choose to go makes your point sound silly. It certainly is not a policy to pay for the votes of delegates nor has it ever been the case in previous nomination processes. I’m sure those who are pleased with Obama’s presidency will be quite excited to take part in the process to help re-elect a leader that they wish to keep in office.
I won’t insult your intelligence super”dem” by suggesting you believe what you just said, so please go back to Anchor Rising.
I do believe everything I said because i used true statements to make my point. It is very easy to spout off on message boards and comment sections with unsubstantiated statements much like the ones you have made. I commented because your statements weren’t true. Take the time to research any subject that you touched on and you’ll find in that your statements are very biased and really do not contain much fact.
Toke up another joint super”dem” and enjoy the supernova of academic thought with your friends at AnchorRising and WPRO.
Some ad-hominem BS starting to creep in here folks. I’m not Brian, but I know for a fact that the dialogue we’re seeing in the latter stages of this thread is exactly the opposite of the discourse he wants to see here.
If I were everyone, I’d focus more on making Specific points about policy, not other posters, from now on. That’s at least how I came into this new version of the blog, after reading the rules, which are available for everyone to read here: www.rifuture.org/about .
Thanks!
Thanks Jake. It’s funny how in most other posts the dialogue is constructive, and in this one… not so much.
True dat, Jake. Righty’s laughing up his sleeve at this: Told ‘ya. The Left will eat itself.
The cold, hard truth is that both sides of this debate have valid points, but honestly kids, what the hell do you want out of life? POTUS is not Oberon, King of the Fairies. The Executive is supposed to be weaker than Congress, at least. And a Lefty POTUS is a losing scenario from the get-go.
We all know that the real power reside in the military – allegedly controlled by an active Congress – and the Corporations that own SCOTUS.
So, please, let’s leave off the fairy tale wanking.
I’ve been hating on the national Dems for a quarter century and don’t even get me going on the RI Dems. (I will NOT restate my thesis for the umpteenth time. I’m sure you all know what it is.)
Forget about the McGuffin and develop solidarity on a broader scale. Energize local, state and far away Congressional districts to activate the way we’re starting to. We only help Righty by bickering amongst ourselves.
If we let the perfect become the enemy of the good, we help the evil empower the bad.
“If we let the perfect become the enemy of the good, we help the evil empower the bad.”
I say it’s immoral to suggest that we as progressives support a President that we now know will continue and expand the drone wars, murder U.S. citizens, imprison people without trial, etc. simply because our own situation is likely to be marginally better at home. Are you suggesting that killings abroad or sacrificing the 4th Amendment at home is worth it, say to preserve Social Security? How far we’ve come in a few years. So much for change we can believe in.
And your suggested alternative is…?
The alternative is honesty. If we can’t have an honest discussion about this President because it might offend the overly delicate sensibilities of those on the blog, then say it loud and proud.
That is the same dilemma that has strangled Rhode Island for 3 years now: Obama would rather deliver to Republicans because it makes for “constructive” dialogue. Even though it hurts Rhode Islanders. Badly.
If Democrats are too cowardly to get in the ring and fight for what they want, then sure…pony up your $2000, and go cheerlead on cue for another 4 years of deep pain for Rhode Island.
One alternative to consider is to withdraw all support from Obama, and focus our limited efforts on statewide party building. That seems far more beneficial than squandering our limited resources to throw good money after bad in an Obama reelection campaign.
Another alternative to consider is an honest discussion about the President’s record on human rights, the environment, foreign policy, campaign finance, healthcare, social justice, Wall Street, and the economy. The problem with this alternative is that it forces you to look deep inside yourself and ask whether or not you can support what Obama has done to us. That kind of introspection compels action–one way or the other.
If that challenge is too much, then fine, enjoy your light hearted blog. But don’t hide behind some excuse of mediocrity and civility. This country used to be Great because we wouldn’t settle for injustice or mediocrity and if that meant we needed a revolution, then so be it.
And this is the absolute correct tone to use when expressing your views and values and priorities.
Pinky, Forsan, let me re-start this conversation – in a totally selfish way – because there’s some giant leaps of logic that may or may not apply. I’m _not_ a Democrat (despite my continuous support for all y’all), and I’ve never been part of an organized political party. So really, these are questions I’m asking to educate myself.
Does being a delegate to the convention mean you have to vote for Obama? I always thought the convention was the place where the different people got together and, you know, caught up on policy and local conditions and so forth – especially when they had the incumbent. It’s where they build the platform and people fight for their planks, right? So wouldn’t one of you guys becoming a delegate be the ideal way to make the point to the larger organization that, at least here in the Biggest Little, we want to see stronger Democratic positions from feistier, more liberal Democrats, including Obama? Isn’t this the way to push the party where we, er, you want it to go?