We progressives have got to let it be known what level of disdain we hold for present-day Democratic politics and the mainstream party's confidence that we'll support Obama's nomination and re-election because "we have nowhere else to go." If there's to be a challenge, in any form, to those assumptions it must start somewhere, however faintly, but it must start or we'll find ourselves reverting to the hold-your-nose-in-voting-booth posture we know only too well.
I suggest this most humble beginning: bumper stickers. Starting now, and growing into a constant barrage of imaginative expressions of our discontent. I've got a few suggested slogans, and of course welcome others.
(1) "With friends like Obama ___ ___ ___?"
(2) "Don't blame Progressives. It's not our B.O."
(3) "Vote Obama--2012? "Whatever."
(4) "Barack, I hardly know thee."
(5) "Obama--No more Mr. Nice Guy."
(6) "Support Obama? No. Ignore Him."
(7) "Obama--The Paucity of Scope."
As a follow up, I suggest the formation of a newly-designated movement, the DOVs. The initials can stand for whatever the member wishes, depending on the level of the member's alienation from Obama's conduct of the presidency. The mildest might be "Disappointed Obama Voters," but can extend to "Disgusted Obama Voters," "Disaffected Obama Voters" and even to those of us who might simply stay home on election day: "Disenfranchised Obama Voters."
The point is to gather under one unified designation a movement that hearkens to those ideas and ideals that were expressed by Obama in 2008 and asserts its unwillingness to support the man unless in the last year of his term he changes his course to live up to them. What say you?
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