Is there going to be any progressive representation at the convention?

[mmonk]

[berni_mccoy]

1. IBTL!

:popcorn:

[MrSlayer]

2. Does Dennis get to speak?

At all?

[Whisp]

4. I am really really hoping he does.

there was a post here on what the lineup was and didn't see him name. :(
but it could have been incomplete.

[Muttocracy]

5. not if this is the full list, but do they have speakers all day long? did DK speak in 2004?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6655205

[Whisp]

10. I'm the wrong person to ask, sorry.

Know almost nothing about how conventions work or whether they are an all day into evening thing, etc.

hopefully someone can fill the basics in.

[MrSlayer]

11. Yes.

He addressed the convention on day 3.

[Mass]

29. Far from being a complete lineup. and yes DK spoke at the Convention,

as did every single person who ran during the primary (including Sharpton), the two former president, the previous nominee, and an host of people who matter more or less.

[mucifer]

53. Jesse Jackson Sr. blew his chance to speak. I think that decision was wise.

[cliffordu]

3. ME TOO- IBTL!!!!

:popcorn:

[Dinger]

6. .

AT the convention?

[mmonk]

8. Since I'm not going (but was a delegate on the state level)

I've haven't paid much attention to the lineups. Sounds from what I'm hearing to be pretty much a rightward lean. Some of us would like to know if progressives that bust their asses for this party get a voice.

[Hippo_Tron]

7. Does Lee Mercer Jr count?

[sniffa]

16. All three

[liberalmuse]

9. Yeah...

until they lock them all up in the parking garage they've turned into a concentration camp.

[Arnold Judas Rimmer]

13. No, those cages are for kitties that have been drugged by big pharma and brainwashed by the CIA

nothing progressive about the pharma-funded kitty cult.

[Arnold Judas Rimmer]

12. You can probably rule out Tuesday

That seems to be DLC suckfest day, for the most part. I'll probably turn that shit off, if all they do is recycle the same failed "Third Way" horseshit talking points.

[wyldwolf]

15. If it's "failed," why do you support Obama?

[MadHound]

17. Because the other alternative, McCain, is unacceptable.

However as time has gone on, and the two parties continue their approach to each other, it becomes increasingly difficult to differentiate between the two. It also becomes difficult to really support any branch of the two party/same corporate master system of government.

What I would love to see is corporate money taken out of our elections via publicly financed election campaigns. I imagine if that happened you would see the party and this country take a sudden move to the left.

But with things the way they are, way too many disillusioned and disenchanted people are left with the conundrum of once again voting for the lesser of two evils. I would like, for one of the few times in my life, actually feel like voting for a Democratic candidate rather than merely voting against the 'Pug candidate.

It isn't a matter that we "support" Obama. It is simply a matter that we have little other choice than Obama.

[wyldwolf]

18. So by your own admission now it isn't failed because you DO support it and...

Obama's better than McCain and there are very few differences between the two major parties.

Thanks for going on the record, Mr. Nader.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[wyldwolf]

20. sounds like a nuanced quote from Nader himself

[Hippo_Tron]

40. Umm Mr. Nader believes there aren't enough differences to support the Democratic Party

That's a completely different stance than those who say that while there are fewer differences than they would like, they still support the Democratic Party.

[No Elephants]

23. Obama's The Only Realistic Alternative to McBush.

[wyldwolf]

24. there are many other candidates that would have a shot if...

.. the great and incredibly organized netroots nation would get behind them... :)

[JoFerret]

39. And then you'll miss the good bits!

Watch it first. And then declare you have turned it off.

[billyoc]

14. Sure, just follow the smell of the CS gas outside.

[GreenInNC]

21. Come to Progressive Central

Come see us at Progressive Central: https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/309/donate.asp?formid=meet&c=6468205

[No Elephants]

25. Why? No One's Pining For Florida 2000, Thanks.

[GreenInNC]

27. still whining about 2000?

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenumbers/2008/02/spoilage.html

[salguine]

22. Are you serious? Security people will probably be given lists of known

"progressives" so they can be kept away from the convention entirely. The whole convention process is nothing more than a four-day-long orgy of backroom dealing and influence buying/selling. That goes for the Democratic convention as well as the Republican—and anyone who says otherwise is full of shit.

[No Elephants]

26. Thanks, But

No one wants to re-live 2000. I will never vote third party for President again, unless the third party candidate is truly viable. Otherwise, I'm only helping the Pub win. Thanks a lot, but no thanks. And, by the time a third party candidate is viable, the third party is probably very much like the two major parties. Work from within. Challenge incumbents who are not doing the job, etc. But please do not add to apathy on the part of Dems or take votes away from Dems.

[Hippo_Tron]

46. Umm, the backroom dealing is done long before the convention

It's a four day nationally televised event where Senator Obama will be introduced to America.

[Odin2005]

28. Uh, Obama is a progressive/liberal.

So I assume by "progressive" you mean the "I'm voting for Nader if Kucinich isn't nominated" types that fucked us over in 2000... :eyes:

[Bluenorthwest]

31. Obama is not progressive

Sorry. He's not. He's just the best we've got, he's not McCain, but he's a far cry from Progressive. He's a religionist who opposes equality for some minorities based on his dogma...that is simply not Progressive.
He voted to make the Patriot Act permanant, he funded the war, he voted for wire tapping Americans.

What are the specifics you use to bolster your claim that Obama is a Progressive? Make your case. He's our nominee, he's all we have to vote for, but he is far from liberal or progressive. He's a 'centerist' which means he picks a position after those with real opinions have picked theirs, and tries to work both sides. Triangulation it is called.

[Odin2005]

42. You just proved my point.

What gives you the right to define "liberal" and "progressive" to only mean Kucinich-ite ideological purists? And he had good reasons for those votes AFAIK.

[Median Democrat]

45. I Love These Fuzzy Label Questions That Have No Relevance Whatsoever

What is more leftist? Mao or Che?

Who was smater? Aristotle or Plato?

How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

[rug]

47. Che.

Plato.
Angels don't dance.

[ieoeja]

58. I will give you Che.

But Aristotle was much brighter than Plato.

And while Baptist angels might not dance, Roman Catholic angels do. As do Jewish angels, just not with women.

[salguine]

50. Bluenorthwest nails it! Saaa-WISH!

[mmonk]

35. I'm an Obama delegate, but he has some unprogressive

tendencies. I'm not looking for control, just a voice and acknowledgment we are part of the process.

[Mass]

30. Very reasonable question. At this point, a few progressive are listed,

(like Tammy Baldwin), but the big roaster of speakers are moderate to very moderate. From the names announced, Biden and Hillary Clinton come out as some of the most progressive.

[NashVegas]

32. Yes. His Name Is Barack Obama

[mdmc]

33. The Greens will have their own convention.

Nader will have some press conference or something.

Bill Clinton, a "progressive", will speak at the convention. Maybe Al Gore too.

[mmonk]

36. I'm not sure what you mean.

The Progressive Democrats of America is not a small group.

[mdmc]

52. I guess that every speaker will be progressive then

:shrug:

[specterderrida]

44. The Greeens already had their convention. Nadar not runnning with the

Greens. Cynthia McKinney is their nominee.

But, yes. Bill, the progressive will speak and another progressive also-Hillary will speak:-)

[NorthCarolina]

55. You consider Bill Clinton a Progressive?

He gave us DOMA and DADT just for starters, plus he's DLC. He's is far more conservative than he is progressive.

[mdmc]

56. but his wife claims to be a progressive. If the dems are progressive

then everyone speaking at the convention will be progressive.

imho, corportism will be alive at both conventions:shrug:

[MaineDem]

34. Define progressive. n/t

[mmonk]

37. Someone who doesn't bend over backwards trying to please

the right that their eyes come face to face with their ass.

[QC]

38. The union workers who clean the place up afterwards. n/t

[democrattotheend]

41. That's kind of a broad question

And the answer probably depends how you define progressive. I happen to consider our nominee progressive, so in my book, yes there will be. For those who think Obama is not progressive enough, maybe not. It probably also depends on what issue(s) you are using as a litmus test for someone's progressive credentials.

[mmonk]

51. Depends on what one means by litmus test since I didn't mention one.

Though politicians are tring to cloud or redefine progressive, it shouldn't be hard to identify. For example, most of the names I've heard mentioned aren't.

[bvar22]

43. To define "Progressive" one must look at the issues:

Some Progressive Positions:

*Universal Single Payer healthCare (NOT mandatory Health Insurance)

*Publicly Financed Elections

*Strengthening Social Safety Nets

*Decreasing Military Spending

*Ending the "Free Trade" Scams

*Reregulation of Energy, Banking, Transportation, and Communication

*Effective Ethics oversight of ALL elected officials (conflict of interest/lobbying)

*Absolute protection of Constitutional and Civil Rights

*Universal FREE Public Education through graduate school

*Re-instituting Anti-Trust and Fair Competition legislation to allow independents (Mom & Pop) to compete with Big Box on an even playing field.

*REAL Support for small independent business/family farm, not lip service

*Strengthening of Consumer Protection/Environmental Protection Class Action lawsuits.

*Absolute protection of LABOR and ENVIRONMENT.

*Absolute protection of Social Security/MediCare

*Returning the Progressive Income Tax system to John Kennedy levels

By those standards, neither Obama nor the Clintons can be considered "Progressive" or "Liberal"

Where do you stand on those issues?


Where do you think the majority of Americans stand on those issues?

[rug]

48. One can only hope.

[Dems to Win]

49. Norman Solomon is an Obama delegate (California district 6) n/t

[Doctor_J]

54. Fox News, the sole provider of coverage, will probably have

lots of shots of Al Sharpton, jesse Jackson, other "scary" liberals.

I can't believe Wes Clark won't be speaking. :cry:

[Neshanic]

57. Yes, he and she will be by the Coke machine, helping with the table setup.