Is the Democratic Party being rejuvenated by the OWS protests?

[bigtree]

from Peter Schroeder at the Hill: http://thehill.com/homenews/news/187835-left-finds-its-mojo


Liberals who have felt scorned and overlooked by the White House say they are rejuvenated by the protests launched from Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan, and hope that they provide Obama and liberal causes with new impetus and vigor.

“For those of us that have been taking those positions for a long time, it is a confidence booster, and I think that makes us a little more assertive,” said Rep. Raul Grijalva (R-Ariz.), co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC).

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who has fiercely criticized the White House in the past for not pursuing immigration reform, said: “I think the president’s come a long way. I’m delighted to work with him.”

The comments are a remarkable turnaround from earlier this year, when Gutierrez and Grijalva were among the liberals on Capitol Hill most frustrated with Obama . . .

“You know what? We’re coming together,” said Gutierrez, who has praised the administration for a new immigration enforcement policy that puts its primary focus on deporting illegal immigrants who commit other crimes. “Hey, maybe the protesters unified the Democratic Party . . .”


read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/news/187835-left-finds-its-mojo

[Laelth]

1. Hope springs eternal. k&r for hope. n/t

-Laelth

[dynasaw]

2. Seize the Flag

Both Obama and the Democratic Party would be truly stupid if they don't seize the flag . . .because the Repugs will surely find a way to turn
the OWS movement to their advantage. Cantor has already stated that OWS is an anti-Obama movement.

[leveymg]

3. That's up to Obama. If he wants to finally crack down on Wall St and fire Geithner, maybe.

Not holding my breath.

[lbrtbell]

4. Obama's too much of a neo-liberal to listen to liberals

For those who don't know what a neo-liberal is...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoliberalism

[abelenkpe]

9. Nationalize the banks too

If he calls for recapitalization instead of nationalization as the next wave hits he is a fool. Time will tell....

[Odin2005]

5. OWS has nothing to do with any political party.

[nevergiveup]

6. OWS may have nothing to do with any political party

but it has everything to do with politics.

[bigtree]

7. that's a good thing

I hope they develop some sort of legislative strategy, though, and begin to build the necessary coalitions of support within the political arena to advance those initiatives or concerns into action or law.

[azul]

8. Hell yes.

When the reps in power start trashing the constitution, it is up to opposition parties to bring them back to follow the rule of law in protecting rights and freedoms.

And the supreme court needs a good shaking too.

[abelenkpe]

10. Seems more like it's breaking it up honestly

I support OWS and it focus on economies justice and corruption but many seem to think that support of Obama or electing more democrats at the congressional and local level to support whatever democratic president we hopefully elect is just more of the same. Feel too burned by the dysfunction and inaction of the Obama administration. A real win for the right if you ask me as they have been working to discredit government for decades.

Someone help me though, in the declaration of independence and constitution does it state that our form of government is capitalism? Been arguing with my idiotic tea party relatives lately who swear we are capitalists first.

[blindpig]

12. "pursuit of happiness"

weasel words but there it is.

[coalition_unwilling]

13. Well, the preamble to the Constitution calls upon us to "form a

more perfect union." IOW, there's an ongoing, never-ending process of perfecting the experiment in democratic republicanism (emphasis on lower-case 'd' and 'r').

Are your 'idiotic tea party relatives' working class?

[abelenkpe]

24. Yeah definitely working class

I just don't get where they are coming from at all. Today they called me intolerant for not agreeing with them. Does having a different opinion make one intolerant? Or just different?

[kctim]

15. Not in so many words

but the low taxation and individual rights parts of it support capitalism moreso than others like socialism.

[abelenkpe]

25. Oooops, that post had many mis spelled words. Sorry!

[blindpig]

11. It may rejuvenate liberals but not the Party.

The Party will not bite the hand that feeds it.

If anything these actions threaten the party by providing the possibility of alternatives to the full bore reaction of the Right. As the anti-capitalist basis of the protests gel the Party is going to find it difficult to embrace and that is the inevitable direction the evolution of the discussion.

[coalition_unwilling]

14. The Democratic Party (as a party) runs the very real risk of

eperiencing the same fate as the Whigs (forerunners to the Repukes) in the 1850s: splintering along sectional and\or ideolgoical grounds. In the four days I have spent at Occupy Los Angeles (in true-blue California), I heard not one word of support for Obama or the Democratic Party (or for the Repukes either). There was more support at OLA for the Revolutionary Communist Party, for God's sake, judging from foot traffic at the RCP's booth.

[blindpig]

19. Not surprising...

Communism is the final answer to capitalism.

[joeybee12]

16. Well, when the people lead. the leaders will follow...and this has never

been clearer in this case.

[Township75]

17. The movement will be an enormous waste if it turns to the Democratic Party for its demands.

Let's face it, Obama and Dem congress supported the bank bailouts, didn't do a hell of a lot for regulation, and appointed people who bailed out the banks. Now the Dems are hoping to hijack the energy of this movement to ensure reelection. I'm sure the theme will be We Will Take It To the Bank Loving Republicans, but the Dems were coddling wall street right along with the Repubs.

And now they will be the hope for 99%??????

[KurtNYC]

18. "Rejuvenated"? If people wait at a restaurant too long and then walk out to

go feed themselves elsewhere, is that restaurant rejuvenated?

Someone described modern politicians as 'someone who sees a parade going on and jumps in front of it.' This parade is going to march right passed them over if they move too slowly.

[Courtesy Flush]

20. That's what I was thinking.

OWS is protesting AGAINST the Democrats, as well as the Republicans.

[Javaman]

21. frankly, by Obama using the 99% in his speech, he comes off as late to the parade...

instead, he should be taking action rather than making yet another speech. Have asshole holder look into charges for the wall street crooks and fire that colossal asshole giethner for starters if he wants to earn any street cred with the 99%'ers.

[nc4bo]

22. I think that OWS is peeling some really rotted, stinky layers off the onion.

and have many people remembering what the (D) stood for before the corporate takeovers.

[bvar22]

23. Of Course the Democratic Party is being rejuvenated by the OWS protests!!!

That is WHY you see so many "OBAMA 2012" signs & posters at all the OWS Protests!




Oh Wait.
My Bad.
There are NONE.




You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.

Solidarity99!
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