Obama Needs a Protest Movement (w/Music Video & Poll)

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Monday November 17, 2008 · 4:05 PM PST

2008/11/17 · 16:05

Francis Fox Piven, author of Poor People's Movements: Why They Succeed, How They Fail among many other titles, has an important article in the latest issu of The Nation entitled "Obama Needs a Protest Movement."

Her arguments starts with a much needed splash of cold water:

Let's face it: Barack Obama is not a visionary or even a movement leader. He became the nominee of the Democratic Party, and then went on to win the general election, because he is a skillful politician. That means he will calculate whom he has to conciliate and whom he can ignore in realms dominated by big-money contributors from Wall Street, powerful business lobbyists and a Congress that includes conservative Blue Dog and Wall Street-oriented Democrats. I don't say this to disparage Obama. It is simply the way it is, and if Obama was not the centrist and conciliator he is, he would not have come this far this fast, and he would not be the president-elect.

more beneath the fold

Poll

66 votes Show Results

Does Obam Need a Protest Movement?

66 votes Vote Now!

Does Obam Need a Protest Movement?

Yes

30 votes

He may not, but we do.

21 votes

No, we should just trust him to do right.

9 votes

No, protest is counter-productive.

6 votes

Tamping Down Our Hopes

Christopher Day

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Thursday November 06, 2008 · 8:21 AM PST

2008/11/06 · 08:21

From today's New York Times

President-elect Barack Obama has begun an effort to tamp down what his aides fear are unusually high expectations among his supporters, and will remind Americans regularly throughout the transition that the nation’s challenges are substantial and will take time to address.

If anyone is in doubt, consider the selection of Rahm Emmanuel for Chief of Staff and the possible choice of Larry Summers for Treasury.

This is a moment of truth for Kossacks and all the other progressive activists who worked their tails off to elect Obama.

After the election-night ecstasy in which literally millions of people took to the streets all across the country in celebration, how do we understand what Obama is doing now, and what does it mean for our future work.

Christopher Day

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Wednesday November 05, 2008 · 2:36 PM PST

2008/11/05 · 14:36

The New York Times and Al Jazeera are reporting that a US airstrike has killed 40 Afghan civilians, including women and children, attending a wedding in Kandahar province. 28 others were wounded.

This is a brutal reminder that even while we are dancing in the streets over Obama's victory, that US imperialism continues to terrorize the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. While Obama's campaign recieved much of its initial impetus from his early opposition to the war against Iraq, his more recent statements suggest an open-ended US presence there and an escalation of the war against Afghanistan.

Christopher Day

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday November 04, 2008 · 9:26 AM PST

2008/11/04 · 09:26

So what will you be doing tonight?

Are you going to stay inside?

Or are you going to take it outside for the world to see?

For some inspiration, here is Martha and the Vandellas

Poll

77 votes Show Results

Tonight I will be

77 votes Vote Now!

Tonight I will be

Sitting at home with friends and/or family quietly watching the returns.

36 votes

Attending a party, but one that stays inside like proper people do.

6 votes

DANCIN' IN THE STREETS!!!!!!

35 votes

Best. Election. Music Video. Ever. (w/poll)

Christopher Day

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday November 02, 2008 · 8:44 AM PST

2008/11/02 · 08:44

This is my favorite (today) from Black Sheep

Poll

106 votes Show Results

Who gave us the best election video?

106 votes Vote Now!

Who gave us the best election video?

Black Sheep

12 votes

Big Boi and Mary J. Blige

4 votes

Andres Useche

5 votes

Jose Conde

5 votes

Dirk Powell

4 votes

Will.I.Am

71 votes

Other (please embed in comments)

5 votes

John McCain Accidentally Left On Campaign Bus Overnight

Christopher Day

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Tuesday October 21, 2008 · 2:13 PM PDT

2008/10/21 · 14:13

John McCain Accidentally Left On Campaign Bus Overnight

Christopher Day

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday October 17, 2008 · 10:12 PM PDT

2008/10/17 · 22:12

The teachers struggles taking place right now in Mexico are getting no coverage in the US media. But they deserve our attention. While the fight against the privatization of teacher education is intense all over the country there is a particularly fierce fight taking place in the state of Morelos where teachers have been on strike for two months.

This is video shot in a town in Morelos that was invaded by the Mexican Army after residents of the town blocked a highway in support of the striking teachers. Gregory Berger at Narco News explains what is happening (after the fold)

Christopher Day

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday October 15, 2008 · 11:05 PM PDT

2008/10/15 · 23:05

According to AP, the government of President Hugo Chavez is planning to establish a 6-hour workday under forthcoming legislation.

Labor Minister Roberto Hernandez announced Monday that he would present a proposed bill before the end of the year to reduce the workday from 8 to 6 hours, improve employee benefits and establish "more forceful" penalties for businesses that violate labor laws.

Poll

139 votes Show Results

6 Hour work day?

139 votes Vote Now!

6 Hour work day?

Yes

100 votes

23 votes

Six minute work day.

16 votes

The Elephant in the Room: What If They Steal the Election (Again) w/POLL

Christopher Day

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday October 14, 2008 · 10:03 PM PDT

2008/10/14 · 22:03

A little more than four years ago I posted my first diary on DailyKos. It made the rec list and I was hooked. It was entitled "The Elephant in the Room: What If They Steal the Election (Again)" Some things have changed since I wrote it, not least of which is Obama's commanding lead in the polls which will make stealing this election much more difficult than the last two. But I think it still bears re-reading. We are seeing the groundwork being laid for a massive voter supression effort on the part of the Republicans and just as people are admonished not to get complacent about victory before its in the bag, I think we must not be complacent about the danger of another attempt to steal the election. It will probably require some sort of massive (late) October surprise to pull something like this off, but again, lets not misunderestimate these bastards.

So without further ado ... The Elephant in the Room

Poll

108 votes Show Results

What Are YOU Willing to Do to Stop the Election from Being Stolen?

108 votes Vote Now!

What Are YOU Willing to Do to Stop the Election from Being Stolen?

Yell at the TV

12 votes

Sign a petition

4 votes

March in the streets

19 votes

Go on strike/boycott classes

4 votes

Civil disobedience

23 votes

And more

43 votes

That can't happen here

3 votes

Translating Bush's Speech

Christopher Day

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday September 29, 2008 · 9:34 PM PDT

2008/09/29 · 21:34

I don't have much to add to this brilliant Close Captioning of Bush's speech on the current crisis. Just make sure to turn the Closed Captioning on by clicking on the box in the lower right-hand corner of the YouTube screen.

Watch both parts. The first part is very good, but the second part really cuts to the chase. The analysis presented here is both hilarious AND on point. Particularly pointed are the points about the economic crisis turning into an ideological crisis and preparations to supress popular unrest.

Poll

11 votes Show Results

All that is solid

11 votes Vote Now!

All that is solid

melts into air.

11 votes

U.S. Withdraws Fulbright Grants to Gaza

Christopher Day

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday May 30, 2008 · 6:14 AM PDT

2008/05/30 · 06:14

According to the New York Times today:

The American State Department has withdrawn all Fulbright grants to Palestinian students in Gaza hoping to pursue advanced degrees at American institutions this fall because Israel has not granted them permission to leave.

Christopher Day

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday May 12, 2008 · 6:57 PM PDT

2008/05/12 · 18:57

I haven't seen this diaried elsewhere and thought it would be of interest.

According to MSNBC former Georgia Congresman Bob Barr has announced that he will seek the Libertarian Party's nomination for President.

The money quote:

Barr, who has hired Ross Perot's former campaign manager, acknowledged that some Republicans have tried to discourage him from running. But he said he's getting in the race to win, not to play spoiler or to make a point.

Poll

135 votes Show Results

Bob Barr will get what % of the vote?

135 votes Vote Now!

Bob Barr will get what % of the vote?

less than 1

18 votes

21 votes

24 votes

16 votes

12 votes

16 votes

6 votes

4 votes

5 votes

2 votes

4 votes

over 10

7 votes

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RSS

Obama Needs a Protest Movement (w/Music Video & Poll)

Tamping Down Our Hopes

40 Afghan Civilians Killed in US Air Strike

Dancin' in the Streets! (w/Poll)

Best. Election. Music Video. Ever. (w/poll)

John McCain Accidentally Left On Campaign Bus Overnight

Mexican Army Attacks Town for Supporting Teachers

Venezuela to go to 6 hr. work day

The Elephant in the Room: What If They Steal the Election (Again) w/POLL

Translating Bush's Speech

U.S. Withdraws Fulbright Grants to Gaza

Bob Barr to run as Libertarian