Update: I agree with Rubine who said
the (right-wing) propaganda machine appears to be functioning well
In the end, it does not matter if people support social security, public option or minimum wage, if when they actually go to vote, they vote GOP, because they like the "conservative" label and do as conservatives do.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have been having many discussions in the last year (less so recently) with DK bloggers who say they expected to see a different Washington and White House and that they are dissapointed and feel betrayed and what not, you know the story...
I always ask them: What country do you think you are living in?
And I say: The representatives in Washington cannot move a progressive agenda forward if the people don't want it.
What answer do I get? You guessed it! They say: yes, the people want it! This is a progressive country or otherwise Obama would not have won.
Of course, we all know that he won because independants were pissed with Bush, the GOP and the economy not because they suddenly turned progressives, but hey... here is something better:
The image was published originally in
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
and here in Daily Kos:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
This shows that the people that vote, basically the people that care about politics in this country are NOT progressive or liberal!
That explains why Halter lost to Lincoln even though he received a lot of support and donations from us progressives (Let me remind everyone again that I sent a donation to Halter even though I live in Florida). It also explains why Obama supported Lincoln. Why Obama stays in the center, although I am convinced that because of his remarkable childhood and upbringing he is way more left than how he governs.
That explains why a great progressive like Russ Feingold is behind his GOP opponent in the latest polls.
That explains why, when we finally have a progressive rep like Alan Grayson who says it like it is, and regardless of how manipulative or wrong with the facts his latest ad is, if America or Florida were progressive, he would be ahead in the polls, but he isn't and he wasn't even before his latest ad came out.
Therefore, please stop saying this is a progressive country and the Dems and Obama should do more to move a progressive agenda forward. They can't. Why should they? There is but a minority that is liberal leaning (or a liberal minority who cares to vote)
Start by showing up at the polls and by voting for Dems (except perhaps conservaDems unless the opponent is a tea bagger). Start by being more patient in how and when you expect something to get done. But most importantly, while trying to support and get more progressive candidates elected, do not, please do not throw the whole Democratic party and its president under the bus.
They are forced to govern for the people that vote and those people are NOT progressive. Unless you show up. Every time.