Comments on: Obama’s Battlelines Are Drawn

By: Paul Daghlian

Paul Daghlian — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:55:59 +0000

You’ll have to tell the president which assault weapons ban you’re talking about, Regina. I think Mr. Holder may have been shooting from the hip when he started talking gun grabbing. Mrs. Pelosi seems to think America has enough gun laws and Mr. Obama seems to agree with her. I didn’t spend 50 days on Obama’s campaign to be characterized as anti-Obama. I think the president is on the right track in a number of areas, particularly foreign affairs, though I wish he’d minimize our role in Afghanistan. And I wish Mr. Obama would renegotiate NAFTA, as promised. I’d renegotiate us the hell out of the damned treaty. By the way, I’ll probably run against Walden in the primary, not against Blumenauer.

Paul Daghlian

By: Marcia Riquelme

Marcia Riquelme — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:40:31 +0000

You give me a feeling of relief just to hear that your analysis of the situation in general as we see our new President being challenged. You set the panorama incisively and are right on target. We really do have forces ‘eating mightily’ away at us from numerous angles. I particularly appreciate the fact you mention the copycat groups that feel as if they want to divide supporters from the ‘inside out’. The worse threat is from the opportunisitc CAN organization which sprang up almost immmediately after the election and in some areas. were actually helping get out the vote in FLA, I discovered. They claim to be ‘helping fill the void’ until OFA2.0 re-emerges as a reoriented post-campaign grassroots movement, but CAN is showing no signs of evaporating back into the official network of OFA now that “official” Field Organizers are identifying themselvesand beginning to pick up the reins of the organizing effort all across the nation. Why is CAN doing this? It concerns us because it has often enough disseminated information and stated goals that do not have anything todo with OFA2.0’s. Such as proposing to seek support for a movement to extend Presidential team limits via a Constitutional Amendment!

Other aspects of CAN’s opportunism is that in many mailings it has purported to ’speak’ for the D.C. OFA. Many people are not aware that CAN is not the official grassroots network and have joined it — drawing energy, and loyalty away from OFA and causing confusion. As you said, we don’t need this! Especially at this delicate time as Obama struggles to put his policies in motion. Add the financial crisis, a backlog of diplomatic regeneration to do, and other pressing domestic issues, and we have amassed an incredible array of issues to stay on top of as the first 100 days unfold. Thank you, John, for writing so clearly about all this.

By: VCubed

VCubed — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 09:12:07 +0000

I like this write-up, though I don’t accept it’s either/or [anymore] when it comes to organizing.

The vast work to coordinate campaigns across the country will be OFA’s, but the groups already organizing and bringing more people into the activist fold are not competition – they supplement OFA. I was also worried it would dilute efforts, but organizers of those groups are assuring me it’s not a competition.

Honestly? I’ve never seen the more radical groups agree to not undermine our President’s agenda, and to instead fortify our activism with their pre-existing memberships. I think the more the Republicans chew each other up, the more we see that our unity is a top priority.

We are unifying many groups of individuals for change, again, and it was Obama’s purpose all along to make this a civic habit.

Now, everyone, please, find out who is up for election locally, regionally, state-wide. If the choices look uninspiring, identify the ones who inspire. Let’s get behind the ones who will carry this Battle to Victory!

This Spring and Summer, we identify them. Starting this Fall, we work ourselves into the ground for them.

It’s never too early to identify resources for fundraising, outreach, registration and getting out the vote! We know how it’s done. Let’s prepare the logistics and start recruiting and training, now! When OFA sounds the battle horns, our contingents will be ready, willing and able.

By: Marla

Marla — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:34:19 +0000

I agree with you that the battle against the old guard GOP will be a tough one. Even more urgent in my mind is the need for OFA to assert its position as the leader of this movement and reconnect with the volunteers of the campaign. The emergence of so many splinter groups will dilute our effectiveness as a whole and create competition amongst eachother for recognition as we busily reinvent the already existing wheel.

By: Carol

Carol — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:49:52 +0000

Most of the original “there at the beginning” Obamanistas realized that the 2008 election was “only the beginning.” We are ready and more than willing to go to work to ensure that we get the change we need. It would be nice if we didn’t have to keep “at it.” But, that was never a possibility, and we’ve always known that.

By: John Moffitt

John Moffitt — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:43:27 +0000

I am not surprised to see the GOP behave in this manner. The battle for a new America … I could hardly have said it better. I’m ready for this fight … not for myself … but for my two young grandsons who are too young to fight these forces right now, but who will inherit the mess handed down to them from the GOP, minus what Obama has the time and energy and backing to repair. I’m already working to help the forces of good, if I am allowed to use that terminology. Thanks, John

By: Regina

Regina — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:09:30 +0000

Very well said. Thank you for your erudite, yet easy to “get”, explanation of what lays ahead.

After a rather heated disagreement regarding Obama’s assault weapons ban, with a Mr. D. Jackson and Paul Daghlian, who apparently said he is running against the much respected Earl Bleumenaur,(sp.?) I came to realize, the time to act is NOW! I appreciate your well timed notice.