Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Obama's "Contract with America"


Hindsight is a beautiful thing. It give us the ability, the luxury, to look back and learn from history. Campaigning in 1994, Newt Gingrich, Tom Delay and several others leading the Republican Revolution devised a brilliant plan to win the House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years. It was called The Contract with America, a document detailing the actions the GOP would take if they won. It was a promise. And it was signed by all but two of the Republican members of the House and all of the Party's non-incumbent Republican Congressional candidates. The result? A Republican landslide, with the party picking up 54 seats and their much sought-after majority.

Sen. Barack Obama and the Democrats have an opportunity this November to repeat history. Obama, the party's presumptive nominee, should waste no time in issuing his Contract with America. He and party officials should come up with their own catchy name, The Promise to America, perhaps. It would be Obama's vow, in the aftermath of eight years of Bush/Republican tyranny and corruption, to restore White House and government respect for the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights...two documents that the Busheviks have shamelessly trampled on since 2000. The Promise to America would be Obama's contract with the American voter. And Democrats, both incumbents and those running for House and Senate seats, would sign this document just as their 1994 Republican counterparts did before them.

Imagine a nationally televised primetime Obama speech before thousands of Americans, in symbolic Philadelphia perhaps, where the candidate would promise, if elected president, a nation once again governed by the Rule of Law. A government which assures Due Process. One that Separates Church and State. Operates under a system of Checks and Balances. Respects its citizens' Right to Privacy; Free Speech; Civil Liberties; Freedom to Petition; Right of Assembly; right to Free and Open Elections. A nation that protects against Unreasonable Search and Seizure. Respects Habeas Corpus. An administration that promises No Elective Wars; No Torture. Promises a return to International Diplomacy. Allows for an Independent Judiciary. Promises No Corruption and Cronyism. And a Congress that promises voters that it will fulfill its Constitutional obligation of Oversight of the Executive Branch of Government. Given Obama's gargantuan oratory skills, imagine how such a fiery, passionate, patriotic speech would resonate among Democrats, Independents and Republicans alike. To be sure, voters are starved for change, and for a return to America's greatness.

The simple truth is, the Republican "brand" is heavily damaged and cannot and will not be repaired before November. The party's presumptive nominee, Sen. John McCain, is running as a change candidate. Someone who calls himself an independent maverick who's gone against Bush on several occasions. Spend just one afternoon listening to Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and other right-wing talking heads and you'll incredulously hear them say "I'm not a Republican, I'm a conservative." Um, when Hannity and Limbaugh are afraid to call themselves Republicans, that spells shitstorm for the party come election time.

We are at a watershed moment in American history and in politics in general. The likelihood is that we are about to elect the first black president of the United States of America. How that can and will change the socio-economic landscape and racial dynamic in America is monumental . I get chills thinking about what it does for our overall progress as a nation. But politically there are tremendous ramifications as well. All points lead to a Democratic landslide in Congress. And if history is any barometer, this could usher in a new era of Democratic rule for decades to come.

Obama and the party are therefore sitting atop a potential goldmine. The political opportunity of a lifetime. The Promise to America can seal the deal.


HELP ELECT BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENT: It's now time for us to pull together as Democrats and unite behind Obama and his historic candidacy. These are exciting times. I urge you to support Obama by sending the campaign whatever you can afford. In politics, money is key. There are many swing states this year--Colorado, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri among them. With a sizeable war chest for campaigning, ground teams/staff, ads, mailings, Internet/email promotions, etc, he can win these states. I am commited to raising $25,000 for the campaign between now and November. Click here to make a contribution and help me reach this goal. Together we can change America.


And finally, Happy Birthday (June 24) to our sweetheart, the late Adrienne Shelly.

25 comments:

Unknown said...

I well remeber 1994 and Gingrich's "Contract on America" as the Dems put it. And that was accurate. Congress lost such stalwarts as Lowell Weicker, Tom Foley, Jim Sasser and others and replaced them with right wing hacks.
Gingrich's coup had coat tails, which resulted in the ousting of a very good governor here in my home state, Ann Richards, and placing G.W. Bush in the governor's mansion in Austin. And the rest, as they say, is history!

Anonymous said...

Oh please. I too remember the GOP's "Contract on America". We don't need phrase.

Yes, Obama needs to get out what he stands for and plans to do before the GOP defines him.

It appears that the GOP is going to use their ususal tactics of fear and division to win.

I hope white folks (and I'm white) don't fall for it again.

Anonymous said...

If Obama agrees to a "contract" with us, I hope he keeps it better than he keeps his promises. I'm a disillusioned Dem.

JJ Berg said...

I don't know about any Promise to America, but there certainly is a coat tails strategy in play.

Anonymous said...

Obama's already defined himself with the church he attended and the associations he's made. He's already defined his character and his loyalities. Anyone read his books, lately?

If (a collective) you are too naive to believe that none of that matters, then you will also need to be responsible for the havoc Obama intends to reign down upon this country.

The only promise Obama intends to keep is the one he's made to himself. That is, he intends to be president no matter what that means to anyone else. No matter what destruction that promise will cost the country, nor what his inflated, dictatorial, and sociopathic personality says it needs.

WAKE-UP!

Anonymous said...

Everyone needs to watch this, even the slimy liberals that read this blog:

http://blogsforjohnmccain.com/you-cant-have-my-wallet-barack-obama-video

Anonymous said...

11:39,

Specifically what havoc does Obama intend to rain down upon this country?

Funny you should call Obama a sociopath. Actually, John McCain's life history is more characteristic of sociopathic behavior than Obama.

Characteristics of a sociopath include:

Glib, superficial charm
Manipulative
Grandiose sense of self
Shallow emotions
Need for stimulation
Poor behavior controls/impulsive
Early behavior problems
Irresponsibility
Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
Parasitic lifestyle

Every single one of these characteristics can be found in no small measure via McCain's books.

I suggest to you that most of the country has, in fact, woken up and is not interested in repeating the nightmare we've lived for the last 7.5 years.

YES WE CAN!!

Anonymous said...

8:32,

Cute parody. Perfectly nails the ethos of the GOP...

Money is more important than the lives of the sons and daughters of other people.

Anonymous said...

Obama "Yes we can tax the shit out of America" will destroy the American economy for generations.

He should change his slogan to "No we can't" to represent all the limitations he would place on our economy.

I keep "my laws" off the body of women who want to kill their babies. You keep "YOUR LAWS" off my body. Universal Healthcare is not free!

In the UK it takes 18 months to have a hernia operation - OR you can pay out of your pocket to have your hernia repaired as quickly as you would in the US. Someone please explain how this is desirable?

Obama is a disaster and unfortunately for his race baiting tactics it has nothing to do with his race.

Anonymous said...

9:02,

Bush I raised taxes at the end of his administration and so did Clinton. The economic boom of that period lifted all boats and had the federal government actually paying off debt. Your fears are totally groundless.

Right now Americans pay more money per capita for healthcare than any other nation in the world. Yet we cannot somehow cover everyone and if we do the cost is going to go up? Nonsense.

Anonymous said...

Profile of the sociopath: Does this sound like Obama????

Definition:

Glibness and superficial charm;

Gradiose Sense of Self - arrogent

Pathological lying - can't keep campaign promises;

Lack of remorse "The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way" including lying and flip flopping

Shallow emotiions: "since they are not genuine neither are their promises"'

Calousness/Lack of Empathy; sexist remarks; dumping grandmother, Wright

Early behavior problems -- cocaine

Irresponsibility/unreliabity -- "does not accept blame themselves but blames others" racist charges

Lack lf realistic life plan/ "tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future";

Entrepreneurial versaility: "Changes their image as needed" "Change life story readily"

Anonymous said...

11:02,

No, it does not sound like Obama.

How it reads is that you don't have a damn clue what you are writing about.

Anonymous said...

11:32 How would you know?

Anonymous said...

11:56,

I read the comment.

Anonymous said...

Wow, someone already answered the sociopathic question for me. It was interesting how the anonymous obot failed to make the correlation and therefore reflected their own inability to look at themselves and the idol they so worship - Baraqi Obomber.

Serious americans are not about to let the inmates of the insane asylum (Obie and his minions) take over. Get used to it. Therapy begins now!

signed,

realistic Democrat

Anonymous said...

2:54,

Realisticrats need to look at the polls. Remember how you all told us that since Clinton won Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and California that Obama couldn't do so? Fucking brilliant.

The list of sociopathic characteristics provided does not in any way indicate Obama is immune from them. That is your shallow (blind?) interpretation. What it does is list characteristics that are absolutely shown by and admitted to by McCain.

If you were truly honest and realistic you could identify those characteristics on the list which are not shared by Obama and McCain.

Anonymous said...

Your opinion only. Do you own research 3:19 pm. Then get back with your own bona fide assessment of Obama. But then again, perhaps you're another one that can't see the forest for the trees, an obot.

Instead of judging, investigate and take an interest rather than a stance.

Anonymous said...

12:14 You flunk reading comprehension. But then how could you know?

Anonymous said...

2:54 In the same article that listed the characteristics of the sociopath, further on in the article under "Other Related Qualities: listed:

"Do not perceive that anything is wrong with themselves."

Therefore, if McCann has admitted faults you consider sociopathic,by the very act of admitting he has a fault, he is absolved from being a sociopath. Sociopaths, as most who suffer from mental illness, have no idea anything is wrong with themselves.

Anonymous said...

7:44,

I truly enjoy comments from people who advise me not to judge, then judge me. Clever.

9:14,

Congrats. Your reply is a full step below that of 7:44 on the maturity/intelligence meter.

9:26,

If I had actually called McCain a sociopath, perhaps your reply would be enlightening to me. However, since I did not, it isn't.

It could, perhaps, be enlightening in this one way: you've deflated the argument of the anon who claimed Obama has a sociopathic personality.

Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Listen, I was glad to help I want to do anything to make your stay through the looking glass comfortable. Please eat your veggies.

Anonymous said...

5:52 am...

No problem. Anything else you need to be enlightened on?

Stand back and watch the show, unless it is too uncomfortable for you to look at yourself in the mirror.

Anonymous said...

1:50,

Turn on your sarcasm meter. You weren't being praised for your skills.

I look in the mirror each day and am quite happy with what I see. Sleep well at night, too!

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday, Adrienne. Miss you.

XO,
Sally

Anonymous said...

We'd rather see you prosecute AIPAC and its subsidiaries than their half-wit fool/figurehead Bush.

THAT would get to the heart of the matter and not be a grandstanding, cosmetic gesture.