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Reading Bob Casey's Obama Endorsement and the future of the Democratic Party By Rob Kall

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Demeter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-29-08 02:35 PM
Original message
Reading Bob Casey's Obama Endorsement and the future of the Democratic Party By Rob Kall
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_rob_kall_080329_reading_bob_casey_s_.htm


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Bob Casey's Obama endorsement says a lot about the future of the Democratic party.

I was amazed to see that Bob Casey endorsed Obama. I'd have given odds against it, since Hillary had supported his senate canddacy along with Chuck Schumer and harry reid. Hillary even held a few fundraisers for him. So, for Casey to go against Clinton and Schumer, that tells me he's chosen sides and the other side has Harry Reid on it, along with the other members of the senate who have already endorsed Obama.

With Nancy Pelosi already calling for a superdelegate policy that supports Obama and Harry Reid and a number of the other leading Dem Primary candidates already behind Obama, the writing is on the wall and it is just a matter of time before Hillary finally reads and then demands that Bill read the damned message already.

I don't see Bob Casey as a leader. He's a team player and it is clear that he's sized up the situation for himself and chosen a future that includes Obama and the path that will take the Democratic party. That path is a break from 16 years of Clinton/DLC leadership. If Obama wins the primary and then the election, the Clinton leadership, with the close support and inspiration of the DLC will be over. No wonder there is a huge, bloody battle going on. The stakes are far beyond just determining who runs against McCain. Normally, if Hillary was not in the race, Bill Clinton would continue, even with a new Democratic president, to be a major player in the DNC. But having put all his power and influence on the line, a failure to win Hillary the primary will result in an even steeper drop for Bill Clinton in party influence, and along with him, all the Clinton Whitehouse former employees who were waiting to step back into power.

A win for Obama will represent a huge step away from the DLC, a step away from a policy of moving the Democratic party to the right. While Obama must avoid, in the election, signs of progressive or liberal tendencies, his win will be a clear rejection of the drift to the right. He even insisted the DLC remove his name from a list they created of DLC senators-- a list they added his name to without permission. As the Clinton Tribe/Cartel/Dynasty evaporates from the scene, a vacuum will be created. It'll be interesting to see what fills that vacuum. Be assured other groups are waiting. Progressives have an opportunity to grab a lot more power. So do bluedogs. It's a pregnant time, where anything could happen. If there's a way for progressives to come together, as never before, at the same time telling Clinton leftovers where to go, some amazing progress could be made. It will take real, strong leadership to make it happen. Even independents like Bernie Sanders could get involved.

There will be, over the coming weeks, as more and more superdelegates come out and take sides, like Casey, a tiime of chaos...The Chinese talk about he curse of living in interesting times. That we are





Authors Bio:
Rob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor and organizer of several conferences, including StoryCon, the Summit Meeting on the Art, Science and Application of Story and The Winter Brain Meeting on neurofeedback, biofeedback, Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump speeches and debates.
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loveangelc Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-29-08 02:36 PM
Response to Original message
1. since when is Harry Reid behind Obama.....?
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Demeter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-29-08 02:37 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. Google Is Your Friend
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FrenchieCat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-29-08 02:43 PM
Response to Reply #2
5. I'd like to know too.......
can't you just provide some assistance on this? Thanks.
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sandnsea Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-29-08 02:47 PM
Response to Reply #1
7. I don't know where Reid is right now
I think a lot of people thought the Clintons were unbeatable, and are probably wishing they could take back their early endorsements.
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Demeter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-29-08 03:00 PM
Response to Reply #7
10. A Lot of People Are Rescinding Their Endorsements
including superdelegates who can read the writing on the wall.
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Demeter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-29-08 03:00 PM
Response to Reply #1
9. From the NYTimes Friday March 29, 2008
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noel711 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-29-08 02:38 PM
Response to Original message
3. apparently there was bad blood between the Clintons...
and the Casey family. Bob Casey Sr. Was a much
beloved governor of PA, but Clinton forbade him to
speak at the Democratic convention (1990?)
because Casey was pro-life.

Some commentators see this as paybacks...
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Demeter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-29-08 02:41 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. There are a million stories like that
Bill and Hillary treat their natural friends and supporters like toilet paper.
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sandnsea Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-29-08 02:45 PM
Response to Original message
6. Don't tell me people didn't know this
:shrug:

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Cha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-29-08 02:55 PM
Response to Original message
8. Thanks for this dynamic analysis by Rob Kall
on the dlc's influence on the clintons. The Young Turk talked about this weeks ago when he said it was imperative for Obama to win or the dlc would be taking over DC and our party.

I read on truthout.org last night that another reason Senator Bob Casey of PA has endorsed Obama is because all his daughters like him.

"Casey's decision was also personal, motivated in part by the enthusiasm his four daughters - Elyse, Caroline, Julia and Marena - have expressed for Obama, the source said. "He thinks we shouldn't be deaf to the voices of the next generation." Sweet.

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sandnsea Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-29-08 03:08 PM
Response to Reply #8
11. Dynamic analysis???
I don't get it. People really didn't know that this was what this fight was about???

:shrug:

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