I posted this on the old thread as well…here it is in the correct place. 
I can’t really answer the poll as asked, because 1. I DO know of politicians who would be “better” from the perspective of more representative of my particular views (as a progressive, leftist Independent)
BUT
- I do NOT currently know of anyone else fitting that description who has a snowball’s chance in hell of getting ELECTED (i.e. preventing the Republicans from re-taking the nation and continuing to drive it the rest of the way into the ground.)
For that reason, I challenge all my liberal, leftist, idealist friends (and strangers) to support this President or accept responsibility for the re-election of the right and the loss of what he has managed to accomplish (and will). :mad:
I find it sadly ironic that many on the left fell into the same trap as many on the right, believing that Obama really WAS a “socialist” and “radical leftist”, despite his clear denials and honest statements of his position as a moderate pragmatist committed to a bi-partisan approach. They were, apparently, all “wink, wink” during the campaign and now are surprised and angry that he was…telling the TRUTH.
I voted for him, not because I ever thought he was anywhere near as left on the spectrum as I tend to be but because he was (and still is, imo) the best viable option to more of the same after 8 yrs of Republican rule.
Plus, imo, he’s a decent man, intelligent, articulate, and is taking us (frustratingly haltingly, halway and slowly at times) in the correct direction. I generally LIKE him and what he has to say and has done.
I often vote for 3rd party candidates, both because I prefer to vote for the one I agree with most closely and I feel strongly about supporting a mutli-party system and more choices, but you’d better believe I threw my vote behind Obama, and will again if it seems anywhere near like a close race. If it is obvious that my state of residence at the time is going one way or the other, I vote for a 3rd party candidate…if it’s close, I vote Democrat. This last time, I voted for Obama even though it wasn’t close in my state (he had our electoral votes, easily) but I honestly liked him best and also wasn’t going to risk it, all things considered.
As it turned out, he didn’t even need my west coast vote, having won by a landslide before our polls even closed, but I was not going to take that chance.
If sufficient numbers of my fellow progressives fail to support Obama now and come the next election, they know the outcome and will have no-one to blame but themselves.
I’m an idealist, too, but I am also a realist and until we have a viable “perfect” candidate in the running, we are idiots to not support the one who represents the only alternative to the right-wingnuts. :smack: