Let's get to it (Get Up!) - frogcycle's Obama endorsement (and more)

I was disappointed when Biden dropped out, and was disappointed Edwards dropped out.

For about 20 seconds.

Biden's dad's advice rings loud in my head: Get Up!

It looks like Obama is the new Arthur (Camelot reference for all the kiddies out there).

Ok, thus it shall be. I have liked him generally since he first came to prominence in Illinois; just didn't think he was ready. Still don't. But he's the only horse to ride now*, so lets make the best of it.

He absolutely MUST assemble a top-notch cadre of senior advisors. He can have all the hope and vision, point in right direction; then people need to get it done. That, of course, is his rival's criticism of him. Well, it can be remedied by top-notch close advisors. Not just cabinet and VP posts, but the real in-the-west-wing close confidants.

In baseball there is a role called "bench coach." Usually an ex-manager, who has been in baseball for at least 100 years, whose job it is to sit next to the manager in the dugout and whisper in his ear. Then the manager makes 'brilliant' decisons as to whether to bunt, hit-and-run, etc.

Obama needs a couple or three top-notch bench coaches. Some of the best of the best are in the Senate: Biden, Dodd, Feingold, Kennedy - and they should stay there. Others are available**, and it sounds like he is already pulling in the dem "establishment." That can be good or bad - some of the "establishment" are, imo, appeasers. But there are folks out there who know how to get things done - get bills passed, run agencies, etc.

Team Obama can be great, and I'll be proud to cast what would have been a vote for Edwards for him in the Illinois primary, and work my tail off to get John Laesch into congress. Laesch has promised that if the people of the 14th send him to DC to fill Hastert's vacated seat, he'll be the 89th cosponsor of HR 676 (Single Payer Healthcare bill ).
Laesch is sponsoring a http://www.dbc3.com/john08/Calendar/healthcare.html">healthcare forum in Elgin, Ill. tonight. He may be a young upstart, not even nominated yet, but he got Conyers to come to town! He also promises to vote against any further funding of the occupation of Iraq, and as a former military intelligence specialist enforcing sanctions and no-fly zone, he has the cred to make that case.

It looks like Take Back America is going to take several election cycles. So let's knuckle down and get to it. Find people like John Laesch to work for at the grass roots level. And if you don't have a local opportunity to help a candidate, find people like John Laesch to donate to. He is running on a shoestring against a couple of millionaires who buy lots of air time and send lots of glossy junkmail. Think about it: Dennis Hastert's seat taken over by a young progressive! There are myriad opportunities like that out there, so have at it.


*if I appear to be ignoring a candidate actively in the race, well, I get to. All of the candidates I liked better have been ignored right off the charts. Tough nookies.

**example: Madeline Albright would not want another run as Sec State, but maybe she'd be a "bench coach." What role might Gore play? I would not expect an official role - but a close confidant?