Why President Obama Will Be Re-Elected in 2012

After analyzing and examining the current political climate very closely over the course of the last few weeks, I've concluded that-- despite reports to the contrary-- President Obama can and will get re-elected in 2012. I say this because the Tea Party faction, which has all but hijacked the GOP, repeatedly shoots itself in the foot with all its hatemongering and fearpandering. Based on my conversations with friends of all political stripes, there appears to be a consensus that folks are just plain sick of all the negativity. What's more, a new (and this is NOT a typo) FOX News poll indicates that most of America doesn't even like anyone in the current parade of potential GOP candidates too well. In fact, the poll's "winner"-- conservative quasi-deity Mike Huckabee-- only scored a paltry 55% approval rating. (Note: Since it's "Ignore-a-certain-neocon-media-darling" Week on Facebook, I'm not even going "there" today.) So, all things considered I'd say things are actually looking pretty good for the president right now. (Yes, I realize that this post is a tad biased, flippant, sarcastic, and sassy, but that's how it goes in the Ashleyverse. And, trust me, I'll revisit this topic in far greater detail at a later date.)

The Revolution Comes Home (And, yes, it IS online!)

Greetings, my fellow progressives/peaceful revolutionaries! Wow, what an eventful past couple weeks it has been! First, we witnessed the virtually bloodless Egyptian revolution, as well as the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak-- a turn of events that so many believed unlikely only two weeks prior to the resounding celebration in Cairo's Tahrir Square. Now, we're witnessing our own peaceful revolution taking place in front of the Wisconsin State Capitol building in Madison. Workers are demanding that Badger State lawmakers allow them to maintain their collective bargaining rights so that those who operate within the public sphere (including myself) can continue to serve the American public. We must stand in solidarity with the workers, as well as brave union leaders and the 14 intrepid senators who are taking a stand regarding this matter. Furthermore, President Barack Obama has stated his support of the protesters, so we must also stand in solidarity with him. Ultimately, we should, as a nation united, support Wisconsinites in the almost inevitable impeachment process of uber-corrupt, Koch-Bros.-funded (sons of a John Birch Society founder, no less!) Gov. Scott Walker. (Government is actually on OUR side on this one. Imagine that!) As my friends and I have been saying, it's "like the 60s all over again." (Yeah, pretty sure there won't be too many Rip Van Winkle wannabes left after this is all over!)
That being said, we're not out of the woods yet. In terms of the global situation, there will be a transition period in which Egypt will be under military rule. In addition, other countries-- including Palestine, Iran, Yemen, Algeria, Libya, Bahrain, and Syria-- are trying to have their own revolutions, with wildly varying degrees of success. We must remain vigilant and carefully monitor the global revolution(s) situation. On the domestic front, well, we just have to keep doing what we're doing and hope for the best outcome.
So, how do we peaceful revolutionaries ensure the best possible outcome? I think it goes without saying that this revolution is happening online. Accordingly, let's continue to utilize the Internet on behalf of the greater good of humanity. More importantly, remember that America was an experiment in radical thinking. It is absolutely imperative that we perpetuate that great tradition of freedom, liberty, and justice for all.
Namaste,
Ash
P.S. Happy Presidents' Day, y'all!

Mission Statement

APR Mission Statement:
I started this blog on 13 February 2011 in order to lend a unique voice to the American Progressive Movement. This mission will be accomplished via a two-pronged approach, which is as follows:
First of all, I implore my followers to use this site as a forum for civil public discourse. More importantly, this discourse is to be aimed at creating positive (and tangible!) social change. Thus, the first part of this change-creating strategy will be to promote this blog's ideals and message through intellectual, non-violent means. Yes, readers, this sounds good in theory, but it is, in fact, only one half of the real-change-making equation.
The second, far more crucial half is a charge to my loyal followers-- as well as myself-- to stay fully aware and vigilant in regards to local, national, and global current events. The Peaceful Revolution that just occurred in Egypt should serve as an inspiration to us all that peaceful social change, facilitated largely through the Internet (which, remarkably, isn't even all that widely available in Egypt), can be a reality. Above all else, this is to be a realistically optimistic, solution-minded forum.
So, all those in favor of agreeing to this mission: Say "Aye!"

Welcome!

Hello! My name is Ashley, and I'm a 31-yr.-old adjunct English instructor at Olney Central College (Olney, Ill.). I'm also actively working on my M.A. degree in English (literary studies (specifically, 19th-century American lit.)/composition & rhetoric concentration) at EIU (Eastern Illinois University-- Charleston, Ill.). In addition, I am tremendously interested and active in progressive politics. The primary goal of this blog is to encourage passionate progressives to use communication, intelligent discourse, and intense political research in order to regain our rightful power on the American political scene. Perhaps more importantly, it is time for we progressives to "incite" a Peaceful (read: ideological, metaphysical, spiritual) American Revolution. That being said, let's get it started!