WHEN LOONIES MEET – AT 11:26 A.M. ET:  Ah yes, what really is wrong with Obama is that he's not liberal enough.  If only he was more liberal, he'd surely be way out front in all the polls.

And there are people who really believe that.   The Washington Post has their exciting, inspiring story:

Liberal activists and academics displeased with the Obama administration’s handling of several issues popular with progressives say they are seeking candidates willing to mount a primary challenge against President Obama next year.

The group, led by consumer advocate Ralph Nader and scholar Cornel West, said it faults Obama for the escalation of military campaigns in Afghanistan and Pakistan, for extending tax cuts first enacted by George W. Bush and for his actions during the recent debt ceiling negotiations.

The group said Saturday it is seeking six “recognizable, articulate” candidates who would not mount serious challenges to Obama, but “rigorously debate his policy stands” on issues related to labor, poverty, foreign policy, civil rights and consumer protections.

The group’s efforts come as Democrats are growing increasingly pessimistic about the country’s direction. Fewer than three-quarters of Democrats approve of Obama’s job performance, and less than a third believe the nation is headed in the right direction, according to the most recent Washington Post-ABC News poll.

But Obama is building a formidable reelection campaign that is easily exceeding quarterly fundraising goals and is on course to raise more than $1 billion. Campaign aides last week defended the president’s slipping approval numbers by noting that more than a year before the election, he is attracting thousands of volunteers and small-dollar donors.

Nader said Saturday it is “very unlikely” he would challenge Obama, and that he is gauging the interest of former lawmakers and governors, academics, authors and labor leaders.

COMMENT:  How stimulating.  Actually, President Obama may be wishing for the kind of debate that Nader and West are trying to encourage.  Then he could come out looking like a moderate again, which is the bill he sold us in 2008. 

The Nader/West crowd calls itself "progressive," when in fact it's actually regressive.  I dreams of a return to the 1960s, and they'd probably look great in tie-dyed jeans.   The rest of us would, politely, like to get beyond their out-of-date fantasies.

September 18, 2011