Reply #116: one thing I'd like to address from your post - [View All]

[paulk]

Clinton didn't try a 3rd way approach until the Republicans had taken over Congress - in his first two years he was far more progressive than Obama has been - trying to get universal healthcare not tied to employment (and failing), trying to let gays in the military (DADT was a compromise that no one was happy with), rescinding the Reagan era tax cuts on the wealthy (Obama has declined to try this with the Bush Tax cuts). It's not an unreasonable argument to make that Clinton's progressiveness cost the Democratic Party in the '94 election cycle.

I suppose this is what Obama is afraid of - moving too far to the left and causing huge losses in the 2010 elections - but still, with the Democratic majorities we enjoy he has
shown a real lack of political courage in moving an agenda that is remotely progressive - unless he actually is a conservative Dem to begin with - then his actions would make a lot more sense...