Barack Obama WILL Govern From The Middle, GET USED TO IT!!!!!

[WeDidIt]

The best part about the truth of that statement is the following.

Barack Obama has contact information for about 4 million highly motivated individuals, his donors.

Through oratory and the use of that database, Barack Obama will be able to present ANY PROGRESSIVE AGENDA as completely centrist.

The utter brilliance of the Obama campaign machine translates into an activist base that is awe inspiring in its size. We are talking about more than 1 out of every 100 men, women, and children in this nation. Through this activist base, what he chooses to do becomes centrist by default so long as he does not overstep.

Remember what Carville said when his donor base was just 2 million strong. "Two million donors, that's a political party!"

This is what has the REpublicans most freaked out right now, and it's something they know they will be unable to duplicate.

The point I am making here is, the political center has just taken two GIANT STEPS to the left. If he plays this right in the first two years, it'll take about five more giant steps to the left in 2010.

[Why Syzygy]

1. Not all of us are willing to be organized to promote a Centrist

government when we were promised so much more upon our commitment.

Your user name says it all for you. I'm still an Independent and will be forever.
It's about ISSUES.

[Marsala]

2. You were never promised more

Barack laid out an agenda. The Democratic Party made a platform. That's what they intend to do. That's what they mean by governing from the center. Now, if they significantly backtrack from those promises, that will certainly be a cause for complaint.

[cali]

4. Want to elaborate on what you think you were promised?

I'm truly curious.

[ChazII]

5. I'd like an answer, too. n/t

[JBear]

6. I think that the center has just moved though...

It is now centrist to talk about fuel economy reforms. It is now centrist to talk about alternative energy. It is now centrist to talk about health care as a right.

Really the only fringe issue left is gay marriage. While I don't like being a lightning rod, I am willing to let the dust settle a bit on this one to make HUGE steps in the rest of the now centrist issues.

The man is a true statesman...Let him move us to the United States of America!

:bounce:

[Why Syzygy]

30. I don't think Obama is going to

"govern from the Center". I will be truly nauseous, disillusioned, and would probably completely withdraw from society.

If he doesn't govern from FORWARD we go! .. count me O.U.T.

[WeDidIt]

7. Yoiu didn't even read my post

:eyes:

[stray cat]

8. But if he can get most Americans to work for change losing one or two won't hurt

[Kahuna]

16. If you think you were promised anything more than a centrist adminstration..

you were not paying attention. :shrug:

[Leopolds Ghost]

23. What you and Cali call "centrist", I call "center-right"

If not Reaganism.

I guess you want to discourage voters from thinking they were promised anything.

[Why Syzygy]

34. No shit, they do...

I didn't support Reaganism, which was actually where the transfer of wealth BEGAN and now leaves us on the precipice.

I won't support another Reagan. I was promised five words ..

CHANGE I can believe in. (that ain't Reaganism)

edit: I don't for a MINUTE believe that when Pelosi begs for Centric government, she isn't talking about supporting the WEALTHY.

[AZBlue]

33. What were you promised upon commitment?

What a ridiculous thing to say!

[Why Syzygy]

37. No, what a ridiculous thing for YOU to say ..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7818230&mesg_id=7818403

[AZBlue]

38. So you're saying "Warren Stupidity" is really Barack Obama?

Really?

[Why Syzygy]

40. No.

But I'll say this. Your input is too moronic for me to waste time on.

buh bi

[AZBlue]

43. Thanks for proving my point for me!

That was SO easy!

[Hawkowl]

39. You missed the point.

It's taken me a couple of days but I think the point is "Progressive is the new center". It appears that Obama has taken a page, hell, a whole chapter out of Rove's book, and is simply going to literally redefine words, ideas, agendas simply to sell them to the by and large, not so bright, American electorate.

Now, we really won't know what "center" means until some legislation is actually passed, but I agree with the O.P.

[Essene]

3. Agreed... and we better not overstate the "mandate"

I've looked at the 2004 vs 2008 map and have depressingly decided that this election was very much a shift in MOOD moreso than a shift in ideology or identity politics. See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7813305

When i look at the maps, I see a shift in MOOD esp among independents - not a huge ideological shift among Americans. Partisans mostly held on tight. Only a handful of places shifted more than 20% to blue and they were already "purple" or blue areas. In other words, there was no real ideological "flipping" as much as just a strong mood swing that was very much driven by the economy... and post-2006 frustration with the GOP.

The Dems would be wise to focus on centrist themes initially and to solidify the notion that the Democratic Party is going to govern from the center... and be inclusive. I think OBAMA understands this, but i sure dont have much faith in the Congressional leadership.

The "two steps to the left" can easily be undone in 2010. It will not be so easy to hold the center or to coax more amercians into ideological "rethinking" more deeply. There are important things to be done: health care, immigration, spending cuts, etc.

If the Dems approach those with the attitude of "liberal mandate, move out of the way"... then everything gained is as risk.

Then again... perhaps health care and immigration reform are worth that risk. We'll see how it plays out.

[jakem]

14. The map you posted was not the Times 'shift' map- it represents inclination overall.

THIS is the shift map-




it is a HUGE ideological shift. IMO.

[Richardo]

19. That map is relative change from 2004-2008; NOT voting patterns for 2008

A county is shown in blue even if it went from 90% GOP to 89% GOP. That's not a huge ideological change.

[Essene]

20. exaclty, the NY Times was a tad misleading... hence i focused on the 15-20% shifts

When i really looked at this, i got a bit Concerned (TM).

Not to take away from the victory, but it's not quite what i "felt" like it was on election night.

There's a lot to be gained and done, but I think some realism is needed.

[Essene]

21. Compare the "shift" to 1992 and let's look at voter party affiliation

It looks less like a dramatic shift in ideology than a re-adjustment back to center for a LOT of areas.

Keep in mind that dark blue in the 2008 vs 2004 map represents a 15% or so shift. Most of that blue is 5-15%... and the majority of the dark blue areas are RURAL, so the map is very impressive aesthetically but i think it indicates a mood swing back to center within the ideological boundaries already out there.


It is fairly similar against 1996.

The voting shifts indicate a solidification of geographic patterns in 2000 and we still seem to basically be within those boundaries.

Let's reflect on this with more data in mind.

36% of voters are neither democrat nor republican. The GOP has lost ground to the centrist, independents who leaned Dem this year but are still independents. Clearly they have lost ground but my point is that the Dems haven't exactly become the majority, either.

[Warren Stupidity]

9. I have no clue what any of you are actually talking about.

What a bunch of vague bullshit. Corporate Media has once again done its job and framed policy debate not over actual policy but about what label we should put on it and where we should place it on a mythical line on a playing field running from right to far right.

Health care: this administration has promised to finally deliver on some form of universal healthcare. It had better do so, and if it fails it ought to be only because of overt obstruction in the senate.

Iraq: a negotiated phased withdrawal with an explicit timetable - until the crash of 08 this was the organizing theme of the Obama campaign.

Energy: we need to rejoin with the rest of the industrialized democracies on sane policy to minimize the damage from global warming while implementing a major domestic policy initiative that transforms our energy infrastructure into one that is both far less dependent on oil and moving with all due haste toward sustainability.

Economy: the Obama administration is stuck with the last disaster of the Bush regime, and this mess threatens to consume his administration. The 2010 midterm election is likely to be decided over how the new administration has dealt with what we are told is the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. In my view, this opaque debate in Corporate Media over where the Obama administration is supposed to be placed on their right-to-far-right playing field is a narrative about economic re-regulation, about the threat this administration might pose to the neoliberal globalist agenda that has dominated economic policy since the Carter administration. They are not going to talk about it directly because it is rather obvious that their shit has failed and re-regulation is the only sane course, so instead they are mumbling nonsense about goalposts.

Education: raise your hand if you think No Child's Behind Left was malevolent disingenuous bullshit that Teddy Kennedy got snookered into supporting. Plus us in the middle class could really use some help here with the insane costs of higher education. I really think everyone should be able to go to college and that nobody should have to graduate with a mortgage level debt to pay off.

[Leopolds Ghost]

25. Warren can this be reposted as a thread?

:applause:

[Why Syzygy]

36. Fine points!

Health care: and it better be the REPUKE Senate, not the ones we fought to send there. However, if they fail to address the health crisis, kiss your borders good bye. We won't survive.

Iraq: Out

Energy: Exactly. No more oil companies writing public policy FOR DAMN SURE.

Economy: Regulate and the tax cuts as lined out by Obama.

Education: He has really got to shine here. Education is the foundation of our national security.

Thank you.

[Joe Chi Minh]

10. Brilliant. I feared the worst from your post and was about to suggest that your

definition of "center" and "centrist" might be quite different from the reality.

[eridani]

11. I agree with you that what we must do is change where the "middle" is n/t

[Essene]

22. yes, i think this is how we should think about it

Redefine the terms, redefine the middle... rather than unrealistically think the 36% of voters who are INDEPENDENT are suddenly blue flag waving democrats.

[CADEMOCRAT7]

12. Left, right, center, lets move away from the dichotomies. I just want things done, and NOW.

I feel President-Elect Obama will get things done. Amen. It is time to end the grid lock. Lets get moving !

[mmonk]

13. There's no such thing. That imaginary term needs to be put to bed.

For example, the invasion of Iraq. There is only the right things to do or the wrong things to do. Maybe you mean he's apolitical?

[Joe Chi Minh]

15. You won't stop the media or people, generally, talking about the political spectrum as long as

there is a Congress and a Senate, and not a one party state.

The Republicans and DLC have been claiming a center in the US that has, in fact, been far-right in comparison with the rest of the developed world - even our poor, wretched UK.

[Leopolds Ghost]

24. Exactly. At least "moderate" means something.

It means you have a direction you are going in but want to go slowly.

"Centrist" means corrupt, pro business. Always has, always will.

It IS a separate Third ideology in that sense.

[Romulox]

17. Middle= don't rock the boat, give Wall Street their trillions, and SHUT UP! nt

[Mass]

18. As long as he moves the middle to the left, it is fine!!!

But the middle as it stands now is barely to the center right, so we need to stands for what we want, and it is exactly what Obama has asked us. He did not ask us to be acclaiming him, but to tell him the changes we want.

[leeann1317]

26. He has to govern from the Center. And honestly, that's representative of our country...

Bush governed from the far right and did it based on fear and lies. Obama is not that person (Thank God!), so he will be and is a centrist. It's the right idea.

[Douglas Carpenter]

27. it has ALWAYS been perfectly obvious that the President-Elect is a centrist

to anyone who is not either deaf, dumb and blind or to anyone who was not being willfully delusional.

He has been 1000000000000000000% clear, candid and transparent about his centrist views since his first debut on the national stage at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. And he has certainly NEVER, NEVER, NEVER wavered for one single second from his centrist theme - EVER!!

Having said that, the President-elect certainly does have a progressive side to him. And he may very well promote some progressive issues. Just as FDR promoted a great number of progressive issues while saving and enriching the capitalist system and upper class and also keeping the southern segregationist within the New Deal coalition.

Keeping together a new working majority is a difficult balancing act.

Again having said that, it is perfectly legitimate for progressives - such as myself and others to push their progressive issues of concern. Just remember that the new coalition is just as diverse as FDR's coalition of union workers and northern blacks and southern Dixiecrats.

[jonnyblitz]

28. or course he will and i say this as someone from the far left.

I knew where Obama was coming from since the beginning and he never seemed to be progressive/leftist so I am not stunned and shocked like so many of the DELUDED who thought he was a progressive seem to be. :shrug:

[Orsino]

29. I think he's going to surprise us all.

Aren't you used to that yet?

[LSK]

31. You Are Wrong, he will govern from COMMON SENSE

[AtomicKitten]

32. My Magic 8 ball is broken. Check back later for my prediction.

[agentS]

35. Left, Right, Center, Up, Down, WHATEVER! I JUST WANT GOOD GOVERNMENT!

I just want government to function at some meaningful level and not in campaign mode 24/7 like the Bush Administration did!

Is that too hard to ask in America?

[thoughtcrime1984]

41. The potential to move the "center" leftward is there, you are right. nt

[bigwillq]

42. And this is a shock?

:shrug: Obama is a centrist, and this doesn't surprise me at all.