Obama's PPPP Approach: Progressive Policies Presented as Pragmatic.

[FrenchieCat]

I have thought about this, and this is my theory of Obama's gameplan:

It will be much more effortless for Barack Obama to propose a progressive agenda, if he is not forced to defend from the media and the Right, each and every cabinet pick that he makes. Rather than getting bogged down with his choice of cabinet members, picking mainstream centrists will allow him to start out with a stronger hand in what he will propose. The idea is not to have to fight for anything and everything, every step of the way...in particular, coming out of the gate, as we are in too dire straits for that. Plus Obama is not a fighter in the classic sense.

Had Obama named recognized progressive to post after post, Obama would be setting up a natural opposition to his agenda prior to even making one official proposal.

It is my strong belief that Obama's goal is to concentrate on getting his agenda through, rather than getting busy defending himself from those who would point their fingers at his progressive cabinet picks saying...."see, we told you the man was a socialist! We try to warn you that with a Democratic majority in both houses of congress, the man will turn us into a socialist country!"

So when I look at who Obama is naming, most which are what the media have decided to call "centrists" and thus far seem to approve of....I suspect that there is a methodological reason for his naming what some progressives (Krugman and Reich) as well as conservatives (David Brooks) have labeled "Mainstream Pragmatist Brainiacs".

And so, I "get" what he is doing. And in so doing, he has provided himself with cover to actually concentrate on the policies he will be proposing, rather than spending any of his electoral capital defending his choice of personnel. As you damn well know, the media would have a field day if Obama chose Progressives that the left, as a whole, were in love with, to populate his entire cabinet.

I consider this maneuvering to be quite brilliant, and I was reminded, in reading the below paragraphs from an Obama 2004 letter, that he will be working his policies in a different manner than what has been expected of him by those who haven't read his books or writings. What is important, however, is that I do believe that Obama's policy proposals will be progressive, even if their are formulated and proposed by those pragmatists seen as Centrists:

My job... isn’t to scold people for their lack of ideological purity. It’s to persuade as many people as I can, across the ideological spectrum, that MY vision of the future is compatible with their values, and can make their lives a little bit better. Thus, while I may favor common-sense gun control laws, that doesn’t keep me from reaching out to NRA members who are worried about their lack of health insurance. I favor affirmative action, but I’m still going after the votes of white union members who oppose affirmative action, because I think I can convince them that it’s Bush’s economic agenda, and not affirmative action, that is eroding their job security and stagnating their wages. And while I may object to the misogyny and materialism of much of rap culture, I’m still going to spend the time reaching out to a hip-hop generation in search of a future.

In other words, I believe that politics in any democracy is a game of addition, not subtraction. And I believe deeply enough in the decency of the American people to think that progressives can build a winning majority in this country, so long as we’re not afraid to speak the truth, and so long as we don’t write off big chunks of the electorate just because they don’t agree with us on every issue.

State Senator Barack Obama

Candidate for the U.S. Senate
http://www.blackcommentator.com/48/48_cover.html

[BlooInBloo]

1. Alt title didn't make it thru focus group testing: Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Cheap.

[FrenchieCat]

2. The PPPP happened quite by happerstance!

:)

[BlooInBloo]

9. Suuuuuuuuuuuure it did...

:P

[FrenchieCat]

10. True, true, true, true....the 4 Ts!

See how that happened? ;)

[BlooInBloo]

11. Whoa. Hardcore.

[FrenchieCat]

16. Aye!

[FrenchieCat]

3. One of the reason that the media is making a big deal about Summers' post

is that the media wants the controversy.....

And the media hopes that the Left will be outraged with Obama for even saying Summers name for anything....which is why Summer is being as prominently heralded as is the announcement for the Secretary of the Treasurer.

The fact that Summer was not put in a position that needs confirmation, says that Obama is not looking for confirmation fights, but still feels strongly that he needs who he has determined he needs to hear from on a regular basis.

[Cha]

8. And since they want controversary the

corporatemedia usually gets it Wrong.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Krugman.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7914470&mesg_id=7914470

[BlooInBloo]

5. Of course he's happy - Clinton is getting the runner-up-runner-up prize....

Clinton supporters find that to be a smashing victory for some strange reason. Beggars can't be choosers, I suppose.

In any case, he made clear in the primaries that he's not to be listened to on any matter other than economics.

[Cha]

7. He's right.."The

Grownups(really) are Coming", indeed.

[FrenchieCat]

13. Reich.....

http://robertreich.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-obama-is-already-taking-charge.html

[Cha]

15. Another excellent article

on Taking Charge. Someone had to and we got lucky.

[Cha]

6. There will be no deadwood..in

government spending or people. The peeps he's chosen for jobs in his admin are there for a very important purpose.

[TheDoorbellRang]

12. One of Obama's remarks sticks in my head: "We have to change our mindset"

I equate what America has been thru the past eight years with what a spouse in a disfunctional relationship with a batterer or addict endures. It's easy for us to see what is/was wrong with Bushco, but not so easy to see what it's done to us. And we've all reacted just as long-suffering spouses often do: from the logical exposes and shrill complaining of DUers over the years to the freepers' MO: ignoring the elephant in the room.

So now we're entering this new presidential relationship weighed down with the emotional baggage of the past eight years. Every move, every choice, by the new administration is weighed with a jaundiced eye, while we expect the worst. It's much like when the ex-wife of an alcoholic views a new partner ordering a drink and exclaims, "Aha! I knew it! Well, this is our last date, buster!"

Too bad there's not a twelve step program for Americans Anonymous. ;)

Anywho, that's my take on why all the handwringing about Obama's cabinet appointments.

I had read an oped several months ago that contained interviews with some of Obama's former students in Chicago. They described his preferred method for getting results as "ruthless pragmatism." Then there was the National Review critique of him that described him as the "most liberal senator," to which he replied that this included his reform bill on increasing transparency in the political process -- not liberal, he said, but something we all would appreciate no matter our personal ideology. I think a lot of "progressive" issues are going to get introduced by the Obama administration as merely commonsense, pragmatic solutions. Thus the reshaping of our national mindset will continue January 20th -- it already got a good start during Obama's campaign.

[FrenchieCat]

14. Well said.......because yes, that is what I am coming to believe as well.

But then, I read his books.

[TheDoorbellRang]

21. I really need to pick those up.

I listened to the audio version of "Audacity of Hope" on a long car trip, but I usually get more out of the written word than the spoken word. Well, Christmas is coming, so I know what'll be on my list...

[BlooInBloo]

17. Where that goes wrong, if it does, is when nobody else changes their mindset...

Then you end up in the old-standby of Democratic Party situations:

[FrenchieCat]

18. Well, that is part of his job........is to change the mind-set.....

and I'm sure that upcoming Media reform will help that part along.

[BlooInBloo]

19. And it would be noted here by somebody who was criticism-minded....

That his centrist cabinet hirings (his 2nd Presidential decision collectively) put the cart before the horse - marching forward *thinking* everybody's with you, before your army's mindset has actually been changed

And the response to that would presumably be something like: You gotta start somewhere, since the critic is in essence making it out to be a catch-22 situation.

And yes, I know that I really should stop having complete conversations in my head.

[TheDoorbellRang]

20. That's where my analogy kicks in again

Just as disfunction is contagious, so too is health. IOW, if one member of a disfunctional family gets help and becomes "healthy," it can spread to other family members, too. Notice I say it can, not it will.

I think we are going to be seeing what a healthy administration looks like in the coming months and years, and many of us emotionally battered Americans may choose to catch a case of renewed health, too.

[tigereye]

22. good analysis, thanks!

[pot luck]

23. I agree.

Everything that I’ve read from or about Obama leads me to believe that his main focus is to avoid getting bogged down in ideological battles so that he can get things done. If we continue to frame policy in the terms of left v right, we’ll never get anything thing done, because the conservatives will try to turn public sentiment against it simply because it’s a liberal idea. By talking about things in a broader context and by surrounding himself with people from both sides of the fence, he’ll be able to get broader support for his agenda and prevent conservatives from poisoning the well. That's why Obama was able to get so much support from people who don't normally vote for Democrats. How can the far right convince the American people that Obama and his policies are too extreme if he’s being inclusive and reaching out a hand to the other side? They will only marginalize themselves and make everyone view them as extremist.

[Two Americas]

24. there is merit to that

Well said, thanks. We can hope.

Of course brilliant politicking by Obama would have to include and consider the inevitable criticism from the Left for some of his statements and moves. comes with the territory. It won't work to say that he WOULD be brilliant and successful if only that one annoying faction - the Left - would just go away and be quiet. That would not be brilliant politics.

I am willing to believe that Obama is a brilliant politician and exceptional leader. That would be a good reason to continue to speak out from the Left, not a reason to not speak out from the Left.

[dbmk]

25. I think you are right, Frenchie

Been saying the same in other posts too.

I am European, and I have Obama pegged as far more leftish and progressive than many people here give him credit for.

He has chosen to separate personal conviction from political movements that has to be made in real political landscape - or perhaps more correctly chosen not to let the first cloud his judgement on the latter.
Where he would like to move the country and where he thinks he can move it, is probably two very different things. But he is not going to let his ideals get in the way of getting _some_ movement. And not let it get in the way of working with people that do not share them completely.

And to do that he needs players who knows the game. Who knows where to land the blows _he_ calls for. What he does not need from the start is a debate over the capability of hs choices or for them to be used as tool to paint him as partisan.
And as much as people questioning those choices here, may have be right on those persons political leanings, the real question should be whether Obama can make them work for him. And I see little reason, for now, to question that.

Edit: Given what Obama has accomplished and his ability to get results, would you work against him if you had long term plans in the Democratical political scene?

[FrenchieCat]

26. As European born, I agree with the fact that from all that I have read

of Obama's life and experience, he is most likely more progressive than what he presents. However, he is also wise enough to understand that the political climate must be walked through carefully enough to get to the finish line. Certainly, he's not about to get sidetracked before the starting gun has even gone off. That would not prove him to be a wise political leader if he did the expected....and according to many, Obama is anything but with the CW when it comes to his tactics to getting where he is going. He's proven that.

[bleever]

27. Nicely said.

I agree.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

28. I hope you're right, FC. Right now it looks like the progressives are getting the shaft as usual

[Waiting For Everyman]

29. That's what I was thinking too. Name centrists, do liberal. nt

[Dragonfli]

30. Excellent points!

The only thing at all that I disagree with, is that it would be possible to accomplish such a strategy while still appointing some progressives to help keep the support of the grass roots in accomplishing his agenda (it is not after all, an either all progressive, or all centrist choice for him).

It may yet still yet happen that way!

He is a brilliant man after all.
He may find a way to get nearly EVERYONE on board.

With the exception of the mouthbreaders that is. Only Fascism will appeal to that 30%

[FrenchieCat]

31. It may yet still yet happen that way!

I believe that it will....and that yes, he will throw progressives some of what everyone else is getting.

A little time will tell, and that is what I'm willing to give.

[Dragonfli]

32. We agree yet again! - NT

[BeFree]

33. Are you saying

....that Obama has the big picture in mind as he navigates thru the neo-cons, pubbies, conservatives and others as he tries to get America back on the true liberal bearing on which it was founded?

Damn, he's one hell of a sharp politician. Maybe he ought to be elected president? He could do one hell of a job there, huh?

[FrenchieCat]

35. That would be nice....

but would he ever survive the vetting?

[BeFree]

36. Maybe

his worst enemies may appear to be democrats, tho. If he makes it past them he'd have a good chance of getting elected. And then there'd be the people nipping at his heels everytime he made a move. I don't know why he'd take on the task, unless he really loved America.

[JeffR]

34. "But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao, you ain't gonna

make it with anyone anyhow"

- John Lennon, 1968