New Dem chant for street demonstrations: "GUESS WE CAN'T! GUESS! WE! CAN'T!"

[elehhhhna]

I respect many of Obama's decisions, but on the big issues I feel screwn over.

You?

[babylonsister]

1. So you respect many decisions, but want to treat him like idiot son?

Write a letter. You might accomplish more.

[elehhhhna]

3. been there, done that

just venting

[lamp_shade]

2. How clever.

[MarjorieG]

4. Iran is not about our feelings, us or Obama. We don't cause and fix everything.

[elehhhhna]

8. I think he's doing perfectly in his handling of Iran right now --

It's torture, medical access for all, and the bailout gang I can't understand.

[MarjorieG]

16. Most of the bailout was last guy, but Obama said these decisions wouldn't be popular.

Having to save the institutions most at fault because we need a financial, bnking system functioning. He's had to make the best decisions of bad choices.

[johnaries]

20. He's ended torture, he hasn't given up on health care

(although it looks like you have), and companies are starting to pay back their bail-outs. I would have liked for him to come out stronger for gay rights, but that fight isn't over yet.

So, why so pessimistic?

[elehhhhna]

22. he's ended waterboarding. The other "approved" torture methods are still

in use. Today. And why no investigation/prosecution of the Bushmafia?

Health care, bfd. He never said single payer and he's not exactly pushing for it.

ANd the "dems" in congress are useless asshats.

[Joe the Revelator]

5. Please avoid any jobs that requires you to think of slogans.

Weak sauce.

[Shagbark Hickory]

6. Not me. I wanted a liberal to get in the white house but instead we got center/right obama.

His center/right positions do not surprise me.
They would have surprised me if Kucinich, Gravel or Edwards was elected.

[babylonsister]

15. Depends on who's putting the labels on.

Your label could very easily be wrong, too.

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/140239/is_obama_creating_a_center-left_liberal_establishment_in_dc/

Is Obama Creating a Center-Left Liberal Establishment in DC?

Posted by Booman, Booman Tribune at 9:45 PM on May 25, 2009.

Obama didn't create the center-left Establishment, but he is doing everything he can to protect and consolidate it.


I like E.J. Dionne. I think he's on to something in his latest column. He's basically saying that President Obama is creating a center-left liberal establishment in Washington that is reminiscent of what we saw in the glory days between 1933-1968. Here's where I think Dionne is wrong. It's not really Obama who is creating this.

What's going on is that the Democratic Party is expanding to include people who have been Republicans all their lives. This mainly involves ordinary citizens, but it also includes politicians. The Republicans are losing scientists and internationalists and people that have moderate views on social issues. They're losing secular people and they are hemorrhaging anyone who isn't white. The Republicans are polling terribly in every region of the country outside of the South.

The Democrats have a growing number of people that are moderate or even right-wing in their outlook. Because of this, they have to juggle a lot of balls to keep everyone happy. Managing the party becomes a center-left affair even though progressives make up the single biggest bloc of Democrats.

Obama has pushed hard for progressive aims in certain areas and had tacked towards the center in others. Where Dionne is right is that Obama has consciously moved to do two things. He's used his appointments to lock in as big of a governing majority as possible. He retained Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense, appointed Ray LaHood as Secretary of Transportation, and tried to appoint Judd Gregg as Secretary of Commerce. He lured Arlen Specter into the Democratic Party. He let Joe Lieberman keep a committee chair and his seniority. He appointed his chief rival as Secretary of State. He courted the endorsement of Colin Powell and wooed Dick Lugar and Chuck Hagel into soft support for his presidency. He quickly moved to make up with John McCain.

Essentially, Obama was making it safe for moderate, reasonable Republicans and right-wing Democrats to embrace his presidency and become part of his coalition. This inclusiveness disarmed the Republicans and seduced the Democrats. Obama's tent is so large that it isn't reasonable to refuse to sit within it. The second thing Obama did was to match centrist messaging with centrist policy is some key areas. Other than on some civil liberties issues, Obama hasn't abandoned any campaign promises, but he hasn't tacked hard to the left either. His challenge is to moderates. He's taking away arguments for opposing him.

more...

[MarjorieG]

17. Good one. So corporatists, GOP try to create discontent with left, which never needs a nudge.

[Canuckistanian]

21. Right.

Some of us had our eyes open during the primaries. Obama didn't particularly impress me or some others at the time.

Now, we're accused of pony envy.

[xchrom]

7. barack hoover obama. nt

[elehhhhna]

10. Did you read that in Harpers? Interesting essay.

[rocktivity]

9. No, it should be "Yes, YOU can!"

:headbang:
rocktivity

[tabasco]

11. ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzz zzz . . . .

:boring:

[Kahuna]

12. Do that ONLY if you want repukes back in charge.

THEN would you feel better? Any Dem is better than the best repuke. Recognize.

[FrenchieCat]

13. If you feel screwn over after 5 months......

Just think of how you will be feeling after 4 years!

Like you, I would have also loved it if Obama could have accomplished all that he said he
would in the first 12% of his time in office. It would be like a dream come true!
but then the problem would be, what in the blazes would he have left to do
for the remaining 88% of his term? :shrug:

Actually, your premature screw of yourself only reinforces
my feeling that good things come only to those who are realists in their expectations.
The rest of youse will be feeling fucked over, and that's a sad way to lead life for shor'!

[BlooInBloo]

19. There's a certain joy people get from being The Fucked Over One sometimes...

Indeed, that's one way of expressing Nietzsche's point in my sig (and the overarching point of GoM).

[Laelth]

14. I am sad to admit that I must agree.

What we have here is fascism with a kinder, gentler face. Our government, "We, the People," is negotiating with corporations. We shouldn't have to. We ought to have the power to make law and control the country without corporate cooperation. Sadly, this is no longer a republic. Obama is doing the best he can, but it is not enough.

:dem:

-Laelth

[femrap]

18. Thank you for

the laugh. It's so true. His slick talk sucks...and his actions are fucking fascist.