We Are Winning--Be Passionate DU, But Be Civil

Still Sensible

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Sun May-17-09 12:18 PM
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We Are Winning--Be Passionate DU, But Be Civil

While I don't agree with everything the President has done so far or is doing, it is frustrating to watch some of the derisive commentary here. I am not at all upset that we democrats are not in lockstep, nor do I have a problem with people making rational critiques or "holding his feet to the fire" on issues that are dear to them.

That is different from some of the "Obama=Bush," "new president is just like the old president," ""I am regretting my vote" and similar comments that have hit this board of late. Sometimes it is a member upset about their primary issue--whatever that happens to be. Often it seems to be folks that are IMO farthest left--pro-socialism, anti-capitalism, war is never acceptable, get out right now, etc.. I believe those positions are absolutely arguable and should be welcome here, but I really dislike when those opinions are expressed as an outrage against Obama as if his actions are some kind of betrayal. Specifically, the four positions I noted above could not be construed to be things Obama agreed with--ever. Posters should absolutely and unreservedly express their positions on those issues, but should not be outraged that Obama has abandoned them on those things because he was never with them.

It's no secret I believe the President is doing very, very well, but I don't think he's been perfect. Just better in his first 115 days than any president in my lifetime. Many here really don't like his pragmatism. I believe it is one of his strongest attributes.

I wish he had been a little less generous with Wall Street in the bailouts, but beyond simple political pragmatism, I am not terribly upset where that whole situation stands today. Some here want to punish Wall St. types so badly that they don't seem to care a whole lot about the fallout if some of those big bastards fail. Fact is, shit rolls downhill and if the big boys fail, the burden would be borne not by the fucking fat cats but by the rest of us. Yes, there should be a lot more prosecution of fat cat individuals for financial malfeasance, but if their institutions fail, the fallout below them in unemployment and lost wealth in pension plans and 401k accounts would be even more disastrous. It is a fine tightrope the administration is walking... and I would like to see more subtle policy tilts in favor of the poor and middle class. But I think the "Let'em Fail" crowd seems to have too little concern for the collateral damage that approach would likely leave in its wake.

The auto makers bailout has less people here upset, but the positions run the gamut. Some here, often those that are angry that Detroit has been far too slow to embrace fuel efficiency and greener vehicles, seem to have a "Let'em Fail" attitude with GM and Chrysler. Others are upset that policy was much more generous to banks and should have been stronger for the car companies. I hope they're in the right place now, but only time will tell. I am pleased that the auto workers have a large ownership stake--we all should be hoping that pays off for them.

I would like to see some prosecution from the torture scandal. The most obvious ones IMO are the lawyers that gave the way-over-the-line legal cover. There are good reasons, both political and legal, that make prosecutions beyond those a little dicier. I would love to see Cheney frog-marched, but I doubt that can happen (then again, if he keeps running his fucking mouth...). As for the pictures, I understand the President's current position. Perhaps the court will force the release as they did with the memos, thus providing the President with some political cover.

I will be upset if the health care result does not include a public option. For reasons explained well by Dr. Dean and others, I believe that's the right way to go. And the public option should be at least as good as Medicare. The two-tier system in France is being lauded by many here and my hope would be that the incorporation of the public option would be a catalyst toward a similar solution for the U.S..

The republicans divide and conquer strategy has been quite effective since Reagan's campaign in 1980. With incredible success on wedge issues-and leveraging irrational fear after 9/11--Rove and company took this strategy to new heights. Their three decades of exploiting rifts between the moderate democrats and the more progressive democrats allowed them to siphon enough of the middle to gain and stay in power. It also allowed them to ram through much of the radical right wing agenda--despite the fact that they rarely could get much better than a 50/50 split in actual numbers.

After watching the right wing, the fundamentalists and the greedy corporatists get their way so easily for much of the last 30 years--and stunningly so in the last eight years--the far left is understandably frustrated that the democratic president they helped get elected isn't leading the charge to get their way fast enough on their agenda. I contend that in any number of areas the administration has already accomplished much--with much left to do. The more progressive budget, the Ledbetter Act, the remarkable shift (with significant but sometimes subtle changes) in foreign policy and the way the rest of the world looks at the U.S., are all evidence we're going in the right direction IMO.

He is about to replace Souter on the Court and will likely have at least two more spots to fill in his first term. If he can hold this coalition of progressives and moderates together, he will possibly have one or two more spots to fill in his second term.

The President is walking an incredible tightrope. The progress he is making must be done in a way that does not give the right wing the opportunity to divide and conquer again. So far what's left of the GOP leadership is pandering to their base and that's a great thing. Unless our side screws up, the table is set for them to endure a long time as the minority--as they did following the Great Depression. The stage is set for an unprecedented pick up of democratic seats in the 2010 off year elections. With Obama's approval rating steady in the mid-60s--remarkable considering the MSM supported RW noise machine right now--reelection by landslide in 2012 is not out of the question, especially if the economy recovers in a measurable way.

So I say all democrats should make their voices heard. Hold the administration's feet to the fire on those issues you are passionate about. But do so in a civil way without the inflamed rhetoric. Help our pragmatic President continue moving policies in the right direction--and encourage him to be more and more progressive.

We Are Winning--Be Passionate DU, But Be Civil

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