Obama Transcends Ideology by Riling Both Flanks

[NJmaverick]

March 29 (Bloomberg) -- Barack Obama, charges former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, is “the most liberal president” in modern times, pursuing “an agenda that really is foreign to mainstream America.” Other Republicans routinely talk about the president’s “socialist” agenda.
Simultaneously, the left wing says he’s a traitor to their cause. Liberal bloggers regularly accuse him of selling out to corporate interests, claiming that he has failed to keep his campaign commitments. Former Democratic Party Chairman and ex-presidential candidate Howard Dean has echoed some of these sentiments.
A left winger who betrays left-wing causes? Ideology isn’t the ideal prism to evaluate the Obama presidency.
Agree or disagree with his policies, priorities or governing style, the 44th president is -- pick your preferred cliché -- a pragmatic progressive, an idealist without illusions (Jack Kennedy’s description of his own ideology), a liberal who will compromise to get results. He’s a little to the left of center of the country.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-28/obama-transcends-ideology-by-riling-both-flanks-albert-r-hunt.html

[Cha]

1. Good I just posted

in GDP on this. Said he was my kind of President..a smart one who is getting things started in the best direction.

Lots of whining on what he hasn't done yet like they could do anything that President Obama has accomplished..did they even help him? Or is it their job to sit around the internet and throw cheap shots?

[RoyGBiv]

2. I've always said ...

... these are the kinds of leaders I like, those who piss of the fringes.

I guess that makes me a centrist, even though everyone I know in real life thinks of me as a flaming liberal. I guess they just don't realize how hot the flames can burn in some folks.

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. "those who piss of the fringes." Exactly right.

:thumbsup:

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. I saw some of the comments over in GDP, and it amazes me that

nothing is ever good enough. I know some think that Dennis Kucinich would be the best prez ever, but throwing temper tantrums and turning beet red in the face isn't what gets things done. Sure, with Dennis, there would always be a lot of red meat throwing, but that doesn't move legislation. It's the ability to comprise and negotiate that actually gets things done.

I've asked this question before, but can anyone name a major piece of legislation that either Dennis or Bernie Sanders has authored that has even made it to the floor for a vote? I have never gotten an answer to that question.

[Number23]

5. True. That.

"The past 14 months demonstrate the shallowness of the right and left criticism on most every major issue."

Ain't THAT the God's honest truth.

[Cha]

6. And the

shallowness just keeps on coming.

As if they could ever walk in the President's shoes but that doesn't stop them from acting like they know exactly what's going on and if he would only do it their WAY!

[CBR]

7. This is so true. I just can't see how those who so vehemently

criticize the blind ideology of others ascribe to one so blindly themselves.

[goclark]

8. Sounds like Jeb wants to be the spokesscum for hjs Party

I'm moving to another country before I see another Bush in the white house.