If Brown wins which way will Obama turn?

[scubadude]

I guess there are several camps on this.

One would say that the reason Brown won the race was because Dem's sat at home, unsatisfied with Obama's policies. Basically the disenfranchised liberals, (or abandoned, as many of here on DU feel to be).

The second would say that it was the ever increasing power of the Independents, breaking strongly to support Brown's conservative leanings that drove the win.

A third way he could go is to make no changes, to continue on with his right of center agenda (at least the historical center), courting the Republicans for support while wooing independents by saying, "Look, I am already pushing your agenda.", using as examples all the policies where he pushed for bi-partisanship basically abandoning his liberal base.

The big question is, how will Obama see this? What will he do?

Will he move policy rightward, forsaking the abandoned in an attempt to garner the independents favor? He has shown repeatedly a strong desire for compromise and bi-partisanship, which in my view is the mistake that caused this whole problem in the first place.

Will he move policy leftward, to reclaim his liberal base? There doesn't seem to be much support for this in my mind.

It's all pretty sad, concerning the high hopes we had after the election. Hopefully, Obama will feel liberal ideas are more important for the good of the country and he will strike for the support of his original base. Hopefully...

One thing is for sure, our and our children's futures are held in the balance. How Obama responds will have repercussions for generations to come.

Scuba

[DFLforever]

1. He'll pull a New Hampshire

Yes we Can!

This is a guy who does not accept defeat.

[FLAprogressive]

4. in my opinion that's one of his biggest flaws.

Can't accept defeat in Afghanistan.....

has to "win" everything, see HCR.

[SammyWinstonJack]

14. +1

:thumbsup:

[scubadude]

6. So then you believe he will move to the right? Can you support that?

[DFLforever]

13. No. I don't think he'll move to the "right."

He's not Clinton confronted with a Republican majority.

Except at the extremes, I don't think left/right characterizations shed much light on issues.

He'll keep pushing toward his goals. He's a persistent, clear-minded guy. He's spent most of his political capital on health care and he damned well will not give up on it or lay aside or any other bullshit. I'll bet money on it.

[scubadude]

16. So you believe what we have gotten from Health Care has spent

his political capital? What will he do to get a W beside his name in the next election?

If he is persistent and clear minded and the Republicans start racking up victories then what?

Scuba

[DFLforever]

21. The capital he's spent,

he'll get back after HCR passes, imo. It will be hailed a great triumph.

I don't think the Republicans are going to rack up victories. They'll win some and we'll win some . The country right now appears to be in a throw the bums out mood. And the Republicans are aleady out so may have an advantage.

I think Obama will have two terms if he wants two. I don't see that the Repubs have anyone who can run against him. Do you?

[scubadude]

26. I believe you are right about the "throw the bums out" mood.

It is sad how fast it has come for us Dems. It seems the Republicans along with the inevitable help of the corporate media have sped the cycle up, or perhaps even redefined the realm in which it works. It seems there is still a lot of momentum to drag politics to the right. I think a "middle of the road" Dem may help them to solidify the lead. I hope I"m wrong here but it just doesn't seem that real liberalism is getting any traction.

I don't see any Repub that can run against Obama so far, yet it was Obama's meteoric rise, along with Bill Clinton's that shows it can be done.

Sucba

[FLAprogressive]

2. He'll continue the march to the right.....

[global1]

3. Brown Is Not Going To Win....nt

[Warpy]

5. I don't think it'll matter one way or the other

Obama's style seems to be a very low key, behind the scenes style. He's actually done quite a bit so far and the Senate hasn't exactly been friendly.

[WeDidIt]

7. Doesn't matter which way Obama will turn

The Senate will have taken a HARD RIGHT turn and that will be all that matters.

If you don't like how HCR went, just wait until you see the bullshit that will come later.

Oh, and when an Associate SCOTUS Justice retires later this year, don't expect a liberal to be confirmed.

[andym]

8. Simple

He wants to get things done. He so wants to make a difference, he will accept almost any movement as progress, so he'll try go back to Plan A-- bipartisanship. Of course, his "partners" have no intention of helping him. And any legislation that passes will in comparison make what has come out so far look like it was from the far left.

[Coyote_Bandit]

9. He hasn't shown

a princippled commitment with respect to any political issue. That suggests he will do whatever he thinks is politically expedient to maintain his position - and the power and prosperity that it carries. And that suggests that he will move toward the right to curry the favor of independents and conservative Dems.

And that suggests that there is an opportunity for a strong progressive candidate to do well in the primaries. I hope so anyway. I am decidedly unimpressed with the current mostly self-serving White House occupant.

[SammyWinstonJack]

15. current mostly self-serving White House occupant. The more things change the more they stay

the same.

[ChiciB1]

10. Interesting Question, But I'm NOT Seeing A Move To The Left In Any

way. However, I DO feel there are more Liberals here than most people think. There are some names that keep popping up over and over with Pro-Obama "anything" posts. Some with LONG lists of things he's accomplished, most of which aren't the BIG issues. I agree he has made some progress, but I know many who don't post here who have been very frustrated already!

The mere fact that it seems that the Independents in MA are a larger portion of the vote there says that THEY too are dissatisfied or the election wouldn't be so close! So IF Independents are willing to jump ship, and many who helped him win in 2008, it would seem that the "middle-of-the road, bipartisanship" thingie isn't working so well.

I really don't have any answers, and I'm NOT SEEING any real shift, but it IS early! I do feel there is going to be a BIGGER PUSH from those of us who have been called "the base" to mobilize and stay strong! Howard Dean who has taken a beating by the WH et al STILL has a BIG following and HE was the one who REALLY initialized THE 50-STATE STRATEGY! That strategy was quickly claimed by Rahm E. after the 2006 election as his, and many who don't follow politics as closely as we do actually believed it. Those of us who were familiar with Dean knew all along what a LIE Rahm was spreading!

And when Dean ran as DNC Chair, I watched on C-Span how they tried to stop him from becoming the Chairman! For me, my only thought is that Dean MUST stay energized and stay with those of us who believe in most of his views. And before I get attacked by others saying that Dean changed his mind regarding certain issues, he HAS NOT abandoned MOST of what he has always believed in.

To me, at this point in time he is the ONLY person who is willing to put his head on the chopping block even though there SHOULD be other Congress Critters willing to stand with him. I do know that there are Democrats like me in Congress, and yet very few have actually done anything more than talk! I could go on, but only time will tell! If it's MONEY we're talking about... then I think I KNOW where we are headed and that's just TOO BAD!

JMHO

[rug]

11. Righter.

[villager]

12. The unreccers apparently permit no such discussion or speculation here...

n/t

[whistler162]

20. The inana burbling of the OP was supposed to be a

discussion generator.

Read like the usual troll attempt!

[villager]

22. Oddly, others in this thread have actually managed to discuss it!

;-)

[scubadude]

23. I'm not sure I understand your point.

Please elaborate.

Scuba

[Mari333]

17. he will do what Rahm tells him to do, Im afraid.

[krabigirl]

18. He'll stay a centrist. He ran as one, it's what he is. I don't see why people think differently.

[scubadude]

25. So were is the center?

And with the Republicans hammering away for the last 40+ years and seemingly successfully painting Obama as a liberal where will it be in 2012 and beyond?

Scuba

[dmosh42]

19. Will continue seeking compromises, and NO leadership! n/t

[ThomWV]

24. He will turn to the Right

[QC]

27. That does seem to be his instinctive move, doesn't it?

Lurching to the right comes naturally to him.

[Fire1]

28. I suspect he'll turn left. Or right. Who knows? n/t

[treestar]

29. Anything he wants will have to be good enough for Snowe

And Lieberman and Nelson.

End of story.

[azmouse]

30. He'll move full-steam ahead with his eyes on the future.

My guess is as good as anyone's.

[B Calm]

31. He'll trash the whole bill and insist on passing Medicare for All with 51 votes!

[LeftishBrit]

32. Let's hope we never need to find out

The only Brown whom I want to win an election this year is Gordon Brown!

I have friends in Massachusetts who are trying to get people to vote for Coakley. Let's hope the tide can be turned!

[BlueDemKev]

33. He'll go straight down....

...and hit the floor face-first. His presidency will be effectively over because health care reform, which he and the Democratic Congress put so much time & effort into the past year, will be dead. The Republicans will gain control of Congress in November, as deeply-depressed Democrats will stay home. After Obama is defeated in 2012 (if he even runs again), the country will be run by tea-bagging fanatics, jobs will be shipped overseas at an alarming rate, environmental regulations will all be lifted, the Supreme Court will be packed with right-wing extremists, and Medicare and Social Security will be privatized.

Sounds a little scary? Then GET OUT & VOTE for MARTHA COAKLEY TOMORROW!!! And for those of you who don't live in Massachusetts, get on the phone and help phonebank (see Organizing for America's website)!!!!!!!!!!