Theories on why Obama wants to be bipartisan?

[Ardent15]

Is it trying to embarrass the Republicans when they reveal themselves to be obstructing assholes?

Is it because Obama is still naive and lacks good judgment?

Is it out of the goodness of his heart?

Is it because Obama made a lot of Republican friends on Capitol Hill?

This is what I've come up with so far. Any other suggestions, post them here.

[Renew Deal]

1. Because the American people like it

And they blame the republicans for not playing along.

[hansont]

2. He thinks he can do more by jettisoning core liberal ideologies.

He is trying to work within the Republican frames now. It will fail unfortunately. He may get more support but we move more to the right and making a for a less compassionate world in the longer term though. It is one way to get more support, but it is a mistake.

[Bluerthanblue]

16. isn't the good of every single one of us a "core Liberal Ideology"?

It is for me.

It's a KEY one. That "we" are all part of this country, and that we succeed or fail collectively.

Our ...superior position begins with understanding that.

It's easy to play to our friends and dis our opponents, it's not easy OR comfortable, OR popular to remind us of our connectedness. Especially in this angry, vengeful, accusatory climate.

:hi:

[Proud Liberal Dem]

23. Yeah, most of what he was talking about (were you even listening?) was just sooooo......Republican!

Geez!!!!

:eyes:

:sarcasm:

I mean, seriously, can you IMAGINE Reagan, Bush, McCain, et. al making such a speech as POTUS???

[sharesunited]

3. He called them out on their obstructionism.

But he also spoke of a sense of public service which transcends party.

And he also challenged them to make their case for solutions he might find acceptable.

This SOTU was a success. It gave me a renewed doubt in my cynicism. That has to be good.

[liberalmuse]

4. Because he's not an extremist?

I honestly have seen extremists on both sides and don't care for them, period. I think we could learn alot from Obama. MLK, Ghandi and a lot of people who got shit done (and surprisingly, it took them YEARS to bear the fruit of their labor) were even-keeled, or, you could even say, 'bipartisan' like Obama.

[liberal N proud]

5. Because he is a romantic who thinks the system can work as designed

Regardless of the fact all evidence points the opposite is true, The President wants to believe in Democracy.

[w8liftinglady]

6. I tend to agree with you..hell,I'D like it to work that way,too.

[RevCheesehead]

7. Because that's how you heal the hatred in this country.

At least some of it.

[That Is Quite Enough]

8. Because the special interests that control American politics control both sides of the party coin.

"Bipartisan" is a codeword for getting screwed over twice as hard.

[athenasatanjesus]

9. Either he's turning the other cheek and allowing the right to expose itself

Or he's a living embodiment of the "neutral media" where he just pretends to be in the center,while the right becomes more and more extreme,and the left becomes more and more moderate.

[Bluerthanblue]

10. because it's the truth. We have GOT to find a way to work together

somehow, someday.

Are we the "United States" of America or not?

The fact that we haven't found a way to work together well shouldn't stop us from trying to do so should it?

If that's true, then we shouldn't work to end poverty, to encourage peace, or to stop destroying the planet.

Just because something seems impossible, just because we've failed again and again, doesn't mean we may as well just quit.


We aren't guaranteed to fail if we try, but we surely are if we don't.

:shrug:

[NoSheep]

26. That's my take on it. Well put.

[QC]

11. He desperately wants to be loved.

Bill Clinton was the same way. He would knock his allies into the dirt in his rush to embrace those who hated him. It was often said that one was better off being Clinton's enemy than his friend.

Obama has it even worse.

[Fleshdancer]

12. The impression I got after reading Audacity of Hope...

is that he believes strongly in the concept of Lincoln's Team of Rivals. I think this is honestly how he wants to run the WH.

I think it's admirable, but not always practical. At the end of the day if you're not getting things done, then what's the point?

[Individualist]

13. He's a New Democrat

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=254931&kaid=85&subid=900184

[DefenseLawyer]

14. Because the Clinton brain trust actually thinks they got him elected

Even though he couldn't even break 50% against Bob fucking Dole and it was Ross Perot's convenient 19% that got him elected in the first place (with 43%), they have still made careers out of selling their triangulation bullshit to anyone that will listen.

[Fire1]

15. Because it puts the burden on THEM. n/t

[H2O Man]

17. Simple.

It's because that is who he is. That is really the way he views the reality of the world around him. That is the belief system that he has, based upon his interpretation of his social-political experiences. You and/or I may not agree with him, based upon our own experiences and insight. But we should accept the fact that this is who he is.

[blogslut]

21. Yes

As he said in the speech, he does not accept the mentality of "When you lose, I win."

[H2O Man]

24. He lives and practices

a form of liberation theology. It does not always fit the world of politics as we know it. But it is who he is. Recognizing this allows one to understand his positions and actions, though it does not imply agreement (or disagreement).

[blogslut]

25. It is a kind of philosophy I aspire to

...though, I rarely adhere to it. Sort of that whole I Ching/Superior Man, constructive as opposed to destructive thing.

When the election season was going on, I explained Obama to my republican sister this way: "We've had us-against-them for almost 20 years and during that time, very little got done. I support Barack Obama because I believe he has the personality and the will to bring the opposing sides together to get things done."

Believe me, I wish the president were more aggressive in certain instances but I know that's not his style.

[xchrom]

18. Fear of governing.

Then you can be held accountable.

[mitchtv]

19. His mother dropped him

as an infant

[unkachuck]

20. "Is it out of the goodness of his heart?"

....I think this the closest to the truth....and he actually believes his schtick....

....if the Prez going to be conciliatory in public, he should at the very least be stomping repug balls in private and instruct his surrogates to do the same....

....remember, we're dealing with Republicans, one of the lowest form of political life on the planet....they're corrupt, heartless and evil; a repug will lie when the truth fits better....

[Odin2005]

22. Because he is a DLC corporatist.