Here is what I believe is going on with the administration's thinking

[Winterblues]

Their whole thing is to try and unite America. They are going out of their way to say they are fair to all and beholden to none. There are extremes in politics, far left and Republican. There are a whole bunch (majority in fact) of people that really don't identify with either the Left or the Republicans and in fact consider them extreme. The Administration wants them to pay attention to what they say and if they become extreme (Left leaning) they lose credibility, in their opinion. They know beyond a shadow of a doubt no Liberal will vote for a Republican and the really activist ones will always vote..This is a well thought out ploy to appear nuetral to the vast majority of Americans. Believe it or not I believe America is inching leftward more every day. However as a Liberal I do not appreciate having my nose rubbed in it. I understand it but don't appreciate it. America has become so polarized it is going to take time to bring people together once again and I give Obama praise for attempting it but I really would love to be tossed a bone every once in a while..

[Nite Owl]

1. I see your point but

it's the policies that they are persuing that are wrong and that is the problem. He was elected on those policies and now isn't delivering. It really isn't right vs. left or middle vs. left. People want help, they didn't like the policies they were seeing in the Bush administration, they wanted Gitmo closed, they wanted the wars ended and our troops home, they wanted to see a big stimulus for them, an FDR type program, they wanted a public option, they wanted the banks punished. None of this happened and they see it as a betrayal not just the left. This really isn't about the left as they seem to think. I see it in people I talk to when I call and knock on doors for candidates. No one has told me they want the GOP back but they aren't happy and may just stay home.

[jaxx]

2. They wanted they wanted they wanted....

and now it's a betrayal.

Irrational idealism never wins because it's always never enough. And then they may just stay home...the final threat in case the other stuff didn't work. That doesn't work either.

[Nite Owl]

3. I would have to disagree about

the irrational part. It wasn't that, it was what they (and myself) feel to be the right thing to do. It really wasn't asking much. I don't agree with the staying home part, the alternative is disaster but it might happen with the so-called average voter. The administration is on the wrong track in saying it is just the base, left or whatever they call us these days.

[comtec]

4. The administration is wrong to ally itself with the minority

in this case the rethuglicans.

Educate a person, they will go from conservative to liberal (or at least moderate) in very little time.
Conservative-ism as it is today (ok as it always has been) is inherently greedy. and requires the lower classes to be uneducated in order for them to support it.

it SEEMS like it's a good thing for them but it's not.

Obama was put there by US, and he has NOT shown any desire to acknowledge that.

He has made several political victories, and yes he did keep the US from falling into the worst depression on record. However, in doing that he threw us under the bus in ways he didnt have to.

HIS party had enough control that they could have bullied the GOP into helping or getting out of the way.

in the end, exactly how much HAS the GOP helped at all?

Get your head out of your ass and realize we're all on the same side. That the president isn't super man, and that he is flawed and HAS fucked up.

Then we can work together and strive towards helping him do a better job.
Hes dont great... but he could (have been) be so much greater, and we deserve that as well.

We americans deserve to be as great as our ambition.
Which might exxplain how we are here....