The Goolsbee appointment raises a vital question:

[Ken Burch]

Does anyone STILL believe that "centrist" appointees can actually anything progressive once they're appointed?

This is the latest appointment to an inner circle that(other than Hilda Solis)is a progressive-free zone.

Why would anyone here STILL think appointing centrists makes any sense at all?

Clearly, all they ever do is slow things down and prevent change from happening.

[Demeter]

1. My Question: IS HE OUT OF HIS MIND???

[ellenfl]

2. appointment to what? eom

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. It makes sense if you are pursuing a centrist agenda, which is exactly what the President is doing

[kentuck]

4. During the campaign...

I thought Austin Goolsbee was one of the more progressive voices??

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. It brings up a vital question.

Does anybody have a valid complaint against Goolsbee, or is this all just kneejerk objections to anything Obama does?

[stevenleser]

6. You mean you need an actual reason to complain? It's not enough that it is something Obama did?

What a concept! ;-)

[Ken Burch]

8. I've supported and praised a lot of things Obama has done.

My loyalty isn't in question.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. That would be surprising

if President Obama wasn't a "centrist" or "left-of center" POTUS or at least didn't present himself as one. As for actually accomplishing anything progressive, well, I guess it depends on your definition thereof or your position relative to another person's. President Obama and most of his administration may not be "progressive" as most people around here define it but they and the polices they promote are certainly far more progressive than, say, Bush/Cheney/McCain- or pretty much any other Republican currently out there. I'd say that President Obama is more progressive than, say, Ben Nelson, Evan Bayh, Blanche Lincoln, or any other Conservadem/"Blue Dog" out there.

I'll stipulate that centrists move slower than what most progressives feel is necessary/desirable but massive seismic change rarely occurs in our country absent a catastrophe and even then changes still aren't fully implemented immediately. Moving a few yards in the right direction is still moving IMHO.