Is Obama moving left for the campaign?

[cthulu2016]

Meaning behaving in a manner more in line with the wishes of, or just more appealing to, the Democratic base... more interest shown in the lower rungs of the ladder.

I suppose that when expecting a close election heavily reliant on the base it can make sense for a President to run toward the base rather than the more usual campaign season move of running away from the base toward some imaginary center.

It suits me. I like the feisty populist campaign season Obama.

[Old and In the Way]

1. I think he's finally given up on his desire to effect change in a bi-partisan manner.

I really think he believed the opposition would act in the best interests of the country. He was part of the club in the Senate and probably believed he could change minds on good legislation that would help our economy. He probably thought it would be the best outcome to lead in a bi-partisan fashion, rather than trying to jam legislation through on a partisan basis. While a noble thought, the results of the past 3 years have probably convinced him that being nice and conciliatory is getting nothing from the opposition and losing him support within his Party. Hence, the actions on the recent legislation and the recess appointments. We're in election season now, so he has even more motivation to start making Republicans pay for their intransigence.

[CTyankee]

18. I hope so. At least, I am liking what I am seeing so far.

I would like to encourage him to have more spine, not less, going forward.

[slay]

2. Yes

and i hope he stays that way. surely he has to see that the repubs will NEVER work with him. but the people will support him if he will stand up for us like he did today with Cordray and the labor appointments. this is the Obama i like to see - that America needs - i just hope it's not back to business as usual once election time is over.

[Tx4obama]

3. Obama HAD TO do something today because ...

that labor agency lost is 'quorum', so it probably would have had to have shut down if Obama didn't act quickly.
p.s. So, it really didn't have anything to do with the election/campaign - but seeing him take swift action makes him look good

Excerpt:

After making an end run around Senate Republicans to fill the top job at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Wednesday, President Barack Obama ran the same play again a few hours later, making three recess appointments to bring the National Labor Relations Board to full strength.

The president used his power to name Sharon Block, Terence Flynn and Richard Griffin to the board, which arbitrates workplace disputes and federal labor issues and has recently drawn considerable fire from Republicans after it sided with an aircraft workers’ union in a dispute with aerospace giant Boeing.

When the term of Craig Becker, another Obama recess appointee, expired at the end of last month, the five-member board no longer had a quorum, threatening its continued operation.

SNIP

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71086.html


ALSO...

excerpt:

...but it was Chief Justice John Roberts, a noted conservative, who suggested the president should make recess appointments to keep the NLRB functioning, as ThinkProgress reported in 2010.

Obama’s appointment of Block, Flynn, and Griffin is important, too, because it boosts the board’s membership to five, protecting its quorum even if member Brian Hayes follows through on his threats to quit. Preserving its right to quorum ensures that its rulings will not be thrown out on legal challenges, as more than 600 cases were by the Roberts Court in 2010.

SNIP

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/01/04/397537/breaking-obama-recess-appoints-nlrb/

[slay]

19. So he did this on advice from scumbag John Roberts?

ugh.. makes it much less appealing as a progressive. still - glad he did it.

[Tx4obama]

20. No.

I added the Roberts' "partial" excerpt to show that even a member of the SCOTUS thought that in order to keep the NLB running that recess appointments should be made.

Here's an original article (which is linked to in the other link in the OP) from March 2010 regarding Roberts: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2010/03/24/173195/roberts-nlrb/


There is no evidence that what Obama did yesterday was because of 'advice from Roberts' or that Obama even knew what Robert's had said back in 2010.

President Obama's a smart man and did what he did because he thought it was the best things to do

[Scootaloo]

4. I think his new year's resolution was "kick some ass"

Way I figure it, he's realized he either has to energize his base for re-election, or he needs to cram everything into the remaining months of the year.

Either way, the Republicans are going to take it in the teeth.

[leveymg]

5. You mean, like signing the NDAA and starting a couple new wars?

He's already sealed the deal with the Progressive base, hasn't he?

[leveymg]

10. Nasty racial aspersion there, and a non sequitur. A twofer.

[PhoenixAbove]

11. This rascism thing is old. Enough already!

Many progressives "bash" this president when he does something stupid; like try to negotiate with insane republicans who don't want to negotiate period. Many progressives also praise this president when he does something smart; like the current recess appointments. For many of us, it has nothing to do with his skin color and we're tired of hearing the same old "it's because he's black" whine.

Sling that shit at republicans.

[Sherman A1]

6. As expected

I find no real surprise here or in the GOP races(s).

Romney will win the GOP primaries as a place holder, Obama will win the General Election. The GOP is looking to 2016 when the White House is an open seat.

[joshcryer]

9. At which point Warren will win and show 'em all who's boss!

[Sherman A1]

12. One can hope

but, I will remain skeptical at this point.

[joshcryer]

13. The Demographics are one way, only way Republicans stay relelvant is if they change social policy.

And that won't happen because they rely too much on that 30% hardcore conservative base.

But they'll die off soon enough.

I think the Democratic Party and possibly a third party are looking to really obliterate things in the next 8 years.

[joshcryer]

8. I think so, I'm fine with it. He ran on a moderate message last time, and he followed through.

If he runs on a populist message this time, it's very probable he'd follow through.

[opihimoimoi]

14. The man is of Positive polarity...the GOPers are Negative...all is needed is the Truth to be told

2012 is a year where BS don't work too good....

&feature=related

the most sung song in the world

[Fumesucker]

15. I think "head fake left" would be more accurate..

I don't expect it to last after the election..

[MineralMan]

23. It depends on what we can give him for a Congress.

It all depends on that. You can help, you know.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

16. IMO this is just the last phase of a 'rope-a-dope' strategy Obama

has been playing against the Rs all along. Just like Muhammad Ali in 1974 in Zaire, President Obama seemed to be almost a helpless punching bag for the Rs in the early rounds. But by compromising with them, yjr President got the Rs to agree to healthcare reform, financial re-regulation, significant middle-class tax cuts, 99 weeks of unemployment compensation, etc.

The President has gotten from the Rs all that he possibly could, made them look to the electorate like slow-witted goons for the very wealthy, and frustrated them so badly they're punching out each other.

With nothing to lose by not trying to compromise with them in an election year, President Obama has come out swinging during the late rounds. He wants to make the 2012 election a knockout combination of blows that will fulfill Ruy Teixera's prediciton of the effective end of the Republican party/ Ny thrilling the crowd with his jobs plan and Teddy Roosevelt populism, he hopes to get enthusiastic support from young people, womwn, and minorities, all of whom he hopes to turn out in record numbers in October and November, to recapture the WH, the Senate, and even the House.

[dmosh42]

17. Obama is ultimately, a politician first, so this has been the strategy. Re-election ha been the goal

[ddeclue]

21. of course... don't be fooled by speeches.. wait for results.

[phleshdef]

22. Obama is being the same guy he has always been.

[silverweb]

24. He's working his mojo.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]He's given "bipartisanship" and negotiating with hostage takers his best shot, and has determined that it's futile. Now we're seeing the bold leadership that we voted for and have been craving all along.

I suggest that we all show our appreciation by emailing him to encourge and thank him, and letting him know we've "got his back" (with a donation to his campaign where possible). He needs to hear our thanks at least as much as (and more!) than he's been hearing our complaints for the past 3+ years.

[font color="purple" font size=4 face="Comic Sans"]GObama![/font]