Obama's State Of The Union Theme: Time To Move Past Reagan's Vision

[Capt. Obvious]

Twenty-five years after the Ronald Reagan era ended, Democrats are anxious to move past his conservative vision that is premised on the evils of government. The mentality has continued to permeate the national debate even as Republicans have lost four out of the last six presidential elections, aided by a Democratic Party that has admittedly ceded it too much ideological ground.

No more, they say. The American economy remains in a slump, middle class incomes have stagnated, social mobility is in decline and income inequality has soared to unprecedented heights. Democrats' prescriptions to heal these wounds were again thwarted by Republicans in Congress last year despite their defeat in the 2012 election. If Democrats can't make a compelling case for government to play a larger role in solving these problems now, then when?

It'll be a crucial subtext of President Barack Obama's sixth State of the Union speech Tuesday night. A desire to fight back against the Reagan-era mentality, which is alive and thriving in the modern tea party movement, was also the subject of a lengthy speech last week by Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the third-ranked Democrat.

"Since the progressive and populist eras, Democrats have believed that without a strong, smart, and forceful government, the people suffer. With government, society can advance," said Schumer, a top Obama ally. "Republicans generally believe the opposite. But since the days of Ronald Reagan, we have been quiet, defensive and even ashamed of our view."

Good!

[BeyondGeography]

1. Sounds promising

Too bad Chuck Tawd says no one will be watching.

Me, the sight of conservative heads exploding is always too good to pass up.

[Capt. Obvious]

2. At least one member here is not watching

They're watching a movie instead

[1StrongBlackMan]

19. I think Chuck said ...

that politically engaged partisans, whether pro or anti-this administration, would be the only ones that would be watching. I found that observation interesting, in that when have the politically non-engaged and/or non-partisans ever watched the SOTU Address, or any political speech, for that matter.

[BeyondGeography]

23. Mostly it annoys him that he will have to discuss what the President said

tonight and tomorrow morning, before he goes back to pulling stuff entirely from thin air.

[el_bryanto]

3. I would really like to see this

It would drive the tea party insane (good thing) but I don't know if it would really change the prevailing view of Reagan.

Bryant

[BeyondGeography]

5. The prevailing view of Reagan, as you know, has a giant truth deficit

The article refers to deficit reduction as a core Reaganite principle, as the MSM routinely does, always omitting that Reagan created huge deficits in the first place. He tripled the national debt in eight years, a stunning achievement, really. Bad arguments always start with bad facts. Hopefully, the President at least alludes to this basic truth.

[el_bryanto]

7. Nods - but the thing is

People have in their minds a fixed vision of what the Reagan years were like. I know that view is messed up and inaccurate; but it's also hard to shake. I don't know if it's better to try and change it or to suggest that the Reagan years were great but we've gone to far with the same solution.

Bryant

[BeyondGeography]

9. Shows you how big the problem is

I agree with you, and Obama, being a practical man, will certainly not go there in any depth if at all. The fact that it was all bullshit and still not recognized as such makes our Reagan problem even more of a bear though, i.e. devoting 1/3 of the stimulus to tax cuts that were nothing more than a fruitless attempt at bipartisan window dressing, a nod to the sainted one. Amazing how long this has persisted, then again, I guess I'm easily amazed...

[Hestia]

12. You are correct about the "fixed vision" and generally it is with 30 years olds, who have told

me that reagan was the best president evah (!). I explain to them, since they were mere children then, the massive problems that happened and were still happening due to reagan policies. It kinda takes them aback because no one really explained the problems and policies and problems before.

That's who's minds we change and can change - Gen X'ers who have been raised conservative, never heard a differing viewpoint, but have the most open mind regarding facts, and will go find further information.

We'll never change the over-55's and later. It's too late, they have a fixed mind set, generally until about age 80 - for whatever reason, the closer a person gets to passing, the more liberal they become.

IMNSHO - I honestly believe that the older generation loves Occupy, especially Occupy Sandy Hook - those people have really dug in and showed the locals just how resourceful they really are. Act Locally, Think Globally.

Maybe reminding the elderly of the massive protests that happened when they were kids during the Depression? And those protests happened, we just never really hear about them unless you go hunt for that info.

[JustAnotherGen]

26. NOt Gen Xers

Millenials and Y's - We were alive during Reagan's Admin . . .

Our parents are the older boomers . . .

Some had parents that applauded Reagan.

Many of us had parents (like mine) who every time Reagan came on the evening news they (my father in particular) would let out a stream of obscenities that strung together would make a beautiful symphony.

<---- My screen name is a wink and a nod to my generation. The difference between the Y's/Millenials and Gen X - is the same between Gen X and the boomers . . .

Gen Xers - we are royal cynical assholes. You'll never convince us that anything is truly inherently good.

[Capt. Obvious]

15. I want to see a sustained War On Reaganism

[el_bryanto]

16. I understand the sentiment - but how successful is such a war likely to be? nt

[Capt. Obvious]

18. Could be as successful as the War To Put Reagan on Mt. Rushmore

It's worth a shot.

[badtoworse]

4. I stopped taking the SOTU Address seriously years ago.

I doubt I'll be watching.

[RKP5637]

6. Reagan stagnated this country, even though passed on he stagnates this country, lauds

wealth in corners of the population and creates an environment of failures for the undeserving. Hopefully, more youth are seeing the rewards of his failed vision for America. One obstacle is, far too many Americans have been brainwashed by Reaganism and carry around a lot of baggage. They don't think, they just walk the Reagan ruts of life wondering WTF. Some people can never be reached AKA Teabaggers. They will be left in their dusty corrupted ruts.

[Swede Atlanta]

8. The real Reagan legacy is.......

Deficit spending, continued stagnant wages, union busting (remember PATCO), accelerated wealth concentration to the very wealthy, thug-ism in foreign policy, scapegoating of HIV victims, etc.

I always said I would not urinate on Reagan even if he was on fire and screaming for relief because of his foreign policy and his despicable treatment of gay man and drug-users at the outbreak of the AIDS epidemic.

It is a disgrace National Airport now has to carry the name "Reagan" with it. I refuse to call it by its full name. I just say I'm flying into National.

[LittleGirl]

24. don't forget the welfare queens! eom

[Romulox]

10. TPP and mandatory private insurance? These are more "Third Way/ public private" type abominations.

The TPP will set up a supranational government representing corporations. Hardly in line with the President's speech.

[liberal_at_heart]

21. TPP and private insurance are most definitely Reaganomics.

This State of the Union is going to more of the same. More talk and very little action.

[Victor_c3]

11. I really really really want to believe Obama and support him more than I do

It's one thing to hear him say that he supports and wants a more progressive system in our country, but it's another thing to actually do something that illustrates that he really means it. Unfortunately, on the eve of the beginning of his sixth year in office, I really don't anticipate him changing and suddenly becoming progressive for the remainder of his presidency.

[blackspade]

13. It was time to move past fucking Reagan's vision 33 years ago.

Like five seconds after he was sworn in.

And Schumer? He is a corporate hack. His lip service to the progressive and populist eras is a joke on the rest of us.

[ProSense]

14. Obama to act on minimum wage

Obama to act on minimum wage
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024400006

Obamacare Will Help Reduce Income Inequality
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024400083

[1StrongBlackMan]

20. Shhh ...

I want to hear about ponies and unicorns ... so I can complain that the ponies were too short/tall and the unicorns didn't fart rainbows!

[JustAnotherGen]

27. snorty laugh

[1StrongBlackMan]

29. Upon reflection ...

I should have written:

Shhh ... I want to hear about ponies and unicorns ... so I can complain that the ponies were too Won't be short/tall enough, or the proper color and the unicorns didn't probably won't fart rainbows! ... It's the DU way!

[JustAnotherGen]

31. Okay now

I've spit coffee on my keyboard Mister!

[liberal_at_heart]

17. If democrats want my vote they are going to have to do more than talk a good talk.

I want a real fight. I want action. A fight for a living wage and no a $9/hr minimum wage is not good enough. A fight for unions. A fight for teachers. A fight for real, meaningful funding for education and a repeal of Race to the Top. A fight for pensions. A fight for the workers of this country. I want action.

[Larry Ogg]

22. You know election time is close when Republican pandering Democrats preach progressive politics.

Yep... Lets get past all the Reaganomics bullshit.

And Obama will get right on it, as soon as he passes the TPP.

And neither one of the two "P's" in "TPP" should be confused in any way shape or form with the word Progressive.

But give credit where credit is due. Obama is almost as good as Reagan (maybe better) when it comes to distorting and twisting the truth.

No doubt about it, his authoritarian base will be reveling, once he convinces them that the TPP is a new vision, and the first step in reversing Reaganomics.

[malthaussen]

25. The Reagan Era ended? Who knew?

Seems to me it's been SSDD ever since he won the election.

-- Mal

[quinnox]

28. blah, blah, blah, I won't be watching. He should have made this speech in his first term

too little, too late. He is a lame duck now. And has been losing popularity for a long time.

[1StrongBlackMan]

30. Do you really think ...

the majority of the electorate ... not just liberals/progressives ... was ready to hear that kind of speech in his first term? The polling data and subsequent election results don't support your proposition.

[quinnox]

32. of course they were

Obama blew a golden opportunity, he was elected in a near landslide, and if he had been a strong leader, he could have moved the nation in a radically new and progressive direction. But that would have required boldness.

[ProSense]

35. He has, but

"Obama blew a golden opportunity, he was elected in a near landslide, and if he had been a strong leader, he could have moved the nation in a radically new and progressive direction. But that would have required boldness. "

...it really impossible for anyone who is anti-Obama to see that.

[1StrongBlackMan]

36. Of course; but ...

only if you ignore that the majority in 1/3 of government, and a majority of the minority in another 1/3 of government, has pledged not to cooperate.

Tell me ... what "boldness" of strategy would have gotten/would get that significant portion of Congress to go along with that "golden opportunity ... to move the nation in a radically new and progressive direction."?

[El_Johns]

33. Yes.

[1StrongBlackMan]

37. Okay ...

Last edited Tue Jan 28, 2014, 04:13 PM - Edit history (1)

than please explain the non-Democratic poll numbers (in 2009, and into late 2011): supporting "securing" entitlements, opposing U/C extension, supporting (gop) deficit/budget reduction measures, opposing raising taxes on the wealthy? (See: The PEW Research Center polling)

I think liberal/progressives have fallen into the right-wing "everyone thinks as/agrees with me" mind trap.

[El_Johns]

39. If you show me the poll you're talking about.

[1StrongBlackMan]

41. I'm talking about ...

just about any poll that tracked the public sentiment on those issues over time. There is no single poll; but I prefer PEW Research Center, as they tend to poll on the same broad topics, month after month and produce demographic and partisan break-outs.

[El_Johns]

42. And if you would link me it would be helpful.

[ProSense]

34. LOL!

"blah, blah, blah, I won't be watching. He should have made this speech in his first term

too little, too late. He is a lame duck now. And has been losing popularity for a long time."

[William769]

38. Well, that knocks out close to half the Country.

Good!

[loyalsister]

40. He invoked Reagan when talking about Iran

And took a little dig at the republican view of "rugged individualism."

"After all, that’s the spirit that has always moved this nation forward. It’s the spirit of citizenship – the recognition that through hard work and responsibility, we can pursue our individual dreams, but still come together as one American family to make sure the next generation can pursue its dreams as well."