Why this Obama skeptic is mildly optimistic

[lwcon]

Reasons to be optimistic:

1. Even for those of us who found little to like about Obama's candidacy, it's always been clear that he's smart. I like that in a president.

2. He's surrounded himself with Clintonian technocrats, who just might know how to roll back the last eight years of madness

3. The mother of all crises may motivate him to make real change and may force the Blue Dogs and Repubs to support it

The bottom line: if Obama wants to be the next FDR, he can.


Reasons for that optimism to be mild:

1. Many in Obama's "movement" remain timid about pushing him to be more progressive than he's otherwise inclined to be (how much that is is subject to debate -- "he hasn't done anything yet" -- but there are countless signals that progressives have something close to zero leverage over him).

2. He's surrounded himself with Clintonian technocrats. Turns out those promises of radical change were as hokey as they sounded to some of us. We need -- and the times justify -- a far more dramatic leftward shift than Bill Clinton ever accomplished. And Hillary has yet to prove that she can be a firewall against prevailing hawkishness.

3. The post-partisan bullshit persists. Gay/women/atheist-bashing Rick Warren on the dais, all that "Team of Rivals" horseshit, etc. Maybe once Obama actually takes office, he'll start building the Democratic/liberal brand, but he's been loath to do it to this point. As with Bill Clinton, it's the "one good Democrat" who's afraid to dis Reaganite "values." We can and must do better, or the myths of GOP fiscal prudence, moral superiority, respect for law and order, and unquestionable patriotism will persist and will lead to more death, destruction, and injustice.

The bottom line: if Obama turns out not to be a major-league progressive, we're screwed.


Reasons to be scared shitless:

1. Reagan's chickens are coming home to roost. The rot oozing from the Beltway -- crappy politics and equally crappy media -- could be the death of us all unless the change is real, rapid, and rational.

The bottom line: if Obama turns out not to be a major-league progressive, we're screwed.

[lostnotforgotten]

1. Yep - He Appears To Be Too Timid Initially To Make The Necessary Changes

eom

[lwcon]

3. In deference to those who argue "he hasn't done anything yet"

What we can do more about is our own timidity.

Since Obama has yet to be inaugurated, there's only so much I'll conclude about his early signals, but I profoundly hope that DU and other progressive forums will not feel the need to bite our tongues and pass out the STFU if it's clear that Obama could and should do better.

[BeFree]

5. Timid? that's a laugh

And a stupid idea. Obama is not timid, good god!

The question is: are the people too timid? The answer is yes. But I see change happening. I see people raising hell, for the first time, about a fundie preacher at a presidential inauguration.

Maybe the timid people are changing? Obama always said he needs us to make changes happen. Are we leading it, or just followers?

I see people leading. Good work people. Keep it up!

[lwcon]

6. I can't say yet whether President Obama will be timid

I certainly thought Candidate Obama was, but come January 20th, it could be a whole new ball game.

But I wholeheartedly agree that the people's timidity is the right focal point. Until and unless the people grow less compliant, Obama will do what Obama wants to do, and all we can do then is lie back and hope it's something good.

[Enrique]

2. his support of the Republic Windows workers was a good sign to me

it seemed very different, unequivocal support of workers in a labor dispute.

[lwcon]

4. That was one of the better early indicators

I'm trying not to conclude too much either way, just trying to foster a culture where it's OK to criticize the president when we disagree with him.

[FrenchieCat]

7. You are doing a good job.

Cause there is certainly no shortage of Obama criticisms on these boards! :thumbsup:

[lwcon]

8. There has been a shortage at times

The free-flowing STFU in circles like DU meant that the progressive activist community didn't have any leverage over Obama throughout the campaign. He was the de facto choice of progressives and didn't have to do anything to earn that love during the entire campaign.

And the STFU is in full force against those who think elevating Rick Warren's credibility is the wrong kind of signal to kick off the Obama administration. Of course, if Obama did feel any accountability to progressives, he wouldn't think of turning to such a man on such a symbolic occasion.