A Good Closer?

[babylonsister]

http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2014/12/23/a-good-closer/

A Good Closer?
Dec 23 2014 @ 2:25pm
Andrew Sullivan

snip//

Or not. The latest reports on economic growth suggest that Obama is now presiding over the strongest economy in more than a decade. Back in 2009, this was in no way predictable, or even likely. Compared with America’s international competitors, it’s powerful evidence that Obama’s early measures to save the US economy from the abyss were more successful than many will concede. The country, meanwhile, has experienced an energy revolution – a win-win (apart from the planet) which has also given both Putin and Khamenei the collywobbles. Sure, this was not an Obama initiative, but he didn’t get in the way. The potential for solar power has also never seemed brighter.

Crime remains at historic lows; the deficit has been slashed; healthcare costs – the key indicator of future debt – have been falling; inflation remains low; interest rates have not soared as many conservatives predicted; and unemployment is half what he inherited. Millions more have reliable and portable health insurance coverage in a program performing somewhat better than anyone predicted a year ago. Although the right-wing media noise machine has done its best to obscure all of this, it will surely eventually sink in, even though polarization has made big shifts in opinion highly unlikely. And on the politics of it all, Obama’s coalition remains a demographically formidable one as you look ahead. His bold unilateral move on immigration turned out to be a political winner (against my judgment at the time). Latinos, African-Americans, gays, unmarried women all remain a powerful base for the GOP to counter. And Obama’s persona was and is critical to keeping that coalition together.

On foreign policy, we end the year with Putin reeling, Netanyahu facing re-election, Syria’s WMDs removed and destroyed, withdrawal from Afghanistan almost completed, and a nuclear deal with Iran still possible. Yes, we have one huge step backward – the decision to re-engage in the sectarian warfare in what remains of Iraq. But so far at least, the engagement has been limited, the Islamic State has been contained, a new Iraqi prime minister holds out more hope than Maliki, and the Kurds and the Shiites have a much better relationship. The new relationship with Cuba is also a mile-stone toward a saner, less ideological foreign policy.

Obama likes the final stretch. It’s liberating for him, quite clearly. And clarifying for the rest of us. My point is a simple one: the long game has always mattered to this presidency, and we are now very much in the fourth quarter. That’s when Obama has always been strongest. And the story of this presidency isn’t close to being told yet.

Know hope.

[freshwest]

1. Sullivan is wrong on a couple of points there, but yes, he can be more flexible now.

First, there was no 'Sure, this was not an Obama initiative, but he didn’t get in the way,' at all. Makes one wonder he was in 2009 to miss all that Obama did and was savagely opposed by the Koch/GOP for doing what he did for solar and the rest.

Second, while the country embraced green energy, his characterization of 'given both Putin and Khamenei the collywobbles' was not to gore their ox. And TBH, Sullivan is not claiming that.

The push for green energy has long been a progressive goal and in the years since the Carter administration, our hope for this never died. But now, for other reasons, independents and baggers support it and are involved in making this dream a reality.

Obama set out to reduce our dependence on Middle East oil is a way to avoid wars and end the hold fossil fuel oligarchs have had on the country. While we may never escape them entirely, we need to have more like Obama's green energy man Van Jones. The Koch/GOP media went after him with CT, racism and red-baiting. He was gracious enough to leave for the good the cause, but I would still love to see him as Democratic candidate for POTUS one day.

Thanks babylonsister, and have a great holiday. Your OPs and news reports are what keep many of us coming back here.

[babylonsister]

2. Thank you, my friend.

And I do appreciate critiques of whatever I post, honestly, as long as it doesn't turn into a slamfest. You read it!

Have a great holiday yourself!

[Cha]

3. Yes, President Obama is in it for the Long Game.. it's that multi-dimentional Chess that his

bashers like to ignorantly mock.

Love, Peace, and Aloha, babylonsistah.. and Mahalo for this!