Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
He knows what he's doing, and he's going to win (Original Post) rhiannon55 Apr 2013 OP
I tell ya some of you are in for a shock. aandegoons Apr 2013 #1
Chess not checkers mwrguy Apr 2013 #2
Know Thy Enemy ginnyinWI Apr 2013 #3
he is dealing with the universe that he is in. mopinko Apr 2013 #4
And that is why I'm not worried! He's got this! Lady Freedom Returns Apr 2013 #5
Wow! Just the poster says it all. IrishAyes Apr 2013 #6
Thank you for my new Favorite Pic!!! Lady Freedom Returns Apr 2013 #7
I wish you were right, but the ARRA experience says otherwise Jim Lane Apr 2013 #8
Cool FB link! Knightraven Apr 2013 #9
*fingers crossed* n/t politicasista Apr 2013 #10

mopinko

(71,716 posts)
4. he is dealing with the universe that he is in.
Fri Apr 12, 2013, 05:18 PM
Apr 2013

it is not the same one we are in.
many of the things that he has given up were unfortunate. but the thing that he has accomplished have been phenomenal.
i do try to keep things in perspective, but it suits a lot of people not to.

Lady Freedom Returns

(14,120 posts)
5. And that is why I'm not worried! He's got this!
Fri Apr 12, 2013, 07:49 PM
Apr 2013

He is a lot smarter than many, even in our own party think he is!

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
6. Wow! Just the poster says it all.
Fri Apr 12, 2013, 08:37 PM
Apr 2013

You're my new best friend! I'm sending that to everyone I know.

I'd say "He'll make us proud" but obviously we already are!

 

Jim Lane

(11,175 posts)
8. I wish you were right, but the ARRA experience says otherwise
Sat Apr 13, 2013, 01:24 AM
Apr 2013

In 2009, right at the start of his term, Obama didn't propose the kind of stimulus bill that his supporters were calling for. Instead, he proposed a stimulus that was much smaller (about one-third the size of what progressive economists said was needed) and had a significant component of tax cuts (even though those have less stimulative impact per dollar of increased deficit). What I heard was that, at the initial meeting at which he presented the plan to Congressional leaders, the Republicans were pleasantly surprised at the size of the tax-cut component in the bill.

Then almost all of them voted against it anyway. (In the House, it got zero Republican votes. In the Senate, it was supported by Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, and Arlen Specter, but no other Republicans.)

So, this episode showed that Obama was serious about bipartisan compromise, while the Republicans were simply against anything he was for. The result was that, in 2010, the American electorate, fed up with this hyperpartisan obstructionism by the Republicans, punished them by voting many of them out of office and handing the Democrats huge gains... right?

Oh, wait, that's not what happened in the 2010 midterms?

But wait... Obama did the same thing with PPACA, making no effort to get single payer, initially insisting on a robust public option but then dropping it, and including deals that protected the profits of the likes of Big Pharma. So, by being so willing to compromise, he got a lot of Republican support for the bill, right? Uh, no, he got none. Nor, of course, did this obstructionism cost the Republicans in 2010.

Now he's playing the same game. Well, maybe he'll solidify his legacy as a herald of post-partisanship and an eminently reasonable man. And maybe he'll also set up 2014 as a repeat of 2010, torpedoing our chances of taking the House and possibly costing us the Senate as well.

Just maybe he should have tried a different approach. Suppose he had sent up a budget that didn't embody compromise-in-advance-while-getting-nothing-for-it, but instead was based on a clear statement of Democratic principles. Then, if the Republicans insisted on Social Security cuts, he could have compromised with obvious and well-publicized reluctance. The result would be an issue that we could flay the Republicans with in 2014.

As it is, I foresee the same problem in 2014 that we had in 2010 -- too many people just don't see the Democrats as fighting for them and aren't motivated to go out and vote. As of right now I'm predicting Republican control of both chambers.

Knightraven

(268 posts)
9. Cool FB link!
Sat Apr 13, 2013, 02:26 AM
Apr 2013

The poster tells it all! Love it! Liked it, Shared it!

Thanks for the post link Lady Freedom Returns!

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»Barack Obama»He knows what he's doing,...