TW: Have written several times about lefty Dems unease with the Obama transition which has been most decidely centrist. I continue to regard this as positive. Great politicians, which Obama may or may not end up being, have to weave the fine line known as the doable center while quietly leaning in their preferred direction. Just read any political history of our "good" POTUSes in particular FDR's. David Corn's piece speaks to the left's unease. Corn is to the left as say Bill Kristol is to the right (although Corn's actual influence is vastly less amidst the Dems as compared to Kristol's on the right). Corn seems to perceive what Obama is trying to do without quite being comfortable, again a good thing.
From Corn via WaPo:
"...looking at President-elect Barack Obama's top appointments, it's easy to wonder whether convention has triumphed over change -- and centrists over progressives...It's no surprise that many progressives are -- depending on whom you ask -- disappointed, irritated or fit to be tied...
Perhaps Obama is trying to pull off something subtle -- a sort of stealth liberalism draped in bipartisan centrism. But it's understandable that progressives are worried...My hunch is that Obama has made a calculation. In constructing his administration, he has decided not to create a (liberal) Washington counter-establishment. Instead, he's fashioning a bipartisan, centrist-loaded version of the Washington establishment to carry out his policies, which do tilt to the left.
For some progressives, Obama's opening moves may not feel like the change they anticipated. But there's no rebellion yet at hand. Many are probably holding their breath and waiting to see whether Obama can hijack the establishment for progressive ends...
That doesn't mean Obama deserves a pass for (so far) bypassing progressives...But he has largely left liberals out of the debate. If strong progressive voices are not included in Obama's wild and woolly free-for-alls at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., they will have little choice but to find outlets on the outside (remember the Internet?) -- and become their own agents of change."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/05/AR2008120502602.html
No comments:
Post a Comment