Comments on: Progressive Circle Forming Around Obama

By: David

David — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:00:23 +0000

Remember your Political Science 101 class. The Executive Office of the President (EOP) are the policy-makers (the thinkers that come up with what policy should be), the Cabinet positions and the policy implimentors (the movers and shakers that can get things done). Having all the EOP positions being filled with progressive minded intellectuals makes sure that the new ideas keep coming and flowing into the presidents ear. Once the new policy is determined, the practical minded centrists who have the will and know-how to make it happen will work with whoever they need to to make it happen.

By: David

David — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 20:00:23 +0000

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:25:35 +0000

If the strategy is to go centrist and confirmable among cabinet positions and liberal/activist in advisory positions, then Obama should pick Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as an advisor. He would be ideal at working with cabinet officials of all kinds on beefing up legal compliance and engineering regulatory reform where the appropriate role of government has been neutralized since the Reagan Admininistration.

By: Cherubim

Cherubim — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:52:38 +0000

Some things like marriage relationships are private to be discussed by the persons involved. I don't pretend to be speaking for Elizabeth Edwards.
Other things like jobs, labor rights, the collaps of our economy, and government bailouts are public matters to be discussed by all Americans.
I don't want to see working Americans treated like the workers in "third world countries".
"If we are not their voice, they will never have a voice."
Watch the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7WbBuukrzo

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:00:45 +0000

Finally a President that is making decisions that reinforce the values of progression without bending to the will of his party lines. Obama is doing what is right for the country regardless of whether or not it makes him brownie points with party leaders. Just because conservatism hasn't been the best policy over the last 8 years doesn't mean that we need a total 180 to liberalism. It is clear from the Clinton years that a policy aligned in the middle does much more to serve the economy than a single party approach to economics. I was a bit reticent to side with Obama during the election season, but so far he is showing his true colors as a man who truly wants to do what is best for the most Americans. Props to our new Commander in Chief.

By: Guy

Guy — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:16:19 +0000

Well said

By: what the??

what the?? — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:05:58 +0000

edwards is a phony. he had a chance to be a progressive when it mattered–when he was in government. he was not. he ran to the left because clinton and obama were sucking up all the air in the center and the right is a loser this year. edwards is like a shifty southern lawyer cliche from a grisham novel. and have you forgotten about his affair/love child scandal? his poitical career is over.
i think the general public is familiar with howard dean and dennis kucinich. the problem is they are actually liberals…

By: John

John — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:55:50 +0000

“Whose job description is political salesmanship and whose job description is making and executing policy?” Sirota asked.

I'm going to suggest that "making" policy is not particularly part of the job description of cabinet secretaries. The most important policy decisions are going to be made in the White House. The Cabinet is generally involved in executing policy. Also - the domestic policy cabinet positions have largely not been filled yet.

By: PumaJ

PumaJ — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:26:50 +0000

David Sirota has been a nay sayer about Barack Obama since just after the 2004 Democratic Convention when there was mention of Obama possibly being groomed to run for the presidency in 2008. So, given Sirota's history of negativity about Obama, his current comments are less than surprising.

I am a 57 y.o. white woman who has been a lesbian feminist considered since at least 1970. I consider being a progressive to be included in that political identity. I have been an avid follower of the politics in this nation since I was 15. I am also a fan of history. So, I feel quite confident in making the following statements and observations.

Frankly, I am sick and tired of the partisan politics that have served to divide this great nation of ours. I am disgusted with the red herrings thrown up by both the ideological right and the ideological left, for it is my belief that the red herrings only serve to keep us as Americans divided and thus vulnerable to the machinations of various corrupt and unethical power mongers. I have yet to see such politics to be of any positively useful purpose.

Folks such as Sirota may believe that their intentions are good and right for the country, but it is my observation that he and other "lefty" progressives are missing the forest for the trees. It is also my observation that he and many other "progressive" commentators are perpetually malcontent and think that their ideas and ways are the best and most right. Perhaps, he and some of the others should run for office and stop complaining from the sidelines.

Obama is putting into action exactly what he said he would do. He actually laid out his views quite clearly in his book, The Audacity of Hope". Apparently, many of our progressive commentators have not read that book and were not really paying attention to what Obama has been saying since he began his quest for the presidency. One of his most critical goals all along has been to unify our nation and get away from intensely partisan politics.

As far as I can see at this point in time, he is surely putting into place the players that will help him achieve that goal.

So, I say to Sirota and others, stop your whining and nit picking commentary. Get a grip on yourselves. Smart though you may be, you don't represent the entire progressive community.

By: crown&cherries

crown&cherries — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:31:22 +0000

Obama spent the last 21 months saying we have to unite, we have to work together, we are one people. And now people are compaining because he's doing EXACTLY what he said. magine that, a politician who actually meant what he said! Get a grip, folks. He knows what he's doing.