cross-posted over at TheModerateVoice
“[...] We’ve spent a lot of time waiting for Godot when it comes to the Obama White House, and we kind of — to some degree — have to internalize the idea that, you know what? That’s probably not the way to go,” Weiner said. “We have to start initiating some of this.” [...] … .. “The problem is the negotiator-in-chief and where he’ll end up, and whether we can put some steel in his spine,” (Rep. Peter DeFazio) said. – Anthony Weiner: Obama Is ‘Not A Values Guy’, by Amanda Terkel
Back in January I did a column about Democratic identification in the era of Obama. It was grim, very, very grim. In fact, Democratic Party I.D. according to Gallup is at a 22-year low.
So when the AP’s Charles Babington did a piece yesterday entitled “Obama Team Looks For New Ways To Fire Up President’s Base,” it didn’t come as a surprise.
… Obama acknowledged the challenge last week in Boston. “Somebody asked me, how do we reinvigorate the population, the voter, after two very tough years?” he told Democratic donors. “How do we recapture that magic that got so many young people involved for the very first time in 2008?”
One answer, the president said, is to persuade hardcore liberals to swallow their anger over political compromises the administration reached with Republicans, even when Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress.
[...] Some Democrats say they may need luck to replicate the passionate turnout of Obama’s first campaign. The often-stated claim that voters would embrace the health care law once it began taking effect has proven mostly untrue. But another year may change that, these Democrats say.
For now, the Obama team is unveiling few new ideas specifically keyed to firing up core constituencies. A recent White House conference call urged young voters to hold roundtables, which administration officials may attend, to discuss priorities and offer feedback.
Beyond that, Obama eventually plans large rallies similar to those in 2008. They create showy spectacles that excite young voters, but they also serve a fundraising role. People who enter the stadiums or buy Obama T-shirts are asked to provide their names and contact information, which are used later to request donations and volunteer activities. [...]
The only “luck” Pres. Obama and his reelection team can hope to get is that Sarah Palin is the nominee, something that is currently being battled out between Rush Limbaugh and the Republican establishment.
It’s long past time to disabuse camp Obama of any delusions they may have about replicating the “passionate turnout of Obama’s first campaign.” Not going to happen.
No one has done more to obliterate the Democratic brand more than Pres. Obama, which in turn has annihilated the passion once felt for candidate Obama.
A health care bill “accomplishment” that now requires wavers for companies, with the President even going soft on the absurd mandate that should never have been written into it considering the Affordable Care Act was a conglomeration of private insurance giveaways that amounted to a monopolized trap for the American public. There are some good things amidst the junk, but the fact that Democrats didn’t just pass those and instead stuck us with a monstrosity derisively named “ObamaCare” reveals their legislative incompetence.
That Pres. Obama missed an opportunity to make his first term about a real energy independence shot proves further he has no vision except what unfolds through time. Not even Japan’s nuclear catastrophe has changed his mind on nuclear energy, even as we find Japan being far too conservative with their estimates on just how bad things are over there.
There was also the Democratic nonchalance that allowed Stupak-Pitts to win out over the women who regularly elect Democrats, which was just another insult delivered by Obama through an unneeded Executive Order that has emboldened states across the country to target women. That it all began at the hands of the first female Speaker of the House, who was once a vaunted darling of the liberal feminist crowd, is an added insult.
One of the main pluses about “ObamaCare” is that it has tied Mitt Romney in knots, because Democrats basically created an evil twin to RomneyCare, which still could be a real problem for Romney in the primaries. However, if Romney can get through the primaries that’s another story. As a very well connected Democrat told me recently, Barack Obama has never faced a “politically competent Republican,” which is what makes Mitt Romney so dangerous. It’s also likely why Chris Cilizza wrote his piece about conservatives moving over to Mitt.
Then there is Pres. Obama’s bipartisanship fig leaf covering his corporate soul that let Wall Street off the hook and too big to fail still a reality. The appointment of Bill Daley sealed the deal, which also sent the message that when it comes to importance, firing up the base to Obama actually means the money men and women, not progressives and liberals, who are last in line just after independents.
The 2010 midterms were delivered to the Right because Pres. Obama never could quite figure out what the election was about for Democrats. Besides, he’d been moving Right since his inauguration, because his natural place on the political dial is Right.
Then in December, after refusing to make the tax argument for November, Pres. Obama led the Democrats to cave on Bush tax cut extensions that added to the deficit while not solving squat, but in the process had Democrats embracing the voodoo economics of Republicanism that tax cuts solve economic woes. It didn’t faze Barack Obama one iota that this simple act of embracing tax cut economics obliterated 10 years of work by Democrats, not to mention ignored what Bill Clinton accomplished in the ’90s by raising taxes. (You’d think Reagan finally sucking it up to raise taxes would have been an inspiration for Obama.)
On top of all of this is Pres. Obama’s vacillating on any number of issues from DADT to Afghanistan to Gitmo, not to mention his incomprehensible lack of leadership during the BP oil disaster, which is never mentioned, nor was Sect. Ken Salazar’s ineptitude ever addressed.
There is no one I know who can explain just what Pres. Obama stands for as a Democrat. He even concocted the debt commission in order to handle Social Security on the sly, which any political analyst worth his or her salt knows Obama can’t touch before 2012, but which anyone with half a brain should realize he will tinker with if reelected.
None of this, however, has inspired so called progressives to challenge Pres. Obama with a primary opponent. That’s because of the fear of what African American voters would do, as if that’s a good enough reason to challenge any sitting president, regardless of race, if he has screwed up so badly as to now render the words Democratic Party meaningless.
What is it that Lawrence O’Donnell says? Some things are worth fighting for even if you lose.
In the era of Obama, his worth is seen as more important than the principles the Democratic Party has stood for since F.D.R.
Pres. Obama’s reelection depends on Republicans choosing from the current crop of lame-ass candidates currently in the news, any of whom he can beat as things stand right now.
I just don’t see Obama’s base from 2008 getting fired up, with many who voted in ’08 not even going to show up. Who can blame them?
As for disgruntled Democrats and progressives, oh, they’ll vote in 2012. But that’s thanks to the Democrats in Wisconsin and other states who are showing spine Barack Obama lacks. However, the likelihood that these same Democrats won’t bother to vote for Obama for president is very real.
This column has been updated.
As David Frum says, Republicans fear their base, while Democrats despise theirs. Mr. Obama cerainly seems to give credibility to that thought.
Taylor — Completely disagree that Obama’s natural position is “right.” His heart is way left. He just has absolutely no clue as to how to go about getting that nirvana he seeks. (He has no experience, legislatively speaking — he’s been handed anything his little stamping feet ever wanted.) So he compromises here, there and everywhere. It’s not his heart — it’s his thought that “if I do this, I can get what I want next.”) His visions are completely very far left. He just doesn’t know how to get there.
1. How do you know where his “heart” is?
2. Who gives a flying damn where his “heart” is when it’s not matched by his ACTIONS?
I, for one, am sick to death of people telling me to give this guy a pass because of his “good intentions.”
EXACTLY!!!
oy. nowhere to go it seems. the gop is insane. obama is feckless. local dems in tx, wi mi etc are fighting like hell in the legislature against the gop which is energizing with rallies etc.. but obama is awol. he should be primaried. most dems i know keep hoping he is but dont get the race thing – something hillary suporters though understand. run against obama and u will be branded a bigot. obama is making a huge mistake agreeing to all these cuts and risks depressing dem turnout and worse. yet the gop goads dems to turnout i think. the gop is going for the throat of progressivism period.
if obama does get a real tough gop challenger and he might given he keeps agreeing to job costing budget cuts then im not sure he can win. i still agree he would need hillary to get those voters he lost so bad in the midterm back. or something. and yeah if she were asked given how scary the gop is she would do it for the country’s sake. its feckless mush or stone cold cruel rethugs.
Yes, he should be primaried. Unfortunately, I don’t see anyone who can credibly challenge him, except maybe Howard Dean. Last time I heard, Dean was emphatically not interested.
Still, if there’s any hope of doing it, now’s the time to organize.
T4h, you never give up on the notion of Hillary for veep, which would never happen.
You can disagree with me, beth, but what I wrote is correct.
I also don’t think it’s that Obama hates his base, Pilgrim. He simply believes that the Left will never abandon him.
On what basis? To me, his behavior, including his staff’s expressed belief that we’re all on drugs or whiny crybabies, strike me as completely lacking in respect for the people who supported him because they believed what he promised he’d do.
I don’t disagree that he thinks we’ll never leave him, but I suspect that’s because he thinks we’re weak-minded fools who can’t figure out anything else to do.
good summary….and I agree with both Beth and Texan4Hillary…although with regard to the far left part, I think the answer is…”it depends,” and a definition of “left” is appropriate. Ultimately, Obama cares most about himself…and his short term interests. And the fact that he will not be primaried will hurt the Dems and African Americans tremendously ..because both will suffer from the Obama brand in the future. Of course, the “progressives”and “elites” who supported him unconditionally will pay a price in terms of their own credibility…(see Obamacare which progressives allowed to pass) We will need another disaster Republican presidency to recover. And if the Republicans get the Presidency, they won’t let go of power as easily the weak Dems did.
By the way, TFH, why do any Texans support Perry? He’s like a petty dictator in a 3rd world country…which is what he’s turning Texas into..Why are the Dems so toothless there, especially in the face of his horrible policies?
“What is it that Lawrence O’Donnell says? Some things are worth fighting for even if you lose.”
TM, thank you for your work over the years. Decision time is 2012; everyone must decide if they are a Democrat or a DINO. For true Democrats our path leads to new movement originating from Wisconsin and Congressional champions: Kucinich/Sanders in 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiNIWCP5hck
Some things are worth fighting for even if you lose.
By the way, Taylor is right about the Republican candidate. Only a Sarah Palin will help Obama. If the Repubs run someone who appears more moderate, I think Obama loses. I think people are truly angry at him for his fakery…for his lies…and his complete failures…like Obamacare and the BP spill. People often get more angry when they are deceived or have been gullible. And alot of people feel deceived…both on the left and independents. And considering who Virginia elected governor and attorney general, I have no idea what gives the Obama team confidence. And with all that Republican money, we haven’t seen anything yet with regard to messaging…
Moderate? Republican? No such thing. EVERY GOPer is going to have to appease the far-right extremists (both the Tea Partiers and the Christian Taliban) in order to win the party’s nomination. We saw McCain turn from a reasonably moderate politican, willing to accept the principle of compromise, into a quivering mass of jello who wouldn’t hesitate to accept the most far-right principles in order to win the presidency.
Hey TPAZ. It’s going to be tough in ’12 for a lot of voters on the Left. Many look at the Right, which scares the crap out of people.
Republicans are a long way from being able to beat Obama.
As a Democrat, Obama scares the crap out of me. It does not matter if you are molested by the “nice” member of your family; molesting the principles of FDR, JFK, and LBJ is not being a Democrat. It’s being a monster. Obama is to the right of Richard Nixon and Reagan
Obama is to the right of Richard Nixon and Reagan
Finally, someone gets it.
Taylor Marsh,
Please do not underestimate Sarah Palin. She will mop the floor with Obama during a debate. She is finally recovering from the Arizona shooting in which she was labeled a murderer. I wonder why the mainstream media did not cover all the hate and death threats during the Wisconsin protest. Why Taylor did you not take the lead in exposing the hate in Wisconsin like you did for what happened in the Arizona shooting.
Sarah Palin will be just fine. The more you and others in the media try to destroy her, the stronger she comes back.
Don’t you know that she hates the media just as much as they hate her. I love and respect that woman and I cannot wait until she announces that she is running. I am sure there will be exploding heads all over the country when she does.
I’d like to explore your concept of cause and effect for a moment, so if you could, would you answer this question:
Do you think the iceberg was out to destroy the Titanic?
Cujo359, what a childish question. Why don’t you just admit that your President is a complete failure and is the biggest fraud ever to sit in our house. You should feel “used” by that man. Can’t you see by now that he lied to you to get in our house?
Sarah Palin makes an ass of herself nearly every time she opens her mouth, which is something she does distressingly often. She’s demonstrated a complete inability to prepare for any sort of test that doesn’t involve batting her eyelids. The press then reports what she says, and occasionally people like Taylor actually point out that the woman has no idea what she’s talking about. Then people like you decide that this is some form of prejudice against her, rather than figuring out that the woman is an ignoramus who’s gotten along with nothing but looks, an outgoing nature, and ruthlessness her whole life.
That’s why I asked the question.
And this sentence demonstrates why you can’t figure that out:
You had to look no further than the other comments I made in this thread to at least suspect that I have absolutely no use for the man. If you’d checked previous articles here on Obama, you’d know that for certain. That’s truly Palinesque attention to detail.
In fact, the real irony as I see it is that both Palin and Obama are nothing but con artists, and yet people keep trying to tell me that one or the other is actually much better. As far as I can see, the only difference is that Obama can be bothered to learn things, like when he has to take a bar exam. I can’t imagine Palin ever accomplishing something anywhere near that mentally challenging.
Why do I get the impression that your choice of name is less-than-accurate (or even, less-than-honest)?
“Please do not underestimate Sarah Palin. She will mop the floor with Obama during a debate.”
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
FYNNIEST thing I have seen on a computer screen EVER!!!!
I am FAR from an Obama fan…but Sarah Paline?!!!!!!
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Yes, because that rhetorical strategy worked so well up until now. Doesn’t he remember that he was calling us all whiny idiots back in 2010, and how that turned out?
Since no one has yet stated the obvious, I’ll oblige: From this I think we can infer that doing something useful for his core constituencies isn’t one of the strategies Obama’s considering for firing them up.
This strategy reminds me of the fraternity initiation scene in ‘Animal House’, where the pledges say, “Thank you sir may I have another” after being paddled. I can picture Mr. Obama as Neidermeyer so easily…
My oft stated perspective: During his campaign, Obama revealed his lack of experience, his complete lack of realizing his lack of experience was a problem, and of course, his right leaning. His time in the WH has made that more obvious. He isn’t spineless. He isn’t clueless. He’s doing what he wants to do. He’s part of the corporate oligarchy.
Yeah, maybe it’s not that he despises his base. No, it’s just that his base really is the corporate oligarchy, and he is very nice to them.
Precisely.
The only thing Obama cares about is getting re-elected. What ever it takes to make that happen is what he stands for.
I agree with you, Pilgrim, TPAZ and Taylor. Terrific analysis.
Obama’s Presidential behavior is “Present.” He is there. He has the job title. He is somewhere, doing something, but mum on what he really believes for fear of doing anything to lose votes for 2012.
Anyway, that’s my take and I’m sticking to it!
Are you suggesting that he “really believes” in anything?
Obama knows he made history by getting elected. And it’s the last time he intends to make history.
Unfortunately, that’s good enough for a lot of his supporters, too.
Frankly, the thrill of electing the first African American president has long worn off for me. If eight years of condescending to the Right and continuation of the Bush foreign policies (and Bush torture policies) is the price, in my opinion it was not worth it.
I agree with Taylor analysis of Obama…I think right now many hardcore left will never vote for Obama…but that does not matter…he needs to win the middle for 2012.
“Present.”
BWAHAHAHAHA! CORRECTAMUNDO O Chi one!!!
Excellent post Taylor. Many of us knew this three years ago but it sure is not a great feeling to be proven right.
yes mrs joyce arnold obama’s with the oligarks, 100 percent correct. he’s controlled by the very lobbies he ran against. this country will fail unless the greed and corruption are addressed.
“Progressive” talk radio is seriously depressing on this score. Stephanie Miller especially has nothing but contempt for anyone who dares question Obama’s dedication to progressivism- she groans loudly whenever someone suggests that he’s not the most awesomest President of all time, and calls the “whiners” on the left “colicky babies.” One guest after another calls on the base to “keep the pressure on” out of one side of his mouth while reminding us that “we have to support Obama no matter what” out of the other, ending each meandering, murky “he’s not perfect BUT..” shpeal with “hey, look at the alternative!” Check out the posters at Media Matters for America- people there seem to honestly believe that Obama has accomplished enormous things in his first two years, and if you don’t agree, you are just being a bigoted jerk.
I have very little hope for the cause of Progressivism when “Hey, He’s Awesome” and “Hey, He’s Not Sarah Palin” are the taglines of the Obama Apologists going into 2012.
I agree w/Taylor’s analysis, but one thing is left out. The complicity of the DC Dems in Congress, and progressive groups that became part of the “veal pen” as Jane Hamsher called them, and became an Amen Choir, religiously following Pres Obama.
FDR once told the liberals of his time that while he agreed with them on policy he told them they had to make him do it. They did
The DC Dems and the establishment liberal groups which are really just core Dem principles, never made him do anything progressive. Did they really fight for single payer in Congress or outside Congress, the Stupak amendment – where were the pro choice womens groups, where were the pro- choice women in Congress who should have stopped the Affordable Care Act before it became law(they all voted for it even after they voted against the Stupak Amendment. The stimulus was too small -Pres Obama listen to everyone but the economists who predicted the financial disaster-Krugman, Roubini etc. I could go on. he doesn’t fight for his appointments.
At everyturn he was aided and abbetted by a Dem Congress that had there largest majorities in both houses in decades. So when I hear folks like A. Weiner start complaining about Pres Obama now, my reaction is where was your willingnmess to really fight when you were in the majority. He /they are as guilty as Pres Obama in destroying the Dem brand.
We need to start from the bottom up to change the Dem Party.
Pres Obama will likely get re-elected, I’ll vote for him again, but I’ll do it with a nauseating feeling in the pit of my stomach
LiberalJoe, those organizations were discouraged at every turn from making any serious effort toward real reform. Without encouragement and LEADERSHIP from the White House, they quickly realized that their was no point in spending huge amounts of money pushing an agenda that had no support in the “Democratic” Congress OR the “Democratic” White House.
Where was the President during the Health Care Debate? Pandering to Max Baucus, Joe Lieberman, etc. etc. Where was he during the Stimulus Debate? Pandering to one “moderate” Republican this week, another the next- and in the end, getting no votes from any of them. I don’t blame Progressive organizations for failing to do the impossible- to do the President’s job for him. Obama discouraged liberal activism and continues to do so. He’s been the architect of the prevailing sense of ennui and defeatism in the progressive community- with no allies anywhere, what is the point of fighting?
I will NOT vote for Obama again, or give money to the DSCC or any other centrist group which hands cash to the Ben Nelsons and Barack Obamas of the party. To hell with all of them.
jjamele,
I am with you on just about everything you said, with one exception.
I’m not willing to give the progressive groups a pass on their passivity to Pres Obama’s leadership. To requote Lawrence O’Donnell as Taylor did- “that there are somethings worth fighting for even if you lose”. The natural extension of that is sometimes you can also win when you fight for what you believe in.
Many folks contributed money to those groups, to Pres Obama and other political campaigns with the expectation that they will fight for those beliefs. Not fighting is a betrayal and sign of deep disrespect.
I agree; they should have fought harder anyway. I don’t blame them for being discouraged, but they should have fought.
I do understand that when you are basically being told to shut up and sit down by the guy you helped get elected, it’s hard to gather enthusiasm. It’s also hard when you are being accused of aiding and abetting the right wing, and can find no allies in the media OR Congress OR the White House. But I would have liked these “progressive” groups to damn the torpedoes, damn partisanship, and plowed straight ahead.