Watch out for Obama's Team Selling Conservative Policies as Progressive Politics

who would of knew?

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This is not about idealogy. These people that he has in his administration are people who know how to get things DONE in Washington. As a progressive, I dont like some of them. The issue is whether or not he can redirect them to progressive causes and move "middle America" to the center-left. We can get "idiologically correct" people in place who simply can't get anything done....and then what? Let the Chess master do his work....

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We should all remember that for there to be a decent popular progressive movement during the upcoming period, it must begin its formation now.

In this sense Sirota's article is very timely.

This is an outline of our concerns.

This is an outline of our expectations.

This is what we need to have at the ready Jan. 20th.

-matti.

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AND... This is not un-important...What he is doing takes the wind out of the right wing by firmly colonizing the center. Most Republicans (66%)think that the their party is sufficiently conservative or not conservative enough. Lets take the middle. I like Chess....

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so far from most of his appointments, and it indicates the continued slaughter for us chickens in the middle class. I hope I'm wrong, but to believe change will come from the likes of Rubin, Gates, Summers, Kashkari, and a new Treasury Secretary obviously in bed with Wall Street is an invitation for us to assume the classic definition of insanity.

Where are high level appointments in economic structure in the upcoming administration for people like Paul Krugman or Joeseph Stiglitz? I haven't heard a word...have you?

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Come, come, gentlemen. Are you really so naive? Do you really believe that Obama--just because he won an election--is now going to call the shots?

Permit me to educate you. There is an establishment, and it is controlled by the Israeli Lobby and the Council On Foreign Relations. Everyone in the know--knows this! They call the shots to their benefit whether you like it or not. Barack Obama will be (just like Geo. Bush was) a puppet who will do their bidding. As long as these two groups are allowed to get away with their game I can assure you that on the big issues--nothing will change!

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Come, come, gentlemen. Are you really so naive? Do you really believe that Obama--just because he won an election--is now going to call the shots?

Permit me to educate you. There is an establishment, and it is controlled by the Israeli Lobby and the Council On Foreign Relations. Everyone in the know--knows this! They call the shots to their benefit whether you like it or not. Barack Obama will be (just like Geo. Bush was) a puppet who will do their bidding. As long as these two groups are allowed to get away with their game I can assure you that on the big issues--nothing will change!

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If Barack Obama pursues the path set by the present administration and Enters in a war with Afghanistan, or Pakistan or any fucking stan. I have a petitition to impeach that will be registered on the Twentieth of January 2009. Is that clear enough for the net pickers?

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David Sirota is right to warn. Like most progressives, I don't like a lot of them either. BUT:
1) We voted him (and, by extension, them) into office.
2) We need comprehensive, truly affordable health care,
3) We need to end the Iraq and Afghanistan foolishness,
4) We need to put our economy on a decent footing again (even if it remains, for the present, some sort of capitalism),
5) We need to specifically protect the environment and workers' rights. Without both we cannot have a future worth wanting,
and
6) we need a semblance of fair taxation.

The proof will be in the pudding. If by November 2012 the Obama administration has made significant progress in most of the above, I'll be satisfied. And vote for them again.

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Did he claim that the change would be to move everything to the left?Did he promise to make every Left fringe dream come true? No that was Kucinich or Gravel - I voted for Kucinich in the Primary ,but worked as a voluteer for Obama afterwards. He was not as far 'left' as I am, but was the next Best choice. So my goal was to assure McCain did Not win, because he wouldn't be Just more of the Same, he'd be worse (Arrogant, Agitated and Alzheimers).
Do I think we should give Pres elect a Free Pass on everything..NO. that was the kind of thinking that got US in this cluster fuck to begin with....but I would prefer if we at least wait until he can push policies, not just press conferences.
As for Gates & Geithner...We need an insider who has been privvy to where are the bodies are buried and have insight as to how to unravel this Web that has been created in the Financial markets and in international Affairs.
don't be so sure the adulations coming from the 'right' is only cheers...some could be 'whistling past the grave yard' to disguise their fear of exposure by those they 'trusted' to protect their criminality.
Wasn't it 'Sammy the Bull' who finally brought down the Teflon Don?
I see that many people were 'converted' either by disgust of this Admin ,or because of Obama's ability to communicate effectively...either way far more people are open to being converted, so the odds are good that so are some of his Appointments.
I have always considered my self a Progessive Liberal, but I am beginning to shun away from that label because it has become as Self righteous and unyeilding as the Religious right. Thus counterproductive to resolving ANY issue which currently ails US. If it has not already become abundantly apparent, The 'divide & Conquer' stratedgy used by the Neo cons has been very effective Thanks in part to the Overzealotry of the far 'Left' which helps fire up the Far 'Right'.Two sides to the Same Coin. While the 'right' Protest outside Womens clinic, the Left protests outside churches.You all have been on those same 'Picket Lines' for Decades...when will you realize it is not solving anything! And Meanwhile, the Corps are looting the place, Highjacking our rights and stirring shit up all around the world for Oil & profits, this has been going on since AT LEAST Nixon!
There are Vegans as militant about making everyone a Vegatarian as there are Religious extremeist who want everyone to convert to their specific doctrine!And some have even went as far in some of their tactics.
What is Change...ending the BS that has been used to distract US from what really has been taking place for the last few Decades.

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Support Obama's work to bring the nation back together to save us from total economic collapse, social chaos, revolution and civil war, as Roosevelt saved us in the 1930s. I remember that time very well, and we face a similar dilemma today.

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Contact Obama's Transition Team, tell Obama not to break his campaign promise to un-do Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest. He's been talking about flip-flopping on this, and "postponing" what he's promised. We voted for him based on what he promised to do.

The wealthy are doing just fine. The country needs a stimulus package and it would be better if we actually had money to pay for it!

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Obamas selection and policy choices are so far excellent.

He will not repel the tax cuts, will only let them expire. Anybody be they Keynesian or supply- ider understands the monumental stupidity of raising taxes during a recession/depression. He has promised to cut taxes. He almost sounds like Reagan. He is also fully aware of the election 2010, he does not want to give the Republicans the weapon they dearly desire, "Obama the tax raiser", "wealth-spreader". He also wants to be reelected in 2012 and you cannot be reelected if you raise taxes, the US is still a center-right country. The voters mistrust government and do not want to part with more than they have to. They are all to aware of the massive misuse of tax dollars that the House Democrats as well as the recent Georg W. Bush spending excesses.

Rahm Emanuel, hard core right Democrat, that abhors the far left of the Democratic party

Hillary Clinton, a Hawkish Democrat, and she is out of the way when it comes to making a centrist solution to the health care issue. Health care for all but not socialized medicine, single payer.


Geithner as treasury secretary signals that Obama understands the needs of small business owners and the capital markets, reaffirms that Obama is a free marketeer. Summers as chief economic adviser does the same.

This is change we can believe in, a smarter and slimmer government, lower taxes with health care for all without socialism. Reforms but in moderation and at a slow pace. I am getting to like Obama more and more, I was afraid he was a Trojan horse for the far left, instead he was a Trojan horse for classic liberalism, a civil libertarian and a fiscal responsible liberal. I have waited for that for so long.

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Under the Democratic umbrella of the Kennedy Administration the Civil Rights Movement lauched its victorious campaign to reform race relations in America. Another popular movemnet on a similar scale is needed now --

1. All Women should have the legally protected right to decide if and when to birth their children.

2. All corporations should be required to recycle 100% of the waste produced by their manufacturing processes.

Add those two reforms to Obama's support of green technology and our crazy human race might actually survive.

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Obama responded and I quote:"Understand where the vision for change comes from, first and foremost, It comes from me. That's my job, to provide a vision in terms of where we are going and to make sure then that my team is implementing [that vision]."

Obama have said repeatedly throughout his campaign that he is going to change the way Washington works. He is going to end this partisan politics that has kept Washington so divided that it has brought this country in the state that it's in today. The problem is, a lot of you weren't listening.

If times were better, he would've chosen new people but now he need seasoned as well as new faces with proven experience to help him clean this mess.

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"Promises are shit!"

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. . . can you do the rest of us a favor and stop allowing your hatred of Rahm Emanuel get in the way of your good judgement?

Thanks,
-Scientz

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Hope Change is 9-11, terrishts.

I bet a beer the salesmanship and packaging is of a establishment ideology in progressive sounding language... just like his campaign.

Oh wait, if I say that I'm being a barbituate. Here goes.... just like David, as long as I hedge my "critique" in happy-happy, "we don't know for sure yet" language then I'll be accepted by the club of the cool kids (owning class liberals who drank the kool aid): pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. Just because he's the architect of the economic disaster that has and will liberate so many from the burden of home ownership, doesn't mean the policy will actually be the same.

Hey, know what, just piss on my leg and tell me it's raining. When you been shat on enough, you'll get a clue like the rest of us at the bottom: when a rich guys says, "give it time" you go hungry.

I prefer Derrick Jensen's adage that in rough times it's more effective to move beyond "hope" and it's handmaiden, "despair" and do something because you have nothing left to lose, you're no longer married to the system that demands you hope for change even while that same system deprives you of it. Better heed the lesson fellow Lefties. I bet a beer most of you will still be hoping 4 years from now and then try to shut us all up once again with the same old tired excuses.... hope, change, 9-11, terrishts.

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blog for bringing up Obama's flaws from nomination up to election day. Suck it down dude. You wanted Obama and now you're gonna get it. You badmouthed Kucinich and ignored Nader and even banned users from your blog for bringing up Nader and now you pretend to be disappointed? I used to like you but now I see you're no different from the Far Right crowds of censorship and banning. Obama's gonna be the president for the next 4 years so either put up or shut up ! If you don't like that, then please leave the country !

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"Agree with thine adversary quickly." Let Obama start the way he wants. Let him start out by disarming his critics a bit with some centrist appointments. Remember what happened when Bill Clinton said, "Hello, I'm Bill Clinton, let's have gays in the military"? Let Obama do this in his own way.

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It adds clarity to the appointments made thus far.

There seems to be an underlying belief that progressives are "touchy feely" people divorced from reality involving "how things actually work" sorts of issues.

But might that be because progressives have been marginalized and viciously attacked over the past 28 years by said establishment?

Maybe it doesn't have to do with our innate proclivities or capabilities so much as the rise of another power base in Washington - corporate America.

But then that is part of the reality at the same time - a Catch-22. But the implication is that nothing can ever change because said change lies outside the present power structure.

So the argument that we must "govern from the center" is nonsensical gibberish. We must govern based upon sound policy that puts Americans first, and corporations as non-entities that do the bidding of the country, not the other way around.

peace,
Paul

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President-elect Obama's choices? I see a media who is raising all kinds of hackles by constantly pointing out who is who, but never taking into account that in the end they are all accountable to Obama and his policies.

Second, progressives, as defined originally, are more right than left in fiscal policies, but more left than right in social policies. They are just slightly, and I do mean very slightly, left of center, and are the polar opposites of neo-cons and neo-liberals. They are not far left nor are they far right. On a compass pattern, with neo-cons/corporations being in the south, the left being the west, and the right being east, real, true progressives are just to the left of the north point on a compass (See www.culturalcreatives.com, click on paper by Dr. Paul Ray that identifies the political progressive). President-elect Obama has obviously identified the true progressives, many of whom are from the center of both parties, and he understands that if America is to survive, it is imperative that this group (approx. 50 million in 2002 according to Dr. Ray) be engaged. That is what he is trying to do, and if those who have co-opted the title "progressive" to identify the radical left are unhappy, then I am not surprised.

Progressives are fiscally responsible, want a balanced budget, a reduction in war and bailouts, improved job market, end of earmarks, and money put into social support programs like health care, Social Security, food stamps, unemployment insurance, but only into programs that work, not special interest, "faux" programs that are a waste of money. They understand that no real social change can occur when you are in deep financial trouble or following poor budget practices, like the Bush Administration has done. As far as I can see, that is exactly what President-Elect Obama has promised and is trying to move towards, and if he has to use people who can get things done and put pressure on the likes of Pelosi and Reid to tow his policy lines, then he will have to use some people that liberal left will not like.

Give him time and let him get into actual power before we start tearing him apart.
Keep up the negative feedback because Obama does not represent the far-left as being not progressive, you lose the interest of those on the left would push for change from the center-left because they do not wanted to be identified with the far left, anymore than most Republicans want to be identified with the redneck racists of the so-called Republican base.

President-elect Obama understands that he must help as many people in this nation as possible, and if he does not work from the center (sometimes on the right side, sometimes on the left)he will be unable to accomplish anything at a time when this nation needs a strong, center-oriented leader to get things done.

So, Mr. Sirota, with whom I usually agree, go learn who the real progressives are and then hold your comments until you see how things are going when the new president is in a position to actually put his plans into practical application. As someone who spends their time studying policy and politics, as well as economics, I recognize that nothing will get done for the next two months, so wait a while to let him get things into place before you start criticizing his decisions. The rest of us are waiting, and when we can we are already starting to try to make changes, but unless the media understands that far left does not equal progressive any more than center-right equals radical right, your arguments hold no validity and do more harm than good because you take away people's hope and belief that change can occur, and without that you create the same kind of apathy that crippled this nation for the last 30 years. When that happens, sir, we all lose and you will be part of the reason why.

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First off, just because "neo-conservatives" are a new brand of conservatives, it doesn't mean that "neo-liberals" are the same. In fact, neo-conservatives are also neo-liberal. Liberal in this case is not FDR's liberal, but Adam Smith's liberal.
Also, if this blind faith continues, we are going to have another Clinton presidency and that is not good.

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Then why are conservatives soooooo afraid of what he is going to do?

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The posts seem to be off target!

We need Obama to;

1) GROW THE ECONOMY

and

2) KEEP AMERICA SAFE

If a LEFT OR RIGHT policy accomplished this good, use that POLICY.

If Obama can't get the job done and makes the US ECONOMY CRASH and we are ATTACKED he will be retired in 4 YEARS like Jimbo Carter.

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Interestingly, Time Mag today has the opposite analysis of this article: that by picking "symbolic" hawks, Obama frees himself politically to move to the left. Certainly people like Gates and Jones cannot be considered neocons - in fact in today's militarized US, they seem to pass for comparative doves. So I just don't know what to think. The proof will be in the pudding, I suppose.

Personally, I think all other problems - and they are big ones - are dwarfed by the threat of global warming. Although I've been disappointed by some Obama picks, his use of the economic crisis to push green investment (where we Europeans are doing the woeful opposite) is not just clever, it is genius. And though I sometimes saw him back away from environmental policies during the primaries, I don't see him doing so now, and that is really reassuring.

If he can put the US economy on a green basis, he'll be a great president whatever else he does. If he can get the rest of the world to jump on the bandwagon, he'll be more than great.

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A fear reasserts itself strongly at the forefront of my angst. "Same old same old!"

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