General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: On keeping our powder dry (Republican SCOTUS nominations) [View all]DanTex
(20,709 posts)I agree, we need liberal and tough. But at this point, I think tough is more important than liberal.
Take health care for example. Let's face it, we weren't getting single payer. We could have had a public option. But Obama was already liberal enough for that. He just wasn't tough enough (or savvy enough) to outmaneuver the Republicans.
Talking about "fighting for the 99%" is a little abstract. On concrete policies, in most cases, Obama is already pushing for things that are further left than what can possibly get through the Republican congress. Minimum wage, tax policy, stimulus and infrastructure spending, etc. Yes, there are some examples you might bring up -- free trade, net neutrality, hawkish foreign policy, for example.
I'm not as anti-free-trade as most DUers, but even leaving that aside, in terms of fighting for the 99%, if Obama was actually able to get half of what he has proposed through congress, it would dwarf whatever complaints you and others have with his policies in these other areas.