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81. the 2008 campaign had a disproportionate emphasis on the primary season

Thu Jan 15, 2015, 01:33 PM

Jan 2015

it is true that his rhetoric at that time was more aimed toward a democratic audience, as is normal for primary campaigning. but he always sounded to me like someone who offered progressives great rhetoric while avoiding making any promises that would alienate conservatives and businesses. his campaigning in the general and actions once in office confirmed this.

overall i'm not at all displeased with obama because i'm a pragmatist, albeit very much to the left of obama. i think the reality of washington and the msm is that we liberals couldn't have hoped for much more in only 6 years so far. i remain gobsmacked at the speed of progress on the gay rights front. it took a long time to get into this mess and it will take a long time to get out of it. hopefully, the 2016 senate map and demographic changes will continue a gradual shift back to reason overall.

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Can YOU Stand Another 4 To 8 Years Of A Progressive Sounding Democrat... Governing... [View all] WillyT Jan 2015 OP

What I could not stand is a Conservative Sounding republian governing like a Far-Right Radical. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #1

And As Your Base Turns Its Back, Little By Little Over Time, How Do You See A Winning Future ??? WillyT Jan 2015 #2

My base? I am not a politician. I do not have a base. I am a liberal. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #8

Lliberals did vote for 'any Democrat' over the past several decades. We still got War and Torture sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #11

Had people voted and kept the Senate in Democratic hands, those 13 Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #19

No they wouldn't have. We watched Dems in the majority do exactly the same thing. Then they sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #22

There are none so blind as those who will not see. Scuba Jan 2015 #35

Anyway, don't forget to vote D in 2016! Desert805 Jan 2015 #128

There is a big difference in having the Senate "in Democratic hands" and rhett o rick Jan 2015 #142

No liberal would vote for H. Clinton for any reason. Liberals don't play that game. rhett o rick Jan 2015 #12

That is a mighty broad brush you use to paint all liberals. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #18

Wow! NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #20

Electing DINOs will NEVER get "greater financial equality" Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #37

Exactly. ladyVet Jan 2015 #41

Agreed, free fall or slow motion fall Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #45

Wow! benz380 Jan 2015 #53

You are wrong because a majority in the House and Senate is required to pass a bill. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #59

Ok, we're pointed in the same direction Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #64

This tabbycat31 Jan 2015 #102

People are upset that change doesn't happen fast enough. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #104

The problem is that things are changing in the wrong direction. rhett o rick Jan 2015 #143

After selling out Democrats in 2002, how can you even think she has integrity? rhett o rick Jan 2015 #91

Clearly, Warren doesn't agree with you since in April of 2014 she said "Hillary is terrific." Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #114

Of course Sen Warren would treat H. Clinton with respect. I wouldn't have it any rhett o rick Jan 2015 #119

I don't need to since I think your point is completely wrong. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #126

I get the approach. You want to reduce Clinton's betrayal to a "difference of opinion". rhett o rick Jan 2015 #133

I never felt that the act of disagreeing with me was betraying me. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #134

We counted on elected Democrats to moderate the crazy Bush/Cheney, etc. rhett o rick Jan 2015 #141

Applause tabbycat31 Jan 2015 #98

Elizabeth Warren litreally 'went with the Republicans' for most of her life, from Nixon through Bush Bluenorthwest Jan 2015 #54

Warren has changed. Her economic message is spot on, and she is an effective liberal in the Senate Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #68

Indeed, a point too often overlooked. 2naSalit Jan 2015 #83

We also need to udnerstand that until mid 90's, things were different in the parties. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #85

Agreed. 2naSalit Jan 2015 #87

People can and do change...cough.. Hillary says she has changed, OLDMADAM Jan 2015 #127

We should examine her policy statement and compare them to other candidates Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #129

I have my problems with Hillary, but if she wins the primary.. OLDMADAM Jan 2015 #136

I have problems with Hillary. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #137

I hope you are not implying I am slinging outrageous incrimination's at anyone.. OLDMADAM Jan 2015 #138

No, you have made no such incrminiations. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #139

Don't you ever get tired of lying about Elizabeth Warren? Jim Lane Jan 2015 #86

H. Clinton betrayed the DEmocratic Party in 2002. She made speeches promoting the rhett o rick Jan 2015 #93

82 of 208 Democratic congressmen voted for the Iraq War Resolution and 29 of 50 Senators. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #96

Every Democrat that bowed before Bush betrayed the Democratic Party, the American people and rhett o rick Jan 2015 #121

Democrats never, never, never kept us out of war. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #122

So what's your point? We don't try to elect Democrats that will oppose Republicans? rhett o rick Jan 2015 #123

My point is that we elect Democrats because only they will pass bills Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #125

We don't know that she voted for Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Reagan, Bush Sr. and Bush Sr. StevieM Jan 2015 #146

I just dont want a Woman dying from a botched abortion in 2017 randys1 Jan 2015 #101

Then we must, must, must elect Democrats. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #131

exactly La Lioness Priyanka Jan 2015 #72

"It matters which party is in power." FiveGoodMen Jan 2015 #111

+ 1,000,000,000... What You Said !!! WillyT Jan 2015 #112

Are you shitting me? Old and In the Way Jan 2015 #130

In the Universe I live in there is no Republican who I can vote for. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #132

It's true that the GOP has ousted anyone remotely human FiveGoodMen Jan 2015 #147

Our system of government requires compromise to work. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #150

Nope (nt) bigwillq Jan 2015 #3

I don't want another Republican President ever in my life time.. yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #4

I agree the post was terse. I get frustrated with those that seem happy with the status quo. rhett o rick Jan 2015 #13

For someone who considers himself Jeff Rosenzweig Jan 2015 #14

It is just a big game of "I'm more liberal than you" for some folks. n/t FSogol Jan 2015 #65

+1 zappaman Jan 2015 #76

Yes, it's all that really matters. NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #17

Obama was not great on the rights of gays/lesbians. F4lconF16 Jan 2015 #92

The POTUS cannot "legalize" gay marriage. NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #95

Oh, please. F4lconF16 Jan 2015 #106

Believe what you want to believe. NanceGreggs Jan 2015 #116

Whatever position he had in 2008 Proud Liberal Dem Jan 2015 #118

So um, you would have chosen yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #23

Of course not, and I apologize for being rude. Over half the school children in this country rhett o rick Jan 2015 #148

I totally agree with you.. yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #151

I totally know what you meant. I over reacted with my first post because I have a huge chip rhett o rick Jan 2015 #154

"He has such a nice smile and that's all that really matters." joshcryer Jan 2015 #27

Meow Bobbie Jo Jan 2015 #38

This post should be beneath you mythology Jan 2015 #48

Condescending bullshit HERVEPA Jan 2015 #55

Did that poster say anything about Obama's smile? MineralMan Jan 2015 #73

I'd like to say this reply is beneath you zappaman Jan 2015 #77

Well said. emulatorloo Jan 2015 #109

"Terse"? Jeff Rosenzweig Jan 2015 #135

If you have something to say, why don't you come right out and say it, instead of rhett o rick Jan 2015 #144

It's not surprising Jeff Rosenzweig Jan 2015 #145

Absolutely not. CaliforniaPeggy Jan 2015 #5

Loud And Proud, Peg... Loud And Proud... Make Noise... Withhold Funding... Tell Everybody You Know WillyT Jan 2015 #6

Probably the Best We Can Hope For AndyTiedye Jan 2015 #7

Yes, because I know what the likely alternative is. Warren DeMontague Jan 2015 #9

Bingo, baby! Behind the Aegis Jan 2015 #26

I don't know what we cannot have our own party. Jamastiene Jan 2015 #10

political parties are not religions or some private club , the party is whoever is in it JI7 Jan 2015 #15

and where's the republican equivalent? how come there are no left wing moles in the pubbie ND-Dem Jan 2015 #24

There is overlap. joshcryer Jan 2015 #30

The Democratic Party is really three parties. joshcryer Jan 2015 #29

Third way wasinvented to push right wing republite policies inside the "democratic" party peacebird Jan 2015 #31

Third Way "glosses" over economics. joshcryer Jan 2015 #32

It used to make sense. It doesn't anymore. jeff47 Jan 2015 #58

The Democratic map is unchanged. joshcryer Jan 2015 #60

Which map? jeff47 Jan 2015 #62

Third-way Democrats are not Keynesian, they're Reaganites. immoderate Jan 2015 #113

All you have to do is persuade fellow Democrats to ignore the people you don't like, in primaries muriel_volestrangler Jan 2015 #36

If there are no consequences for "betraying" the base... Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #39

facts please whatthehey Jan 2015 #42

The answer is no elected Democrats voted with the Republicans more than with the Democrats mythology Jan 2015 #49

The overall picture needs to examine the money trail Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #66

The choice we all have to make is whether to belong to a small party in which all members agree with pampango Jan 2015 #70

May I ask about your involvement on the local level? tabbycat31 Jan 2015 #105

Sounds good to me but marions ghost Jan 2015 #140

The 4 to 8 years after Obama leaves office, I predict, will be very boring. Ykcutnek Jan 2015 #16

Sorry, I can't answer the question you asked without asking MiniMe Jan 2015 #21

Damn it Jim I'm a liberal olddots Jan 2015 #25

You can't make progress without Congress. joshcryer Jan 2015 #28

he literally had a majority for 49 fucking days Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #44

You do realize that the party raised more money than before right? mythology Jan 2015 #50

Does it shoots holes through my theory? Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #52

The constant doom and gloom emails HappyMe Jan 2015 #80

Ridiculous. joshcryer Jan 2015 #51

Where was the emphatic push by the Democratic Party to VOTE? Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #56

"liberals" shit on candidates. joshcryer Jan 2015 #61

What? Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #63

Psst... It's ALL The Liberal's Fault... WillyT Jan 2015 #74

Thanks for the translation ;~) Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #75

Not even knowing that Court appointments woud be in the hands of... JHB Jan 2015 #33

Better than a Republican! aikoaiko Jan 2015 #34

bullshit push-poll false assumption fail. derp. whatthehey Jan 2015 #40

I wouldn't know...I haven't experienced one yet. brooklynite Jan 2015 #43

I don't think the talk about chained CPI sounded progressive. NCTraveler Jan 2015 #46

I'm expecting 4 to 8 more years of whining. JoePhilly Jan 2015 #47

I think it's already begun. n/t Denzil_DC Jan 2015 #115

I'm Happy That ALL Is Well In Your World... WillyT Jan 2015 #124

another? give me two examples. unblock Jan 2015 #57

Obama did not campaign as a center-right pragmatist Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #79

the 2008 campaign had a disproportionate emphasis on the primary season unblock Jan 2015 #81

He was my first choice as soon as he announced Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #82

The only alternative is a Teapublican Administration. riqster Jan 2015 #67

A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right. Paine Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2015 #69

Yes rock Jan 2015 #71

until progressives manage to get a majority of Dem primary voters agreeing with you bigtree Jan 2015 #78

the TEEVE GNEWZ still is in LOVE w/ ronny ray gun + tinkledown + will not ALLOW amerika to change. pansypoo53219 Jan 2015 #84

More than I could stand a far right Republican governing a far right Congress, pnwmom Jan 2015 #88

"The only unbearable thing is that nothing is unbearable." Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2015 #89

The solution is not to vote for center-right conservatives, Maedhros Jan 2015 #90

I'm not answering your poll, because what I can stand or not LiberalAndProud Jan 2015 #94

I shall remember to fart in the wind before I vote. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #97

Think of me in my desolate polling place as you let 'er rip. LiberalAndProud Jan 2015 #99

Oh I will, I will. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2015 #103

Stop voting and supporting them just becasue they have a D after their name ChosenUnWisely Jan 2015 #100

If you're referring to Hillary, KamaAina Jan 2015 #107

It beats the alternative of a right wing Republican Warpy Jan 2015 #108

It's going to be an ugly 20 months. MineralMan Jan 2015 #110

That's the only option. That's it. Same reason conservatives complain their Presidents are RINO Recursion Jan 2015 #117

No, I prefer a Tea Party president BainsBane Jan 2015 #120

The nation cannot afford it. woo me with science Jan 2015 #149

That's What I'm Thinking... Now, Or Never... WillyT Jan 2015 #152

better than repub governing Liberal_in_LA Jan 2015 #153