If you want to pass "liberal" legislation, it's just smart to be perceived as governing from the

[cali]

mythical middle. If you're president in this poisoned atmosphere in D.C., being perceived as someone in the "reasonable" center, is just about the smartest thing you can do if you want to shift the tax burden back to the rich, pass health care reform and end the war in Iraq. And those are the top three for President-Elect Obama- along with restoring the shattered economy. Assembling a team of rivals makes a shitload of sense in that context.

[populistdriven]

1. finally an OP that fucking gets it! k&r

[cali]

5. thanks. get ready for the howls from those who don't get it

when Obama makes some cabinet appointments.

[Demit]

2. I hope that's the game plan. I'll give Pelosi some slack here.

Establish in everyone's minds (read, the village pundits) that of course we're not going to overreach! then proceed with the agenda that, after all, voters pre-approved by voting for the Democrats in the first place.

For the last two years my secret hope has been that the Dems' dismal performance was because of some behind-the-scenes, boot-on-the-neck pressure by the Bush Crime Family Syndicate. I hope they haven't forgotten how to be Democrats.

[cali]

3. I don't have much faith in Pelosi or Reid, for that matter, but

I have quite a bit of faith in President Obama's political smarts.

[City Lights]

4. Agreed, and recommended. nt

[tekisui]

6. Now is our chance to move the "center" left and bring the country with us.

[cali]

8. exactly. And it's clear that Obama knows this, and has a plan to

accomplish it.

[H2O Man]

7. Yes.

I agree.

[Coexist]

9. yup

the man got Repulblicans to agree with death penalty reform. I have faith.

[cali]

10. good point.

I'm hoping most DUers will give him a chance and not erupt in freaked outness at every appointment.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

11. Ingo-bay. We're Entrists-cay. But don't tell the Epublicans-ray!! Loose lips sink ships! nt.

[ananda]

12. Consider this on Emanuel.

Emanuel could be a real stinker in Congress...
but as chief of staff, he could be held
close and in control.

That's what I'm hoping anyway.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

13. K&R

[smiley_glad_hands]

14. Shhhhh! This isn't suppose to get out. eom

[tomp]

15. placing himself in the center means...

...he cannot attack the criminals of the right from the last eight years. that's CRIMINALS. this is the perfect object lesson on the role of the democratic party. do you really think the main lesson of the last eight years is that it is better to have a dem as president? good god, that is just insane! what we saw was not only rampant criminality from the right , but concession after concession from the "CENTER". the left was barely audible, due to collusion from right and center.

the naivete of du is staggering.

[cali]

17. What part of Moving the center to the left, do you find so difficult to grasp

gad, I loath ignorance and stupidity. try again.

[tomp]

18. but he's not, ignoramus...

...he's not. you assert it, but it's not true. you just like his speeches.

[cali]

20. um no, youj wittle einstein.

I don't "just like his speeches". And sorry, dearie, it takes time to shift the paradigm. Of course he hasn't done that yet. duh.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

16. absolutley....we get it

[tigervalentine]

19. Thanks for saying it.

you're right. and governing from the center can change the country and start to bring us together.