Obama won the election because he ran a disciplined *partisan* campaign.

[phantom power]

He won because he successfully highlighted the huge difference between Democratic principles and Republican principles (or lack of). His electoral appeal had nothing to do with worshiping at the altar of bipartisanship, or reaching across the aisle.

Discuss!

[Critters2]

1. So, you just never listened to his speeches, or what?

He talked about "reaching across the aisle" all the damn time. Beginning with his Iowa victory speech. If you weren't paying attention, you can't blame anyone else.

[phantom power]

10. No, I agree completely that he campaigned on those words. However...

I assert that if you look at how he actually ran his campaign, and responded to Republican offense, that what made him successful was

a) running a tight, disciplined campaign
b) not taking any shit off of the McCain smear machine
c) repeatedly and relentlessly differentiating himself from the past 8 years of Republican failed govt.

None of that was bipartisan. It was party discipline and partisanship.

And it was good! I want more, not less! One of the biggest blunders the Democrats have made is to buy into the idea that partisanship is bad.

[GarbagemanLB]

2. Yeah, Obama never talked about bipartisanship.

:eyes:

[Danger Mouse]

3. Dear lord now we have people making shit up out of whole cloth.

[emulatorloo]

4. He attacked Bush Policies and McCain's continuation of them, not Republicans

He said as much in his interview with Rachel Maddow. He thinks Republicans can have some good ideas. He will need moderate Republicans on board to pass his agenda/

[phantom power]

9. I agree, but he can attract Republican support with good party discipline.

[Joe Chi Minh]

5. It's what politics is about. Its adversarial, not inquisitorial! Otherwise there'd just

be the one party, "looking into things".

What Obama didn't let on, though, was that the moment a Republican stretches out his hand across the aisle, he's going to whip his hand back, and yell, "Ever been had!" And then kick their backsides right outa the door! "The people have spoken. 'Get lost!'"

Just kidding, alas.

[phleshdef]

6. If you are a true, progressive Democrat, its partisan to be bipartisan.

[phantom power]

11. I don't know what that means.

[phleshdef]

13. I believe our party SHOULD be the party most willing to entertain both sides.

And we should never forget that Republicans and Independents are Americans too.

Republicans may not do the same for us, but thats what makes us different from them.

[FrenchieCat]

7. You mean the Obama who refused to attack when we were

ordering that he should in kind and then some? That Obama?

The one that kept talking about Democrats, Republicans and Independents.....?

:shrug:

[phantom power]

12. Yes, that Obama...

You see, I think he is at his most effective when he's not actually being very bipartisan. He's at his most effective when he's fighting the fight. He does it with style, but he's got a fighter in him. It's what won him the election.

Now, I see him making good on his promises of doing the bipartisan thing. We'll see how it works. My prediction, for the record, is that his adversaries are going to return the favor by kneecapping him. However, Obama is smart and reality based. I don't think he'll make many mistakes twice.

[mmonk]

8. Reagan Democrats certainly aren't what got him elected.

[Clio the Leo]

14. Yeah because he was ALWAYS bashing "Republicans" ... wrong....

... he won because he ran a disciplined anit-Bush campaign, all the while appealing to that infamous center-right.

[Thrill]

15. These threads are funny. Obama has done nothing yet that would show whether

he is bipartisan or a staunch partisan since he won the election. Where is this coming from?

[phantom power]

16. He chose to defend Lieberman. That was a move of bipartisanship.

[Thrill]

18. Lieberman causcuses with the Democrats

I don't see that as bipartisan. Thats about keeping someone who votes with the Democrats 90% of time, with them 90% of the time. That has nothing to do with being bipartisan.

Again, all this he's not going to be a Progressive President or will be too center-governed is unfounded. From what we've seen so far.

[spanone]

17. malarkey

[phantom power]

19. gesundheit!

[Renegade08]

20. Yes, he was partisan, but he was partisan in a bi-partisan way.

[BeFree]

21. Unhuh

He won because he stole the election using Diebold electronic vote counters._hehe

But he is popular because he is so smart, and that's a change.

His style and manor are cool beans! I'd buy a pig in a poke from that man!