Dan Froomkin: "A Turning Point for Obama"

[WilliamPitt]

A Turning Point for Obama
By Dan Froomkin
The Huffington Post

Thursday September 10 2009

President Obama showed the nation who he is and what he believes in last night.

His speech to a joint session of Congress wasn't the partisan declaration of war that many of his fellow Democrats had been yearning for, but it was nevertheless a bold and confident declaration of basic principles, and a powerful and emotional attempt to recapture the public debate from the unhinged zealots who dominated it during August.

What is now more obvious than ever is that Obama is not a traditional liberal. Yes, he shares a lot of liberal values -- and he expressed that more clearly and passionately last night than perhaps ever before -- but when push comes to shove, he cares more about finding common ground than pretty much anything else. Despite all the calls to issue an ultimatum about the public option -- which seems absolutely critical to achieving fundamental change -- Obama simply will not draw lines in the sand. He still wants to get as many people into the tent as possible.

The speech did mark a turning point, however. The president we saw last night was not the high-minded pushover we'd seen so much of lately. He was inspirational, forceful -- presidential. The ending of his speech was one for the ages:

We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it. I still believe we can act even when it's hard. I still believe we can replace acrimony with civility, and gridlock with progress. I still believe we can do great things, and that here and now we will meet history's test. Because that is who we are. That is our calling. That is our character.

The rest: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/10/a-turning-point-for-obama_n_282029.html

[n2doc]

1. Ok, cue the Froomkin haters

Oh, that's right, they only come out when he writes something critical of Obama.

[WilliamPitt]

3. Read the whole article

Froomkin slaps the President around pretty hard in this.

[n2doc]

5. yep. And on the right points as well

Reading DU last night it was clear there is still a huge amount of confusion on what Obama really wants. The last comment in the article really sticks out:

There is still the distinct possibility that what will emerge from Obama's common ground will be a bill that allows health costs to continue to skyrocket, that forces people to buy terribly overpriced insurance they can't afford, that leaves insurance companies essentially unaccountable, and that ultimately serves as a massive subsidy to the insurance and pharmaceutical industries, with the bill going to our grandchildren.

If, and really don't think he is dumb enough to do this, but if Obama signs such a bill into law, he will kill the Democratic party.

[Vincardog]

2. he cares more about finding common ground than pretty much anything else

When you dance with the devil the devil does not pay.

[liberal N proud]

4. "We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it."

That quote could be Obama's moment

[zipplewrath]

6. We can do great things

But it will take great leadership. Obama wants to be a community organizer. If he wants to achieve great things he needs to move beyond that role to the role of leader. Chasing votes from Blue Dogs isn't going to achieve great things. Leading the Blue Dogs to greatness is how it will be done. He needs to lead, not manage. Perfecting mediocrity isn't achieving great things.