President Obama is going to prove a lot of people wrong

[ProSense]

Robert Reich: The Big Economic Story, and Why Obama Isn’t Telling It

<...>

Obama’s advisors explain the President’s moves are designed to “preempt” the resurgent Republicans – just like Bill Clinton preempted the Gingrich crowd by announcing “the era of big government is over” and then tacking right.

They’re wrong. By telling story A and burying story B, the President legitimizes everything the right has been saying. He doesn’t preempt them; he fuels them. He gives them more grounds for voting against raising the debt ceiling in a few weeks. He strengthens their argument against additional spending for extended unemployment benefits. He legitimizes their argument against additional stimulus spending.

Bill Clinton had a rapidly expanding economy to fall back on, so his appeasement of Republicans didn’t legitimize the Republican world view. Obama doesn’t have that luxury. The American public is still hurting and they want to know why.

Unless the President and Democrats explain why the economy still stinks for most Americans and offer a plan to fix it, the Republican explanation and solution – it’s big government’s fault, and all we need do is shrink it – will prevail.

That will mean more hardship for tens of millions of Americans. It will make it harder to remedy the bad economy. And it will set Republicans up for bigger wins in the future.

Bill Clinton proved he had nothing to lose by "announcing 'the era of big government is over'” and then tacking right."

Still, President Obama doesn't have to be Clinton. This President can mouth bipartisanship and stand his ground. He doesn't have to move with the GOP. Fortunately for President Obama, despite Reich's claim, has a wealth of actions he can take that do not require GOP support. Some of these actions were set up by the legislative achievements of the first two years. For example, health care reform will continue to pay dividends. Today, the Fed released thousands of documents as a result of a Wall Street reform mandate.

Also today, the President took one of the many unilateral actions available to him by announcing a drilling ban.

It's almost certain that the outrage over the failed deficit commission has undercut the GOP's case.

Republicans will no doubt spend the next two years mucking up the workings of Congress, but the President can go about the business of governing. He can do it without the GOP if they choose not to participate.

During this lame-duck period, the Democrats have the majority and do have an opportunity to get a few more wins before the GOP takes over the House.

[cyr330]

1. I certainly hope he proves me wrong.

I really don't want to see him fail, but I frankly don't have a lot of hope.

[hlthe2b]

3. I sure hope he starts proving us all wrong...

before we are all living under freeway overpasses and laying traps for squirrels for dinner. :shrug:

[YOY]

2. Closing in on triple-plus good!

n/t

[HCE SuiGeneris]

18. Hallelujah!

I can't wait for my rations to be decreased!

[YOY]

45. Your sacrifice to our troops in Eurasia is vital!

n.t.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. If things don't improve we are going to be talking about president romney

two years from now.

God help us.

[xchrom]

6. We already have Romney Care.

It depends on what he does and how it's backed up
As something other than better president palin.

[thunder rising]

9. Tell me what the difference would be. Or even would have been.

[Autumn]

5. From your mouth to Gods ear, I really

hope and pray he does. If he doesn't we are screwed beyond measure.

[thunder rising]

7. That was for Clintons SECOND term ... we're trying to survive Obama's first.

[gateley]

8. I just wish Obama would have a talk with Reich, at least to get another

viewpoint than he's getting from his economic advisors. They're all in that bubble - it's easy to become detached. Reich gets it.

[katandmoon]

10. Oh he did that when he had an anti-gay bigot bless his inauguration.

[ProSense]

11. It's December 2010

FYI

[katandmoon]

17. So you only have two more years to go.

[Smashcut]

24. That's right. It's all in the past, like war crimes.

We need to move forward.

[CakeGrrl]

28. What do you want to do about the Inauguration - prosecute Obama for that?

Inauguration IS over. What do you do but move on from IT? The equivalency to war crimes is false.

[Smashcut]

43. Well it's a good thing the Administration has done nothing since then

to make us doubt their commitment to LGBT rights.

[EFerrari]

29. Right. And instead of Obama, Rick Warren hosted George Bush and his book

See how it works?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9669327

[Jackpine Radical]

12. I sure hope you're right.

I've got dinner ready for one of us



and a libation for both of us, no matter which way it goes.



And I fervently hope I'm the one who ends up eating the crow!

[leftynyc]

30. I'd love eating some crow

and will do so gladly if the President proves me wrong. I'll wash mine down with some tequilla.

[Jackpine Radical]

38. Jose Cuervo, I trust.

[leftynyc]

40. Eating that crow would make me

so happy, I'd have to go with the Silver Patron. It's yummy.

[Jackpine Radical]

41. I was attempting to continue with the crow jokes.

Cuervo=crow.

[leftynyc]

42. Ooops - my apologies (n/t)

[Jackpine Radical]

46. Sometimes my stuff gets pretty obscure.

[MannyGoldstein]

13. Good points, thanks!

Tomorrow I'll try to cheer up some people who are getting their unemployment cut off by telling them that we're winning. Heck, I'll even buy them a cuppa joe so they'll have something hot for the day.

[ProSense]

14. There is so much

wrong with this country:

Scott Brown Single-Handedly Blocks An Extension Of Unemployment Benefits

2 million face bleak holidays after Scott Brown blocks jobless benefits

Every bit of progress being made is against ridiculous odds.

[MannyGoldstein]

15. But it's good to know that we're winning

Thank you.

[Clio the Leo]

16. makes sense to me. nt

[dflprincess]

19. And if you put the ruby slippers on & click your heels together while saying that 3 times

it will come true.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

26. ...

[COLGATE4]

27. K&R

[MindandSoul]

20. I hope you're right! I'm afraid I have my doubts now!

[girl gone mad]

21. He has already proven me wrong.

I thought he would at least be a halfway decent President, and told all of my friends and family as much.

[ProSense]

22. "I thought he would at least be a halfway decent President" I know

after Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, expectations were running high.

[ibegurpard]

23. I agree

But I suspect it won't be the people you have in mind...

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Raine]

31. I would love to be wrong about Obama

my fear is that I'm not. :yoiks:

[old mark]

32. He has already proved me wrong - I voted for him....nt

[flpoljunkie]

33. Reich is right. President Obama must lead or the Republicans will prevail.

Unless the President and Democrats explain why the economy still stinks for most Americans and offer a plan to fix it, the Republican explanation and solution – it’s big government’s fault, and all we need do is shrink it – will prevail. - Robert Reich

[ProSense]

35. Reich is right

on one point, but I don't agree that simply talking about bipartisanship is going to be a problem. Actions are going to speak louder than words.

[polichick]

34. He has already proven a boatload of voters wrong. nt

[ProSense]

36. When

Clinton and Reagan were in the high 30s in terms of overall approval, there was disappointment among voters. They bounced back.

[polichick]

37. Sure, in this two party system (some say one party) choices are few. nt

[paulk]

39. they bounced back because the economy bounced back

unless Obama begins heeding the advice of people like Reich, I don't see that happening for him.

[ProSense]

44. Yes, but this was the worst crisis in nearly 75 years and

there are signs of economic improvement. Time will tell.

[Jackpine Radical]

47. Indeed, time will tell.

I don't think we're coming out of this one as long as we stay the present course. We have huge structural problems.