Kuttner: Talk to elected Democrats on the subject of Obama off the record & you get unprintable rage

[highplainsdem]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-kuttner/looking-for-some-good-new_b_926785.html

-snip-

Through the smog of rhetoric and demagoguery, more and more Americans are coming to correctly blame Republicans for the obstructionism on the budget agreement that helped trigger panic in financial markets. With so many far-right Republicans having picked up House seats in the 2010 midterm, the election of 2012 could be a good year for a Democratic comeback.

-snip-

The only problem is that we have our own albatross in the White House. Barack Obama is not likely to have coattails. And his own strategy for dealing with prolonged stagnation neither motivates voters nor fixes what ails the economy. Oh, and it divides his own party. Talk to elected Democrats on the subject of Obama off the record, and you get unprintable rage.

-snip-

If we are to be saved from wall-to-wall Republican government, or from four more years of Obama-as-Hoover, we will need to make it happen -- with campaigns for progressives for Congress and backing for our president that is not unconditional.

Beyond that strategy lie desperation moves like sitting out the 2008 presidential or even voting Republican in the hope that a progressive Democrat takes it back in 2016, or recruiting a candidate to challenge Obama in a primary. I'm not there yet. But I have to say Obama is doing just about everything he can to depress people who were so excited about him in 2008.

-snip-

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. That's what I thought.

Especially this: But I have to say Obama is doing just about everything he can to depress people who were so excited about him in 2008.

Goddamn it.


Recommended.

[McCamy Taylor]

2. Agree. He has no coattails. He has no coat. He needs to get one fast, or move out of the way

so some other Democrat can run in his place. Unfortunately, Democratic politicians are also afraid that if Obama is not the nominee, Blacks will stay home in November, and that will kill Democrats chances. I think Obama is counting upon that to keep the field clear of primary challengers.

[LuvNewcastle]

6. That's my thinking.

I'd like to see a strong Progressive challenger next year, but I fear what it might do to the party. I do think black voters would stay away from the polls if Obama isn't the nominee and I fear they might stay away for years to come. However much I would like to see Obama replaced, I just don't think there's anyone else on our side who could pull it off. For now it looks like we're stuck, but this is America. A lot of shit can happen here in 15 months.

[jaxx]

3. Such concern from Mr. Kuttner.

Romer has no reason to trash the President....she's the one who said unemployment wouldn't go over 8% and now she's letting him take the flack. Really, these people are giving the professional left a bad name.

[Bluebear]

8. "the professional left" - what a sick phrase

[noiretextatique]

14. why are people so afraid of the left?

was at a friends's house and she started claiming there was no difference between the far right and the far left. i corrected her by stating that the far right is funded by billionaires and has constant access to the media, not so with the far left, professional left, etc, etc, etc. i really don't understand the animosity towards the left on a left-leaning board. :wtf: i guess the left just needs to vote then STFU.

[Bluebear]

19. Especially the "professional left" that the White House holds in such disdain.

[emilyg]

4. k/r

[madrchsod]

5. we can`t carry him...we have to fight in our states.

the lessons from wisconsin are far more important than worrying about obama and the national party.. if they expect to win in 2012 they had better wise the hell up.

[Waiting For Everyman]

15. Exactly.

[Davis_X_Machina]

7. Is that rage...

...on the part of the Ben Nelsons and Claire McCaskills, for whom Obama's too far left for their taste, and political expediency, or the the Sheldon Whitehouses and Sherrod Browns for whom he's too far right.

I expect Kuttner doesn't even talk to the first set.

There are at least twenty to twenty-five Democratic Senators whose political positions and re-election chances are hurt by being associated with the president -- and they're not all progressives

[LooseWilly]

9. In a choice between "wall-to-wall Republican government, or from four more years of Obama-as-Hoover"

... I find myself increasingly considering the merits of the "wall-to-wall Republican government".

After all, even W (with his mere majority in congress) couldn't privatize Social Security financing... but here we have O on the verge of managing to not merely privatize the funding stream but actually cut benefits... not only of Social Security but also of Medicare...

It seems increasingly apparent that, tactically, the Democrats in Congress are far more willing to defend social safety net programs from Republican depredations than from Democratic depredations.

Ergo... if the White House has to domicile someone inclined to cut Social Security & Medicare... better that it be someone Republican than someone Democratic... else the Democrats in Congress won't be willing to defend said programs. Republicans, on the other hand, are highly unlikely to defend such programs... since they can claim victory from cuts to them even if it is a Democrat who signs such cuts into law.

Obviously, having someone domiciled in the White House who doesn't support cuts to Social Security and Medicare would be ideal... but unless someone, like Matt Damon for instance, can successfully primary Obama... a social safety net supporter is not going to be domiciled at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

The damage that the Democratic "brand" faces, should social safety net programs be cut, will make a 2012 primary seem like a walk in the park electorally...

I'm just saying...

[Bluebear]

13. I hear you.

[amborin]

18. agree....

it seems some Dems get more energized and protective of sacred New Deal programs and other crucial and traditional democratic programs and agendas when they see them threatened by a rethug; whereas if a "Dem" is imperiling them, it's suddenly ok with them....

so, if there's any truth to that hypothesis.....

[Scuba]

10. Yep. Feelings seems to range from disappointment to betrayal. No one is happy. n/t

[Peacetrain]

11. When I talk to elected Democrats I am not hearing this.. rage at the right

yes.. their my way or the highway attitudes.. that have gotten nothing but worse since the Bush years.

Has nothing to do with the President.

Makes me go hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Bluebear]

17. You have access to conversIng with elected Democrats? Hmmmmmmmm

[QC]

12. They never really loved him!

:cry:

[yardwork]

16. Stop that. That's not hopeful!