Are you more progressive than Obama?

[Wetzelbill]

Poll question: Are you more progressive than Obama?

Or liberal. Whatever term you prefer.

[jillan]

1. Yes, but I am not as smart as he is.

I think Obama is brilliant and I think of him as a master chess player always contemplating his next move, always staying ahead of his opponent.

[Wetzelbill]

2. isn't that the truth

lol

[jillan]

3. Yeah - you wouldn't see President Obama sitting on DU all nite

:)

[Wetzelbill]

4. haha

Or creating weak ass polls.

[Uzybone]

19. +1

[anigbrowl]

33. +2 for true honesty

[liberalpragmatist]

5. Maybe, but you never know how progressive someone actually is

For all we know, Obama may be much more liberal personally than he lets on. Political leaders face all sorts of constraints on their ability to get things done. I know people denigrate politicians acting as "politicians," but even the best-intentioned pols have to pick their battles and work within the system.

In my experience, speaking off-the-record or candidly with even local politicians, you often find they're a lot closer to my own way of thinking than they admit publicly.

[stillcool]

6. I don't know..

but I do know about "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need"..and.. there's more than one way to bake a chocolate cake.

[Two Americas]

9. not to mention...

Not to mention that a stitch in time saves nine, and that the early bird gets the worm. A lot of people here are overlooking those.

[stillcool]

10. I know I do...especially the early bird thing..

[Two Americas]

11. those worms

Those worms are going to get way if we aren't careful - no prosecutions, no regulations, no fines, no returned loot, no pensions for the UAW retirees - but the worms will still have their yachts and private jets and luxury homes.

[stillcool]

13. Too bad people put all their eggs..

in one basket, isn't it? Don't bother to use all the tools in the box. And don't forget..haste makes waste!

[Two Americas]

15. all that glitters is not gold

And sleep with the dogs and you may get fleas.

And putting a "D" behind Specter's name is like trying to add enough food to a plate of shit in the hope that it may eventually be edible.

OK, OK, I made that last one up lol.


...

[stillcool]

16. I'm all out...

no...wait..slow and steady wins the race. As far as Specter goes...I've got nothing..no wait..every sweet has its sour, every evil its good.

[yardwork]

30. The worm may turn.

[Two Americas]

7. that goes without saying

"Progressive" is really a meaningless term, so I am answering as though you had asked if we were more left wing then Obama.

Of course we are. That goes without saying, and is no criticism of Obama. All politicians are always more conservative then the general public, for all practical purposes - it is the nature of the job. They cannot get into power without the help of the wealthy and powerful.

The question is whether or not they respond to pressure from the Left. The good one welcome the pressure and respond to it. They cannot very well do that if we are not applying any pressure, through a misguided notions about "loyalty" and "support," can they?

This nonsense of saying that a politician "is" progressive enough, as progressive as we can ever hope for, so we need to refrain from applying pressure, can only backfire and it short-circuits and sabotages representative democracy.

All politicians are conservative. They will only ever be as progressive as we force them to be.


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[Bankhead_ATL]

8. how dare you ask that question...........and

[Jennicut]

12. Who has love for Ray J.? But seriously...

I think I am close to Obama's ideology, maybe more progressive on a few issues. I think Obama is a "pragmatic liberal" imo as Gergen described him tonight.

[ecstatic]

14. I think Obama is actually far left but he can't govern that way

He knows history and incorporates history/reality into his governing style.

[Two Americas]

18. doesn't work that way

Politics is not religion, nor a personal identity, and has nothing to do with what a person "is." It is about what a person says and does. There is no such thing as "being" far left, and yet not governing that way.

"History" means doing things the way they have been done because they have been done that way, in this context. "Reality" means caution and triangulating.

Governing is not much about "style," though I fear that is how many now see it.

Obama could govern from the far left is two conditions were met. First, that there is public pressure to do so, and this notion that he "is" far left but is cleverly governing with a different style discourages attempts at building public pressure - that is the function and practical purpose of that argument. Secondly, he would need the courage to take on the big money interests and entrenched power.


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[Occam Bandage]

17. Personally? I have no idea.

Were this a monarchy or a dictatorship, would I prefer his policies be more liberal? Yes.

[Forkboy]

20. Probably, but I don't see that as me being better than him.

Just different, though not by a lot. I agree with him far more often than not.

Lord knows he's smarter than I am (not much of a challenge there, naturally). :crazy:

[AtomicKitten]

21. On what issue? I'm afraid broad brush labeling is grossly insufficient to make that judgment. n/t

[Wetzelbill]

23. don't think, just vote

:)

[AtomicKitten]

24. otay!

[Wetzelbill]

25. glad it worked

It didn't work did it. :)

[prolesunited]

22. I think so, but I knew that going in.

Although the GOP decries him as a socialist, I would like a real socialist at the helm.

[uponit7771]

26. I would like to have just a touch of his wisdom, stead perspective and ability to communicate though

[TheKentuckian]

27. I'm more liberal but about equally progressive

we're both incrementalists.

[Lilith Velkor]

28. I am to the left of Obama, same as most DUers

Unlike most DUers, I'm to the left of Castro as well.

[depakid]

29. In terms of financial, economic and trade policies- Obama's team is well to the right of center

about where Clinton was- Rockefeller Republican.

Eventually, that's going to come back to bite.

[mvd]

31. Yes, but I also have a pragmatic streak like he does

Even if that streak isn't as amplified.

[polichick]

32. imo Obama is as liberal as I am on many issues, but pragmatic about getting to the goal.

[Posteritatis]

34. Somewhat, but I'm mostly fine with it

I wouldn't want me to govern. ;)