Have people actually read Obama's stated political disposition?

[loyalsister]

Obama laid out what kind of senator and what kind of president he would be in his own words in the "Audacity of Hope":
"The rejection of absolutism implicit in our constitutional structure may sometimes make our politics seem unprincipled. But for most of our history, it has encouraged the very process of information gathering, analysis, and argument that allows us to make better if not perfect choices, not only about the means to our ends but also about the ends themselves. Whether we are for or against affirmative action, for or against prayer in schools, we must test out our ideals, vision, and values, against the realities of a common life, so that over time they may be refined, discarded, or replaced by new ideals, sharper visions, deeper values."

Obama is a true believer in the constitutional process. He made no attempt to hide that. He also said that it is not easy or fast. I think some of the confusion here is in what that process is. What he is doing with these negotiations is the opposite of Republicans of the last administration which either signed executive orders or used threats to get it's way. Obama is most certainly a Democrat true to Democratic ideals.

[elleng]

1. Right on!

[KittyWampus]

2. I agree. And I think at times he plays Devil's Advocate to the Left, just to force issues

to their logical or Legal ends.

[loyalsister]

5. I agree

I also think he benefits politically (in terms of courting independents) from taking flack from all sides.

[xchrom]

3. eyes of the beholder.

that's what you see when you read that.

[loyalsister]

4. "The rejection of absolutism"

I referred to Bush as a rigid absolutist many times.

[mmonk]

8. The blank screen we project our views on in his words.

[midnight]

6. The process has been lots of back room deals... However....

there were the few televised discussions of the initial health care discussions, but they were given over to a commission who was assisted in writing health care legislation.... This assistant was a lobbyist for the health care industry.... We know this is true because she signed her name.... Mr. Bacas thought it so great of this one time staffer to give him so much awesome input, that once it was known that she was actually writing the health care legislation,,, He could do nothing , but praise this lobbyist who decided how we private citizen's would access this un affordable insurance.... Now fast forward a year later and come over to Wisconsin.... She was just probably part of the ALEC group... So if one would swirl the ideals of certainty of Democratic ideals.... One would definitely have to keep in mind how many times these back room deals have favored the corporations both American and Foreign... Democratic ideals should never be co-opted by the privatization of the few: Pharma, Insurance, Banking, ect.... True believers of the constitutional process needs to have a full functioning Constitution too, and not a Patriot Act that subverts it's power in the secrecy of the hands of a few.... So give us our Constitution back and then we can revisit Obama's stated political disposition.

[rucky]

7. I k&r this post. n/t

[Angry Dragon]

10. +1000

[loyalsister]

12. Is forcing a constitutional belief constitutional?

Obama's reference was to the process.
I don't like the Patriot Act either, but I don't deny that it was voted on and passed via the Constitutional process.
Yes lobbyists have gained too much power. But their role as being part of the discussion is not unconstitutional. As an unpaid lobbyist I have taken part in similar conversations. We got our way a time or two but usually not (unpaid= non corporate, little money). As a matter of fact, Obama has met with the unpaid disability advocates who were rebuffed by FDR, Bush 2, Clinton, Reagan, Carter.... As a matter of fact, FDR and Carter were particularly unfriendly for political reasons.
The political process has d\evolved into a system that has been severely corrupted by money. I think a lot of us miss the days of "smoking cigars, drinking their whiskey and voting against them" that Sam Rayburn touted.
Believe me, insurance is my enemy. I have a disability and am fully at odds with the insurance industry.
But, I have several friends who own insurance companies and others who work as agents. I have plenty of arguments with them. Like it or not it is an industry that has power not only because of money but because of the employment and service it provides. Everyone needs and uses more than one form. Suppose they were to stop providing fire, flood, disaster, life insurance if they couldn't get in on the healthcare?
The Democratic principles you refer to and those I believe in are counter to the monied interests that benefit. "corporate personhood" is one I disagree with but has been ruled valid.
It would be authoritarian for one person to defy the supreme court and try to do away with it unilaterally.

[Angry Dragon]

9. .................

:popcorn:

[bowens43]

11. Obama's stated positions rarely if ever reflect the positions he actually takes.

nt

[loyalsister]

13. All of his positions are informed by the above

He very clearly states that his personal beliefs are not as important as the democratic process. He is entirely consistent in that position and pursuit of that ideal.
An "anti-authoritarian" president is opposite the government we had during the previous presidency.

[bvar22]

14. I did better than that,

I recorded them.

Restoring America's Honor
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-june-15-2010/respect-my-authoritah

EFCA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMNVIQqatyU

NAFTA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LtbLEKHsi0&NR=1

Cadillac Tax
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8wmN3wvhNM&feature=player_embedded

Support for Organized LABOR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA9KC8SMu3o

Public Option & Mandates
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acc6Wn_BWlk

War in Libya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejvyDn1TPr8



"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone

[loyalsister]

15. Not the red meat for supporters....

I'm talking about his broad political philosophy. Have you read "The Audacity of Hope?"