The liberal angst about Obama seems profoundly misplaced to me. Liberals should care about one thing and one thing only: Re-electing Obama. If he gets re-elected, it means Obamacare is probably never repealed. Since health care is an enormous driver of the federal budget and huge portion of the economy, keeping Obamacare in place will give the left an important foothold on the commanding heights of the debate over the size and influence of the government. With Obama as president, it’s likely that the current fight over whether government is 24 percent of GDP or 18 percent of GDP settles toward the former. What liberals don’t seem to realize is that 2009 was a historic year for them–to be able to spend and regulate so much in a basically center-right country was extraordinary. Now, all their energy should be devoted to protecting the legacy of ‘09. Fortunately, their unreasonableness may get the best of them. Katrina vanden Heuvel writes in the Washington Post that Obama basically must be the Lincoln and FDR of anti-conservatism. I fear, though, that as debates over House Republican spending cuts and over the repeal of Obamacare take hold next year, liberals will bond again with Obama as better than the alternative.
"I fear, though, that as debates over House Republican spending cuts and over the repeal of Obamacare take hold next year, liberals will bond again with Obama as better than the alternative."
The Republican alternative? Whoa, don't go too far out on a limb there.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLiberal-democrats always complain and are at each other's throats -- until election day. So Mr. Lowry's pessimism, a welcome change from his usual tone, is well-founded and welcome. The Obama coalition remain formidable and the ability of the Republicans to run inept campaigns is never to be underestimated. And if the ghastly Romney, the most likely republican nominee, wins then Obamacare stays regardless.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBy the time 2012 rolls around, the liberal wing will absolutely fall in line behind Obama, for three main reasons:
1) Many Liberals have absorbed the nanny-state authoritarian mindset and won't abandon a leader (esp. an African-American one).
2) 2000 taught them what happens when they do go rogue.
3) While most conservative partisans are motivated to vote by their ideological principles, most liberal partisans are motivated to vote by their hatred of conservative people. Note that I'm not saying liberal partisans have no ideological principles... just that their principles aren't what gets them to the polls. It's ~hating us~ that brings them out in droves.
I think it's safe to say the liberal base will be motivated and dedicated, almost exclusively dedicated, to destroying the GOP nominee scorched-earth style. Positive argument will be practically nonexistent from the left, and they won't care what happens as long as they take the Republican challenger down. Obama will only need to make token gestures toward them to get the hate boiling over - he can spend the rest of his time wooing the independents, safe in the knowledge that his base will believe he's lying to everyone else.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSorry Rich, but your article provides little, if any, value.
Liberals may be pitching a hissy fit about the tax compromise with republicans, but we all know these same people will rally 'round Obama as the 2012 election nears.
The truth is the liberal voting block is of little consequence and the big question remains which direction conservative democrats and independents go in 2012--those voting blocks will determine the next president.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt's a high wire act that Obama has to pull off. Clinton managed to move to the center while convincing the Left base that he and only he stood between them and the Dark Lord Newt Gingrich. The problem is that Obama is not Clinton in terms of political deftness and Boehner is not Gingrich in terms of his lack of discipline. We'll not see Boehner complaining about his seats on Air Force One.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRich, I think you are right on this. I expect ultimately that the Democrats will fall in line behind Obama, if for any reason than to avoid admitting they were wrong. I have friends who still defend voting for Jimmy Carter.
However, I think that this unbroken support from the Left will be Obama's ultimate undoing, as the bulk of the country will be clamoring for a different kind of change. Obama will have to tack Left for fund-raising, which will scare the electorate into understanding that Obama really hasn't learned anything.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseObama delenda est
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt's interesting to note that a quick scan of the lefty blogs (Kos, FDL, etc.) doesn't seem to reveal a whole lot of liberal rage and calls for a primary against Obama. I think we still have to wait for communiques fro the various liberal outside groups (CAP, Unions, MoveOn.org, etc), but I'm not seeing (or hearing) any liberal heads explode. I was shocked to see Paul Krugman's blog basically take a resigned tone and glass half full acceptance of the framework.
There's still a lot of fireworks that can happen on the legislative side of this, but that is all smoke and no fire.
As I said in a previous post, Charles Krauthammer hit the point home - this is a short-term, tactical victory for the GOP and a long-term benefit for Obama in 2012. If he can cut a few more deals with the GOP on deficit reduction and debt without going through a nasty government shutdown crisis (although that could benefit him as well), he'll be poised to reclaim some, SOME, of the independents that shellacked him in 2010.
Obama knows full well that there are no serious challengers to his left and that the Left will simply roll over and take it because, as Rich points out so astutely, they are going to slowly realize that they care WAY MORE about protecting their 2009 gains then about making an ideological stand...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhy would any liberal be angry with Obama or the Democrats. They have succeeded in their goal. To weaken America's ability to exert its power and influence they have weakened us fiscally. Knowing that Republicans/conservatives would respond in the manner they did...they have succeeded in getting the Defense budget cut while keeping entitlements in place (and you have to include adding universal health care now). The goal was to spend so much that Republicans and conservatives would be forced to cut defense and other actual federal government responsibilities that give the US its strength and power. It has worked magnificently.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse@panic said: "Obama delenda est" - I love it!
But what the left really cares about is power, getting it and keeping it. If Obama is wounded enough that they see he can't possibly win, they'll turn on him. If not, they'll stick with him. For those with short memories, see Bob Torricelli.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuseto SJLonSg.
Just because 1/2 the country does not agree with the conservative approach to governance does not mean they are 'trying to destroy America' -- that's just foolish.
Let's keep it civil -- this kind of talk helps no one, even though Limbaugh thinks it is true.
to spool32.
'While most conservative partisans are motivated to vote by their ideological principles, most liberal partisans are motivated to vote by their hatred of conservative people.'
Some idiots on the left say equally nonsensical things. Don't sound like them.
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