If you were Obama's campaign manager, what would you have him do? He has one opponent right now; Hillary. Wouldn't you recommend he tailor his message to disenfranchise her supporters in the states where primaries are coming up?
I don't follow the political process as closely as you do, but it seems safe to say (after 16 years of Clinton and Dubya) that whatever is said during this election process is solely to win elections, and does not represent policy once in office.
Once Obama locks in his delegates and secures the party's nomination, criticisms of his policy ideas will be much more valid. But it's irrefutable that a number of voters are fucking sick of the current President, and are looking to move as far away as possible, right or wrong.
This isn't about Obama's campaign, this is about what he believes the role of government is and I think it has always been clear that he thinks like a New Dealer (i.e., large government works to stimulate the economy and mobilize the electorate). If you listen to him, government is the solution to every problem. I think that's a problem.
I don't know what being sick of George Bush has to do with Obama's political beliefs.
On Friday, you accused Obama of evading policy when (let's face it) it's been part and parcel of a tactical move to beat Hillary. Today you summarize him him as a New Dealer, implying he has cemented his position.
There is no question in my mind that today's political climate would never, ever allow changes of the magnitude that FDR made with the New Deal. And you can't possibly think that Obama, made President, would be capable of swindling the public to make such changes.
Disenfranchising was the wrong word. (Dissuading is probably closer). I just like to say disenfranchising. Nevertheless, I'd still be interested in your answer to my original question: if you were running his campaign, what would have him do?
I complained about Obama's lack of specifics because I have always suspected that, if you dig past the silliness about "hope" Obama is really nothing more than an old school Democrat who yearns for New Deal-style government mobilization. So this announcement is no surprise.
And while I agree that you would be unlikely to see policies on the scale of the original New Deal, I think Obama would be able to push the government in that direction at great cost and I don't see the point in electing that.
As I have said before, I like Obama and I want to believe, but I know that behind the excitement and nice speeches is a guy whose view of government is very different from mine. And I also know that messianism has no place in a democracy, which is why I've gone from being cautiously impressed by him to simply annoyed.
I still don't understand the question about what I would do as his campaign manager. I'm not disagreeing with his campaign. I'm disagreeing with his political views. And, frankly, I'm more concerned by him if his campaign manager is the one writing policies.
Believe me, it is frustrating to be so immune to the excitement about him. I'd love to be part of it, but I just don't like what is behind it.
6 comments:
If you were Obama's campaign manager, what would you have him do? He has one opponent right now; Hillary. Wouldn't you recommend he tailor his message to disenfranchise her supporters in the states where primaries are coming up?
I don't follow the political process as closely as you do, but it seems safe to say (after 16 years of Clinton and Dubya) that whatever is said during this election process is solely to win elections, and does not represent policy once in office.
Once Obama locks in his delegates and secures the party's nomination, criticisms of his policy ideas will be much more valid. But it's irrefutable that a number of voters are fucking sick of the current President, and are looking to move as far away as possible, right or wrong.
This isn't about Obama's campaign, this is about what he believes the role of government is and I think it has always been clear that he thinks like a New Dealer (i.e., large government works to stimulate the economy and mobilize the electorate). If you listen to him, government is the solution to every problem. I think that's a problem.
I don't know what being sick of George Bush has to do with Obama's political beliefs.
BTW, what do you mean by disenfranchising Hillary's supporters? Whose voting rights is he trying to deny? I don't follow that part.
On Friday, you accused Obama of evading policy when (let's face it) it's been part and parcel of a tactical move to beat Hillary. Today you summarize him him as a New Dealer, implying he has cemented his position.
There is no question in my mind that today's political climate would never, ever allow changes of the magnitude that FDR made with the New Deal. And you can't possibly think that Obama, made President, would be capable of swindling the public to make such changes.
Disenfranchising was the wrong word. (Dissuading is probably closer). I just like to say disenfranchising. Nevertheless, I'd still be interested in your answer to my original question: if you were running his campaign, what would have him do?
So, like is it now the Old Deal, or the New New Deal?
I complained about Obama's lack of specifics because I have always suspected that, if you dig past the silliness about "hope" Obama is really nothing more than an old school Democrat who yearns for New Deal-style government mobilization. So this announcement is no surprise.
And while I agree that you would be unlikely to see policies on the scale of the original New Deal, I think Obama would be able to push the government in that direction at great cost and I don't see the point in electing that.
As I have said before, I like Obama and I want to believe, but I know that behind the excitement and nice speeches is a guy whose view of government is very different from mine. And I also know that messianism has no place in a democracy, which is why I've gone from being cautiously impressed by him to simply annoyed.
I still don't understand the question about what I would do as his campaign manager. I'm not disagreeing with his campaign. I'm disagreeing with his political views. And, frankly, I'm more concerned by him if his campaign manager is the one writing policies.
Believe me, it is frustrating to be so immune to the excitement about him. I'd love to be part of it, but I just don't like what is behind it.
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