I worry that Mr. Obama is still wrapped up in his dream of transcending partisanship, while his aides dislike the idea of having to deal with strong, independent voices. And the end result of this game-playing is an administration that seems determined to alienate its friends. ...Paul Krugman, NYT
It many ways, of course, it doesn't really matter what impels a good candidate to become an unresponsive, wrong-headed president. When we're up against a really bad alternative, it's important to keep him in business and turn him around.
It's gotten hard to fight for him. But here are the stakes:
- Health care legislation which is far from perfect but which is too beneficial to allow Republicans "sabotage its implementation."
- Safeguarding and extending financial oversight
Obama picked a lousy set of economic advisers -- Clinton's guys, left over from the gilded age that put us in the mess we're in now. Will he show the slightest sliver of recognition of those who voted for him and nominate Elizabeth Warren to take charge of the new agency and stare down the threatened filibuster?
Bill Clinton, said to be dealing with the psychological damage of growing up in an alcoholic family, spent his presidency testing the limits of others' tolerance. Barack Obama, without the same excuse, seems inclined to tease, test, and often blow off those who believe in and support him. Wherever that comes from, it's doing as much or more damage to his country as Bill Clinton did. Just remember, though, that all the disappointments we've had to put up with from Clinton and Obama are nothing compared to what the opposition has cost America from Richard Nixon onward.
Just to be clear, progressives would be foolish to sit out this election: Mr. Obama may not be the politician of their dreams, but his enemies are definitely the stuff of their nightmares. But Mr. Obama has a responsibility, too. He can’t expect strong support from people his administration keeps ignoring and insulting.
As Paul Krugman says, the Obama administration seems determined to alienate us, but we'd be stupid to stay home in November.
I'd rather we take the brat in the White House in hand and makes sure he works with us, not against us.
