General Discussion

bvar22

(39,909 posts)

61. That depends on your perspective.

Sat Dec 17, 2011, 04:27 PM

Dec 2011

To a "Reagan Democrat", Obama would certainly appear to be a bit more "Progressive" on Social Issues,

but an FDR/LBJ Working Class Democrat would have to look WAY to The Right to even see President Obama.

I mean, Come ON!

*Cutting Government Spending during a Recession?

*Lobbying from the Bully Pulpit for a cut in FICA Contributions?

*Austerity for the Working Class?

*MORE Anti-LABOR Free Trade?

*Privatizing the Public Schools and busting the Teachers Union?

*Mandated Customers and Mandated PROFITS for a "private" Corporation?

*Protecting Wall Street Criminals and their "Bonuses"?

Progressive?
...not to this old FDR/LBJ DEMOCRAT!

You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.
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Obama IS progressive, and he will most likely be re-elected. Welcome to reality. [View all] RBInMaine Dec 2011 OP

agreed, obama is a progressive BOG PERSON Dec 2011 #1

Indeed. People fail to understand how hard progress is. TheWraith Dec 2011 #18

Exactly! Sometimes progress is measured one inch at a time. FarLeftFist Dec 2011 #39

25 years, AND a war. (nt) reACTIONary Dec 2011 #132

tiny increments aren't real progress. Ken Burch Dec 2011 #199

I believe that if the president had the votes to have socialized medicine Kahuna Dec 2011 #222

And there have been progressives in American politics for over 100 years. eom tledford Dec 2011 #247

Using that logic, Republicans are "progressive" too. jtrockville Dec 2011 #2

But we would call him 'regressive' because a ban on gay marriage is the reverse of progress. MH1 Dec 2011 #6

Then just "getting stuff done" can't be considered progress. jtrockville Dec 2011 #16

Post removed Post removed Dec 2011 #19

Maybe you could try disagreeing with somebody without always questioning their grasp of reality. themadstork Dec 2011 #36

That's a good suggestion themadstork. jtrockville Dec 2011 #59

If that makes me a purist I will be painted with that brush and be proud. Vincardog Dec 2011 #22

Ending DADT wasn't progressive? MH1 Dec 2011 #24

Sure some of his accomplishments were (IMO) progressive. jtrockville Dec 2011 #54

GetEqual & Lt. Dan Choi PRESSURE helped! FunMe Dec 2011 #161

Only he didn't actually end DADT Cherchez la Femme Dec 2011 #236

read this post... fascisthunter Dec 2011 #271

You just destroyed the OP. Nicely done. Zhade Dec 2011 #60

You are dead on right. Here's why. FedUp_Queer Dec 2011 #122

Really. AlbertCat Dec 2011 #184

+1 Sherman A1 Dec 2011 #194

This message was self-deleted by its author Sherman A1 Dec 2011 #195

+1 n/t wakemewhenitsover Dec 2011 #205

A ban on gay marriage is the current state of things Bluenorthwest Dec 2011 #49

Right. Maybe that wasn't such a good example. jtrockville Dec 2011 #69

Really...you see Republicans moving forward? Sheepshank Dec 2011 #100

It's not an "all or nothing" assessment. jtrockville Dec 2011 #129

Let me see if I've got this straight..... Plucketeer Dec 2011 #170

So you are selling the meme that Republicans are progressive? Got it! n/t Sheepshank Dec 2011 #254

Of course that is logic. Progress is not synonymus with Liberal. That's stupid. vaberella Dec 2011 #265

Well, I hope you're right about the reelected part. Denninmi Dec 2011 #3

Yep, thats what I think we will see lots of as well. n/t teddy51 Dec 2011 #9

Conservative: the root of the word means to conserve Angry Dragon Dec 2011 #4

I agree. This business about vetoing something because it does not go far enough would delay progre treestar Dec 2011 #5

Some things need a veto because they go too far TheKentuckian Dec 2011 #105

If they are in such a losing battle, why is it they end up ahead after each contest? quakerboy Dec 2011 #187

That's not reality choie Dec 2011 #7

At least someone is in touch with reality.. kentuck Dec 2011 #14

Hello! Le Taz Hot Dec 2011 #15

+1000000 MissDeeds Dec 2011 #99

Things have gotten progressivly worse for the 99% MannyGoldstein Dec 2011 #8

Please define "Wall St. reform" KeepItReal Dec 2011 #10

You write that as if those are bad things MannyGoldstein Dec 2011 #23

You're right. It's all good. Nothing to see here. KeepItReal Dec 2011 #123

The 2010 Dodd-Frank Bill is the main thing, and it changes quite a bit: bhikkhu Dec 2011 #33

If they have a next go-around with it, they need to add in anti-trust provisions. Selatius Dec 2011 #186

Here's a little graphic that cheers me up: bhikkhu Dec 2011 #188

I wouldn't call market capitalization the same as market share. Selatius Dec 2011 #189

Wow - that's one I hadn't seen bhikkhu Dec 2011 #226

The key is to give him Turbineguy Dec 2011 #11

that worked out so great in 2009! stockholmer Dec 2011 #25

President Obama needs a fillibuster proof majority. bluestate10 Dec 2011 #75

Sadly I disagree. THE challenge for progressives is to change the system in our country. stillwaiting Dec 2011 #106

Who is not tired of hearing that crap? FedUp_Queer Dec 2011 #124

That Congress was filibuster proof for only about 60 days if I recall correctly. boxman15 Dec 2011 #178

Agreed. A filibuster proof and real majority of progressive democrats. Old and In the Way Dec 2011 #63

HAHA!!! What a joke!! harmonicon Dec 2011 #89

Great legislation from Pelosi house. The a handfull of blue dogs and Lieberman screwed everything emulatorloo Dec 2011 #97

Oh, BS. They were looking for excuses to cave. harmonicon Dec 2011 #201

You are mistaken. You are thinking of the old movies. emulatorloo Dec 2011 #211

I know, that was my point - this is how it now "works". harmonicon Dec 2011 #221

Pelosi did pull her weight. She passed the Public Option in the House bill, but... Selatius Dec 2011 #185

Well then, as I was saying... harmonicon Dec 2011 #202

You have a basic misunderstanding of how the Senate works emulatorloo Dec 2011 #217

1++++ Dems keep forgetting that about Pelosi and Public Option Health Care patrice Dec 2011 #228

Guess I'm a purist because my opinion is not exactly the same. mmonk Dec 2011 #12

Isn't this post rather . . . self-gratifying? TomClash Dec 2011 #13

Well, gosh, anyone who has reservations about the President's policies is just a big poopyhead, Missy Vixen Dec 2011 #17

Stop rooting for the GOP to win. They have to cheer on their Corporate candidate Vincardog Dec 2011 #20

Your second sentence: Poll_Blind Dec 2011 #28

Nearly 600 recs in favor of OWS... Zhade Dec 2011 #62

Hate to break it to you, OWS support is pretty broad among all DU members emulatorloo Dec 2011 #101

Why would that bother me? Zhade Dec 2011 #114

Funny, I support both the President and the message of OWS... jefferson_dem Dec 2011 #138

Because people can and do support both Democrats and OWS emulatorloo Dec 2011 #147

For some reason, this is a foreign concept for a few people here Number23 Dec 2011 #150

It seems to me that many DU posters worldviews do not acknowledge that Republicans exist emulatorloo Dec 2011 #154

Have you spent any time boots-on-the-ground or virtual with any Occupy? patrice Dec 2011 #230

If Obama is so pro-OWS, then why doesn't he do something about the rampant Downtown Hound Dec 2011 #243

Please tell me EXACTLY what you would have the President of the US do about the police brutality Number23 Dec 2011 #244

First, go on TV and condemn it Downtown Hound Dec 2011 #245

So it's all about the yawn-worthy "bully pulpit." I see Number23 Dec 2011 #246

Well, I did mention Yeltsin getting on top of the tank didn't I? Downtown Hound Dec 2011 #255

You had a list of very specific demands you wanted the president to do Number23 Dec 2011 #256

Post removed Post removed Dec 2011 #261

LOL Your argument was weak to begin with Number23 Dec 2011 #264

Regardless Of What Happens In 2012... I Will Say This... ChiciB1 Dec 2011 #117

No, no, no... DUTYhead, not poopyhead. Geez. FedUp_Queer Dec 2011 #125

Tom, just watch one of the Repuke debates and you will be coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #86

President Bachmann, Willard or Newt? Pssst... jefferson_dem Dec 2011 #139

OMG, I havs serious issues with Obama's governance as anyone who spends any time on this board coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #143

Which is why, though I do not support the president RoccoR5955 Dec 2011 #204

Well-put. You've captured my rationale and my sentiments re Obama and OWS coalition_unwilling Dec 2011 #209

There have been many of these i_sometimes Dec 2011 #112

Pot kettle. Is your post a THREAT to anyone who speaks their mind? Now we're supposed to shut up? patrice Dec 2011 #229

progress is a 19th century myth that was punctured by the first decades of the 20th BOG PERSON Dec 2011 #21

Wow, someone who agrees with me. harmonicon Dec 2011 #90

In my experience, people who call themselves progressives generally don't believe in imprisoning Downtown Hound Dec 2011 #26

By the end of WWII, FDR had 400,000 people in indefinite military detention bhikkhu Dec 2011 #40

And most people have acknowledged that that was an atrocity Downtown Hound Dec 2011 #46

No - those were German and Italian and Japanese prisoners of war bhikkhu Dec 2011 #64

Your link doesnt work Downtown Hound Dec 2011 #65

Ending torture is a campaign promise kept bhikkhu Dec 2011 #68

And how do you end a war on a tactic (terror)? Downtown Hound Dec 2011 #70

The two named goups that the detention policy applies to are Al-qaeda and the Taliban bhikkhu Dec 2011 #77

I love how you say, "arguing over the definitons of words gets us nowhere" Downtown Hound Dec 2011 #79

Well, as long as OWS isn't an "associated force" with Al-qaeda or the Taliban then bhikkhu Dec 2011 #85

"and it's only made to mean something else by twisting and stretching and reinterpreting the words Downtown Hound Dec 2011 #96

As far as torture - if anyone knows specifically what part of the bill is referred to bhikkhu Dec 2011 #78

Semantic games. The war is with al Qaeda. Bin Laden was not a tactic. emulatorloo Dec 2011 #148

If the war is only with Al Queda, then why did we invade Iraq? Downtown Hound Dec 2011 #156

Ask Bush and Frank Luntz emulatorloo Dec 2011 #165

Wait, do you mean to say that unscrupulous politicians can hijack something Downtown Hound Dec 2011 #193

You're putting words in my mouth emulatorloo Dec 2011 #210

Don't take too long, the constitution needs your help. n/t Downtown Hound Dec 2011 #240

Um, yes, people generally see the act of indefinitely detaining anyone without a trial as bad fascisthunter Dec 2011 #272

The point was - that's done in every war bhikkhu Dec 2011 #273

no, post makes this reply moot fascisthunter Dec 2011 #274

But they were all(or pretty much all)treated as prisoners as war, Ken Burch Dec 2011 #198

Obama is not progressive. Rid your head of this inaccurate notion DisgustipatedinCA Dec 2011 #27

Get a dictionary and review the meaning of "progress". Then find your local planetl. RBInMaine Dec 2011 #32

I am pretty sure that both myself and the first poster are well aware of the truedelphi Dec 2011 #113

My, my, RB, you have a nasty streak. You must hate the prefessional left. MrTriumph Dec 2011 #220

Well, under his administration we have seen "progress" on virtually all the issues... jefferson_dem Dec 2011 #140

Excellent post. Peregrine Took Dec 2011 #232

What a charming, condescending post. nt Union Scribe Dec 2011 #29

I suppose you prefer the incessant Obama-bashing posts? That's ok, but not posts which challenge RBInMaine Dec 2011 #37

Again, what a charmer. I hope you don't talk to the voters like that. Union Scribe Dec 2011 #45

Maine has two Republican Senators Bluenorthwest Dec 2011 #51

then i guess he is talking to people in real life....too bad for our side SwampG8r Dec 2011 #162

This reality you speak of was created by Fox News and Rush Limbaugh. Zorra Dec 2011 #30

I associate the label prgressive with a specific platform, themadstork Dec 2011 #31

And tell me just how you are going to get your purist platform PASSED into law????? RBInMaine Dec 2011 #38

I said it was a platform. themadstork Dec 2011 #48

Man, the Obama-uber-alles folks seem really angry. Zhade Dec 2011 #66

they expected a purge here on du3 and are unhappy not to get it SwampG8r Dec 2011 #163

I think that may be in part true. erodriguez Dec 2011 #275

In the real world, a progressive would not choose Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary jpgray Dec 2011 #34

It's like you're saying you can't be "progressive" if you disagree with a SINGLE thing considered RBInMaine Dec 2011 #42

Actually, that is not what I'm saying. What is progressive about Geithner? jpgray Dec 2011 #47

What could Geithner do that is outside the law? treestar Dec 2011 #92

In what ways do you believe Timothy Geithner is "ultra liberal"??? Or was your reply a NONANSWER bettyellen Dec 2011 #216

Please check out FDR's first two picks. pnorman Dec 2011 #72

Progress is my definition of Progressive too lunatica Dec 2011 #35

I think the appropriate question to ask is ... frazzled Dec 2011 #41

THANKS ! I have made the very same points. THANK YOU ! RBInMaine Dec 2011 #44

One thing I can say about John McCain is that the man definitely does NOT endorse torture. erodriguez Dec 2011 #276

k&r... spanone Dec 2011 #43

I will disagree with you on one thing Hutzpa Dec 2011 #50

LOL! At best this president governs from the center right of the political spectrum. MadHound Dec 2011 #52

If you put him next to the clown circus sarcasmo Dec 2011 #53

And "Better than a Clown" will even fit on a bumper sticker! Perfect. canoeist52 Dec 2011 #203

What you said jpak Dec 2011 #55

In a poltiical cultrue where Fox News is agenda setting media - Obama is relatively progressive Douglas Carpenter Dec 2011 #56

I've often made this point....... socialist_n_TN Dec 2011 #135

Reelected? Most likely. Progressive? HA! Zhade Dec 2011 #57

Probably the best we can do again. Not much of a progressive, really. Bluenorthwest Dec 2011 #58

That depends on your perspective. bvar22 Dec 2011 #61

From this guy's perspective, he's a progressive progressoid Dec 2011 #76

I agree. bvar22 Dec 2011 #84

what I don't get is, ANY system that benefits the top 10% MOST is a FAILED SYSTEM StarsInHerHair Dec 2011 #155

If you want to change this country don't start from the top and work down LynneSin Dec 2011 #67

*GASP* A long term thinker! boxman15 Dec 2011 #180

He may be "progressive" but he's no liberal. SomethingFishy Dec 2011 #71

YOU!. Aren't the type that would move to a better country, if only you could afford a plane bluestate10 Dec 2011 #73

Yep, just like Bernie Sanders or Paul Wellstone or Cornell West or Noam Chomsky or ... progressoid Dec 2011 #74

Progressive?? Not in any sense of the word AnOhioan Dec 2011 #80

Defining a political platform by the literal definition of the root word is blatantly dishonest. Edweird Dec 2011 #81

Progress does not exist in a capitalistic system. nt Modern_Matthew Dec 2011 #82

We've come to this? jimlup Dec 2011 #83

what a change of pace hfojvt Dec 2011 #87

I'm so glad he is where he's at. MjolnirTime Dec 2011 #88

Newt Gingrich calls himself a "Progressive Conservative" Aerows Dec 2011 #91

If you truly think Obama is a "progressive" then I suggest the reality that needs to be adjusted quinnox Dec 2011 #93

Because it couldn't possibly be that you, for example, are wrong? Yes? Dewey Finn Dec 2011 #116

Read some of the other posts quinnox Dec 2011 #119

I agree with your last point, certainly. Dewey Finn Dec 2011 #120

Which reminds me. Puglover Dec 2011 #94

I would offer that the OP is silly and only persuasive to simpletons and the weak minded Vinnie From Indy Dec 2011 #95

Nice characteriszation of a large diverse crowd you know nothing about.... Sheepshank Dec 2011 #107

no really he is right SwampG8r Dec 2011 #168

ok i gotta say duzy here SwampG8r Dec 2011 #167

Thanks elleng Dec 2011 #98

OH NOES! hootinholler Dec 2011 #102

The word "progressive" has been cheapened Under Dog Dec 2011 #103

Kick and rec proud patriot Dec 2011 #104

Obama is a center right moderate. Warren Stupidity Dec 2011 #108

agree...of course i`m old enough to remember when madrchsod Dec 2011 #118

When I researched his voting record during the primary, seemed to me he was slightly left of center emulatorloo Dec 2011 #152

Left of center? Under Dog Dec 2011 #171

If we can call Obama a progressive based on the root word progress, then lets apply other root words Bjorn Against Dec 2011 #109

Obama will most likely be re-elected, but he is NOT progressive. Laelth Dec 2011 #110

Bernie Sanders is a progressive AmericaIsGreat Dec 2011 #111

Obama Has A (D) Beside His Name... ChiciB1 Dec 2011 #121

I had my doubts, but since YOU think so SaintPete Dec 2011 #115

Bravo! Thank you! Aristus Dec 2011 #126

He is in no way a progressive - maybe his speeches are, but his actions are not slay Dec 2011 #127

Your opinion is not reality. Sorry. blackspade Dec 2011 #128

Yep! Scurrilous Dec 2011 #130

Good post jaysunb Dec 2011 #131

+1 ellisonz Dec 2011 #192

This post is why I am worried about the current "Left" ! DaDeacon Dec 2011 #133

Partial List of Progressive Achievements by The Obama Administration Tx4obama Dec 2011 #134

Good post. jefferson_dem Dec 2011 #136

Yep. Yup. Spot on. Right on. Damn straight ... 66 dmhlt Dec 2011 #137

Obama is a right of center fraud and humbug arendt Dec 2011 #141

Stopped reading after #1 BklnDem75 Dec 2011 #190

Yeah, the facts are a bother to delusional people. n/t arendt Dec 2011 #213

Nah... BklnDem75 Dec 2011 #253

shit, i was just hoping for someone who believes in global warming and got certainot Dec 2011 #142

REALITY is that he is that he is 100% better than the alternative Douglas Carpenter Dec 2011 #144

no. Obama is a Moderate. PatrynXX Dec 2011 #145

why do you say that like it's a bad thing? StarsInHerHair Dec 2011 #146

He will be reelected but I won't call him a progressive. Burgman Dec 2011 #149

Post removed Post removed Dec 2011 #151

I agree that we'll discover one or the other is true caseymoz Dec 2011 #153

Face it: Obama is the best we are going to get Taverner Dec 2011 #157

Talking to people like that isn't helpful Ken Burch Dec 2011 #172

But that's the way it is. I'm all for an honest assesment. Taverner Dec 2011 #179

+1 n/t Politicub Dec 2011 #158

We need to form "The Progressive Party".... Hulk Dec 2011 #159

Your title line seems to advocate a 3rd party, but on reading your post see a point. We already have pinto Dec 2011 #166

Denial FunMe Dec 2011 #160

War is peace. Up is down. Incarceration is Freedom. Obama is progressive. nt bertman Dec 2011 #164

Bumper stickers don't make policy. Being involved in the process does, as well as we can. pinto Dec 2011 #169

Why do you think it's a good idea to sneer at people you disagree with in your OP? Ken Burch Dec 2011 #173

+1 n/t New7up Dec 2011 #176

I think those "fixated with silencing dissent" are the ruin of this party. They are too proud to bettyellen Dec 2011 #235

No, he's not a progressive. JoeyT Dec 2011 #174

+1 k&r phasma ex machina Dec 2011 #175

I do not doubt that he is a progressive bluestateguy Dec 2011 #177

For some of the PL, President Obama will never be progressive enough BlueCaliDem Dec 2011 #181

Yes, he managed to get Mitt Romney and Bob Dole's health care plan enacted at a Fed. Level, although Warren DeMontague Dec 2011 #182

He will most likely be re-elected, but I beg to differ that he is a progressive... MrMickeysMom Dec 2011 #183

History will consider Obama to be a progressive. scheming daemons Dec 2011 #191

+1 great white snark Dec 2011 #241

Yes, Obama is a progressive, scubadude Dec 2011 #196

Been saying that for a while. Rex Dec 2011 #197

Nobody here deserved the contemptuous tone of that OP. Ken Burch Dec 2011 #200

Love the post as is so true & on top of those things I truly believe & wonder how bad it would have EV_Ares Dec 2011 #206

You're half right. RUMMYisFROSTED Dec 2011 #207

Well then, Hanks Dec 2011 #208

Don't worry about it raouldukelives Dec 2011 #212

he's progressive my ass... he's to the right of Ronald Reagan fascisthunter Dec 2011 #214

LOL n/t Scurrilous Dec 2011 #219

Yep, that's fine tavalon Dec 2011 #215

you use the inocorrect sense of the word Progressive only to belittle the more liberal posters here. bettyellen Dec 2011 #218

It's just another divisive post. Ho hum. Vinca Dec 2011 #223

Uh, yeah, Dj13Francis Dec 2011 #224

The Problem is that those of us who are paying attention KNOW... bvar22 Dec 2011 #225

A true progressive never bargains away the greatest gems before the fight even begins, sorry, he's a mother earth Dec 2011 #227

a lot of those gems were already bargained away when Americans decided it was okay for certainot Dec 2011 #237

and OPs like this want to squash any response from the left.... bettyellen Dec 2011 #239

IMO it is impossible to evaluate obama as long as the 'left' ignores talk radio certainot Dec 2011 #242

Come on, we've had our share of talk radio hosts, and perhaps it does not match hate radio, but it mother earth Dec 2011 #250

the left ignores the radio and lets it kick their ass, and then they blame their reps and plays certainot Dec 2011 #257

I think, more often than not, people know better, and actually choose to be ignorant or believe the mother earth Dec 2011 #258

i just want to point out a couple of factors. certainot Dec 2011 #260

If not Limbaugh, someone else, there's a market for it, our media has been bought and mother earth Dec 2011 #262

i agree the hatred and ignorance is a main motivator, but that's always been there. misinforming and certainot Dec 2011 #269

I do agree their attacks need to be addressed by those being attacked, in no uncertain terms, hit mother earth Dec 2011 #270

i never would have thought a silver spooned nat guard deserter would be president. your confidence certainot Dec 2011 #231

1++++++++++ Rejecting KERRY (for god's sake!!) was a CLEAR hallmark of their pathologies. patrice Dec 2011 #233

to me the swiftboating of kerry and the selling of bush so he was even close was one of many example certainot Dec 2011 #238

TPTB own the media, you are probably right. We are prepared early on. We are told what to expect. mother earth Dec 2011 #251

You are right, we really exercise amnesia on the "sanctity" of our vote, let's not forget the Gore mother earth Dec 2011 #234

Obama is no progressive, THAT'S reality. But you are correct NorthCarolina Dec 2011 #248

Yes he is boomerbust Dec 2011 #249

No and yes, respectively. Donald Ian Rankin Dec 2011 #252

Great post but it won't stop the JNelson6563 Dec 2011 #259

He probably will be re-elected (so were nixon, reagan and bush) but he is NOT progressive bowens43 Dec 2011 #263

obama is not a progressive nor very liberal on fiscal issues. he may well be re-elected (i hope) La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2011 #266

This message was self-deleted by its author shanti Dec 2011 #267

As others have said, a progressive he is not deutsey Dec 2011 #268

Not a progressive. ozone_man Dec 2011 #277