General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Right-wing obstruction could have been fought: An ineffective and gutless presidency’s legacy [View all]joshcryer
(62,536 posts)Policy proposals that do not recognize that we are a capitalist society are not practical, they are just naive, head in the sand approaches. They make for excellent sound bytes, but they don't do anything remotely resembling the political realities in Washington.
Obama never ran as an anti-corporatist, and in fact, his bi-partisan message meant that he would embrace them. It sucks, he surrounded himself with the other side, Geithner, Summers and Rahm Emanuel. The article linked in the OP bashes Obama for putting SS (and Medicare) on the table, a campaign promise. The dude was not an anti-corporatist.
Ironically, his own cabinet fought him tooth and nail on many issues. Summers even went so far as to say "there's no adult in charge" in the White House.
I think in the end this means we won't ever elect a junior senator who talks a big game but who has no real leadership experience.
If you want to elect someone it better be someone who knows how to wheel and deal and be partisan as all get out. And of course, you must accept that we live in a capitalist society.