"Obama has governed as a conservative. So, the question for progressives is, “What do we do now?”

[bvar22]

338. I've never bought into that "Weak President" nonsense,

...because I've been around long enough to know better.
I have SEEN what the Power of the White House and The4 Leader of the Democratic Party can do,
especially WHEN the White House has a popular MANDATE for CHANGE,
AND and Army Standing in the Streets.

[font size=5]Obama's Army, Jan. 21, 2009[/font]

[font size=5]"Oh, What could have been."[/font]


President Obama could have called on his ARMY to make things "uncomfortable in Connecticut".
He didn't.
Instead, he chose to pamper & Pander to Lieberman.

As head of the Democratic Party, President Obama could have targeted funding for every single program in Connecticut,
and GONE there himself to make SURE Connecticut knew WHY.
Obama is not shy about going to the home state of a Progressive and insult him in public for not supporting his agenda.
Why so gentle on the Blue Dogs?...
..even to the point of CAMPAIGNING for them in Democratic Primaries 2010, and throwing party support & funds behind the same assholes that you blame for derailing Health Care.

Other President have successfully used this power.
Read Up on "The Johnson Treatment".
http://thejohnsonpost.blogspot.com/2009/08/johnson-treatment.html

"Johnson was the catalyst, the cajoler in chief. History records him as the nation's greatest legislative politician. In a great piece on the Daily Beast website, LBJ aide Tom Johnson, writes about how his old boss would have gotten a health care reform bill through the current congress. It's worth reading to understand the full impact of the "Johnson treatment" and how effective LBJ could be in winning votes for his legislation."

http://thejohnsonpost.blogspot.com/2009/08/johnson-treatment.html

"Strong and successful presidents (meaning those who get what they want - whether that happens to be good for the country or not) do not accept "the best deal on the table". They take out their carpentry tools and the build the goddam piece of furniture themselves. Strong and successful presidents do not get dictated to by the political environment. They reshape the environment into one that is conducive to their political aspirations."

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/07/17

The more logical explanation is that Lieberman took one for Team DLC.
He had nothing to lose,
and was well rewarded by the Dem Leadership for playing his assigned role of Judas in the Kabuki Theater.

People addicted to professional sports can spot when a player has been bought off.
They just don't play with the same intensity, skill, and passion.
Those who were watching KNOW that Obama NEVER really fought for the Public Option.



You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.
[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]