In These Times: Do-It-Yourself Governance

[marmar]

Features » April 3, 2009

Do-It-Yourself Governance
Without new social movements, there will be no new New Deal.

By Elizabeth Sanders


When Barack Obama began to run for his party’s nomination two years ago, he could not have seen himself as the next Franklin Roosevelt, the founder of a new Democratic “regime” (to use Yale political science professor Stephen Skowronek’s term). More likely, Obama anticipated that, should he ultimately win the presidency, he would be what Skowronek labels a “pre-emptive” president, one who manages to be elected when his party does not dominate political philosophy or policy expectations, or have a sure place in the voters’ hearts.

Recall that despite George W. Bush’s dismal approval ratings, Obama and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) were running neck and neck in the polls from mid-August through early September. Without the financial crisis, Obama may not have been assured electoral victory, much less a definitive Democratic sweep.

If Obama perceived his presidency as a Clintonian “pre-emption”—another round of triangulating that meant accepting the essential premises of the Reagan Revolution, assumed to still be strong despite the previous administration’s abject failures—that would explain the ambiguity of his campaign appeals to “hope” and “change,” minus a clear repudiation of Republicanism.

Obama seemed intent on reassuring the public that he was not a liberal Democrat, not a partisan of Rooseveltian regulation, taxation and big government. Even after his electoral victory, the reassurance game continued. The transition team and designated economic advisers represented a spectrum from former Clinton officials rightward. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/4321/do-it-yourself_governance

[ixion]

1. "represented a spectrum from former Clinton officials rightward"

and since Clinton was Right-lite, we had a center-right/right government, then a right/hard right during chimpy, and now back to a right-lite/right.

And people wonder why we're still headed towards the cliff. :eyes:

[Democracyinkind]

4. That wasa pretty smart statement. Totally agree.

[midnight]

2. Change has to come from how we view the haves and have nots.

It is still popular to feed the rich, and turn a blind eye to the poor. Our ecomomic system is set up to feed the rich, and ignore the poor. The middle class limps along or else. I don't understand why liberal bailouts continue if the status is to not be liberal?

[Demeter]

3. It Was the Absurdity of the GOP Campaign, Topped by Sarah Palin

that won the election for Democrats. Obama has got to get out of his accommodating mode and into an FDR mindset if he wants a second term, or we are all doomed to 15 years of the Bush-Reagan Greater Depression.