High Liberal Hopes Threaten to Crash Down on Obama
By Doug Heye, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
"Frustrated Liberal Lawmaker Balances Beliefs and Politics," reads the headline of a New York Times story from over the weekend.
The profile of Oregon Democratic Congressman Earl Blumenauer, penned by Times ' s Congressional ace Carl Hulse, highlights the increasing uneasiness many on the left are experiencing with the Obama administration. It's not quite disillusionment, but it could be getting there.
Blumenauer, who, as Hulse notes, is "known for his bowties, his Trek bicycle, and a pragmatic brand of progressivism," was an early and enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama. He endorsed the then-senator in January 2008 and actively campaigned on Obama's behalf.
In the piece, Blumenauer describes the first months of the Obama administration as a "hard landing." For liberals like Blumenauer, much of the change they believed in has yet to happen. Democrats control the White House and large majorities in the House and Senate and yet wars rage in Iraq and Afghanistan, the "Don't Ask/Don't Tell" policy is still in place, Gitmo remains open for business, and, particularly hard for the left, the president continues to dance around committing to a healthcare "public option."
During the presidential transition and following Obama's inauguration, many Republicans warned of the administration overreaching and trying to do too much (with good reason, did anyone reasonably expect the government to have an ownership stake in General Motors?). There also existed the distinct possibility that many in the left—the truest of the true believers—would be disappointed and feel Obama was actually under-reaching. With hopes higher than the Frank Sinatra hit song, a letdown was probably inevitable.
Blumenauer remains optimistic. But much of Obama's liberal base wants to see results instead of lofty rhetoric, which could be a problem for the administration in the weeks and months ahead.
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Reader Comments
Rachel Maddow
I believe she is a man , and the surgery didn't "take" well.
Note the prominent Adam's apple . She is an admitted lesbian , although in my book gender and relationship choices have no bearing on any individual's worthiness as humans.
My problem is that she and Olbermann are lionized as courageous iconoclasts , while Limbaugh, Hannity,etc. are excorciated as dangerous partisans.
Six of one, half dozen of the other as I see it ; just opposite viewpoints.
Imagine if Bush /Cheney had treated MSNBC akin to Obama's descent to name-calling childishness.
Wishful daydreams of the lunitic fringe
Considering that only 20% of Americans identify themselves as Republicans now, its almost comic to continue the smug dribble that conservatives call anything they don't like liberal. God dang Americans just want liberal things like jobs, affordable healthcare, and someone to crack down on the crooks on Wall Street. Next thing you know they will want to do away with the corporate socialism that's ripping Americans blind.
But No, lets continue to defend the scum who squandered our economy and pretend that they offer any solutions to the problems we Americans inherited from the Bush Cheney eight year debacle.
So it makes it all the more gratifying to see the Democrats successfully pass some healthcare reform, considering an overwhelming number of Americans want it. Its even more gratifying to infuriate the dwindling conservatives who can't admit they have nothing to offer and have failed us.
Rachel Mandow is the poster child for liberalism
she is also the poster child for everything i don't want my daughter to be. Why does she try so hard to be a man? Mandow/Olberman/Gibson/Couric are all going to cause Obama to fail because they worship the guy instead of reporting on him. America has figured out the cute little relationship that the media has with team obama and Fox's ratings prove this, unfortunately these clowns haven't got it yet.
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