"Obama’s Move To The Left Is The Beginning Of A Nightmare For Republicans"

[pampango]

Obama has moved to the left, and taken very public positions on climate change and net neutrality. The president took these steps not only to boost the morale of his party, but to get the White House and congressional Democrats on the same page. The House and Senate Democratic caucuses will not only be smaller. They will also be more liberal. One of the consequences of losing elections in mostly red states is that the Democrats that remain in congress are much more liberal than the red staters who were defeated.

The shift to the left is one of the reasons why Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) is looking to create a special Democratic leadership position for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). When all of these pieces are put together, they reveal a picture of Democratic Party that is gearing up for a fight.

Boehner and McConnell have so far shown no desire to move to the center. In fact, Republicans have expressed shock that President Obama and the Democrats aren’t about to immediately give them everything that they want. Obama and the Democrats are setting up a nightmare scenario for Boehner and McConnell. Republicans won’t have enough Senate votes to pass legislation without Democratic support. If Democrats form a united front, McConnell won’t be able to pass anything that Democrats don’t want.

Senate Republican will have a choice. They can either move to the middle and enrage their base, which is unlikely or they can be stuck with a majority that is incapable of getting anything done. Harry Reid said that he was not interested in obstructing the Republicans, but he may not have to obstruct them. If Democrats stick together, Republicans won’t be able to do anything in the Senate.

http://www.politicususa.com/2014/11/13/obamas-move-left-beginning-republican-nightmare.html

I love the last sentence in the article: Democrats have been revived and energized by the president’s actions, and it looks like Boehner and McConnell could have a very long two years ahead of them.

That may be wishful thinking but it is a good counterpoint to the doom and gloom that has been pervasive on the left. Of course, Democrats will have to stick together. Something that republicans seem to do much better than Democrats.

[SoCalDem]

1. Had he done this in February of 2009, we would be in a much better place right now

Republicans were devastated then and Obama's popularity was in the low 70s.. He should had insisted that Reid eliminate the filibuster.. We could have had immigration...single payer health care....revised voting legislation with TEETH..so much could have been accomplished, but he chose to try to make them like him.. and when we lost the house, we had no hope of getting anything done..

[on point]

2. Yep! He had them on their heels and he should've kept pushing. ^^^ 1000+

[Octafish]

4. + 6 Years

A much, much better place. Guy had us ALL behind HIM, not Rush Limbaugh.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. Indeed.

Probably too little too late, but if he can make them uncomfortable for a couple of months, good.

[AtomicKitten]

8. That's the unvarnished truth.

[IdiocracyTheNewNorm]

14. So much time and effort were wasted on bipartisianship and giving political cover to the DINOs

It is going to take a bunch of fight from the Dems to really salvage what we SHOULD have had from the start of the Obama Presidency.

[roguevalley]

16. +1 million % socaldem

[BlindTiresias]

3. Uh

So now they decide to turn left when they have lost congress? Sounds fucking stupid and implausible unless they really do lust for right wing policy.

Odds are this is wishful thinking.

[NM_Birder]

6. more 27th dimensional chess ?

only with a red House, red Senate and waves of red Governors lined up to be sworn in just a few months from now,.....can progressive policies be addressed in the political vacuum of time between Thanksgiving and Christmas ?

maybe having done this BEFORE the elections would have yielded a more plausible result.

blaming republicans didn't get Democrats elected, too little too late to "gear up for a fight".

[NM_Birder]

7. Yeah, the republicans "are in for a tough two years".

[Art_from_Ark]

15. Don't worry-- Joe Manchin will do whatever he can

to welcome his new overlords.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025804529

[HereSince1628]

10. So what will he do with all that liberal capital he's earned...veto Keystone?

[pampango]

12. Apparently, Yes.

BREAKING: Pres. Obama's Press Secretary says he will veto any legislation to force approval of Keystone XL

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025813509

[HereSince1628]

13. Yes, I just saw it in a thread and mentioned I had asked the question here.

[UTUSN]

11. R#11 & K n/t