I could be wrong, but Obama's goal seems to be to represent the Left himself [View All]

[bigtree]

. . . and use his cabinet as a counterbalance to that pull and push from him (and others in Congress) to transform policy to the progressive side of issues.

It's either that, or there won't really be a heartfelt representation of progressive views and attitudes on many issues from the moderate influences he's chosen so far to represent his White House.

That moderate form of representation may well work out to be fine, or that may turn out to be productively pragmatic when measured against the challenges he faces getting his proposals and initiatives through Congress and enacted into law or action. But, his approach to governing, so far, as reflected by his cabinet and advisory picks, does not resemble the way I'd expect a progressive challenge to the status quo to look like.

I expect a more confrontational, resistant approach from a progressive stance from the Executive which assumes that the opposition figures in Congress are mere obstructionists whose opportunistic views and positions carry no merit outside of their intention to block and stifle progressive change.

Right now, that's the fight I'm looking for Pres. Obama to wage behind the cajoling and accommodating of the decidedly pragmatic choices he's chosen as his point men and women in the battle to overturn and overcome Bush's autocratic legacy. He'll have to step up, well ahead of his Cabinet and advisers, to effectively represent and promote the progressive change he's promised to effect with his presidency.