Unity vs Dissent

[mkultra]

Liberal dissent has always been a hallmark of free thought and a difference between us and the republican base. While republicans tend to walk in lock step, democrats seem to swarm a topic from many angles and demonstrate a more pure form of individualism.

Our relative inability to unite on a message has always been a flaw that republicans take advantage of. While we equivocate over minutia, they simply parrot the talking points of the candidate who appears to be the alpha dog. While our ideals and methods would be of benefit in a technocracy, a democracy with a giant low information center is more easily influenced by the single message approach.

Frankly, i think that Obama's limited information message approach was why he beat McCain so easily but has been a source of discomfort for many traditional liberals. The strident support he receives from his backers does appear to those accustomed to the individual approach as a refutation of deeper thinking.

To those disgusted by my partisanship, let me simply indicate that I had no intention of letting McCain win this election nor do I intended to let Obama lose in the next one. He is making decisions that I don't like but I will not rail against him. Where some of you and I will disagree is on the principle of ends vs means. Today, and for the rest of this term, I put ends before means. This of course is limited to a line far from where many republicans will cross but it also does not limit me from speaking logically about policy.

In summary, I will not be outraged unless things jump the rails. Don't mistake my willingness to put aside passion for fight as a refusal to commit to improvement. In fact I assert that I am the one who is committed to actual change.

[wyldwolf]

1. yeah, we don't want Dems to march in lockstep but when they don't, then we want them to.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. If the economy tanks Obama will not be re-elected

And the economy will do what it does irrespective of your, or anyone else's, partisanship.

It will react primarily to policy.

If critics can get him to do things that prevent economic collapse then they will have done more for his re-election than all the boosterism in the world.

[ProSense]

3. I'm pretty certain

Obama is sweating bullets right now.

[mkultra]

4. the economy may or may not respond to policy

It may take more than 3 years to start the upswing. Dont think for one instant that backseat presidency will make him look good for one second. Right or wrong, if critics make him change direction and the economy does better, then he will lose the election.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

5. That seems almost the Platonic ideal of "wrong"

If some progressive economists get Obama to take steps that save the economy he will lose?

[mkultra]

6. perhaps, but still true

If you believe that his current economic methods are not progressive, then yes, changing course in the shadow of progressive criticism will hurt him in the election among the moderates voting groups.