Comments on: Way Under the Radar

By: Mark Hartzer

Mark Hartzer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:18:42 +0000

Well…kinda. It is perfectly understandable and even desirable to govern from the center. If it requires an occasional rebuke to the die hards of the party in order to advance a broader goal, excellent. But you have to make at least some effort to dance with the one who brung ya. To date, Obama is MIA for the most part.

Repeal the DOMA, and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and you can afford to dis the gays somewhat. Strengthen the Clean Air Act or ratify the Kyoto accord and you can push back the environmentalists. And so on…

But ‘punch the face’ of your biggest supporters without throwing them a bone? No. Not if you want to get re-elected.

By: Taunter

Taunter — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:09:00 +0000

Part of that leadership is demonstrating that you have some coherent vision of the future, and an important aspect of this vision is recognizing its constraints. Governing with timidity is no accomplishment, but neither is dedication to act in the sole interest of “your” supporters.

Bush had no ability to say no to the “base”. Massive tax cuts even after the original economic assumptions changed? Sure. Giant new unfunded entitlement program (Medicare D)? Sure – and to avoid ticking off industry, I’ll even throw in a no-negotiation provision to make them happy. Continued funding of Star Wars twenty years after the boondoggle began? Why not; the primes love me.

Unstable states are ruled for the exclusive benefit of whoever sits on the throne at a moment in time. Iraq, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Argentina and Brazil (for most of the past century) – these places have coups because it is expected and understood that the leader cares only for his particular group and at some point the other groups get fed up. Stable states demonstrate their stability by being ruled in the long-term interest of the entire nation, including the opponents of the person currently in charge.

That is no excuse for not pursuing a Democratic agenda. Going off and instituting school prayer or abortion restrictions because it would please the right is nonsensical. But it is a warning that building deep support requires both accomplishments and a sense that the national interest is being followed. Without that, you can be as wildly popular as Reagan was and still face a Congress from the other party.

By: Mark Hartzer

Mark Hartzer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:26:29 +0000

“Successful leaders need to punch their base in the face on some issue.”

He had me and he lost me. No. Successful leaders need to lead. Obama was elected to CHANGE. I won’t re-hash your entire excellent list of the other day, but when you govern as cowardly as Obama, then people get frustrated. Why elect fake Republics when you can get the real thing?

Iraq…still there.
Afganistan…escalating.
Domestic spying…yep, still going on.
Prosecuting fraud…’crickets’.
Gay rights…nada

You can go on and on. The base will stay home in 2010 unless promises are kept.