The decision of President Obama to make a deal with the Republicans, keeping the tax cuts for all, including millionaires and billionaires for two years, but also gaining an extension of unemployment compensation for 13 months, and gaining a few other tax breaks for working Americans, has enraged many liberals and progressives. They are sorely disappointed that Obama appears to them to be weak, spineless, too willing to compromise and apologize, too wimpy, and too willing to cave in to opposition demands! 🙁
There is a growing belief that some progressive will challenge Obama for the 2012 Democratic Presidential nomination, an action which would weaken the President and his party. While the odds would be that he would win the nomination, the likelihood of defeat in the election would be enhanced, as that scenario led to defeat of Presidents William Howard Taft, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and George HW Bush! 🙁
There is great disillusionment developing, and many wonder if Obama is destined to be another Jimmy Carter, ineffective much of the time and weakened greatly by inter party opposition within the Democratic Party!
I am disappointed as well…they boxed him in and if he had not agreed to extend all the tax cuts don’t you think the repubs would have denied any and taxes would have gone up on us middle Americans? I wish he had more FIGHT in him but his brain is wired for compromise. I’m not sure how he can ever win with members of his own party voting with the repubs. How is the heck can they repubs vote in a block and control everything and the Dems cannot seem to get on the same page? I do believe Democrats should e-mail and write the WH like crazy. I have been e-mailing almost daily this past 2 weeks and though I am not silly enough to think I am the only one saying these things…. he used some statements I used… Professor..I think you should send your blog to him every day on his WH e-mail.
I think the analogy most often heard with the Democratic Party is herding cats. By the way, Ron. Whom do you see as the progressive challenger?