Friday, November 21, 2008
Progressives Out In The Cold? (5:39 pm)
With rumors swirling about what Obama’s cabinet is likely to look like, Chris Hayes throws down some inarguable points about just how uninspiring things are looking:
Not a single, solitary, actual dyed-in-the-wool progressive has, as far as I can tell, even been mentioned for a position in the new administration. Not one. Remember this is the movement that was right about Iraq, right about wage stagnation and inequality, right about financial deregulation, right about global warming and right about health care. And I don’t just mean in that in a sectarian way. I mean to say that the emerging establishment consensus on all of these issues came from the left.
I would also submit that the faith of progressives are a considerable reason Obama was the Democratic nominee in the first place. It seems that being right about the defining political questions of our time means fuck-all to the power structure in D.C.
Update:
Some will argue that the appointment of Tom Daschle to Health and Human Services Secretary indicates an aggressive approach to health care reform. Not to mention a potential boost to Native American Health. Also, Obama has indicated that he will act aggressively to combat climate change. Hope remains…
posted by Jarrett
Reader Comments
btw…I am absolutely 100% opposed to the selection of Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State.
If given the chance I’d write an editorial on it.
This is quite possibly the single most disturbing thing Obama has done so far.
posted by southern progress on 11-22-08 at 2:27 PM
off topic, sure.
but this is absolutely hilarious and i have to share it here…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKQmnxl2axo&featu ure=related
posted by southern progress on 11-22-08 at 2:42 PM
Progressives are free, naturally, to rant for the next four years about President Obama’s decisions to trod a centrist path.
I, for one, will celebrate the happiest Thanksgiving in recent memory!
posted by bill cavala on 11-27-08 at 12:20 PM
Ohhhhh…..yes, yes and yes.
notions of thanks do overwhelm me, no doubt.
it’s the rectification-for the moment-that makes me so damn proud to be an American.
yes, I’m on board this ship. and I grow tired of Obama haters already.
interesting though the idea of “allowing” and “presuming” any notion of those that have the freedom to….well, have freedom.
recall: rants were established as fact by Thomas Paine.
tis’all.
I would also submit that the faith of progressives are a considerable reason Obama was the Democratic nominee in the first place. It seems that being right about the defining political questions of our time means fuck-all to the power structure in D.C
I think the progressive community if not now, will become the majority Democratic demographic. I base this partly on the huge surge of younger voters (certainly, myself included) and the increasing legitimacy of minority voters as well. What I’m saying here is this:
Not only would it be contrary to the electability of future Democrats to collude with other political elements—especially those of the past which emphatically includes the Clinton administration—but it will naturally come at the expense of a country we rightfully have a mandate to frickin change.
The best argument I’ve heard about how things seem to be going is that given the times we live in and the monumental challenges that face Obama, it’s vital to hit the ground running. Not saying that progressives can’t do this only that there is a relative blueprint for the kind of change that always occurs when a Democrat takes office and has to actually reverse the disasterous and catastrophic effects of Republican administrations.
Now, this holds water only so long. We voted for change and I am becoming more and more concerned. I’ll keep myself informed with In These Times and do hope your Chi-town connections are heard in D.C. as they well should be.
posted by southern progress on 11-22-08 at 2:21 PM