Obama the conservative

[Sug]

Link to the article

Money quote at the end

Conservatives will, of course, scoff at the idea of Obama being any sort of conservative, just as liberals scoffed at Nixon being any kind of liberal. But with the benefit of historical hindsight, it’s now obvious that Nixon was indeed a moderate liberal in practice. And with the passage of time, it’s increasingly obvious that Clinton was essentially an Eisenhower Republican. It may take 20 years before Obama’s basic conservatism is widely accepted as well, but it’s a fact.

 

[Denny Crane]

The case he's conservative is weak. He set the agenda for health care but didn't lead. He really hasn't led on anything, and the result is whatever congress was able to pass. He talked about govt. option up until the end, when the thing was passed via a gimmick and not a vote. This with a filibuster proof senate and big majority in the House.

Another example is Gitmo. It's still there, despite his promises. He tried to bring combatants to trial in civilian courts, but didn't lead and the attempt failed.

Nixon was a liberal republican.

 

[barfo]

The case he's conservative is weak. He set the agenda for health care but didn't lead. He really hasn't led on anything, and the result is whatever congress was able to pass. He talked about govt. option up until the end, when the thing was passed via a gimmick and not a vote. This with a filibuster proof senate and big majority in the House.

Another example is Gitmo. It's still there, despite his promises. He tried to bring combatants to trial in civilian courts, but didn't lead and the attempt failed.

How are either of those things arguments against the case he's a conservative? You seem to be making arguments about his leadership ability, a quality that has nothing to do with whether he is liberal or conservative.

I think it's a stretch to say that Obama is conservative in today's definition of conservative, but he certainly isn't the radical liberal that some here seem to believe.

barfo

 

[maxiep]

A ridiculous premise.

 

[Denny Crane]

How are either of those things arguments against the case he's a conservative? You seem to be making arguments about his leadership ability, a quality that has nothing to do with whether he is liberal or conservative.

I think it's a stretch to say that Obama is conservative in today's definition of conservative, but he certainly isn't the radical liberal that some here seem to believe.

barfo

Seems like it's someone way to the left complaining Obama isn't left enough.

Reality is, not much left, when he's done.

 

[bluefrog]

Many of the stances by President Obama seem not to correspond to those of Candidate Obama, and certainly not to the company he kept prior to the election campaign. He may talk like a liberal for "change" but he's done more to accommodate himself to existing institutions rather than tear them down

I'd say there is a good case to paint him as a conservative:

gave billions to prop up Wall Street
he ordered the surge for U.S. forces in Afghanistan
increased the use of drones to target militants in Pakistan
extended the patriot act
against gay marriage (initially)
signed the extension of the Bush tax cuts (AKA tax breaks for the rich)
undermined serious global carbon emission reduction efforts at Copenhagen
pushed health “reform” bill through that only insurance and drug companies could love

He's largely maintained the policies of the Bush administration yet speaks the lingo of the left. It's a tight line he walks and it will probably win him the election in 2012.

 

[bluefrog]

The case he's conservative is weak. He set the agenda for health care but didn't lead. He really hasn't led on anything, and the result is whatever congress was able to pass. He talked about govt. option up until the end, when the thing was passed via a gimmick and not a vote. This with a filibuster proof senate and big majority in the House.

Another example is Gitmo. It's still there, despite his promises. He tried to bring combatants to trial in civilian courts, but didn't lead and the attempt failed.

Nixon was a liberal republican.

He specifically rejected the single-payer option LINK

 

[barfo]

Seems like it's someone way to the left complaining Obama isn't left enough.

Well, duh. Why would someone on the right complain that he isn't left enough?

barfo

 

[Denny Crane]

He specifically rejected the single-payer option LINK

He didn't reject a govt. option, which is what I wrote.

The things you listed in your other post are fine, but that doesn't speak to his ideology as much as it does to him being led vs leading. Hillary is secy of state, she's been quite hawkish, and she's clearly led Obama to his policy decisions.

 

[Denny Crane]

Btw, I forgot to mention that I favored a govt. option, but like the VA vs some health insurance program.

 

[bluefrog]

Btw, I forgot to mention that I favored a govt. option, but like the VA vs some health insurance program.

That sounds like liberal scum talk.

Back to the point about him being lead. He still makes decisions on who he surrounds himself with and weather or not follow their advice. You can say he was being lead this way or that but history isn't going to see it that way. At the end of the day the buck stops at the president.

 

[jlprk]

You seem to be making arguments about his leadership ability, a quality that has nothing to do with whether he is liberal or conservative.

Yes, this thread should be titled "Obama the follower."

As for the actual thread title--
Like 1976, any Democrat would have beaten the disgraced Republicans, so the intelligence agencies made sure that the least liberal candidate survived the primaries.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Obama's grandparents were members of the John Birch Society.