Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard
BHO isn't far enough to the left for the Professor. Amazing.
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IMO, the fact that there are many Americans who don't think the current president is far enough to the left is going to end up being a lost opportunity for the GOP. Instead of castigating the president for not doing what we think he should do, the GOP should have made the effort to hem the president in with his own base so they can see how he's failed to do what they think he should do. If the political right could hold its tongue--and there's still time to do this--the ensuing debates within the left would threaten a coalition that has been running on fumes since the Carter presidency. The president's campaign would then have to spend time and money mending fences.
MOO, the president's approach to electoral politics is similar to President Reagan's. (As I said before, I bet that the vistors' logs at the Reagan Library have some interesting entries.) By campaigning endlessly against Carter's record, President Reagan could side step some of the criticism from the right wing of the GOP.
The difference is that Reagan was a man of principle. So if he modified or moderated a position, his supporters could be certain he did so out of his personal conviction, his love for all Americans, his desire to make the world a freer place, and his unflagging optimism.
The current president does not have these traits and so his efforts to emulate Reagan ring hollow. At least to anyone who cares to pay attention.