Is it time to give up on politics

by: susaninrindge

Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 06:55:33 AM EDT

"Ultimately, however, the real problem is not that liberals have been playing defense for decades. Instead, the real problem is that progressive politicians (President Obama included) during that time have been utterly incapable of defending liberal values -- such as society's moral obligation to help and care for all of its members in need -- against the onslaught of attacks by social conservatives and free-marketeers. The thing that I yearn for the most are liberal leaders who are willing to speak in explicitly moral terms about what we owe each other as human beings and as equal members of our society."

When I get most frustrated with Obama is when he continues to miss opportunities to speak with passion about his values and vision for our country.  His flat, affect-less, pathetic press conference on Monday was the most recent case in point. Why can't he get out there and speak -- not about the political process but about the results he wants to achieve -- for us -- for the middle class people, many of whom watch FOX News and who have been lead to slaughter -- some shred of power going up against giant corporations, health care companies, banks, oil companies that dictate their terms, ruin our environment and care only about profits.  

Why can't he at least underscore how Republicans have demonstrated over and over throughout recent history their concern only for these giant corporations. Why can't he come out as our champion in the face of incredible odds given the decades of Bush's and Reagan and the recent Supreme Court give-away. If he can't do this. If he can't speak with conviction about why he's president, well, then, I give up!  

we did it without a catch phrase

by: kite

Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 18:30:08 PM EST

• worker safety;
  
• clean air and water;
  
• consumer protection;
  
• individual privacy;
  
• standing up for the middle class;
  
• family values (co-opting a nice phrase that is often used for a nasty purpose);
  

and so on.  I actually had 3 or 4 I kind of liked, that I thought summed up Democratic values pretty well.  I don't remember what they were.  

But turns out maybe we didn't (and don't) need a catch phrase, and I think that's kind of interesting.  Maybe there are so many causes we need to stand up for that a catch phrase won't work.  Maybe we're a big tent party in more ways than one.  

Or maybe complexity has been brought back into the discussion of complicated problems.  Everyone wants a "strong defense," after all, but that means more than invading other countries.  (It means a strong economy.  It means making friends.  It means working with allies.)

Anyway, it's kind of funny to watch the Republicans doing their "soul-searching."  I hope they come out of it a better party.  And I hope their little catch phrase doesn't hold them back.