Comments on: Watching From the Sidelines http://www.mahablog.com/2008/11/25/watching-from-the-sidelines/ Making the World Safe for Liberalism Sun, 21 Mar 2010 07:17:32 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: tonto http://www.mahablog.com/2008/11/25/watching-from-the-sidelines/comment-page-1/#comment-549800 tonto Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:02:52 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2896#comment-549800 Even though I'm pretty far to the left on many issues, like Barbara, I'm not stupid or deluded enough to think that all the policies and reforms that I'd like to see enacted are going to be. I do think though, that like LBJ and FDR before him, he needs to act big and bold while he still holds a majority in Congress. I'm also a bit disturbed by the fact that some on the left are regarding Obama in a much similar way that ardent right-wingers did Bush when he first came to power. "Cultism" is a danger no matter what end of the political spectrum it's occurring on. Even though I’m pretty far to the left on many issues, like Barbara, I’m not stupid or deluded enough to think that all the policies and reforms that I’d like to see enacted are going to be. I do think though, that like LBJ and FDR before him, he needs to act big and bold while he still holds a majority in Congress. I’m also a bit disturbed by the fact that some on the left are regarding Obama in a much similar way that ardent right-wingers did Bush when he first came to power. “Cultism” is a danger no matter what end of the political spectrum it’s occurring on.

]]> By: maha http://www.mahablog.com/2008/11/25/watching-from-the-sidelines/comment-page-1/#comment-549793 maha Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:08:57 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2896#comment-549793 <i>but it’s to be hoped that he can be nudged towards not taking advice from–or giving power to–people who countenance bad and immoral policy. </i> And that's fine. It's a good and productive thing to criticize him for something he <em>is doing</em> that one doesn't like. What's making me crazy are the "progressives" who are already writing off his entire administration, based on their own off-the-wall projections. but it’s to be hoped that he can be nudged towards not taking advice from–or giving power to–people who countenance bad and immoral policy.

And that’s fine. It’s a good and productive thing to criticize him for something he is doing that one doesn’t like. What’s making me crazy are the “progressives” who are already writing off his entire administration, based on their own off-the-wall projections.

]]> By: Russell Belding http://www.mahablog.com/2008/11/25/watching-from-the-sidelines/comment-page-1/#comment-549792 Russell Belding Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:15:12 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2896#comment-549792 Torture-enabler John Brennan dropped out of the running to be head of Obama's CIA, allegedly due in part to Glenn Greenwald, et al blowing the whistle on Brennan's large comfort zone vis-a-vis torture, rendition, etc. I never kidded myself that Obama was as progressive as I would have wanted him to be, but it's to be hoped that he can be nudged towards not taking advice from--or giving power to--people who countenance bad and immoral policy. Torture-enabler John Brennan dropped out of the running to be head of Obama’s CIA, allegedly due in part to Glenn Greenwald, et al blowing the whistle on Brennan’s large comfort zone vis-a-vis torture, rendition, etc.
I never kidded myself that Obama was as progressive as I would have wanted him to be, but it’s to be hoped that he can be nudged towards not taking advice from–or giving power to–people who countenance bad and immoral policy.

]]> By: btchakir http://www.mahablog.com/2008/11/25/watching-from-the-sidelines/comment-page-1/#comment-549791 btchakir Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:01:44 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2896#comment-549791 Here's a great idea I heard this morning... Since the government is bailing out Citgroup with billions, a couple of NY State reps are suggesting that the $400 Million that Citigroup is putting into the new Mets stadium in order to get it named "Citi Field" should get a new review. Their suggestion is to name the stadium "Citi/Taxpayer Field." Hey... I buy that. It's time that we taxpayers were recognized for our bailing out of severely mismanaged enterprises of the wealthy. <a href="http://underthelobsterscope.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Under The LobsterScope</a> Here’s a great idea I heard this morning…

Since the government is bailing out Citgroup with billions, a couple of NY State reps are suggesting that the $400 Million that Citigroup is putting into the new Mets stadium in order to get it named “Citi Field” should get a new review.

Their suggestion is to name the stadium “Citi/Taxpayer Field.”

Hey… I buy that. It’s time that we taxpayers were recognized for our bailing out of severely mismanaged enterprises of the wealthy.

Under The LobsterScope

]]> By: erinyes http://www.mahablog.com/2008/11/25/watching-from-the-sidelines/comment-page-1/#comment-549788 erinyes Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:45:39 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2896#comment-549788 http://heyokamagazine.com/heyoka.20.kennedyspeech.htm Swami is right.Bush has made the U.S. into something Kennedy considered evil. http://heyokamagazine.com/heyoka.20.kennedyspeech.htm

Swami is right.Bush has made the U.S. into something Kennedy considered evil.

]]> By: wonkie http://www.mahablog.com/2008/11/25/watching-from-the-sidelines/comment-page-1/#comment-549782 wonkie Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:01:09 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2896#comment-549782 I think that the left blogoshere serves an important as a source of news. If opposition is necessary, then let's concieve of the lefty blogs as the news source in opposition to the corporate news. I think that the left blogoshere serves an important as a source of news. If opposition is necessary, then let’s concieve of the lefty blogs as the news source in opposition to the corporate news.

]]> By: Sunny Jim http://www.mahablog.com/2008/11/25/watching-from-the-sidelines/comment-page-1/#comment-549781 Sunny Jim Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:58:44 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2896#comment-549781 I echo the sentiments of Maha and the commenters here. They are emblematic of the high quality of discourse I always find on this blog. Curiously, those whose only purpose here was to disagree - and be disagreeable - in the weeks leading up to Election Day have, like the flies and mosquitoes of summer, disappeared. Cheers. I echo the sentiments of Maha and the commenters here. They are emblematic of the high quality of discourse I always find on this blog. Curiously, those whose only purpose here was to disagree – and be disagreeable – in the weeks leading up to Election Day have, like the flies and mosquitoes of summer, disappeared.

Cheers.

]]> By: bruce http://www.mahablog.com/2008/11/25/watching-from-the-sidelines/comment-page-1/#comment-549780 bruce Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:47:17 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2896#comment-549780 I think Obama has very cleverly staked out progressive policies and hired moderates to implement them. This soothes moderates and maybe even some conservatives. So far, all the indications that are on green energy, health care, economic growth and other areas, the policies will be progressive. I think Hillary's appointment is the main thing that has freaked out a lot of lefty bloggers because Clinton hatred is so rampant. I think it could work out between them, or it might not. I too am tremendously relieved, proud, and encouraged to have Obama as my President. I think Obama has very cleverly staked out progressive policies and hired moderates to implement them. This soothes moderates and maybe even some conservatives.
So far, all the indications that are on green energy, health care, economic growth and other areas, the policies will be progressive. I think Hillary’s appointment is the main thing that has freaked out a lot of lefty bloggers because Clinton hatred is so rampant. I think it could work out between them, or it might not.

I too am tremendously relieved, proud, and encouraged to have Obama as my President.

]]> By: Swami http://www.mahablog.com/2008/11/25/watching-from-the-sidelines/comment-page-1/#comment-549779 Swami Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:21:43 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2896#comment-549779 <i> But at least the tone of his adminstration should be a lot more open and honest than the travesty of the last eight years. </i> That's all Obama needs to do succeed. Bush was is a loser and a failure because of his incessant lies and his penchant for secrecy to hide his incompetence. Bush couldn't admit to a shortcoming or a mistake. Obama is secure with himself, and won't turn his mistakes into permanent failures like frat boy did. But at least the tone of his adminstration should be a lot more open and honest than the travesty of the last eight years.

That’s all Obama needs to do succeed. Bush was is a loser and a failure because of his incessant lies and his penchant for secrecy to hide his incompetence. Bush couldn’t admit to a shortcoming or a mistake. Obama is secure with himself, and won’t turn his mistakes into permanent failures like frat boy did.

]]> By: joanr16 http://www.mahablog.com/2008/11/25/watching-from-the-sidelines/comment-page-1/#comment-549778 joanr16 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:44:53 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2896#comment-549778 What y'all said. Every bit of it. What y’all said. Every bit of it.

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