Jonathan Alter compares Obama to FDR

[TheDuckofLaw]

obama's anti-progressive agenda is the most likely way for the Repubs to win elections because libs will vote for other people and repubs never will.

[Sandstorm465]

Great interview.  Keep up the good work Cenk!

[aaronsande]

LMFAO this Alter guy is so lame! Look at that full head of hair in that youthful picture!

Now look at a VIDEO of him to see how he REALLY looks now. Bald, much older.

WTF, man! Don't misrepresent yourself. It doesn't matter that you're bald now, it matters what you SAY! But when you play games like this it makes you look stupid!

[aaronsande]

This may be the beginning of the health care reform process, but if we lose seats in Congress, Flying Spaghetti Monster forbid we lose the Oval office, the NEXT stage of health care reform will be to roll BACK the reforms!

[TheNeocatZone]

Alter's gonna eat his words if the reforms and changes we're looking forward to still turn out to be 'herculean' tasks as Cenk put it.

[tommyru]

Heh, and then just to prove my point the very next commenter says "HE IS NO FDR".

Oh, it's interesting how Obama already "failed on health care" when the legislative process isn't even close to finished yet. But comments like those will just make it all the more gratifying when he signs HCR into law.

[billyshake]

He will sign something -- I just hope it's a healthy bill. Pun intended, but the point stands.

I'm an Obama voter and supporter, but I have to admit that he's made an awful lot of moves -- or lack thereof, as the case me -- that have been really disappointing. The GOP and the rightwing can bitch all they want, they're irrelevant ninnies. But within the left side of the aisle, there's lots of tension these days. I hope Obama can find a way to at least throw for left libs like me a bone!

[3star2nr]

HE IS NO FDR and he fucking FAILED on prosecuting cheney and on Healthcare.

He also successfully pissed off the democratic base.

Good luck democrats, come 2012 even sarah pain could become president because the base is completely demoralized

[btc8128]

You'll see that healthcare by Feb. enjoy!

[oddsox1919]

@3star2nr, @tommyru, Obama emulates the wrong Roosevelt.

[tommyru]

Seems like there are a lot of people riffing off the video title without actually watching it. Anyone who's freaking out - "OMG he is so NOT FDR!!!" - is badly falling short of understanding the point here. Alter is strictly talking in terms of Obama's approach to making reforms, not trying to make the case that Obama "is FDR" or anything. Comparisons and contrasts can be drawn between any 2 presidential administrations, and there are some historical parallels between these two worth examining.

[3star2nr]

FDR was the best president this country ever had and unlike obama he took a strong stand for the poor in society. read his last radio address where he put out his new bill of rights for all men. A bill that if became law would have guaranteed ealth care for everyone

Obama just isnt a fighter. Hes a negotiator, but he compromises too much. You have to have something you stand for and stand for it. Not get to the point where you compromise away everything your fighting for to get a win.

[CognosSquare]

FDR was left and right simultaneously, like Obama. Thats a fair point.

[CollateralSandwich]

Nigga please!

He's more like Nixon than FDR.

[aaronsande]

Come on, man...I know he's effing things up badly here, but what are we gonna do? Support the conservatives? =D

[CollateralSandwich]

Obama IS a conservative. You should only support someone if you agree with their policies.

[aaronsande]

I agree that we can disagree on your first sentence...

So who do we support in 2012? If the Democrats aren't helping progressive ideas along, who will?

[CollateralSandwich]

You're not gonna like this but...

I think Clinton should run against him in the primaries.

He's already lost the progressive vote and won't be able to win a second term anyway.

[aaronsande]

I like it just fine, actually =D

I think it's unprecedented (pun intended) and might not work or go over well, but I like it just fine.

She'd have to resign as SecState of course...or else be fired LOL

[CollateralSandwich]

It too bad to see thing going down like this.

Your country needs to get some Campaign Finance Reform legislation soon, or your your going to become a failed state. :(

[aaronsande]

True! Or I guess I could move to Canada... =/

[CollateralSandwich]

60% of our trade is with you guys.

If you guys go down, so will we.

[aaronsande]

Europe it is!

[CollateralSandwich]

BTW

A primary run against a sitting President is not unprecedented. Kennedy ran against Carter in 1980.

[aaronsande]

Well, nearly unprecedented, and certainly considered an "extreme measure".

Then again, filibusters used to be considered "extreme measures" too....

[TheGiantRobot]

Why in the world would you want Clinton? You think she'd be better than Obama somehow? She's the corporate favorite in the Democratic party - she only lost because too many Americans can't stand her.

[CollateralSandwich]

Because Clinton was for single-payer. Obama was not.

I would argue that Obama was the corporate favorite in the Democratic party. And that is why he got nominated.

[TheGiantRobot]

Clinton was proposing we all be forced to buy insurance when she was running for President. That's one of the reasons I looked to Obama, he said he wouldn't do that. If she was also suggesting single payer, I missed that.

[nuprincenj]

HE IS NO FDR AT ALL.... wtf

[desenagrator]

i came

[CousinoMacul]

I really liked Alter's book. This was an interesting interview.

[dangerouslytalented]

Roosevelt told the unions, that he wanted what they wanted, but THEY had to force him to do it.

Because there were MASSIVELY powerful people who were trying to force him to NOT do it.

[katey1dog]

I voted for Obama and all... But to compare him to FDR?

[eeedel]

i love the main show, but the interviews are always top notch