Chris Bowers Explains To Matthews: Obama Ran as a Centrist

[MyXxx77]

It's funny to read these old posts after 3 years of Obama. His socialist policies have failed and nearly bankrupted the country and made America a laughing stalk.

[moartommy]

obama isn't nearly as liberal as the GOP wants the rednecks to believe

[hippygangster]

I am sick of this crap. Obama is disenfranchising those who voted for him, us!, the left!!!. He is making a big mistake. In the name of justice, honor, and history, Bush-Cheney et al. need to be brought to justice. If rightwing heads dont roll then what kind of message is that for justice and integrity.

[sergeantnorider]

You all need to grow up. I voted for Obama and I secretly desire a criminal investigation of Bush as well but its just not realistic. We are in the middle of a deep economic crisis and if Obama took his eye off the ball to do what will be considered "settling old scores" and the economy tanks democrats will pay for years. Even if Obama succeeded in prosecuting Bush or his cronies it would squander any opportunity to unify the nation and bury us in partisanship. On balance, its just not worth it.

[baronmorris]

good call sargeant. ;-) I concur.

[kirbygene]

I agree with Hippy and 47. We need more people in our country to become pragmatic about what will work to correct our problems.

I cringe when I let myself imagaine where this country would be headed had McCain/Palin pulled off a squeaker

[thekingsnotdead]

Oh come and say it....... waaaaaa, waaaaaaaa, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

[LunaGer]

I'm a lefty, I voted for Obama, and while I am watchful of his choices, I am mostly unconcerned.

To go beyond that, in many ways I am relieved that he is NOT filling his cabinet with those from the left. To me it feels like a smart move. But, what do I know. :)

I do, however, agree with the twitchy-eyed guest, that it would be nice if there were at least a few people in Obama's cabinet representing the left.

I'm content for now to watch and see.

[toosinbeymen]

I liked what Chris Bowers had to say but I agree with WNT. What was he looking at anyway?

[WhyNotTruth]

That eye twitch is killin me.

[hippieCy08]

In the words of Chomsky, Obama is a blank slate where millions of people projected their own visions and perceptions on to him...whether its the right winger or progressives.

Obama is neither left nor right....until we stop thinking in such a dogmatic Rovian political shit....we might never figure him out. He's a pragmatist who wants to get things done and will not serve any political movement @ the expense of his own presidency.

[47f0]

hippieCy08 - you fool. Don't you know you're not allowed to make sense on YouTube? A lot of people who projected their own vision of change on Obama are in for a rude awakening - and maybe we'll all be better off for it. Obama is not focused on education, energy, ecology and national policy because of leftist notions, but because he has a clear vision of what works. As you said, a pragmatist, and I'll take a smart pragmatist over an ideologue any day.

[kirbygene]

Well said, Hippy!

[phoenixatom]

This country is way too divided. People need to stop thinking in terms of left wing and right wing, or we'll never get out of the mess we're in. Remember the old saying..."United We Stand, Divided We Fall". This may be too much positice thinking, but I think Obama feels this same way, and it is why he is taking in those from both sides in hopes to get people to come together and actually work to move this country forward. Time to roll up our sleeves America, there's work to do!

[AshillaBeige]

You're damn right.

I'm really happy that I don't find myself satisfied with EITHER side.

People seem to cling to the left or the right, completely disregarding what's best for the country.

[waltermh111]

the problem is that we disagree on whats best for the country.

If I think healthcare for all is whats best for the people of this country and others think business is always right and the market is god so an unregulated market is whats best for the country it doesnt matter if we get rid of names, it doesnt change that we disagree.

[AshillaBeige]

I agree, but the problem is that when people seem to disagree with something that's "liberal" or "conservative", then people tend to scrap everything from either side.

I don't really see a dialogue happening, it's more bickering about left and right.

The idea that one should support all that comes from one wing is ridonkulous.

There's a difference between disagreeing and disregarding.

A bit more in the past, when the split wasn't quite so bad in some aspects, at least there was a discussion.

[waltermh111]

What people who propose governing from the center are really proposing is getting nothing done. The left dont get healthcare because you dont want to upset the right and well, actually, I think that when you govern from the center, it tends to be center right sadly. Never has been good for this country either.

Because dems love to back down and give in, while the right "playing the center" are just being a single hive mind of solidarity on the issue they want, no compromises.

[waltermh111]

But of course, to govern from the center you cant have conflict, so the strong and loud win.