Paul Krugman has a thought provoking op-ed today on whether Obama is more like Bill Clinton, triangulation and all, rather than a left-wing Ronald Reagan. What change will he really deliver? He supports the wimpy wiretap bill that essentially grants immunity to the telecom companies. He supports the mad four on the Supreme Court — Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, Alito — along with Justice Kennedy on the death sentence for child rapists. He supports that group again on the gun legalization in the District of Columbia. He keeps talking about rising above both the right and the left and uniting the country, same as Bill Clinton did. And look what Bill Clinton did once he got into office: massive triangulation. Is this what we have in store for us. Many if not most Obama supporters expect him to deliver real change. But I’m worried that he’s simply a centrist in disguise.
In spite of what I’m saying, we’re now stuck with him. Protest votes for Kucinich, Nader, Gravel, Ventura, or None-of-the-Above will simply help elect John McCain. Sheeesh! I is pissed, and frustrated.
UPDATE:
Eric Alterman believes Obama must play to win, which entails compromise. See, Is Obama a conservative or a progressive realist?. Eric’s answer is that Obama is a political realist, a consensus politician who understands that he must compromise in order to be electable. Let’s hope Eric is right. But Arianna doesn’t think so, here.
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