Comments on: On Hillary: If You Weren’t Sure Before…

By: Bro

Bro — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:34:40 +0000

I’m with ya PA Lady. Until the Democrats stop playing politically safe, reactionary politics and get pro-active and quit letting the republicans frame the debates about the issues and branding the dems as far left liberals the shift to the right will continue. We now know Bill Clinton was not nearly as far left and liberal (NAFTA) as the republicans branded him as being. The shift has been going on longer than the last 7 years but it definitely has been more dramatic in the last 7. Even though when Edwards dropped out Clinton and Obama both quickly adopted his more populist, leftist rhetoric and positions they both have since drifted to the center and now Hillary is trying to brand Obama as elitist and position herself to the left of him which is ridiculous because she actually is aligned more with McFriendly than folks that are left of Obama. (yes, they exist) After the 06 elections I assumed the politcal pendulum would swing to the left and it was just a question of how far left it would swing and I think we are now seeing it having a hard time getting past center for the reasons I mentioned above. You’re right Buck, the majority of the populace seems to be to the left of all three candidates. Which one’s the Democrat, again? Obama is just doing what Presidential hopefuls do, pandering to as much of the populace as possible while at the same time not looking like your abandoning your base. It’s a thin line though and at times it seems he may be crossing it. In the end I think it comes down to money.

By: Batocchio

Batocchio — Thu, 01 May 2008 05:52:40 +0000

You’re right, PA Lady, he’s not that liberal, but that one study was done by a conservative group, and not suprisingly, Ted Kennedy and others are more liberal. I think it was Obama who was 16th in one study I read, IIRC.

There are things that concern me about Obama. But he condemned what Wright said last month. He just didn’t condemn him as a human being, or his entire career. I think Obama’s handled this about as well as he could.

By: PA_Lady

PA_Lady — Thu, 01 May 2008 01:23:06 +0000

What’s scary is this is the same guy who’s the #1 liberal in Congress, based on his votes (all but 50-some of which are identical to Clinton’s, who is 16th).

If ever there was evidence that the “center” has shifted to the far-right over the past 8 years, this is it.

By: Buck

Buck — Thu, 01 May 2008 01:15:29 +0000

Great. We’ve got 3 republicans and 0 democrats running for president.

That certainly would explain the frustration so many are experiencing.

By: PA_Lady

PA_Lady — Thu, 01 May 2008 01:05:03 +0000

Well, bugger. I screwed up the code. That last bit shouldn’t be in the quote.

By: PA_Lady

PA_Lady — Thu, 01 May 2008 01:04:14 +0000

Funny thing… Obama said his pastor’s comments were outrageous and offensive.

“I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened over the spectacle that we saw yesterday,” Obama said.

{snip}

“I gave him the benefit of the doubt in my speech in Philadelphia, explaining that he’s done enormous good. … But when he states and then amplifies such ridiculous propositions as the U.S. government somehow being involved in AIDS. … There are no excuses. They offended me. They rightly offend all Americans and they should be denounced.”

He’s also said that Republicans were the “party of ideas.” He’s praised Reagan while calling Bill Clinton a racist. Thinks Petraeus has done a great job.

Which one’s the Democrat, again?