Countless books about the Obama presidency have been recently released or announced. Most of them are from nutty conservatives, but progressives have an excellent alternative.
It is no big secret that in the last several decades millions of women have been forced to enter the workforce. For the most part in working America due to stagnant wages and decreased opportunity households are forced to subsist on two incomes. Essentially gone are the days when the father worked to support the family and the mother stayed home to raise the children and tend the house. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with women wanting to work, what is really wrong is the fact that when they do work they have consistently been paid less than men on average.
President Obama was at his best in Wisconsin today.
Now this is what I'm talking about. Of course words have to be backed up with action, but as far as the message goes, this is excellent. More like this please.
I'll have more on this soon, but I saw last night's Oval Office address as a speech aimed primarily at more casual observers who need to know the White House is on top of the BP gusher disaster. I wasn't surprised or disappointed in that sense. At the same time, energy/climate specifics -- and clear leadership -- have got to materialize soon. If last night's speech is meant to stand alone, it's definitely not going to cut it, and the White House is missing a critical opportunity. On the other hand, if last night's speech was the first - step in an ambitious ramp - up, that's a different story. I haven't read anything definitive yet one way or the other, so all I can confidently say is that we've got our work cut out for us either way.
With that said, the backlash to Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow's reaction to the speech from some of the presidents staunchest defenders (on virtually everything) is childish and extremely short - sighted.
Threatening to stop watching Keith Olbermann's show is just silly. What are we, five?
Asserting that Rachel Maddow's criticism means that she may be joining the village is truly strange, and not in any way "reality - based."
Communicating honest differences with Olbermann and Maddow, or anyone else, is great. It's healthy. It's in our DNA as progressives. But it shouldn't be done in a way that goes after them for communicating their honest differences with the Obama Administration. Those who resort to this tactic are only going to intensify the gap in the grassroots/netroots between those who believe the president is falling short of what is necessary, at least in part because of his own decisions, and those who are more apt to claim that his approach isn't a significant part of the problem. And that doesn't help any of us.
It's wrong. It's highly counterproductive. Those who are pulling these stunts Are. Not. Helping.
UPDATE: "Fake President" Maddow's gave her own "Oval Office in my mind" address on tonight's show. It was really good.
Yesterday the Campaign for America's Future, hands down one of the best national progressive organizations, kicked off their annual conference.
Coverage of one of the first panels, "Progressive Strategy in the Obama Era," got me thinking about the three different roles I believe I play as an Obama supporter and why pivoting from one to another is going to be even more essential in the year ahead. Some thoughts below.
This post focuses on a point that was originally included in a four - part series on the Obama presidency I've been working on. In the interest of keeping the series down to an accessible length, I'll be using recent events to emphasize a few points that are better made in standalone posts.
The central point here is very straightforward and fairly obvious, but has yet to be grasped to the extent that it needs to be: The words, frames, and themes President Obama uses have a tremendous effect on the how the Democratic Party is perceived by voters. There is widespread agreement among progressive Dems -- regardless of whether we're personally thrilled with the Obama presidency so far, very disappointed, or somewhere in between -- that Barack Obama has exceptional communication skills. When he's at his best, he is second to none.
In general, elected Democrats are still suffering from a "confidence gap" that has undermined them and sent the wrong signal (if we act like we're ashamed of our core values, voters are going to assume that we have something to be ashamed of) for at least two decades. While there have been some improvements recently -- thanks to an engaged grassroots and prominent voices, elected Dems, and candidates who "get it" -- we've still got quite a ways to go if we're going to really break the cycle. And right now, we have a rare opportunity to make major strides on this front. President Obama, with all of his ability, has a key role to play if we as Democrats are going to seize this potentially defining moment.
This is way over the line. Click on the link and scroll down to watch the video to see exactly what I'm talking about. It's unbelievable.
The Republican Governors Association knows damn well what it is doing.
Obama is ignoring the will of the American people.
Obama is corrupting your representatives.
Alcee Hastings
Al Sharpton
Obama will bankrupt our country.
Obama will end the American dream.
Here's a picture of Obama that makes him look arrogant. See, he despises you! It's alright to hate him. He hates you... and our country.
And here he is, along with his supporters, reiterating that yes they can more or less end America. Unless you stop them.
