What Tom Frank Said

by: David Sirota

Fri Jan 16, 2009 at 08:00


This is your edition of "What Tom Frank Said":

"The real-world function of Beltway centrism has not been to wage high-minded war against "both extremes" but to fight specifically against the economic and foreign policies of liberalism...And centrism's achievements? Well, there's Nafta, which proved Democrats could stand up to labor. There's the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act. There's the Iraq war resolution, approved by numerous Democrats in brave defiance of their party's left. Triumphs all...

It is so obviously preferable to be part of the movement that doesn't compromise easily than to depend on the one that has developed a cult of the almighty center. Even a conservative as ham-handed as former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay seems to understand this.

As he recounted in his 2007 memoirs, Republicans under his leadership learned "to start every policy initiative from as far to the political right as we could." The effect was to "move the center farther to the right," drawing the triangulating Clinton along with it.

President-elect Obama can learn something from Mr. DeLay's confession: Centrism is a chump's game. Democrats have massive majorities these days not because they waffle hither and yon but because their historic principles have been vindicated by events. This is their moment. Let the other side do the triangulating.

I really have nothing to add. This has been your edition of "What Tom Frank Said."
David Sirota :: What Tom Frank Said

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What Tom Frank Said | 4 comments
To be fair (0.00 / 0)
What Frank is really saying is that he wants Obama to act like liberalism won.  In fact, Obama won and he'll use the office for his own purposes.

Progressives made Obama president for their own purposes; to get their agenda passed.  Obama sought and won the presidency for his own purposes; presumably person power, etc.

If the progressive movement can make him president, then it probably has some ability to control him as president, but that is not necessarily easy.  In other words, electing a Democrat to the White House doesn't mean the battle hasn't ended.  It has just begun.

Centrism, by definition, doesn't help the progressive agenda.  It helps individual politicians win office.  It is our job to promote the progressive agenda, reward politicians for doing the same, and to punish centrism.    

Didn't this get posted already? (0.00 / 0)

Excellent David. (0.00 / 0)
Frank is right.
Strong hand (0.00 / 0)
The Republicans ruled the House with an iron hand during their regime of 1994-2006.  During that time, DeLay and his friends never had more than 232 Republican votes and had less for all but two of the 12 years.

DeLay, of course, did not listen to his moderates, he made them irrelevant by requiring that all legislation required the support of a majority of the Republican caucus.  The power of the small number of Blue Dogs is ridiculous as is the power that Mitch McConnell flexes through non-existent fillibusters.

Meeting with the Blue Dogs and Republicans, as Obama is doing, tends to create an ad hoc opposition caucus that includes lots of Democrats.  This doesn't seem the way to go in my book.

Btw, the only time Republicans had the same (or greater) voting strength that Democrats now possess was following the elections of 1920 for a two year span in 1921-23.  At that time, they had 302 House and 59 Senate seats.  One could argue that in 1929-31 Republican power was similar at 270 House and 56 Senate members (of 96 total).  That's a bit less in the Senate, a bit more in the House.  We all know how that one turned out.

Does this look like a time to start with a huge compromise and move from there?  I think not.

What Tom Frank Said | 4 comments
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