Mark Matson, one of the most thoughful Obamaphile commentators here at Open Left, posted a quick hit overnight, excerpting a recent Marc Ambinder post, "Obama And A New Liberal Consensus". It's worth taking a closer look at, because I really do think it makes the best case I've seen for Obama, and in turn, this also helps sharpen the focus of criticism. This is not unfamiliar territory, of course. But Mark has a good eye for a good presentation. Here's his excerpt, which he calls "quite thought provoking":
Some Democrats are wary of Obama's professed bipartisanship. But there's been no evidence that his views are torn between the left and the right; he is clearly putting forth a progressive, or liberal, agenda. So, rather than a Democrat bringing in a bunch of Republicans to govern by splitting the baby between the two sides, it appears that we have a case of a Democrat bringing in Republicans to put a bipartisan face on progressive policy, shades of, say, George Bush bringing in Ted Kennedy to put a bipartisan face on "compassionate conservatism."
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But if he taps some of the most well-known Republicans in America to serve in his administration, it will be tougher for conservative Republicans who are opposed in principle to Obama's agenda. Even the Republicans are Democrats these days, is what the impression would be. In other words, liberal consensus.
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He seems to want to mainstream Democratic philosophies and the Democratic worldview, rather than focusing on pure party-building (though he's certainly built up the party as well). It's a long-term strategy, and a far more ambitious one than people seem to realize.
