Open Left

Lazy Article

Obama and Reagan share a number of gifts but virtually no priorities.

Almost all of Obama's policies Reagan might have liked, certainly on national security, if Reagan had been dealt the same hand. Obama and Reagan remind me of the Wizard of Oz: Reagan was the Tin Man looking for a heart (remember how he first handled AIDS?) while Obama appears to be the Scarecrow looking for a brain. Any fool can see that Obama's way of governing is doomed to being gamed by Wall Street and rejected, on the results, by Main Street.

I give Obama credit for some of what legislation has passed. But on the larger issues, he's a total failure and a moderate Republican at the policy level.

This article also claims Reagan and Obama have nothing in common but totally ignores the doppelganger aspect of these two Presidents. Yes, Reagan would not have added regulations (too much) but that's because he came in with the goal of tearing regulations down. Meanwhile, Obama (and Bush before him) is faced with the results of too little regulation and has no choice but to re-regulate.

For my taste, when Obama goes all Reagan, it's a sign he needs to be replaced on the Democratic ticket in 2012. Voters need a real Republican and a real Democrat to run for President, not two flavors of Republicanism.

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by: TSlavin @ Thu Jan 27, 2011 at 14:57:25 PM UTC

I agree with your analysis...

...and also disagreed when reading the comments saying they did not share priorities and policies.  There are some differences, but in the end they are both governing from the corporate right.

Regards,

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me-and I welcome their hatred. - FDR

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by: FLGibsonJr @ Thu Jan 27, 2011 at 18:26:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Actually, it gets better

The Theory Into Practice section starts to sound more like the president we all know and ... well, know:

In Obama's mind, his election was not an endorsement of the outsize government role that Reagan battled - bureaucratic, ever expanding, self-interested - but a cry for government that could carry out its basic missions more effectively. "I think what you're seeing is a correction to the correction," Obama explained.

That one quote sums up Obama perfectly.  The "correction to the correction" fundamentally assumes that Reagan was correct, but just overshot.  The writers use of words sounds resonant with Obama as well, as it limits government to its "basic missions" but only asks to be more effective.

That's neoliberalism defined, right there.

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by: Mark Matson @ Thu Jan 27, 2011 at 19:56:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Notice One other Detail

No mention of working people, the 99% or so who have to work for a living. That includes doctors and lawyers but also goes down to janitors and farm workers. Very few of us can afford to not work. In this and other quotes, Obama apparently exists in an almost metaphysical world where the practical purpose of government, to maintain a rough balance between the interests of all members of society (not just one against another), is completely absent.

Democrats deserve a better Presidential candidate in 2012. One who actually believes in working people, the 99% of use left out by most of his policies. It won't happen, sadly, but we still need a real choice as voters.

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by: TSlavin @ Thu Jan 27, 2011 at 22:50:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Obama can learn something from Reagan. He was charming and

disarming and he was effective in demonizing the poor and unions. Every book one reads is a lesson to be learned. Reagan did great harm to this nation, to the free market economy and the middle class. But, you have to admit, he did it with pizzazz and people followed his lead even though instinctively they knew he was wrong. I hope Obama learns the importance of communicating with people-that was his big mistake during the health care debate when he let the repugs control the argument. Obama needs to hammer on jobs, the eonomy and sound like the repug fiscal responibility of the GOP and implement better policies for the middle class. Obama has to get smarter in leading the people who will force policy implementation. After all, did the people of FL really want to elect a confessed, though unjustified crook to the governor's mansion or were they just desperate for change, and made a bad, really bad choice??

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by: CarmanK @ Thu Jan 27, 2011 at 18:22:34 PM UTC

The problem is his policies...

...are turning out to be corporate right policies.  Every time he accomplishes something my family and I are worse off.  Now it looks like he is attacking social security, be it coyly, and pushing corporate trade policies.

He is a disaster.

Regards,

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me-and I welcome their hatred. - FDR

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by: FLGibsonJr @ Thu Jan 27, 2011 at 18:29:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]