Prompted in part by Kos' post this morning about Sen. Obama’s consensus strategy, I’ve been thinking about leadership in the context of the war and all the other issues facing the 44th President.
Having oppsed the war from the outset, Obama is well-positioned to call for compromise as part of a pragmatic effort to ramp down the war, without calling for withdrawal, having opposed the war from the outset. But, as seems to be the larger theme he endeavors to create, Obama is seeking to demonstrate an ability to work in a bipartisan, "common sense" way to find solutions to our nation’s ills.
This certainly sounds appealing, particularly to independent and independent-minded voters tired of seven years of divisive, corrosive politics. But what will it get us?
Many readers (as evidenced by the comments in Kos’ post) here are opposed to most compromise with the GOP, seeing it as capitulation and unhealthy to the long-term success of progressive/liberal goals. But the next (Democrat) President will likely have a 30-40 seat majority in the House and a 1-6 seat advantage in the Senate. That is enough to pass good legislation, but not enough to provide the leftward shift so needed in this country.
Where then does such a shift come from? Leadership.
Is Obama a sufficiently compelling leader to convince large majority of Americans to reject the destructive policies implemented in the last seven years? Moreover, does Obama want to use the Presidency to unite the country around the middle, or will he effort to lead public opinion, and therefore the Congress to a more progressive place?
I don’t know, and this has all along has been my question about Obama’s candidacy.
I’m believe that Sen. Edwards is interest in moving us leftward, though I don’t know if he can. And I believe that Sen. Clinton is not interested in a structural move left, and so I haven’t considered if she can lead the country in such a direction. Maybe I’m wrong about both of these candidates, I’m sure their supporters and detractors will let me know in the comments.
Ultimately, my primary vote (which won’t matter much, since it’s after Super Tuesday), will go to the candidate whom I believe to be committed to a dramatic change in the political and policy dynamics in our country. But commitment isn’t enough. We need a leader who understands when it is necessary to move public opinion and when to follow it.