Obama and Courtesy and the dreaded words....

Bipartisanship and (even more dreaded) Reagan....

More scary stuff after the jump

I’m reading a lot about how every time Obama mentions bipartisanship and reaching out not only to democrats, but also independents and republicans, well that it just sets some people’s teeth on edge. I read and hear a lot of, "How dare he do that. We, the democrats, haven’t been listened to in 7 years, why should we listen to them if we win."

Well I see it two ways...

One...with some background about my mom....my mom was a school teacher in public schools for 23 years. She told me once that she didn’t care if the kids respected her or not. She knows that respect is earned over time. She didn’t need their respect to teach them. But what she did need, and what she thought was horribly lacking, as just everyday common courtesy.

Bush hasn’t had the common courtesy to even listen to the over 50% of the US population that doesn’t agree with him. Is that good? Hell no. Should we follow suit if we win? Hell no. As President you should listen to everyone. Do you need to do what the republicans want? No. Should you listen? Yes. Do you discount everything they say because they are republicans? No. Basically we are all Americans. We all deserve to be heard, to be seen.

This is what Obama is saying, and I agree. Does that mean he won’t push a progressive agenda? No. Does this make him a republican in dem’s clothing? Hell NO. He is a Progressive democrat and will lead as a progressive democrat.

The second point is also going to set some people’s teeth on edge...Obama is taking a page from Reagan. Reagan pulled across the political divide...we still have people who are Reagan Democrats. Because some democrats voted for Reagan dud he suddenly lead as a progressive? Did he follow democratic ideals? HELL NO (I lived through Reagan and know for a fact that he didn’t do just about anything I liked or wanted).  So do you really expect Obama to suddenly change and vote and lead with republican ideals? Not gonna happen. But what he will do is bring back those Reagan Democrats and pull in those independents and will even pull over a few republicans that hate this war and this presidency. Is that bad? Nope. Will he then lead and set policy for what those few want? Nope...but he will help shape what those independent and repubs want. Obama will help them move further to the left than they thought they would (just like Reagan moved some further to the right than they thought they would move).

Listening to all and common courtesy. Damn that shouldn’t be seen a either a bad thing or a weakness. They are good and strong things and will make this country a better place.

g

•  ps....

  i will gladly vote for any of our great candidates. i do lean toward Obama for a few reason...having grown up in the 60's, just the thought of having a strong, well qualified African American as president is a wonderful thing...but i was raised as a white kid in a black neighborhood during the black power movement. And i do believe we should listen and learn from all people. The mere thought of a Obama/Richardson ticket is amazing...two non-whites as pres and vp? who would have thought that even possible...not that Obama is going to win, but he might, and not that he will pick Richardson, but he might...
  would address the experience psuedo-issue...and would make me happy since i now live in New Mexico

  g

  by thegelding on Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 09:55:31 AM PDT

•  well said.

  but it's spelled; courtesy.
  Don't mean to be snide.  I agree with your point.

  by empathy on Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 09:57:43 AM PDT

  •  yup

    please consider a diary/title edit.  I read "cutesy" at first.  Try courtesy, please.

    by bubbanomics on Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 10:06:55 AM PDT

•  I agree with you about Reagan analogies

  not being a bad thing at face value. Would it be detrimental to the progressive cause to have Obama Republicans? Reagan got dems to switch sides but still governed from a conservative position. (sans spending restraint)

  I believe he is down for the cause and out for change and is damn smooth about getting it, this shouldn't be frightening to us. Makes me wonder if there were liberals in JFK's day writing in their journals (probably with a quill pen) wishing for a more perfect candidate and moaning about the platitude of doing something for your country.

  Obama just took the principle of working inside the system to the extreme. I believe he will appeal to a wide range of Americans to win with a mandate, and will be a great progressive president. I'm pretty happy with him right now.  

  Oh, I think you meant courtesy.

  by artofstarving on Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 10:16:26 AM PDT

•  thanks....

  corrected...i am spelling challenged... ;)

  g

  by thegelding on Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 11:30:20 AM PDT