tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post3436685245053050079..comments2024-03-28T10:49:14.510-05:00Comments on Horizons: On Obama's PassionNancy LeTourneauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-35926654036837447602011-08-07T17:59:09.989-05:002011-08-07T17:59:09.989-05:00Joe,
This is something I've always wondered a...Joe,<br /><br />This is something I've always wondered about those who see the situation as Westen does...<br /><br />If they think the the GOP is so intransigent, do they REALLY believe that Obama being more harsh in his rhetoric would lead to their surrender or in any way change the outcome? <br /><br />On the other hand, I think Westen hasn't been listening closely enough or has forgotten a lot of what Obama has said. Remember his speech about the deficit? Rep. Paul Ryan got called out BIG time - and he was pissed!<br /><br />Sometimes I think what these folks want is not a challenge to the Republicans, but the kind of red meat that - as you point out - does nothing but satisfy the "base" and creates further polarization.Nancy LeTourneauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-16420930332128213702011-08-07T17:16:22.953-05:002011-08-07T17:16:22.953-05:00I read Westen's piece in the NYT this morning....I read Westen's piece in the NYT this morning. I've also read his book. He has had a few good things to say in the past about neuroscience and politics, but whenever he tries his hand at writing the speeches he thinks candidates ought to give, they sound weak to me. <br /><br />In his piece this morning, Westen's version of what he thinks Obama should have said in his Inaugural Address I thought was pathetic. Had he given that speech, which was all about blaming Wall Street and conservatives for the the financial crisis, he would have been dismissed as divisive. And that speech would have been directly contrary to the message of hope and reconciliation and unity, which is the message that got Obama elected. <br /><br />This is all about how Obama hasn't done enough to stir the passions of partisans on the left. But he didn't need to do that to get his program through Congress. What he needed to do, and tried very hard to do, was to reach out to moderates and conservatives for some support. So I guess Westen's argument is that since the conservatives did not respond very favorably to those overtures, Obama should have treated them as the enemy from the beginning. It is really hard for me to see how that strategy would have been more effective--except perhaps in stirring up the passions of his base--or how it would have been consistent with the message of his campaign. My guess is that all the partisanship and divisiveness we are seeing now would be nothing compared to what would have happened if Obama had tried Westen's approach.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12552117060181130126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-24566824089320856642011-08-07T12:42:41.912-05:002011-08-07T12:42:41.912-05:00Love as sweet reason...now there's a concept I...Love as sweet reason...now there's a concept I can embrace. :-)Nancy LeTourneauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-22936163227597975182011-08-07T12:22:28.365-05:002011-08-07T12:22:28.365-05:00Stellar, Ms Smarty! Stellar! Beating back degree...Stellar, Ms Smarty! Stellar! Beating back degreed fools with the commonsense of love. Don't mean to be mushy because to me love is sweet reason. I may not be able to do it as I'd like, but I know it when I see it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com