Deliverance or Diversion? ...........Krugman

Deliverance or Diversion?
By PAUL KRUGMAN


By PAUL KRUGMAN

But a funny thing happened on the way to the 2008 election.

Unless Hillary Clinton wins big on Tuesday, Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee. And he’s not at all the kind of candidate one might have expected to emerge out of the backlash against Republican governance.

Now, nobody would mistake Mr. Obama for a Republican — although contrary to claims by both supporters and opponents, his voting record places him, with Senator Clinton, more or less in the center of the Democratic Party, rather than in its progressive wing.

But Mr. Obama, instead of emphasizing the harm done by the other party’s rule, likes to blame both sides for our sorry political state. And in his speeches he promises not a rejection of Republicanism but an era of postpartisan unity.

That — along with his adoption of conservative talking points on the crucial issue of health care — is why Mr. Obama’s rise has caused such division among progressive activists, the very people one might have expected to be unified and energized by the prospect of finally ending the long era of Republican political dominance.

Some progressives are appalled by the direction their party seems to have taken: they wanted another F.D.R., yet feel that they’re getting an oratorically upgraded version of Michael Bloomberg instead.

Others, however, insist that Mr. Obama’s message of hope and his personal charisma will yield an overwhelming electoral victory, and that he will implement a dramatically progressive agenda.

-snip-
All in all, the Democrats are in a place few expected a year ago. The 2008 campaign, it seems, will be waged on the basis of personality, not political philosophy. If the magic works, all will be forgiven. But if it doesn’t, the recriminations could tear the party apart.

More at............

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/030308N.shtml

That much is certain.

The firebrand populist has already left the race. And unfortunately for Mr. Krugman, Hillary is as far from FDR as one could find. She's more of a Hoover type president, business friendly, not willing to rock the boat for anyone but herself. At least Obama isn't telling people to vote Republican if he loses the primary.

but figure..thats what it was all about..."getting rid of those activists."

No One likes folks who "cause trouble." :-(

We are guilty of excesses 40 years ago, and must continue to be blamed and punished. Had we not objected to poll taxes, voter intimidation, discrimination based on race in housing and employment, second class citizenship for women, and other "divisive" issues, the country would not be having any problems today.




I hope I am not being too audacious by posting this without a sarcasm smiley.