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OrpheusAgonistes -> RE: Elena Kagan, pick for the Supreme Court (5/10/2010 4:01:48 AM)
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Yeah, I don't disagree with you here. If I remember your posting history correctly, we disagree on domestic political philosophy and we also read Obama differently. I think you think (correct me if I'm wrong) he's a liberal, possibly Socialist, snake in the grass; whereas I think he's a yellowbellied Corporatist varmint.
What interests me is how often critiques of Obama from the Right get his political style exactly right, even if they misread his agenda. I'm beginning to think that's not accidental. It's much easier for Obama to shore up his support with liberals by occasionally saying (but not doing, mind you) something he knows will aggravate Conservatives than it would be for him to take concrete, substantive action to advance something resembling a Progressive agenda.
As it stands, Obama wants Progressive voters (and their financial and organizational efforts) but he doesn't want to alienate the center-right elements that really control (and finance) the Democratic party. He understands better than anybody (Bush had a weirdly primal understanding of this even if his head was terribly muddled) the tribalism in American politics. He doesn't need to do anything for Progressives to keep their support, all he needs to do is every now and then make a gesture or an off-handed comment that he knows won't bother anybody except those far enough on the right that they'd hate him no matter what he did. What's he losing? Nothing. What's he gaining? The continued support of Progressives who giggle and point as the other tribe foams at the mouth. He never really promised Progressives much (he let them think what they wanted and project whatever views they wanted to on him) and so far he's delivered.
Kagan is another little "Fuck you" to the liberal wing of the party. He's replacing the most liberal judge on the current court with a callow, untested nominee whose views (to the degree people seem to be able to suss them out) are of the mealymouthed, mushball Moderate school. He has the numbers in Congress to get through any reasonable candidate and this is his pick. Each time a moment is forced to its crisis and he has to make a choice, he tells his own left wing "We can't do it this time guys, but next time, seriously. We're gonna get 'em."
Why? I think you're right--it's because he understands how to run a game on voters better than anybody in a long time.
Incidentally, before somebody says "Kid, that's just how politics works," and then chuckles knowingly, I'm well aware of that. Reagan became a darling of the American Right while governing nearer the center than most of his supporters realized. Kennedy became a Lion of the Left while governing to the center-right. What makes Obama different is that he's been so successful at selling himself to starry-eyed idealists for much longer than I ever thought he'd be able to. The Kagan nomination could maculate his shiny white armor...but I've thought that before.
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