tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570630.post5934283115316199582..comments2023-06-20T11:40:24.218-04:00Comments on LEAVWORLD: GRAFFITI POLITTI: “Bipartisan Compromise” Gets Attacked From Both Sides: Where Are The Moderates?CHRIS LEAVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09541894864601303486noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570630.post-20864414400598964362010-12-17T03:59:53.257-05:002010-12-17T03:59:53.257-05:00You make some good points, but I think Obama is on...You make some good points, but I think Obama is only becoming "pragmatic" when his back is against the wall. He had no problen shutting the GOP out for the last two years. All of the "compromising" he's done has been with the moderates in his own party.<br /><br />I only said that the GOP "looks" like the moderate party, in the aftermath of this deal. I'm talking about the public reaction from partisans on both sides, not the merits of their positions. <br /><br />As for "both sides finding fault" with Obama, it's worth looking back at Pres. Bush. He betrayed his conservative base on any number of issues (immigration was the biggest one, but there were several others), but the media didn't mention it very much. That's because they are left-leaning, and jumped on the criticisms from the left, over his tax cuts, the Iraq war, etc. I think it's funny that O finds himself in this situation, because any president is going to tick off some in his own party.<br /><br />We agree on more points than we disagree on, I think, Doc. Thanks for taking the time to comment, on my 600TH LEAVWORLD: GRAFFITI POLITTI post!!!CHRIS LEAVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09541894864601303486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570630.post-64174725017848312532010-12-09T10:34:49.999-05:002010-12-09T10:34:49.999-05:00I have to disagree with you on this one. I never ...I have to disagree with you on this one. I never (and many "Progressives") thought from the start that Obama was as far Left as the GOP and people like yourself imply/think. And I certainly don't see this deal confirming anything "moderate" about the GOP. Bottom line is that Obama had two choices now (he's a pragmatist):<br />1) not compromise; prolong the inevitable political stupidity; and lose two things come January that he did not want to lose (both of which are Middle Class issues): Unemployment benefits for those who lost their job and increased tax rates on Middle Class income<br />2) compromise, and be able to say that at least he did not let the taxes on the Middle Class go up; and also be able to say he got prolonged establishment of unemployment benefits (which actually help regular people pay their bills, stay in their homes, and perhaps if something is left over, buy a Xmas gift for someone).<br /><br />Let's face it, regardless of what he did and continues to do, the selfishness of people on both sides will always try and find fault with Obama.<br /><br />I would say that the definition of a "Moderate" is someone who actually does get criticized from both sides.LogicalDochttp://bloghealthcaredoc.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com