Comments on: Obama’s Southern Strategy

By: the Word

the Word — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:04:54 +0000

Assuming that you were a politician who truly cared about your country and you were on the fringes of your party, wouldn’t trying to work for someone who gave you a chance to do a job be better than staying on the outside of a very weakened party? Specter may be the most calculating of the bunch but I would think any Republican politician can read the tea leaves for a moderate and the trend has not been good for them for some time.

By: bloodstar

bloodstar — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:35:51 +0000

Personally, I think even if Obama is doing it as a part of a political calculus to weaken the Republicans, I can’t see a downside to it. The country is getting some good moderates in positions where they can do more good (come on, do you think a moderate republican has any pull in the party anymore?) In addition, the Republicans as the become more pure, more extreme, will either understand and move back to the middle, or continue their death spiral, taking that last ultra conservative theocratic rump into a party that competes with the Green party.

Of course, there needs to be a viable third party, or a schism in the Democrats (which could happen) in order to finish the Republican party off once and for all. Then, maybe we can have a center right party that isn’t poisoned by the nutcases out there.

Personally I wish the libertarians would get crackin, but they’re still fighting with their own purists to really take advantage of things.

By: Agnostick

Agnostick — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:30:51 +0000

Exactly how did the president "get Sen. Arlen Specter to switch parties?" I didn't hear every single remark made by Specter, but my impression is that the switch had less to do with any kind of "attractiveness" of Obama and/or the Democrats... and much more to do with Republican extremism and isolationism. And then there's the little bit of business about Specter trailing in the primary polls, against a more-extreme GOP challenger. I'd love to see some of Specter's quotes on this, if anyone has 'em. "I have found myself, recently, at odds with the Republican philosophy." (video)

By: Mike A.

Mike A. — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:29:01 +0000

We can discuss Obama’s motives behind these actions – is this a defined “southern strategy”, is he selecting the best talent for the position, or is he striving to meet his promise of having an increased bipartisan government? Any of these reasons are signs of an intelligent leader.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:16:10 +0000

An attempt to weaken the republican party by putting these members into more important positions in government. I think not. Consider each appointment a kindness.

By: Continuum

Continuum — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:07:10 +0000

During the previous 8 years, the GOP was represented by a incurious man who rode into office on his daddy’s coattails.

It is refreshing to now have a President who is extremely intelligent and educated.

Obama is playing chess while his Republican opponents have yet to figure out checkers.

By: michael reynolds

michael reynolds — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:33:16 +0000

I think with Obama the answer is generally: (E) All of the above.

By: Nick Benjamin

Nick Benjamin — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:23:00 +0000

I don’t think this is a strategy on his part because several of his earlier appointments hurt the Democrats. Napalitano was replaced by a Republican as Governor of Arizona. With redistricting coming up that hurts us. Bad.