Archive for the 'Liberalism' Category

SEIU Blues Puts Power in Moderates’ Shoes

By Solomon Kleinsmith | Related entries in Bad Decisions, Bipartisan, Democrats, Independents, Left, Liberalism, News, Politics

Not a whole lot of good has come the way to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) these days. The only organization I can think of that gets more right wing scorn has been ACORN, who I think mostly get picked on because they don’t fight back. Another ally, Health Care for America Now (HCAN), [...]

July 29th, 2009 | Permalink| 5 Comments »

Pundits Competing to Frame Obama

By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in Barack, Conservatism, Liberalism, Media, Obama

After less than two months of Barack Obama’s presidency, pundits across the spectrum are competing to “frame” the new administration. There are lots of narratives, but, in my mind, the most potent ones are expressed in two editorials appearing today.
From the negative side, Janet Daley at Britain’s Telegraph argues that Obama is handing the reins [...]

March 16th, 2009 | Permalink| 2 Comments »

The Myth of Europeanism

By Mark Thompson | Related entries in Conservatism, Dumb Things Said By Smart People, Economy, Liberalism

One thing that has long baffled me has been the idea on the American Right that Europe is some kind of socialist hell-hole that borders on Communist. The thrust of the argument always seems to be that European government is so large and intrusive, and it public mores so lacking and dare I say [...]

March 16th, 2009 | Permalink| 16 Comments »

Liberaltarianism in a Liberal Age

By Mark Thompson | Related entries in Conservatism, Liberalism, Libertarian

Robert Stacy McCain has a scathing post that seeks to permanently douse the concept of a left-libertarian coalition ever being a real possibility, which includes this little bit:
As a political impulse, the sort of libertarianism that scoffs at creationism and traditional marriage wields limited influence, because it appeals chiefly to a dissenting sect of the [...]

February 13th, 2009 | Permalink| 5 Comments »

The Grand Old Dogma

By Mark Thompson | Related entries in Conservatism, Discuss, Elections, General Politics, Liberalism, Libertarian, Partisan Hacks, Partisan Nonsense

Me, elsewhere:
Over the last few months, there has been much finger-pointing as to which particular sect of the old GOP coalition is to blame for the policy failures of the last 8 years and the electoral failures of the last 2 years…..I think these accusations are deeply misplaced – the problems have not been caused [...]

January 5th, 2009 | Permalink| 5 Comments »

Obama Answers Liberal Critics

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Barack, Liberalism

They wanted him to appoint left wingers. He hasn’t.
So what to make of this?
Obama talks…
WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama, rejecting liberals’ criticism of his emerging cabinet, today strongly defended his decision to choose more experienced, centrist aides for his inner circle, arguing that the nation needs sure hands in a time of turmoil — and [...]

November 27th, 2008 | Permalink| 2 Comments »

Is Obama Being Too Cautious On Economy?

By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in Barack, Economy, Liberalism, Obama Appointments

William Greider of The Nation wonders if Barack Obama’s recent appointments indicate he won’t be the progressive savior many of the left hoped he’d be.
Obama’s choices have begun to define him. His victory, it appears, was a triumph for the cautious center-right politics that has described the Democratic party for several decades. Those of us [...]

November 25th, 2008 | Permalink| 2 Comments »

Conservative-on-Conservative Violence (of the written sort)

By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in Conservatism, Liberalism

P. J. O’Rourke takes a rhetorical tire iron to the conservative movement of which he’s been on the libertarian side of since the 1970s. If you know O’Rourke, you know he has about as much love for modern liberals as dogs have for cats. Seems he now finds modern conservatives just as hideous.
You don’t have [...]

November 10th, 2008 | Permalink| 4 Comments »

All Hail the Mushy Middle

By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in Conservatism, Elections, General Politics, Liberalism

Here’s what hardcore partisans on both sides often fail to understand: winning an election doesn’t mean most of the country agrees with their ideology. In fact, both the hardcore right and the hardcore left are minority positions whose influence is inflated not by numbers but by passion. They might be the “bases” of our two [...]

November 6th, 2008 | Permalink| 5 Comments »

Obama and the iDemocrats

By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in 2008 Election, Barack, Democrats, Liberalism, The World

As Barack Obama continues to attract throngs of supporters and polls keep indicating he will win by a more than comfortable margin, I find myself wondering how much of the Obama phenomenon is simply a massive rejection of President Bush and how much is an honest-to-God shift in our political culture.
On one hand, the Obama [...]

October 28th, 2008 | Permalink| 6 Comments »

Shocking Development: Obama is a Liberal

By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in 2008 Election, Barack, Economy, Liberalism, Welfare

Circulating the wires today is a 2001 Barack Obama radio interview clip concerning wealth redistribution. As with all things political, your perspective and your prejudices will determine your interpretation of this clip.
Some see it as no big deal. Others see it as proof that Obama is all but a Marxist.
I understand the right’s desire [...]

October 27th, 2008 | Permalink| 22 Comments »

Pat Buchanan Poses THE Question About An Obama Presidency

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Barack, Conservatism, Democrats, Liberalism

Will he be “at war” with his base or “at war” with the nation?
If he wants to be a two termer, he’ll be at war with his base.
What do you think?

October 18th, 2008 | Permalink| 10 Comments »

CitizenSugar Guest Blogs on Donklephant!

By Citizen Sugar | Related entries in Blogging, Conservatism, Gender, Liberalism

Need a woman’s point-of-view this election season? How about two? CitizenSugar provides readers with an entertaining look at breaking news, politics, and the most hotly debated issues.
Featuring summaries of the day’s headlines, profiles of newsmakers and the people behind their success, discussions of the issues that matter most to women, and a regular look [...]

October 14th, 2008 | Permalink| No Comments »

A Few Words on Hate and Politics

By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in Blogging, Conservatism, General Politics, Liberalism, Partisan Nonsense

Nothing turns me off like partisan anger. I know a lot of people like to get wrapped up in the false fury propagated by certain partisans, but I try to keep my irrational outbursts focused primarily on my beloved Dallas Cowboys. I don’t really understand those who feel the need to bring the gladiatorial spirit [...]

October 14th, 2008 | Permalink| 6 Comments »

Virginia is for Liberals

By donar | Related entries in 2008 Election, Cartoons, Liberalism, Political Graffiti, Virginia

Virginia for the first time in 40 years is up for grabs.

October 10th, 2008 | Permalink| 2 Comments »

Biden On McCain’s Health Care Plan

By Dennis Sanders | Related entries in 2008 Election, Biden, Conservatism, Dumb Things Said By Smart People, Health Care, Liberalism, McCain, Palin, Veep

During the Vice Presidential Debate on Thursday night, Senator Joe Biden had this to say about John McCain’s health care plan:
… do you know how John McCain pays for his $5,000 tax credit you’re going to get, a family will get? He taxes as income every one of you out there, every one of you [...]

October 4th, 2008 | Permalink| 12 Comments »

Glenn Greenwald: Purge the Blue Dogs

By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in Congress, Democrats, Liberalism

As much as the Democratic surge in power has delighted progressives, there are those who are quite unhappy with the conduct of Congress. Glenn Greenwald has a solution: kick conservative Democrats out of office.
Greenwald’s screed reads practically like satire, but since he’s got all the humor of a slab of granite, he’s clearly decided that [...]

July 29th, 2008 | Permalink| 8 Comments »

Maddow & Alter: “The New Yorker cover is irresponsible because they should know that Americans are too stupid to understand it.”

By mw | Related entries in Barack, Democrats, Liberalism, News, Partisan Nonsense

The real story is the reaction to the cover by Obama, his campaign, his supporters, and the attitudes betrayed by the reaction. As always, the tone is set at the top, with staff and supporters taking their cues from the leadership.

July 16th, 2008 | Permalink| 8 Comments »

Could Obama Be Pulled Leftward as President?

By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in Barack, Congress, Democrats, Liberalism

Dick Morris has an interesting column pointing out that Barack Obama’s center-ward drift could mean very little once he has to work with a liberal Democratic Congress. Morris reminds us that the two most liberal (and ineffective) years of the Bill Clinton presidency were his first two when a Democratic-controlled Congress forced him to pursue [...]

July 9th, 2008 | Permalink| 8 Comments »

Lets play Obamamann Oddball – Part Deux!

By mw | Related entries in Barack, Civil Liberties, Constitution, Democrats, Liberalism, Partisan Hacks

On Wednesday Olbermann completed a pair of truly jaw-dropping contradictory broadcasts on the issue of FISA, telecom immunity, and of course, Obama’s support for same. Glenn Greenwald called him on it in his column Thursday and kicked off a left field food fight in the process.

June 27th, 2008 | Permalink| 14 Comments »