So does this mean that Obama is one of the smartest politicians of his generation? A good case could be argued, but its only a start. The rest of us have to sign on to the no-drama team. Count me in.

It's all about changing -- or more accurately, moving -- the definition of "centrism."

Just like EricK EricKson is doing in his complaint about Greg Sargent. Meanwhile, Steve Benen is the new center-right.

Once again President Obama uses political ju-jitsu to render the opposition impotent.

By inviting Rick Warren to speak he annoyed the rabid Lefties for a brief moment, but made the Snake Handlers suddenly irrelevant in their fulminations.

Now, but saying that liberal, progressive, forward thinking ideas are 'centrist' he has co-opted the right's base. The next few years will be a pleasure.

We are a center-right country. Combining that fact with issue polls shows that the center right position in the US is for getting out of Iraq quickly, government-paid health care, and repudiating the whole Bush regime. What used to be the commie left is now center left.

No no. I've been told that he is a centrist or even a right-winger. His appointments and lack of bold progressive policy language proves it.

Obama's program for "energy independence" is much too little, much too late. His modest suggestions would have been a good start 25 years ago. But today they're the equivalent of tapping the brakes on a car that's hurtling toward a cliff.

First, he needs to quit using the misleading term "foreign oil". Oil is a fungible commodity. That means that basically all the oil produced in the world goes into one big pot to be purchased by the oil companies. Since no one in Congress is willing to place restrictions on oil produced on American soil it goes in the pot, where it can be -- and is -- bought to be shipped out of the country.

Secondly, we should focus on solar and wind power. Before we build another multi-million dollar electricity plant that burns fossil fuels, why not first try putting solar panels on every home and building where solar power is viable and put wind turbines in every wind corridor where there is already a human footprint (roads, power lines, etc.)?

The economic stimulus plan could include a fund that offers low interest loans to businesses that manufacture solar panels and wind turbines (and the battery units to store the power) in the U.S. to expand their capacity. The government should begin taking bids for contracts to produce millions of solar panel units and thousands of wind turbines, and then offer those units at a minimal cost to home and business owners.

Also, the government could provide money to begin training laid-off workers to install those units.

Thirdly, we need to quit being so timid and change our definition of "energy independence" to mean a goal of ending the use of all fossil fuels. Nature already has a "carbon sequestration program -- it's called oil and coal. Let's leave the carbon in the ground instead of trying to "recapture" it.

And we will need to stop wasting money on energy boondoggles like ethanol and "clean coal". If anything the environmental disaster in Tennessee would have been worse if TVA had been using the hypothetical "clean coal" technology.

We are a center right country and Obama is a Center Right politician. If in any other country in the world there were a politician who advocated against single-payer health insurance, for a limited role of unions in the workplace, and selected Larry Summers and his protege for positions of power on his economic team, this wouldn't even be a controversial statement.

The Right in our country has done such an amazing job of chopping off the left side of the political spectrum. Radical libertarian Utopianists have been running our country for 20 years. I am very skeptical that they've been more than temporarily set back but we will see.

I don't get it's just political semantics that are what's going on here. The definition of what is progressive, what is leftist, what is centrist, what is not has changed and changed again over the course of history. More recently, the definition of a liberal was as Obama adeptly pointed out in one of the debates: "Anyone that disagrees with Bush".

In the years to come, I do think these terms will get a make-over. Hopefully we'll come up with better ones even. We could use some less polarizing terms. This is certainly going to be a new time, with 'new normals' all around.

Obama's message is sound and timely. We are indeed all suffering and the country is deeply wounded. We do in fact need to come together. As in NOW.

This economic problem belongs to Sen. DODD and Sen. FRANK for their ignorance of business knowledge.

they should be hung by their ankles from a big oak tree and left. They are responsible for BAD business pracitices. THEY ARE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS with their hand in the money.

Posted by: SteveT on January 3, 2009 at 10:45 AM | PERMALINK

Word.

Give the money to the people and let them pay off as much of their bills as they can. That will give money to home loans or credit cards, this will help, starting at the bottom and working up for finanical stablity of our citizens and companies. But this could mean john q public could be debt free if the government would let this happen. {NO WAY they want the money}

His plan is to restore the old economy, bring us back to $150/barrel oil. He cannot accomplish that for we have left the old economy behind.

He may want to build classrooms, but the good high school students in central Fresno are going on-line with personal study, using a vacant strip mall. They don;t need Obama's brick buildings, they have everything they need.

Nor did they intend to accumulate another bunch of pension debt for government bricklayers.

The thing that people like Sirota and Stoller believe, is that the framing change has never worked. Instead, it has only corrupted it's users into becoming center-lite republicans.

I used to criticize Obama, but realized that all I can do is wait until he fails or not.

Matt, dude, try stomping on the floor. Your record seems to be stuck on the most obnoxious part of the song.

Well, it's getting very hard to keep track of who's what's: With Bush being a commie lefty handing out bushel sacks of money (so far only to the commie socialist lefty uber rich, but who knew the rich were such socialists?) And a vast majority of good Americans voting for Obama after being told he was a "Socialist"!

Well, OK, I admit, it looks like center right now was socialist left in October.

Makes one wonder where we will be this summer.

On KTLK, the "progressive" radio station in Los Angeles, their tag-line is "progressive is the new mainstream." It annoyed me at first, but I'm starting to appreciate it.

"...It reminded me of something Atrios said about a month ago, when he mentioned how satisfied he'd be if Obama's team convinces people that Obama is "a sensible centrist who wants to do sensible centrist things like build SUPERTRAINS, get out of Iraq, not torture people or invade random countries, strengthen labor protections, reduce income inequality, improve education, provide health care for people, and reduce poverty."

It's all about changing -- or more accurately, moving -- the definition of "centrism."

Therein lies Atrios' stupidity...To conservatives and most republicans...this is a completely liberal agenda and must be blocked and filibustered all the way. Are you starting to get the picture yet Obama...ANYTHING YOU DO IS WRONG...THEY WANT THEIR POWER BACK. This is not "good policy" it is liberalism...now get back to "pal'in around with terrorists. Oh say it ain't so Rush. Maybe Obama will realize that when you have the power you better use it while you can because catering to the opposition will only impede your progress. Look at Clinton...gave 'em everything they asked for. Look at Pelosi and Reid...gave Bush everything he asked for. Now that the shoe is on the other foot...you want to pretend they will agree to do what they wouldn't do and will never do just so they don't feel left out. Now that's a plan.

The people said stop funding the war...you increased funding...the people said no telecom Immunity...you gave telecom immunity...the people said no torture, rendition etc, etc etc.. Atrios list all the things the people want so based on congress' record...what does Obama think will happen?

"So you're drowning", said the scorpion on the frog's back. "So we're both drowning but you knew I was a scorpion when you put me on you back for a ride. What did you expect?"

Jeez, give the guy a chance to disappoint us already. He isn't even in office.