President Obowma
President Oba mao

While caving to special interests to carve out a Republican-Lite position on virtually every front, Obama is portrayed by the right as some extreme left juggernaut – the difference couldn’t be more striking.

Ironically, the more they compromise with the right the less effective the change, from health care to financial reform to stimulating the economy.

While being roundly bashed by the right for being too liberal, Obama’s “compromises” with big business Republicans and Democrats made the stimulus less effective, health care reform save much less money for businesses and individuals, and any forthcoming financial reform will be tepid at best but great for Goldman Sachs.

Bill Clinton’s incessant compromising with the Republicans and his triangulating strategy birthed both the free trade and financial collapse debacles, among others; and for it he gained only the right’s hatred and vitriol, much as Obama has suffered already.

While Buckley makes governing nearly impossible with cold hard cash to both parties overruling the common good; Democrats need to start doing what works and take their shot next election that the regular folks will recognize it.