Hey, Obama’s following in Reagan’s footsteps
The Republican approach was not fully played out politically after 2008 because the depth of the country’s economic troubles kept discontent high and helped the GOP to its 2010 midterm victory. But in 2012, voters had the choice of confirming their 2008 decision to move toward the center-left, or ratifying 2010’s verdict on behalf of the right. They chose Obama and the new progressive course.
Republicans in Congress now, like Democrats in the Reagan years, are coming to terms with a country that wants to move in a new direction. Like Tip O’Neill, Speaker John Boehner is having trouble holding his troops together.
Reagan forced Democrats to realize they wouldn’t keep winning simply by invoking FDR’s legacy. Paradoxically, in following Reagan’s political lead, Obama is setting out to prove that the Reagan era is finally over.
Blowback
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…or something.
Purple Fury on January 24, 2013 at 1:32 PM
Planet Dionne.
fogw on January 24, 2013 at 1:33 PM
Anyone who has ever masturbated to Obama should be barred from punditry.
Kataklysmic on January 24, 2013 at 1:35 PM
E.J. Di-Lusional
UltimateBob on January 24, 2013 at 1:37 PM
Obama barely won because millions of white conservatives stayed home.
Also, true believers like EJ love to talk about the “direction” progressives are taking us without mentioning that we’ll go bankrupt and have no liberties before we get there.
gwelf on January 24, 2013 at 1:39 PM
Yeah, especially with that roaring 5% GDP growth.
He’s a regular “Gipper” on that one, baby!!
ToddPA on January 24, 2013 at 1:40 PM
Democrats will only win the next presidential election if a minority is headlining the ticket. The mid-terms in 2010 proved blacks and other minorities will not come out in droves if “their people” are not on the ticket.
When the 2014 midterms roll around and Democrats lose seats, what will Dionne say then?
ButterflyDragon on January 24, 2013 at 1:44 PM
Yeah, except Reagan’s footsteps are pointing in the opposite direction.
The Rogue Tomato on January 24, 2013 at 1:44 PM
Sure, Reagan was really out there destroying the good old USofA. ///
EJ is way past the embarrassment stage, it is not even registered as a ‘minor irritant’.
Sir Napsalot on January 24, 2013 at 1:46 PM
I love all this business about “the country decided”, as if the 2010 and 2012 electorates were the same.
No, EJ, what happened was, the Dems got large numbers of new voters registered and turned out in their target demo (youth, women, Latinos, blacks), and in the swing states this provided the margin of victory.
Purple Fury on January 24, 2013 at 1:50 PM
Odd that the lefties never brag that Bark is the new Carter.
Bishop on January 24, 2013 at 1:51 PM
He’s right, but the important thing is that the Democrats could afford to bide their time with Reagan. Going along with the Obama nation isn’t an option for free people, non-communists, hosts to be enslaved in his parasite utopia.
Buddahpundit on January 24, 2013 at 1:58 PM
How’s that economy doing?
It was soaring by this point under Reagan.
Good Lt on January 24, 2013 at 1:58 PM
In 1984, Reagan won re-election with 49 states, while the media, academia and Hollywood all pulling out the stops to defeat him. He didn’t have the benefit of the internet, talk radio or cable news. Obama didn’t even come close to that, even with the corrupt media lying and Mau Mau’ing him back into office.
Dionne’s bullcrap is a continuation of the new left-wing theme: The debate is over, we won, now shut up and sit down.
RadClown on January 24, 2013 at 2:00 PM
The difference between Obama and Reagan is very simple.
Reagan ran his campaigns on his calues.
Obama has run his campaigns without his values.
It is impossible for Obama to claim any sort of shift in the country when his campaign speaches were completely disconnected from his inaugural speach.
The clearly hatefull divisive Obama can never influence all of the people.
Freddy on January 24, 2013 at 2:02 PM
It’s just that he’s walking backwards.
Socratease on January 24, 2013 at 2:16 PM
Bark wouldn’t make a pimple on Reagan’s butt and it is stupid for people to think Bark is anything more than a steaming pile of you know what.
BobK on January 24, 2013 at 3:04 PM
Except Reagan created great economic success. Obama has not and does not appear to be changing his governing philosophy towards anything that will create growth. Obama will be forgotton in history other than being the first black president while Reagan will forever be recognized as one of the great presidents. Results matter.
Ellis on January 24, 2013 at 3:30 PM