Thursday, January 21, 2010

Why Obama should play to populism

Here are the last two paragraphs of an excellent 'must read' in the Financial Times:

So what on earth is going wrong? Where Mr Obama has fallen short is in the exercise of the talent that those of us who have watched him a long time assumed he had mastery: taking control of the American narrative. The switch from punchy candidate to remote administrator began, exactly a year ago, when he declined to give the crowd lines on which to cheer themselves hoarse. It was as though he was saying “I know you want to holler but you should see my in-tray.” As the year has gone on, this refusal to descend to the tomfoolery of public polemics has become more marked. But it has left a vacuum of passion into which the hard right has roared with infectiously histrionic rage.

Mr Obama’s distaste for getting down and dirty with the demagogues is a fatal misunderstanding of American politics, which seldom moves in the rarefied air of legislative achievement. It feeds instead on sound and fury; it is Mr Obama’s job to make it signify something. If he so chooses, financial regulatory reform is the perfect theatre for him to reclaim the populism he needs if his presidency is to survive in any form worth having. Take it to the bad guys, Barack. Remind the country where it was when Republicans were still in the White House. Otherwise, your government will expire from its own noble fastidiousness.

Shorter: Fuck those Repug and Wall Street bastards. President Obama, wade in with yer fists swingin' like ya got a pair. Yer gonna take some lumps, but ya gotta bring some to get some. If you don't, this country is gonna be right back in the shitter we've barely begun to climb out of.

We gave ya a shot. You better take it pretty goddam soon.

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