# Obama Feints To the Left **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 20, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330 "2015-01-20T00:28:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/41 "2015-01-20T19:50:57Z")
That’s a pretty big thing, arguably the biggest since it reflects the judgment of the voters. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/42 "2015-01-20T19:52:32Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I’ll be quite honest here. I’m a liberal who thinks everybody should pay taxes. You must be pretty happy then since everyone does pay taxes. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/43 "2015-01-20T19:52:46Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The Democrats can’t win the Senate if a dozen incumbents and challengers have to distance themselves from Obama as they did in 2014. Only on Fox News is the 2016 election going to be about Obama. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/44 "2015-01-20T19:53:03Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > And how are Republicans going to pay for those middle class tax cuts? Increasing the debt? Cutting defense? Cutting Social Security? None of those options make Republicans look good. Tax increases on the wealthy. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/45 "2015-01-20T19:53:44Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > That’s a pretty big thing, arguably the biggest since it reflects the judgment of the voters. No bigger than any of the other things. No bigger than marking him a big success for being re-elected with a big win. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/46 "2015-01-20T19:56:03Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > Here is what he will get: > [ol] > [li]Obama speaking to the American People on TV proposing a Tax Break for The Middle Class (and a Tax hike on The Rich).[/li][li] **Republicans blocking and voting down the proposed tax break and the tax hike.** [/li][li]Democrats campaigning in 2016 that Republicans voted down a Tax Break for the Middle Class.[/li][li]Democrats get more votes![/li][/ol] The Congress, no matter which party is in control, is under no obligation–none–to pass the President’s agenda. They don’t even have to bring it up for a vote. And that’s not obstruction, it’s how it works. Congress passes laws, the President can either sign them or veto them, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/47 "2015-01-20T19:57:13Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Only on Fox News is the 2016 election going to be about Obama. Not solely, but elections always reflect in large part the performance of the incumbent. Hillary will be portrayed as Obama’s third term, and it will be entirely fair and accurate. Whether or not it’s a GOOD thing will be for the voters to determine, and they will take it heavily into account. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/48 "2015-01-20T20:07:47Z")
You should be pretty scared about that, voters love the shit out of Obama. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/49 "2015-01-20T20:16:12Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > You should be pretty scared about that, voters love the shit out of Obama. Sure they do. That’s why the Senate candidate from Kentucky wouldn’t even admit that she voted for him twice. Results: She lost. If the voters lurv Obama so much, what are Mrs. Hagan, Miss Landrieu, Mr. Pryor, et al, doing these days? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/50 "2015-01-20T20:19:33Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Sure they do. That’s why the Senate candidate from Kentucky wouldn’t even admit that she voted for him twice. Results: She lost. > > If the voters lurv Obama so much, what are Mrs. Hagan, Miss Landrieu, Mr. Pryor, et al, doing these days? What’s Obama doing this days? oh yeah, about to deliver his 6th state of the union address after crushing two elections. Also, i fail to see how your examples of democrats running AWAY from Obama and losing are supposed to prove me wrong. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/51 "2015-01-20T20:22:27Z")
His approval polls prove you wrong without any further debate. Although I’m frankly shocked we would even have such a debate. This board is way too educated and informed to actually be on the subject of whether the President is popular or not. What’s next, are we going to debate whether or not the Republicans control Congress, or whether there are in fact nine Supreme Court justices? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/52 "2015-01-20T20:25:49Z")
Hate to rain on your parade, but Obama’s poll numbers are sharply up in the past month. If trends continue, he will be an asset to any Democratic candidate in 2016. As for Grimes, she’ll run again as soon as she figures out how to answer the question of whether she voted for herself in 2014. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/53 "2015-01-20T20:27:17Z")
Sharply? 2.5 points? Gotta take what you can get I guess. He could get up farther, but that will depend on his performance and the economy. to get back to SOTU, he’ll probably see a bounce from that, so maybe he’ll get to 46 soon? We’ll see. I’m really not too concerned. Still not enough to elect a Democratic successor. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/54 "2015-01-20T20:28:14Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > This theory that “progressive” ballot initiatives won, but centrist Democratic candidates lost because progressives didn’t vote for them, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. This is why: let’s say that Wavy Gravy and his 100 groovy buddies showed up to the polls in November to vote for the ballot initiative to build a giant statute commemorating the Wobblies or something. They all vote for that initiative, and lo and behold, it passes. > > Who did Mr. Gravy and his friends vote for in the Senate race in his state, if not for the Democrat? There are really only four possibilities: > > 1. He voted for the Democratic candidate while holding his nose. > 2. He voted for the Republican candidate, perhaps as some kind of protest. > 3. He voted for a third party candidate more in line with his conscience. > 4. He simply did not vote for a Senate candidate. > > Each of these possibilities is very easily tested. Extricating the relevant data points from the “test”: > [@](#): > > [ul] > [li]The minimum wage hike garnered 549,000 yes votes[/li][li]Mark Pryor got 334,000 votes[/li][li]1. It seems most likely that Mr. Gravy and his friends voted for the centrist Democrat and the ballot initiative[/li][/ul] A 40% gap (a yawning chasm in political terms) is clearly incompatible with your thesis. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/55 "2015-01-20T20:33:51Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Sure they do. That’s why the Senate candidate from Kentucky wouldn’t even admit that she voted for him twice. Results: She lost. > > If the voters lurv Obama so much, what are Mrs. Hagan, Miss Landrieu, Mr. Pryor, et al, doing these days? What’s Mr. Romney doing these days? He actually ran against Obama. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/56 "2015-01-20T20:42:57Z")
We realize he’s President. Our reality sensors are working just fine. We may even tune in to hear what he has to say, something that 70% of the Democratic base probably won’t even bother to do. If you can’t get them to vote, you certainly can’t get them to sit down and listen to important stuff. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/57 "2015-01-20T20:46:14Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > What’s Obama doing this days? oh yeah, about to deliver his 6th state of the union address after crushing two elections. 51.06% of the popular vote in 2012 is not “crushing” an election. Please stop saying so, it is simply not true. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/58 "2015-01-20T20:46:28Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The guy’s been great at winning elections for himself, not so much for the Democratic Party as a whole. The party hasn’t been this weak in numbers since the 1920s. And yet the Republicans still can’t do anything besides step on their own dicks. Tragic. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/59 "2015-01-20T20:50:58Z")
At least I don’t have to listen to Pryor on the news anymore. His Father was very good. Mark rode on his coat tails. In regards to some Democratic candidates not wanting to be connected to Obama, I am reminded of Al Gore shunning Clinton’s support and losing the election. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330/60 "2015-01-20T20:51:41Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > What’s Mr. Romney doing these days? He actually ran against Obama. Contemplating another run for President. Nary a peep from the former Senators I named, adding Mr. Begich, Mr. Udall, and I can go on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-feints-to-the-left/710330.md?page=4)