Obama's Invisible Victories

From the left we are so used to disappointment that we almost need it, but let's not indulge in sheer masochism. Politics isn't always about the bottom line, and for me, President Obama's invisible victories are immensely heartening. He has cleansed the Presidency, reinstated America's status in the world, championed ideals on every front, and spoken truth to power, whether that means calling both the Israelis and Muslims to account or facing down racism in this country.

We cannot shortchange the shift in consciousness that Obama's election stands for and that his Presidency continues to inspire in millions of people. For the first time in American history, more than a quarter of the electorate in 2008 was non-white. For Hispanics and blacks, who are grossly underrepresented in state and national legislatures, there's been a psychological turning point. For the first time, they can say "He's my President" in the same way the white majority takes for granted.

The left isn't famous for ideological compromise, and if Obama followed that example, he would be awash in failure. Instead, he has steered through Congress more stimulus for education than Bill Clinton managed in eight years. He has revamped the bailout to make it more democratic. I find myself agreeing with the Rev. Al Sharpton, who said on one of the Sunday news shows that Pres. Obama may not walk on water, but he's turned into the best swimmer in politics. If his ambitions for health care reform turn out to come anywhere near his stated goals, that will prove the point beyond a doubt.

Finally, the left is forever caught between a sense of vaunted moral righteousness and the reality that such an attitude will never win votes or pass legislation. FDR, JFK, and Bill Clinton are considerable heroes to realists and grave disappointments to arch idealists. I'm glad that idealism exists and keeps the pressure on Obama, as Hans Morgenthau did on FDR and Adlai Stevenson on JFK (there were many others, of course). Yet does he really need prompting on this front? I can't imagine a President with a clearer moral sense, a higher standard of policy, or a broader perspective about the direction of the country's future.

So let's settle back and enjoy the fruits of the most idealistic election since 1932, or if you prefer, 1960. A dose of calm and a little perspective are the right prescription, even if the anxious neurosis of being a leftist is incurable.

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Comments

[Hanuman]

Again from Deepak Chopra:

"I can't imagine a President with a clearer moral sense -- a higher standard of policy -- or, a broader perspective about the direction of the country's future."

This observation by a very astute and respected thinker should be taken seriously by all -- right, center and left. Why is it that much of the rest of our world sees what so many Americans do not ? Too many of us have little idea of our good fortune. Deepak Chopra does.

[rockymthi]

Sometimes I am very conflicted about the future. I get caught between righteousness and reality. I think the ideology of let them that broke it fix it(Summers, Geithner. et al) has it's limits. The Bush years took their toll on our Country and its Citizens. Yet, we have a lot of the players still in the WH loop. How can this work? Then at a deeper level, I know Obama is the right man, with the right qualifications, at the right time. I cause myself to remember, he passed by all the "you cant's" and is our President. His job is to lead our country. My job is to be a good Citizen in every aspect. To support our government, but also hold them accountable for the greater good. I think that is your "job" too.

[persimmon8]

I agree that O'bama's election does represent a change in consciousness esp with a younger generation coming of age. But what needs to happen is comprehensive change for the "good of everyone and the planet". Business as usual cannot continue...it will result in disaster. Generally speaking politicians have to stay identified with the common mind and common illusions....

This is O'bama's fault and we need leaders who are disillusioned with the status quo and help the populace move beyond entrenched power structures that refuse to change. These changes are necesary for the system to thrive and even survive at this point.

To conclude O'bama is a good role model but he is not in the position to make the necessary institutional changes. It is up to all of us!!!! He will happily go along I am sure.

[observer100]

What is enlightened myopia? Why this interest in criminal enterprise?

Blessings X 10,

Ed

[terris]

"Settling back" after 1 year as you suggest, it won't be long before another year goes by, a Republican majority takes the house and Senate, and we're back to the Clinton presidency for the next 6 years.

[kmsbt]

To follow on LPrevolt's point, FDR had Harry Hopkins and some other lefties "in his face" in his first term to help him keep his 1932 campaign promises. Henry Morgenthau, also in the inner circle as Treasury Sec., favored the status quo and opposed all of the Keynesian moves to get the economy going again. Those moves were actually working until 1936-7 when Hopkins fell out of favor and Morgenthau and his obsession, or cover story, about a balanced budget fell into favor with FDR. The country slipped back into Depression and needed WW2 to fully recover.

Dr. Chopra, I don't understand your reference to Hans Morgenthau & FDR.

Obama has plenty of Henry Morgenthau channelled by Geithner, Summers & Co. but Emanuel is sure as heck no Harry Hopkins and I don't see a Hopkins anywhere else. I wonder if The President really does need prompting on this front and he's not getting it.

[Lellie]

You are so right...thank you, thank you for your thoughts, once again!

As a "slightly-­left-of-ce­ntre" Canadian woman (who would be considered a "lefty" by American standards), I appreciate his "Respectful Power" approach which has over 2/3 of my country-men and women strongly in support of him....and this is reflected around the world.
His sophisticated, educated, worldly awareness is too subtle for some.
I find it amusing that many Americans who profess to believe in the democratic process want him, however, to behave like a dictator and put into play everything he envisioned...and all within one year!

[LPrevolt]

I think the one thing Obama can do (with-in his Constitutional rights, unlike most of that done by the former Dictator W. Bush) is actually declare there are "no more wars" and remove all the soldiers from the Middle-East war zones. (Obama is commander in chief of all armed forces) But unfortunately, That actually would Sound like something the USSR figured out just before they're way of life went belly-up in the same area some-20 odd years ago. They didn't learn in time, and I doubt we will either. Wouldn't that be something? I mean, If America was to fall into some "doctoral" form of government (some say we already have) like communism just because of being undone by Afghanistan war? Just the very opposite of what happened to USSR! Wouldn't That would make Russia the Good Guys, and America the Badder guys (since 2001 we are currently just the bad guys) after almost a 100 years of us fighting communists and after finally having "conquering the Reds" back in 1989.

[SeagirlX]

People are distracted and blinded by the status quo. People forget how we were dancing in the streets when Obama won and now that he hasn't "fixed the world" in one year's time, people go back to their ranting about how he's no different. Which is a lot of bunk. In my opinion, if you are cynical enough to believe nothing has changed, you are not awake yet.

Change in this world, the way most people imagine it, will not happen in one year...AND it takes ALL OF US to make that change happen. Not one man.

Thank you Mr. Chopra. I could not have said it any better.

[karela]

Here here, Dr. Chopra! You express my thoughts exactly. I am so proud of this President and of the work that I did to help get him elected. I never expected that he would be able to accomplish 100% of the things he wanted to accomplish because Washington, D.C. is a quagmire, but I am pleased with the way he does things and I think he's doing well against formidable odds. In order to get anything done at all, he has to work with 535 of the most ego driven people on earth and everyone of them is trying to put him or her self center stage by publicly pushing for their own particular plan. It must be very frustrating to have to deal with them when the President's focus is not himself, but his country and it's people. Every faction demands to be center front with their particular issues. The President looks at the complete job that is before him and has to set priorities. The far left demands immediate everything on their list, but the President has to deal with realities. I have no doubt that President Obama would like nothing more than to wave a magic wand and make the world the better place that we all envision, but he's stuck with having to deal with reality. He will accomplish a great deal-----if we support him-----but he won't be able to do everything on our list before the end of his first year.

[Dredd]

One can look at these elections, using history as a lesson, and see a strong status quo factor.

That is not good for the majority party because a counter revolution was their mandate.

If they only attained the status quo, then they have not met their mandate.

http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/11/elections-followed-status-quo.html

[johnsopinion]

Sadly, most people don't see a 'shift in consciousness'
as change.
"What changed? I don't SEE anything different!"
And therein lies the problem.

I see it as a tremendous change, subtle though it may
be. And we must keep the momentum going.

Thank you for being a voice of reason. A perceptive article.

[catrst]

I don't think the change is subtle in the sense that it is small and inconspicuous. I see this as a dramatic shift and something beyond my wildest dreams. Having someone of this caliber at the top moves us to reach out for excellence, authenticity, and integrity. All of a sudden mediocrity and corruption are not something we have to put up with in our leaders. So many more people are being included and empowered and their contributions will transform our nation. Its also making the reactionaries, the intolerant , the great manipulators and big pocket cheats reveal themselves for all to see like lancing a boil. Now we can put antiseptic on ourselves and heal.

[Valkyrie Ice]

You can't repair the ship unless you can stop it from sinking. You have to keep the current ship afloat even if it means hiring the guys who tried to sink it because no-one else is going to know where the holes are.

Obama isn't the messiah. Too many people put him into office thinking, "okay, he's in, let's pass the buck and stick our heads back in the sand while he fixes everything." He cannot effect change without the complete and utter support and backing of the American people. And if he has to piss them off to get them to pay attention and run their own country like the Constitution intended, thats what he's going to do.

Obama is making the country pull it's collective head out of the sand. People are realizing it's not business as usual. And the old power players will learn that money don't mean a thing when the masses are no longer willing to put up with their self aggrandizement and exploitative greed.

More people are starting to realize that they have to step up to the plate and become involved in their government. Not enough yet, as the recent elections showed, but more will wake up every day.

Obama can't do it FOR us. He can lead, but we have to follow if we are to make change happen.

A single voice can be lost.... a billion voices speaking as one cannot.

[erinaceus]

"You have to keep the current ship afloat even if it means hiring the guys who tried to sink it because no-one else is going to know where the holes are."

Yes, but there are others available who foresaw those holes, predicted the ship would sink, and tried to get others to patch the holes for years. He passed over them to hire the original hole-makers.

When you make it a point to exclude from policy-making decisions everybody who has been right and include only those who have been wrong, no sane person would think you are serious about change. The definition of insanity, is, after all, doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result.

[NeldaDee]

Yeah, but Geithner and Summers are also still in the inner-circle and know some pretty good hull repairmen.

[Valkyrie Ice]

Most of the "recommended" people the far left have proposed are those who wish to utterly dismantle the system, and then build an entirely new system. They have good ideas, but overlook the fact that rebuilding from scratch is going to take years, and we can't simply SUSPEND THE NATION WHILE IT'S DONE. We can't put the economy on hold while these big idea men change everything about the monetary system to their liking.

Change will occur, but it cannot happen "ALL AT ONCE" and people who think it can are doing the whole "head in the sand" routine. "Okay, Obama's in office, so now change will magically happen, I can ignore politics again."

Political reality = Congress riddled by corruption, Gov Agencies running their own shows and thinking they are above the law, and big money actively working to make sure legislation favors them and them alone. To change that the American People will have to fight for themselves. They will have to lobby, and organize, and above all VOTE.

You want change, MAKE IT HAPPEN by working for it, by lobbying for it and by voting for it.

Big money has been playing the system for years. the only way to beat them is to use the system ourselves and show that numbers trump money. It's time the other 90% of America stopped letting the 10% run things to suit themselves.

[Dogma]

Another excellent post, Mr. Chopra.

One gets the sense that the malcontents on the Left today, are the same ones who were heralding the Second Coming a year ago.

Here is a guy who walked onto the job with two failing wars, an economy on the brink of utter collapse; Israel, Iran, N Korea, China and Russia all flexing their muscles, the dire situation of global warming, etc etc...

It is amazing how so many otherwise politically aware people can be so naive about the process.

[Lib2daBone]

Obama put Bush's Sec of Defense in charge of the wars. He appointed Godlman Sacs crooks to handle the bailout. He renewed the Patriot Act and OK'd NSA Spying on American people. He refused to publish torture pictures and CIA rendition is on-going.

If we accept this as "the best we can hope for", we are in serious trouble.

Will Obama listen to the Neocons and send 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan? Will he listen to Israel and invade Iran?

Not change we can believe in.. we are teetering on WW-III.

[UltraClassic]

As a former naval aviator, I've flown an PVS-5 and ANVS-6 goggles, I've peered through the gloom of night on a FLIR system. But even with all these advanced systems to aid the vission of the aviator, I doubt I could see any progress this guy has made, except that he seems to have calmed the hard core left down, for a little while anyway.

[-swift]

Calmed the hard core left? The person after you says we're headed to World War Three. (We aren't, by the way.) The hard core right will never be sane. The hard core left will never be satisfied.

The hard core left wanted President Obama to have Universal Single-Payer Health Care, 100% employment, full rights for LGBT everywhere, the energy crisis solved, the world fed, and peace in the Middle East.

And they wanted it all in his first month in office.

Unfortunately, the far left, like the far right, make a lot of noise. This gives the illusion of a problem. Most of us moderately liberal folks are extremely happy with the direction things are going. And hopefully we are keeping the positive pressure on the President, and more importantly, on Congress.

[Imago]

Hear, hear!

[LPrevolt]

Personally, I as a Hard Core left wing nut, would have been totally happy of and for Obama, IF Obama had just ended the Wars... An act he could have done with-in the 1st hundred minutes of his new administration, let alone 100 days. That's not even talking about shutting down the now infamous "America stand for Bad Guy Bullying icons" of abugrave or Guantanamo. All of which (wars and icons) are still in full Active bad forms of torturing and killing innocent and so called combatants people alike (but how do you fight "combatants" in a war that was declared a victory by Bush in 2003's mission accomplished aircraft speech? Aren't all civilians then?) the very things America had been "supposedly against" before 2001. End the Wars, and I would be more than happy if he did nothing else. (but seriously I would complain if he started more bogus wars after ending these unnecessary ones.)