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On HOLC: We Got The Republican; Can We Get The Democrat?

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 10:30:54 AM EST
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Matt Yglesias writes:

Here’s the CAP [HOLC] plan. All joking aside, it’s genuinely true that a progressive policy operation is always hoping some Republicans somewhere will cotton to some of our ideas. It’s genuinely difficult to achieve anything legislatively in the United States without some bipartisanship. Obama has made some similar noises in the past. Hopefully McCain’s embrace of this idea means something like it can actually get done.

(Emphasis supplied.) Um, how about more than "some similar noises" from Obama? How about a little leadership on the issue?

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

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    On HOLC: We Got The Republican; Can We Get The Democrat? | 13 comments (13 topical)

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    McCain running to the left (5.00 / 4) (#1)
    by votermom on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 10:33:31 AM EST
    of Obama. Obama never mentioning "Clinton" or "Democrat" during the debate. I though this was the Democrats year to win -- what's he afraid of?

    It's just not the Republican's year to win (5.00 / 4) (#5)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 10:50:47 AM EST
    If Obama could have won as an Independent I believe he would be a lot happier right now. I don't think he likes being associated with a party.

    Parent
    Great idea, and probably true! But then (none / 0) (#8)
    by sallywally on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 10:56:57 AM EST
    he's gotta dance with them who brung him.

    Parent
    I don't really even blame him (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 11:08:13 AM EST
    I'm fed up with most of them myself, but probably not the same ones he is.

    Maybe he is trying to line up  his own Senate allies like Kerry, McCaskill, Kennedy, etc to come up with something HOLC-like.  Hillary and Bill Nelson (and even McCain)  got ahead of them on it. I think he picked the slower crowd to run with.

    Parent

    Well, them who brung him (none / 0) (#11)
    by sj on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 12:38:45 PM EST
    think so.  I'm not convinced that Obama agrees.

    Parent
    "Similar noises ..." (5.00 / 5) (#2)
    by Robot Porter on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 10:34:56 AM EST
    This is just another case of so-called progressives giving Obama a pass.

    Because they ... oh, hell, I don't know why they give him a pass.

    It is curious. (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by lilburro on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 10:42:41 AM EST
    Is it sheer anxiety about winning?  

    It will be a true shame if somehow the Republicans come to "own" the HOLC proposal.

    Parent

    Afraid of being flexible on policy? (5.00 / 4) (#4)
    by sallywally on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 10:50:10 AM EST
    Seeming to admit he was wrong about the New Deal? He could cover that by saying here are unique circumstances and this isn't exactly the New Deal plan....

    Afraid of Hillary?

    Afraid to admit Bill Clinton was a fine pres? (5.00 / 4) (#6)
    by sallywally on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 10:54:47 AM EST
    Because he has lots of Clinton admin folks among his advisers, which people know but he isn't pointing it out.

    Maybe he's afraid to become just a Clinton stand-in if he allows HRC some authority in policy by acknowledging her in addition to all his other Clinton admin folks.

    In some ways, this would mean his whole premise on running was wrong.

    Parent

    The Kerry-McCaskill HOLC bill (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 10:56:44 AM EST
    coming soon to a Senate near you

    Parent
    Help me justify HOLC (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by TexasYellowDog on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 11:31:40 AM EST
    I have a friend raising two boys age 4 and 10 by herself.  She has to live in substandard motels in part due to the fact that public housing assistance in North Texas has been closed to applications except for the disabled and elderly.  I need to explain to her why the government should help people stay in their single family houses for the common good.

    Also, I bought her a used car to help her get around without knowing that she would lose her medicaid because the car was worth more than $4000.
    This isn't directly HOLC related, but I could use some help with that too.

    I bought list of forclosed houses in the Dallas area and there are over 500 in my suburb alone.  But when I look for something listed to rent, there's nothing.  Even the MLS listings are sparce.  Any idea how to get in on this bandwagon?

    excellent point! (none / 0) (#13)
    by cpinva on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 03:55:25 PM EST
    I need to explain to her why the government should help people stay in their single family houses for the common good.

    and one conveniently ignored by every commentator on the subject. as well, how to explain, to those who lived within their means, bought houses within their means, with mortgages within their means, while their friends and neighbors lived the high life, that they should now help those same profligates with their tax dollars, because it's for "the common good"?

    full disclosure: i would be one of those sillies who practiced the fiscal conservatism of which i preach.

    anyone have an answer for us? anyone? buehler, buehler?

    Parent

    how about this concept? (none / 0) (#12)
    by cpinva on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 03:46:48 PM EST
    sen. obama is just not very smart, and not particularly progressive, and being in the same area that hillary or bill clinton is in tends to highlite that?

    further, HOLC will only do so much (just as it's effects were limited during the depression), it will not provide jobs for the unemployed, nor will it cause the inflated values of properties to suddenly re-ascend the heights. it just won't.

    i'm not suggesting it's a bad idea, merely that its anticipated effect shouldn't be overstated.

    On HOLC: We Got The Republican; Can We Get The Democrat? | 13 comments (13 topical)

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