President Obama: The Democrats' Democrat

I have no disagreement with the substance of Andrew Sullivan's Newsweek piece; only with its theme:

If Obama wins, to put it bluntly, he will become the Democrats’ Reagan....

It was the continuation of economic growth, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the tax and immigration reforms of 1986 that put Reagan in the top tier of transformational presidents.

Ranking dead presidents--and especially enshrining them in the "top tier of transformational" ones--is always a tricky business, although for tireless Reagan admirers, among whom one counts Sullivan, it's rather easy. The Gipper rules, even if the myth has largely engulfed the reality. But let us not quibble long. My view, which only the years to come will confirm or deny, is simply that Reagan will eventually settle into the middle rankings: history will recognize that the 40th president presided not over the continuation of economic growth, but the beginnings of massive wealth inequality and thus slower growth; that the Soviet Union collapsed of its own weight--our president was essentially a lucky bystander; and that his disastrous tax reforms required agonizing decades to exhaustively scuttle.

My own contention, pace Sullivan, is that if comparisons are desired, then let Obama historically resemble FDR, the conservative founder of modern progressivism. In their pragmatism--in their pursuit of the possible, in their brilliant incrementalism, and thus in their lasting "change"--these two presidents' political philosophies have paralleled closely; also, in part, because of temperament, but additionally because Obama is an acute student of history. He knew what might work before he ever started the job.

Indeed from a vast historical perspective, someday Obama's accomplishments--major healthcare reform and the successful reversal of an otherwise inexorable slide into a Great Depression II and ending DADT and coping with W's bequeathed Middle East headaches among others and in engineering, or at least playing an instrumental part in engineering, the final destruction of the modern Republican Party and thus setting the national stage for a monumental political realignment that could endure for generations--all these could someday be measured, historically, as on par with the fundamental significance of the New Deal.

And he has another whole term to go.

Comments

[Frankly Curious]

I agree, although I don't think any of these accomplishments will matter without an economic recovery. According the CBO, he would end a second term with a notable economic recovery. (So would Romney if he is elected and doesn't manage to destroy the economy. This is one of many reasons why I want Obama to win.) That accomplishment will shine a very positive light on everything else. Otherwise, people will look back and claim he missed an opportunity by not focusing on the economy. (I'm not saying this would be fair.)

I also agree about Reagan. I think over time, people will see his dog whistle racism for what it is. He will become an embarrassment.

[Robert Lipscomb]

Ombama accomplished - or is accomplishing - one thing that is obscured by its obviousness. Rightfully, much has been made of the expansion of coverage of healthcare through Obamacare and Obama's counter-counter punch on Medicare and Medicaid.

Beyond that, Obama seize on the last good opportunity to keep healthcare cost from destroying our ability to compete in the industrialized world. Our public and private healthcare system has been careening out-of-control to a hugely unsustainable per capita cost - as in comparison to all of our economic counterparts.

The system is not fixed, but the scope and means for bringing it under control are now in place. Without these changes, our entire industrial base would soon look like the Rust Belt of the 70's and 80's.

The FDR/new deal comparison is apt, but I will offer a second. George Washington and Alexander established a national financial system and a plan for manufacturing and industry that prevented us from becoming what would be known in the future as a "banana republic".

[Peter G]

Do you think he will manage to complete his second term without selling arms to the Iranians and funneling the proceeds to Central American right wing terrorists? That would be nice.

[elbrucce]

... and, just like FDR. Obama can't wait to take a hatchet to Social Security ala Bowles-Simpson.

and like FDR, he has a soft spot in his heart for the banks.