Progressive progress

Just after reading this round-up of lefty disquietude, I read this from Tim Fernholz, which struck me as just about right.

Sirota takes the most issue with a paragraph where Hildebrand seems to draw a distinction between liberal priorities and other pressing issues, writing, "But first let's get our economy moving, bring our troops home safely, fix health care, end climate change and restore our place in the world." It's a somewhat unfortunate construction, but I read this as an attempt to move the center to leftwards. If those four goals -- including climate change and health care reform! -- are identified as centrist, then progressives are freer to advocate for the sensible proposals that are even further out of the supposed "mainstream" -- prison reform! the labor agenda! ending the DOMA and DADT! You get my point. Winning elections shouldn't be where progressives measure victory. A real win for the left is when their ideas become the mainstream and ridiculous conservative ideas become the fringe. Hildebrand seems to be writing to defened that conception, and not to attack liberals.

Obama, on his weekly "YouTube Address," just announced the biggest infrastructure agenda in over fifty years; an agenda that makes green jobs and climate change a centerpiece, in addition to bridges you can drive over without muttering a Hail Mary. Health care reform is being demanded by Harry and Louise. While the neo-Hooverites don the wig of parsimony after eight years of profligacy, it seems fairly certain that much of this, yes, progressive agenda is going to be achieved early on in Obama's presidency. And yet, what about Clinton?!! Summers?!! Daschle was a lobbyist for the health care industry?!!

We should hold him to his promises. But we shouldn't let our own ideology get in the way of real progress.