Obama and economics: the horror and the possibility

The economics we've seen from BHO in the last six weeks are so dreadful it hurts. He may be optimistic about himself, but not on the economy, globalisation, and the future. He is pandering, and idiotic. His lists of spending is huge. His promises are endless. This whole "rebuild the middle class thing" which both HRC and BHO are running on is depressing, pessimistic, and wrong headed. They are not offering solutions. They both have adopted John Edwards' positions (his influence on this campaign should not be understated). They should be taking the lead from Bill Clinton. Embrace the change in the global economy and show Americans how it does and can work in their favour. Change is a bad enemy to have. Obama shouldn't make it his. If he does, he'll be exposed come November by the Republican machine and presented as a through back leftist. That doesn't go down well in the states. The Democrats need to take the economic argument to the Republicans by saying that WJC started America on the economic course to make globalisation a success, this was scuppered by Gingrich, and Bush has made sure the benefits have only gone to the top 5%.

Some, like the excellent John Heilemann, appear cautiously optimistic that Obama will create or have created for him, a far better economic narrative by November. I think, unfortunately, the damage is already done.