Comments on: Obama’s Ideology and Pragmatism: More Common Law Than We Might Think (Guest Voice) http://themoderatevoice.com/25019/obamas-ideology-and-pragmatism-more-common-law-than-we-might-think-guest-voice/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:33:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: insideislamblog http://themoderatevoice.com/25019/obamas-ideology-and-pragmatism-more-common-law-than-we-might-think-guest-voice/comment-page-1/#comment-167208 insideislamblog Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:16:12 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/25019/obamas-ideology-and-pragmatism-more-common-law-than-we-might-think-guest-voice/#comment-167208 I hope you should keep developing this as the Obama presidency takes off the ground. I hope you should keep developing this as the Obama presidency takes off the ground.

]]> By: rfyork http://themoderatevoice.com/25019/obamas-ideology-and-pragmatism-more-common-law-than-we-might-think-guest-voice/comment-page-1/#comment-167190 rfyork Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:50:26 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/25019/obamas-ideology-and-pragmatism-more-common-law-than-we-might-think-guest-voice/#comment-167190 While I agree with the main theme of your article, I think it missed a key point. We have become so accustomed to ideological warfare that we mistake ideals for ideology. Note that I deliberately said "ideals" not "idealism". Idealism is the precursor to ideology. Not all idealists become ideologues, but all ideologues are idealists. The major failing of both idealists and ideologues is that they are forever dismissing the good because it's not the best.<br><br>I have never doubted that Obama has idealists, but I have also recognized that he is very much a pragmatist. His decision to drop out of federal funding speaks clearly to his pragmatism.<br><br>Our greatest presidents, to a man, have all been pragmatists with ideals.<br><br>And, I really think that everyone whocares should remember this.<br><br>Rick York While I agree with the main theme of your article, I think it missed a key point. We have become so accustomed to ideological warfare that we mistake ideals for ideology. Note that I deliberately said “ideals” not “idealism”. Idealism is the precursor to ideology. Not all idealists become ideologues, but all ideologues are idealists. The major failing of both idealists and ideologues is that they are forever dismissing the good because it's not the best.

I have never doubted that Obama has idealists, but I have also recognized that he is very much a pragmatist. His decision to drop out of federal funding speaks clearly to his pragmatism.

Our greatest presidents, to a man, have all been pragmatists with ideals.

And, I really think that everyone whocares should remember this.

Rick York

]]> By: In Other News… – The Politics of Scrabble http://themoderatevoice.com/25019/obamas-ideology-and-pragmatism-more-common-law-than-we-might-think-guest-voice/comment-page-1/#comment-167183 In Other News… – The Politics of Scrabble Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:04:12 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/25019/obamas-ideology-and-pragmatism-more-common-law-than-we-might-think-guest-voice/#comment-167183 [...] have another guest post up at The Moderate Voice exploring the interplay of ideology and pragmatism. Looks like I’ll be doing more regular posting at TMV in the near future, so if you [...] [...] have another guest post up at The Moderate Voice exploring the interplay of ideology and pragmatism. Looks like I’ll be doing more regular posting at TMV in the near future, so if you [...]

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