I’m starting to see that the Left is already articulating a useful challenge for Obama to affect real change, the kind we were supposed to believe in, if not the beginnings of anxieties that Obama is simply going to govern as Clinton 2.0, with a few cosmetic tweaks — not too unreasonable if his cabinet picks are any indication. Michael Albert makes a good point: “…moderately redressing insanity isn’t what progressive Obama supporters meant by ‘change we can believe in.’” Katrina vanden Heuvel concurs, adding that the president-elect is a “centrist” and a “pragmatist,” both obviously true, almost to the point of dullness. If anyone is expecting anything radical or really transformative, exhale very, very soon because you will pass out before long from holding your breath. I think that these leftist voices should not worry too much; the election three weeks ago is still a major victory, by no means the end of the struggle but a good start. After all, center-right is preferable to hard right, which is what we’ve had for so long. The discussion brings to light a cold fact: there is no organized Left in the United States, aside from marginal writers and associations. Only a sustained, principled movement of people is going to affect change, not one man in the White House.

Before I write a book here, Happy Thanksgiving. There is still plenty to give thanks for, concerns and fears and dreads and doubts aside.