Left of Obama

Caught a broadcast today on a Boston NPR station of an Intelligence Squared–US debate over the proposition: “Obama’s economic policies are working effectively.” Nothing that was said on either side was especially remarkable. What was remarkable, though, was that two of the three members of the “disagree” panel—James Galbraith and Eliot Spitzer—were taking Obama on from the left.

Defending Obama on economic policy were Larry Mishel from the Economic Policy Institute, Mark Zandi from Moodys.com, and Steve Rattner, who handled the auto industry bailout for Obama. (Zandi was a McCain advisor during the campaign but now advises Obama.)

Maybe the non-fringe part of the ideological spectrum is shifting left a bit… You can hear the whole debate here.