By any stretch, there is no genuine Left operating in mainstream American politics. I don't think even an educated, contented Democrat could say their party holds genuine Leftist beliefs.
So long as the US operates under the ruthless non-rules of capitalism, it'll be the opposite to an egalitarian society.
I think it is safe to conclude that what is "center" in America is what they call "right" in most industrial democracies. What is "socialism" in America is what they call "center."
Is Obama a leftist? Is he more left than Carter (who put solar panels on the White House roof and 'gave back' the Panama Canal)? More left than LBJ and his War on Poverty and civil rights legislation? More than Kennedy with the Alliance for Progress and the Peace Corps? More than FDR and his New Deal? More liberal than Teddy Roosevelt (who proposed the first real environmental regulation and broke up the corporate monopolies)? I don't think so.
IMHO, he is solidly center with some "right-leaning" ideas. He appealed to the left wing in order to make it through the primaries, then veered back to center for the general election. At least it seems he is interested in listening to as many sides as possible. This is in contrast to Mr Bush, at least.
