The American public learned a new word, “triangulation” and got a peak behind the “political curtain” as they were given a lesson in political strategizing when Barack Obama stunned many of his most ardent supporters with a couple of announcements made this week.

One was his position on the recently passed FISA legislation followed by his plans to expand President Bush’s program steering federal social service dollars to religious groups, supporting the ability to hire and fire based on faith….a continuation of Bush’s controversial “Faith-based initiatives.” Many of Obama believers, including myself, were taken back by these apparently sudden turns as they did not coincide with most of his rhetoric to date, leaving us scratching our heads wondering why.

This is when we were introduced to a very cute concept called triangulation. An all-purpose word that both defines, rationalizes and explains the method to his madness.

It is not surprising that the term was first used by Dick Morris, chief political advisor to then President of the United States, Bill Clinton as a way to describe his strategy for getting Clinton reelected in the 1996 presidential election It is often referred to as “Clintonian triangulation”…….don’t you just love it?.

Only a politician could come up with this bullshit and make it sound perfectly plausible! For the sake of our Readers’ edification, it works like this…..

Triangulation is the act of a candidate presenting his or her ideology as being “above” and “between” the left and right sides of the political spectrum. (beautiful!)

It involves adopting for oneself some of the ideas of one’s political opponent. The logic behind it is that it both takes credit for the opponent’s ideas, and insulates the triangulator from attacks on that particular issue. Opponents of triangulation consider the dynamic a deviation from reality and dismiss those that strive for it as whimsical.

Now I know that, if asked, any political candidate using this so-called technique would say that it is a means to an end and that they wouldn’t be able to do all of the wonderful things they initially promised if they didn’t get elected…..right? So that means that it is a “regrettable necessity…. right?

Well, we certainly hopes so! Especially since we made the commitment to back Barack Obama all the way. So I guess we’ll just have to wait, see and hope that he truly IS different. RIGHT?

Obama strangling himself in the triangulation – There’s an old saying. When you get to the dance, you stick with the one who brung you there. For Barack Obama, it seems he was devoted to Democrats on his way to the dance, and once there, has begun flirting with everyone else.

Triangulation is for today, Leadership is Forever – And certainly not folks who stick their fingers into the wind, run from a fight to support the Constitution, or practice the fine art of Clintonian triangulation. Because being the first to put your finger into the wind is not …

Why Is Obama Triangulating on Meeting with World Rivals? – I watched the debates and admired Barack Obama’s strongly expressed commitment to “engagement” — particularly with leaders of states with whom America was in conflict. This was a great contrast from Hillary Clinton’s positon — and … 

Obama strangling himself in the triangulation – There’s an old saying. When you get to the dance, you stick with the one who brung you there. For Barack Obama, it seems he was devoted to Democrats on his way to the dance, and once there, has begun flirting with everyone else.

Triangulation is for today, Leadership is Forever – And certainly not folks who stick their fingers into the wind, run from a fight to support the Constitution, or practice the fine art of Clintonian triangulation. Because being the first to put your finger into the wind is not …

Why Is Obama Triangulating on Meeting with World Rivals? – I watched the debates and admired Barack Obama’s strongly expressed commitment to “engagement” — particularly with leaders of states with whom America was in conflict. This was a great contrast from Hillary Clinton’s positon — and …