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We needn't worry about whether Obama will govern as a centrist or a leftist: there's no longer much of a chasm between the two. Consider the issues: End torture and close Guantanomo. Enact a massive jobs/public works program. Greatly extend (if not universalize) access to health care. End the war in Iraq. Get serious about global warming. Raise taxes on the rich. Over the past four years, these proposals have gone from unthinkable to radical to mainstream, and they're now at the center of the new president's agenda.
To be sure, there are some items on the left's agenda that may remain on the shelf for some time to come: a serious de-escalation of US military presence abroad; a systematic rethinking of the "war on drugs"; gay marriage & an end to DADT. A far greater commitment to global development. But overall, this is a moment for the left to savor; more importantly, it's a moment to act.
