Is the progressive media about to get tougher on Obama?

For news organizations that are openly progressive — as opposed to those that, in the conservative mind, advance a liberal agenda under the guise of neutrality — President Obama has been a disappointment on numerous levels. In progressive eyes, he has capitulated to the right on a host of issues, such as climate change and gun control. Even his signature achievements, such as the health care overhaul and Wall Street regulatory reform, were the source of much bitterness for liberals who wanted more far-reaching change. But with the threat that Mitt Romney could win the White House and transform the liberal dream into a charred Mordor of broken hopes, the various factions of the progressive cause mostly rallied around Obama. Now that Romney has been safely dispatched, the progressive media is preparing to get tough on Obama, says Dylan Byers at Politico:

Some are skeptical that the progressive media outlets will really put the screws to Obama. After all, the next congressional elections are only two years away, says Glenn Greenwald at The Guardian:

The first post-election test for the progressive media is the fiscal cliff, which is the type of controversial issue that could "be overshadowed to some degree by the the familiar attacks on Republicans that fire up the liberal base," says Byers. However, progressives have already voiced concern that Obama could give away too many cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, and a final deal could end up drawing howls of protest.

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