The dems would have to decide to lead and govern instead of engaging in nimby, porkbarrel politics. Little sign of that so far.
Obama would have to use the bully pulpit in the way that Bush did to further a president's agenda. So far it looks like Obama's primary agenda item is the exercise of third-way politics, an experiment in post-partisan politics. I think this is unlikely to produce the change the country needs today. We need a leader, a person who is willing to boldly push progressive issues like economic justice, single payer healthcare, disarmament, environmental protection, clean energy.
If we keep saying it, Obama may eventually realize that he has the opportunity to lead and have a successful presidency instead of wasting the electoral success hoping that legislators and commentators will join him in rising above partisan politics.
Posted by mike at June 21, 2009 07:24 AMNot like Bush, like Reagan. Reagan's message was about a positive future and he steam rolled over government through the bully pulpit. That postive conservative message has managed to survive 30 years later.
This post and comments are right on. This is make or break for the Democratic party and America's future.
Posted by allansfca at June 21, 2009 10:10 AMThis is make or break for the Democratic party and America's future.
You are correct. I personally could care less for the Democratic party -Pelosi and Ried took care of that after the '06 elections. I am not nearly as disappointed with Obama as I am disappointed with Congressional Dems. They have proven to be little better than the r-KKKons when it comes to screwing the American people by sucking at the massive teat of the lobbies.
Will we get Junior Medicare to cover those without health insurance? Should it compete with private medical insurance? Yes, if we are to believe any of the results from polling: ...72 percent of those questioned supported a government-administered insurance plan — something like Medicare for those under 65 — that would compete for customers with private insurers. Why? Because almost everyone is getting hit with higher premiums, co-pays, and deductibles. And health insurance profits are obscene while the bastards openly acknowledge that they'll continue to rescind policies even on the flimsiest of pretenses (thank god there are only about a thousand of those pretenses they use to rescind a person).
Although I'm still pissed about DOMA, I do understand that Obama did everything he can legally do to support LGBTs at the Federal level. It truly takes an act of Congress to do more. And that is also true of health care reform.
Obama does have the bully pulpit, and I can't know what he is doing behind the scenes. But if a President's primary role is to act according to the will of the people, then surely the last election and current polling should should give him an idea of what the American populace want. And what we want MUST take precedence over what the lobbies are trying to pay for.
That said, the last election does not relieve anyone of their responsibility to organize and communicate their wishes to the r-KKKons, Dems in Congress and the President. If you can't be at the rally, maybe you can rally at your state Capitol. Hell, maybe you can just call-in sick on that day to show support. Maybe you can call a real whore for the health care lobbies, Max "I Have $1,500.00 Packed In My Ass Every Day" Baucus, or send an email?
Posted by phidipides at June 21, 2009 11:43 AMThe GOP didn't kill Clinton's health care plan. They are a minority. The could not kill anything without the complicity of Democrats. The sooner you acknowledge the facts as they are rather than as you wish them to be the better you'll feel.
The position that the Democrats are superior is a false position.
Even Bill Clinton has tried to explain that if you want success you can not limit yourself and must place your focus on issues instead of party loyalty.
Posted by cwaltz at June 21, 2009 10:14 PM