Biden: 'The heavy lifting is over'

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/110535-biden-the-heavy-lifting-is-over


Biden: 'The heavy lifting is over'
By Michael O'Brien - 07/23/10 08:56 AM ET


The "heavy lifting is over" when it comes to the Obama administration's legislative priorities this year, Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday evening.

Biden said now that Wall Street reform is finished and signed into law, the administration could go out and make its political case for its accomplishment.

“Now that the heavy lifting is over, we can go out and make our case,” Biden said at a fundraiser in North Carolina, according to a pool report.

President Obama signed Wall Street reform into law earlier this week, and signed healthcare reform earlier this year. Last year, he signed into law the Lily Ledbetter fair pay act and his $787 billion stimulus act.

But in terms of other legislative priorities, a number of items remain on the table. The House has passed a climate change bill, but that legislation stalled in the Senate and is now forcing a scaled-back approach. Democrats in Congress have yet to tackle campaign finance reform, immigration reform and other top issues as well.

Biden defended the administration's actions on economic growth, especially as compared to the preceding George W. Bush administration.

"We stabilized the financial system,” Biden said. We were on the brink of a depression ... We avoided a total economic meltdown," he said. “There are 3 million {more} Americans working today than there were before we took office.

“Barack and I are realists," the vice president added. "Government is not the answer. But we also know we can plant seeds. These seeds that have been planted have generated whole new industries.”

[NJmaverick]

1. K & R!

[Better Today]

2. So the jobless needing jobs isn't a "heavy lifting" type issue? WTF?

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[movonne]

4. A big +1

[AndyA]

5. It's all a matter of what is held most important.

Can you and those like you please get off this bash-fest with Obama and Dems. (Edited by OP to remove statement per DU rules.)

Can you and those like you please take off your rose-colored glasses with Obama and Dems?

Not being in love with Obama and the Democrats does not automatically qualify people as Republicans. Perhaps from Biden's point of view the heavy lifting IS over. But not if you need a job. And face it, jobs haven't exactly been given the priority all along that they should have. There have been some missed opportunities.

And if you're gay and in the military, the heavy lifting is far from over.

Or if you're gay and waiting for EQUALITY, the heavy lifting hasn't even begun.

Somewhere out there, we might have a future Barack Obama who happens to be gay. He'll never get the chance to be President unless equality is made possible, and we're far from that right now. Think about that.

The heavy lifting is far from over, and if Biden and Obama and the Dems in Congress really believe that, things are going to get a lot worse for all of them as well as all of us...very soon.

[Lorien]

13. Or if you are in poor health and live near the Gulf of Mexico

the heavy lifting is FAR from over. For single payer advocates the heavy lifting just goes on and on...

[Hydra]

6. +1000

It's like the jobless don't exist.

There are lots of other groups that are "invisible" to the people in Washington, as well...

[Donnachaidh]

15. they might not like those invisible folks going to the polling booths this November

Washington dumbasses seem to think those *lazy* unemployed won't take the opportunity for their voices to be heard?

:rofl: :rofl:

[WI_DEM]

8. I think you are probably reading more into his words than you should.

[Better Today]

10. Now I see it as them not reading enough into their own words.

[derby378]

11. +1000 (n/t)

[Lorien]

14. + 100,000. nt

[jimlup]

7. They didn't even attempt what history may ultimately show

would have been the most important lift: A Climate Bill.

I'm bitter, sorry. I'd like to see the democrats take more initiative a go on the offensive more often. They got some stuff done but it fell way short of my modest expectations.

[babylonsister]

9. I'm hopeful that will be on the agenda after the midterms; some

sad little Dems and all the rethugs don't want to attempt that now.

[derby378]

12. What was that proverb? "Pride goeth before a fall?"

I think this statement is going to come back to bite Biden in the butt.

[Donnachaidh]

16. I can just see the gestures from the masses of unemployed

I got yer heavy lifting right here.... :grr:

[DailyGrind51]

17. So, Biden wants to "get back to his life"? I understand there is an opening at BP, Joe!

[derby378]

18. Me, I wouldn't wish a BP job on anyone

That is some serious pain. Unless you're Fat Tony, that is.