I was wrong about Obama

[Jack_Dawson]

My progressive streak got the better of me a few weeks back when I ranted about Obama's weakness over the tax bill. I said some regrettable things about how maybe I was wrong - Hillary would've stood firm where Obama was a shrinking violet, etc.

But maybe he's just a genius and we're all idealistic dopes. Because after that "compromise" as the media loves to call it (and it was a very distasteful one), a lot of really awesome things started happening - beginning with the repeal of DADT (the most horrificly embarrassing policy I've ever known in my lifetime). BTW props to Patrick Murphy who had the courage to do the right thing, but paid for it at the polls.

Oh and the START treaty, 9/11 first responders (props to J. Stewart), food safety bill (duh) and Unemployment Extension. And if you've never been unemployed, you will never fully understand how important that is.

It hasn't been perfect. I need the other side's blatant and laughable hypocrisy to be called out. I need John McCain's pathetic flip-flopping to be named and shamed. But damn, the last two weeks have felt great.

:beer: :fistbump:

[Historic NY]

1. I'll admit I was upset but then I somehow knew he wouldn't pack up the circus just yet....

he did alright with the hand he had.

[patrice]

2. We still gotta be strong with him & stick up for ourselves & work hard to convince others

to see the solutions OUR way.

[walldude]

3. I wouldn't celebrate just yet...

While I'm glad to see that we hit the trifecta today, the future isn't looking real good with that tax bill.

Don't mean to be a downer but I'm done with the "rollercoaster". I'm going to remain cynical, I've been burned too many times. These secret meetings worry me.

[pa28]

9. Yes, it's great to enjoy days like this.

It's nice to see the DADT victory and I'm really happy about START. Democrats here and everywhere are happy about those things and they really need a day in the sun.

The issue I watch with continued dismay is the ordered and continued maldistribution of wealth through tax and trade law. That's where the real game is and from what I see we're just witnessing more incremental progress toward the Reaganomics ideal even with a Democrat in the White House.

Recent history has been great but I don't want it to become the political equivalent of bread and circuses. We need to keep our leaders accountable.

[aquart]

4. It's all lovely.

Except for the impossibility of economic prosperity.

[kentuck]

11. ..and the poverty..

Otherwise...

[Chemisse]

5. What a difference a couple of weeks makes!

Two weeks ago I was sick with disappointment over Obama. But maybe he knew what he was doing because - rather than haggle over the tax cut bill for the remainder of the lame duck session - he & Congress have made amazing strides, passed a lot of great legislation, and the Democrats' stature has risen dramatically.

Now, when the new Republican majority takes over, people will be comparing their actions (and inaction - and naysaying) to the last few weeks of the old Congress, and they will look bad, pretty much no matter what they do.

[Toucano]

6. I was not.

These successes are great. They do not change anything I said about the poorly negotiated tax bill "compromise".

His re-election will depend on the unemployment numbers.

He has ceded an incredible amount of political territory that previously distinguished him from a Republican.

Maybe the independents will donate and volunteer for him in 2012.

[OrwellwasRight]

7. Give the Senate credit for these recent accomplishments.

The Senate that the president didn't trust enough to get a better deal than giving away the tax store. If the Senate had failed, he could have come in with his deal this week. But there would have been a chance for something better.

[RegieRocker]

20. That is correct!

[freshwest]

8. I'm feeling better too, although I may be crazy...

[Motown_Johnny]

10. You are right, Hillary would have stood firm

just like she did with health care in the 90s

[cilla4progress]

12. Props where props are due

Nah, I'm with you, Jack. I was full of vitriol..VITRIOL I tell you!, a couple weeks ago (extension B* tax cuts) - this, following my severe angst over the mid-terms...

But as you say, not only did we end up with some significant forward progress in the past Congress, but it does seem the strategy paid off. Leave it to lawyers (the largely lawyerly Congress) to leave everything to the last minute! Anyway - all's well that ends well, and we know (at least he says) he didn't support the tax cuts for the wealthy, but, something had to go, and if that's what it took, so be it. Onward and upward!

[2Design]

13. still ticked about health for all - and the tax thing could have paid for all of it

was my thought today - not winning my heart back - it is over - I will vote dem in november no matter what because I know the suckers on the other side are worse but this pres has turned into a repub in my mind - I knew he was a centrist to start with but he is now on the right and opening too many doors to flush us down the tubes - I want an FDR right now

[RaleighNCDUer]

14. And all we had to give up for all this progress

was Social Security.

[somone]

15. And soon to be permanent tax cuts for the rich

along with a permanent Big Brother/police state, wars, free trade agreements, charter schools, and endless bounty for health insurance companies, Big Pharma, Big Oil, the MIC and corporate CEOs.

[Marr]

16. This is getting ridiculous. Sorry to be a Debbie Downer here, but think about this for a moment.

He handed over the store in every way that matters to the wealthy; extended-- and endorsed-- the Bush Tax Cuts and the "philosophy" they're based on, helped undermine Social Security, the whole nine yards.

I'm glad DADT is going away, but could there be a more obvious bone being thrown to you? We get that because the wealthy don't give a shit about it. The START Treaty is more of a common-sense national security issue that really should have bipartisan support-- it's not a left issue at all. Nine-eleven responders? When did that become a cause of the left? Again, that's something that anyone *should* support, and *would* as soon as public attention focused on it. Which is what happened, thanks to John Stuart-- not out political leadership.

My opinion of Obama remains unchanged. Two weeks agao, I thought he was a clever politician with a knack for servicing the wealthy while pandering to the left only in ways that don't cost his Wall Street constituency any money, and I'm doubly convinced today.

I'm going to have to see some economic victories for the left before my opinion changes. The whole "right wing economics with a sprinkling of liberal social issues" isn't exactly a new trick.

[Trey9007]

18. When did Obama 'endorse' the tax cuts..........

I've heard him say MULTIPLE times he did not want them. He simply could not get the GOP to budge on them.

[democracy1st]

21. Critique his economic team when you get the chance.

[Marr]

22. When he said these cuts would "create jobs" and every time he referred

to big business/the wealthy as "job creators", he was endorsing the economic position traditionally associated with the right wing.

[eridani]

17. As good as all of those things are, the economy is still fucked, and for a long time

The tax cut extension is going to give us exactly what the original tax cuts gave us--10 straight years of zero net job growth. Too bad for LGBT folks who are unemployed, forclosed on, or homeless.

[democracy1st]

19. No disrespect but slow down and read. I enjoy the recent passages,but

his economic policys are anti progressive. No matter how you spin it,democrats extended the Bush tax cuts. His economic team is filled with Wall St hacks.