Obama boasts of most 'progressive' political triumphs in decades

[sabra]

Source: The Hill

President Obama told a Hollywood fundraiser Monday night that he and congressional Democrats have passed the most progressive legislation in decades.

"We have been able to deliver the most progressive legislative agenda — one that helps working families — not just in one generation, maybe two, maybe three," Obama said.

Obama was joined by a number of lawmakers and celebrities at an event for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) that raised $1 million.

Obama is hitting the campaign trail hard this week before he goes on vacation to Martha's Vineyard, boasting of his administration's accomplishments and accusing Republicans of trying to return to the policies of President George W. Bush.

"This is exactly when you want to be president," Obama said. "This is why I ran, because we have the opportunity to shape history for the better."

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/114569-obama-boasts-of-most-progressive-accomplishments-in-decades

[jefferson_dem]

1. Well, he's right.

Can't argue with that.

[Gman]

2. Kudos to Obama and the Democratic Congress

[nyy1998]

13. +1

[asdjrocky]

3. Too funny. nt

[zipplewrath]

4. And sadly he's probably right

Which is a testament to how unprogressive we've been for the better part of 4 decades.

Not exactly an overwhelming endorsement of his accomplishments; "I don't suck as bad as all those republicans". But none the less, technically he's right. The bar is set very low over that time period.

[Sherman A1]

5. Precisely

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. I think he means, "the most slightly more progressive than the outright

fascism of the Republicans legislation".

Most of this stuff is to the right of Nixon, fer gawds sake.

[IndianaJoe]

7. You have to wonder how much more could have been

accomplished if he was more confrontational; less accomodating to right-wing views; and more visible in pushing his own political agenda. If he were a little more populist and less cerebral, a little more like Truman or Roosevelt instead of Carter, I'd like him a lot more. Jeez, if he could only arm-twist members of his own party -- a bit like LBJ -- maybe his base might be more enthusiastic.

[Radical Activist]

8. We really don't know

whether a different approach would have gotten any more done at all. Some Democrats love the red meat partisan speeches but it could have also turned off a majority of the public from paying any attention. Reaching out again and again to reveal how unreasonably obstructionist the Republicans were being was a smart strategy. That's why the approval ratings of Congressional Republicans are so low.

[IndianaJoe]

11. You're right about us not knowing...

Don't get me wrong, Obama's far better than any viable alternatives I've seen. It's just that, to me, he's always been such a wuss. Ignoring the best thought on the stimulus package and going with an amount that is now clearly seen to have been insufficient; taking single-payer off the table from the get-go with health care and not pushing at all for a public option; all the shilly-shallying over whether to appoint or not appoint Elizabeth Warren (which is still going on); the empty on-again, 0ff-again rhetoric about how appalled he was about Wall Street bonuses, and then quietly caving in and going along with them. And just yesterday, his waffling about the NYC Mosque.

Half a loaf IS better than no bread at all. But not even trying for the whole loaf when it's clearly the right thing to do isn't necessarily the mark of astute political acumen. It may just be a sort of ideological laziness or a tepid commitment to what is really needed to solve the country's problems. That's what bothers me about Obama. No fire. No fight. Just half measures. If his vaunted record for "progressive accomplishment" were really as great as his afficionados say, there might be more progressive enthusiasm for him.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

15. 'Not even trying for the whole loaf ---'

I think that summarizes the frustrations of those of us who used to be called mainstream Democrats (and have suddenly been shoved into the Far Left fringe) and the rest of those who worked their asses to get him elected. He went in with more than enough "ingredients" to make a whole loaf out of any of the issues you listed -- especially during the first 3-4 months when the Republicans were demoralized and disorganized. Instead he gave it away, and those of us who pointed it out were told we were retards who couldn't understand the three-dimensional game of chess Obama was playing.

It's like handing a child a toy you spent hours making, only to have them take it to the biggest bully on the playground and ask them to play. When the bully gets done smashing it the child then tells you it was your fault (the 60 votes in the Senate were not the right 60 votes, even though Bush only needed 51) and you have to make another toy for him. You have to make it, other the bully will take over completely. Nyaah! Nyaah! Nyaah!

I don't want Obama or his players telling me he has the "most progressive accomplishments ever." I want to know it by looking at it. When my team scores a goal I know it has done so without someone convincing me.

Sorry. I'm still simmering about Gibbs' arrogance.

[IndianaJoe]

17. No apologies necessary. I feel much the same way.

I agree with everything you say.

I'm of course exasperated by Obama's inability to deal with the likes of Ben Nelson, Joe Lieberman, Blanche Lincoln, Mary Landrieu or some of the others so-called Dems that blocked the will of nearly everyone else in the party. They were bought out, I guess, but what did we get for the bribes that had to be paid to get their votes?

I can just imagine what would have happened to them if they had tried to pull the same stunt on LBJ.

Instead of bashing his supporters, Obama should be doing something about those that have stymied progress.

[savalez]

9. He's correct. I think he's done a good job so far.

I said good, not fantastic, but good considering the circumstances. Though, sadly, I suspect the usual bashing will fill this thread.

[HuckleB]

10. He's right!

We are choosing to shoot ourselves down by failing to see how much has been accomplished. It's so frustrating to watch us give away what we've so many years to accomplish.

[SILVER__FOX52]

12. Cut out the Partisian bridge work and slam dunk

these prick, Republicans.

[MsPithy]

14. Democrats will cut Social Security benefits just a little less than Republicans,

and we're supposed to like it? Calling his agenda progressive makes me want to puke. Obama can claim his legislative victories are in some cases a little better than nothing. He said -we don't have the votes- for progressive legislation, and now he says he has delivered progressive legislation. FUCK YOU!

[Iowa]

16. +1

[Odin2005]

18. Corporatism is not Progressivism, Mr. President.

[bvar22]

19. That says more about the Working Class devastation of the last 3 decades,

than it says about Obama.