Good Advice: Actions That Can Be Taken Now
Probably one of my least favorite genres of blog posts right now is “What Obama Should Do” posts. Everyone is full of good advice, but I tired of talking and I want action. DarkSyde at Daily Kos has an action/advice post that is worth a look:
It’s refreshing to see the WH take notice of growing frustration and outright anger over the dawdling pace of badly needed reforms. Going forward, voters are angry, they’re looking for those at fault. There’s no need to erect scapegoats when the actual perps can serve. Here’s just a few examples.
• On important issues, force the filibuster, not on paper, on the floor. Ask David Waldman and he’ll explain this is a way bigger pain in the ass procedurally than you think, but it’s doable and the lack of healthcare or a decent job is a hell of a lot bigger pain in the ass for us lowly non Senators. Let people tune into CSPAN and see a stooge shut down the government and thwart popular sentiment by droning on about evil Nazi democrats, and people will get sick of it. Pretty soon that obstructionist’s support will run for cover like roaches in a laser beam.
• Fire someone who has failed spectacularly. Pick a cabinet official or committee chairman or whatnot that’s wrapped up in Wall Street or healthcare, and demote them or kick them to the curb. This sends a powerful message throughout the Beltway and beyond that in the WH or Congress, just like in any other job the rest of us have, failure is not lavishly rewarded.
• When something works, don’t stop doing it. Be they bankstas or healthcare insurance executives, they are at fault and No One Likes Them. Keep them on the public hotseat, drag their sorry asses before committee and grill them mercilessly. Alternate with words from ordinary Americans whose lives have been utterly destroyed by these dicks. Time it right and they can be stammering on about their bonuses and summer homes on one news channel even as a conservative blabber-mouth defends them with a filibuster on another. Wash, rinse, repeat.
It’s not too late for Democrats to salvage this election cycle, at least somewhat. Democrats need to realize that there is anger out there, a lot of it because of the poor economy but also because we see the bad guys being rewarded and the rest of us aren’t getting much. It will be a disaster for Democrats if we’re seen as ineffective at legislating as well as in the pocket of the bad guys.
Tags: Populist Uprising, President Obama
Today’s probably a really important day for hcr. It looks like the preferred solution is going to be Senate bill + reconciliation sidecar. It’s probably a good idea to contact Sen. Carper and Sen. Kaufman and tell them that you support Senate bill + reconciliation.
Probably one of my least favorite genres of blog posts right now is “What Obama Should Do” posts.
Don’t worry, pretty soon we will be talking about “What Obama Should Have Done.”
Obama can end the aerial robo-murders in Afghanistan and beyond.
He does not need a 60 vote Dem. majority in Congress to do that.
Heck, he does not need Congress at all to do that.
But he won’t ….. cuz he’s gotta look ‘tough’.
“Pretty soon we will be talking about “What Obama Should Have Done.”
I’ll tell you what he shouldn’t have done: Made that remark about being a one-term president. That’s got to send a chill through every Democratic incumbent who faces re-election in 2012.
The “one-term” remark is only wasted if he fails to follow up with bold action. Traditional Democratic issues are winners if he gets behind them. Issues like education, health care, and making the rich pay their share.
A deficit committee and a few child care credits aint’ gonna cut it.
Gee, UI, just two weeks ago, cassandra_m was screaming at me that reconciliation was not possible and pandora was demanding a specific plan down to a Whip count.
I know the whip count already. It is 50-50 with the VP casting the tiebreaker. That is how Clinton got his economic plan through; it is how Obama must get his agenda through.
Admit he was wrong and reverse course.
No Civilian trials for Terrorist
No Civilian prisons for Terrorist
Fire Eric Holder
Stop lying:
“Here’s a compilation placed on YouTube yesterday of Obama scoffing at a spending freeze in all three presidential debates”
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/26/obama-freeze
You are a coward, Lizard. Why are you afraid of terrorists? You are nothing but a little boy cowering in the corner crying. Pathetic.
Geezer you are absolutely correct. It was dumb remark, was it subconcious? There is a poll up on Moveon asking democrats if you will work for democrats if they dont pass real reform. NY Times and WaPo both have articles about the “freeze” Obama will talk about tomorrow night. There is a letter circulating that Obama will do an executive order to deal with “social security and medicare”. Why doesnt he freeze the Pentagon, end the wars, instead of going after domestic programs. After tomorrow we will see how the Brown election has scared the democrats into going further to the right. Its dispicable. If the dems cant get anyting done with a true majority, they prove they talk the talk, but stumble on the walk. We need real leadership and we dont have it. We need Obama to go to the progressive base who put him in office on the hope and change mantra. Wheres the hope and where the hell is the change? Paul Krugman calls his “freeze” crap, “its the 1930’s”, hooverism?
Obama isn’t lying. He said a spending freeze should be a scalpel not an axe. He said that in the debate.
I sure Obama isn’t taking advice from people who wet the bed at the thought of terrorist superpowers.
Pelosi says they are in “campaign mode”! What about leadership mode? The question is “who is Obama taking advice from”? Rahm, Bernacke, Geitner? All three should be frog marched out of the White House for putting the hope and change guy on the ” corporate bipartisan highway” destroying all chance of health care reform and jobs creation. If he wants to take the populist strategy he should change his current pro corporate advisors, or indeed a one term guy.
UI, he said a spending freeze IS “using a hatchet where you need a scalpel” and IS “a hatchet when we do need a scalpel.” He NEVER said anything like “a spending freeze should be a scalpel not an axe.”
The House did lead on HCR, but Obama and the Senate let them down. Pelosi’s sidecar approach is great leadership, making the best out of a bad situation.
If Obama wants to get on the populist bandwagon maybe he should listen to the People’s Chamber, instead of trying to govern through the Senate.
bahahaha
I don’t know which is funnier, the go left advice (ignore VA,NJ,MA!) or the squeeling from the surrendercrats.
you guys are perfect, never change, we love you just the way you are.
Lizard,
When did Obomba ever “go left” ? When he pulled a drive on the golf course?
When did Obomba ever “go left” ? When he pulled a drive on the golf course?
delacrat finally says something useful
Obama’s “one term” comment was not an accident. He’s trying to say he’s going to fight for what is right, no matter the consequences (Clinton’s “strong and wrong”). I’m ready for the actual fighting to begin.
A1,
Reconciliation to get comprehensive reforms through was never possible, it applies only to budgetary items. The Senate bill + reconciliation dealing with budget items is the best bet right now.
UI, there are a lot of smart people saying the public option as well as Medicare +55 can be done in reconciliation. I don’t know the truth. It may require more creativity than we have the will to muster. I do know that you can’t do it if you don’t try.
The public option and Medicare 55+ is not comprehensive reform, though. The public option was only going to be available to a small group of people and Medicare 55+ do not solve the problems of pre-existing conditions or recission. If it was a strong public option that everyone could buy into, that would be different, but there never were more than 43 votes in the Senate for something like that.
The public option and Medicare 55+ is not comprehensive reform, though.
By the same token, indiv. mandates and payments to private providers might be made comprehensive, but they are not “reform.”
Medicare +55 is quite comprehensive if you are 55.
The public option was only going to be available to a small group of people
Who was ineligible? Refresh my memory, maybe I am wrong… As I saw it the public option is in fact comprehensive, because it is open to anyone who doesn’t have or can’t afford insurance. And it is an inherent cost control on private HC because it provides competition.
Medicare 55+ do not solve the problems of pre-existing conditions or recission.
It does if you are 55.
I’ll check on public option eligibility in the House bill. You might be thinking of the public option that was negotiated down and then removed from the Senate bill. Or I might be wrong.
The public option was only going to available on the exchange. The exchanges couldn’t be formed through reconciliation.
anon,
Many people are not 55 yet, including a lot of people who voted for Obama.
Many people are not 55 yet, including a lot of people who voted for Obama.
But people over 55 is where the most coverage need is (i.e., less likely to be working, more likely to need care). It is a good place to start.
As I’ve said previously: Better half a good loaf than a whole rotten loaf.
The public option that was passed by the house does not have to be the same one passed by reconciliation – we can do better if we’re going to go that route. And to say “The public option and Medicare 55+ is not comprehensive reform” is a bit ridiculous when it is whole lot more real reform then the Senate bill is.
Many people who aren’t 55+ have parents that are. Think about it.
Hey, at 55+ the anti-abortion Senators would have to find a new excuse to oppose the bill.
UI, you have a point… the House public option has some bad weaknesses; its main value would be to establish broad public health care as an alternative and then “fix it later.”
A1, right:
The public option that was passed by the house does not have to be the same one passed by reconciliation
… and wrong:
we can do better if we’re going to go that route
I’d like to agree with you but I don’t think the House will move left of where it has already voted.
Don’t get me wrong these are my favorite options, in order:
Medicare For All; Comprehensive Reform + Public Option + Medicare 55; Comprehensive Reform + Public Option; Comprehensive Reform (Senate bill), Smaller reforms which include reconciliation only, status quo, Republican bill.
Yes, anon, remember the Senate is more conservative than the House and you still need 50 votes to move anything through reconciliation. That’s why I think it was a no-go from the start.
Comprehensive Reform (Senate bill)
I hate the “comprehensive reform” label applied to the Senate Bill. I think that came from Plouffe, if I am not mistaken. It is a talking point.
The individual mandate is not comprehensive unless it is balanced with a strong public option. The Senate bill does not qualify as “comprehensive reform.”