How can we get a progressive presidential candidate at the top of Democratic ticket in 2016?

[kenfrequed]

138. Hmm...

I could point to dozens of very good government programs that actually started out as something bold and effective. Very few of them were "improved incrementally."

I could also point out that if it weren't for absurdly insane republicans President Obama would be getting very little credit for "Obama care" as it is. So strategically putting forth some bill of a hundred little begs and nudges really wouldn't ordinarily result in a PR victory either.

I could even point out how the compromise on Healthcare reform was supposed to be a damnable public option that, thanks to the Presidents former COS and the Senate chair of the fianance committee (Max Bacchus) never actually made it to the table.

The problem with starting from a compromised position to go to the Republicans hat in hand to compromise more from that point results in lousey legislation that barely solves the problem and doesn't inspire the public mind with the accomplishment of great things. They spend six months trying to woo the vote of Olympia Snowe with unending compromises and still didn't get that.

At that point they tagged it onto the budget in a way that required only a simple majority in both houses and couldn't be fillibustered. If they were going to do that anyhow why didn't they put up something that had some damned cost controls?

I am sorry, but Centrism got us the War in Iraq. Centrism got us extra tax breaks for billlionaires. Centrism gave us the Patriot act (and continues to vote for it's continuance).