Dems demand leadership from Obama in wake of Bayh shocker

[Enrique]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/15/evan-bayhs-retirement-lea_n_463048.html

(...)

Some of the most prominent names in the Democratic Party's consulting class argued on Monday that by dropping the pretense of rhetorical moderation, lawmakers could lay the groundwork for a comeback. In an e-mail to the Huffington Post, Robert Borosage, co-director of the progressive Campaign for America's Future, practically begged Obama to flex the White House's muscle.

"Take on -- from the damn White House," he wrote in an e-mail to the Huffington Post. "They are fighting to cut estate taxes on the wealthiest 1% of heirs as a jobs program. Are they kidding? How can they get away with that with barely a word being said about it? They oppose doing anything to give consumers protection from credit card companies, predatory lending etc -- that would get in the way of protecting the banks. Are they kidding? How can they get away with that? They are offering themselves up to the banks as their protectors. They are lined up to oppose direct lending for kids that will help make college more affordable."

"The issues are innumerable. The choices clear," Borosage added. "We've got the bully pulpit. Let's use the damn thing."

Tad Devine, another longtime Democratic hand was just as blunt, advising lawmakers not to be wary of re-introducing voters to the previous White House's record.

"We as Democrats seem to think there was some sort of sunset provision on the Bush administration," Devine said. "That an administration that nearly bankrupted the country... is something that after six months we can't even talk about any more is absurd. We have to be like Reagan and always remind people of the situation we walked into."

[polichick]

1. Hope they're not holding their breath. nt

[democracy1st]

8. +1

[babylonsister]

2. If something good comes from Bayh running away, this would be good.

But will the WH listen? And is Borosage really a member of the 'consulting class', whatever that is?

[Phx_Dem]

3. That might be interesting if I could believe anything I read on HP.

[TheWraith]

4. +1. HuffPost is increasingly our side's Drudge Report.

Except that both bash Obama as much as possible.

[peacebird]

5. frankly Obama has brought some of that on himself by keeping so many Bush policies intact

Far too little change, in great part because our congress (even dems) are owned by corporate interests.
I believe he is trying to change the tone in Washington, and trying to mend our country - doing away with Red v Blue. That said - people back a winner and unless he can kick some booty and turn the tide, then momentum will not be his friend.

[TheWraith]

6. Obama hasn't been nearly as cautious as people give him credit for.

Every minute of his presidency has been an uphill war.

[peacebird]

7. uphill against his own party in great part, but the failure to lead even THEM is still on him

He has a really bad hand dealt him, but he is the President. And being the President gives you a lot of power from the bully pulpit - perhaps he needs to use THAT on the Dems in congress, and then use it to school the repubs - like he did at their getaway last week.

[Cha]

15. I disagree..President Obama is doing a tremendous

amount of work to turn this country around from the bush/cheney years and has accomplished a lot that some people don't give him credit for but they don't hesitate to complain and demand..oh yes, they demand.

[Cha]

9. That Damn huffpost..I can't believe anything they say until

it's proven.

[Enrique]

10. what news sources do you trust?

other than the White House press office, I mean.

[FrenchieCat]

11. Not those with a track record at helping the opposition.......

that's for sure.

Why should anyone? Why would you?

[Enrique]

13. so which sources do you find reliable?

where do you get your information?

[Cha]

14. I don't trust anything you put up.

[Enrique]

16. so what do you trust?

we know who you don't trust: me and the Huffington Post. So where does a discerning news consumer like yourself go to get the information they need?

[FrenchieCat]

18. I verify rather than trust......

Further, I make sure a headline matches the story,
and insure that I'm not reading about various publications
quoting each other and no one else......but are using independent sources.

Those who I trust explicitly (although I still verify)
because I don't remember them using hyperbole headlines,
and who have a track record of consistently having stories that play out as having been informed not
misled......

the American Prospect, http://www.prospect.org/ ,
talking points memo, http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/ ,
Media Matters, http://mediamatters.org/ ,
The Atlantic , http://politics.theatlantic.com/ ,
Washington Monthly's Political Animal, http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/ ,
Think Progress, http://thinkprogress.org/ ,
Booman Tribune, http://www.boomantribune.com/ ,
the Rude Pundit, http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/ ,
Ballon Juice, http://www.balloon-juice.com/
and some specified writers at Salon, the New Yorker Magazine, and the Daily Beast.

Those whom I don't trust based on their past track record are:
The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, the LA Times,
Huffington Post, Drudge, Politico, Hotline, Firedoglake.

[timeforpeace]

17. Pwned! Way to go.

[FrenchieCat]

19. Could you point out how exactly, cause I don't see it. n/t

[CBR]

12. I demand people stop demanding and start doing. nt