Barack Obama is a progressive President

[ProSense]

He's not FDR, LBJ, Kennedy or Truman, and there is no need to compare what was possible under those administrations to what is possible now. The President has equal conviction to achieve his agenda, and no one can say the things he has achieved thus far are not progressive. In fact, most of the critics claim that what he has accomplished isn't progressive enough. OK, let's agree, but that doesn't change the fact that the achievements have been progressive. Nor does it change the fact that he is one of the most progressive President's to lead this country.

President Clinton was a deregulator. President Obama is a regulator. Here is Robert Reich:

The most important thing to know about the 1,500 page financial reform bill passed by the Senate last week — now on he way to being reconciled with the House bill — is that it’s regulatory. It does nothing to change the structure of Wall Street.

When the debate about financial reform began, most people believed that it would fail. The bill is stronger than anyone predicted, and while there were opportunities to make it stronger, it is still significant reform. The bill does break up the largest financial instituions. What it doesn't do is cap the size of traditional banks.

Now, no doubt the Clinton era was different. Back then the country wasn't as far along on issues as they are now. On the other hand, Americans didn't have to deal with the aftermath of 9/11, the Afghanistan war, Bush's invasion of Iraq and the aftermath of Bush's eight years in office. Anyone charged with being President would have to deal with these issues.

Those incidents changed a lot. There are things that Bush set in motion that aren't easily reversed. No matter how deep the desire, it takes time to end a war, meaning ending combat and pulling out troops.

There are a lot of people, given the circumstances of the day, who wish to redefine reality to fit an ideal that does not exist in this country, whether through political posturing, vengefulness and a lack of civility.

President Obama cannot change the country by himself, and there are too many people who spend too much time throwing up obstacles. There are others who refuse to give him an ounce of credit. The President isn't above being held to a higher standard, but he does not deserve to be ridiculed for his actions.

Anyone can take issue with this view, but it's just my opinion.