Now that I have had time to digest the situation

[randr]

I have come to the conclusion that the problem with the tax/unemployment issue does not lay directly at Obama's feet. I have had a growing anxiety about our pres for some time and do think he has compromised a lot of our hopes and awkwardly lost momentum on many of his initiatives.
At the same time I sense that it is the dems in the house and senate that bear most of the responsibility for our failures and for the successes of the repugs in the last election.
The failure to bring issues to the floor in a timely and politically beneficial manner has caused permanent damage to the party, let alone the image of Obama's leadership. Our congressional leadership has failed to take advantage of painting the repugs for what they are and laying the blame on them for the mess they have placed us in.
Our President has been under the attack of a thousand cuts. The opposition, through the MSM, members of congress, or their many mouthpieces have not let a day go by that they don't attack him in some manner. At the same time our house and senate reps have failed to cover his back.
The President may have pulled a rabbit out of a hat with his compromise and established the decorum for the next two years. If we progressives want to see any movement on our issues we will need to apply pressure, in the same manner as the wingers, directly at our congressional representatives.
We should thank our lucky stars that we lost as many BlueDogs as we did and start to work our asses off to find real democratic candidates to take back control in 2012.

[Kber]

1. A sobering, but spot on assessment, I think.

[emulatorloo]

2. It bothers me that Congress waited until the last minute to take up the Tax Issue

It should have happened months and months ago.

It may not have changed anything. Or it might have.

[randr]

3. They should have brought it up before the election

and used it to beat the heads off the repugs.

[femrap]

6. And why didn't they????

Remember, MSM told us that many of the Dems up for reelection didn't want this discussed.

This top 2% is where the candidates get their big bucks to run for office...must not offend them.

There is NO moral leadership in the Dem party. Obama should have rose up and slapped those fundies, who call him a Muslim, and mentioned how Jesus worked for the Poor, not the rich.

But it's over now. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. The Republic is over. The rich know the Empire is in decline. They're simply getting the last of the money while they can. They'll send it to Hedge Funds off shore and buy commodities...watch as the basics like oil, all foodstuffs, cotton, grains, etc. go up in value leaving the working poor even more hungry.

2011 will not be pretty. Hunker down, folks.

[emulatorloo]

10. They didn't have the votes (REPUBLICANS) I think the theory was

that Republicans and Blue Dogs would be more likely to "vote their conscience" after the election

Some idea of some Democratic Strategist. But if they had gotten this out earlier, there would have been lots of time to get it percolating in the minds of low info voters, independents, and moderate Republicans.

[Recursion]

5. What's more, they didn't even "bring it up" after the election

Obama did, because he realized to his horror Congress literally was just going to give up on it and pass the issue to a more Republican Congress.

[Pisces]

4. Congress is only concerned with reelection. Not the people or President Obama. It is sickening

to see that they did not want to highlight or discuss Health Care when running for reelection. Congress is weak and petulant. THey posture for the camera's to their advantage. President Obama
governs while the people around him only seek opinion polls.

[asjr]

7. Too many fingers testing the wind to get

anything done in less time. That goes for both sides.

[Adelante]

8. Well, hallelujah!

Thank you :toast:

I'd given up on common sense breaking through the noise barrier.

[Davis_X_Machina]

9. Wow. Thread is what, ten messages old, and no one's said...'

...'primary' or 'capitulation'.

Clearly the laws of probability have been suspended. I'm running out to buy some lottery tickets before they're turned back on.

[CakeGrrl]

11. k/r for a reasoned post.

[jwirr]

12. Waiting till the lame duck session was a very BAD idea for most of

these bills. I assume they thought we would never lose the house so they just sat back on their hands.

[DCKit]

13. Seems to me that Nancy and (especially) Harry were far more comfortable...

when they could use the excuse of "too many Republicans" to excuse their inaction.

That said, Nancy certainly took advantage after 2008 and busted ass. Harry, not so much.

Finally, anyone who is willing to lay even the brunt of this pile at the feet of our President needs to watch a few episodes of "School House Rock" and edumacate themselves.

[Pisces]

14. Funny how non Obama bashing threads fall to wayside. This is a reasonable, well thought out

thread. Maybe those that are outraged, can think about other things other than blame Obama, hate Obama, etc. Congress could have brought up many things before the election, but they were too
afraid. Some good it did many of them. Maybe some would still be around if they had pushed legislation that would have motivated this angry base.