E. J. Dionne: The Pride of ‘Obama’s Orphans’

[babylonsister]

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_pride_of_obamas_orphans_20101222/

The Pride of ‘Obama’s Orphans’

Posted on Dec 22, 2010

By E.J. Dionne, Jr.


At the beginning of 2009, the choice before Democrats who controlled the 111th Congress was whether they would enact historic legislation, even at the risk of their majority, or whether they would play it safe.

They gave the safe option a pass, with two results: This will go down as the most productive Congress since the 89th, which was even more Democratic because of Lyndon Johnson’s 1964 landslide. And 52 Democratic House incumbents, most elected in 2006 or 2008, lost their seats.

snip//

That so many other reforms have been virtually unheralded is another monument to the efforts of Obama’s Orphans. Bills that in another Congress would have loomed large were passed with hardly a ripple in the media.

Consider: the new food safety rules, the big repair in the student loan program, stronger regulations on the credit card industry, the creation of a financial consumer protection agency, an improved children’s health care program and a broad expansion of national service opportunities.

The startling achievements of this lame-duck session owed to the decision of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to shun the counsel of those who said they should just pack it in after a bad election. If a certain amount of boldness had cost some of their colleagues at the polls in November, the same audacity would at least permit those on their way out to add to their record. They would use their majorities right to the end.

Our media and political systems are obsessed with presidents. We are also very tough on those who lose, in elections no less than in sports. As a result, end-of-year commentary will concentrate on how much stronger President Obama looks today than even a month ago, and on all he got done. The vanquished of 2010 will get barely a nod on their way to the rest of their lives.

But the president’s accomplishments were possible only because a group of younger, largely unsung politicians—the infantry of political change—refused to think only about polls, politics and their personal ambitions. Obama’s Orphans deserve to take a bow.

[Demeter]

1. Motivated by Fear

somebody got the wake-up call November 4th...

[DCKit]

2. Had they been this effective before the election, the outcome might have been very different. nt

[Windy]

3. Congress was worried about reelection and was very very timid

After the election, they no longer cared and worked as they should have all along!!! Yes, had the dems been this productive before the election, the mid terms would have been much different... (maybe, midterms are historically low for turn out..only the nutty teabaggers were motivated)

[DCKit]

5. I understand that but, also, don't.

Timidity is what lost us a lot of seats.

Had they acted as winners in control of both Houses, voter perception would have been very different.

People, in general, like to be on the winning side. The perception of our (D) majorities as winners would have gone a long way in influencing the election.

Additionally, the difference between (D) fair play, honesty and negotiation vs. (R) bullying and generally being assholes (in every way) resonates with the majority of voters. Only 23% of the population (BushCo's* base) are authoritarians, the rest of us despise bullies.

[Recursion]

4. Name one thing the Democrats did differently after the elections

Answer: not a damn thing.

The Republicans blinked. That's what changed.

[DCKit]

6. See post #5. I meant to convey that it's perception of strength...

that would have maintained the majority in the House and, possibly, even won more seats.

We need to take a page out of the (R) playbook, but refrain from using their filthy, dirty tricks, 'cause we're better than that and with truth, honesty and the interests of the people on our side, (D)s have (and have always had) the stronger hand. We just need to show it more often.

[Recursion]

7. OK, but you're acting like Congressional Dems could have done something different

and that that would have made more legislation pass and made us "look like winners". What are you saying they could have done differently?

[DCKit]

8. Given the complete lack of MSM attention to all things (D), I'll admit it's an uphill battle.

However, we could learn from the (R)s mistakes, especially some recent ones.

Secret holds and, generally, holding up popular (or unpopular) legislation gives "Teh People" time to analyze and weigh in on the subject. All of the votes yesterday were on issues that were continually held hostage by the (R)s, and a total repudiation of their stance on those issues.

In that same spirit, our representatives could hold hostage the impending attacks on SS, MediCare, etc... until "Teh People" have time to weigh in and force the (R)s to either back the hell off, or simply do the right thing. The same exact tactics, used for good instead of evil.

Dick and Dumbya were able to do what they did to us because everything was presented as emergency legislation (threat level orange, every damn time) and the MSM was complicit in pressuring Congress to "do the peoples will". As a result, they got much of what they wanted but, thankfully, not all. Otherwise SS would have already been liquidated by Wall St. and the Banksters and their Ponzi scheme would still be running rampant.

I just think we could do a lot better and beat the nasty (R)s at their own game. They play dirty, and we've been playing honest. The perception of (D)s as chumps and losers needs to end, but we don't have to sink to their level in order to demonstrate our strength.