How much progress have we made since Bush left?

[kentuck]

This is how I measure the Presidency and the Congress.

We were in a very deep hole when the prodigal son departed Washington.

We are still in a deep hole. Although we have had some notable victories, we are not making the progress needed to recover from the Bush years.

It's like as if we take a pain pill and we feel much better but the cancer is still there.

Is this the wrong way to measure success or failure?

But, what would I know? I am a member of the left wing of the Party. Everybody knows we are unrealistic and unappreciative.

[HopeHoops]

1. None - the shrub still isn't in a maximum security prison with Uncle "Waterboard" Dickie.

[TBF]

2. Repeal of DADT is a huge victory and I give credit to the president for that -

however, his economic policies still need a lot of work.

[kentuck]

4. A huge victory for human rights.

and the healthcare reform might be a huge victory, if it survives the Supreme Court. The wars, the bailouts, the taxcuts for the wealthy, the financial bailouts, the economy, Guantanamo, jobs....not so much.

[somone]

3. We're in very bad shape

But life for the rich and elite couldn't be better

[MadMaddie]

5. My friend if we tallk about just the 8 years of the damage of Junior

has forced on this country it will take more than 2 years to dig out of that swamp. But if we talk realistically talk about 30 years of Republican deregulation, anti-union, religous zeolottry and anti-average American agenda's it will definitely take more than 2 years.

You, I and others here and out in the U.S have a job to do in 2012 and that is to get MORE Progressive Liberals into the Senate and the House. That means absolutely crushing the Republicans in their own districts but relacing any remaining Blue Dogs. Our job is to make sure it happens. We can complain all we want, we can criticize but until we put in place the House and Senate we really want we will continue to run into issues.

This is not a short term political odyssey this is a long term odyssey and we have to start now.

[kentuck]

7. Do you think we are going in the right direction?

Or do you think going right is the wrong direction?

I agree that we were left in critical condition.

[MadMaddie]

13. I do believe we are going in the right direction

however; it is incrementally painfully slow. We had too many bluedogs that voted like Republicans that damaged many efforts that he pushed. Because of them he had to negotiate down to something many of us didn't really care for.

I think even as slow as it's going at least we are not going where McCain and Palin would have taken us which would have been a religious state with fanatic leaders in charge.

My prediction for the next two years is as our highways and other infrastructure will continue to fall around our ears and Republicans will continue to talk tax cuts the American people as a whole will figure out the correlation between safe and useful infrastructre versus getting killed. (Sorry but that is how blunt it will be)

When Americans see what the Republicans bring to the floor of the House they will be appalled.

We are still in very serious condition and with bad decisions could return to critical, I am a realist. I do believe his cabinet shake up is going to be very important.

He told us to push him and that is what we have been doing. When he does accomplish something he said he was going to do we need to give him and his supporting cast in the House and the Senate a pat on the back. We need to enjoy the victory before we start slamming him for not achieving some of the items on our personal agendas.

They say even the most successful high achievers need to hear well done every once in awhile. I know many here are like that and know what it's like to work your ass off and not even get a nod of the head.

We have a lot of work to do over the next two years.

[Octafish]

6. Lots of Rove's U.S. Attorneys still cash a federal paycheck.

Leura Canary's "October Surprise" Becomes Reality

Ask Don Siegelman his thoughts about Ms. Canary.

[kentuck]

8. Perhaps I should have asked?

How long do we have to fix it? Perhaps we don't have time to fiddle?

[TheKentuckian]

9. About every step forward comes with one or two back.

I'm not sure we are treading water, in fact we are still digging the hole.

So, it isn't about speed but direction.

If Obama was king for 30 years, it wouldn't offset. His policies are a FAIL and his appointments are, on the whole, worse.

[kentuck]

11. I agree.

It seems to me we need dramatic change to get us out of this hole. We need a huge ladder for the unemployed. How many jobs would $1 trillion dollars have created? I see more of a continuation of Bush and Reagan policies than I do of actual change. I see the hole getting deeper.

[DJ13]

10. None

[stray cat]

12. WE have put the GOP back in power

[EstimatedProphet]

16. I'm sure your voting helped.

[xchrom]

14. Very little when you think about the wars, Yemen, wall street prosecutions,

Bush cabal prosecutions, help for main street, tough financial regulation,
Etc - it goes on.

Dismal really.

[bvar22]

15. How much closer are we to these Democratic Party Ideals?

"We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.”<2> People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

*The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

*The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

*The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

*The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

*The right of every family to a decent home;

*The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

*The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

*The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

Americas own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for all our citizens.

For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world."--FDR

The recent victory on DADT is worth celebrating,
:party:
but in the grand scheme of Economic Justice for the Working Class, it doesn't move the ball.


"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone

[kentuck]

17. Very well said.

imo.

[GeorgeGist]

18. Bush is gone ...

but his worst lives on.