Seattle Times - "The 111th Congress: history — and hysteria" - Historical Achievements Lost In Spin

[TomCADem]

The corporate media conspired to cripple Democratic leadership from both the left and right with opposition from both quarters repeatedly highlighted in order to slow the momentum of the most progressive President and Congress in years. Even now, some on the right think that we have become socialist country whereas some on the left have been duped into thinking that there has been no difference between Democrats and Republicans. So, here is a nice article that puts the achievements of the President and the Congress into perspective.

This may explain why corporate America through Fox News and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent record setting amouonts to oust Democrats in the 2010 election. This may also explain why right wing outlets like Fox News and the Wall Street Journal repeatedly highlest "discontent" on the left and portrayed Democratic efforts to reach out to their base as "lecturing" or "scolding." The spin was part of a deliberate narrative to suppress the left, and energize the right.

Sadly, too many Americans bought into the corporate media spin, and embraced and voted for Republicans who were hostile toward their interests. Now, with the corporate mandate, the Republicans will attempt to impeach the President, and roll back the gains of the past two years. Worse, the corporate media will once again convince the left to turn on its allies in Congress and the White House while giving Republicans a free pass.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2013744361_congress23.html

However history judges the 535 men and women in the House and Senate the past two years, one thing is certain: The 111th Congress made more laws affecting more Americans than any other since the "Great Society" legislation of the 1960s.

For the first time since President Theodore Roosevelt began the quest for a national health-care system more than 100 years ago, the Democratic-led Congress took the biggest step toward achieving that goal by giving 32 million Americans access to insurance. Wall Street rules were rewritten in the most comprehensive way since the Great Depression. Consumers were given protections against the credit-card industry. Lawmakers spent more than $1.67 trillion to revive an economy on the verge of a depression, including tax cuts for most Americans, jobs for more than 3 million, construction of roads and bridges and investment in alternative energy; ended an almost two-decade ban against openly gay men and women serving in the military, and on Wednesday ratified a nuclear-arms treaty with Russia.

Before adjournment, a bill was passed to help rescuers and cleanup crews suffering from illnesses linked to the Sept. 11, 2001, wreckage in New York.

Despite all that, the 111th Congress probably will be remembered most for endless filibusters, volcanic town-hall meetings and the rise of the tea-party movement. All were symbols of a dissatisfaction that peaked Nov. 2, when Republicans regained control of the House and picked up six Senate seats.

[johnaries]

1. Kick for all of the accomplishments. of this Congress.

[BzaDem]

2. But you see, all the legislation that passed was actually bad.

After all, HCR wasn't an accomplishment -- it was a sell-out. Just like Medicare was a sell-out, since it didn't cover people below age 65. And just like Social Security was a sell-out, since it didn't cover healthcare. And...

:boring:

:sarcasm: