Don't Miss the Progress

[babylonsister]

http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2010/4/16/14418/0756

Don't Miss the Progress

by BooMan
Fri Apr 16th, 2010 at 01:44:18 AM EST


I've already written about the administration's announcement that they are going to treat walking and biking as equally important transportation options as driving in a car. Today, the administration also announced that gays and lesbians will be able to visit loved ones in hospitals and exert power of attorney even if they are not related by blood or marriage. This comes at the end of week that started with a huge international summit on securing nuclear material that might be converted to use as weapons. And it comes only a month after passing the single most progressive piece of health care legislation since Medicare. I know that the health care bill was badly flawed and I know that Obama has yet to keep his big promises to the gay community. I know that Obama has been a disappointment on accountability for the Bush years and on civil liberties. I know that his policy in Afghanistan is unlikely to succeed or be worth the costs. I know that there are other things to gripe about.

But it's important that we take note of these accomplishments and not let them slide below the radar because they don't get a lot of news coverage. Letting people get health insurance who have preexisting conditions, subsidizing health insurance for all Americans who can't afford it, allowing gays the right to be with their partners and take control of their medical care, strengthening non-proliferation efforts and international cooperation, and implementing urban-friendly transportation policies are all progressive achievements.

And this is what I mean when I argue that Obama is basically a progressive. But when I look at the progressive blogosphere and the values that seem to proliferate and dominate among the participants in the progressive blogosphere, and I compare those values to the values of the country at large, I realize that we probably only represent somewhere around 20% of the electorate. And it's worse than that because we're really concentrated in a few metropolitan areas. Our representatives tend to win reelection with over 65% of the vote. And the congresspeople that have to fight for reelection are mostly serving in districts that aren't all that attuned to our values. Or, if they are, they are still vulnerable to the kind of crazy fact-challenged attacks that the Republicans excel at spewing out.

You can't elect a open progressive to statewide office in most states and you certainly can't elect one as president. And, even if you did, they'd have to deal with the plain fact that nearly half of their own party's congressional caucus is not progressive at all.

So, this is what progressive change looks like in a country where progressives are badly outnumbered (especially in Congress). We have to retreat on some things, and the big comprehensive bills have to be crafted to meet the broad center, which isn't progressive at all. But, around the edges, on the small things, on the regulatory stuff, we can get big gains.

[Clio the Leo]

1. And THIS has nothing to with the teabaggers...

.... Babs, I love ya and all, but when are you gonna learn? Unless it's about that Palin woman or the teabaggers, there's no place for it here at DU! We dont CARE what The Obama is doing!!!! :sarcasm:

[proudohioan]

2. You know, I thought it was just me.....

getting fed up with all of this obsession with that screeching bitch and teabaggers; DU is the LAST place I expected to have to hear about it! WTF is up with that??


:shrug:

[Clio the Leo]

6. It's not so much that I MIND us talking about the teabaggers and that Palin woman...

.... as I do the fact that we tend to IGNORE the stuff that's important. The things that will matter the most years from now.

[proudohioan]

8. Palin and the teabaggers do create quite a diversion...

and you're right; as long as we concentrate on them, the important stuff gets ignored.
However, IMO, there seems to be entirely too many threads devoted to that screecher and teabaggers. We do need to focus our energies on better things than M$M diversions.

[high density]

3. Watch out

When you post stuff like this, fellow DUers may accuse you of being a Kool Aid-drinking Obama lover.

[lunatica]

4. I've been thinking this for quite a while now

It's seems that as soon as Obama got hte health care reform passed he's been a role, blitzing and taking advantage of the media's somnambulism. He can do more by doing it this way than demanding media attention.

Bush did the same thing. While no one was looking during his first months before 9/11 he went on a very quiet rampage dismantling all the social services he was put in office to dismantle.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. Today's memorandum doe not create any new rights.

It even says so in clear language. This is a wildly important area, and this is a good step, but it is wrong to suggest to people that they now have a right they did not have before when that is not the case. Legal paperwork is still required that is not required for those with actual rights. It is very important that people understand that and have such papers in place, made by a lawyer if possible. That did not change.
"This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person."

That is the closing paragraph of the memorandum. Does not create any right. It is does not offer legal recourse if the memorandum is not followed.
I just ask that those who will be dealing with this learn facts and prepare in advance.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Well, it isn't a law....because of course, this President can't legislate on his own...

But it will become law soon enough, because once this directive has been in place a while, no one will dare vote against an actual law when it is brought to the floor.

[Cha]

9. Tell it, Booman!

Don't miss the Progress..it's so much fun to see:D:bounce::*