Reply #62: I think there's some truth to what you say, but he also went into the office

[Exilednight]

being very even tempered. He didn't twist arms like LBJ, or force his will on others like FDR.

If he went into office with a bit of fire in his gut, the same fire he showed on the campaign trail, he would of accomplished a lot more. We're too far into his presidency to get legislation as transforming as FDR did with Social Security or LBJ did with the Civil Rights legislation.

HCR was suppose to be his everlasting landmark, but he got hammered into submission and took away token promises that would of cost him nothing during the debates.

Giving single payers a seat at the table during HCR debates, even if he never intended to push for single payer, would of gone a long way towards a token gesture with the left, and it would of cost him nothing in the terms of political capital.