I'm actually going to be damn impressed with Obama if everything goes right tomorrow...

[Bicoastal]

...say what you will about the bill, but no other recent President--let alone any Democratic Potus--up to this point came close to changing the current system whatsoever. He had a majority in congress, sure, but as we've all seen in the last few months, it is by no means a united majority...

Yes, the legislation is flawed, but by the time the Teabaggers started straight-out mocking the ill in this country with the full support of Fox News, I knew the outcome wouldn't be pretty. And Obama still deserves credit for refusing to back down from tackling Healthcare, even when it could have been so easy to admit defeat and move on to some other issue. By tomorrow, he may have threaded the proverbial needle...

[spanone]

1. and no other president has had this type of opposition....from both parties

[trayfoot]

3. I fully agree with you!

Not that I am of the opinion that President Obama should never be criticized, but the crap I have been reading on DU lately seems way over the top! The man is trying his best to keep his promises and make things better for the American people. Yet, I guess some think he can wave a magic wand and get everything changed in the twinkle of an eye. I'm so glad he did not take the path of least resistance and give up!

[Skittles]

17. trying his best to keep his promises?

WTF

[Fire1]

10. That's for damn sure!! n/t

[ChicagoSuz219]

2. I'm impressed, either way...

...still, my hope is for a favorable outcome!!

[skeptical cynic]

4. The HCR bill is a pathetic parody of what real reform should be

More corporate welfare, holding 35 million people in need of healthcare as hostage.

In addition, the opposition from Democrats is a completely different basis (it's not enough) that the opposition from Republicans (it's too much), so they are not morally equivalent and it isn't fair to lump the Democratic opposition in with the Republican opposition.

That said, I'm more concerned with creating a loss for Republicans at this point, and I've recently started supporting this HCR bill for only that reason--to make it a Republican Waterloo.

If, once this bill passes, work does not immediately begin to make the changes being promised, then my vote will not be there for Democrats in 2010 or 2012.

There are three major issues for me: civil liberties, the wars, and healthcare. Obama is failing in the first two. I trivial bit of progress on healthcare, and a defeat for the Republicans, isn't much to ask of a President who promised so much more.

[jpak]

6. Was your vote "there" in 2008?

Well was it?

:thumbsdown:

:rofl:

[muffin1]

8. My vote was.

As well as my dollars, hours, and voice. Color me unimpressed, so far.
It doesn't make me happy to be unimpressed, either. It actually makes me quite sad.

[jpak]

9. ...and where will it be in 2010 and 2012?

:D

[muffin1]

12. None of my reps are up for re-election this fall.

What President Obama does in the next couple of years will determine where my vote will go.
Nothing would please me more than for him to end the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, strengthen this crappy HCR bill, and come out strongly against DADT (ending discharges immediately until repealed by Congress), and come out strongly for equal rights - including same-sex marriage.

If he does the above, my vote, hours, money and voice will happily be there again. It's up to him.

[jpak]

13. ummm...Congressional reps are up for election every 2 years - in 2010

in this country anyway

:D

[muffin1]

15. I should have been more clear.

My Congressional Rep is Bobby Scott. He is almost always on the right (left) side of issues - unbelievable for this area. I'm fine with him.
Neither of my SENATORS (I included in 'reps' to save time - I'm trying to get in my work out) are up. Webb will be in 2012 - don't know what to think of him still. He was much better than the alternative in 2006 - George (Macaca) Allen. I have Warner for another five (4+) years - not especially happy with him, either.

[skeptical cynic]

21. The laundry list...

Ending the wars in Iraq and Iran
Reducing war crimes against innocent civilians in Iraq, Iran and elsewhere in the "War on Terror"
Admitting the "War on Terror" is just bullshit
Ending DADT
The obvious need for equity for GLBT Americans
Reversing the loss of civil liberties under USA Patriot
Healthcare reform
Financial reform
Foreign policy reform

[skeptical cynic]

18. Time will tell

It's a give my vote won't be cast for a Republican. Maybe I'll just stay home

I'm donating to progressive campaigns in other states, targeting "centrist" Democrats for replacement in primaries.

[Skittles]

19. this is not funny, jpak

the bill is a disgrace

[skeptical cynic]

16. Absolutely

Your trivial rhetorical question doesn't deserve any more of a response.

[Peacetrain]

7. We missed you in 2008 too..

:hi: If you are ready to jump into the lap of the opposition, I can't stop you.. but be careful.. those guys are brutal and not your friends

[jpak]

5. Ummm....some of us have been impressed with Obama since Jan. 20, 2009

:D

[robinblue]

11. Oh yeah, I am impressed with his market-based "reform"...

NOT.

[WCGreen]

14. Me too...

[Political Heretic]

20. He's living up to the hype of a "pro-business pragmatist" that's for sure.

I can't set the politics of it aside, and give him some guts-credit for coming back to health care after even his own party leaders said it was "over" after some key vote losses in the senate. They started talking about how they weren't in a hurry to deal with HC and how they were moving to Jobs.

Obama said "EFF THAT" and grabbed the party by the hair and drug them back in there to get it done.

Some people won't be able to separate the policy, which is dismally bad, from the gutsy move to stick it out when everyone else was saying quit... but I can.

I just wish he's shown that kind of leadership and tenacity for a bill I could have been proud of.