A Progressive Agenda to Remake Washington

[NJmaverick]

With the Senate’s passage of financial regulation, Congress and the White House have completed 16 months of activity that rival any other since the New Deal in scope or ambition. Like the Reagan Revolution or Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society, the new progressive period has the makings of a generational shift in how Washington operates.

First came a stimulus bill that, while aimed mainly at ending a deep recession, also set out to remake the nation’s educational system and vastly expand scientific research. Then President Obama signed a health care bill that was the biggest expansion of the safety net in 40 years. And now Congress is in the final stages of a bill that would tighten Wall Street’s rules and probably shrink its profit margins.

If there is a theme to all this, it has been to try to lift economic growth while also reducing income inequality. Growth in the decade that just ended was the slowest in the post-World War II era, while inequality has been rising for most of the last 35 years.

It is far too early to know if these efforts will work. Their success depends enormously on execution and, in the case of financial regulation, specifically on the Federal Reserve, which did not distinguish itself during the housing bubble.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/22/business/economy/22leonhardt.html

[annabanana]

1. weak tea . . . . .n/t

[NJmaverick]

3. More like a strong dose of reality

[zipplewrath]

2. What you left out

The recent period surely will not match the impact of the New Deal. Nothing is likely to, notes David Kennedy,a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, because the New Deal created much of the modern American government. “These are not as dramatic as the foundational moments,” Mr. Kennedy said, “but they’re significant changes.”

Alan Brinkley, a historian of the Depression, added: “This is not the New Deal, but it’s a significant series of achievements. And given the difficulty of getting anything done under the gridlock of Congress, it’s pretty surprising.”

It ain't the new deal, and they keep comparing him to Reagan. Ronnies actual accomplishments were barely conservative in any sense. Which make the Obama comparisons apt. He's barely progressive. He's missed the opportunities to be transformational on many fronts and has opted instead to pursue some long term, middle of the road "no drama" accomplishments.

[NJmaverick]

5. That doesn't change the title or the big picture

we are seeing a progressive revolution, even if you will not admit it.

[zipplewrath]

9. Some sort of change

But hardly a progressive revolution on the order of the New Deal or the Great Society.

[NJmaverick]

10. It's a progressive change, maybe not as sweeping as the greatest change ever

but still a progressive revolution

[zipplewrath]

13. Hardly a "revolution"

15 year old GOP plans for health insurance
SOFA negotiated by Bush
Surge in Afghanistan designed by the same guy that designed Bush's.
More drilling in the Gulf, where did we hear "drill baby drill"?
Limits on drug price negotiation.
Cadillac Taxes.
Making Gitmo permanent.
Classifying torture photos.


That's not a revolution. It's barely "change". And ain't "progressive"

He's gone back to the Clinton Era at best. Hardly a revolution. Just stopped some of the decline of the last 8 years.

[NJmaverick]

33. Spin it as you wish, but it will not change the reality of the revolution

[zipplewrath]

34. You are desperate

for labels. I'm not sure why what he is doing can't stand on its own, and needs you to spin them into things they are not. Labels even he eschews.

[Sebastian Doyle]

29. What the hell is "progressive" about privatization?

Putting more power in the hands of the corporate elite is not progressive, it is the polar opposite of that. It's a regressive move back to the robber baron era of the 1800's.

[Donnachaidh]

4. actually the truth is they are correcting the MISTAKES made by many of the same in Congress

who allowed de-regulation in order to placate their corporate cronies. This most certainly is NOT something to thank them for - it's a CYA after you've allowed the rape of the country move.

But the propaganda keeps flowing from the sewer called Congress.....

[NJmaverick]

8. That's not the only place we are seeing propaganda

[Donnachaidh]

50. mr pot, mr kettle is on line two

got that job description tattooed on your forehead yet there toots?

[asdjrocky]

6. Gotta keep catapulting the propaganda.

[NJmaverick]

7. more like got to keep trying to hide the truth

[Romulox]

11. Beware of a "centrist" quoting a center/right paper trying to define what "progressive" means.

The war mongering, bank bailing-out, drill-baby-drill! president is no progressive, that's for sure!

[NJmaverick]

12. More like beware the radical posing as a progressive and calling true progressives "centrists"

it would be a far more useful warning

[zipplewrath]

14. Obama call's himself a centrist

Why shouldn't we. He declares that he "rejects" progressive ideas. His COS calls progressive ideas "retarded". I don't think it is a big stretch to suggest that such an administration isn't "progressive". Certainly not a revolutionary one.

[NJmaverick]

16. The President is far truer to the ideals of liberals and progressives

than most of those declaring themselves liberals and progressives. He truly demonstrates the compassion and sense of fairness/justice that are the corner stones of liberalism.

[zipplewrath]

18. He doesn't like progressive ideas

He frequently expresses a desire not to pursue progressive ideals. And he pursued regressive taxes. You can't reject progressive ideas and be a progressive. Just because occassionally the progressive ideas and his centrists actions are closely aligned, doesn't make him a progressive. And HE would tell you that.

[NJmaverick]

19. You couldn't be further afield of the truth

The President not only embraces liberal ideals he lives them and works hard to conduct his life by them.

[zipplewrath]

20. You're ignoring his own words

HE will tell you these things. He HAS told you these things. It says something huge that you feel the need to redefine him as a progressive, when he himself won't. If what he is doing is so good, why isn't it sufficient to consider him a centrist? He does.

[NJmaverick]

21. I am judging the man by his actions and all his words

as well as a far deeper understanding of what it means to be a liberal

[zipplewrath]

22. And ignoring his words

And yet your ignore his own words that dispute your "far deeper understanding". Theres an expression for that. It's called cognitive dissonance.

[NJmaverick]

23. You need to stop cherry picking

listen to ALL the words and watch what he does. Look at how it matches the ideals of liberalism (not some distorted version of the ideal sold by some self professed, very loudly I might add, liberals). Think about the foundations of liberalism.

[zipplewrath]

24. Well since we're giving instructions

you need to stop ignoring the words you don't like. You need to listen and consider that Obama means what he says, even when you don't agree with it. He doesn't consider himself a progressive. He rejects progressive ideas. He advocates regressive solutions. HE'LL tell you that.

[NJmaverick]

25. You ignore titles and entire articles (save for a sentence or two)

and you are honestly trying to tell me to "stop ingorning words you don't like"? seriously?

[zipplewrath]

26. Just because I don't address every point

doesn't mean I ignore anything.

But you are ignoring his own words and projecting the opposite conclusion upon him.

[Romulox]

15. I only appear "radical" in comparison to your casual reactionary-ism!

:hi:

[NJmaverick]

17. If you say so

:popcorn:

[Winterblues]

27. "Beginning on Day One"..."One Brigade a Month"

Progressive words...Rerality large increase in troops in Afghanistan, large increase in drone attacks in Pakistan. More civilians killed and more and more "Supplemental War Funding" after Obama said "After this supplemental request we will NEVER ask again" All military spending will be "On Budget" very progressive words but Conservative actions..

[NJmaverick]

28. You have an odd thought about what it means to be a liberal

Liberal icon FDR engaged the US in the biggest war ever, that didn't make him any less liberal

[Winterblues]

30. A "War" of necessity not of "Choice"

Remember we were attacked by a foreign sovereign nation and FDR responded as he should have. 9-11 was not an "Act of War" by any foreign sovereign nation. The "War" we are currently engaged in has gone on more than twice as long as the real "war", WW II. That is what being a Liberal is about. Protecting our nation in all ways with dispatch. FDR protected our nation from the robber barons which created the Depression every bit as much as he did from foreign attacks.. Obama gave a handout to those same robber barons and has flitted our resources away in a "war" that is completely unnecessary. Also a Liberal is about dealing in TRUTH.. When Obama said he would NEVER ask for another "Supplemental War Spending Bill" I thought he meant it.. Come to find out he is not so trustworthy..That is not at all Liberal

[amborin]

31. LOL! Bankers are RELIEVED; the "Reform" bill is a joke

[NJmaverick]

32. It's only a joke to those that don't understand. The knowledgeable, like Krugman

know a whole lot better.

[amborin]

35. Nope; economists and Wall Street banksters themselves know it's not real reform

[NJmaverick]

38. bankster would be the other term that makes me think poorly of the person using it

just like corporatist

[amborin]

39. ad hominum attack when facts prove that Wall St. is RELIEVED at this "reform" bill

[NJmaverick]

40. Not an attack, just a fact of life

people will tend to judge you by the words you choose.

[Flaneur]

36. If you're not getting paid, you should be. You are very diligent.

[NJmaverick]

37. Why are you getting paid?

[QC]

47. Nobody would pay for such shoddy work. n/t

[ShortnFiery]

41. Progressive Agenda = All monies/ownership consolidated with Goldman Sachs, et. al. , ...

other LARGE investment banks. :puke:

[NJmaverick]

42. We are talking a REAL progressive agenda

not your hate agenda pretending to be progressive

[ClassWarrior]

43. This is kind of ironic coming from someone who has routinely demeaned all things progressive.

I encourage anyone who doubts me to search your posts and see for themselves.

NGU.

[NJmaverick]

45. You have shown you don't even understand what progressivism is all about

[ClassWarrior]

48. I invite all to search on both of our posts and decide which understands progressivism better.

NGU.

[NJmaverick]

49. Don't even have to do that much, your screen name betrays your lack of understanding

[TheKentuckian]

44. Unrec for lame spin. You cannot "remake" something and leave all the toxic

structural pieces in place. An overhaul with worn out broken parts is a clusterfuck not a resurrection.

I figure the only reason for the OP is he saw the word progressive tests surprisingly well so he's on a mission to stake claim on it for his right of center political dreams en route to "reclaiming the liberal flag" and whatever other reaching and desperate gyrations are needed to frame the message.

[NJmaverick]

46. You mean like you are trying to do with the concept of progressivism?