Well, the time is fast approaching. Barack Obama will be inaugurated as a Democratic President with a Democratic Congress. It is a time of great excitement for us all. But while we all cheer the end of a very dark era, progressives must be aware of the pitfalls of nonperformance. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turn the ship of state in a progressive direction. We cannot serve up another posturing, pandering, do-nothing, accomplish nothing Pelosi-Reid Congress. The new administration must be bold, must think big and take chances. To fail in this would bring about a Republican resurgence.
It’s our job to press the administration publicly – loudly and clearly – for results. It is not our job to look the other way, pretending we don’t see the sell outs that have marked this party for far too long. We can remake the Democratic Party in the process. Let’s reward boldness. Let’s take our issues to the public and crusade and pressure for their adoption. In short, let’s do our part to see that Barack Obama achieves the greatness that we all know is in him. Where should he start? A penny for your thoughts.
gk thomas comments:
There are many things Obama must do to establish credibility, but, for me, the most important would be to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the crimes of Bush-Cheney. Unless these two, and myriad others, are held accountable it will indicate that Obama places political expedience over the rule of law. Our nation cannot stand for long if this occurs.
Tom Me comments:
OHHH — I can’t see that, I agree it sure would be sweet to see Bush accountable for all he’s done (and/or not done), but still, Obama would want to unify the people – not split them on debates, and what not, about his “attacking” Bush with with legal actions. The thing is, if such were to come to pass, it’d be best for Obama to distance himself. Seriously, with all that is going on, would you rather hear about so-and-so (whoever) going after Bush OR the news and nation (at least to some extent) going on and on critisizing Obama’s focus on trying to destroy Bush…
I, personally, think that no matter what, we will never really know the full extent to all that Bush has done. To me he seems/seemed like the most public government spook (secret agent of sorts) there ever was.
But really, Obama has got hotter potatoes to fry – I don’t think he should be destracted with Bush. And any how, aren’t we going to strive to get away from that guy?
Stefan comments:
George W. Bush’s “crimes” are not simple affairs like shop-lifting or jay-walking, indeed, his crimes are gross violations upon the Constitution of the United States and more importantly, the People there of.
There is a crisis of confidence in our government, due in most part to these very crimes of which we speak. How do you even begin to believe this nation can heal without holding these people accountable?
Then there is the very serious problem of blaming Bush alone, or lumping him in with the Republican Party, when clearly the entire “corporate-wing” of the Democratic Party openly supported President Bush every step of the way!
Just look at the legislative filibuster procedure, which Republicans constantly employ to block liberal reform when they are in the minority, while Democrats can’t muster a simple meaningless delay, they are so incapable (more like unwilling) to filibuster the Neo-Con agenda.
Who do you serve?
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Corrupt Democrats will prevent their own prosecution for aiding and abetting the Bush crime spree!
The biggest mistake you can make is to believe this is all about Bush, when it actually is all about the Constitution of the United States and whether or not we will return to a nation of laws or remain under imperial rule, just under a different puppet.
Stefan comments:
There is a bit of evidence as to precisely where Barack Obama’s heart lies in his new Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, who comes from the New York Federal Reserve, where he miserably failed to do his job regulating financial investments.
How can putting the man who is chiefly responsible for protecting investors from fraud yet who allowed this crisis to happen anyway, be the right choice to fix the very problems he purposefully neglected for years?
Oh well, just listen to Neil Young’s new song he released last Tuesday for Obama’s Inauguration, the title is Fork In The Road, it’s FREE over the Internet…
“There’s a bailout coming, but it’s not for me. It’s for all those creeps lying on TV.”
Stefan comments:
After receiving an e-mail as to where one can find this song, I realized I should have provided this link…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7L7XsHKCVs
…enjoy!
ed_kriner comments:
Here we go again. Let the war criminal/torturers walk away with their ghost writers and filthy lucre. Of course we can’t prosecute Bush and the rest of the Cabal of Evil cause . . . I’m not sure why. Cause torture and aggressive war aren’t crimes? Because the current President wants to maintain the same powers? Cause the American people in general and “liberals” specifically,are only for concepts that are easy to maintain but heaven forbid that push come to shove and wrongs have to made right. Could it be that many here among us supported the use of torture and aggressive war “in the real world”?
Let’s move onto the Grand Theft Bailout. Rubin and Summers were instrumental in laying the foundation for the collapse of the banking system when they joined Gramm and rolled back Glass-Stegall? Rubin went on the Citi where he took in $1m/month for 9 years. And helped steer Citi into their disasterous course which led to us having to bail them out. Summers thinks it is a good idea to export toxic waste to the poor countries of the world. And the new Secretary of the Treasury seems to have had tax problems that were quite clearly avoidable. And how is Tim’s part in the bailout excusable as Elizabeth Warren documents the lack of co-operation between her search for answers and the Fed’s lack of co-operation working out now that he is Secretary.
It’s the same old song and dance with a new face put forward. Sometimes I sit and think that we get exactly what we deserve – more of the same.