ETA: Paywall bypass link: https://archive.is/vyU15
Have you considered. That rather than a problem of the Obama administration. That perhaps that’s more an issue of you not setting realistic expectations?
Democrats with anything short of an unassailable commanding majority that could afford the attrition of 10 or more members. Would never be able to do that sort of thing. And they didn’t. Because the Democrat Party is a coalition. Not a monolithic party. It is made up of Democrats, and people who understand how the American election system works. And will do what they can to keep Republicans from as many offices as possible. Democrats at best had a tenuous veto proof majority for not even 2 weeks. And to even get what they got passed. Rapey drowny man who was only a year or two from death. Literally got up out of his hospital death bed to come in and vote.
No one I know who voted for Obama had any serious expectation that we were getting Single Payer. Did we hope that maybe a miracle would happen? Absolutely. But no one expected it. Most of us were pretty chuffed with what we got as lackluster as it was.
And no I’m not saying that we should all love and kiss the ass of liberal Democrats. They talk a good social Progressive talk. But are financially beholden to the problem. Therefore any solutions they have to offer are going to be handicapped at best.
But it’s kind of bullshit for us to attack them over it. If we cannot offer them similar resources and support so that they don’t have to rely on Wealthy oligarchs who are the problem. That’s an us problem. And not a problem of those trying to survive the system as it exists and get elected.
Short of a mass resurgence and re-energization of unions. Or some other similar solidarity group. It’s not going to change either. Because let’s be clear. We’re where we are today. Because back in the '80s unions thought they were so Irreplaceable and secure. They did what third-party voters do now. Withholding support for the only group with a chance of beating the fascist. Thinking that they would teach Democrats a lesson. Only to find out that they were the ones that were learning a lesson. That they were no longer relevant. When first they came for labor and unions. One of the worst miscalculations in post World War II American history. An epic self own. And no one learned.
No one I know who voted for Obama had any serious expectation that we were getting Single Payer.
Because that was never his proposal.
https://www.kff.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/obama_health_care_reform_proposal.pdf
Almost everything you said I agree with. All but unrealistic expectations. Obama was not a fighter. If he wielded the power of his office like FDR or almost any republican we wouldn’t be having this conversation about health care. In retrospect I don’t believe for a second that he had any intention of doing much of anything. Just empty campaign lies.
Republicans can do that because they’ve been largely unified. If a Democrat tried that others in their own party with different agendas would sell them out immediately. Solidarity goes a long long way. And while I hate all the empty campaign lies. You cannot deny that they still work. Trump has made good on it twice now. Not fulfilling his promises that is. But promising the world and delivering nothing. All because Republicans generally have solidarity
FDR beat opposition in his own party by playing dirty and having an uncompromising will to do things that were unpopular in his own party as there were gilded lapdogs then just as now. He forced the opposition into bending to what was best for the people. He build the most prosperous economy that worked for the people the US has ever seen. He did so in spite of the opposition inside his own party.
The majority of the current dems have one agenda, line their pockets with corporate cash and get a job as a lobbyist if/when the have to fall on the sacrificial sword and kill popular legislation. Its about greed and greed has no party affiliation.
Your damn Skippy about the campaign lies working. This is why I don’t compromise when they try to feed me the shit they/anyone shovel about unrealistic expectations. God damn right I expected more and I’m still pissed we as citizenry didn’t stand up and demand what we deserve. It is also why I unregistered as a democrat. I know better than to think they represent me.
Also you can’t really call Trump a republican. He’s a con artist. They wear any mask that gives them what they want. He doesn’t have to deliver anything as his motives are purely selfish and he doesn’t care. Republicans eat the shit out of any strongman’s toilet. Even when they are the mark.
Republicans are also morally flexible, as in they have none. What they want is easily manipulated and varies with the last con artist they listened to. Their main consistent policy over the last 40 years is robbing women of their bodily autonomy and expanding corporate power. They see politics as a game of football. A team exercise of their side against the others while not noticing the hand that picks their pocket. Democrats fall for the same trick much of the time as well.
Honestly I don’t see compromising for crumbs as a viable strategy for us as the long game is always to make you settle for less while making you believe your getting more.
In retrospect I don’t believe for a second that he had any intention of doing much of anything. Just empty campaign lies.
We literally got everything Obama campaigned on in health care except the public option. This is what Obama promised you. If you say he promised something else, that’s your lie, not his.
https://www.kff.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/obama_health_care_reform_proposal.pdf
Democrats at best had a tenuous veto proof majority for not even 2 weeks.
They had the house, the senate, and the POTUS. That’s “veto proof”. And it was for nearly two years.
If you mean “filibuster proof”, the filibuster is just a made up rule by the senate. A rule they could have, and should have, discarded the moment they took the senate.
