Mario Piperni dot Com

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Should Dems not be smiling?

It is a point of frustration to Democrats that much of the public seems unimpressed by the litany of legislation signed into law in the first two years of President Obama’s term: the $787 billion stimulus package, an anti-age-discrimination law, long-sought tobacco regulation, expanded community service, credit card consumer protection, the landmark health care law, Pentagon contracting changes, Wall Street regulation, tax cuts, credits and more.

Except for a climate change bill, the Obama administration and Congressional Democrats have followed through on the agenda laid out at the beginning of the 111th Congress in January 2009 despite concerted Republican opposition. The victories were wrenching, partisan and procedurally ugly, but they were victories.

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While Republicans consider much of the legislation flawed and even harmful, they grudgingly concede that Democrats compiled a record perhaps unrivaled since the Great Society programs of President Lyndon B. Johnson were passed during the 89th Congress or the New Deal programs were pushed through the 73rd Congress by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. And though they had large majorities, Democrats did not have substantial opposition help or the cushion that Roosevelt had with 313 Democrats in the House from 1933 to 1935, or the 68 Senate seats that Democrats controlled during Johnson’s tenure in 1965.

A little of Chris Dodd’s thinking on Dem’s accomplishments could go a long way in moving public opinion.

“Democrats don’t know how to celebrate,” said Mr. Dodd, suggesting that his colleagues should be reveling in the achievements of what Democrats and Republicans agree is one of the most consequential Congressional sessions in decades. “In the face of unyielding opposition, this president and this Congress stepped up to pass historic legislation for the good of the country.”

President Obama and Democrats have not been perfect but they’ve done good.  Spread the word.

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Anthony Weiner on Hardball referring to Dems doing battle with Republicans.

“Democrats bring library books to knife fights.”

True.  It would be nice if both sides would show up with library books but unfortunately, one side has chosen to remain illiterate.  The dilemma for Dems is that one faction of the party is screaming for them to drop the books and start packing knives or risk getting bloodied time and time again.  Another faction demands that they stay true to character and double the number of books they bring to these fights with no thought of resorting to their opponent’s tactics.

I’d like to think the answer lies somewhere between those two extremes.  Definitely keep on carrying those books but don’t be afraid to flash a knife or two when the situation calls for it.  Being ‘right’ is important but it won’t win you any battles when faced with an opponent who fights by a unique set of rules where integrity and truth have no place…an opponent who understands only too well that half the jury who gets to pick the winner is as illiterate as they are.

The proper balance of “books” and street smarts is what’s called for, I think.

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The story.

Place:  The U.S. House of Representatives

The Issue:  Vote on a bill that would provide $7.4 billion to cover health care costs for responders who were affected and sickened by the 9/11 attacks.

Scenario:  Both parties agreed that the bill was a worthy one.  Dems, concerned that Republicans would attempt to append non-related partisan amendments to the bill, suspended the rules and went straight to the vote.

Result:

- The bill, requiring a two-thirds majority, was defeated by 159 United States Representatives who voted against it.

- Republicans argued that they voted ‘NO’ on the bill on grounds that while agreeing with the contents of the bill, they opposed the procedure that did not allow them to offer amendments.

- Responders involved in the rescue and actions of 9/11 are now forced to battle health insurance companies in the courts.

New York Democrat Anthony Weiner reacts.

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Rush Limbaugh is making fun of fat kids who are starving, Glenn Beck is a raving bigot, and Joe Barton defines the word tone-deaf. So what? I admit to being a little more pissed off than normal this week. I have been, well, a little on edge this week. Pity the deluded conservative who has crossed my path in the last few days, because my rational middle has swayed a bit off course. It is time, however, to wake up and get back in the fight. While we progressive types have been screaming at our TV’s, throwing our radios out of windows, and putting literary beat-downs on the intellectual equivalent of the 98 pound weakling, the conservatives have been lining us up for the kill.

The Big Spill became the event that finally pushed the President’s consensus approval ratings below 50%; and it came at a time when those numbers had begun a slow climb. As well, Democrats in the House and Senate had seen a steady, albeit incremental, increase in their numbers leading in this industrial crisis. All that has changed in the sunset of liberal hand-wringing over the federal response to the spill. We have allowed Fox News to lead the mainstream media into the false position regarding international help for the spill, and we continue to buy into accusations of a leadership gap from the White House. Some 20 years after the Exxon Valdez was driven onto a shoal, Exxon-Mobil payed the last of about $1 billion in damages. It had, through the clean-up, already paid about $2 billion. That is $3 billion spread over 20 years. Our President just got $20 billion over 5 years! No yelling, no displays of emotion, no fiery pulpit-pounding speeches; just results.

But while all this has proceeded, the conservatives have already been lining us up for another defeat. Last summer, we sat in the background while they prepared the way for death panels and a lost progressive August full of town hall ambushes. They are doing it again friends, and we damn well better be ready this time. The Department of Health and Human Services has been preparing and releasing rules pursuant to the Affordable Care Act (you know, the health care reform bill THAT WE WON). The U.S. Chamber of Commerce (aka; the chamber of big-ass industrial businesses that don’t give a rat’s ass for workers or small business) is out with attacks on the rules. the Heritage Foundation is out with attacks on the rules. Conservative bloggers are out with attacks on the rules. These attacks all display the traditional conservative math; limit the variables that aren’t favorable to their argument, and leave out all of the context.

I am devastated by the events in the Gulf, but we need to get back on point. It is time to start defending our gains in health care, and preparing the way for a successful mid-term election season. Start rereading the law summaries, and keep up to date on the new rules. Be ready to respond in comment sections to this garbage, and be ready to write your own blog posts and letters to the editor. We can’t just sit back and complain about Presidential leadership friends; we must actively engage in this fight.

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Michael Chase publishes The Rational Middle

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