We're all frustrated. We are still in the midst of cleaning up from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. (Amazingly, we're already seeing topline GDP growth and it's been less than a year since Obama took over from Bush.) We've got a war in Iraq that was fought on false pretenses (there were no WMD in Iraq.), and another in Afghanistan that has "quagmire" written all over it. Unemployment is at its highest levels since 1983.
But I don't understand why we're blaming Democrats. I mean, the GOP drove the bus into the ditch, and now they're blaming Democrats for the cost of the tow truck.
We're on the brink of passing major legislation to battle climate change. We're on the verge of passing significant healthcare reform that will make health insurance more affordable for more Americans and curtail rising costs in Medicare while expanding coverage and ending rescission and caps on benefits.
So, an honest question: Why are we blaming Democrats?
I agree with most Kossacks that corporations, lobbyists, and special interests are engaging in tyrannical behavior, blocking much-needed reform that would put people ahead of profits.
I agree that we need a stronger public option, available to all Americans, and ready on day one.
I agree that we need to take serious action to create green jobs and utilize green technology that cannot be outsourced, and improves American competitiveness.
I agree that the status quo is unsustainable.
I agree that TARP bailouts and Fed financial scheming has given record profits to the financial services industry and occasionally rewarded the kinds of risk taking that got us into this mess in the first place.
But why are we blaming Democrats for this?
Why are we blaming the Obama administration?
The Federal Government has already implemented an extraordinary recovery package that is making smart investments in research, technology, transportation, energy infrastructure, education, and support for vital state and local government programs.
And it's working - we've stopped the GDP bleeding, and we're saving and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.
We're working to enact healthcare reform that rewards innovation, expands coverage, and bends the cost curve.
This week, President Obama is hosting a jobs summit to address the unemployment crisis and ensure that the prosperity of the wealthy benefits everyone.
Democratic leaders in Congress are already planning to make sure we don't pay for the war by running up a credit tab to foreign nations. The State Department is engaged in a diplomatic full-court press to mend broken relationships around the globe. President Obama is going to Copenhagen along with the leaders of the Chinese government to make a commitment to real change on our world carbon emissions.
So, why are we allowing the do-nothing, know-nothing Republicans to destroy the economy, block progress, and blame Democrats for it? Why are we allowing Chamber-of-Commerce talking points to dominate the conversation, instead of turning up the pressure on the banks and corporations that drove our economic bus into the ditch?
The floor is open for your comments.