I have a conjecture to propose about this campaign. Are we seeing a new election strategy in recent announcements by the President? Does it mean that there will be more, right up to Election Day?
We have had a lot of discussion of the President coming out (ha-ha) in favor of Gay Marriage in May, with huge contributions and significant shifts in public opinion as a result. Meteor Blades started the discussion here today about the President's plan to give work permits to children of immigrants without visas/undocumented immigrants. (No human being is illegal. Do not accept the Frank Luntz framing.) I made a comment to that story, but decided that I should expand on it and expose it as a separate Diary.
Obama's shielding of young immigrants from deportation has Republicans squawking
That's two. According to the Gen. George Patton Auric Goldfinger rule, once is happenstance, and twice is coincidence, but I'm conjecturing a third shoe (proof of enemy action, in this case against Republicans, according to the rule) dropping in July, and then something like one a month in August, September, October, maybe even November 1 in preparation for election day on Nov. 6. That would be five more.
Come on, you can come up with five more, can't you?
- Move already appropriated funds into infrastructure jobs ASAP wherever there is legal justification, because the construction season's a-wastin'. Start with the Army Corps of Engineers budget.
- Move already appropriated funds into hiring teachers, police, firefighters, again wherever there is legal justification.
- Order Federal agencies to refuse to abide by DOMA, based on the Full Faith and Credit clause of the Constitution, so that legally-married same sex couples immediately gain access to Federal benefits.
- Announce a full-scale Marshall Plan equivalent for Afghanistan and Iraq with international funding, even if Congress won't join in. Hey, more infrastructure, more teachers, more police, more firemen, more everything.
- Give a blanket waiver to all states on No Child's Behind Left, and just get rid of scientifically unsound high-stakes testing completely.
- But why stop there? What would you like to see him announce? A shift on marijuana and the War on
the Poor Drugs? (And, BTW, Bill Maher reports in his monologue that Potheads for Obama is preparing a December Surprise on legalizing Marijuana. (That's COMEDY, in case you couldn't tell. See, potheads, weed, December...Yeah, never mind.)
) War crimes? Jail time for banksters? Jail time for voter suppression? Recess appointments for every empty judgeship and Federal agency management position? Something positive on union rights, women's health, family planning, the young, the old, tax status of overtly political churches...?
Go ahead. Give us everything that Obama has failed to do that you wanted, or has done that you are appalled by, and your version of how it would play out against Romney and the Republican Mad Tea Party of No. No pink unicorns, please. Only measures where the President can make some progress by Executive Order, anything where there is actually reasonable public support, especially if just a nudge from Obama would put it over, and even more if Mittens and The Usual Suspects (Hey! A band name! Nope. It's been taken.) would have no comeback stronger than spitting in the wind.
Further Reading
There have been several other stories and diaries here about the President's action this morning.
President Obama speaks on new policy against deporting DREAM Act kids
President Obama speaks on new policy against deporting DREAM Act kids #2
Win, Win on President Obama executive Order On Immigration
DREAM decision dominates Spanish-language media
What would Ronald Reagan say about Obama's immigration order today? How about 'Good move'?
You know how to find out what the rest of the punditocracy and the blogosphere has to say.
This story has a lot of traction. More from dKos since I posted the above:
Top Evangelical Leaders Praise Obama for New Immigration Policy
Remarks by President Obama on immigration, Rose Garden, June 15, 2012
Blatant Fox News Racism: Simultaneously Pandering To And Insulting Latinos
President Obama Heckled by "Reporter"
POWER OF PROTEST: Occupations of Obama Campaign Offices in CA, MI & CO Influenced DREAM Decision
A question about today's immigration announcement...
"What About American Workers Who Are Unemployed While You Import Foreigners?"
Pres. Obama's DREAM Decision: Romney Will "Focus on the Economy" By Ignoring It
Win, Win on President Obama executive Order On Immigration