What would do it for you?

If you're one of the DUer's who supported the election of President Obama but have found yourself disappointed and, perhaps, even a little pissed off, of if your enthusiasm has waned, what would it take for you to regain some of that hope and enthusiasm you felt as you watched his acceptance speech on election night 2008?

Is there some action the President could take, right now, that would have you looking up with the same pride you felt on Jan 20, 2009 when you watched the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, taking the oath of office?

I know there are things he could do that would affect me that way. How about you?

stopping any attempt at fucking up SS and
proposing upgrades to health care.
At least the first two.
ETA forgot about DADT.
And BTW - the internet will be a major target. Needs to be neutral.

On the other hand, the opposition is so odious, he still remains the only reasonable alternative to rule by voracious hyenas, so he doesn't have to do much.

I'm trying to get to what sort of thing he'd have to do to instill that sense of pride and joy in looking at him and saying, "That's MY President!"

All that money could stay in the US and it would put so many to work. Lastly it would benefit all of us, no matter where our politics are.

Plus, I hoped the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would be ended under this president's watch.

Then, good jobs for Americans.

That's about it.

No ifs, ands, or buts.

There's other stuff that applies to me personally, and still other stuff that applies to friends of mine and maybe 10-20% of Americans.

But the tax cut expiration thing would help a whole shitload more people, including me, my friends, the 10-20%, and even most of the people on the other side. In fact damn near everybody in this country would be better off.

I can fight him on the other stuff, but I'd really love for him to stand up for me on the Bush Tax Cuts. I can't fight the billionaires.

and be more of a Progressive Leader.

My support is still strong for the President. I know the hand he was dealt. But... my enthusiasm could definitely be stronger.

I would like for him to FIGHT on the Bush tax cuts - strike a populist narrative and win. I want him to challenge the Republican narrative on tax cuts more strongly. A raise in capital gains taxes could actually help the economy. And... it isn't the "death tax" as Republicans have framed it - it is the "Inheritance tax". Why should you or I be taxed on our income that we WORK for while the children of billionaires shouldn't be taxed on income they DIDN'T work for... stuff like that. Re-frame the entire debate and quit debating within the Republican narrative.

The right has been very successful in selling people on ideas like 'death tax' and 'punishing wealth' or 'punishing success.' It's time for someone to tell the American people the present tax structure punishes work. I think people would get it if we framed it that way.

That means try Bush, Cheney and the other members of that corrupt administration for their crimes - first of all torture, but all the other illegitimate acts during their reign. Repeal the Patriot Act. Shut down DHS and bring the TSA under control.

Charge the bankers with fraud for what they have done to the mortgage industry so that the economy might possibly get back in gear.

FIGHT for the programs he promised during the election in their full form instead of the half assed measured he compromised us into. FIGHT for the civil rights of all our citizens - women, gays, those who need assistance either short or long term, those who need health care, those who simply need help.

Remember that site that was up after the election but before the inauguration where we could give suggestions? I'll bet ALL of our suggestions here were posted there. I wonder what they did with those lists?

Stop any talk of slashing social security/medicare. Healthcare for all without strings. Fairness for all as far as taxes go--a sliding scale where the wealthier you are the more you should pay. It's time that the working class get to keep more of what they earn without being penalized.

I'd be pretty well encouraged that we wouldn't be seeing support for tax cuts for the rich or proposals to cut SS if he did that. It would signal a populist shift.

Stand up for the people at the bottom
Go back to Glass-Seagal
Moratorium on foreclosures
Equal justice for all-- starting with prosecution of bankers
Sue the hell out of all polluters

These would be a start

And, unlike the shrub, he did it WITH the Congress, not in spite of them by executive order. If absolutely nothing else, one major accomplishment is that I can keep 3 daughters on our insurance until they are 26. My eldest is a sophomore in college, but my middle one is a senior in HS and wants time off before considering college - she wouldn't be able to stay on our plan without Obama's Healthcare Reform. The youngest currently wants to go to college right away, but things change. And even with the eldest, she'll be out in 2 1/2 years unless she decides to go to grad school but she'll still be able to stay on the plan.

Fuck the naysayers - Obama came through on what may just be the single most important issue. Sure, jobs are a problem. No argument there, but just how much can he do? For that matter, how much can Washington do if they were actually working together? Unless they make it unprofitable for their corporate sponsors to ship jobs overseas, nothing's really going to change other than to get worse.