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Over the past couple of days, listening to liberal politicians and pundits talk about Obama's job/stimulus program and Obama's actions in supporting it, the most common two words I hear are "I hope. . ." "I hope he keeps fighting like he is now." "I hope he continues to fight." "I hope he doesn't go soft."
It has been a pleasant, albeit bittersweet, surprise to finally see our president get in touch with his inner Truman, his inner LBJ, and come out swinging. Pleasant because it is great to finally see him passionately fighting for something, anything. Bittersweet because we wonder why it took him so long, and also bittersweet because what he is fighting for is essentially a moderate Republican bill.
Where was this passion during the HCR debates, or the tax cuts for the wealthy debate, or the debt ceiling debate, or . . . Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that he is coming out swinging, but why didn't he do this earlier? If he had, both he, and we, wouldn't be in the mess we're in now. You've got to beat down a bully before they leave you alone, that's a basic life lesson that Obama seemed to miss somewhere along the way, but better late than never.
I would also like to see him fight like this for an actual Democratic bill, instead of this moderate Republican one that would make Gerald Ford, Nixon or Ike proud. Don't get me wrong, I don't want him to stop fighting, God knows he needs to practice. But next time, fight for an actual Democratic proposal, not a warmed over Republican mess that is guaranteed to do very little to help with job creation or stimulating the economy.
I hope to see him fight like this more often. I hope that he fights just as passionately for a genuine progressive piece of legislation. I hope that he doesn't go into his typical defensive crouch again. For the first time since Obama took office, I hope.
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