Progressive Defeatists - Cut it Out

I'm always shocked how quickly progressives declare defeat in the midst of victory. I was attending holiday party for a local political action group with a liberal bent. There were many fine speeches and pep talks, but they all struck as being defeatist. The gist of the all the talks were as follows: "Gee, I know we've all been disappointed in the Obama administration but we still need to work hard because the Republicans are really horrible." Amazing! Less than one year in, and the left is back to the Gore/Kerry mantra of "I'm not thrilled with these guys but the others are worse."

This argument will not rev up the troops. The argument is foolish - and unnecessary. Despite being handed the great recession and two wars, President Obama has a list of achievements that you'd be proud of if they occurred over 3 years not one. Why we don't talk about these achievements is a mystery to me. (OK, I have some theories, but I leave that to another post. If you have theories, feel free to post). Here is a very short list of achievements progressives can and should be proud of. Let's get the people excited with these and save the defeatism for the other guys.

The Progressive Progress Report

A Very Short Re-Cap Of President Obama’s Progressive Achievements - 12/15/09

The following slides outline just a few of President Obama’s achievements promote the progressive agenda as of 12/15/09

Civil Rights

Progress

· Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act:

· Ensure that all Americans receive equal pay for equal work

· Civil Rights Lawsuits Increase Dramatically Compared With 2008

Health Care

Progress

· Pushed comprehensive healthcare reform further than President Roosevelt, Kennedy, Johnson, or Clinton

· The Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act: Provides quality health care to 11 million kids – 4 million who were previously uninsured.

· Executive Order repealed the Bush-Era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research.

The Environment

Progress

· EPA now regulates carbon omissions.

· Increased, for the first time in more than a decade, auto fuel economy standards.

· Department of Energy implements more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances, like dishwashers and refrigerators.

· States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards.

· The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included more than $80 billion in clean energy investments

· $5 billion for low-income home weatherization projects.

· $4.5 billion to green federal buildings and cut our energy bill, saving taxpayers billions of dollars.

· $6.3 billion for state and local renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts.

· $600 million in green job training programs – $100 million to expand line worker training programs and $500 million for green workforce training.

· $2 billion in competitive grants to develop the next generation of batteries. to store energy.

Poverty

Progress

· Took office in the midst of a 2 year recession and took immediate action on numerous front. Recession ended less than 9 months into his watch.

· $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), funding for food banks and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

· $2 billion in new Neighborhood Stabilization Funds to help maintain ailing neighborhoods.

· Tax breaks to working families through the Make Work Pay and Child Tax Credits

Education

Progress

· The American Recovery Act Provides:

· $5 billion for early learning programs, including Head Start, Early Head Start, child care, and programs for children with special needs.

· $5 billion in competitive funds to spur innovation and chart ambitious reform to close the achievement gap.

· $30 billion to address college affordability and improve access to higher education.

Urban Renewal

Progress

· Established the White House Office of Urban Affairs.

· American Recover Act Provides:

· $1 billion in increased funding for the Community Development Block Grant.

· $4 billion in increased public housing capital funds.

· $2 billion in payments to owners of project based rental assistance properties to keep them affordable.

· $2 billion in Neighborhood Stabilization Funds to purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed homes.

· $1.5 billion in Homelessness Prevention Funds to keep people in their homes

Public Service

Progress

· Signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act:

· Increase the size of AmeriCorps from 75,000 volunteers to 250,000 by 2017

· Created a Social Innovation Fund that will invest in ideas that are proven to improve outcomes and "what works" funds in federal agencies to promote effective and innovative programs.

· The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included $201 million in funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service to support an expansion of AmeriCorps State and National and AmeriCorps VISTA programs.

Peace

Progress

· Won Nobel Prize For Peace.

· Set date for withdrawal for troops in Iraq.

· Banned torture. Set withdrawal date or Gitmo and is methodically making progress.

· Improved diplomatic relations with a host of countries from Russia to Cuba.

· Restarted the nuclear non-proliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection.

· Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years.

· infrastructure/protocols

Ethics and Open Government

Progress

· Ended media “blackout” on war casualties; reporting full information.

· The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information.

· Limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House and limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration.

Summary:
Your Elevator Bullet Points Answering the Question “What t Has Obama Really Done?”

Progressive Top 6

1. Saved the U.S. Economy from recession while promoting long term improvements in environment and education

2. Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act

3. Increased, for the first time in more than a decade, auto fuel economy standards

4. The Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act: Provides quality health care to 11 million kids – 4 million who were previously uninsured.

5. $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), funding for food banks and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

6. Tripled the size of AmeriCorps