The confidence that comes with reelection was visible everywhere at Monday’s inaugural ceremony, from the forcefulness of President Obama’s demeanor, to the more expansive tone of his inaugural address, to the large, loyal crowd that poured into Washington to register its support. Plainly, the president plans to use his second term to advance progressive causes that, in his first term, were either downplayed or submerged beneath the weight of the economic crisis. These include immigration reform, gay rights, and climate change, all of which were featured prominently in Obama’s speech.
Unlike immigration and gay marriage, which got frequent mentions on the campaign trail last fall, climate change has been a lost cause in Washington since a bill to limit carbon emissions got bogged down in the Senate in 2009. Putting the issue back on the map represents a bold move for the president, but he needs to follow up with a comprehensive plan to limit greenhouse gases. He will have to work hard to build public support: His decision to link the issue to wildfires and other disasters represents a good start.
Comments
The president was on fire-combative, feisty, and proud to be the liberal policy maker of his dreams. Too bad the real problems of the country recieved zero attention. The deficits are going to be 1 Trillion plus, as fare as the eye can see, and the president is going to fix gay rights. 8.4 million fewer people are in the workforce today, than when he took office 4 years ago, and he is going to stop "climate change". This was truly a new low for Obama. He was wise to keep in plcae, the majority of the Bush era war on terror tactics. Yet he made no reference to it or his predesssor. As fawing media waxes anew for Obama mania, the country is dying. I am in the Twilight Zone.
Exactly. You are in the Twilight Zone.
"the country is dying". Your country, not mine!!!!!
Proud to be an American!
MW
One of the difficulties we have in political conversation is the terminology. As a one time R, I would even say "conservative" on economic issues it is telling when the term "progressive" is attached to the improvement anyone's civil rights. Equal pay for women, "progressive", gay rights, "progressive", reform of immigration, "progressive". Let's see what are "conservatives" supposedly for, cutting SS, Medicare, Medicaid, aid to the poor. When did "conservative" become equivalent to "Scrooge". Oh yes when we permitted the "libertarians" and the Tea Party to take over what it meant to be "conservative".
I do not believe William Buckley would see SS, Medicare etc. as any longer "progressive" or outside of the political realm of teh federal government. He would see both as something that has become a part of the societies core. He would be quite demonstrative of the need to pay for it. He would probably abhor the current tax structure and given his religious background would have a great deal of trouble dealing with "gay rights" issues but he was intellectual enough that if he lived long enough he would probably come around to acceptance.
Want to know why "progressives" do well with the young and other portions of the demographics. Because they are "for" something positive, the speak at a social level to the people. "Conservatives", I take that back, the faux conservatives of today stand for nothing except doom and gloom.
It's a fine Tuesday in our America, with the right President for our times sworn in for a second term.