So what CAN progressives accomplish under Obama?

[iowasocialist]

If Obama is to be a "progressive pragmatist", and the "center" has moved a tad to the left, what reforms and "change" can we expect to see?

What is on your "wish list" that is "realistic" with a Pelosi-led Congress, and Obama in the White House?:

1. The troops out of Iraq? What do you think will happen to that?
2. Will we see the Conyers health care bill, or some new health care plan that is not corporate-dominated, put into law?
3. A commitment to curbing climate change?
4. Will the Employment Non-Discrimination Act for LGBT citizens be put into place?
5. What kind of changes in electoral law can we realistically expect?
6. I would like to add: card check for unions, where workers who want a union in their worksite will only need to sign a card indicating they want the union to represent them, rather than go through an "election", which is always stacked against the union. Obama has supported this in the past, will it survive Congress?

[John Q. Citizen]

1. Progressives need to coopt the Obama organization and push for health care reform

[Lumpsum]

2. The only "change" we'll see is health-care and withdrawal from Iraq.

Don't expect much of anything else.

[TwilightZone]

3. Yeah, just minor stuff like that.

Nothing important.

[Lumpsum]

4. It is important.

But I think some people think that all of a sudden, drugs will be legal, gays can get married in every state, etc.

While progressive issues like that are important in their own way, they won't happen in the next 4-8 years. The economy is issue number 1. The war is number 2. Energy is number 3.

[cali]

10. um, think again. The courts will be reconfigured in dramatic fashion.

the environment will be addressed from a completely different perspective.

[Essene]

5. the first thing is... to abandon the word "liberal" and use "progressive" instead =D

i think the first 6 months need to focus on the economy.

that can also include tax reform, immigration reform, small business support and infrastructure stuff.

the dems cannot swing too far left immediately or they ask for trouble in 2010. imo health care should wait at least 6 months.

iraq is resolving itself and if obama is going to focus on big foreign policy matters, he needs to think like it's 2002 and pre-iraq where the world was united on moral matters and on fighting real terrorism.

he's also positioned to garner a real peace between israel and palestine, assuming kadima stays in power.

[wyldwolf]

7. why?

[Essene]

9. the term "liberal"...

Historically implies classical liberalism.

Somebody for free trade, limited government, civil liberties, free speech, private property, etc. Outside the USA, the term still generally means what we'd call a moderate... and which most of the world would call center-right or conservative.

The term in the USA rose to mean what it does now in the late 80s and especially the early 90s. Folks forget this.

It was a derogatory label used by the SOCIAL conservatives to basically criticize the 60s hippie freedom loving culture, and then came to imply all of the left. In other words, it was a naughty word used by those who actually thought we had TOO MUCH FREEDOM and tolerance and multiculturalism, etc.

Somehow not only did the media start using the term "liberal" in this sense, but then the left started using it for themselves as well with this new, negative connotation. The choice is either to bring it back to its original meaning or to cast it aside entirely to redefine the political spectrum on progressive terms.

Hence, i think folks should use the term "progressive" and "pragmatic."

[wyldwolf]

12. "progressive" can be more easily demonized

"progressive" was the name of several third parties that really did advocate REAL socialism and communism (not the lite variety that's been one of the cornerstones of our economic system for at least 100 years.) Hence, many associate the term with radicalism.

Yes, I know it was used in other ways BEFORE then.

[wyldwolf]

6. yes no maybe

1. yes
2. why would Obama abandon his plan for that one?
3. yes
4. probably not (just my opinion)
5. none
6. probably so

[Jennicut]

8. The economy will be his first priority, anyone with "pet" issues needs to get in line Sheesh!

Health care, Iraq, the environment, etc. will take a back seat to the economy. Its the reason why he was elected as demon stated by those lovely exit polls which said the # 1 issue by a long mile was the economy. A more progressive tax system, more regulations in Wall St, a stimulus package. Evey thing else will then be dealt with accordingly.

[sampsonblk]

11. Almost all that stuff

he will probably start with the easy ones and work toward the tougher sells later.