Say the dems win big in November and

[cali]

there are 245+ dems in the House, 56+ dems in the Senate and President Obama, what do you think will change in concrete terms?

I believe the following will change- for the better.

1) Competent people in federal agencies who don't have a hard right/religious agenda. This could impact everything from women's health and reproductive issue and sex education, to emergency response to policy on the uses of public lands.

2) The federal judiciary. It's not just the SC. A President Obama may not appoint strong liberals to the federal bench, but he sure as well won't be appointing the type of wingnuts that bush did. And with a strong majority in the Senate, he's get his nominees through.

3) The Supreme Court. Enough said.

4) Foreign policy. A President Obama backed by a dem Congress would stress diplomacy over military action.

5) Taxes. A dem Congress and dem president would almost certainly strip some of the grotesque tax "favors" that bushco and the repukes handed out to the wealthy.

6) Energy policy. There could be a real effort to invest in alternative energy and conservation.

[Kolesar]

1. The alternative energy build out should start during the first Obama term

Like President Gore said, we have to begin building this alternative electricity generation in the next ten years. We must find a way to level off the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

[charlyvi]

2. If he gets one or two of these policy issues accomplished

he'll be wildly successful. Republicans are masters of obstruction, even when, especially when, they are in the minority. And Democrats need to relearn what it is to hold the majority in Congress.

On edit: I'm speaking first term here.

[cali]

4. if Obama is President he'll certainly be able to accomplish

appointing decent competent people to federal agencies and he'll be able to succesfully nominate choices to both the federal bench and the SC.

And if dems have strong majorities- particularly in the Senate- the odds that the repuke minority can successfully obstruct, lessen greatly.

I think DUers tend to overestimate the repukes.

[charlyvi]

9. I don't

They are good at minute procedure---they are successful at using procedural rules to block legistation. And they feel no shame at doing so.

[cali]

11. It's a hell oi a lot harder to do that when there are only 44 members

of the minority party in the Senate. And in the House, there aren't the arcane rules that allow the minority party to obstruct.

[charlyvi]

13. From your lips to God's ears. n/t

[Vinca]

3. I think government will once again be "for the people" and

not "for the corporations." As for energy, I believe we'll move out of the stone age. Republicans and their love of oil and resistance to new technologies will be on the back burner. I can't wait.

[KharmaTrain]

5. It's Definitely Going To Be A Lot Better Than What's There Now

Will it be Progressive or Liberal heaven? Hardly, but it's going to be nice to once again look at the Executive branch as an ally not an enemy.

The biggest change will be psychological and it'll happen on Election night. Depending on how the results are is how abrupt the change will be. If Obama wins with a majority and the Democrats pick up seats in both houses, the message will be sent that people have totally rejected the repugnican "agenda" and want a change inside the beltway. How the beltway will react is another story.

I expect a President Obama's "honeymoon" to be brief. He'll be coming in with a lot of messes to clean up and very tough choices to make. He'll iritate all sides and the corporate media is sure to pick up on this to "assert" themselves. Yep, look for our mighty stenographers to all of a sudden become intrepid investigators...they'll show us how they really didn't sleep for the last 8 years and we're supposed to remember to forget.

As far as the many positive things an Obama administration means is beyond question. Having an executive that sees health care, education and civil rights as important values is 180 degrees than what exists now. But Democrats can't be complacent or content...this is just another step on a longer march. It's one thing to win elections, it's another to show you can govern.

[mmonk]

6. A few mild changes.

I still think foreign policy will be based on imperialism, but with different strategies. Corporations will still control a lot of policy, but with some restoration of some regulation. I think there will be some pandering to religion, but less overt. The key difference will be in judicial appointments and candidacies which is enough in my estimation, to vote Democratic. However, for us that want a return to representative Constitutional democracy, there will still be many areas to keep battling for. The fight to restore democracy won't halt in November based on trust.

[cali]

7. I completely agree that the hard work starts after a dem success in November

but at least we stand a chance of some modest success.

[mmonk]

10. I'm in complete agreement. Change begins in the first step.

Hopefully we will win and the prospects of doing so look positive right now.

[Arkana]

8. My greatest fear is that we will be unable to shake off the rust of

the last 16 years.

We've been out of power for so long--what will happen if we suddenly find ourselves with both houses of Congress and the Presidency?

[lonestarnot]

12. I can't think about it yet.

[AndyTiedye]

14. Rebuild Our Rail System

The only kind of transportation that Repiglickins support are cars and airlines.
That won't do. We need our trains back.