QUESTION: Was there ever a "trans-formative" president who didn't have "trans-formative" congress?

[uponit7771]

I just thought to myself that no president in US history has transformed a lot without a congress to go along with him outside of RayGun...


Is this wrong thinking?


Your take?


Regards

[ananda]

1. That idea doesn't signify any more now that...

... most of Congress is bought and paid for.

[Davis_X_Machina]

3. most of Congress has been bought and paid for...

...since the dawn of time. Find me the un-bought Congress of which we speak.

[DJ13]

2. Quick name a Congressman from FDR's terms

FDR was as transformative as we've ever had, but his Congress wasnt, he had to prod and threaten every inch of the way.

[uponit7771]

4. FDR had a> 70% democractic congress throughout term....wikipedia

...and one time had around 83%...

He didn't have to fight much of anything relative to the all out wars Obama is going through

[Uncle Joe]

6. I'm curious how do you get those figures?

Is there a website or link?

I'm asking because I wonder to what extent, FDR's campaigning and policies had any coat tails contributing to the political makeup of the Congress.

[uponit7771]

7. wikipedia

[jwirr]

12. He may have ended up that way but he did not have that kind of

support in the beginning. Where did you get this idea from.

[Hippo_Tron]

9. Sam Rayburn, Lyndon Johnson, Huey Long, Harry Truman

[polmaven]

13. Which FDR is that?

I wasn't aware that there was more than one!

[Enrique]

5. if a dem Congress wanted to be transformative under Obama

they'd have to fight Obama. Pelosi and Reid haven't been up to the task. Or just as likely, they're no more interested in changing anything than Obama is.

[uponit7771]

8. You do understand how congress works right? House can override vetos. I also don't buy into basher..

...meme that Obama is so anti-left that he would fight a left leaning congress

[Enrique]

10. and i don't buy into the cheerleader meme

that the definition of what's possible is whatever Obama decides to do.

[TheKentuckian]

11. Yup, you know the last one that is still President to this day as you mentioned.

Hell, he had to deal with Tip.

[swilton]

14. I think that the 50 state solution that is so celebrated was

in reality a flawed strategy - a lot of blue dogs were swept into the net. They played into the hands of the DLC corporate democrats and contributed to the messiness that we now have.