(Community Matters) Huge, huge, huge – passage of financial regulatory reform in this morning’s conference committee. Meaty consumer protection agency, curbs on derivative trading, limits risk at taxpayers’ expense, substantial new tools for regulators.
President Obama has now delivered on 4 key legislative initiatives – economic stimulus, education (within stimulus), healthcare reform & financial regulatory reform. Four down, two to go (energy/environment & equality legislation). A home run track record for first half of first term. And, we’ve gotta create jobs. (I say this within the context that of jobs lost, almost all within the last months of GWB’s admin & first three months of 2009. I know we’ve made great progress by preventing further economic collapse and an improving economy; and, people need jobs – jobs, jobs, jobs)
That Republicans are fillibustering the extension of unemployment benefits to 1.2 million Americans is . . . is (fill in the blank)
Community Matters 
This is almost enough to restore my faith in Congress – let’s hope for easy approval in both houses.
I don’t know enough – and I don’t think most Americans do – to say whether this financial reform bill is adequate, fair, goes far enough, etc. I guess we have to trust the experts in Washington (famous last words?). But I do think this is a major accomplishment for the 111th Congress.
Yes, unemployment is the biggest problem right now (although it’s time to stop blaming G.W.Bush). I’m not optimistic that government can do all that much (aside from the stimulus). So much consumer debt, millions with negative equity in their homes, and a stubborness among many unemployed people to accept a lower salary than they were making 5 years ago – it’s going to take years for this to all resolve itself.
Yes, but…
I think you have to give a lot of the credit to Nancy Pelosi. The President’s folks were about to walk away from health care and she pushed them into it. They were walking away from repealing Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell, ditto. She gets all those things you mention through the house, when her members would rather take the easy way out.
So far, she’s the Lyndon Johnson–Obama is not.
Obama is doing a relatively good job, but I wonder if we’ll look back and say she was the true leader–the one with the guts.
I’m ready for Obama to get his real groove and lead.
Cheers!
,m
Michael, Pelosi is very important but your information about Obama even considering walking away from either is inaccurate. Members of his inner staff did urge him to do this on both issues. He refused on both. These would not happen without his leadership and prioritization. He’s in his groove
btw, I agree that Speaker Pelosi may go down as one of the most productive, persuasive and impactful speakers of our time