Resurrect the HOPE

by Mayer Segal

Is it too late to resurrect the HOPE that Obama brought to the presidency for an end to the despair, lack of health care, unemployment, foreclosure of small businesses—all left over from the Bush administration?

I and many others believe that the time has come for the President and progressive Democrats in Congress to abandon the path of “bipartisanship” while the Republicans have unanimously waged the most vigorously partisan and obstructionist strategy in recent history.

“No” to economic stimulus … “No” to health care reform … “No” to addressing climate change …”No” to every single major initiative the Democrats have tried to advance. This includes blocking the appointment of well-qualified Edward Chen to become a U.S. District Judge in Northern CA; and Republican Richard Shelby of Alabama placing a blanket hold on more than 70 administration nominees until he gets funding for his home-state projects.

Instead of making it clear that the first two years of the Obama administration would be digging the country out of the incredible mess the Bush administration left us in (financial collapse, deep recession, record-breaking deficits, disintegrating health care systems, two wars, lack of respect from the international community, neglect of the environment) President Obama, incredibly, has enabled tens of millions of Americans to now believe that Bush’s failures are his as well. See the recent polls—an ominous sign for the approaching elections coming this year.