President Obama's agenda will not be advanced by the current Congress.

[ProSense]

It's really too bad that Republicans and some Democrats aren't interested in doing what's best for the country. Unless the Senate rules change or Congress changes to put more and better Democrats in place in 2014, Americans will watch the country stagnate as they lose more ground. Republicans have no desire (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022690945)) to support proposals that help the poor and middle class.

The President's budget contains some excellent intitiatives that will help. For example, here are some suggestions by Robert Reich to address inequality:

We could award tax cuts to companies that link the pay of their hourly workers to profits and productivity, and that keep the total pay of their top 5 executives within 20 times the pay of their median worker. And impose higher taxes on companies that don’t...raise the minimum wage to half the average wage...increase public investment in education, including early-childhood...eliminate college loans and allow all students to repay the cost of their higher education with a 10 percent surcharge on the first 10 years of income from full-time employment...expand the Earned Income Tax Credit...pay for all this by adding additional tax brackets at the top and increasing the top marginal tax rate to what it was before 1981 – at least 70 percent.

http://robertreich.org/post/48047982332

They're similar to some of the proposals in the President's budget.

In Obama’s Budget, Poverty Initiatives Face an Uphill Battle
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022674502

President's budget: Maintains Strong Support for Worker Protection.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022673679

President's budget: Excellent proposals that Congress should support.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022670043

If Congress really cared about improving the lives of hundreds of millions of Americans, they would support these proposals. Still, who am I kidding, Congress couldn't even act to protect Americans from gun violence.

In 2014, it will be the NRA against the American people
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022694597

[graham4anything]

1. That is why Hillary2016 and 2020 is needed to continue President Obama's agenda forever

A war has many battles.

President Obama from day one in 2003 has thought 100 steps ahead.

2013 is not the end all.

It is a step on the journey.

And the icing on the cake will be Supreme Court Justice Obama overseeing all that he dreamed of take permanent hold in 2018-2019-2020-2021-2022-2023-2024 and beyond.

Never has there been foresight like President Obama has.

Never in modern times, has a President thought in advance about extending his adminstration beyond the 8 years.

No more back and forth.

Just forward.

Everything will happen even if some battles in the long war are lost.
But the war shall be won.

[elleng]

5. We've got to remove repugs from Senate and Congress,

doesn't really matter which Dem is in WH imo.

[LongTomH]

2. So what else is news?

I know how cynical that sounds; but, we've known ever since this current crop of ideologues came along in 2010 that they weren't going to give an inch to anything Obama wants. They know that: 1) Their gerrymandered districts are, for the most part, safe, and 2) they don't dare come home if they do compromise.

It's a standoff until, at least 2014.

[ProSense]

9. It's sickening. n/t

[elleng]

3. That's been clear for 4+ years.

[politicasista]

10. +1

[NightWatcher]

4. It makes you envy countries where the Prez can dissolve parliament

[meow2u3]

13. I wish Obama could dissolve this Congress

and call for immediate elections of new Congresscritters who haven't been corrupted (yet).

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

6. It also wasn't advanced by a congress in which the Democrats held 60 Senate seats.

It's hopeless, it really is.

[graham4anything]

7. Al Franken was not seated for 7 to 8 months. There never was a solid 60 except for health care.

And the Liebermans took votes away at that time

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

21. It was actually 5 months when Franken was seated FYI.

What about the other 19 months of the 111th congress?

[graham4anything]

22. Thank God we got the health care-single best healthcare accomplishment of any president, Ever.

and Dennis Kucinich was a marvelous player in that.
He of course, was there when his vote was needed. BOFFO Dennis.
He brokered for 20 minutes of airtime, spoke his piece and proudly voted for the health care bill.
So did all the others.
Because that is what is done when 60 is needed on something important that can be passed.

If only the silly silly protesters and those that did not realize in 2010 had come out and voted

and someday that moving forward on health care will be even better.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

23. Rambling gibberish from a mindless sycophant. n/t

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

18. *That* congress wasn't going to give Obama what

He wanted ...

Or maybe we're confused about what Obama wanted.

[BlueToTheBone]

8. This just reminded me of Harold Washington

the first black mayor of Chicago. What a nightmare he had and the racists, both republican and democrat are working overtime to destroy him for being black and smart and up the food chain from their worthless asses.

[CakeGrrl]

11. Bottom line: This country is not as post-racial is it thinks it is.

One small upside of this ridiculous obstruction is that this presidency shines a light on a lot of racism and bias at the root of contradictory and hypocritical words and deeds.

It's a necessary step forward.

[ProSense]

12. They're crawling out of the woodwork. n/t

[BumRushDaShow]

14. K&R

If Colbert-Busch wins on May 7, then Democrats will only need 16 seats to take back the House.

[ProSense]

16. That should be easy

since she's running against a creep.

NRCC To Mark Sanford: You’re On Your Own
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/nrcc-to-mark-sanford-youre-on-your-own

[Zorra]

15. The prez could come sit and chat with us by the fire, and explain this problem

to us in a more intimate, personal manner. Even call out the rotten Dems and explain to us specifically why they are not advancing his agenda.

I'll gladly share my marshmallows.

[madfloridian]

17. His education policies are proceeding quite well.

As are his cuts to the safety nets.

[ProSense]

19. So you're saying you don't support the proposals in the OP? n/t

[madfloridian]

20. I speak of public schools and safety nets.

[ProSense]

24. Still, do you disapprove of the proposals in the OP? n/t