He Can’t Do It Alone 0

It is not uncommon to see my fellow lefties bitching that Obama hasn’t lived up to expectations.

Dan Froomkin where have they been?

But on some key issues such as jobs, the bank bailout, the war in Afghanistan and a whole slew of executive-power related issues, Obama has fallen way short of expectations. He surrounded himself with too many people who represent politics-as-usual, and he has buckled under to pressure from the national security establishment that Bush put on steroids.

How much of that would be different, however, if the people who voted for Obama had remained politically active? If they were visibly and energetically not just supporting him, but pushing him to be bolder?

But Obama’s supporters aren’t giving him even rudimentary political cover.

Almost forgotten these days is the fact that in Obama’s first address to Congress. In February, the new president served up a pretty darn bold agenda, backed up by a respectably progressive budget proposal. So what was the reaction? Obama looked over his shoulder and saw — no one.

Politics is the art of the possible. More is possible when persons stop bitching and start acting, or even keep bitching and start acting.

Phone calls are all well and good, but I used to work in Washington and knew lots of folks who worked on the Hill.

Someone who takes the time to write a real letter, in his or her own words, gets more of a listen than someone who calls or someone who signs a form letter, whether it be printed or electronic.

Effort counts.