Therefore analysis of why he might have had trouble, if he had done, is premature.

..... of lame assed excuses for Mr. Obama. It was the same way when Clinton took my vote and took a crap in my lap on NAFTA and health care deform and all the rest. No excuses. Obama can't be more like FDR because unlike FDR, Obama thinks he has something to lose. His vote for telecom immunity showed him to be an ambitious politician willing to violate his oath of office, trash his promises, in order to further his career. FDR, on the other hand, wanted to win, but he would have been just as happy to go back to Hyde Park and plant trees. He had the courage of his convictions, unlike the present occupant of the White House. FDR understood wuite well the lesson that Karl Rove learned-the best defense is a good offense. Whereas, Obama seems to think that starting a debate with capitulation is the way to win. It isn't.

The opposition isn't merely being intransigent. They've increased the use of Senate filibusters exponentially. Filibusters were hardly new in Roosevelt's time, but they were rare. Basically, other than bills that might weaken segregation, a majority could push through what they wanted. Without the filibuster, I've little doubt the pace of stimulus and other needed changes would be sped up considerably. Just to put it in perspective, health care reform has already taken longer than it too to get Social Security from proposal to signed bill, and that had to be done from scratch.

Yes, I can accept there are more procedural problems now, but the technology is much faster. So I'm definitely blaming the conservatives in the Senate, and that includes both parties. Somehow, with conservatism so moribund, they've got about half of each House. Something is wrong.

Have you followed the news lately?

You need a research assistant.

I beg to differ with the premise that Obama cannot be like Roosevelt. Obama is an outstanding orator. If he had the right message, he could stand in front of the American public and convince them to take one for the team. But he does not have the right message. Either because his advisors are too political in their approach, or because Obama is too leftist to understand what is needed in a free market economy to rapidly create sustaining jobs. I am afraid it is a bit of both.

He considers Ronald Reagan as a pivotal president rather than FDR, therefore he will use the same bromide as RR, more public relation than public works. He maybe an inspire orator, but I guess anyone more to the left probably would be unelectable, consider the controvesy on Reverend Wright. Still, the first year of his presidency is noted more for failure to rise above the crisis despite the so called healthcare reform which by no means is a success even if it gets by Senate. Iraq and Afghanistan looms in the horizon. It's by no means he will fullfill his campaign promise in Iraq of withdrawing all combat troops in 16 months. Progressive who pillaged HRC will be sorely disappointed by his Afghan decision, and the small government crowd doesn't realize the Empire cannot be governed by small government, it needs voracious amount of money and lives to maintain itself even in its declining endgame.

But then wouldn't Biden be President?

Out of the frying pan, into the fire.

I don't think you thought this our very thoroughly, huh?

Roosevelt is still dead, isn't he?

The bluff is the filibuster and the Democrats hide behind it to not do anything. All that's really required is a simple majority in the Senate. The Democrats should put forward the policies they think are necessary and if the Republicans obstruct with filibusters, it will destroy the Republicans. Why the Democrats won't do it says more about them than about the Republicans. The more deranged and angry the Republicans and the Fox maniacs are, the happier I am. By not doing anything, the Democrats are only hurting themselves.

Obama has first crack at using the push for economic stimulus to also help achieve one of his Presidential goals. As the boomers enter their health-care intensive years, the health care or "Life Extension" industry will be one of the top engines of the 21st century economy.

There are already a wide range of new technologies and techniques which are being developed, or are looking for ways to reach a mass market which lowers cost.

Everything from gene therapy to drug store clinics could offer good paying jobs. Electronic health records are already mandated, but how about bringing down the cost of an MRI by having them mass produced like cars. Internet improvement will make diagnosis at smaller hospitals and clinics more available. And so forth and so forth.

And all this technology and expertise can be exported to the entire world. I'm not talking about curing cancer or AIDs, but giving physicians the tools and knowledge they need to help the maximum number of patients with the most common health needs.

FDR accomplished things in his own style in the times that he found himself. Obama doesn't even give the heroic TRY.

So EIRs prevent massive construction projects...so what?? What about massive IMPROVEMENT on existing infrastructure. We need bridges fixed, airports modernized, roads patched up, adequate dams especially in Northern California, the list goes on! EIRs for improvements to existing projects are much easier to get through.

All Congressmen today, with few exceptions, are free agents. They raise their own funds, and sometimes, like with Baucus, largely from out-of-state sources. They may vote in a partisan way, but the indivudual Congressman and Senator has way more clout than they used to when party machines provided the money and the workers and a Speaker or Majority Leader could whip their asses into shape. On domestic issues, Congress is prepared to stand on its hind legs and demand all sorts of concessions from a president, and every significant member of the House or Senate expects to get paid off (along with the interest groups that sponser and pay for their races).

Thus, Obama's nice idea of extending healthcare protection is turning into a 1500 page monstrosity that will cost and fortune and do only a mediocre job of providing quality healthcare to the millions who haven't got it. FDR commanded a powerful political party with funds and patronage that members of Congress, then largely local retail operators, needed access to in order to survive politically. Obama lacks the will to smash heads, and the machinery to buy off those he won't or can't punish.