(My reaction was similar to the one in this diary. - promoted by tremayne)
Just watched his weekly address, and the President has taken a decidedly more populist tone. When I first saw the budget outline I was completely shocked in how it was so different to Obama's approach to the stimulus. It was actually bold and shockingly consistent with his campaign promises and his rhetoric.
That got me to think that either a)Obama's intended idea was to use the budget as the vehicle for his agenda or b)that the Stimulus taught him its better to be less concerned with republicans and instead go fullsteam ahead. Whatever the reason, I'm happy for it. It's been more than 40 years since we saw 1600 Pennsylvania Ave as a threat to the status quo and special interest. Well that day may be here, and its a beautiful thing.
Anyway, here are excerpts from his address and a link at the bottom:
I realize that passing this budget won't be easy. Because it represents real and dramatic change, it also represents a threat to the status quo in Washington. I know that the insurance industry won't like the idea that they'll have to bid competitively to continue offering Medicare coverage, but that's how we'll help preserve and protect Medicare and lower health care costs for American families. I know that banks and big student lenders won't like the idea that we're ending their huge taxpayer subsidies, but that's how we'll save taxpayers nearly $50 billion and make college more affordable. I know that oil and gas companies won't like us ending nearly $30 billion in tax breaks, but that's how we'll help fund a renewable energy economy that will create new jobs and new industries.
But here's the best part
In other words, I know these steps won't sit well with the special interests and lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they're gearing up for a fight as we speak. My message to them is this:
So am I.
And just in case we forgot what last year was about
The system we have now might work for the powerful and well-connected interests that have run Washington for far too long, but I don't. I work for the American people. I didn't come here to do the same thing we've been doing or to take small steps forward, I came to provide the sweeping change that this country demanded when it went to the polls in November. That is the change this budget starts to make, and that is the change I'll be fighting for in the weeks ahead - change that will grow our economy, expand our middle-class, and keep the American Dream alive for all those men and women who have believed in this journey from the day it began.
Now it's up to us to support the President and make sure Congress, particularly democrats serving the big industries, don't bow to the special interest. We're already hearing guys like Kent Conrad criticizing the parts of the bill taxing Big Farma and the wealthy in general. So those of you waving your fingers criticizing Obama, now is the time to get off the sidelines and do something about it.
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