2014: Year of the Progressives?

Bill Clinton swears in NYC first family

First things first...

Happy New Year!

I took a minute off to recharge the battery...you know how that goes.

Anyway, I have been a bit intrigued by many pundits and journalist projecting 2014 to be the Year of the Progressives. In other words, 2014 will shape up to be a course correction -- bringing our country back from the Tea Party cliff edge.


Their reasons include:

• The implementation of Obamacare. Yeah, it started out full on self-inflicted glitches, but already 2.1 million people have signed up and another 3.9 million people have become eligible for Medicaid.

• Pope Francis: Named Person of the Year by Time Magazine, Pope Francis has rocked the financial community by denouncing trickle down Reaganomics. He has implored countries (USA) to adopt economic policies that address economic inequality, unemployment and poverty. Pope Francis has placed religious fundamentalists and conservatives in a conundrum. Who to adhere to: Christ or Wall Street?

• Bill de Blasio, Big Apple Mayor and unabashed liberal: He has a multi-cultural family, he is against the invasive (some say racist) stop and frisk, and he advocates programs that will benefit more than just the wealthiest New Yorkers. As reported: de Blasio vows action on inequality to tackle New York's 'Tale of Two Cities'. After twenty years of right (Rudy Gee) and right centered (Big Mike Bloom) policies this is a seminal shift for Gotham City.

• The emergence of Elizabeth Warren -- as National Journal described:

The emergence of Warren and what she represents as a progressive litmus test bears a striking resemblance to the way conservative groups have held the views of Republican candidates up against the hard-right stances of Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

 

And presidential bid or no, Warren's bold liberalism is proving itself to be a calling card for a branch of the party—a branch potentially decisive in 2014 primaries—tired of pragmatic progressivism and yearning for a new way forward. source

 

• The biggest factor could be the GOP family feud: Finally, some of the grown folks in power positions are saying "no" to their unruly children (Tea Baggers) and seem to be committed to teaching them manners -- how to play nice in a diverse country. Case in point, House leader John Boehner fired a salvo when he stated:

“They pushed us into this fight to defund Obamacare and to shut down the government. Most of you know, my members know, that wasn't exactly the strategy that I had in mind. But if you recall, the day before the government reopened, one of the people that — one of these groups stood up and said, 'Well, we never really thought it would work,'” he recapped, before shouting, “Are you kidding me?!”

Nevertheless, as Winnie the Pooh might say: "The proof is in the pudding." I think the will to change or evolve is not present in today's GOP, hence, I remain skeptical of these 2014 predictions.

But if this truly the beginning of a new Golden Era for liberal Democrats, here's my wish list:

• Comprehensive Immigration Reform -- long over due.
• Stimulus Package II -- concentrating on our aging infrastructure and job creation.
• Obamacare strengthen -- even President Obama admits this groundbreaking legislation could use tweaks.
• Reasonable gun control legislation -- 90% of the country supports action.
• Climate control action -- are we going to wait for the habitat of polar bears to turn into a safari before action is taken.
• Minimum wage increase -- corporations have trillions of dollars on ice while too many people are denied a livng wage.

Call me when you see the needle move on these issues...