The Democrats Have Accomplished Quite a Bit...Will They PLEASE Tell Someone?

The political wisdom is that the Democrats are "do-nothings", which is why the voters are disallusioned, which is why Scott Brown won in Massachusetts, which is why the'll lose their majorities, which is why Obama will fail, which is why blah-blah-blah...

Well.  We do know that Scott Brown ran a brilliant campaign, and now the Republicans can claim to be a "big tent" party with a Pro-Choice, Pro-Gay Marriage senator, one who can help them win in races across this nation and restore Republican dominance...

...but "do-nothing" Democrats?  I beg to differ.  The evidence is quite clear; the Democrats did quite a bit, passing a whole slew of different laws:

1. In the Stimulus Act alone
• $288 billion in tax cuts in the Stimulus Act, one of the largest in history, including credits for energy conservation, renewable energy production, home and auto purchases ("Cash for Clunkers") and college tuition
• Aid to the poor & unemployed - $43 billion for unemployment, $20 billion for food stamps, $4 billion for Supplement Security income, $2.5 billion for welfare, $1 billion home heating subsidies, $1 billion community action agencies
• Health care - $40 billion for COBRA, $87 billion for State Medicaid aid; $20 billion for health IT systems; $4 billion for preventative care; $1.5 billion for community health centers, $420 million for avian flu; $335 million for AIDS/STDs
• Infrastructure - $43 billion for transportation, including $30 billion for highways/bridges, $6 billion for transit equipment, $31 billion for infrastructure repair, $19 billion in water projects, $10 billion in rail/mass transit, including High Speed Rail
• Education - $41 billion in grants to local school districts, $79 billion in state fiscal relief, $21 billion in school modernization, $16 billion for Pell Grants, $2 billion for Head Start
• Energy - $32 billion for smart electric grids, $20 billion for renewable energy tax cuts and R&D, $6 billion for home weatherization
• Science & technology - $10 billion for science facilities, $6 billin for high-speed Internet, $1 billion for the U.S. Census
• Housing - $13 billion for energy-efficient public housing projects
• Environment - $3 billion for SuperFund sites, $400 million for habitat restoration, $850 million for forest fire prevention
• Law enforcement - $4 billion in state and local grants
2. Expanded children's health insurance (SCHIP)
3. Expanded oversight of the previous Administration's TARP funds
4. Tobacco regulation through the FDA
5. Largest land conservation law in 20 years
6. Credit card holders' bill of rights
7. Defense procurement reform

Bills that were passed in one of both chambers, but not passed into law (yet) include

1. Cap and trade climate bill (House)
2. Sweeping financial regulatory reform (House)
3. Health Care Reform Bills (House & Senate)
4. Jobs creation package (House)

The aforementioned financial reform IS working its way through the Senate, and the jobs package is most likely to see passage as well; Cap-and Trade is probably, unfortunately, DOA.

So, WHY the current state of Democratic bed-wetting?  Discourse, of course.  The Democrats allowed for public viewing of the sausage-making that is legislative work without a clear message.

This same lack of a clear message is also why Obama's poll numbers are down.

With no clear message, and with politics abhorring a vacuum, the Republicans have filled the public square with false memes.

The Democrats can recover, of course....but courage in the face of adversity is needed.  A clear message is possible, and a little chutzpah couldn't hurt.  What would happen if the House passed the Senate HCR Bill now?  Republican outrage, of course...but outrage borne of powerlessness, and the election is 9 months away.

As one can see, the Democrats have a long list of accomplishments for this legislative session.  Indeed, this is one of the most productive legislative sessions in 4 decades.

A clear Democratic message could sway voters.

Do the Democrats have the courage to last 9 months?