We needed a Roosevelt, but we got an Obama

[woo me with science]

27. Yes, there are many things he could be doing

if he wanted to. His problems are not all related to Republican obstructionism. His choices betray a loyalty to Wall Street that we need to challenge.

Not choosing as his Chief of Staff a banker who profited from the housing meltdown would be a nice start.

Prosecuting corrupt banksters instead of pressuring attorneys general for settlements that protect them from criminal prosecution would be another.

Most of all, he could lay out a bold progressive vision, including a bold economic plan, before the American people, and pound that message home, repeatedly, a la FDR's fireside chats. He has simply not done this, despite all protestations to the contrary. His last highly publicized press conferences were all about slashing the budget, something that over 300 economists warned him should not be done during an economy like this. His most recent media push was to support continuation of a payroll tax cut already in place, which has yielded weak results at best and threatens Social Security in the long run. There has been no clarion call for progressive economic policy, and we need one desperately.