In 2009 and 2010 the Democrats controlled the Congress, period. All the Republicans could do was squawk and whine, and the Democrats didn't have the balls to fix shit.
First off, Democrats only had 60 votes in the Senate in 2009 (before the death of Ted Kennedy). So no, not "period." Second, the Democrats did a lot during that time, including but not limited to economic recovery, health care reform, etc. Second, because Republicans filibustered pretty much everything in the Senate, 60 votes are required; you already know this. But as already mentioned, there are moderate Democrats and "Blue Dog" Democrats who had to be appeased in order for things to pass. For example, if it weren't for the appeasement of moderate Democrats, health care reform would have likely been a public option (as it was in the House). As for the debt, I've already shown that Obama is not to blame for its continued increase. If Obama is elected to another term, we can expect the deficit to be reduced, both from the end of the Bush tax cuts and deficit reduction plans that have already been proposed.
Anyways, examples:
-Obamacare
-Gas Prices: families are starting to have to choose between putting food on the table and putting gas in the car to get to work. I'm serious.
-Taxes: Obama, you can't play Robin Hood. Soaking the rich will only start a cycle of who's rich and who's poor.
-Jobs: mostly from stimulus packages. But once the stimulus runs out, companies have to lay off people and whoever just got a job is right back where they started.
What are these examples of? Examples of how Obama has made the economy worse? Obamacare does not have a negative effect on the economy nor the debt. Gas prices are not Obama's fault. Some people argue that they're Obama's fault because of Keystone not happening, but Keystone would have had little to no effect on gas prices, and any effect wouldn't have been for years. As for taxes, Obama wants the rich to pay a fair share, like those during the Clinton administration. Obama is also for closing loopholes but lowering rates, which is also extremely fair. In fact, without the knowledge that closing loopholes/lowering rates is an Obama proposal, the vast majority of Americans support it. As for jobs, yes, as you just said, the stimulus improved job growth. However, you misunderstand how stimulus works. To put it very simply, it got the gears of the economy turning again. It's not just money that's pumped into some paychecks and then runs out. However, I agree that the stimulus was too little and that more would help. Thanks for saying so. I'm glad I'm getting through to you.
That's what the whip is for (i.e. majority whip, minority whip). And the whole thing about "the republicans held unemployment hostage to keep the tax cuts" argument assumes it was necessary and good to keep people out of work sitting at home eating cheese doodles. Where are the original ideas that got us out of the Depression in the 30's?? Put those people to work and then give them a check. That's what Roosevelt did and we still benefit from it.
While unemployment was getting better, people were still struggling; they still are, even. A lot of people needed unemployment. To say it kept people out of work sitting at home and eating cheese doodles is, if anything, offensive. Unemployment is usually given to those who are in desperate need of money, and they spend that money quickly on things they need, such as food, utilities, rent, etc., and that money helps get the economy going. It was both the morally right thing to do for people who were unemployed and the most logical thing to do in terms of getting the economy going again.
Also, unemployment benefits was created in response to the Great Depression. It helped the people who were unemployed and helped the economy.
And again I say, who gives a damn about a filibuster? It would've just made the Republicans look like foolish elitist a-holes defending the rich (i.e. confirmation of what we already know), so why should the Democrats have been afraid of it? They had the votes for a majority win ... the Republicans could've filibustered it till they were blue in the face, but in the end the tax cuts could've been stopped.
I don't believe any of that shit .. they just make up excuses for each other and keep the ball rolling.
The Bush tax cuts were to expire after 2010. There was nothing to vote on in regard to the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy until the Republicans held unemployment benefits and the tax cuts for the middle class hostage.
Edit: As for why he didn't repeal them super early in his term, you got me. Since they were going to expire in 2010, I guess they were seen as a low priority. I'm not sure if he could have gotten the repeal through the Senate for reasons we already discussed. It's much easier to let things expire with no action than getting together votes that you likely don't even have to do it. The main point though is that Obama and the Democrats are very much against the Bush tax cuts that contribute the most to our debt. The Republicans would make the tax cuts for the wealthy worse.
