As the year 2012 comes to an end in the next few days, it is worth looking back to what progressive victories there have been in 2012.
The clear cut victory of Barack Obama is an event still reverberating in the emotions of this blogger, and the strong belief that the Obama coalition is solid, and will carry beyond him and affect politics over the next one to two generations! Any Democrat who is nominated for President in 2016 would be the favorite to win the White House, as the nation becomes more “blue” in states such as Arizona, Georgia and Texas.
The likelihood of the US Senate staying Democratic is also a conclusion from the events of 2012, as it was truly miraculous that every seat was retained, three gained, and only Nebraska lost to the Republicans in 2012. While 2014 again will see more Democratic seats (21) up than Republican seats (14), the odds of the Democrats losing a net total of six seats and losing control is extremely unlikely, and the possibility of gaining more seats is also very likely with the Republican party turning ever further to the Right politically, and further alienating the rapidly changing demographics of the country.
The biggest surprise of the year was the decision of Chief Justice John Roberts, a Bush II appointee, to back ObamaCare, guaranteeing its survival and success despite many barriers past, present and future. This was the most important decision of the Supreme Court in a long time, in the sense of its long range impact on the nation!
The great progress of gay rights and gay marriage was a wonderful event, with the likelihood of gay marriage being upheld by the Supreme Court, at least in some limited fashion, by June of next year.
The rise of the prominence and numbers of women in politics was exciting, and the true star of the year in that regard was Elizabeth Warren, the newly elected Senator from Massachusetts, who could become a Presidential possibility very quickly.
The massive contributions of Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton make them the two best decisions on personnel that President Obama made four years ago, and they have had an extremely positive effect on the historical record and reputation of Barack Obama.
The power of wealthy millionaires and billionaires to control the politics of America suffered a smashing defeat, an event thought unlikely after the Citizens United decision of the Supreme Court in 2010.
The reactionary and hateful agenda of the far Right, both politically and religiously, also suffered a great repudiation, and proved once again that optimism and progress win out over fear and regression, as long as the American people become engaged and involved in the agenda, and realize the threat to the great progress made in the past 80 years by the New Deal, Great Society, and the many political, social and economic reforms brought about by forward looking Democrats and Republicans in Congress, and by the leadership of Presidents of both parties who saw the need for more government intervention and regulation–including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Notice that Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush are not included in this list, as they both set back the concept of fairness and equity that all of the other Presidents, including some Republicans, made part of their agenda, to the dismay of the right wing forces in America!
So 2012 has been a triumph in many ways for progressivism, liberalism, and the goals of the Left in American politics to make a society of justice, equity, and compassion!
Terrific review and reminder of our hard fought battles with the right wing Dr. Feinman! I’m going to share it on my FB page to remind friends where we have been and the road progressives still need to travel.
I always learn when I read your blog… guess I was not the best of history students.. LOL! You bring it alive and I’m compelled to learn more. It was be great if I had you near by so I could pepper you with questions …. and that brings me to my question. I realize we can ask you questions and for further information and you are more than happy to oblige but I was wondering. Could you maybe give us recommendations on further reading on topics? I have purchased a few books to read on my Kindle but I’m not always sure if I am choosing the best author and book.
I was surprised to read some of the things about Woodrow Wilson in your piece yesterday. Now I would like to read more about the man, his life and presidency. I looked on Amazon and found there are a number of books by authors I’m unfamiliar with. I would appreciate a recommendation or two from our resident expert …. You!! …. for further reading.
Also I understand you not only teach in the university setting, but also in the community in a program … I think it’s called Lifetime Learning? I wonder if you would tell us more about that?
Do you lecture on the same topics as here on your blog? Who makes up your audience? How do you choose the topics? Does your audience ever request a specific topic?
Thanks, Maggie, for your compliments! 🙂
The top authors on Woodrow Wilson include Ray Stannard Baker, Arthur Link, John Milton Cooper, Arthur Walworth, HW Brands, and Kendrick Clements, but the number of authors and books are voluminous. While there have always been critics, the number and depth of anti Wilson writing has grown dramatically, and Jim Powell is one such critic, particularly on Wilson and World War I, but there are others as well.
Attacks have grown in recent years not only against Wilson, but also against Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and of course, Abraham Lincoln. This is part of the reality of differing interpretations of history, which adds flavor to the subject, but also is often predictable as a matter of course as time passes, and perspectives change.
And certainly, the right wing has been active in trying to “rewrite” history, working very hard to make Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Ronald Reagan seem exalted. But they are not very happy with Herbert Hoover (too progressive, imagine that), and the same for William Howard Taft, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, George H W Bush, and even Richard Nixon! And although they agree with Harry Truman and the Cold War, they still have issues with him as well on domestic matters, and are trying to separate themselves from the domestic policies and economic realities of George W. Bush!
I will be lecturing for the Lifelong Learning Program at Florida Atlantic University, a non credit program mostly with older students, many retired, who love learning. I also teach credit courses for undergraduates at Florida Atlantic University. I choose my own topics, which are approved, and center around politics and public affairs, with particular emphasis on the American Presidency, political parties, Congress, and major domestic and foreign policy issues. I have found audiences enjoy my presentations and often will see me again and again when I lecture on different topics. And I also lecture at other locations and programs, including the Delray Beach Public Library, when I have the opportunity. Thanks for asking!