This all comes at a time when Democrats had ZERO clout and power in Congress. I'm afraid that during that last decade, any movement at all on issues by Senate Dems, even if they ended in failure or reek of ridiculous compromise, were positive steps.

It's a pipe dream to believe that just because you're dead right on an issue and you have ethics and morality on your side that you can push the entire solution through our brain-dead Congress. It requires not only a sizable majority of people that care as much as you do about your issue but also something to hold over the heads of your opponents and that involves horse-trading. The final version, once everyone is allowed to add and subtract their own amendments, may not even resemble your original intent.

Probably the best Obama could ask for in this case was to just shine the light of day on the problem for the brief time he was able. I'm certain some good came from that.

This is exactly why we have very few presidents that come from Congress. Your name gets attached to every piece of legislation you deal with. It's inevitable that you're going to have your successes but also your failures or just those times when you're forced to hold your nose and sell your soul so you're around to fight another day.

What I saw from the article is that Obama made the right decision at the beginning when presented with a clear course of action just as he voiced the correct sentiment prior to the Iraq War. I'm certain from what I've seen of his character recently that the final outcome bothered him much more than it does you.

Maybe this diary that I penned yesterday for the Daily Kos will enlighten you more about how I feel here.

We Really Don't Know Any of The Candidates

Art