What do the Democrats needs to do as well in order for us to feel more optimistic about another 4 years of Obama and having Democrats in charge?
We are all going to vote for Democrats and Obama more or less. Even though Obama has 90% approval of liberals and we have come a long way under Obama, there is no sugarcoating much more needs to be done and that Obama needs to do some things better. This includes Obama being more friendly on progressive issues.
President Obama has recently gotten better on his messaging and using his messaging to govern. We needed MUCH better on that early on his term. President Obama's "willingness and desire to bring people together" did have side effects. He gave legitimacy (though likely unintentional on Obama's part) to "consvervative ideas that are insane" and Republicans outmastered Obama in limiting what he could and forced him into bad situations. He also brought advisors that influenced him to make decisions that caused him to not be as aggressive towards big banks and other big influence institutions. It is commonly agreed that Obama did not do better on housing efforts, regardless if he had good intentions or not.
Furthermore, he and his justice department are wrong on medical marijuana, some key aspects of education, and quite a bit on civil liberties (drone strikes and whistleblower prosecutions).
So where do things stand right now? What should happen at the convention that will convince that Obama and Democrats will do better (and actually be the best that progressives and America NEED them to be)?
Ever since the health care reform, I have been feeling very optimistic. Obama halted deportations, EPA smog rules are alive again and are set to go into effect, Progressives have won victories such as California Homeowners bill of rights and High speed rail, and Obama and Democrats have been really telling harsh truths against the republicans. I am so proud of Harry Reid. Vermont's single payer effort is going very well too. Jonathan Krohn is sane now.
We really are MOVING towards sanity. Agreed?