More tepid legislation to the rescue?...

The problem with the Obama administration is its propensity for settlement for tepid, half-assed legislation.

The health care reform measure was like that, failing to offer anything very real in reform such as a public option. I have heard no one anywhere remark about how wonderful the health care coverage in America is, because the real quality of that reform was hacked away and the insurance companies still rule the day.

The same now is true of the financial reform measure. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin refused to support it because he knows that it will do nothing to avert another economic meltdown. He also knows, as do all honest experts, that the legislation does more for the banks and Wall Street than it does for consumers or the nation. In other words, it's a placebo at best and a fraud at worst, with a nice name on it. The Obama administration again sweats bullets to get something passed with the new majority number of 60 votes, now with the help of the two Republican women from Maine and the Republican centerfold guy with the truck from Massachusetts.

Then the Obama administration expects the disappointed progressive wing of his party to praise his efforts and say, "Wow, that's really great that you were able to pass 'tepid half-assed legislation.' Wow, it is far better than nothing at all." Settlement, settlement, settlement. Crumby, tepid, half-assed. Placebo, fraud, crap.

My recommendation to Obama: Don't do it if you can't make it great (and real).