I’m interested to know what people think is the most progressive thing this administration could do without needing the approval of Congress.
About The Author
BooMan
Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
Prosecute banksters.
For what? The problem with that lies in the fact that much of what they did was legal at the time. Reckless and shitty, but legal.
Not allow new defense contracts in states with voter suppression laws.
Order FDA to move marijuana from Shedule 1 to Shedule 3.
I’d go lower: schedule 4. I’d prefer it not be scheduled at all and be treated in the tax code like alcohol and tobacco, but that requires Congress.
Also the FDA doesn’t reschedule without Congressional approval. The AG is the one, and only person in the Executive, who can move it without Congress.
Replace Jack Lew with Paul Krugman.
Pull chained CPI budget.
Not nominate Larry Summers.
Prosecute the banks for all the crimes of the meltdown that no one prosecuted them for.
Now, what are the worst things Obama could do without needing the approval of congress? Combatting those is a likely scenario for what the rest of this admistration is going to look like.
Any day now!!
could the executive branch do anything about big oil subsidies?
I’d say conduct drone strikes to remove the leadership of a certain apartheid regime, but …
So, white progressives think progressivism is all about prosecuting bankers rather than about stopping the birth-to-jail system for blacks?
This explains a lot about why Obama is criticized so much.
For me, the CFPB, , the CREDIT Card Act, the elimination of the crack/powder disparity, the relaxation of sentencing guidelines, and the massive extension of Medicaid are the signature progressive accomplishments of this presidency. But these things all help the black progressive base more than the white one.
Apparently, the most progressive things in American politics don’t involve changing any policies.
Who knew?
It’s not clear who/what you are addressing.
So, white progressives think progressivism is all about prosecuting bankers rather than about stopping the birth-to-jail system for blacks?
Nice job of trolling your own site, Boo. You really think only whites have had their houses stolen by the bankters? That only whites have been scammed by the banksters? I guess brown people in other parts of the world don’t matter either, considering the words of some white O-bots. Do those in favor of the drone war realize that we are likely being played by different tribes/factions/groups in Yemen, Pakistan and elsewhere?
Kill the Keystone Pipeline.
Drone kill Samuel Alito? I don’t know if that’s progressive, but apparently it wouldn’t take Congressional approval.
I take it that you are being facetious. You don’t really want the POTUS to start assassinating Federal judges do you?
What is the most progressive thing that this administration could do without needing the approval of Congress?
That’s easy.
Prosecute every surviving high-ranking American war criminal from the Vietnam War era on down through to the present, starting with Henry Kissinger.
This would be a sure sign to the rest of the world that we are no longer going to be in the militarily-enforced economic imperialism business. Very soon the after that the fundamentalist fools who are now quite successfully wreaking havoc on the entire structure of American society would find a new “Great Satan” to fight. Say…Russia, the grandest kleptocracy ever to exist on the face of this good green earth…and peace would once again descend upon the American people.
Oh.
What’s that you say?
Oh.
Wait a minute.
You’re right!!!
I guess that would have to include President Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Oh.
Sigh…
Nevermind.
Yore freind…
Emily Litella
Could they change the Schedule of drugs under the Controlled Substances Act without Congress?
Depends. Do we want to pretend that the AG is independent of the administration? If so, then no they cannot. But if we observe in reality where the executive has a lot of influence on what DoJ does, then yes they can. Eric Holder can, that is. He could also remove it completely, but that would effectively leave everything to the states, as sentencing guidelines also take their cues from said CSA. And alot of states don’t have their own laws and basically say “See Controlled Substances Act”.
Yes. The FDA just has to rule that way. It has nothing to do with the DOJ.
That’s an impressive policy change for DOJ.
Change DOJ LEAP and DHS funding programs to stop supporting militarization of police forces and return to effective community policing strategies.
Have the Department of Labor aggressively enforce off-clock working of workers (wage theft), phony classification of exempt workers for overtime, and the overcharging of management fees on 401(k) plans.
Have DOI declare a moratorium on mining concessions and mineral leases on Indian land.
Have GSA purchase only hybrid or electric vehicles for replacement of government fleet.
Place PV generation on every suitable roof on federally-owned buildings and require solar roofs on federally leased buildings.
Bust Joe Arpaio’s racket.
Pardon Leonard Peltier
You know, BooMan, you did ask “most progressive thing,” not “most meaningful progressive thing,” or “thing that would do the most to promote progressive values.”
Freeing Leonard Peltier would be pretty freaking progressive, you gotta admit.
Replace the head of the DNC with Howard Dean and give them their independence.
Boo,
When you ask people about their dreams you can’t bring harsh reality back into it – let folk dream, each will have their own. No if only Obama could mandate 4 paid weeks vacation for everyone then I would call that progress…