You have nailed it on the head with this article, and echoed my own thoughts on the apparent dichotomy between the progressive showing in the Presidential election and the squashing of the progressive initiatives in California.

Tremendous work ... I can't wait to read more.

I've been feeling the same way, but I also hope that those we did elect into office can give us the reform we need. There was a mandate during this election, but there was a mandate during the last (midterm) election as well and nothing was done.

Obama and the 111th Congress have promised a lot, and I expect those promises to be fulfilled to the best of their ability by the time the next midterms roll around. I expect most of our troops home, I expect affordable health care, I expect progressive tax reform, I expect this nation to be better off then than it is now.

The Democrats are more powerful now than they have been in several generations; this time they have no excuse.

Well done Kaiteesq.
I am hopeful that like good business executive leadership, Obama can change the conversation. From what I understand, that is what our forefathers did, what Roosevelt accomplished, what Kennedy started, what Reagan undertook, and where Clinton succeeded.

There are only a few discrete choices we need to make to right this ship. We don't have to fix everything, we simply need to get the sails filled again and narrowing the conversation to those few efforts required to do so can improve the chance for success.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that Obama seems, after marshaling people and money and intellect to execute the most successful campaign in history, to grasp the importance of enabling participation while still steering the discussion toward resolution and failing forward fast while managing to keep those conversations that derail the effort and focus where they belong - on the sidelines. People seem ready for someone to stand up and say - this way.

Yes, yes yes yes.

Nader should have stuck with "hold his feet to the fire," but that should basically be the watch-word phrase.

I don't think Obama will need it, but I think he will need voters like me to get back to their old busybody habits of writing their Congress critters weekly. ...and annoying others with the suggestion that they should do likewise.

Sherrod Brown has needed an earful from me for a while, though. I'm still fuming over the "we'll fix it once we're in" excuse for voting the MCA in.

I don't get how anyone could vote against investment in renewable energy. That's insane.

Then again, I know people who voted against Michigan's Prop. 1 because "it will make our taxes go up."

We certainly can, but it won't happen via us sitting on our laurels and expecting Barack to fix everything for us.

I really enjoyed the article.
Yesterday in California did not go well. Yet as a nation a lot of progress was made.

I know that California is often considered the bluest of blue states, but having travelled to many parts of California that are definitely not blue at all; I can't say I am completely shocked that many progressive intiatives were squashed over here.

I don't feel that Gavin Newsom's statement "As goes California, so goes the nation," is accurate. The parts of California you don't hear about; Merced, Del Norte, Modoc, Inyo, Lake and others are all important when votes are being counted; but they are hardly blue or influential on a national scale.

However, when it comes to progressive ideas and business; it is difficult to argue that the nation is not influenced by the Bay area and Silicon Valley. Which voted progressively.

These developments just mean we're going to have to do a better job of teaching understanding to everyone here.

We fuckin' better.

Obama has promised transparency in government, to change the way Washington operates, the end to government by special interests. During the campaign he has shown emphatically that he has the ability and charisma to inspire and engage people of all sorts and descriptions. Well, the campaign is over. We won. I couldn't agree more with your notion that the question really is: "Will we?" He has certainly shown his stuff as a candidate, and I can't but believe, given the magnitude of the problems we face and the battles that certainly lie ahead, that he will continue to call on all citizens to give their best in public service. I'm confident that his ability to inspire people will continue, and that his presidency will provide opportunities for us to serve. So the remaining question - one that nags me a little - is "will we respond to this invitation to participatory democracy"? And further "can we even remember how"?

Yes, 7 and 10 were opposed by most environmentalists, like myself.

Okay, then the smart ones.

I think it is healthy and rational to be a bit skeptical about what is to come. It sounds nice when we talk about it but what can we realistically do? To be honest, I don't expect his first term to work miracles and I'm okay with that. The fact that someone like Obama is in office just inspires confidence in my fellow Americans and gives me some hope. And hey... anything is an upgrade from W.

I'm just going to sit back, watch patiently (knowing how much there is to repair), get involved where I can, and happily pay my taxes because I want to create the best community that I can for the next generations.