I think it possible for him to get us moving in a different direction. I think some sort of healthcare reform bill will make it into law during his administration, and that will be a huge accomplishment. Will it be perfect or even adequate? Very unlikely. Will it be a step in the right direction? Definitely. And once that first step is taken, it is nearly inevitable that we will eventually see national health care coverage in this country.

LH, I don't know whether your view that the intrenched power structure is so formidable that it is not at all possible to change it is cynical or naive, but it is not a rational position and that conclusion is not supported by history.

Large social social change usually occurs incrementally. And that usually a good idea as it gives societies some protection from the anarchy that often results from very rapid and massive social change.

Given the economic calamity that the Obama administration inherited, I think the Obama presidency has thus far been more effective than any of the presidencies of any of the other candidates, regardless of party, would have been. (Any anyone who read any of the pre-election threads knows that I was not wildly enamoured of Obama.)

Kucinich would have completely slammed into a brick wall with Congress by now. McCain, I think, would be foundering for direction. Hilary Clinton would have most likely antagonized too many Congressmen/women with attempts at behind the scene power plays that she did not have the chips to win.

And let us not forget John Q Public. The American people are generally not ready and not willing to accept that the American dream of more, more, more of anything and everything. We want good, affordable health care, great roads to drive on, sidewalks, parks, good school systems, garbage pick-up, curbside recycling, a reasonable social safety net (at least I do) fast and always good service when dealing with any governmental agency, and no new taxes.   We want to continue to increase our standard of living and capacity to consume so we want lots of goods at low prices, manufactured at home by US citizens making good wages. What's wrong with this picture?   It is easy to blame the $ySStem (or however it is that LH spelled it) for selling people a bill of goods. But people also have a huge responsibility that w are not meeting, and that we will not own up to.