I have one question, why wasn't the election of 2008 a mandate of "progressive" policies?
Obama came into office with all the majority support of congress/senate, and yet a mere two years later, lost it all.
If we go back and look at who he was, and what he said, for example, a marriage was between a man and a woman, etc, he became the person who the progressive power handlers (?) demanded of him, once elected?
You can blame the opposition, however, that does not hold up to scrutiny if indeed he was elected overwhelmingly to "change" things progressively....
That "agenda" would override any opposition and interference, gaining strength and power, not losing it.
Many stories ran after the election the conservatives and republicans were dead, or severely limited in what they could now do in Washington.
Speaking solely for myself, who voted for him in all the excitement of hope and change, read GRIDLOCK.......
I felt I bought a lame horse, once he got in office.
He wasn't what he advertised, but to this day, I think like with Carter, who I voted for, somewhere in the party oligarchy ( which I believe exist in both parties ) had other ideas AND the wherewithal, to implement THEIR plans, not his hope and change, his winning line was saying he would reach across the isle, to make Washington work again for EVERYONE.....?????
I dunno, but I think AOC, Trump, etc, are upsetting that apple cart....
It also explains why so many republicans bowed out of the last elections, where incumbents almost always win their elections, as they knew the winds of change were coming, and they wanted to escape with their booty before all the infighting, revealing, etc, of what a corrupt system we do have..... is exposed.
Just the "sex" stuff was prolly only the tip of the iceberg, where it snared many, but if you think that is the only ugly belly DC has, I think you are seriously mistaken, for the GREED of man, wealth, and power, gained however, hook or crook, is where the real corpses lay, waiting....
I dunno....I just can't figger out what happened to the historic wind Obama sailed into Washington with, only to be crushed against the rocks two years later.....WHAT HAPPENED?
OK, I'm done, I am going back to being HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY ......
Carry on