"Historically, it’s going to rank as one of the most productive Congresses in recent time, comparable to LBJ’s first two years, and maybe even Franklin Roosevelt's time."

But nobody's going to be happy until unemployment falls back to a more manageable level or at least trends strongly in that direction.

One of the things about living through history is that it's not always clear day to day that times are historical. Our kids and grandkids will have a better sense than we can now muster of the giant economic Charlie Foxtrot we're still trying to untangle. And we'll see how all that legislation works out, too.

Comments

[JC]

"as only 33 percent of Americans surveyed by The Gallup Poll said they approve of the job Democrats are doing in Congress."

"The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press said two-thirds of Americans surveyed July 15-18 said the economic stimulus increased the federal deficit."

"A July 12 Pew survey showed that 47 percent disapproved of the health-care law, compared with 35 percent who approved."

I guess if productivity, to use the author's word, can be defined politically as passing legislation that the vast majority of Americans didnt want, then it would be the proper use of the word. Maybe you are right though Ed, history will give us a "better sense" of these times. I dont think we agree on how it will judge them though.

[Bubba]

"Historically, it’s going to rank as one of the most productive Congresses in recent time, comparable to LBJ’s first two years, and maybe even Franklin Roosevelt's time."

"Productive", as defined by a double digit Democrat deficit in generic Congressional approval ratings by voters?

"Productive", as in not discussing and not running on your "productiveness", and not mentioning you're a Democrat?

"Productive", as in abandoning a 57 50 state, 435 congressional district, 34 seat Senate race strategy for winning?

Excerpt:

"A national campaign trumpeting Democratic accomplishments on health care, education and Wall Street regulation has given way to a race-by-race defensive strategy. Democratic incumbents are moving to aggressively define their Republican opponents and individualize races in an effort to inoculate themselves from the national mood."

Somehow, I don't think "productive" is the defining adjective for the past two years in Congress. "Destructive" is much more accurate a descrpition for that time frame.

[Kim]

Don't forget the 110th congress either. Collective dependence, now that's transformation you can believe in.