Today's misery is real unemployment home foreclosures and bankruptcies. This is the Obama Misery Index and its at a record high. Its going to take more than new rhetoric to put Americans back to work - its going to take a new president.
Because when we think about the real facts: 44 million Americans without health insurance millions without jobs a 50-year high on mortgage foreclosures an historic high the third year in a row on personal bankruptcies.
I fear that the rising personal bankruptcies and repossessions are the first signs of bigger problems to come and personal debt - Gordon Brown's legacy to millions of Britain's families - will hang like a millstone around the neck of the British people for years to come.
Liberal that I am I support health-care reform on its merits alone. My liberal blood boils for example when I read that half of the personal bankruptcies in this country are brought on in part by medical expenses.
I say to my colleagues never confine your best work your hopes your dreams the aspiration of the American people to what will be signed by George W. Bush because that is too limiting a factor.