In 2008 when the democratic primary was going and Obama claimed he should get the nomination because if Hillary got it it would lead to gridlock, I agreed with him to a degree. But I was wrong and it didn’t matter who got elected, it was gridlock anyway. But in a lot of ways I saw that coming, because the 2007-2008 session of the senate was full of obstructionism with a GOP president still in office. So I figured after the democratic sweep of 2008, the obstructionism would be even worse. And it was.
But it isn’t about ‘Obama’ per se. I think the republicans are hoping this can turn into some McGovern/Carter vs. Reagan generational shift if they play it right. Like if they obstruct enough, they can get an entire generation to distrust government, which they believe will lead those people into the fold of the GOP (I don’t personally buy this strategy because many people who aren’t in the GOP fold aren’t in it because the GOP is openly hostile to the dignity, rights, beliefs and well being of them. ie minorities, the working class, women, young people etc. Gridlock in washington isn’t going to lead non-whites to the party of immigration hostility and voter suppression, nor will it lead young people to the party of non-existent social nets, anti-science beliefs and oppressive social hierarchies).
The idea that the hatred is purely about Obama is stupid, it is what Obama represents to them. And future democratic presidents will represent the same thing.
I’m reading a book called ‘the amateur’ which is an anti-Obama screed. In it the author talks about a conversation between Bill and Hillary Clinton that was had with company present. Bill wanted Hillary to run against Obama in 2012, Hillary didn’t want to. Bill finally got upset and said the amateurishness of the Obama administration was bothering him and Hillary needed to run. I can see his point, the feeling that Obama is in over his head and/or has no idea what he is up against is something a lot of liberals have had to deal with over the last 4 years.
Why would you think Obama would say anything else? I’m not sure if he believes it, but that’s irrelevant. It’s marketing. PR. Not a lie, but it’s a message presented to the public as part of a larger strategy. It puts the onus on the Republicans to do something; it shows he’s got no hard feelings and is willing to work to get things accomplished.
Also, he may be right. If the Republicans are auditioning for 2016 as a party that’s ready to govern, they damn well better start governing from Congress. Over the past two years, they haven’t shown much in that regard, and the 10% current approval rating of Congress means the public has noticed.
I’m on the fence. On the one hand, Republicans do believe obstruction is their best play. On the other, they’re not stupid. Demographics and social sentiment are trending against them, and they know it, and I’m sure the last thing they want is to be wished into the cornfield for good, so some cooperation may actually occur.
At some point I believe they will jettison the social nonsense and get back to being a true voice of fiscal responsibility. Self preservation is an amazing and powerful attribute that even Republicans possess. I’m hopeful it will kick in before it’s too late.
But yeah, Obama [still] has a naive streak that’s somewhat surprising.
The election next election after this one won’t put the presidents neck on the chopping block. Congress has no choice but to so something or they’ll risk losing their jobs.
They might do it kicking and screaming or only in back door deals away from the press but if Obama wins they will cooperate more then they have been.
If Obama believes they are going to line up behind him he’s delusional but they will act to save their own skins.
I think Obama is no Mitt Romney, and by that I mean he’s not stupid enough to just come out and say nothing will be different, prepare for 4 years of the same GOP, I’m going to make overtures to them but don’t expect them to reciprocate.
Obama’s running for re-election. You have to strike an optimistic mood or else you risk alienating people. I don’t agree with him that things will change, but understand if he’s just saying that because he can’t say anything more negative
Republicans know demographics are against them, but that is why they are pushing voter suppression all over the country by requiring onerous ID, eliminating early voting and absentee voting, making registration harder, massive voter purges, etc.
So they know there is a demographic tide coming, but they are dealing with it by voter suppression, not changing their policies to win the support of the new majority.
The election of 2010 wasn’t the public deciding to vote GOP en masse, it was turnout. Republicans went out to vote and democrats stayed home, so the GOP won. If the GOP can repeat that process in the future by voter suppression, whipping up their base into a rabid frenzy and demoralizing the democratic base by showing how disorganized and weak the democratic party is via endless obstruction that makes the dems look incompetent (why vote dem if they are too incompetent and outmaneuvered to do anything once they win anyway), they will win elections. I think that is their strategy.
It’s actually a bit funny to read the above comments then to click on the article and read the comments there. It’s almost like… there’s some kind of disconnect going on.
The Repubs wasted 4 years with obstruction, and they have been hijacked by single issue conservative loons. You can’t let the lunatics take over the asylum. It’s these same whackados that will lynch a fucking chair.
ONLY if the Republicans re-calibrate and move to the centre will they be taken seriously or they will be blamed and rightly so for the ineffectiveness of government.
I think the President is absolutely right, already there’s a number of Senators and Governors of the Republican stripe who have rejected Willard’s 47%. These moderates have to take back their party to become relevant again.
Romney said the exact same thing today: “I can change Washington, I will change Washington. We’ll get the job from the inside. Republicans and Democrats will come together.”
Well obstructionism in the midst of recession and economic sabotage are are brand new developments, never before seen in US history so I can’t rule out cooperation. Especially if the Dems take both the House and Senate, which is not an impossibility. After all, Obama’s first congress was the most productive since WWII. A good trouncing might focus minds.
There are some deep fundamentals going on. The 100% have no interest in continued economic stagnation. The 1% are not benefiting from petulant budget crises leading to S&P downgrades or blocks on growth packages, just because Obama favors them. Just this month they blocked a Veterans jobs package, while last year they blocked the American Jobs Act. In economic terms, the US economy currently has enormous excess capacity: this high unemployment is pointless. More jobs means higher income, bigger profits and more opportunity for everyone, including the 1%. The unblinkered business press understands textbook economics: see Bloomberg for an example.
Tea Party maniacs can be neutered, provided the adults do their homework and ultimately stay in charge.
