Some Democrats in Congress are denying the reality of the past election. They are angry over the Democrats loss of the House to Republicans and are letting their anger rule over reason by attacking President Obama for making a tax deal with Republicans in nothing less than Clintonesque fashion.
What would these Democrats have us do? Blow out our brains so as to hurt Republicans and their wealthy constituents? I mean really, the middle class needs a tax cut extension and the army of unemployed need a benefits extension as well. They should not be made to suffer just to prevent the rich from also getting a tax break, however unnecessary.
What the president has done is what is commonly known as compromise. We get what we need and they get what they want. That is how government works. The people do not want a government that is locked in inaction. They don’t want a government that will let tax cuts expire for mere ideological reasons. They are willing to let the rich have their pound of flesh just so they, the middle class, can survive.
Certain Democrats expect the president to somehow undo the power grip the Republicans have on Congress. Yes Republicans held the Senate hostage for two years and now starting in 2011 they will control the House. This is reality and Republicans, as much as we hate to admit it, are just effectively exercising the power that they have. It is a fact of life however disagreeable.
No, what is really going on here is Democratic leadership finger pointing, blaming the president for the House losses by attacking anything he does in his own exercise of power. The president must maneuver in certain ways to outflank the specter of gridlock so that he and the Democrats have a chance of bouncing back in 2012. He must also do this because it’s his job as leader of the nation and for that he cannot be blamed.
End