General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Rachel had it Right, now DU is getting it wrong. [View all]CaptJasHook
(1,308 posts)Apparently, by doing so I was lame, but at the risk of being lame again, here it is.
"Proceed, Governor"
Two words that have defined the first term of President Obama.
It has been remarked upon, ad nauseam, that Obama plays chess while others play checkers. He is an historical figure more concerned with the long game than feel good short term wins. A Progressive out to win a war, not waste his time and resources on petty engagements. In those two words, Obama revealed his overall strategy. A strategy employed by wise mothers and fathers throughout the centuries. Give 'em enough rope to hang themselves.
Examine the last four years. You can see, step by step, how Obama continued to maintain his resolve and chart a path forward in the face of extreme opposition. The Republicans refused to look at Universal Health care, Obama side stepped them into what amounts to single payer. Given enough time, insurance companies will find Health care less and less profitable and the public will see less and less reason for archaic insurance middle men. The Birthers demanded Certificates and Obama held out until a high profile, possible presidential candidate feel for it, then he revealed. The Tea Party continued to threaten to shut down government, Obama let them up to the point where they were critically wounded by a bad credit rating, which plummeted their approval rating to all time lows. Obama asked for a 1% raise in taxes on those making $250,000 to pay for infrastrutcture, they refused, so the offer was made of a 1% increase for millionaires, they still refused.
Simply put, Obama allowed the Tea Party, Mitch McConnell and all the rest of the GOP to continue to spew garbage and gave them very, very little to show for it. In the meantime, the general public got full view of the extremism that had taken hold of the GOP. Last week, the public showed them what they thought of it all. While the GOP managed to hold onto most of their gerrymandered congressional districts, they lost in the Senate and Obama was victorious. The Tea Party lost a number of its most extreme voices, and Bachman almost lost hers. Massachussets woke up and rejected any support they had for a semi-Republican, and now, it looks like Arizona is turning purple.
I posted a marbly-mouthed, peevish, pre-coffee rant this morning that turned into an argument about compromise. There are those flush with victory who think now is the time make demands, to seek revenge. I, myself, am guilty of numerous posts on other boards attacking Teapers and their ilk. I own up to my own lack of patience and personal hypocrisy. But why should we stop now? The GOP is on the ropes and we have the general public in our hands, why spoil that? Let them dangle on that rope a little longer. I know.. I KNOW... I know that Obama has this under control. I feel safe that he is steering the ship port side.
It took Mittbot a full 10 seconds after "Could you say that again, Candy" to understand that he blew it. You could see the panic in his eyes. It took me a few minutes to figure out that Obama had done it again.