Obama's Medicine

[Dr. Shane]

It seems that Obama doesn't like the taste of his own medicine. After winning the presidential election he was quite eager to be in-your-face with Republicans by beating his chest and reminding them that he won and they lost. However now, when the Republicans are the ones reminding him who won the mid-term elections, he is crying foul and no fair. He kind of sounds like a little immature school boy that hasn't quire grasp how things work in reality. Elections have consequences. He lost the mid-term election. He needs to suck it up and act like a man.

Obama: House Republicans wasted 'precious days' with Boehner plan

Quote:

"I have to say, Democrats in Congress and some Senate Republicans have been listening and have shown themselves willing to make compromises to solve this crisis," Obama said.

"Now all of us — including Republicans in the House of Representatives — need to demonstrate the same kind of responsibility that the American people show every day," Obama added. "The time for putting party first is over. The time for compromise on behalf of the American people is now."

What he doesn't grasp is that a bunch of Republicans in the House are actually keeping the promises they made while on the campaign trail. They are refusing to be bought and paid for.

Quote:

Obama said the two parties are "not that far apart" on a final deal.

If they are not that far apart, why doesn't Obama move to where he needs to and close the deal? Be a leader. Make it happen. Don't cry that others aren't treating you right. The world doesn't revolve around Mr. President.

[Dr. Shane]

I had a boss that told me there are three types of people.

1. People that let things happen.

2. People that make things happen.

3. People that say, "What happen?"

President Obama is falling into the third category right now. He is dumbfounded that the tea-party Republicans are keeping their campaign promises. He can't figure out what changed in Washington. He sounds like Homer Simpson stuttering about Presidents before him not having a problem getting the debt ceiling raised.

[Dr. Shane]

It's a deal: Obama, Congress will avert default

Quote:

House Speaker John Boehner telephoned Obama at mid-evening to say the agreement had been struck, then immediately began pitching the deal to his fractious rank and file.

The Speaker calls Obama to tell him a deal has been struck??? What was Obama's role in this deal?

[Dr. Shane]

Debt drama takes political toll on Obama

Quote:

Though he succeeded in staving off a historic default, President Obama emerges from the debt talks in a weakened political position with limited influence over a divided Congress...

In December, as Republicans were preparing to take control of the House, Obama said that he didn't expect any unusual drama when the time came to raise the federal debt ceiling. Republican leaders also "have responsibilities to govern," he said.

Yet the "tea party" faction of the GOP exerted immense influence over House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) throughout the deficit reduction talks, showing a determination to avoid new or increased taxes, even if it meant risking an unprecedented default.

Wow! Elections actually do have consequences. Who would have thought? Certainly not Obama.

[Tom Wetmore]

Nobody involved in this political theatrical farce faired well in the public opinion. However according to a recent poll, Obama faired better than any of the other players or groups of players. The tea party faired worst as I recall. And the Republicans were just slightly better off.

Yes, elections do have consequences. And I predict that a good number of the tea party freshman crowd will be one term reps.

[Dr. Shane]

The thing about polls is they provide a measure of nation-wide sentiment. Congress has never gained high approval ratings when polled nationally. The fact that congressmen/women are elected in individual districts means that a national poll doesn't impact them significantly.

While I am not a tea-party member and have never attended any of their rallies, one has to respect them. These members of Congress went to Washington and actually fulfilled their campaign promises. When offered money for their districts and committee assignments for their votes, they have turned such offers down. How can one not respect that? That has certainly turned Washington, along with Obama, upside down.

Obama really showed a lack of leadership here. No matter how anyone looks at it. His attempt to go directly to the people was an entire flop. He went on national TV to sell his "balanced" approach and in the final deal he got no tax increases and gave the tea-party Republicans most of what they wanted.

The individual Congressmen have to answer to their own districts. Many of them are going to go back home and run in new districts that have been drawn by Republican governors in an effort to help them get re-elected. Not only did losing the mid-term election mean Obama lost control of Congress, his party also lost many governor races which cost them the ability to draw up new district lines for redistricting. The consequences of his mid-term loss will still be felt in the 2012 Congressional races.

Elections have consequences. Obama enjoyed telling Republicans that after he won the White House. He smugly told McCain that the election was over during the health-care debate. Now he takes some of his own medicine.