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Hmm... I kind of find myself agreeing with Ace's last post here. It all relates back to my first campaign boss and what he called his Grand Unified Theory of American Politics: "We like winners and don't like wussies. Act like a winner."
Now I can't go so far as to say any "give and take" is wrong. Negotiating has its place - politics isn't as simple as a price range, but is instead more like a prioritized list of demands. Conceding one demand in order to get support for the other, more important, demands can be an acceptable practice.
My problem with Obama (and Democrats in general) is that they don't act confident while making these negotiations with Republicans, even when they are the ones in power, and even when the polls show the American people support their agenda (despite Fox News' assertions otherwise). Part of the problem is that the Democratic Party currently represents a much wider range of political philosophies than the Republican party, so I get that it's not so simple as saying all the Democrats should vote for the Democratic agenda. Nonetheless, when you have the presidency and a majority in chambers, you need to act - as a party - like you have that power. Yes, the filibuster rule is totally broken, and it's absurd that Republican obstructionism has forced a de facto requirement of 60 votes in the senate to pass most bills, but a party with as much power as the Democrats had should embrace that fight and highlight that obstructionism. Instead, they mentioned it infrequently and without urgency, making it look like they were complaining instead of shedding light on abusive practices of the opposition.
Even now, as Obama says he's "itching for a fight" with Republicans, he and the Democrats are failing to make an issue out of Republican obstructionism of the 9/11 first responders bill. A party that embraces power and uses it effectively could cause real embarrassment for the Republicans over that issue.
Yet - and I feel this must be said - for all these criticisms, I must return to the simple fact that none of these complaints signal that I would be any happier with a President McCain or Republican controlled Congress. I'd rather be perpetually frustrated by the Democrats lacking assertiveness for an agenda I mostly agree with than be impressed by the Republicans effectively implementing an agenda that I am largely opposed to.
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Le temps détruit tout
"Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling
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