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You are here: Home / Politics / Politicans / Black Jimmy Carter / Dispatches From The Green Lantern Pundit Corps

Dispatches From The Green Lantern Pundit Corps

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News that unprecedented GOP obstruction of President Obama’s executive appointments (not to mention sequestration) has left several cabinet departments and federal agencies simply unable to function has gotten the normally reliable and level-headed Greg Sargent usually reasonable Jonathan Bernstein to pen an application to join the Green Lantern Pundit Corps over the glacial speed to which the GOP has reduced the President’s vetting process to.   Faster, President!  Vet!  Vet!

Their motto:  “In brightest day, in blackest night, if Obama just had the will to fight!”

The answer is to reduce, as much as possible, the vetting that goes into these choices. Yes, that probably increases the chances of a scandal down the road sometime. But that cost, visible as it is when it happens, just isn’t as important as the cost of leaving offices empty — and of disqualifying perfectly good men and women who want to give some of their abilities to the public.

I’ve talked before about getting cover for change on both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue by putting a commission together dedicated to stopping the madness. But Obama can do most of this on his own. It just takes realizing that the cost of the current levels of vetting are in fact huge, and that it really isn’t that big a deal if a bad apple (or someone who can be portrayed as a bad apple) sneaks in every once in a while. Reduce vetting now!

The problem here remains the Republicans, guys.  Accepting the framing here that Obama needs to be the one to change to accept the “new reality” of GOP blocking is exactly what the Republicans want, because then that becomes the acceptable norm for the next 44 months.

The far greater cost than the empty agency positions is the damage the Republicans are doing to the idea of good government itself, and the fact that we’re letting them get away with this petty crap only means that “a bureaucracy that can’t possibly function correctly because it’s been hamstrung” is the new normal, and what Americans will be conditioned to accept.  Furthermore, the next time Republicans are in charge, they’ll simply redefine the framing and move the goalposts to “We can fill these positions with whomever we want, plenary executive, suckas!”

Besides, if President Obama speeds up or eliminates the vetting process, A) Republicans will keep obstructing the process anyway, meaning that this isn’t a solution to the root cause of the problem, B) a scandal is exactly what the GOP will need in order to “prove” that Democrats can’t govern, and C) pretty sure President Obama thought of A and B and is going this route anyway.  The actual solution to the problem is to do exactly what the President is doing, carefully vetting and to continue to point out that the Republicans are making governance impossible.  That particular message is penetrating the public.

What this isn’t however is an issue of the sufficiency of the President’s willpower.  The.  Problem.  Is.  The.  Republicans.  Period.  Generate your own willpower to fight them and vote them out of power.

Reader Interactions

144Comments

  1. 1.

    jon

    I say the thing to do is pardon federal accused criminals who can’t get to trial because there aren’t enough judges, and move the pardoned drug lords, child porn producers, and scammers to Republican states. With press conferences.

  3. 3.

    Ben Franklin

    The nomination of Pritzker is a limp hand shake to R’s so he can get her approved?

    By gawd, he is consolidating power and decisive strength of will !

  6. 6.

    David Koch

    vetting is important. lasst year he nominated an ambassador to iraq, and it turned out he was banging a married reporter, then salacious emails pouring out.

    remember Dems have to play by a differenct set of rules. while anything goes for the gop — IOKIYAR.

  8. 8.

    Patricia Kayden

    “vote them out of power”

    Amen. Otherwise accept perpetual gridlock.

  12. 12.

    Davis X. Machina

    @the Conster: That post is followed by 300 comments, explaining that he is the Asshole Whisperer, and how he’s doing it wrong, and how they would do it, because they would do it right. Also, real progressives.

    I have a 3-digit dKos UID, but I just about never go over there any more.

    Sargent isn’t normally quite this dense, is he? He might just be reading a lot of DKos.

  13. 13.

    Samuel Knight

    Hate to disagree. Green Lantern analogy is funny and all.

    BUT – It’s been obvious for years that corporate media are silly, love pseudo scandals, and generally lean pro money etc. (Whitewater,Iraq, etc.)

    It’s also been obvious that the old ruthless Southern political machine that no runs the GOP – is still vicious and ruthless.

    So yes, as long as the erstwhile head of the Democratic party chooses not to fight, well the Dems lose.

    And it’s a long track record everywhere of caving – stolen Afghan election – well CIA cash. GOP publicly declares anti-everything pres proposes – well reach out more. GOP says new taxes – propose cutting most popular programs in the country as a gesture, etc.

    No question that a waffling president is better than stupid incompetent or spoiled rich guy. That’s not the question – it is how should liberals, progressives react to a President who has clearly triangulated?

  16. 16.

    Alex

    I believe Obama has always been slow in the nomination process — 2009-2010 should give a good idea of what the issue is. That might just be judges though.

    But the problem is not Obama or Congress (well, it’s kind of Congress). It’s that the nomination process is stupid and takes too long. People get put in limbo and can’t advance their career during the nomination, and the process can take months or years.

  17. 17.

    Davis X. Machina

    @Samuel Knight:

    ….it is how should liberals, progressives react to a President who has clearly triangulated?

    Trivia question: Name the last non-triangulating Democratic president.

    You will not live long enough to see a non-triangulating Democratic president, not unless U6 tops 40-45% and U3 goes over 20%.

    American politics is based on somewhere between three and six parties, and two labels. It’s coalition politics, without the coalition.

  18. 18.

    Ben Franklin

    @Davis X. Machina:

    American politics is based on somewhere between three and six parties, and two labels

    Reminds me of the homily; ‘If no one is happy, it must be a good agreement’..

  19. 19.

    Supernumerary Charioteer

    Wait, the byline says ‘Jonathan Bernstein’ (… another pundit who I like who’s usually smarter than this), not ‘Greg Sargent’.

  21. 21.

    Alex

    I think we need to advance other superhero based theories of Presidential power.

    Zatanna theory — If only Obama talked backwards…

    Batman theory — Legislators are a superstitious and cowardly lot. Obama must be a creature of the night.

    Spider-Man theory — With great power comes great responsibility. Wait, that one might actually work.

    Hulk theory — OBAMA SMASH!

    Judge Dredd theory — Gaze into the fist of Obama. – http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ma3k6zi2cn1raqp7co1_500.jpg

  23. 23.

    Cacti

    @Samuel Knight:

    It’s also been obvious that the old ruthless Southern political machine that no runs the GOP – is still vicious and ruthless

    And how does the POTUS alter the machinations of the legislature?

    Harry Reid scuttled his own attempt at filibuster reform when it looked like it might pass. Gotta keep those mossy Senatorial traditions intact, regardless of their dubious constitutionality.

  24. 24.

    Davis X. Machina

    @lojasmo: The President responsible for Reagan’s defense buildup, huh? Operation Cyclone? The Carter Doctrine?

  26. 26.

    AnderJ

    Isn’t the point of Bernstein not simply that over-vetting plus obstruction both makes it time consuming to get candidates confirmed? Notwithstanding that (a lot of) appointments are being filibustered, reducing over-vetting would reduce the time positions remain unfulfilled… Green lanterns have little to do with it…

  27. 27.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Samuel Knight: So yes, as long as the erstwhile head of the Democratic party chooses not to fight, well the Dems lose.

    Which “erstwhile” head of the party are you thinking of? Bill Clinton? Chris Dodd? Howard Dean?

    And what, in your mind, does “fighting” look like? What fantasy about “fighting” gets around the facts of the filibuster and Speaker Boehner?

  29. 29.

    Ed Drone

    When it comes to the judicial appointments, folks forget that the senators from the state are supposed to put forward candidates they would accept, and the Republicans are “neglecting” to do this, stalling the appointment before it can start. Then, once cajoled/threatened/bribed into putting forward names, they drag their feet through the rest of the confirmation process.

    Harry Truman campaigned against the “Do-Nothing Congress;” Obama is faced with the “Know-Nothing Congress,” (historical reference — look up the “Know Nothings”) — which should be dubbed the “Bass-Ackward Congress.”

    Ed

  30. 30.

    piratedan

    @Alex: or in teh case of the opposition… the hypnotoad theory, Republicans watch Fox News and regurgitate the insanity proposed there.

  32. 32.

    Hill Dweller

    @cvstoner:

    The problem is the Republicans. The answer is recess appointments.

    Obama made recess appointments, but the wingnuts went to the DC Circuit and got their wingnut buddies to destroy a hundred years of precedent. Until the SC hears the case, Obama can’t/won’t use recess appointments.

  33. 33.

    Ben Franklin

    @Cacti:

    And how does the POTUS alter the machinations of the legislature?

    Have you been a supervisor, or leader of a group?

    Respect is essential. They don’t respect him because he doesn’t demand respect.

    Primitives often value fear more than love, and if you don’t understand that, you will continue to wonder why they fuck you, but don’t love you.

  36. 36.

    RinaX

    Harry Reid scuttled his own attempt at filibuster reform when it looked like it might pass.

    At what point was this going to happen? Who were the 50 Dem senators that Harry Reid thwarted?

  39. 39.

    danimal

    The actual solution to the problem is to do exactly what the President is doing, carefully vetting and to continue to point out that the Republicans are making governance impossible. That particular message is penetrating the public.

    Exactly. The Beltway media corps is often the last to pick up on things the American public observes. This is one of them. While the Beltway is immersed in the game, the people are able to pick up on the overall GOP gameplan, and they don’t like it.

  41. 41.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Olympia Snowe says she didn’t vote for HCR , in spite of Obama’s heavy personal lobbying, because she didn’t want to be the only Republican to support it (also contradicting her previous statement that Obama never reached out to her, but whatevs), the Village says Obama doesn’t reach out enough. Pat Toomey says (extremely moderate) gun safety measures failed because GOP didn’t want to give Obama a win, the Village says Obama needs to show leaderly leadership (and a certain species of internet progressive who never saw Skoolhouse Rock says Obama just needs to “fight”). Meanwhile, repugnant turtle that he is, Mitch McConnell plays Brokaw, Dowd and the rest like a fiddle

    Explosion of GOP Eastwooding
    With his own hashtag, Mitch McConnell is asking Republicans across the country to engage in DIY Eastwooding, photographing themselves having a drink next to an empty chair representing Barack Obama.
    Josh Marshall

    Harder to capture a refusal to agree to legislation in a tweeted picture, and legislation is so boring. Hashtag Dingle Norwood (anybody?)

  42. 42.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    @Samuel Knight: Actually, the answer is Democratic voters voting in off-year elections like they do in presidential elections. Every Democrat needs to vote in every election.

  43. 43.

    catclub

    @RinaX: Mary Landrieu, Claire McCaskill, Mark Pryor, Max Baucus, Kent Conrad, Webb

    Its like a murderers row of liberal icons, working for the people.

  44. 44.

    Supernumerary Charioteer

    @grape_crush: From that article is a link back to an article on Sargent’s blog criticizing the Green Lantern Theory.

    Get your guests on the same page, Greg!

  45. 45.

    Cacti

    @Ben Franklin:

    Have you been a supervisor, or leader of a group?

    The President is not the leader or supervisor of congress. It’s a co-equal branch of government, over which the executive has no direct authority. Tension between the two is a feature, not bug in the constitution. In a perfect world it leads to compromise. One side choosing near total intransigence hasn’t been seen since the years immediately preceding the civil war.

  46. 46.

    scav

    Our own little terrarium of punditry and cheese-hiding airport-psychology logic is expounding upon the upmost value earned-respect has contributed to his legendary swath of team-based accomplishment. So that’s what kept the kite in the air!

  47. 47.

    Tone In DC

    @Hill Dweller:

    Obama made recess appointments, but the wingnuts went to the DC Circuit and got their wingnut buddies to destroy a hundred years of precedent. Until the SC hears the case, Obama can’t/won’t use recess appointments.

    I hadn’t heard that. This situation is so far beyond crazy, it’s not even in the same time-zone. Unprecedented obstruction is a HELL of an understatement at this point.

  50. 50.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Hill Dweller: and it was Sentelle, who did more almost anyone to advance all the crazy during the Clinton years

    Who wrote this judicial atrocity? No surprise—it was David Sentelle, who has a long and disgraceful reputation as a partisan hack on the bench. A protégé of Jesse Helms, his fellow North Carolinian, Sentelle is most famous for engineering, in 1994, the dismissal of Robert Fiske as the Whitewater Independent Counsel and replacing him with Kenneth Starr. (How’d that work out?) As a judge, Sentelle has been a thoroughgoing reactionary for thirty years. He was joined in his opinion by two fellow Republican appointees to the D.C. Circuit.

    All part of what someone called the Republicans reverse-court-packing scheme, stopping Obama from having any long term impact on the Judiciary. If only he had invited Jeff Sessions to the White House bowling alley. Or given a prime time speech. Or fought!

  53. 53.

    RinaX

    @catclub:

    People keep saying “filibuster reform would have passed if it weren’t for that meddling Harry Reid”. All I remember seeing is that there were around 40 who *might* support it, but nothing ever materialized beyond that. This reminds me of all of the Dem senators who signed on for the public option as soon as it was clear it wasn’t going to pass. And even then I don’t think we ever got close to 50 senators to sign on for that.

    At any rate, what I’ve been seeing is that various groups, from so-called pundits, to Dem legislators, to posters here, really and truly can’t grasp the fact that there’s nothing anyone can do in the short-term to make these guys budge. They don’t give a shit if most of the country hates them or disagrees with them, as long as their particular constituents still sign on for it. And since these guys enjoy the hatred and delight in the upset they’re causing, too many have given up on them and keep trying to pin it on someone who actually cares, President Obama, because they can’t see any other options.

    This is only going to get resolved at the election ballot box over the next four to six cycles. And the longer the assholes keep getting voted back in, the more cycles you can add to that.

  54. 54.

    Ben Franklin

    @Cacti:

    The President is not the leader or supervisor of congress.

    I think everyone is aware of the bicameral conundrum, but he is considered the Leader, and perception holds sway. If Congress cock-slaps him back into the leg-irons, he needs to show them he’ll take shit, but he won’t eat it. Get tough and fight. It’s the only thing they’ll respect, and that includes Dems, who have no balls of their own, but don’t want to back up a guy that will fold and make them take the hit.

  55. 55.

    The Republic of Stupidity

    and that it really isn’t that big a deal if a bad apple (or someone who can be portrayed as a bad apple) sneaks in every once in a while…

    What the?

    Good Lord… what sort of idiot makes a comment like that and doesn’t expect to get laughed out of the room? That’s so f’in stupid it hurts just to look at it…

  57. 57.

    Hoodie

    @Cacti: To earn respect, Obama should begin drone strikes on the Capitol or declare Lyndsey Graham an enemy combatant. Do you think our resident troll would be conflicted?

  58. 58.

    cleek

    @Ben Franklin:

    but he is considered the Leader

    the consideration is incorrect; it’s a wish, a fantasy.

    Get tough and fight. It’s the only thing they’ll respect,

    this is also a fantasy. there is no amount of “tough” that will convince a teabagger Rep to vote for something Obama supports.

    They. Oppose. Him.

    and there aren’t enough Dems in the House or Senate for him to Command, even if he could. the GOP still has the House, and they still have the filibuster.

  59. 59.

    Bruce S

    “In a perfect world it leads to compromise. One side choosing near total intransigence hasn’t been seen since the years immediately preceding the civil war.”

    Actually the balance of powers and presumption of compromise is predicated on the fact of an imperfect world. It’s the crazy intransigents who are seeking to impose their own version of “perfection” on the system.

    We don’t actually have a conservative party in this country anymore – more like an aggregation of the usual soulless opportunists bolstered by a reactionary radical wing and pushed hard right at “the base” by white populist zealots and theocrats – with the necessary funding injected by single-issue plutocrats who will use any motley, know-nothing crew to keep taxes low and regulations soft.

  63. 63.

    the Conster

    @Ben Franklin:

    Oh fer fuck’s sake just go run away from home and cut yourself and stop being such a willful idiot with Leader Daddy issues.

  65. 65.

    LittlePig

    The courtier press really shows its basic desire for a monarchy when they push this line.

    And yes, the Green Lantern analogy perfectly expresses the problem. Well, unless you want to get into Freud…

  66. 66.

    Ben Franklin

    @RinaX:

    One thing he could do is have a Sunday meeting with key players in the Oval Office and forget the comity. If the good ol’ boy networking twixt congresscritters enjoying that three-martini lunch with their backroom deals is History, then the collegial nature of the Body is dead.

    Have a Presser every monday evening, highlighting the details of the obstruction naming the obstructors, if real progress not seen on Sunday.

    Make them wait until Sunday afternoon to catch their flight home, then let them have it Monday night whilst their district is listening and within reach.

    When they return on Tuesday, start the whole thing again. Every fucking week !

  70. 70.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    @LittlePig: I believe it’s now Iron Patriot. I read that in the movie, a focus group decided that sounded better.

  72. 72.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Ben Franklin:
    And this will do what, since they don’t have to show up at the meetings, the obstructors are the entire Republican Party, he’s already calling them out constantly in his speeches, and naming names ensures that the named Senator will never vote with him for anything again? This isn’t ‘getting tough’. He can insult them, but he can’t hurt them.

    EDIT – Hell, this sounds like the Republican dream plan. Finally, they drag Obama into the mud with them and we lose the only thing we have going – moderates are more and more seeing the Republicans as the party of screaming toddlers. Throwing tantrums ourselves is a terrible idea. My god, finally both sides would do it. The MSM would all have heart attacks from the simultaneous orgasms.

  73. 73.

    Bruce S

    @raven:

    You can put it on a damn billboard. Claim it as your own or something you found in your kids homework. If you quote me, I’d appreciate your adding “And I hate these sick fuckers” as a closer.

  74. 74.

    Redshirt

    What’s that syndrome called when a dumb person thinks they’re smart because they’re too dumb to know any better?

  79. 79.

    chopper

    @Ben Franklin:

    yeah, call meetings that the key players will skip out on. that makes the president look strong!

    ‘you guys are gonna work this weekend’
    ‘no we won’t’
    ‘well then…fuck you, I’m calling a press conference!’

  82. 82.

    Ben Franklin

    @Frankensteinbeck:

    since they don’t have to show up at the meetings

    Then the story is a ‘no-show’ and the Monday presser would be moved to Sunday morning, with side-bars on the talk shows.

    They’ll only miss one meeting, if that.

    Demonstrate, demonstrate, demonstrate.

    Always, always, always be closing or you won’t even get a set of monogrammed steak knives.

  85. 85.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Ben Franklin:
    The story would be ‘Obama is a weak fool who gives people orders they don’t have to obey.’ Also, the MSM does not have to cover these pressers – although they would, because it would make Obama look bad.

  88. 88.

    Redshirt

    @Amir Khalid: How is it we here in ‘Murica are not getting to see these blockbusters before the rest of the world? What’s up with that?!

    No spoilers please – but did you like the movie?

  89. 89.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Ben Franklin:
    As for ‘demonstrate, demonstrate, demonstrate’, what do you call all the speeches about Republicans blocking gun control? Hint: Those are actually working, and Republicans who voted against it are watching their poll numbers go down. Why? Because Obama’s not acting like a spoiled child, and they are.

  90. 90.

    Redshirt

    @chopper: Ah yes. I need to memorize this phrase, as it is ever more applicable in our day. It explains so much.

    FYI – for the unaware, Ben Franklin has gone FULL TROLL, so “debate” with him at your own discretion.

  91. 91.

    Bokonon

    This is the same dynamic where the Democrats are always, constantly, under pressure to come up with a solution to the GOP’s intransigence. Because … that intransigence is just accepted as a given, and something that can’t be fixed. The press have accepted the basic framing that this is a never-ending hostage negotiation. But they don’t report on it. Not really.

    And things will continue to work this way, unless the press tells the truth about the GOP to the public. And then it will be up to the voters to deliver some accountability.

  93. 93.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Frankensteinbeck: also, too, the people who actually give a shit know what’s going on. The problem is the people who get their “news” from top-of-the-hour summaries on their way to work, pay a little more attention every two or four years in late October, and vote R because taxes. It takes, in these times, a combination of Iraq, Katrina, total financial collapse and Sarah Palin to get them to look beyond the dumbed down headlines.

  95. 95.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Ben Franklin:
    No, doing something like that would be counterproductive. It entails no risk for Obama, because he can’t be reelected anyway. It entails risk FOR THE COUNTRY because it will make Republicans even more resistant and will make them look like heroes for standing up to the tantrum-throwing president. It not only doesn’t work, your idea would make things worse.

  96. 96.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    Can we get a new open thread where we don’t have to defend Obama or cry for how bad he has it?

  97. 97.

    Ben Franklin

    @Frankensteinbeck:

    You’re making my point. All those red districts wherein the obstructors feel safe might actually modify opinions based on real-time commitment and conviction; something they look for in a Leader.

  98. 98.

    scav

    This is such a mini object lesson on a certain someone’s unfailing and inerrant theory on how to forge winning cooperation out of an recalcitrant opposition through pulpit-pounding, strong, pulse-throbbingly-manly leadership!

    @Redshirt: I read that Star Trek was working that way in an attempt to build / grow the international market.

  99. 99.

    Amir Khalid

    @Redshirt:
    Iron Man 3 has been playing for a week in Malaysia. When you do see it, you’ll be glad you did. It’s the best of the Iron Man franchise.

  100. 100.

    MomSense

    @lojasmo:

    People don’t realize this but it was actually Jimmy Carter who started the privatization of formerly public goods and services.

    We think of him as super liberal because he wanted us to wear sweaters, and was pushing conservation and energy efficiency–but he had some very conservative fiscal policies.

  102. 102.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @Cacti:

    One side choosing near total intransigence hasn’t been seen since the years immediately preceding the civil war.

    Insert ominous John Williams composed music here.

  103. 103.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Ben Franklin:
    Except that only happens when one person is obviously the obstructor. When both sides publicly act like spoiled children – which is what you’re recommending as ‘leadership’ – the blame can’t go where we want it. Even when this DOES work it’s a weak force. Obama has set it up perfectly, and your way would make things worse.

  107. 107.

    MomSense

    @Davis X. Machina:

    You totally beat me to it. Incidentally, I was sitting in my cah the other day listening to Stockman sing Carter’s praises on the commonwealth club.

  112. 112.

    MomSense

    @RinaX:

    Totally agree with you. I think our only chance is to put all our energy in winning in 2014. Part of that is to point out that winning the House and holding the Senate would solve a lot of problems.

    That also means constantly pointing out that the problem is Republicans!

  113. 113.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @Redshirt:

    “He never should have involved the Jedi. Kill them immediately”

    Sure, like that’s as easy as putting a new filter into Mister Coffee…

  117. 117.

    Hill Dweller

    At the heart of all this nonsense on “leadership” is the unwillingness to come to terms with the extremism and nihilism of the Republican party.

    The Republican party has become a modern day confederacy. They are willing to destroy the nation in pursuit of their goals, but a huge chunk of the country(and media) refuses to acknowledge that fact.

  122. 122.

    Redshirt

    @Amir Khalid: Cool. I’m going to make a point to see it in the next few days.

    I’m most excited, however, for the new Star Trek – which as mentioned above, you’ll get to see first too!

  124. 124.

    Samuel Knight

    To respond to the commenters above:

    1) Erstwhile would be POTUS.

    2) Fighting – well just like Bush did. When the Dems obstructed he made an issue of it. He called them out. He nominated lots of judges, etc. And called repeatedly for up or down votes.

    3) Filubuster – The GOP made clear they’d fight you on everything – and you let the rules sit? Not even making an issue out of it?

    4) The ruthless machine – point is POTUS can’t change the ruthless machine, nor the worthless corporate media. But can point it out.

  126. 126.

    Mike in NC

    GOP obstructionism? If Howie Kurtz was still employed, he’d be writing about how “both sides do it”.

  127. 127.

    the Conster

    @Samuel Knight:

    And exactly who helped Bush call out Democrats? Would that be the same press corps that was so skeptical about Iraq? The same press corps that is doing such a good job now in reporting on unprecedented Republican obstructionism and the abuse of the filibuster rules? The same Democrats who lined up lock step behind Obama behind closing GITMO, passing the ACA and the gun background check? Those Democrats?

  132. 132.

    Heliopause

    Of course you have to acknowledge that part of the problem is Obama’s own promises to deliver policies that are broadly acceptable across the political spectrum. It’s a part of his schtick that he crafted and aggressively sold to the public, and continues to do so day after day. If you promise the centrists, whose approval he seems to crave, their fondest wish and it doesn’t come true they’re bound to be disappointed, don’t you think?

  134. 134.

    CDW

    What Obama needs to do is to stand pat on his own values instead of getting his foot caught in the conservative door. If nothing is going to get done then stop trying to get the republican agenda done. Propose your own policies, policies that support you base and make republicans look bad. Instead he keeps trying to play nice and gives away all the toys to the republicans; they take them and go home.

  135. 135.

    the Conster

    When Obama reads all these articles calling on him to lead, he’s going to kick himself for not thinking of it first.

    -pourmecoffee

  136. 136.

    Bruce S

    @CDW:

    I think the issue is that people who actually get elected President have a very broad pragmatic streak combined with an assumption of their own powers and a concern that their legacy is actually “getting stuff done.” If they were satisfied with mounting a bully pulpit as President, they’d be Dennis Kucinich and never make it to the office in the first place. I don’t think that when Obama ran he anticipated (a) that the country would be as totally fucked as it was in Jan. 09 and (b) that the GOP would simply dig in their heels and hatemonger him as much as they’ve done. IMHO the financial crisis unleashed an even more hysterical streak of extreme, know-nothing white populism than would have erupted in more “normal” times. And because of the bail-outs and the sense of crisis, they gained considerable traction inside the GOP and got taken seriously by the moronic media.

    In some ways I think Obama got blindsided when he actually came into office – but he’s too cool to simply throw up his hands. He gets slammed for not being idealistic enough for a lot of his base, but in some ways I think he’s more of an idealist – he really wants to believe the system he’s locked inside of can work, even if incrementally. I respect that, but I think he’s overestimating his opposition – they really are as horrible as they appear to be.

  137. 137.

    Bruce S

    @Heliopause:

    I’m often amazed at how shrill “centrists” are when they’re feeling unrequited. If you think about it, it’s almost inevitable that they blame “both sides”, given their auto-pilot ideology.

  138. 138.

    ruemara

    @Ben Franklin: Jesus Fucking Christ. Do you think the President can command them to attend this glorious Sunday dress-down you’re fantasizing about? What do you not get here? There is no way to demand they attend. They’re a co-equal branch of government, unless there is a need to have them arrested and brought into chambers, they’re not going to show up. They’re not going to give if the President threatens them, they hold the purse strings. The Senate is full of either crazy or bitter old Senators who have a bug up their butt because they never made it to President. How dense can you get? They don’t have to respect Obama, and it has nothing to do with Obama commanding them to respect him. If you’re so damned smart, stop acting so dense.

  139. 139.

    the Conster

    @ruemara:

    Forget it ruemara – it’s emoprogtown. In emoprogtown all the daddies are Big Daddies, and all the emoprogs are special snowflakes to Big Daddy.

  141. 141.

    low-tech cyclist

    Sure, it’s the Republicans’ fault that we’re in this situation. But the Democrats could get us out – if they only had the guts.

    If Harry Reid, specifically, had the guts.

    It just takes a willingness to change the Senate rules by majority vote.

    The new rule should be that failure to vote on an Executive Branch nomination within 90 days will constitute Senate consent to the nomination under the Constitution.

  142. 142.

    RinaX

    @low-tech cyclist:

    So, which 50 Senators are ready and willing to do this, if only Harry Reid had the guts? I’m guessing the same list of senators I’m still waiting on who were ready to change the rules back in January.

  144. 144.

    List Erption Review

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