"Obama Would Sign Parts of Job Bill, Push For Rest" reports Sam Stein in a new item today in HuffPost. Did I say "new?" Let me rephrase that: Yup, here we go again, some old stuff.
Excuse my language, but Obama never seems to encounter a tough position that he doesn't like to piss away. For some reason I am recalling what Hillary Clinton said throughout her campaign in 2008: "Obama can't close the deal."
Just when a lot of us started feeling a bit better about President Obama, due to the usual remedy -- a well written speech, this time about a well thought-out plan, eloquently delivered -- we read, less than one week later, Less Than One Week, that sure he wants the whole bill passed as one and immediately, but if that does not happen he'll sign parts of it and hope to "negotiate" on the balance. "Negotiate" with Republicans? Where are the salts? I'm feeling faint.
Oh dear me! Oh my oh my! Where have we all heard that before? And in today's email also came a letter from the Democratic Party of New Mexico inviting me to "get involved" with Obama for 2012. If I ever for one split second thought of getting involved with Obama, the "Sign Part of the Bill" news laid that to rest.
Excuse me, but this is just about the bottom of the curve as I perceive it. We get some hope that finally Obama will fight hard and tough for something, jobs for Americans, and then Reporter Stein (a reliable one) brings the news that, well not entirely, he'll go soft if the Republicans really insist.
Does the man have any idea what it is to negotiate from strength? How to turn the Bully Pulpit into a Big Stick -- forgive me Teddy Roosevelt? Harry Truman in speaking of dealing with the Arabs of his day said (and I heard him say it), "The only thing they understand is to be hit between the eyes with a two-by-four." If I thought it would do any good, I'd write Obama and quote that, and a bit more, to him. If Obama had a Republican and a two-by-four both directly in front of him, he would not know what to do. To this we've come.
He's done it again. He's done it before -- remember "Don't make me call my bluff, Eric?" That pretty much finished me off, with the 14th Amendment sitting right there ready and willing to be used. Remember: Eric does call Obama's bluff and nothing happens. That was it! Sure, he may be re-elected next year, probably will be, by what we call "default." That word used to mean 'because there isn't any body better.' Now in our digitalized age, 'default' means the position you always go back to -- or similar. And I suddenly understand why Obama is not going to campaign, as Truman successfully did, against a "do-nothing Congress." Obama has the same old 'default' and Republicans know what it is. Now, friends and foes, how do you feel about this? Does anybody want to get involved with Obama's campaign? Anybody?