Regardless of the outcome on Tuesday, Democrats will have fewer seats in Congress and the gridlock we already have (because of the filibuster) will look like efficiency compared to what is coming. The only change possible legislatively in the next Congress is change back to George Bush's policies. And I believe Dem Senators and this President will prevent that.
The odious Mark Halperin speaks for the Village Consensus on how the President should act in 2011 and onward: be Bill Clinton 1995, dump the liberals and become Republican-lite. I don't think it will happen. I have criticisms of some of President Obama's policies, but I don't think he will take the Bill Clinton road.
The Republicans proclaim: no compromise. They will obstruct anything that could help this nation, so Halperin says hire Reagan's former chief of staff, "Stand Up to His Own Party When It Is Too Liberal" and kiss Republican ass for the most part. Be Bill Clinton and demonize Dems, and show he is for disciplining children. Yes, you see in Halperin's world, Dems are too permissive with their kids. Don't beat their kids enough. Ignorant stereotypes is all the Village can throw out there, but the goal is always the same: protect Great Wealth.
Halperin wants Obama to follow the 1995 triangulation, but it's 2010 and Barack Obama is not Bill Clinton.
First Obama should go to Halperin's formative years and hire one of Reagan's chief's of staff? Yep. He really said that.
Obama might consider tapping Ken Duberstein as his chief of staff. The very able Duberstein, who served Ronald Reagan in that role, publicly declared his support for Obama before the 2008 election and would instantly give the Administration a refreshing communication channel with Republicans on Capitol Hill.
After the Midterms: How Obama Can Reboot
If Republicans will not compromise, the "refreshing communication channel with Republicans on Capitol Hill" will only be terms of the surrender. That's what Halperin wants. But even surrender is not enough for McConnell, et. al.
Unite with the GOP on Common Causes
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Obama has ready-made areas that appeal urgently to both parties: education, trade, Afghanistan and deficit reduction. If Obama can succeed in building bipartisan coalitions (and trust) in those areas, he can move on to immigration and energy.
After the Midterms: How Obama Can Reboot
President Obama could surrender completely, invade nations for the Rs, fuck workers, and they still would not accept it. He's African American and the Rs, who's base is the Confederacy, will NEVER accept the surrender. They must destroy him. It's deep in the pyschology of the racist Republicans. Whatever my criticisms of this Presdient's policy choices at times, I do not think he will surrender to the Republicans.
Embrace Deficit Reduction to Reach Out
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Obama could borrow Clinton's rhetoric, call Republicans' bluff on the issue and re-establish his fiscal bona fides with the electorate.
After the Midterms: How Obama Can Reboot
Destroy the economy by cutting government spending. And we know which kind. Never the military for Halperin and the Rs. The budget deficit will decrease as we end the Bush tax cuts on the rich and as the economy slowly improves. There may be cuts, but helping Rs fuck working people should not be on the agenda.
Confront Republicans When They Overreach
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The easiest way for Obama to recapture the center and push the opposition rightward is to pick some battles with conservatives — and win them.
After the Midterms: How Obama Can Reboot
They already "overreached." That was called the Bush depression. In my view, the President has to confront the Rs from the beginning and establish what they are.
Here's the Village's real point: fuck those damn progressives:
Stand Up to His Own Party When It Is Too Liberal
Obama has on occasion talked about the importance of parental discipline of children and has criticized the teachers' unions, in effect taking on liberal dogma. There's no doubt that he believes those things in his heart. After the election, he could go a step further — as Clinton did on issues like TV violence — and challenge the connection between his party and old policies that were too permissive.
After the Midterms: How Obama Can Reboot
Really? "parental discipline of children"? Dems don't discipline their children? What fucking bullshit.
Halperin is ignorant, repeating the same garbage he has said for years, going back to his formative years under Reagan.
It's a small mind who can only look backwards and assume that life is static. Halperin serves the Village, but the world has changed.
I do not believe that Barack Obama will (or should) become Bill Clinton the Triangulator. No school uniforms.
How fucking dumb is Halperin? This passes for analysis? Now wonder Time and other dead tree media is failing. It's the dumb.