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The Morning Plum: What Obama’s Inaugural tells us about the next four years
The Morning Plum: What Obama’s Inaugural tells us about the next four years
Posted by Greg Sargent
Yesterday, President Obama used his Inaugural Address to lay out an expansive case for progressive governance, one rooted in the country’s founding, history and identity, vowing action on everything from climate change to immigration to voting reform to gun control to expanded civil rights for women and gays.
What knits all these specifics together, however, is the speech’s implicit recognition that in order to accomplish any of these goals, he will have to defeat the opposition, rather than win it over. Indeed, one of the most significant things that happened yesterday is that Obama signaled recognition of the true nature of the implacable opposition he faced during his first term and will inevitably face for the duration of his second one. This means a second term in which Obama, rather than forever chase after the illusory notion that he can secure bipartisan cooperation through outreach and charm — not to mention adopting Republican ideas outright — will resort more directly to executive actions and to mobilizing the public to force cooperation wherever possible.
Fewer than 24 hours have passed since Obama’s speech, and we’re already reminded of the governing realities he faces. It appears likely that Harry Reid will announce to Senate Dems today that he favors watered down filibuster reforms that he has negotiated with Mitch McConnell. This all but ensures more unprecedented levels of obstruction from Senate Republicans. Meanwhile, it isn’t even clear that the GOP-controlled House can pass a temporary debt limit increase to avert default, thanks to House conservatives who would sooner flirt with economic Armageddon than cooperate with Obama and Democrats.
Indeed, yesterday’s speech appeared to be premised on the recognition that the GOP has essentially ceased to play the role of a functional opposition party...There has been a great deal of caterwauling among Republicans and conservatives about the lack of bipartisan outreach in Obama’s speech. But this phony complaint requires a concerted effort to pretend that the last four years simply never unfolded as they did. As Paul Krugman points out, Obama’s refusal to play along with the charade that “outreach” and “charm” are the route to bipartisan cooperation is an important step towards recognition of the true nature of today’s “implacable” and “irrational” opposition. It signals a more concerted effort by Obama’s campaign arm to mobilize the public than it mustered last term, and more executive action on everything from guns to immigration to climate change.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/01/22/the-morning-plum-what-obamas-inaugural-tells-us-about-the-next-four-years/
Posted by Greg Sargent
Yesterday, President Obama used his Inaugural Address to lay out an expansive case for progressive governance, one rooted in the country’s founding, history and identity, vowing action on everything from climate change to immigration to voting reform to gun control to expanded civil rights for women and gays.
What knits all these specifics together, however, is the speech’s implicit recognition that in order to accomplish any of these goals, he will have to defeat the opposition, rather than win it over. Indeed, one of the most significant things that happened yesterday is that Obama signaled recognition of the true nature of the implacable opposition he faced during his first term and will inevitably face for the duration of his second one. This means a second term in which Obama, rather than forever chase after the illusory notion that he can secure bipartisan cooperation through outreach and charm — not to mention adopting Republican ideas outright — will resort more directly to executive actions and to mobilizing the public to force cooperation wherever possible.
Fewer than 24 hours have passed since Obama’s speech, and we’re already reminded of the governing realities he faces. It appears likely that Harry Reid will announce to Senate Dems today that he favors watered down filibuster reforms that he has negotiated with Mitch McConnell. This all but ensures more unprecedented levels of obstruction from Senate Republicans. Meanwhile, it isn’t even clear that the GOP-controlled House can pass a temporary debt limit increase to avert default, thanks to House conservatives who would sooner flirt with economic Armageddon than cooperate with Obama and Democrats.
Indeed, yesterday’s speech appeared to be premised on the recognition that the GOP has essentially ceased to play the role of a functional opposition party...There has been a great deal of caterwauling among Republicans and conservatives about the lack of bipartisan outreach in Obama’s speech. But this phony complaint requires a concerted effort to pretend that the last four years simply never unfolded as they did. As Paul Krugman points out, Obama’s refusal to play along with the charade that “outreach” and “charm” are the route to bipartisan cooperation is an important step towards recognition of the true nature of today’s “implacable” and “irrational” opposition. It signals a more concerted effort by Obama’s campaign arm to mobilize the public than it mustered last term, and more executive action on everything from guns to immigration to climate change.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/01/22/the-morning-plum-what-obamas-inaugural-tells-us-about-the-next-four-years/
President of the Whole Country
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022237431
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