Will Obama’s New Weekly Address Make Gridlock Worse?
And so the cycle continues. Gridlock, stalemate — all of it symptomatic of early 21st politics which has seemingly eschewed the ideas of consensus and compromise as signs of weakness as opposed to qualities that could solve problems. And Time’s Mark Halperin believes Barack Obama’s weekly address this week won’t make things better — but worse:
Writes Halperin:
Both sides blame the other, and there is blame to go around.
I will say it again: Lord help the winner of the presidential race (and the Nation) if he doesn’t figure out how to run, win, AND end up with a mandate and way to get the other party to cooperate starting even BEFORE January 20, 2013.
The fiscal cliff looms.
The problem is politicians — and many partisans — want to push the other side over, even if they go over the side with them.
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“I will say it again: Lord help the winner of the presidential race (and the Nation) if he doesn’t figure out how to run, win, AND end up with a mandate and way to get the other party to cooperate starting even BEFORE January 20, 2013.”
As I recall, when Bush was in office and the Dems won control of Congress they went along with Bush’s proposals and passed his legislation with very little push back.
He does call Republicans out, but he mostly says “Congress” should pass legislation. The Republicans already constantly attack the president for doing nothing while taking no responsibility for their own inaction. No doubt the Republicans will listen to this and double down on their attacks on Obama.
Things will have to get worse before they react.
Congress will not act on anything because a vote for or against certain legislation that could solve a problem may be against party lines and lead to ones loss in an upcoming election. Careers are more important than the good of the country.
“… a vote for or against certain legislation that could solve a problem may be against party lines and lead to ones loss in an upcoming election.”
I think votes are withheld if they support legislation which makes the OTHER party look good. And yes, as you said, careers are more important then the good of the country.
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…How can you reason with people who haven’t governed in good faith for so long that they don’t even see it as part of their job description?
The most important question for me is if the Democrats will embrace the old axiom, “Payback is a bitch!”
If Obama wins, the Republicans are unlikely to cooperate. If Romney wins, will the Democrats cave in like they have in the past?
“Both sides blame the other, and there is blame to go around.”
My, my, how terrible profound. Is this what passes for intelligent observation anymore? If so we are doomed.
So now the problem is that the nation is polarized and gridlocked, with both sides cemented into their positions? Last week I’m pretty sure we were too malleable, and billionaires could dictate elections by buying TV ads. Which is it?