Posted on 12/24/2010 10:12:18 AM PST by Qbert
Riding the lamest of ducks, President Obama just won the Triple Crown. He fulfilled (1) his most important economic priority, passage of Stimulus II, a.k.a. the tax cut deal (the perfect pre-re-election fiscal sugar high - the piper gets paid in 2013 and beyond); (2) his most important social policy objective, repeal of "don't ask, don't tell"; and (3) his most cherished (achievable) foreign policy goal, ratification of the New START treaty with Russia.
Politically, these are all synergistic. The bipartisan nature of the tax deal instantly repositioned Obama back to the center. And just when conventional wisdom decided the deal had caused irreparable alienation from his liberal base, Obama almost immediately won it back - by delivering one of the gay rights movement's most elusive and coveted breakthroughs.
[Snip]
...But what they cannot deny is the political boost the treaty's ratification gives Obama today, a mere seven weeks after his Election Day debacle.
The great liberal ascendancy of 2008, destined to last 40 years (predicted James Carville), lasted less than two. Yet, the great Republican ascendancy of 2010 lasted less than two months. Republicans will enter the 112th Congress with larger numbers but no longer with the wind - the overwhelming Nov. 2 repudiation of Obama's social-democratic agenda - at their backs.
"Harry Reid has eaten our lunch," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, lamenting his side's "capitulation" in the lame-duck session. Yes, but it was less Harry than Barry. Obama came back with a vengeance. His string of lame-duck successes is a singular political achievement. Because of it, the epic battles of the 112th Congress begin on what would have seemed impossible just one month ago - a level playing field.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
-Sure, the old guard Republicans dropped the ball in the lame-duck session (as many of us expected they would), but why completely disregard the potential and drive of the newly-elected Tea Party Conservatives in the new year?
“Republicans” dropped the ball big time.
The Blue Bloods wonder why they are being thrown out in the primaries and the RNC wonders why it’s in debt. The past month has given us all the answers.
Senility is an ugly thing
I really used to like him. Not much anymore he is a open border guy. He is also part of the party circuit in D.C. Rush has said in the past.
The wind isn’t for the GOP because they have capitulated the lame duck session and surrendered. Of course we threw up our hands.
I like the Kraut, but COME ON! The Republicans haven't yet taken their seats in the new Congress.
For the umpteenth time, the Bush tax extension is not stimulus. It is status quo. I think Krauthammer has lost his f'ing mind!
Maybe I just didn’t notice this trait of his before, but it’s really beginning to seem like Krauthammer’s found himself an attention-getting niche of downing Republicans/conservatives...and giving Dems a pass if not praise.
It sounds like “bipartisanship” works when the Republicans bend over and give the Commie’RATS everything they want.
“For the umpteenth time, the Bush tax extension is not stimulus. It is status quo.”
Yeah, and that’s just the income tax part of it. The estate tax part of the “tax compromise” will wind up costing jobs as family businesses are sold.
I don’t see this as “heaping praise.” He is providing an honest and pragmatic assessment of Obama’s achievement with the lame duck Congress, no matter how much we may dislike it, and the failure of the GOP leadership to hold the party together and fight off these assaults on our nation.
Let’s see, who represents the values and ideals of Freepers more, Kraut or Sarah Palin?
Kraut has always been an insider, Ivy leaguer.
To paraphrase Golda Maier," The Republicans never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity."
The Canuck shrink was once a flaming libtard.
This latest binge of praising the Wee Wee for managing a Congress consisting of safely gerrymandered Rats, voted out of office Rats, and Blue State Rinos indicates to me that he has either gone off his meds, or is rapidly reverting to his former mental condition.
Until the leadership changes you get what you saw in the lame duck. A bunch of losers snatching defeat from the jaws of victory..
If Charles the K is going to really 'do a bunk', he is not long for Fox News.
I was disappointed that the Republicans in the Senate did not have the integrity to run out the clock during the lame duck session. While it might not have been the fault of McConnell because of the RINOS, still, it happened on his watch. There needs to be a meaner nastier "minority" leader in the Senate.
Merry Christmas
Reducing federal income taxes would have been the best decision and would have actually stimulated some growth in the US economy.
Bottom line. Keeping the Bush tax cuts in place was 90% of the deal and critical to the economy not sinking even more. Allowing federal income taxes to raise come Jan.1 2011 would have been fiscally irresponsible and would have led to further economic downturn.
Only because you fed it to him, Grahamnesty.
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