The Republicans control one house of Congress. One. With such high stakes, limited true power, the press ready to pounce and the 2012 election cycle around the corner, I just wonder how much he can really accomplish.
But, I get it... we gotta have a REVOLT! I get it.
But that ONE house of Congress is the House of Representatives -- the one body with a veto-proof stranglehold on federal spending. All spending bills must originate in the House, period. While the Senate may reject a House bill and the President may the veto a bill passed by both houses, not a penny can be appropriated unless it was first authorized by the House.
Here's the really beautiful part... Let's say those scary, mean Senators reject the House budget. So what? The Senate can't originate its own version -- so if it won't ultimately go along, NOTHING gets appropriated. And let's say the big bad, President vetoes a bill passed by both houses. So what? He can't spend what hasn't been appropriated. While the President may veto a bill, he cannot veto the absence of a bill -- so if the House fails to appropriate funds in the first place, the President can't do a damned thing about it.
The House of Representatives holds the ultimate power of the purse. The simple problem is that GOP "leaders" lack the courage to wield that power as the Founders designed it. We have chosen poorly, and we are about to suffer terribly for our poor choices...
The Golden Rule.
He who holds the gold, makes the rules.