President Obama is foolish a arrogant enough to think that because he “won” the election, that he has a clear mandate. The election did not give him one.
Also, if he is going to remotely have any chance of having a “successful” second term, he is going to have to learn to be the one that compromises. He is not a king. Members of Congress do not answer to him, but to the voters in their districts and states.
One commentator, I forget which, really described the situation in a way to be understandable. What he wrote is that there is no “middle” anymore. Most of the the Democrats elected come from “safe” democrat districts. Meaning they don’t have to worry about a general election, they have to worry about a primary. If they don’t vote left wing, they get beat in the primary. The same is also true of the Republican party...especially those that are “fiscal” Tea Party conservatives. If they don’t hold down taxes and spending, then they will lose in a primary. So, both left and right must answer to their bases. They cannot compromise. Whether this is good or bad, I don’t know...but it is the reality of the now. There aren’t many left in the “middle” anymore.
For Mr. Obama to get anything done, he must keep both ends happy or at least placated. So, nobody...especially Mr. Obama...is going to get exactly their own way.
That's somewhat true on the D side, but not the R side. The R's generally own the states and the redistricting and have made an art form out of "safe" D districts. Not just safe, but 90% liberal and/or black. The flip side is that a lot of R districts are not very safe. There are certainly a lot of safe ones, but there are even more than are very safe for RINOs.
With all due respect, I don't think you know nobama very well.
He's already getting exactly what he wants. The current Republican cave on the "over the cliff" negotiations is a perfect example. nobama campaigned on taxing the rich more. Guess who's gonna be taxed more? nobama campaigned on further extending the 99 weeks of unearned unemployment cash giveaways (better known as "The New Welfare).
He's not getting exactly what he wants? Bullhockey.
He's arrogant.
He's narcissistic.
He's a Maxist.
He's a social psychopath.
He is truly evil and everything this country does not need.