Posted on 12/25/2010 1:36:08 PM PST by smoothsailing
… the ubiquitous political commentator David Gergen. The longtime lib-left Washington establishment mouthpiece who makes his living spewing trite observations and superficial, short-sighted analyses, says President Obama has experienced a “stunning turnaround.” In an op-ed posted at CNN’s website he writes:
Voters who flocked to the Republican banner seven weeks ago are probably scratching their heads, wondering, “Who really won in November?” After handing the president and Congressional Democrats the worst drubbing in more than half a century, they can only watch in disbelief as President Barack Obama has reeled off a series of unexpected victories.
Voters are more likely to be filled with justifiable rage, not confusion. After the electorate overwhelmingly repudiated the Obama agenda on November 2, the president and Democratic lawmakers — aided by a few weak-willed, misguided Republicans — pushed more horrific legislation and deficit spending through. Obama and Democrats extended their middle fingers to America after receiving a richly deserved drubbing at the polls.
Instead of passing a spending bill long before Election Day, Democratic leaders deliberately dragged their heels. They could have easily passed a continuing resolution funding the federal government at current levels into January when the new Congress convenes. But they didn’t want to. They scheduled the lame duck session so they would still have an opportunity to pass items on their unpopular agenda in case they lost the election. It was a political insurance policy.
It is ridiculous for Gergen to say that President Obama has experienced a “turnaround” because his legislative victories in the lame duck congressional session were entirely foreseeable. America’s socialist president had already been winning consistently in terms of his legislative agenda. Although he didn’t get cap-and-trade and card check, he got Obamacare which is something leftists have lusted after for decades. (It was their Holy Grail.) He got bailouts. He took over large chunks of the financial services industry. He took over much of the auto industry. He got a new financial regulator with sweeping new powers.
Obama’s legislative winning streak kept going in the lame duck session of what was the worst Congress of my lifetime. He got the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). He got ratification of the START treaty. He got an extension of current tax rates (which is just about the only good thing he got — and he sought it reluctantly). He got his school lunch legislation which increases the nation’s welfare burden.
Measured by any standard, President Obama and the Democrats had a great Congress, both before last month’s election and after it.
Obama’s only major setback during the current Congress took place on Election Day — but even that setback didn’t affect the president’s ability to ram legislation through Congress. During the lame duck session of the 111th Congress he controlled — as before Election Day — commanding majorities in both chambers. Obama was unstoppable.
The fact that he was able to corral the trained seals from his own party and peel off some RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) who are retiring is hardly a turnaround. Throughout this Congress with the help of leading lawmakers from his own party Obama was able to ram most of his high priority legislative items through the nation’s legislature. When you win when you overwhelmingly outnumber your adversaries there is nothing “stunning” about it. It is expected.
Gergen’s final paragraph is breathtakingly nonsensical: “So, tough, tough fights lie ahead. But the surprise is that Obama now enters 2011 on a more even playing field — and he and his team have shown a fresh approach to governing that could continue to serve them well in the new year.” What exactly is “fresh” about vanquishing your enemies while conceding virtually nothing? What is so impressive about getting squishes who don’t ever have to face the electorate again to support you on a treaty?
Obama will find it difficult to pursue his agenda when the new Congress commences. He’s got no advantage. If anything, the resolve of the Tea Party-energized Republicans will be strengthened. They will be more even more likely to fight the leftist in the White House with everything they’ve got in a bid save the country from socialist ruin.
Gergen’s op-ed is worthless and intellectually vapid. This is nothing new for him. His commentaries, largely left-wing cheerleading, have been tired and useless for years.
Some people don’t know when to call it quits.
He and Rove must be best buds.
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