Several diarists are disappointed in Obama's performance on "60 Minutes", basically saying the guy (our President) lacks a pair. He wreaks of "let's work together", "finding common ground", and "we can disagree without being disagreeable".
In the meantime, Mitch McConnell is primarily concerned with ousting Obama in 2012 and Eric Cantor adamantly states, "No compromise!" The newbie Rand Paul sketches his scorched earth federal budget for Christiane Amanpour.
But, all this posturing ends when the rubber hits the road regarding the extension or expiration of the Bush tax cuts. It's an invitation to a down and dirty confrontation.
The beauty of it-- the Bush tax cuts issue-- is that it's unavoidable. Unlike saber rattling over Social Security or timid offerings about defense spending-- "It should be on the table"-- there is a deadline concerning the Bush tax cuts. As of January 1, 2011, either the tax cuts will expire and rates will go back to the Clinton years, or some other bloody combination will replace it.
It can't be dodged. Unfortunately, if past is prologue, I don't like the looks of this confrontation. Republicans have been living off of "no compromise" for several years now and they've had a successful election. They appear to be "in the zone" with their method. So, why on earth should we expect them to bend even one iota in this instance?
Which brings us to Obama and his graciousness, who at this point appears to perhaps want to change the tone in Washington, D.C. more than anything else. Oh, he'll keep a civil tongue in his head. Why is it beginning to feel like he's Nero, fiddling around while the Republicans burn down the government?
I suspect that if he gets his precious tax savings for the under $250K crowd, he'll cave and give the Republicans anything they want. Then he touts a feeble victory while the Republicans show clearly that they can man handle the President.
I burn to see him put his foot down, to risk it all, even letting the tax cuts totally expire and dealing with who knows what unintended consequences. Jimmeny Crackers anyhow, it's been so much soft talking and no big stick. And, if there is any group who deserves a comeuppance, it's the Republicans. They talk trash, offer few workable solutions in the long run, and they're on the verge of getting away with it.
I absolutely love Barack Obama as my president, but if he gets all gooey and wishy washy on the Bush tax cuts, I just don't know what I'm going to think.