I was afraid that Obama might pull an “I got the message” Clinton and go all repeal welfare and defense of marriage act on us. He doesn’t appear to be taking that direction.
I think he figures that once the benefits of health care reform start kicking in, and once the economy starts improving, he’ll be in a better position in 2012. In any case, he’s invested too much to repeal health care reform and financial reform.
In theory the Republicans now have to take responsibility for governing. And while the independents who flip flop back and forth every two years aren’t the brightest lot, I suspect that they will expect more from the Republicans than “no,” and I suspect that the numbers will reveal that they were more essential to the House win than the Tea Partiers. The Republicans have to put up now, and they know it. They were probably hoping for a Clintoneque surrender, and McConnell is already frustrated, accusing Democrats of “taking the wrong message.” It’s not enough for the media to run with the spin. He wants his opposition to believe it too. But his opposition is more leftish now, and the majority of freshmen come from swing districts and are most likely moderates.
The next issue is the Bush tax cuts, which expire at the end of the year. Let’s see if deficits remain the paramount issue for Republicans.
Addendum: Letter to a whiny young Democrat
14 comments
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November 3, 2010 at 2:24 pm
huufc
The benefits of health care reform? What a joke! Another unpaid entitlement.
Federal debt almost 14 trillion dollars, 1.4 trillion dollar defcit this year. 110 trillion dollar unfunded medicare and social security mandates.
California 19 billion dollar defcit this year.
How long can our society continue like this?
November 3, 2010 at 3:09 pm
ChumBolly
As long as dipshits like you continue to make up imaginary numbers?
November 3, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Matt
So pay more taxes if you don’t like it huufc.
November 3, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Joe Blow
Eric, Obama looked and acted like he’s lost this war. The people that put him in just sent him a message – the message: Betrayal for betrayal.
Again all he does his preach his complicit, gutless politics and never does anything to back it up. The war on the American people is enjoined and Obama has sold them out.
On the above, I just love it when these patriotic, conservatives preach deficits and unpaid entitlements and spend trillions of unfunded dollars butchering innocent people all over the world on a lying, phony war. “Unfunded Medicare and social Security Mandates” – Like HELL! I paid for what I’ve got a right to get. I guess these Republicans won’t be satisfied until they’re killing our old people right along with our children. I wonder how it must feel to cut your own throat (metaphorically speaking, of course). Because that’s what everyone did this election that voted for these radical extremists.
November 3, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Anonymous
I sometimes wonder what universe these tea partiers inhabit. Standing against universal health care is immoral. Period.
November 3, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Eric Kirk
huufc – According to the CBO, the health care reform will actually reduce the deficit by over a trillion dollars.
Joe – I just posted this in the main post.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/11/03/notes110310.DTL&ao=all
November 3, 2010 at 5:18 pm
connect the dots
chumbolly, great the election created another dipshit hater. Just what the blogs needed. Takes lots of balls to dis a older lady on a blog that restrict comment. From me screw off.
The health care bill has nothing to do with universal healthcare, its about control. Unlike the people who voted it in you should read the damn thing.
November 3, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Sally
re: “letter from a whiny young democrat” – - thanks for sharing that, Eric! I usually read all of Morford’s columns, but somehow missed that one. I guess I was too busy, running my “small business” (that has never felt shackled by the government, despite what Republicans and the US Chamber of Commerce say)
I am so okay with paying taxes, if said money will improve our roads, improve our schools, improve benefits for our retired senior citizens, improve our watersheds, improve the quality of life for everyone… and on and on and on. I shared your Morford link on my facebook page.
Peace,
Sally
November 3, 2010 at 6:02 pm
huufc
Nasty dialog, ouch, look at the US debt clock.
November 3, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Steak n Eggs
“And while the independents who flip flop back and forth every two years aren’t the brightest lot…”
Ahhh, so now the indendent thinkers are not smart enough eh? Ha,ha,ha. You sound like another sour grapes progressive who thinks we’re better off being predictive ideologues. No thanks…in case you haven’t noticed, toting the party line hasn’t done much for the country recently.
November 3, 2010 at 11:42 pm
Anonymous
Two years of gridlock pretty much. Maybe we’ll get some tax breaks if Obama is willing to sacrifice a balanced budget for upper class tax breaks.
November 4, 2010 at 5:36 am
textwrapper
“Another unpaid entitlement”? Huufc is confused.
November 4, 2010 at 6:35 am
Eric Kirk
Yes he is.
November 4, 2010 at 9:04 am
Joe Blow
Sorry Eric. If you believe what Morford says is valid then you’ve missed the point made in this election as badly as he has. Whether most people believe it or not, Democracy does work – just not exactly the way most people believe. Voting in radical Republicans is as self-debasing and self-emasculating, if not as self-destructive an act as one can do; as this country could do. Yet, they did! This is how people “vote with their feet.” This is an act of substance; their real vote. People voted in Barack Obama because they believed and trusted him and his promises of meaningful change for the people. He sold out – betrayed his supporters and all those that believed in his hollow promises and now he’s been put on notice. His supporters believed that if they backed him into a corner and forced him to be who and what he said he was, he’d come through for them. Unfortunately, now he’s got what he thinks he needs to justify his betrayal and is going to completely sellout to the Republicans and their assault on small business, working and poor American. This election has opened that door. Already he’s looking for Republican things he can “compromise on.” We may even find out that he’s been a closet Republican the whole time. This election guarantees this outcome. You’ve got a few more things to learn in this life and this purports to be one of its nastier lessons. Sorry.