The Washington Post doesn’t have a “Humor” section, so I guess they had to put this article in “Politics”
Obama’s rough 2013 prompts a new blueprint
An internal White House assessment concludes that President Obama must distance himself from a recalcitrant Congress after being badly damaged last year by legislative failures, a government shutdown and his own missteps.
Obama has said that his fraught relationship with Congress, especially after Republicans won the House in 2010, complicated his ability to promote his agenda. But for the first time, following what many allies view as a lost year, the White House is reorganizing itself to support a more executive-focused presidency and inviting the rest of the government to help.
The new approach comes after weeks of internal White House debate over a single question: What went wrong in 2013? The answers will help determine the outline of the State of the Union address Obama will deliver Tuesday evening, as well as how he pursues a meaningful legacy in the remainder of his term.
Is it possible for Obama to distance himself any further from Congress? He barely talks with Congress Critters, even those of his own party. On those few occasions when he deigns to step down off the mountain, he tends to speak at them, not with them. When he gets involved with any sort of negotiations he tends to sour them. He constantly demonizes Congressional Republicans to the point where he insults Americans who voted Republican. His main contact choice is vinegar over honey. He can’t possibly get further away from Congress, except by physical proximity.
As for pushing his agenda, that’s why Republicans won the House in 2010 in a historic blowout. To stop the crazy agenda of Obama and the Democrats, especially Obamacare and the insane levels of spending, like with the failed Stimulus.
It’s nothing new that Mr. Obama wants to use the executive action route: he’s always been an authoritarian at heart. Don’t expect the agenda to change, it will be the same old Progressive playbook for 2014.
Among its conclusions is that Obama, a former state legislator and U.S. senator, too often governed more like a prime minister than a president. In a parliamentary system, a prime minister is elected by lawmakers and thus beholden to them in ways a president is not.
As a result, Washington veterans have been brought into the West Wing to emphasize an executive style of governing that aims to sidestep Congress more often. A central ambition of Obama’s presidency — to change the way Washington works — has effectively been discarded as a distraction in a time of hardening partisanship.
Except, that’s the way it works in a dictatorial government, not a Federal Republic. And, really, Obama had virtually no connections to anyone in Congress. He wasn’t there long enough (breaking his promise of serving in full his first term before running for President), he offered almost no legislation, he didn’t network. Even a benevolent dictator is still a dictator.
The White House postmortem also concluded that the administration suffered from a lack of focus in a year without an election.
Well, gee, having solved all of America’s problems, I guess there was nothing else to really focus on. Obama’s at his best when campaigning. He is a master at it, in all fairness. Actually doing the President thing? Not so much.
It’s no wonder so much of his agenda failed in 2013: he’s a distant, rather uninvolved President who still doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s abusive, abrasive, and condescending. He’s hyper-partisan, and can’t find it in himself to play nicely with those who disagree with him politically. He’s the ultimate narcissist. And he doesn’t seem to put in the necessary work. He was barely involved with the rollout of his signature legislation, the “Affordable” Care Act. He thinks spying on American’s is great. He created an atmosphere where the IRS thought targeting Conservative groups was A-OK. His Syria policy was a mess, he looked the fool when he didn’t back up his “red lines”, and Putin completely owned Obama. He has no real political friendships around the world, and few, if any, world leaders fear or respect him.
But, hey, distance from Congress or something.
Crossed at Right Wing News.
Read: Introspection Fail: WH Document Recommends Obama Distance Himself From Congress After Fail Year »
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