Back From a Break

The count continues. The United States still has not completed counting the votes of the presidential election. New York continues today and there is the expectation that President Obama will finally reach 51%. 

When this happens President Obama will be the first President since Dwight David Eisenhower to win back to back elections with 51% or above. Sounds strange. President Obama is also the first Democrat since FDR to win Florida in two straight elections. 

So what about this election don't you understand? Apparently if you live within the Beltway, a lot. The tone in DC since the election has been creepy. The fiscal cliff nonsense seems to have absorbed the pundits' attention but not the public imagination. 

I just hope President Obama this year invokes the 14th amendment as President Clinton suggested last time the debt ceiling debate heated up. It's time Obama breaks the back of the House. Even on House elections, the Democrats got over 50% of the popular vote but because of the gerrymandering only gained eight seats.

For some reason we are seeing Grover Norquist all over the place as the arbiter of tax policy. I hope we are seeing his last hurrah. He vows that the second Tea Bag rebellion will be more intense than the last. What is it with these conservatives that they can not persuade but have to threaten? 

Peggy Nooner wants President Obama to act more like Reagan and compromise with Tan Man Boehner like Ronny did with Tip O'Neil. I shutter to think we will have to hear four more years of this nonsense.

For the second consecutive year, the right is blasting Obama for being too Christian and having 45 Christmas trees in the White House while the country is starving. But never fear, USAID grantee, Rev. Warren says that Obama is waging a war against religion. The Daily Beast actually had a piece about Rev. Warren's comeback. Tony Cardinal Dolan has written a new post-election Bishop's letter calling on Catholics to resist Obama's new attack on Catholic institutions by insisting insurance companies must cover condoms. But at least he hasn't gone down the road of the evangelicals that claim that not using oil and natural gas is an insult to God because he hid these treasures in the ground for us to find.

Sheldon Adelson lost $150 million in his efforts to buy the election by supporting Romney. 

Willard has been re-appointed to the Marriot board. At least they acknowledged his first initial was W. 

Newly elected Senator Elizabeth Warren has won a seat on the banking committee. The industry has been lobbying intensely against her since she won.

In case you can't understand what the Benghazi tantrum is about. Rachel Maddow nailed it. McCain, Ms. Lindsey Graham and Ms. Ayotte want John Kerry to become Secretary of State so that Scott Brown can make a comeback. 

Things are so dull I expect Fox News to hire Baghdad Bob to juice ratings.

After the first days of the talk that the GOP will change,it is apparent that there will be no changes in the near term. Their 2016 wannabes are traveling to pay homage to Sheldon Adelson and the Koch Brothers. I guess Dick Armey had enough and resigned from Freedom Works. The Koch brothers' Americans for Prosperity are now lobbying against Tan Man Boehner's alleged compromise on the Fiscal Cliff. It is a great thing about ideologues--an election defeat is just a temporary setback. No need to adjust to the new political reality.

There is one basic reality we can all be thankful for. The Neo-Cons are no more. They may be talking heads and appear on Sunday Talk Shows but they have no influence left on our debates. Maybe they will make a comeback if catastrophe hits or around 2016. But by then they will be either too old or just be the younger amateurs. No more Dan Señor, No more Ari Fleischer,No more Dick Cheney, no more advocates for torture and endless war. This is a real sea change in our politics. Neo-conservative domination of our national security policies trace back to the Clinton Administration or perhaps George H.W. Bush. But it is doubtful you will see a resurgence anytime soon. This should bring a period of fresh imaginations on topics of foreign policy. 

I hope we see immigration reform this term and President Obama not be so accommodating to the obstructionists. It is important that the filibuster nonsense be reformed. President Obama can still do a lot as executive but it would be nice to see old legislative actions come back. 

The Reaction is already planning 2014. Voter suppression efforts are already underway. Voter I.D. laws are now being prepared for additional states. 

So President Obama will have two more years before there will be a concerted effort to make him a lame duck.