Obama vs the Democrats

The President is in trouble. Believing that he has to get something done to gain back the independents that left him in droves in the midyears he has compromised with the Mitch McConnell and the evil empire.

The Democratic base is livid. Some of this is surely posturing but as I have wrote about recently Obama's willingness to fight for something, anything is in doubt.

I do not want to bang the drum over and over but this seems like it was a fight that he could have won. Maybe it is because we know Clinton did win a similar fight. Obama has said that next year the new Congress will give the Republicans more control but the truth is Obama has all the cards. He has the power of veto.

Put the pressure on Republicans. Pass the bill over and over without the tax cuts for the rich and the 5 million exemption on the estate tax and let the defend their position. It is untenable for them but he acts as he does not know it.

Perhaps the most unrecognized and most dangerous part of this compromise is the deal to lower the social security tax rate withheld by two percent. While the purpose is to stimulate the economy the Republicans will admit that when this cut expires in a year they will portray this as a tax hike. How can we talk about the deficit, the trouble coming for Social Security and reduce its funding for a year by 30 percent. Surely this is the Republicans setting Obama up again.

Incompetence. Obama may or may not have values but they cannot communicate them and does not fight for them.

At his press conference yesterday he commented in answer to a question that he did have things he would draw a line in the sand on, however the answer sounded hollow when measured against his campaign promises in regards to the Bush tax cuts. It becomes apparent that lines in the sand can be covered by the wind that blows. Perhaps we should give Obama some permanent markers.