The Dangerous Failed Minority Party

The failed minority party shows their true colors again.

via Washington Monthly:

After having asked to be considered for the cabinet, Judd Gregg withdrew from consideration. But note how the New Hampshire Republican chose to make his announcement: Gregg released a statement just as President Obama was poised to give a speech about the stimulus package.

A Democratic Hill staffer told David Kurtz, "The classy exit would have been to wait til tomorrow afternoon to quietly bow out. Basically Gregg decided not just to politely decline, but rather to blow shit up and burn the bridge behind him."

It's hardly surprising, then, that White House aides believe "it is now clear that Obama has not been rewarded for reaching across the aisle." You don't say. Obama acted in good faith, the GOP did not. Simple as that.

Joe Klein at Time adds:

"Obama should now understand that the Republicans are not reliable partners -- at least, not for the moment. Most are stuck in the contentious past, rutted in Reaganism, intent on taking a Hooverist course on the economy (although there remains cause for optimism on foreign policy). The President's default position, after the stimulus fight and the Gregg fiasco, should be to appoint Democrats to significant domestic policy positions -- the notion of making a public show of bipartisanship, by reaching across the aisle to someone like Senator Gregg, gives the opposition too much credibility and leverage.

Which doesn't mean that Obama shouldn't remain as conciliatory, and open to constructive Republican ideas, as he has been. There are potential long-term benefits from such openness (and short-term benefit as well, since the public clearly believes that Obama has been more reasonable than the Republicans)."

The Republicans have pushed their Executive Unitary Theory for 8 years, now that it is no longer politically convenient, they have jettisoned it. The Taliban wing of the Republican party has made a political calculation that if they allow Democrats to do something the American people like, Republicans will lose.

Obama, take the gloves off for a bit.

Source: Washington Monthly