In a comment to my post on the president’s divisive rhetoric, Kurt calls the Democrat’s retreat into “attack mode . . . a major tactical win for the Republicans:”
After all, many Republicans warned that Obama had no record of bipartisanship time and again during the election. And here he and his party’s leaders are whining that they’re not getting Republican support for their porkfest bill—this after he turned away Republican suggestions about the stimulus by saying “I won†during his first week in office.
He’s right. It was a tactical win for the GOP.
And it’s more than just that. It’s a defining moment of the Democrats’ arrogance. Note how when, even when Democrats are in the majority, their defenders blame Republicans for their setbacks. Did conservatives so blame Democrats when, four years ago, they thwarted many of Bush’s efforts at reform? (Yes, I realize that in writing this, after we realized the consequences to pass Republican legislation reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, we did fault Democrats for successful efforts to thwart those reforms.)
It’s as if Democrats believe their victory means they can govern without opposition, while Republican victory means that the GOP must be opposed. To wit, the president’s statement to elected Republicans (who also won their respective elections) that “I won.” Imagine how Democrats would have reacted if his predecessor had said that.
Democrats act, in Jonah Goldberg’s words, as if their victory “settles the issue. Funny how that argument didn’t work for the last president when he tried to reform Social Security.”
Obama’s charges of pettiness, obstruction, etc. ensure the public knows exactly who opposed this increasingly unpopular package. Bring it on.
“It’s as if Democrats believe their victory means they can govern without opposition, while Republican victory means that the GOP must be opposed.”
I think this can be explained by the fact that conservatives believe their ideas “win” when their ideas are implemented and the desired and logical results are achieved. [Conservatives are typically focused on what’s best for the country.] Democrats believe their ideas “win” just because they won an election. [Liberals are only focused on POWER.] In their minds, Obama didn’t beat McCain in the election–he beat conservative ideas and discredited them for all of eternity. We were supposed to wake up on November 5th and realize that because we lost an election, obviously we were wrong about EVERYTHING. We were all supposed to become liberals overnight because a liberal won an election. Hence, Obama’s quote: “I won.” He thinks that because he won the election, it proves that he is right. That’s why they are so baffled by the opposition.
I think it shows that the Democrats are proving themselves much better at playing this game than the Republicans were when they sore winners for so many years….
Arrogance. Plain and simple. How else do you explain the massive spending porkulus bill. Plus nominating at least 4 tax cheats for high positions. And those are the ones we know about so far. Arrogance. Obama strutting around, yelling at Republicans to get in line. Trouble for Obama is, America will get tired of this kind of brutish behavior sooner rather than later. He’s gotten a big head. We’ll see how it all plays out. Pelosi and Reid are just dumb and dumber. I gave Obama more credit than to end up such an arrogant unprofessional jerk.
It has also leaked out that Obama is late for most appointments. Similar to Clinton administration. Bill was known for his undisciplined tardiness for meetings and appointments. Arrogance. “they can wait….I’m busy….”
By the way, what ever happened to the power of the minority. Letting all the people’s voices be heard? The majority can’t run roughshod over the minority. More leftist bs.
Sore winners, Kevin? And how were Republicans sore winners then and Democrats not sore losers.
Showing Democrats better at playing this game. . . Hmmm. . . . if they’re so much better at playing this game, how come they’re whining every time the GOP scores a victory, even one which is just a morale booster for our side. . . . Sore winners indeed, a fitting definition of Democrats in Barack Obama’s Washington.
Hey, thanks for featuring my comment in this post!
As far as the topic at hand, liberals tend to believe that “consensus” means everyone doing what the liberals want them to do, and that conservative disagreement is not dissent, it is just evil obstructionism. I also think Sean A.’s comment explains their mindset nicely.
Wait, what? Can anybody translate dumbass into English for me, please?
Sorry, I had to purge that software from my computer after my last adDave translation. Translator kept sending me to Obamaporn sites.
Kevin: “I think it shows that the Democrats are proving themselves much better at playing this game than the Republicans …”
Why do Republicans/conservatives allow Democrats/liberal to define what constitutes non-partisan behavior in the first place? Is that a failing of Republicans/conservatives?
Like allowing liberal nonsense in broadcast TV for decades, then worrying that conservative views will be suppressed by the Fairness Doctrine. Why aren’t liberals concerned in the slightest that Republicans/conservatives might use the FD to answer all that liberal crap broadcast on TV?