If Obama 1.0 has taught us ANYTHING, it is that talks out both sides of his ass when he is making promises..

He'll tell the left he is going to stop the influence of lobbyists and money from corporations and then turns around and goes to those same lobbyists and corporations, hat in hand asking, "Please sir, can I have some more..."

"They're not attacking your policies, they're attacking your age. Whitmore seems less like the President and more like the orphaned child Oliver asking, 'Please, sir, I'd like some more.'"

"Yeah. Well, I'm not laughing."
-INDEPENDENCE DAY

Michale

The most important things the President can do in his second term is to ensure regulators get in place and smoothly implement rules for the ACA and Dodd-Frank.

In particular, smooth implementation of the ACA is probably the most important. If it rolls out rocky and more flawed than the actual legislation, then it won't be improved (or even last long). On the other hand, if it basically comes out smoothly, then it will be tweaked and improved.

As for Dodd-Frank, ensuring that lobbyists don't control the rule-making and making the law work for real people is tremendously important for the nation.

Long term, I think these are his biggest second-term challenges.

While that seems like a brilliant plan at first glance, I think that the pipeline will be an executive branch decision that Congress has nothing to do with, so there won't be a chance to put a juicy "rider" into the mix.

Michale [5] -

Reid never was going to get rid of the 60-vote thing. Even the most optimistic of Lefties weren't hoping for that (except that one guy from Oregon, and maybe one or two others).

Michale [10] -

Another strawman -- nobody's going to take anyone's guns away. Relax. Ain't gonna happen. Even DiFi's bill has grandfather clauses.

michty6 [13] -

There are indeed more adults in the Senate. But I wouldn't write off the House yet. If Boehner chucks the "Hastert Rule" out the window, things could indeed start passing the House. Tea Partiers will be able to vote against stuff, but they won't be able to halt everything in its tracks.

That's pretty rosy-glasses, I realize, but let's wait and see. The budget stuff will be ugly, but I bet Boehner is going to start allowing votes on some stuff the Tea Partiers hate.

There are some rational GOPers in the House. Not many, but we only need a couple dozen to get some stuff done.

Michale [18] -

Answered this elsewhere. Search for "Walter the Robot" to see what I mean. Heh.

-CW

CW????

I thought ya might like to see this...

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/comic-book-hero-judge-dredd-might-be-gay-8466959.html

Wonder how long it will be til Superman is gay... :^/

Michale

In the interests of fairness, I have to concede that there are cracks forming in the universal Obama Love Fest that has permeated Weigantia..

So the italicized statement is not entirely accurate anymore...

Michale

I just have to reach back, recite some of Obama's own words and ... viola'

Instant debate killer... :D

Because ya'all have to concede that either Obama was wrong then or he is wrong now..

And ideological loyalty prevents ya'all from conceding either...

Basically, there are two rules.

1. Obama is always right.

2. If Obama is ever wrong, refer to rule #1.

It's a self-fulfilling delusion...

Michale

That's what Senator Obama wanted President Bush to do..

Wait for it... Wait for it...

"That's different..."

:D

Michale

Not sure what you mean by this. You mean Obama should have compromised and America not paid it's bills causing a worldwide depression?? LOLOL.

But if you want to see how crazy uncompromising and moronic the Republican in the House are, just look at what percentage (a majority) voted against the compromise fiscal cliff bill that passed the Senate with NINETY PERCENT support.

Like I said: Senate Republicans = sensible, willing to compromise and get things done; House = lunatic, moronic uncompromising idiots who would rather pass nothing than actually get something meaningful.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/01/24/biden-its-gun-safety-not-gun-control/

:D Hehehehehehehehehe

Michale

The fact that charges are even being considered is indicative of how far gone the Left is about guns..

Michale

Obama and the Democrats are going to have a REAL tough time trying to take guns away from the American people..

My advice??

Unless a shooting civil war is the plan.....

Let it go...

"Indiana?? Indiana?? Let it go...."
-Sean Connery, INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE

Michale..

LOLOL

At the same time as Obama was compromising away everything, House Republicans said 'Raise taxes? No way. No compromise. Not even on millionaries'

Once again it was left to the adults in the Senate to accept the compromised package and pressure it through the House.

My point exactly (again).

Obama saw compromise as a dirty word when it came to HIS agenda..

'nuff said...

Michale

Harry Reid Saves The Filibuster!!!!

Harry Reid: “I’m not personally, at this stage, ready to get rid of the 60-vote threshold”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/01/24/harry-reid-explains-why-he-killed-filibuster-reform/

:D

What did I say??

It's called "The NUCLEAR Option" for a reason...

Michale

Which Democrats have adopted in the here and now...

Michale

Even then Republicans will just filibuster every single thing in sight like they did from 2009-2010. The Republican motto is their way or nothing.

In fact, Obama will signal this in the next few months, as he approves the Keystone XL pipeline -- much to the dismay of a lot of his supporters.

As long as he gets something in return, I don't see why this would be so bad. Something like he approves this but tags his jobs bill on to it. I know Republicans hate the economy improving under Democrats, but getting this alongside his jobs bill would be very good for the economic recovery.

NRA boycott kills outdoors show that banned assault weapons
http://washingtonexaminer.com/nra-boycott-kills-outdoors-show-that-banned-assault-weapons/article/2519579#.UQFnOPJZOMC

Economic terrorism at it's worst... :(

Michale

Exactly!

There is no such thing as an "assault rifle". It's a Media/Democrat (is there really any difference between the two these days??) construct designed to capitalize on fear-mongering..

Without such a ban, the prospects for other meaningful gun control legislation get a lot better, though, and I think that a bill will eventually pass.

Let's face reality.

Gun Control is not about guns, it's about control..

Anyone expecting big legislative action on global warming is very likely going to be massively disappointed, to put it quite bluntly.

There's a reason for that.. :D But why open THAT can o worms, eh?? :D

Obama has a lot of political capital right now, but that could easily change soon.

History repeats itself..

Obama had a lot of political capital at the beginning of his first term. He wasted it all on the most UNPOPULAR legislation in modern history..

I have a feeling that Obama will make the same mistake with gun control..

A very excellent prognosticating commentary.. :D

Michale