Shocked, sobered, and hardened

From Michael Gerson, the smug, right-wing myth that endures:

Obama arrived with limited experience on the national stage--only to find himself in the fight from the last act of Hamlet. He seemed surprised that Washington could not be changed by the force of his personality.

It's true that rare is the politician who possesses little confidence in "the force of his personality." Especially at the presidential level, and especially in the modern age, politicians are hired because of their self-confidence in adventurously navigating the capitol's sewers of the same old pols. (I am excepting Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover--whose complacency got us you-know-where.)

In Obama's case, however--remarkably similar to FDR's, of 1933--the force of circumstances was presumed superior to personality's power. Jobs were imploding and GDP was tanking and banks were folding and credit was freezing and so how in God's name could Washington choose to sit pat? A speedy, forceful recovery would require a two-party commitment to country over politics; indeed, for a short, post-election period the GOP talked as though it would pitch in and do whatever was needed to help the new president and his Democratic Congress regain the nation's footing. It was, after all, mostly the GOP's unendurable mismanagement that had knocked us on our ass; it was only fitting that Republicans should bow, step aside, and permit competence some room to work.

Well, we know how that morality play turned out. Yet from its final act Gerson sententiously broods that Obama "has become a sobered and hardened figure"--one that might complicate his "leadership role in reforms that require both parties to trust each other and take simultaneous risks." Obama's endlessly unrequited trust. That's all the GOP asks.

"He seemed surprised that Washington could not be changed by the force of his personality." Conceded, to the customary extent of presidential psychology. Far more than that, though, Obama has simply been shocked that Republicans will not change by the force of the nation's wounded circumstances.

Shocked, sobered, and hardened--all perfectly predictable within an idealism betrayed.

Comments

[Peter G]

I think Obama has become a sobered and hardened figure. I am sure he always knew that many opposing politicians would put personal ambition or animus ahead of the greater good. Now he knows how many. Pretty much all of them. It has been fascinating to watch the evolution of your president as he, and his team, have mastered the politics of Washington. So now we are treated to an endless string of the Flower of Republican Punditry, falling as the French Knights at Crecy, before Obama's mean arrows. So Gerson thinks Obama's pride has misled him into thinking Washington's hardened arteries can be changed? That's the plaque talking.

[shsavage]

Gawd, Peter G, I just love mixed historical metaphors...

[japa21]

Actually, I think at some point in the future and remark on how Obama's personality did produce change in Washington. Very few President would have the personality required, as well as inner balance, to be the target of the extreme level of hatred, attacks and obstruction that Obama has faced without reacting in kind.

Obama, on the other hand, played it cool, reaching out to the other side, even when it was apparent that such reaching out would not produce any cooperation. What, however, has been the result? Americans' view of the GOP has gone downhill drastically. They are regarded as obstructionists who have little concern for the country, only for the wealthiest among us.

And it is becoming evident that Obama has decided, since being reelected, that he can go for the jugular, and the increased desperation evident in the RW rhetoric shows they know this as well.

I am actually somewhat confident that both in the Congressional elections and the state and local elections in 2014, we will not see what we saw in 2010. In fact we may well see the reverse. It is quite possible that the last two years of Obama's second term may be uncommonly productive for a lame duck President.

It may take a few years and more electoral defeats for the GOP to realize it is better off cooperating with the Dems, but I see it happening and it will be due, to a large degree, to Obama's personality.

[Robert Lipscomb]

@japa21: Yesterdays's shenanigans by the VA legislature, the GOP movement to split electoral votes in states that vote dem but have GOP state legislature, and all the vote suppression are the surest signs that the GOP knows it cannot win based on ideas and honest discussions.

They are scared to death, and they have not even hit bottom.