Michael Kinsley writes that "President Obama might well dream of killing off the Republican Party," which Kinsley characterizes as a mere "political fantasy," whereas I'd argue it's a national necessity.
Nonetheless his New Republic piece on Republican self-pity is vintage Kinsley, aged in a vat of sober reflection:
According to some Republicans, Obama is even responsible for the war of recriminations now going on inside the Republican Party. And not just because he beat them. Because he (in the words of columnist Charles Krauthammer) used "ruthless skill ... to create an internal civil war" among Republicans. What a magician! What a masterful, powerful, brilliant performance. A man like that ought to be president!
Look. President Obama has no superpowers. He is a skilled politician who plays the game well.
And, to me, that's what makes this whole damn experiment in Republican implosion and the president's dignified forbearance thereof so paradoxical. Obama indeed plays the game as well as any of the wiliest, friskiest White House pols of the past, yet he's probably the least interested president--ever--in all this opponent bashing and schoolyard jockeying.
The poor man just wants to do his job. He simply wants to do what he was elected to do. And in his election and reelection there was nothing devious, nothing Machiavellian, nothing "responsible for the war of recriminations now going on inside the Republican Party," which is rendering the performance of his job impossible.
So at the helm we've perhaps American political history's most capable policy president who's reduced to full-time sufferance of the squabbling, purely self-interested children of Congress. What a waste. What an absolute waste of personal talent--and national opportunities.
Agreed.
Obama has more patience and self-control than anyone I've met or any public figure I can think of. But you can tell that he's starting to have trouble hiding his utter disgust for the feral cats he has to negotiate with to get anything (much less anything useful) done.
It wouldn't totally shock me if he dropped the f-bomb or something like that at a news conference in front of the vapid White House gaggle in the waning days of his term. He might need to just to avoid spontaneously combusting from pent-up annoyance.
Part of the reason I'm as loyal to Obama as I am, even when he wanders from my preferred course, is that he has the same trouble suffering fools gladly. Thankfully for all of us, he's better at it than me, though.
Posted by: Turgidson | February 27, 2013 at 04:13 PM
Sigh so true, so true. The man just wants to play a good game of chess but is forced to play Dungeons and Dragons with a slew bad tempered dwarves.
Posted by: Peter G | February 27, 2013 at 05:40 PM
The republican party killed itself years ago, but of course this party that claims the mantle of personal responsibility has to blame someone else for their troubles. And the black democrat occupying the white house now is the perfect target for them to project their inadequacies on to.
Posted by: AnneJ | February 27, 2013 at 06:01 PM
Obama's book will be a very fascinating read.
Posted by: Chris Andersen | February 27, 2013 at 06:03 PM
President Obama couldn't stop the republicans from destroying their own asses if he wanted to. In fact, he does want to -- but it's obviously impossible.
Posted by: priscianus jr | February 28, 2013 at 12:25 AM
As long as there is a single Democrat, nay, a single person who disagrees on the merest scintilla of policy, the soulless GOP will blame all of the world's problems on that hapless person of conscience. When that longed-for day arrives, when that last person of integrity has finally been expunged, the GOP will turn on itself. But wait, that's already happening. PBO just got "lucky" in that it's ruthless self-destruction is happening on his watch.
Posted by: shsavage | February 28, 2013 at 07:22 AM
Loved this! Brilliant!!!
Posted by: HLH | March 04, 2013 at 07:02 AM