ARE WE THERE YET???

If President Obama were a corporate CEO selling and negotiating a deal for his company, he'd be laughed out of the board room about now. But he's not, and nobody's laughing. John Boehner, speaker of the House, may in fact, be weeping. Not only did Obama turn down the Republican's recent proposal, he called it not even "serious" enough to consider discussing. The proposal actually seemed quite serious---it offered 800 billion in tax revenue to be gained through loopholes by the rich. And it proposed another 600 billion in cuts to federal  health programs. It was made in good faith, and turned down flat by a president who is evidently going to accept nothing less than his way, which is that negotiations can only begin, it at all, by demanding that anyone making $250.000.00,( $200,000.00 for individuals) and over must pay "their fair share". Period. End of discussion. This is not compromising--it's bullying, and stunning in its nakedness. Even the Dems must be at least slightly embarrased at this man's arrogance and refusal to grant a reply and modicum of respect to the Republican leader.

But that's where we presently are, and the Republicans,  maybe not serious enough for the president, are so not amused.  Either they agree to Obama's insistence on taxing those making over 250 thou a year, or face the prospect of everybody's taxes going up and huge cuts to the military and domestic programs, i.e., over the cliff. There seems to be no middle ground. It's a lose, lose proposition because the president holds the winning hand, and he's not about to fold it. It's all about taxing the rich, if you can call $ 250,000 rich, and unless that demand is met, he is willing to let us all go under, or over in this  case   This would  make sense, if taxing the top money makers were really the magic bullet that would solve our problems---but it isn't, as it will only make a small contribution to the revenue. Obama has to know this, he has surely done the math--- but it's both his hubris and his driving ambition to accomplish his greatest idealogical goal---to "spread the wealth", and the key to that is to hold high the banner of class warfare, no matter the cost to the country. It matters not to him that the rich can't save us from excessive over spending and ever increasing debt---only that we must blame them and change the national mode of operandus from one of making it, to that of taking it. That's the plan, the vision, the transformation of America, and he's sticking to it---got that John Boehner? You are between a rock and a hard place-- the prez doesn't want to negotiate with you, because he thinks he doesn't have to, and humiliating you is much more fun.

At this point in time, Boehner must be pulling his hair out, but he has presented yet two more proposals to the White House---and to the chagrin of his more conservative party members, is starting to fold on the tax issue, but holding out for at least some semblance of compromise, otherwise known as cuts in spending. Speaking of cuts, we don't know what cuts, if any, Obama would approve, even if he gets his way on the taxes.  Everybody knows that Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are the elephants in the room, but are rarely mentioned anymore, at least not publically, and especially not from the Obama camp. Revenue is the goal, not cuts. That's the grand bargain. What he wants  is an extra 1.5 trillion, which is twice what he had originally requested from Boehner last summer and didn't get.  Spite may not be Obama's game, but hard ball is. Don't expect much in the wayof substantial cuts--that would be compromising. 

 Like Charlie Sheen once said, he is "winning", and there's no reason to bend.  Charlie Sheen, however, finally saw, if not the error of his ways, that the public was not behind him. He lost his job, and his fan base. Now, we know that Obama is certainly no Charlie Sheen, but he might want to consider that there is more to winning than getting your own way in a so called democracy, without something called balance--- a nice concept he likes to talk about, but for which he shows little regard, even asking for congress to grant him control over the debt ceiling without congressional approval!! His contempt for anything other than his way is palatable, and his march towards transforming this country is relentless.  It seems all road blocks are disappearing like dominoes. Welcome to the outskirts of Obamaville---where once upon a time a country gave its self to a man they barely knew, and trusted him to lead them out of the wilderness. Only he really didn't know the way back--only forward to a different kind of America.

The Republicans and the conservative philosophy believe that true revenue comes not from more and more taxation, but from a healthy, thriving economy, where jobs are plentiful, reasonable taxes flow from that income, and the sky's the limit to fulfilling one's potential, leaving behind the idea that we must rely on others for our well being, and that we can indeed pursue our own happiness.  The social responsiblities multiply too, because the revenue from more of those who can work provide for a larger safety net, instead of soaking the "wealthiest among us".

 But sadly, the Republicans are not even talking about that now---they are retreating, caving, because they have not been able to sell this once attractive idea----they need a better marketing scheme, and much better sales people. John Boehner  looks like a light weight compared to Obama, the Tyson of class warfare, and perhaps the best political salesman we've ever seen, except he has no class. He fights dirty, keeps changing his demands, and upping the ante.

But here's the thing, the really paradigm changing thing---what he's selling, i.e. big daddy government, more benefits for all, and stick it to the rich seems to be the latest, hippest, trend. It sells like Jeans and t-shirts---some really can't afford anything else,  but many more just want to look that way, because it's cool and progressive.  Republicans seem almost old fashioned with their message of jobs, prosperity, and dreaming big---and may be losing the battle. Are we witnessing the demise of the two party system?
    
One has to wonder---is that what Obama and company want? To destroy? To deny common courtesy and dignity to the Republicans by calling their offers and any conversations of cuts not serious enough to consider,so that the Republican brand is seen as over, out dated, no longer worthy of  even a discussion? Is that fair and balanced, and is Obamaville, like Obamacare, going to ultimately engender more resentment than acceptance, as we realize we had very little to say about it?  But isn't that what elections are all about, and didn't we---?  Yes, we did--- some of us.

 Time and history have a way of sorting things out, and sometimes the best way to get through trouble is simply to walk through it no matter the hazards or the price.  The Republicans, led by John Boehner and his constituents must decide. whether to stand down, or stand up to their principles. They must also start searching for future leaders of their party--someone who can inspire and sell the party's vision of an America that is much more than a welfare state, and still capable of being the land of opportunity and dreams, where anything is possible.  Is anybody listening? Or do those who believe in such things number only in the minority? If that be the case, then again, welcome to "Obamaville"---the land of over-sized government, smaller lives, fewer liberties, and no big dreams. We're almost there---send in the clowns. The Republicans died along the way.

It's too  bad the American public can't be privvy to the private conversations going on behind closed doors between Boehner and Obama---they might very well see what we're instinctively perceiving---that often the best pitch man isn't necessarily selling the best idea. He just holds the bigger stick.