A Republican strategist, who wouldn't be quoted by name to avoid alienating clients, said the party finds itself in a situation where actions that make sense for lawmakers individually can harm the party's long-term prospects. ...LATimes
Paul West and David Lauter of the LATimes' Washington bureau have made as good point about Obama's presidency I haven't seen made elsewhere. In an analysis of the past several days in Washington, they point out that Obama may find himself unable to govern.
In the days immediately after President Obama's reelection victory, White House officials hoped that in a second term he might have better relations with congressional Republicans. The "fever will break," more than one Obama aide forecast.The last several days have demonstrated the opposite. Washington remains caught in a partisan stalemate on the budget, seems headed toward another on gun control and perhaps one on immigration policy as well.
That gridlock could inflict significant damage to the Republican Party. But Obama's ability to manage an ambitious agenda in his new term also hangs in the balance.
Stalemates in Congress "may not affect his popularity all that much, but it will affect his ability to govern, if you define ability to govern as your ability to move your policy agenda forward," said Bill Galston, a former domestic policy advisor to President Clinton. ...LATimes
Being popular during a second term is nice. But hog-tied?
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