Obama Versus the Republicans: Chill Out, He's Got This

There's a killer web graphic that was created back in the post-Republican Convention days while everyone was writing spasmodic, breathless "Obama should [fill in the blank]" blog entries and "Oh crap! We're gonna lose!" newspaper columns. Not that there's anything wrong with that, really. The Obama campaign slipped in the polls during Sarah Palin's very brief golden age -- an era of roughly two weeks following the Alaska governor's successful recitation of a convention speech without, you know, choking on her own vomit.

Very few of us were confident of an Obama victory at the time. After all, previous Democratic nominees had been riding bullet trains to victory in the polls, only to gradually and utterly bonk as the summer segued into autumn. Even candidate Obama was warning us about the Democratic habit of "snatching defeat from the jaws of victory." Yeah. Anyone who claims to have been absolutely 100 confident of a Barack Obama victory in the first week of September 2008 is either lying or lying.

However, some people were more confident (hopeful, perhaps) than others.

The web graphic is actually a photograph of Barack Obama from his Invesco Field acceptance speech. In it, he's looking directly into the camera with an expression of fierce determination on his face -- his teeth gnashed in an Eastwood snarl, his left hand gesturing as though he's kung fu fighting his way through an oversized cinderblock made of SlapChop-minced Republican skulls.

The large, white text superimposed at the top reads: "Everyone chill the fuck out." The text at the bottom exclaims: "I got this!"

Sure enough, two months later, we watched as this liberal African American man with the noble yet politically unusual name "Barack Hussein Obama" defied the odds and won red states like Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Indiana and the commonwealth of Virginia.

Fade out the roaring crowds at Grant Park. Dissolve to late January.

The economy continues to creep nearer to the crumbling ledge of yet another Depression -- if it isn't there already. And yet the Republicans who very nearly shoved us over the ledge are prancing around as if their collective Reaganomics don't stink.

Republicans on the Hill, on the radio and on cable news seemed to have forgotten how ridiculous George W. Bush looked when he performed his pee-pants-dance in public; acting like a petulant, entitled twerp who could, at any moment, very nearly regress into an actual terrible-twos tantrum, only to pull himself back at the last second and find some restraint just before reflexively dropping to the ground in a raging tempest of elbows, fists and teeth. The Republicans seemed to have forgotten about the inefficacy of this routine because it's precisely the behavior they're exhibiting this week. They're acting like Bush Republicans.

Their political audacity, while never surprising, always seems to confound expectations and defy logic. Having relegated themselves to the status of a regional, minor party due to their unserious, fear-mongering wedge politics and well-documented record of disastrous policy-making, they remain so hubristic as to crap their cages and demand a seat at the Big Boy Table, as if they're the majority party in Congress -- as if they somehow earned an equal voice in this thing by way of their awesome record on the economy.

They haven't. It's only due to the magnanimity of the president that they haven't been completely steamrolled on this recovery bill. Magnanimity which, by the way, isn't nearly as plentiful or renewable as the Republicans might think. Especially when the Republicans are doing what they're doing right now.

For instance.

Prompted by Drudge and Limbaugh, the Republicans are lurching around like less-cool, less-serious Beavis & Butthead knockoffs, snickering at the mere mention of birth control; their suit jackets slung over their heads Cornholio-style as they cackle, "He said rubbers! Mmm-heh-heh. Uhhh-huh-huh. But take us seriously or else."

Earlier in the week, it was birth control and by Wednesday morning the birth control headlines had been replaced with a new Drudge screamer about an STD prevention and education section of the bill. "Heh-heheh-heh. Crabs." But it goes without saying that the doofish snickering has less to do with a debate about whether or not poor people can afford necessary medical treatment, and everything to do with the Republicans getting to say "STDs" and "contraceptives" on television and thus making the bill appear silly, salacious and borderline immoral.

Then there's the mysterious Congressional Budget Office report which, the Republicans said, proved that most of the spending in the recovery bill wouldn't hit the road until 2011. Of course the cable news media and the conservative press were once again complicit in fluffing unsourced Republican evidence (see also: WMD).

None of these very serious news organizations bothered to discover that the CBO report didn't even exist. The Huffington Post reported last Friday that it didn't exist, yet there were the usual suspects on Meet the Press and the other Sunday shows talking about it as if it were real. All told, more than 81 different mentions of the totally unreal report. As recently as Monday night on CNN, Ed Henry was still parroting this Republican myth.

This bears repeating: the people who got everything wrong for at least the last eight years and then spent the better part of a week spreading misinformation about the most important economic debate since the New Deal are demanding to be taken seriously? That's rich. As recently as October, the Republican nominee for president and the Republican White House were repeating the laughable "fundamentals of the economy are strong" line. This week, the economy section of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) website read:

Thanks to Republican economic policies, the U.S. economy is robust and job creation is strong. Republican tax cuts are creating jobs and continuing to strengthen the economy, yet there is still more to do so that every American who wants a job can find one.

Right. They deserve to have a say in vital economic legislation. But the ridiculousness doesn't end there.

Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) was on Hardball Tuesday night banging on his pots and pans about the recovery bill. There he was: demanding to be taken seriously by the president. Demanding a seat at the Big Boy Table. He and his colleagues insisting that they be included in the authoring of the bill. Insisting that his ideas have merit. Insisting that they be heard. And then, ostensibly to prove how serious and worthy of respect he is, he used the deliberately pejorative "Democrat bill" mispronunciation. You know the trick. Emphasize the "rat" syllable at the end. Get it? By the way, we're not talking about just the fringe wingnuts using this. Most of the congressional Republicans say it that way. You know, because they're very serious people who ought to be taken very seriously.

Altogether, it might appear as if the Republicans are using their ridiculousness as a means of duping the president -- hectoring him into capitulation and therefore allowing the recovery bill to be sabotaged with their taint. And when the sabotaged bill fails to help the economy, they'll blame the president. David Sirota outlined this strategy the other day, and while events might seem to point in this direction from time to time, there isn't much evidence to indicate that President Obama is naïve enough to be flimflammed by these very obvious Republican political tricks. Put another way, if you and I can spot the scams, I'm sure he can too. Though, it's important that the Republicans think they can sucker punch the president the same way they've sucker punched Senator Reid over and over.

The president's "I won" remark indicates that there's a limit to both his benevolence and his tolerance for Republican silly season hackery. "I won" means that he won't be played and he won't be taken advantage of. But the Republicans have miscalculated and misinterpreted the president, believing that "bipartisanship" means Democratic capitulation. Save for a few concessions in an otherwise massive spending bill, President Obama isn't calling for any half-and-half bipartisan compromise on this or anything else so far. His process with the Republicans is all about attaining some civility in the tone of the debate -- not caving. There's a difference. And in that process, the president is looking increasingly presidential as his style is contrasted against the smallness of the Republicans.

Recent history has proved that the president's Chess Match style will require a little more patience than we're accustomed to in order to see the endgame -- to see how this all plays out. And while it's crucial to keep a clear eye and critical mind, there's a lot of comfort in that web graphic from last September. Chances are: he's got this.

BobCesca.com

Order my book: One Nation Under Fear, with a foreword by Arianna Huffington. Also available in stores.

Comments

[johnlydon]

And yet the Republicans who very nearly shoved us over the ledge are prancing around as if their collective Reaganomics don't stink.
Well, let's look at the last few "recessions" this country has enjoyed.
You have your late '70's recession - Who was in office then? Oh yeah a democrat by the name of Jimmy Carter who believed mass spending would pull us out of the tailspin. Wrong. When did it end? When Reagan took over. For the next ten years America enjoyed unparrelled prosperity.
Let's not forget that pesky "recession" during the 1930's. Some people have the audacity to call it the great depression. I believe that one belonged to the dems as well. FDR anyone.
. Of course the cable news media and the conservative press were once again complicit in fluffing unsourced Republican evidence (see also: WMD).
Maybe you should have googled yellowcake before you wrote this article. If you would have, you would have seen that the military found tons of the stuff in Iraq. If you don't know what it's used for, here's a hint; It's not for baking cakes!

[dzuh]

According to the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) website, "Thanks to Republican economic policies, the U.S. economy is robust and job creation is strong." Also, war is peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is strength. And the chocolate ration just went UP from 6 ounces to 3 ounces a week. We are truly in a Golden Age of plenty, and apparently we have 8 years of neo-conservative rule to "thank" for that. After my lovely stay in Room 101 of the plush GOP Ministry of Love, I understand now -- I love Big Brother! Whoops...I mean, George W. Bush!

[levibatgirl]

Another excellent article.

Thanks Bob!

[littlepeople]

I'm close to going "postal" when I see these freaking right-wingers being taken seriously on shows like Hardball (Matthews can be such a damn loser). That's when I usually turn on Seinfeld and my blood pressure goes down....whew!

[trinidadgirl]

Bob me love,......I just think you are one of the most sensible bloggers around. Amen to your article.
I must say I always enjoy your forthright blog and critique.
To the naysayers, find-faulters, talking loud and saying nothing set...and especially the OOO Repubs, (outmoded, obstructive and opposing) I say.......YE OF Little Faith!

P.S it almost feels like he has been in the WH for a good while as opposed to merely 2 weeks. Good Lord, he has managed to start the ball arolling immediately if not before.

Go, Mr Cesca..go!

[MyNameIsJames]

I have been watching the Sunday morning news shows. It is driving me crazy. The subject du jour is "What can Democrats and Obama do to bring the Republicans onboard to support the "Stimulus package"

This IS GDAMN INSANE!!!!! How have the Democrats allowed the Republican Party and National Press define the "stimulus package this way?

Dems need to say:

1) The American people elected Dems to control Congress and Presidency because they didn't like nor trust Republican solutions for our economy.

2) The Republicans are trying to institute "George Bush type" economic solutions and WE are NOT going to let them do it.

3) Getting the Economy moving again is MORE important than getting Republican support and that is what the AMERICAN PEOPLE trusts US to do - " Get the economy moving again".

4) If the Republicans want to stand in the way of this Stimulus package then they are risking our nation's future for partisan reasons. This is unacceptable!

What are Pelosi and Reid doing?

[Wake-up]

There's very little stimulating about this package... why do you think the Dem's are in such a hurry here? Because they care about 'saving America'? PLEASE!! This is about pork and ideology...

A. This is over 50% welfare programs which have "NO" effect on stimulating.
B. The CHIP program has no age or income limits?
C. Once this is killed, the Market will respond once the uncertainty is gone.

If the Dems are so sure this is the perfect answer for Americans than they should welcome 'transparency'... Right? So why are they not?

[MossyOak]

Bob, I really like how you step back and take the long, circumspect viewpoint. You're right, and I'm going to take your advice to chill. I'm going outside and roll around in the snow.

[Drjimmy72296]

The problem with the analysis is that Obama wouldn't have won if the market hadn't crashed the second week of September. He just wouldn't have despite being the better candidate and being on the right side of every issue.

They would have spent the final two months of the campaign calling him a secret Muslim and promising that the terrorists will kill your children if you vote for "that one," and that would have been that.

Instead, the market crashed and McCain proved in a span of 48 hours that he wasn't remotely up to the task with his bat$h!t crazy fundamentals remark and suspending his campaign to have dinner with Lieberman. That was that. Obama didn't have to do anything. He just had to get out of the way, let the old man make a fool of himself and not do something even crazier than what McCain was doing, like praise Allah.

With this stimulus bill -- they're defining the debate and setting themselves up as the opposition. If things aren't better by 2010, and no on thinks they will be, they will hang him with this in the midterms and his final two years will be spent fighting off an impeachment over something even more ridiculous that what they got Clinton on..

[SurrealPumpkin]

Things don't have to be better, they just have to be getting better. The longer the Republicans draw this out the worse it gets and the worse they look.

Also, by 2010 there will be more to worry about. We will be getting the results of all the investigations that have/will start. The DoJ is already investigating the politicization of the department.

[Drjimmy72296]

There won't be any real investigations. We're looking to the future, not the past, remember. Accountability is a real hope killer.

And the only way the Republicans look bad on this is if Mr. 80 percent or whatever he is decides to use some of that political capital he's got and calls them out as the liars and crooks that they are. He needs to be out there loud and clear that Reaganomics doesn't work and there isn't going to be anymore of this trickle-down B.S.

They've already set the debate. Fiscally responsible conservatives opposing reckless tax and spend liberals who want to give your kids condoms and spend $400 million on STDs. The more they repeat those lies the more people will believe them. It's what they did with the war. It's what they always do.

[Articulator]

I do think that Obama needs to get the dirt on the Bush admin (and there's plenty of it) and keep it in his back pocket. Then allow bits and pieces to slip out here and there. The GOP is going to twist and spin reality so keep them on the defensive continually. Hopefully Obama is fully aware while he is reaching out that they are going to try to bite his arm off.

[tifaret]

we certainly don't have to worry that our president can hold his own in a game of hardball with republicans. remember, he came up through the ranks of chicago politics. he may have his sharp elbows stored away for the time being, but i'm sure he won't hesitate to take them out when it becomes necessary...

[fuelrod]

this is not chicago.. that's why he could not pry any rep over and 10 dens bailed.

the stim bill is just pork and payback.. he's going to waste alot more money than any CEO's

coming for Chicago politics just means your dirty...

[ckfan]

You're right. It's not Chicago. It's the UNITED STATES. Obama - 66 million votes; McCain 59 million.

I think he has shown us he can take his shrewd political skills that were honed in Chicago and translate it nationwide.

Take note: Obama won. Repugs lost.

And if coming from Chicago means you're dirty, then coming from Alaska (home of former Sen. Ted Stevens) also means you're dirty, Sarah Palin.

[Cambridge9]

During the campaign our President kept repeating the fact that "the hill would be steep and the climb long, but we would get there". It seemed that the majority of the folks were willing to believe it. Now its time to renew the beliefs and help our neighbors as much as we can while our President does what he has to do. The less he needs to focus on our individual problems the easier it will be and remember, folks, our last president told us to go shopping when we were faced with a catastrophe. Obama has already told us that "we are the ones we've been waiting for". I believe him - and we all need to do our part.

[Mayoyo]

You are right Bob.
Everytime during the campaign he would amke amove and the blogosphere would go crazy, only to find out later on that it was very calculalte­d.....Pres­ident Obama is always a few steps ahead.
You got it right: He's got it.

[ebanks84]

That's what I've been saying all along. TAKE A CHILL PILL and relax. Obama knows what he is doing, thank you.

[ebanks84]

That's what I've been saying all along. TAKE A CHILL PILL, relax, because Obama knows what he is doing, thank you.

[Mattplastik]

Great blog, sir. Point taken.
"The GOP sabotaging the recovery bill with their taint"?!
Ewwwwww!!!!! I would not want to touch THAT bill! LOL

[upbeatdem]

Cesca makes a very good point. Obama has outsmarted and outperformed everyone since he came on the scene. Still, it bothers me to watch him wasting time with the opposition party. These people know nothing about compromise or cooperation. Furthermore, any attempt to solicit their suggestions obscures the fact that these appalling people and their disastrous policies caused the mess we are in right now. They need to get out of the way and let the grownups run things, and President Obama needs to stop validating their existence. At one point last week, the President said "I won." He needs to remember one more thing: THEY LOST!!! They need to deal with that.

[ckfan]

He is not wasting his time reaching out to the opposing party. He is showing the public - the VOTING public - that he is actually putting country first and following through on his campaign promise. He's only been in office 10 days and for him to go back on that promise now would be disastrous. He has to keep showing the people that he is the adult here.

Just today, Michael Steele, the newly elected GOP party chair, laughed at the idea of bipartisanship and said he didn't believe in it. Our country is going through the worst time in our history since the depression and this guy is boasting that he doesn't believe in getting along with the other party. Again, it makes Obama look like the adult in this relationship and Americans and people around the world are taking note.

Obama will bring out the knives when he needs to. I trust his judgment. He's nobody's fool.

[janpradder]

I believe he is using the same diplomatic approach he would use with other countries -- show them you will work with them, give them a chance. If they don't, pull the wool out from under them and let them know he tried, now the serious business starts.