They also expect bitter confrontations. I’m not quite sure what would make them think that, you guys!
(Washington Times) House and Senate Republicans came away from their joint retreat in Hershey, Pennsylvania, this weekend bracing for bitter confrontations with President Obama and skeptical that the president is willing to make deals even on the handful of policies where the executive and legislative branches could find agreement.
Republicans insisted that they could stake out common ground with Mr. Obama on trade deals, tax code reforms, infrastructure projects and cybersecurity measures, yet they repeatedly raised doubts about the president’s inclination to negotiate with lawmakers and break the gridlock that has stymied Washington for six years.
“So far, what we’ve seen is the president and the White House have expressed an interest in tax reform. But when push comes to shove, he’s not really engaging with the Congress on tax reforms,†Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, told reporters at the retreat.
There are certainly issues where there could be common ground and/or compromise, yet, Obama’s history shows that he prefers to create strife rather than deals. In those few times where compromise happened, Obama found a way to demand more and scuttle the deal (the shutdown over the budget is one incident). He barely worked with his own party over the last 6 years. He barely talked to elected Democrats. Those same elected Dems did all they could to support him, and what did they get? Historic losses
“We’re not feeling overly optimistic that the president has gotten the message from the last election,†said Rep. Jeb Hensarling, Texas Republican and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.
Obama has not given a damn over Congressional Democrats through the years. Don’t forget, it hasn’t just been losses for Dems in Congress. There have been record losses in State government for Dems, as well.
“I’m the guy born with the glass half full, and I believe hope springs eternal,†said House Speaker John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican. “The American people want us to find a way to address their concerns. That was the big message out of the election. You hear it from our members on both sides of the Capitol. I’m hopeful the president heard the same message.â€
Obama listens to no one but Obama and the like-minded folks he surrounds himself with. Things must be done Obama’s way or no way, and he is what would be termed a bad faith negotiator in the private sector. If he was in the private sector, no one would want to work with him, because of his extreme views, extreme manners, and predilection to create strife.
