Am I an overly optimistic Obama apologist? Well, certainly I'm an Obama apologist, but that's because he deserves a lot more credit than he's gotten so far some are starting to appreciate him a little more. His approval rating continues to climb.
It really is merit based however. I'm not mindlessly optimistic, I guess it's "optimism with a mind." I look at it this way. Yes the economy hasn't recovered as quick as we would have liked-and yesterday's GDP contraction is enough to even give a cock-eyed optimist like myself pause.
Yes, if you insist on belaboring it, the Obama team had promised a much quicker recovery than we would get, However, that's not the President's fault, it was the conventional wisdom of all mainstream economists.
I feel very proud of my fellow Americans that they didn't fall for Mitt Romney's simplistic attempt to make it a simple referendum on the economy: if you were totally happy with it-and who was?-vote for the President. If not vote for him.
Since November I've repeatedly stated that contrary to the conventional wisdom perhaps even among liberals, this will be a very productive two years for the President. He will get accomplish many of his priorities.
Yes, the GOP would seem to have a strong majority in the House and many of them are from very conservative-gerrymandered-districts. Nevertheless, what this leaves out is that this is not like the last Congress. That GOP Congress ruled the country via the Hastert Rule.
This GOP Congress has had to rip up the Hastert Rule out of political necessity. If House GOPers try to play My way or the highway now it blows up in their face. The Senate passes it in conversations with the White House and then it's rammed through the House with just enough GOP support and unanimous Democratic support-the difference is the demise of the Hastert Rule.
What the GOP may finally be realizing is that there's no percentage in going My way or the highway. It simply means they won't get to put any imprint on legislation. The night before the House finally voted through the fiscal cliff deal Gingrich had urged the GOP to put amendments on it-a move that would have stalled it immediately. He said this was the only way to make the President recognize that the GOP House exists.
Yet My way or the highway doesn't get them recognized but ignored. If you have any doubt that my "overconfidence" about immigration reform is correct then just check out the latest. Yesterday we saw that Rush Limbaugh implicitly has endorsed immigration reform-by endorsing Rubio's plan, which of course he has to exaggerate the difference from Obama's plan.
http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2013/01/rush-limbaugh-backs-rubios-immigration.html
Now check this out. The House is now quietly working on its own immigration reform framework. That in itself-even if the plan were awful-is big news. Yet with the level of GOP Senate support it makes sense. The GOP House has to recognize this. To be sure, it's not such an easy path in the House.
"The eight-person immigration House team — which includes four Republicans and four Democrats — had hoped to put forth a statement of principles as early as Friday, but sources say that is unlikely. Now, they are hoping to announce something closer to Feb. 12, the day of the State of the Union."
"According to sources, the House working group includes Democrats Zoe Lofgren and Xavier Becerra of California, Luis Gutierrez of Illinois and John Yarmuth of Kentucky. Negotiating for the Republicans are Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Sam Johnson and John Carter of Texas and Raul Labrador of Idaho."
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/house-group-secretly-crafts-immigration-plan-86971.html#ixzz2JZ64FiWE
So it's been delayed and yes there is already carping about the Senate plan-even though Rush Limbaugh supports it...
That they are working at all, though, is big news. And while some ideologues may give engage in fiery talk there's good reason to think they'll get there:
"Wisconsin Republican Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, who in 2005 sponsored a tough House bill to deter illegal immigrants from entering the U.S., said in a statement Monday: “Extending amnesty to those who came here illegally or overstayed their visas is dangerous waters. We are a nation of laws, and I will evaluate any proposal through that matrix.”
"But several sources familiar with the work of the House group said that it has come to a general consensus on a number of issues despite coming from different ideological places."
"The biggest sticking point is most likely their differing views on offering illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship."
"In an interview with POLITICO on Monday, Labrador said he supports the principles that the Senate laid out but insisted that “creating a new pathway” to citizenship for undocumented workers “is not a good idea.” It would encourage more illegal immigration, he said.
"Asked if he is flexible, Labrador said: “The question that is more appropriate is how flexible are they? We’ve gone a bit to their side. If they’re unwilling to be flexible on that issue, [then] they want political victory not policy victory.”
"On the same note, Johnson articulated a fairly tough stance on illegal immigrants on his website: “If you are here legally, you ought to be rewarded. If you are here illegally, you ought to be deported.” “I am strongly opposed to both illegal immigration and a repeat of the 1986 amnesty.”
Still, sources say that the group is closer to agreement than the rhetoric suggests.
"Carter might be the only member to actually have publicly admitted to being part of the working group. He told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram this week the House measure is “90 percent there.”
“We address all categories,” Carter said. “Border security and all the things that go to the people who are here illegally. I believe we’ve solved the problem of those concerned with the rule of law,” meaning those opposed to amnesty, “but we’ve done it with compassion.”
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/house-group-secretly-crafts-immigration-plan-86971_Page2.html#ixzz2JZAGyZLS
Ok then. The rule of law with compassion. It's a start. I'm telling you: buy those shades now before the prices go up!
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