Good Faith and the Obama Blind Spot

The problem is not Obama's belief system; it's his governing process, his operational mien, his decision making behavior, his conceptual views of politics, his fundamental ideas of how to govern.

I can live with his moderate conservative views.

Where the angst enters is his blind spot about the good faith of the parties, about the dimensions and reasons for their differences and the means to accomodate them. Even among Republicans, moderates are attacked and vilified.

Obama has not yet realized that Republican foot soldiers are loyal to their cause to the point of destruction and their leaders only feint and probe as a ruse of misdirection to heighten each crisis, then only offering highly conditioned surrender as an end to the hostilities. Obama must be wondering how to contend with a party that is unable to pass a bill submitted and supported by its own leadership--a first in American politics.

But if a fight is necessary, don't fight for compromise. Double down: fight to win.