Myopia Redux

Link to February 13 New York Times article, "Bipartisanship Isn’t So Easy, Obama Sees," by Peter Baker.

Excerpt: The party-line schism, coupled with the withdrawal on Thursday of a Republican senator, Judd Gregg, as a nominee to Mr. Obama’s cabinet, made clear the futility so far of the president’s effort to move Washington toward post-partisanship.

According to Mr. Baker, it either is or it ain’t. It’s black or it’s white. Nothing in-between. No gray matter.

So tell me. Why do so many journalists refuse to consider the possibility that Obama has a larger, more long-term plan here? (Answer #1: Probably because, since well before the election, they have consistently underestimated his ability to weather difficult situations and come out on top. Answer #2: They focus on the in-the-moment-fight, not the big-picture strategy – the latter probably requiring too much thought.)

To me, it’s a given that Obama knew the Republicans wouldn’t join him at the altar of bipartisanship, at least not right away. Instead, he knew they’d run to their favorite TV and cable enablers and demonstrate the same intransigence, obtuseness, and rigid ideology that they have all along. For crying out loud, why do you think that Mitch McConnell has a 48% unfavorable rating – up 4 percentage points in just 2 weeks!

Obama simply gave the Republicans a series of opportunities to look really bad on the public stage. And they ran with it.

And as soon as Obama stepped up to his bully pulpit, he created a sense of clarity and purpose.

Somehow, this doesn't strike me as futility.

Labor Day at Milwaukee's Marcus Amphitheater

All smiles after a rousing 20-minute speech by Barack Obama

A view of the venue (and the Milwaukee skyline) at 3:00.

The event didn't start until 5:30, but we wanted to get good seats.
(We succeeded: Second row, just to the left of the stage.)

A beautiful day on which to end the summer.

A section is already filled by 3:00

This group watched the proceedings from the stage.

Another view of the early arrivals.

Filled to capacity just as things get underway.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett

Governor Jim Doyle

Senator Herb Kohl

Senator Russ Feingold

Representative Gwen Moore


THE OBAMA GALLERY

Obama, eloquent as always, gave a relatively low-key speech in light of the concerns over Hurricane Gustav and a possible replay of Katrina. He gave an historical summation of the labor movement and its continued importance to workers today. He talked about the independent spirit of the American people, but also how we come together in times of need. After offering encouragement to contribute to the Red Cross to help those displaced by the storm, he described those who face their own “quiet storms” – the loss of a job or a house – and the need for government to respond at such times.

When Obama finished his 20-minute address, he acknowledged the cheers of the audience for a few minutes and then headed straight in our direction. Surrounded by a squad of Secret Service agents, he worked the crowd building at the front of the stage, shaking every hand, including JoAnna’s and mine, that was offered to him.

“He looks you straight in the eye,” JoAnna observed as we walked back to the car. “That’s what I like about him.”

It’s a piercing, confident gaze, which revealed to me a man very much at ease with himself. I sensed a huge reservoir of inner calm behind his eyes.

Obama is truly a remarkable person.

JoAnna with Frances Huntley Cooper