The intransigence goes way back, though it became real for me when Mitch McConnell said the Republicans’ main goal was to make sure Barack Obama was a one-term President. Stunning, to this day.
In Obama’s book, A Promised Land, he recounts the opposition he faced all along the way. Passing any meaningful legislation was a slog. Along with the usual philosophical differences, there was foot-dragging, back-room wrangling, watering down, and just plain arms-crossed stubbornness.
I guess I understand it, to a certain point—the party out of power isn’t going to just hand the party in power anything that looks like a legislative win, since that would make them look weak, likely only win the opposition party favor with the electorate, and go a certain ways to assuring the party in power stays in power. But how the hell can anything get done if the minority is intent on laying mines and saying No to everything? I guess that’s democracy in action? You get things done, eventually, though big donors loom large and concessions are made, and pork is often added.
Still, it’s difficult not to think that in Obama’s case, there was also an undercurrent of racism at work, an added impetus for feet dragging. Obama’s time in office lit a fire under those who wouldn’t stand for another person of color in the Oval anytime soon. And voila: we got Donald Trump.
3 Cents' 