Political Truce

Like all of our recent Presidents, President Obama has certainly become a lighting rod for the political divide in the United States. But what he did in the lame duck session is quite interesting and insightful. It reminds us that long-term cooperation often is much wiser than short-term gains from demonizing one's opponent.
President Obama signed off on an extension of the tax break for the wealthy after he made these tax breaks such a big deal in his campaign. Let us be clear about this. He got rolled in negotiating with the Republicans. But doing so got the tax deal out of the way. The Republicans were threatening to stop all legislation until the tax deal was done and had the support in the senate to do it.
But once that tax deal was done, the Democrats were able to get medical support for the 9/11 workers, repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, and the START treaty. Yes he did not get the Dream Act but he got a lot more than you would expect in such a short session. And he got it because he negotiated with the Republicans rather than just insult them.
This is not even about the merits of this legislation. There is enough that happened in this session to encourage and discourage people from all political persuasions. This is about working with the other side. I tire of the endless mud slinging that come from both sides of the political spectrum. I liked seeing what happened because people worked together than against each other.
Can this be the start of a new trend of cooperation and bipartisanship? Sadly probably not. This is a unique situation where Democrats had incentives to work with Republicans and get stuff done before the Republicans take power next month and Republicans had incentive to work with Democrats to make sure the tax cuts were extended. I fear that come January the normal course of events will take place and people will go back to their full-time job of blaming the other side. No the realist in me knows that this is a circumstance that is not likely to be replicated soon. But a self-proclaim moderate can dream, can't he?

Sincerely,

Trouble-Maker

Search Logic

Okay. I am not eager to undergo the new enhanced searches anymore than the next person. I do not like the idea that a screener can see the naked image of my body through the machine. Opting out for a search that makes me wonder why I did not also get dinner and a movie is not my idea of fun either. So mark me down as one of those who laments the next procedures we have to undergo to protect ourselves.
But is all the hulabalo about this really necessary? We have to do things we do not like for security purposes. It is not fun holding up my pants because my belt is going through x-ray. Or having to walk in without my shoes. Finding liquids to put in the clear bag is a pain as well. But doing these things allows the powers that be do a better job of keeping me safe. As much as I do not like these things and the new search technology, I like them a whole lot better than getting blown to bits at 20,000 feet in the air. Call me crazy.
But what really gets me is the hypocrisy. The main opponents of these new techniques are on the right. You know. The law and order security hawks. If it was the ACLU doing the complaining then it would be just another "dog bites man" story. They always tend to go overboard on such issues. But the conservatives have been tell us that we have to be aggressive in ferreting out terrorists. Well this is an aggressive apporach and in keeping with that they have said in the past.
We all know that the second a terrorist succeeds in bringing down another plane that the same conservative pundits complaining right now will immediately blame President Obama. They will want to blame him for not protecting the country even as they try to deprive him of the tools to do so. Like I said, it is the hypocrisy of this that gets me.
So I have a deal for the conservatives. If they agree take the blame for any airline attack then we can get rid of the new search technology. No takers huh? I did not think so. You do not want to give up your "blame Obama" approach to life. But if you continue to complain about the new search technology then in my book it will be you, and not Obama, who should get the blame if the terrorist are successful in another attack.
Let's stop hating the TSA agents, the president and homeland security. They do not deserve our hate and hypocrisy. You know who does? The terrorist!!!

Sincerely,

Trouble-Maker