Well, there you go. Election 2014 is over and the Republicans have gained control over the Senate as well as the House. Two things about that: 1) How does that even happen when they are solely responsible for just about everything that's wrong with our government right now. And 2) so what?
Why? Why would anyone vote Republican when everything they do is designed to hurt women, minorities, immigrants, students, the middle class and the poor? Why would anyone validate the party that tried to prevent any bill from moving forward that would accelerate the healing of the economy and the restoration of jobs? And why would ANYONE support the party that is bent on undermining our democracy by making it possible for the rich to buy elections and by disenfranchising tens of thousands of legitimate voters under the auspices of eliminating a handful of fraudulent votes?
So what? Not that it really matters if the GOP machine takes over all of Congress. They need a president who will sign the bills they pass. And the one thing that Obama can do from this point on is just shut it all down unless he gets bills that don't hurt America even further. If I were him I'd be on TV every night explaining to the American people how Congress is abusing their position to hurt America. I'd explain what it was about each bill I didn't sign that caused me to reject it. I'd expose the agenda and the deceit. The GOP may have control, but they don't have a veto-safe majority, so Obama now stands as the gatekeeper, the final protector of America from GOP overreach.
President Obama has entered into the final stage of his Presidency, the last phase of his legacy. His job, now that he has no other option, is to do what he can with what limited powers his office possesses to command our military, to direct the executive branch's deputies and agencies, and to contain the GOP threat to America.
He must forge the image of the Democratic Party's principles in the minds of America. He must lead, even in the face of hostile legislative and judicial branches. He must be true to the country that placed the mantle of President upon his shoulders even as the GOP continues to try to crucify him.
Heroes aren't born. They are forged in fire. Let's see if President Barack Obama can withstand that fire and be the hero we need.
Copyright (c)2014 Todd Grigsby, all rights reserved
