Last time we talked, I predicted not only that Obama would have to give up his version of the Bush Tax Cuts, but that the rest of his agenda for the lame duck session of congress was hopeless, too. I would like to say, for the record, that at the time that seemed like exactly what was going to happen. Two years into Obama’s term, many of his supporters were feeling angry about the struggle to get reform passed and his apparent dislike of using his political leverage to bully members of congress into supporting him. It seemed as though the administration was in a legislative rut and not trying particularly hard to get out, even if that meant sacrificing large parts of their agenda.
Those of you who paid attention for the tail end of the last session of Congress, however, will know by now that the last ten days of the session were almost magically productive. The Bush Tax Cuts did get extended, but Obama managed to keep some unemployment benefits through the new year. The Dream Act, which would have made the path to citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants smoother, did not make it through congress. However, the Start treaty with Russia, which aims to control nuclear arms, was passed despite staunch opposition from some on the right. The repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell passed, much to the chagrin of a perpetually angry John McCain. Health care for 9/11 responders looked like it was doomed for failure until Jon Stewart devoted a large segment of the Daily Show to harassing the congressmen and women who were opposing it. Once the representatives responsible for blocking the bill realized how embarrassing it was going to be to be called out on national television for refusing health care to those who have sacrificed the most, that bill quickly passed as well. In less exciting news, Obama also pushed through a few judicial appointments. I know, you’re glad I saved that one for last, right?
Even the success of the lame duck session did little to convert the nonbelievers. After all, Obama was about to leave the relatively friendly congress that was elected with him in the Democratic wave of 2008 into an extremely hostile congress elected on the back of the Tea Party’s momentum.
Soon after the new session of congress began, tragedy struck in Tucson. A gunman on a shooting spree killed six and injured fourteen at Congresswoman Gabreille Gifford’s “Congress On Your Corner” event. Among the dead were federal judge John Roll and nine-year-old Christina Green. Giffords was one of the wounded, with a serious gunshot wound to the head.
As horrible as it is, Obama is at his best when he can speak in platitudes and generalities, capitalizing on people’s sorrow and their desire to hope. This situation, upsetting and horrifying as it was, was a perfect time for Obama to step up and remind us why we liked him in the first place. I watched the speech he gave at the memorial for victims while I was on a treadmill at the gym. As he urged Americans to try to make America the idealistic place Christina Green imagined it to be, I have to admit I was almost in tears. I should also admit that there are four or five TV commercials that can have me sobbing in under ten seconds, so I may not be the best judge of how moving a speech is. Also, and I say this at the risk of sounding completely insensitive, I thought it was a little much when Obama said that the nine-year-old victim was jumping in rain puddles in heaven. The point, however, is not that I cry easily or that I am slightly cynical, but that Obama’s speech got an overwhelmingly positive response, and for a few days there it seemed like a new era of reason and cooperation might actually be ushered in in the wake of this tragedy.
Don’t get too excited about that new era of cooperation and reasonable discourse though. On Thursday, the house voted to repeal Obamacare. So the next two years should be fun.
