State of the Union

Hi Humans,
I think President Obama made a great State of the Union address. I also think that the Republicans winning the Senate seat in Massachussetts was a good thing, a reality check for the President and the Democratic party. I think that in the relationship between President Obama and the Democratic Congress, it has become apparent that until now the tail has been wagging the dog (if I may use a canine analogy). I mean by that, the Democratic Party was acting as though the President needed them, but the reality was that the Democratic Party gained control of Congress on Obama's coat tails. Obama was elected president not because he is a Democrat but because his pragmatism and intelligence appealed to the great majority of American people who want results no matter where they come from. For example, in the matter of Health Care Reform, the President wants and has wanted all along to correct certain deficiencies in the present system, like having everyone or almost everyone covered, not being denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition, and controlling the cost of health care, however those goals are accomplished. The Democratic idealogues insisted on the Public Option as an absolute necessity (some even threatening to vote against any legislation without it), and the Republican idealogues have been absolutely opposed to the Public Option and in fact seem to be more concerned with making Obama and the Democratic party fail than what is in the interest of the American public. So I think the Republican win in Massachussetts has freed the president from the grasp of his party, so he can do what he is best at, namely to negotiate a bipartisan healthcare law (including the few reasonable Republicans) that will truly represent something like what the American people want and can support. Of course whatever comes out will have flaws and will have to be adjusted and reworked. It's a complex problem, and no one knows the exactly best remedy. But if we keep working on it, it will ultimately be more or less successful, although it may always remain a work in progress. Anyway, that's what I think. But what do I know? I'm just a dog.
By the way, Mom has some great new beads and wire wrap jewelry in her gallery at http://www.beadshaper.com/gallery
Chloe