The Alternate History of the Obama Administration: How to Change Washington in 09

I am a Comic Book geek.

A Marvel Comic Book geek especially.

I enjoyed their stories, then I enjoyed how  Uatu the Watcher would ask "What if?"

Tonight, hours before the Election, with the polls skewing all ways, I will show you how the Senate could have been fixed and the GOP could have been mollified.

But it requires listening and understanding.  History happens when you aren't watching, but I was.

On 60 Minutes, the question for the Senate majority and Minority leader was simple: why can't you work together? The point of divergence occurred in the CT Primary of 06 -- the "New breed" of Democrats primaried Senator Lieberman for working across the aisle.  

When it came time for the Tea party to elect members to the Senate, they followed the precedent set by the Democrats in 06.  Why work together if the other side doesn't want to? 

That's one answer.  Now, to get to the Alternate History of the Obama Administration.

Inauguration Day 1/20/09

After spending 6-8 years attacking President Bush, the democratic crowd let loose their attack on their Emmanuel Goldstein:

If I were the Senate Minority leader(an R), I would put the call to the House Minority leader(also, an R) immediately. "Saving Face," and "Class," should be shown on a day where there is a peaceful transfer of power.

These Democrats thought with their anger first, to hell with the consequences.  Well, the consequences of attacking Bush (on his final day, during a peaceful transfer of power) was to act like assholes.  How to respond?

If President Obama was the same guy who was sold in the 2004 speech, and let me quote:

 

The pundits, the pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I’ve got news for them, too. We worship an "awesome God" in the blue states, and we don't like federal agents poking around in our libraries in the red states. We coach Little League in the blue states, and yes, we've got some gay friends in the red states. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq, and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the Stars and Stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.

In the end -- In the end -- In the end, that’s what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or do we participate in a politics of hope?

But...he wasn't. 

Had he stood up on that day, at that time, the anger the GOP rank and file and Elected officials had over how President Bush was treated would not have erupted in a meeting later that evening.  

By not telling his people "This is not how we do things in America. We have opponents, not enemies," This would be a different post.

Onward.

The First year is the Hardest year

Clinton made the same mistake as Obama.  When the Election turned after his half term, he didn't have the phone number of the House Majority leader.

But Obama made a mistake Clinton did not -- Obama started his term saying "I won,"

Last I checked, in our fragile Republic, the Republican members of Congress were elected too.  

During the Bush Administration, the Democrats filibustered a whole slew of Judges.  Had the Obama Administration brought those names through, that would have been a MAJOR compromise before passing Obama's Pet project, health Care.

And if you want to complain about Filibusters by Republicans in the Senate, the precedent was set by Democrats, during Bush fils and starting during the 80's with a man named Bork (i.e. Borking). 

And before Obama went onto Health Care Project, would it have cost anything for Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Reid and President Obama to apologize how their partisans acted during the last Administration? 

History did not begin on 1/20/09, but it would have been smart (as Democrats and this President claims to be) to mollify how the GOP and their leaders were treated.  

Instead, nothing.

When the Democrats worked on Obamacare, the House Democrats locked out the House GOP; same with the Senate. 

(And we won't even mention how neither Democratic House or Senate neglected their Budgetary Duties)

And meanwhile, the provinces were exploding.

Tea Time: Obama Failed Again

The basis of the Tea Party is Fiscal Conservatism.

The Democrats, unused to having Fiscal Conservatives protest anything, did what they do best: call names, accuse everyone of racism.

Again, if the Senator Obama of 04 was real, he would have listened, he would have....."brought us together," to quote a former President. 

The racism charge has been going since 07, attacking Hillary! supporters and any opposition to Obama.  By attacking American citizens (most of the Tea Party crowds in 09 were new to politics, most voted for Obama). the Left burned many bridges.

When the choice comes for a Lefty Partisan to learn why people oppose or call names, what is done first?

Hint: They don't think they have any side to learn -- how else did the "False Equivalence," meme start?

The Dawning of a New Age

Why is the election close? Because Romney talks of "love of country," and Obama speaks of "revenge,"

This all could have been avoided in this Alternate world, but guess who is not that smart?

My question: Why do Democrats try name calling first rather then learn of their oppositions views? 

UPDATE 2:54 AM PST Hello Insty readers! After you vote, make yourself at home in the Valley.