Fred Barnes, writing in the Wall Street Journal:
President Obama invited Mitch McConnell , soon to become Senate majority leader, to the White House on Dec. 3. At Mr. McConnell’s insistence, they met one-on-one. They discussed trade, tax reform and infrastructure, the three issues on which they believe compromises are possible in 2015.
This sounds promising. In reality, it doesn’t bode well for a season of bipartisanship and an end to “dysfunction” in Washington. Even on the three negotiable issues, reaching agreement will be difficult. And beyond them, “it’s hard to find anything we agree on,” Mr. McConnell told me in an interview. Mr. Obama has a “different view of America” than Republicans do, he said.
When the new Congress convenes on Tuesday, Mr. Obama will find himself in an unfamiliar role. Republicans will control the Senate and House. And for the first time in Mr. Obama’s presidency, “he’s not in charge of setting the agenda,” Mr. McConnell said.
Since Republicans captured the House in 2010, Democrats and the media have blamed them for blocking the president’s agenda and creating gridlock. “Factually, we know the dysfunction was in the Senate,” Mr. McConnell insisted, referring to then Majority LeaderHarry Reid shelving hundreds of House-passed bills without debate or a vote.
This sounds promising. In reality, it doesn’t bode well for a season of bipartisanship and an end to “dysfunction” in Washington. Even on the three negotiable issues, reaching agreement will be difficult. And beyond them, “it’s hard to find anything we agree on,” Mr. McConnell told me in an interview. Mr. Obama has a “different view of America” than Republicans do, he said.
When the new Congress convenes on Tuesday, Mr. Obama will find himself in an unfamiliar role. Republicans will control the Senate and House. And for the first time in Mr. Obama’s presidency, “he’s not in charge of setting the agenda,” Mr. McConnell said.
Since Republicans captured the House in 2010, Democrats and the media have blamed them for blocking the president’s agenda and creating gridlock. “Factually, we know the dysfunction was in the Senate,” Mr. McConnell insisted, referring to then Majority LeaderHarry Reid shelving hundreds of House-passed bills without debate or a vote.
Whole thing here.
