I assumed that the president would treat this bill signing as his predecessors had done with major legislation — opportunities to emboss the stamp of history on a signal achievement.
In my Morning Must Reads I suggested the president would play up the benefits to the weak and infirm and place himself in the mainstream of Democratic presidents, solemnly signing with past presidents and their descendants on hand.
This is a political pep rally — chanting, rhythmic clapping, and triumphalism. It will not help the president to more deeply identify this as a hyper-partisan product of a much-detested Congress. Charlie Rangel? Really?
I guess I should know better by now — every event is a campaign event in this White House.
