So from the day he was elected, Republicans have wanted Barack Obama out of their way. He came in 2008 in a very bipartisan package, reaching across the aisle, listening to the GOP, and often producing packages that included the very items they had asked for in press conferences and discussions.
But all they wanted was him gone – to drive him out of office, to get him out of their hair. Just looking at him really ruined their day.
So in yesterday’s speech – he ignored them. Didn’t mention them, didn’t offer them a bone, talked about what he and the country will do together. And truth to tell – he doesn’t really need them now. They’ve made themselves irrelevant to governing the country and partnering with the world.
Did that make them happy? He is totally out of their hair. Turns out they don’t want to be out of the discussion, even though they refuse to discuss anything. Quite a quandary they’ve built for themselves, isn’t it?
Makes me pretty happy. I’ll bet a lot of you are grinning, too.