Now that Republicans own a majority in the House, Obama will have to take a lesson from Bill Clinton and work with the other party.
It's for Obama's own good. 1994 - Clinton basically admitted he got his ass kicked, worked with Newt Gingrich, and got re-elected in 1998.
Obama is not as intelligent or politically savvy as Clinton, however.
This is insightful. You've hit on something that a lot of people are missing.
Candidates don't get elected by their bases. They get elected by independents. Independents like politicians who legislate from the center. This is one of the reasons Obama's message of bipartisanship played so well with them.
The reason Obama's approval rating has dropped like a stone is because he went off the reservation. He started legislating far afield from where independents thought he was. Lose the independents, lose the election. So, gotta change course.
Fast forward to 2011. The House belongs to the republicans. The left's power of the majority in the Senate has been stifled. Obama knows he can use the republicans as a foil. In other words, "Look folks, I'm trying to get stuff passed that will help families put food on their tables, but I'm getting stopped at every pass. These republicans keep putting up roadblocks."
Obama will begin to move toward the center. Partly because he must, but also because he knows the outcome of 2012 depends on it. The center is where independents want him. Win the independents, win the election.
Those of you who are certain Obama doesn't stand a chance in 2012, revisit this thread in the three months leading up to the election. Remember, Axelrod didn't abandon Obama; he merely left the WH to start planning 2012.
Both men are smart. Both know how to manipulate voters. Democrats won't suddenly vote for the right. They're already locked in. Win the independents, win the election.