I think GOP opposition to President Obama’s plans
is a good strategy, and actually one that helps the president.
The GOP can’t materially influence the budgets,
bailouts and tax increases the Democratic majority is planning to pass (after
all, Democrats won the election big). Since GOP support doesn’t matter,
Republicans should simply vote ‘no’ to all of this and wait.
This should influence the president and his party
to be more careful in crafting their legislation. They’ll know that a GOP
free from the “baggage” of having supported the president could be a very
powerful political force.
It’s a gamble for Republicans, to be sure. If
the president fails, they’ll return to power quickly, but if he succeeds, they
could end up in the political wilderness for a generation or more.
For the sake of the country, I do hope the
president succeeds, but I’d rather have a healthy opposition ready to
capitalize on his overreaching and missteps than a compromised opposition
vulnerable to charges of “you voted with us; you’re to blame for bad results
just we are.”
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