President Obama is a polititian not Jesus Christ. He plays hardball which is exactly why I voted for him. If his policies are to be implemented, in any way similar to how he articulated themn during the campaign, than a few people will have to be reasoned with aggressively. We see what occurs in Congress when you play nicely with it's members...NOTHING! So Let a Playa Play!! We'll have plenty of time to judge him in 2012. Let's see what kind of product is produced first and if we don't like it send him back to Chicago. In the meantime, find something else to do beside micromanaging and parsing every word for sinister meanings.

I would perhaps pay attention to this if they named the official... however, this could very well be the words of some 20 year old college kid who runs messages around the White House. I'm sure that the Obama Administration needs oversight and a watchful media as much as the last Administration did, but this is stretching for a "quote".

It was "vitally important to get a Democrat elected to the White House" was it not? Didn't we all say that? We neede a Democrat in the White House so that we could get all of the "right things" done? How can that work out as intended if Congress does not do what that Democrat tells them to do? We got that Democrat elected to the White House, for heaven's sake, now we are supposed to let him make all of the "right things" happen by directing Congress on the path os righteousness. You just don't get it.

that BO insults our allies (Great Britain) while bowing to our worst enemies (Saudi King) ???

You left wingers are just another ally!

I saw nothing "creepy" or "revealing" in that quote, just emphatic argument that I'd assume is fairly normal in a political debate. And I wouldn't worry too much about "bullying tactics" either, since these games are common territory in any political career. I'm sure those representatives currently standing on the hot end of some rhetoric can take care of themselves.

I don't know which annoys me more, the hyperbole politicians use to stir up emotional support for their positions or the hyperbole media writers use to stir up emotional reactions for their columns.

Let's see if these tactics are used against Blue Dogs who impede a public option for health care, the repeal of DOMA and Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and various issues relating to the closing of Guantanamo.

One can't but be impressed with how Obama's celebrated charm, persuasive powers, and political gifts are always employed to a singular end: to sell out progressive policy.

"Let's see what kind of product is produced first and if we don't like it send him back to Chicago."

Some of us who follow which bills get to the floor of Congress have a pretty good idea "what kind of product" will be produced.

If you want the criticism to go away, you're in the wrong place. I suggest you take your own advice and find out when Shark Week is on the Discovery Channel.

The anonymous staffer doesn't seem to me to be saying that it's shocking that Doggett would ignore the wishes of the President, what is shocking is that he would ignore the wishes of his constituents.

There's nothing wrong with criticizing either the President or the climate change bill, but grabbing hold of one sentence fragment to postulate the existence of an imperial presidency is pretty weak.

i think you are missing the point.

pretend that George Bush was still in office and this story was about him.

gotta hold obama's feet to the fire. we do not have to march lock step with the prez - that is one of the reasons the republicans sucked so bad and were voted out of office. the president is not a king and no one should have to follow his orders or "wishes" nor should they feel threatened enough to not speak their minds. - as if obama will get back at them later.

I'd love for Doggett to stand up and say "I have, and will, go against the wishes of the President as long as those wishes are harmful to the country. It's not up to me to do what he wants, it's up to him to do what the people want. No amount of threatening and posturing will make me stand in line behind policies that are harmful to the country, and the President would do well to recognize that."

to face reality and admit that this President is just another Blue Dog Sonsabitch and that he needs to be treated as such.

Impeachment is probably the only answer and it's an answer that will resonate throughout Versailles. Throw his ass out and maybe the rest of those clowns will remember what their job actually is - it's to represent us, Teh People.

It needs to be done.

Jebbie,

I agree that there are clear grounds for impeachment, just like there were for last guy. Congress appears to be MIA as a functioning branch of govt. The few people who do stand up to Obama get marginalized and threatened. The leadership is complicit in war crimes. They will not move on anything that could threaten their own positions. So I am at a loss here. Do you know a way to make Congress move (or at least enough of them) to get impeachment going?

I've been thinking about things that we can band together to do as citizens. For example, on energy, we could follow the example of the Nature Conservancy and pool resources to invest in local green start ups and even pay for our own grid if we have to. It wouldn't be easy but it could be done.

It's clear that the govt. has set itself up as a parallel institution to our lawful Constitutional system. Therefore, IMO, one thing we could do is set up our own parallel Constitutional govt. I can see how to do that with things like health care, energy, jobs etc. but I don't know how to do it concerning the rule of law. These are my thoughts. I'm not claiming them to be the only or best ideas. I am truly interested in hearing people's solutions for a peaceful antidote to an unlawful govt.

This govt. is acting extra-Constitutionally. We must act.