Dear President Obama,
The voters of Massachusetts have sent a message - and it’s not “stay the course”
A little over a year ago we fought and voted for “Change We Can Believe In”
What we’ve received is “Compromise That Sucks!”
I know, I know. Governing is more complicated than electioneering. But, what you have failed to understand is the depth of the desire for change and the impatience of most Americans. And you’ve surrounded yourself with the folks that are stuck inside “beltway-think” and who are way too self assured that the path to success is moving toward the Republican point of view. You carried Massachusetts by TWENTY SIX points just over a year ago - and those voters wanted change. In their minds you have failed to deliver change and so now they have voted for change. AGAIN! Ted Kennedy is turning in his grave.
Your pursuit of “bipartisanship” is folly. It’s clear that no Republican will compromise with anything that our party stands for. (We spent weeks waiting for Olympia Snowe to come to the table.) And, while you have pursued bipartisanship, the Republicans have thrown every possible log in the path of progress. And now they don’t run as Republicans, but as anti-incumbents. Yes, change is still alive in America, but Democrats are not delivering it and we can lose the best opportunity we may ever have if we don’t start taking names and kicking some butt -which is exactly what the voters STILL want.
You must alter course - and not in the direction that your closest advisers will point.
Here are some recommendations:
First, 51 votes is a majority in the Senate, not 60. Bush never had 60 votes and he got almost everything he wanted through the Senate. Harry Reid miscalculated. And so did you. Change this. If it means getting a new Majority Leader, do it. Harry Reid probably won’t be there next year, anyway.
Second, stop relying on Rahm Emanuel. His brilliance was helpful when Democrats did not have a majority, but not now. Rahm is not the answer. You need someone who connects with the voters and who will harness their anger, not someone who disdains them. I know this is painful, but you must do it to save your presidency.
Third, do the right things. Now. End “Don’t ask, don’t tell”. Close Guantanamo. The folks that feel strongly about these things are many and you need them. Our party needs them.
Almost all voters have very little idea of how complicated governance can be, but they are in charge -and they demand change. Please give it to them. Now.
Our hopes are still with you.
P.S. The title is a bit of a cheap shot, but I couldn’t resist.