Texas Insider Report: Washington D.C. Most of the punditocracys counsel centers on how President Obama should greet the strengthened & emboldened Republican opposition. But we dont define periods in American history by who held the majority in Congress. It was the Reagan Era not the Tip ONeill Era -- just as were now living in the Obama Era no matter what John Boehner or Mitch McConnell might hope.
President Obama is being inundated with contradictory advice on what to do next now that his party is losing its majority in the House and will have weaker control of the Senate.
With a defiant Churchillian vow to fight in the committees on the beaches etc. but never surrender to the encroaching hordes? With a broad smile and an invitation to join hands in bipartisan compromise and perhaps a singalong around the campfire? With a somewhat less genuine smile and a series of maneuvers in concert with the Democratic leaders in Congress that forces congressional Republicans to cast politically difficult votes?
For what its worth my advice for Obama is to forget the Republicans. Not literally of course -- the new House leadership is going to make itself hard to ignore. But ultimately its the president who sets the agenda and who ultimately is held accountable for Americas successes and failures. Obamas focus should be on using all the tools at his disposal to move the country in the direction he believes it must go.
A new report by the Center for American Progress -- a think tank headed by John Podesta former chief of staff to Bill Clinton -- seeks to remind Obama that shepherding legislation through Congress is only one of the ways a president can get things done.
Presidents can issue executive orders the report notes. They can use their rulemaking powers working through federal agencies that already have broad mandates under law. They can forge public-private partnerships. They can shape world events through diplomacy and command of the armed forces.
The ability of President Obama to accomplish important change through these powers should not be underestimated Podesta said in a statement accompanying the report.
President Bush for example faced a divided Congress throughout most of his term in office yet few can doubt his ability to craft a unique and deeply conservative agenda using 
every aspect of the policymaking apparatus at his disposal.
just be good policy it would be good politics as well.
Demonizing Obamacare and financial reform as abstract concepts worked well for the Republicans in the midterm campaign but it wont be a viable strategy if people see -- and like -- the concrete results.
Progressives are right when they complain that the White House must do a much better job of making the case for its policies. But the challenge goes well beyond communications. Judging by the way they snubbed Obamas invitation to break bread together Republicans seem eager for gridlock -- and the chance to blame the president for not getting anything done.
That may be the GOPs preferred story line but Obama can write a narrative of his own.
Hes the Decider now.
