As us on the left speculate/fume/worry/wait over the possibility of cut backs to the social safety net, and astroturfed-outrage endures on the right over the mere mention of raising taxes on the rich or closing loopholes on the rich, you really have to admit; President Barack Obama is looking taller and taller. It's not just because both progressives and conversatives are up in arms.
I have several friends who I also gauge as bellweathers, but one in particular almost always goes with the eventual-winner. Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush(who actually lost), Kerry, Obama... didn't like how health care was done, hates Congress no matter who is incharge... you get the idea. His opinion is pretty simple; that the President has shown a willingness to be the most responsible adult in the room. Some Republicans were open to a temporary-lifting of the debt ceiling in exchange for some cuts, but instead the President has outright insisted on viewing the short, medium, and long-term. The resistance to kick the can down the road(as is usually the goal in Washington) is admirable as is the determination to raise taxes(or "close loopholes", whatever the hell they want to call it) on those who can most afford it.
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