We should ask Paul Krugman

Who is more delusional, Barack Obama or Amy Klobuchar? In the New York Times today (Monday, 11/22), Krugman says this about Obama, the federal debt limit, and economic recovery in general:

[  ] Mr. Obama is still talking about bipartisan outreach, and maybe if he caves in sufficiently he can avoid a federal shutdown this spring. But any respite would be only temporary; again, the G.O.P. is just not interested in helping a Democrat govern.

One of the DL regulars showed me a a great Clay Bennett cartoon describing Obama’s effectiveness in negotiating with Republicans:

That’s from February of this year. He hasn’t gotten any better, has he?

Krugman would likely cast a preliminary vote for Obama, but he probably hasn’t seen this:

Political courage in our nation's capital has most often been symbolized by the man or woman who dares to stand alone, as in the classic movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." But political courage can also mean something different -- the willingness to stand with those you normally disagree with for the betterment of our country.

With both a polarized citizenry and a divided Congress, America will move forward only if we have leaders who show true bipartisan courage. The public wants action -- sensible action -- to respond to the key challenges we face.

That’s the lede from the vacuous Amy Klobuchar’s stirring call for capitulation in the Strib in an op-ed following the election. It has apparently not dawned on the senator that her new colleagues like Rand Paul will gut her like a trout at the first opportunity.

Klobuchar trounced a weak opponent four years ago and has enjoyed excellent popularity ratings since. But she seems entirely unwilling to spend the smallest amount of political capital for progressive causes.

It may be too late for both Obama and Klobuchar to learn that you have to dance with the one what brung you.