Boehner's lawsuit is great news for Obama

[babylonsister]

http://www.vox.com/2014/7/11/5890287/boehners-lawsuit-is-great-news-for-obama?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=voxdotcom&utm_content=thursday

Boehner's lawsuit is great news for Obama

Updated by Matthew Yglesias on July 31, 2014, 7:37 a.m. ET


Perhaps the strangest thing about John Boehner's lawsuit trying to rein in Barack Obama's use of unilateral executive authority is how plainly welcome the White House finds it.

"You're going to sue me for doing my job?" Obama himself mocked when the plan was first announced, speaking to supporters at a rally. The White House pushed reporters to write stories about the lawsuit, and rapidly had Democrats even buzzing about impeachment. It's easy enough to understand why the White House doesn't fear this lawsuit. As Andrew Prokop has explained, the odds of the House GOP prevailing in court are miniscule. But it's more than that. Obama is thrilled he's getting sued, because public attention on the lawsuit actually solves the administration's biggest problem.


We can't wait

(White House photo)

Since Republicans took the House in 2010, Obama's basic political challenge has been that average American voters have a pretty poor grasp of the fundamental operation of the US constitutional order. People expect the government to do things to make their lives better, and when that doesn't happen, they grow angry at the person in the White House. When the president's agenda gets stymied in congress, people don't want to hear about filibusters or the Speaker's ability to keep bills from getting to the floor. They ask why the president isn't leading and getting things done.

That's why, in recent years, Obama hasn't just relied on unilateral executive action to advance his policy aims — he's tried really hard to highlight his executive actions. Every president has always used this kind of authority. But Obama has tried to brand it, tying this agenda together under the banner We Can't Wait. The problem is that, objectively, it's been difficult to attract substantial public attention to these We Can't Wait initiatives because they tend to be rather small-bore.


Do nothing Congress

Under the circumstances, the specter of a United States Congress literally picking a high-profile political fight over the idea that the president has been doing too much stuff is manna from heaven. Now there's no more argument over why the president won't lead. He is leading! Leading as far as he can possibly go! Leading so far that the Speaker of the House is complaining that he's engaged in an illegal level of leadership!

In a statement to reporters, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest scolded that "at a time when Washington should be working to expand economic opportunities for the middle class, Republican leaders in Congress are playing Washington politics rather than working with the President on behalf of hardworking Americans."

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http://www.vox.com/2014/7/11/5890287/boehners-lawsuit-is-great-news-for-obama?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=voxdotcom&utm_content=thursday

[B Calm]

1. One thing I've learned about republicans,

they will throw anything at Obama hoping something will stick.

[sheshe2]

2. KnR

[napkinz]

3. kick!

nt