Reply #4: I don't think he compromised. Obama has said that he a New Democrat and he has behaved like one.

[No Elephants]

On that issue, there has been no discrepancy between his words and his actions. I think it's past time that we believe him.

As far as ACA, he did pretty much what he wanted.

The only Republican who even feigned an interest in the bill was Susan Collins; and it passed without her vote--or the vote of any Republican--anyway.

He renewed the Patriot Act.

The very first budget he sent to Congress cut fuel subsidies for the poor.

As far as compromising on taxes for the rich, I think the only Republicans who influenced his thinking on that were the Republicans he hired to advise him, starting with little Timmeh Geithner.

Like every good Republican, TG is of the view that you never raise taxes on anyone during a recession. In December 2010, when we got the Obama tax increases, Democrats still controlled both Houses of Congress. Not only that, but, if Obama had wished, he could have done away with the Bush tax increases on the rich as soon as he took office, citing the extreme state of the economy at that time and the fact that he had campaigned on it and been elected by a healthy popular and electoral vote.

And, once the Republicans got control of the House, he focused on things he could control without them, like doubling down on Bushco terrorism fighting, including the assassination of Bin Laden and drone killings.