The Holidays came early for congress and the American public. Just when it looked like Grinch Harry Reid was going to steal Christmas from them, lawmakers made deals and finished the 111th Congress with a flurry of bills, most supported by the majority of Americans.
This unforeseen miraculous happy ending came during a lame duck session where the departing incumbents could have taken their marbles and gone home, but they didn't. And this is a victory for everyone, especially the President who less than two short months ago admitted he and his party took a "shellacking" in the mid-term elections. (http://www.businessweek.com/.../obama-says-midterm-shellacking-to-spur- cooperation.html)
This come from behind series of victories is not unlike the "Miracle at the New Meadowlands" that the Philadelphia Eagles pulled off against the New York Giants this past weekend. They were down by 21 points and rallied behind quarterback Michael Vick and punt returner DeSean Jackson for four touchdowns in 8 minutes. (http://www.philly.com/.../eagles/20101220_Eagles___Miracle_at_New_ Meadowlands__beats_Giants_for_NFC_East_lead.html)
Just as some are saying this Eagles win was so dramatic it has the fans thinking Super Bowl, President Obama's major bills that passed in the last week alone may propel him to re-election in 2012. It is too soon to say for both but there are a lot of similarities.
Before Jackson's breathtaking punt return he had been dejected on the sidelines after fumbling away the ball in the third quarter. He was ready to give up but QB Vick implored him not to. "Vick kept telling me, 'Man, come on. Man, keep your head up. You're going to get one. You're going to get one'. And we kept plugging away and we got one."
Vick also told his teammates at halftime, if nothing else play for pride. That seems to be what the Democrats in congress did this lame duck session. Many are leaving in January. They knew this was their last chance to get bills passed that they felt were just morally right: the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", the 9/11 Responders' Health Care bill, and the Russian START treaty.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid smartly played the "Christmas card." He told disgruntled GOP Senators who were complaining about having to stay past their holiday break time that many Americans have to work on Christmas. Ironically this deadline of the new year forced many Republicans to stop playing obstructionist and vote on America's business. (http://www.tnr.com/.../harry-reid-gets-something-right-making-our-lazy-politicians -earn-their-payc -)
It turns out that President Obama was wise to get the tax bill done first to clear the way for the rest of the legislation. (http://www.bankrate.com/finance/taxes/obama-gop-reach-tax-deal.aspx -). Although many progressives in his own party were unhappy with the deal which included tax breaks for the wealthy, the whole process helped them to find their voice (like Vermont Senator Sanders' 8 hour filibuster, take that, GOP) and fired them up which helped create the momentum for the monumental last few weeks. (http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=cae39a0e-ad05-4782...)
Many moderate GOP Senators also showed backbone by voting for the President's agenda. Already I have heard a backlash from the Tea party on right wing radio warning these lawmakers that they are "taking names." (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46578.html)
The truth is that conservative Republicans lawmakers must feel similar to the NY Giants right about now. They were sitting pretty after the historic November 4th mid-term elections but now they may be wondering what train hit them. Senator Lindsey Graham (R,SC) is quoted as saying Senator Reid has eaten our lunch." (http://news.yahoo.com/video/politics-15749652/23595814)
Yesterday, history was made with the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_gays_in_military.) This is as momentous an occasion as Truman's desegregating the Military in 1948. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_9981). In addition to the extension of tax cuts, the START treaty and the 9/11 Health care bill, a Food Safety act was passed, and unemployment was extended for 13 months. This on top of all of the legislative victories of the last two years including Health care reform, equal pay for women, credit card reform, and Financial reform. Speaker Pelosi as well as Senator Reid should be applauded for all they accomplished despite the party of "no".
President Obama has called this a "Season of Progress." (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.../obama-press-conference-pr_2_n_800475.html). The one bill that he regrets that didn't get passed is the DREAM act which guarantees rights to children of illegal immigrants. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DREAM_Act ). But he has said he has not given up on it and will take it up with the next congress. I now believe him. As he has said, he is nothing else if not persistent.
These are my Christmas wishes: the Eagles win the Super Bowl and President Obama and the 112th congress find a way to continue to work together and do what is right for the American people. One can DREAM can't one?
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