During the recent State of the Union Address, President Obama became momentarily indignant as GOP legislators cheered his words that he no longer had additional campaigns to run. This caused him to go off script and quip that he won both elections.
The comment drew an enthusiastic from his own party which cheered him on during the speech as if they were the majority party. It was a moment that was as recalcitrant as it was ironic. The irony was the fact that only three months ago many of the same Democrats were refusing to answer whether they voted for Barrack Obama at all. Many liberals understood that to admit they supported the president was to hand their GOP opponents a bump in the polls.
At the same time, the raucous support Democrats offered the president was a telling sign that they too disregard the will of the people. During the address, the president affirmed that he will continue to do what he believes is best for the people. Given the strong repudiation that both he and his policies received in the recent midterm elections, his actions can only be summarized as being recalcitrant.
President Clinton faced a similar dilemma in 1994 after his policies were similarly repudiated at the polls. He shifted towards the center to usher in an era of bipartisan work with the GOP despite repeated clashes with the congress. It remains to be seen if president Obama can do the same now. If he cannot, the GOP will effectively veto his proposals as quickly as he vetoes their legislation.