Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich to the Fiscal Cliff Rescue

From the day Barak Obama was elected in 2008, it was clear that his inner circle at the White House would be led by the "Chicago school of politics." To Americans, that is shorthand for bullying, cheating, pay-off led, don't bother me with the facts because they don't matter way that Chicago has run itself politically for the last century. These tactics are the antithesis of the non-confrontational, compromise, let us all look good at all cost brand of politics practiced in Washington. It explains in large part why Obama and his Chicago gang got little done in his first term. The only exception - Obamacare - is the only major piece of legislation passed in Obama's first term, and it passed because the White House got out of the way and gave the task to the Democratic leaders in Congress - Chicago politics gave way to Washington insider tactics. Some of the gang went back to Chicago toward the end of 2011...to be elected mayor of the Windy City and to run Obama's re-election campaign. Enter Obama Term Two. He has not changed. -- still no budget submitted, no offer of a presidential plan for dealing with the national debt or the fiscal cliff. No effort to rein in the diplomatic security mess and enforce his rule. But, it was yesterday, when President Obama appeared in the White House Press Room to plead for compromise on the fiscal cliff debacle that I realized just how much of a Washington amateur he is. I actually felt sorry for him...and for America. Barak Obama does not understand either the system of presidential power and leadership or the niceties of Washington negotiation and compromise between the White House and Congress. Instead, he chose to 'beg' publicly for help from Congress. What he should be doing is providing the plan and leadership that would make it possible for both Democrats and Republicans to compromise their positions without giving way on their principles and thereby risking being booted out by their constituencies at the next election. It is clear, based on the President's performance yesterday, that this will not happen. And Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid seem unable to bridge the gap and move Obama toward the position that would make it all work. ~~~~~ So, dear readers, I have a suggestion. Let Obama spend the holiday season in Hawaii and send Boehner to Ohio - both out of harm's way. Call Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich and ask them to go to Washington and huddle together until they have thrashed out a deal. I really don't see any other solution.