Late last month, on the eve of the triggering of the automatic "sequester" cuts, Obama attempted to tell people how much everyday life was about to be upended by the Republican need to look insanely tough on spending. In doing so, Obama was, as has too often been the case, his own worst enemy, neglecting the fact that most federal agencies had (with more fiscal skill than they are often credited with possessing) had already budgeted to cushion the short-term impact of the cuts. The result was predictable: Obama was seen as Chicken Little and, as March began, everyone was laughing because the sky hadn't fallen yet.
By "everyone," I actually mean everyone in old media, who have never gotten over the fact that Obama won in spite of them and the corporate interests that control them. Nor have they forgiven him for the fact that he makes no bones about his lack of need for them. Consequently, as March began to proceed with the absence of the predicted pain, the sequester was suddenly being trumpeted as a brilliant tactical move by Speaker Gerry Mander and Mitch Filibuster.
Well, let the trumpets fall silent. Because, while it may be happening in slow motion, the sky really IS falling, literally as well as figuratively.
And Congressional Republicans, as always, forgot to give themselves (as well as the rest of us) an exit strategy. All I can say is this: 2014 can't get here fast enough.
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