THE OBAMA ‘Mojo’ IS BACK!

It was an incredible week for President Obama — perhaps one of the most successful and productive weeks in his presidency — as the president unexpectedly reeled off a series of tough victories:  A new stimulus bill; The successful repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell;” A new START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) agreement;  Financial benefits to first responders on 9/11.  Who knew a diminished president could be so triumphant? And even though it’s called a “lame duck” congress, they were anything but lame.  The president hasn’t had this much of a reason to smile in a long time.  And smile, he did.

So, what happened? The answer is very shrewd and calculated. Instead of the Democratic Obama relying solely on his Democratic congressional members for their full support (which they rarely could muster), the president and his team built up varying bipartisan coalitions on their own, which swayed public opinion in their favor and provided a much needed leverage in Congress.  In short, the president found a better way to govern.

Regarding the extension of tax breaks, the White House cut a deal with Sen. Mitch McConnell and other Republicans, despite the cries of liberal Democrats who wailed it was near sacrilegious. Together, the White House/GOP coalition convinced the public that their deal was a reasonable compromise, that it was in the best interest of the country, that it was necessary to get other bills moving, and they got it passed.

On “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the White House assembled a different bipartisan coalition which helped turn the tide in the president’s favor. Their secret weapon was to display the highly respected opinions of Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman, Admiral Mike Mullin, both of whom were deeply in favor of  repealing DADT.  That move likely made all the difference in swaying both public opinion and congressional support.

Earlier in the week, the passage of START was all but impossible. That is, until President Obama assembled a coalition of Republican heavyweights, including former President George H.W. Bush, and former Secretary’s of State Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, and Jim Baker, who provided the necessary gravitas and 11th hour support to get the bill done.

By the time the president secured these 3 victories, it would have been extremely difficult for political leaders to turn their backs on those men and women who risked their own health and lives during the 9/11 tragedy. These first responders rescued hundreds from the rubble of the former World Trade Center, inhaling soot and dangerous toxins in the process. Many have since been diagnosed with cancer, so they went to their government to ask for help with their medical care.  Who could say no?

Four very huge and very impressive victories all in the same week. And the Obama “mojo” was regained faster than even his closest advisers might have imagined. Mr. Obama ended 2010 and the 2nd year of his presidency on a high note, and is now armed and ready to deal with a more Republican led Congress next month. But for anyone looking forward, he has also set himself up extremely well as he begins campaigning in 2011 for reelection in November, 2012.