MICHAEL MEDVED

Does an opposition Congress doom a presidency?

May 28, 2013, 3:22 PM | Updated: 3:23 pm

President Obama blames Congressional Republicans for collapse of his “hope and change” agenda but those claims make no sense in historical context. Since World War II, all the most successful two-term presidents worked with Congresses where the opposition enjoyed far more strength than today’s GOP wields against Obama. Opposition Democrats dominated both Houses of Congress for six of the eight years of Eisenhower’s presidency, as did opposition Republicans for six of eight years under Bill Clinton.

Hostile Democrats held the House for all Reagan’s terms of office, and the Senate for two of those years. By contrast, Obama’s own party has controlled the Senate for his entire presidency, and the House for a third of it. The president’s wrenching failures reflect his own weakness, not the strength of the opposition.

Michael Medved on AM 770 KTTH
  • listen to michael medvedTune in to AM 770 KTTH weekdays at 12pm for The Michael Medved Show.

Michael Medved

Gaza attacks...

Michael Medved

Medved: The sad, ‘crazy’ tale of a Gaza water park, and Hamas’ war against fun

After barely three months of operation in 2010, the dream of a fanciful facility to attract tourists and delight locals lay in ruins.

6 months ago

2024 presidential debate...

Michael Medved

Medved: Will 2024 be the year of crucial political debates on TV?

It’s not difficult to imagine either Biden or Trump uttering some inaccurate or incoherent combinations of words that could undercut any momentum.

6 months ago

medved populism...

Michael Medved

Medved: GOP heading to irrelevance as party fails to embrace demographic changes

The spreading speculation about a new civil war isn't based on regionalism this time, but on distinctions in education and identity.

7 months ago

biden...

Michael Medved

Medved: How Biden learned money misdeeds can hurt most of all

The doomed example of "Tricky Dick" demonstrates the way that financial wrongdoing and personal enrichment can upset the public more than sex scandals.

7 months ago

Trump...

Michael Medved

Picking the right running mate could powerfully boost Trump’s prospects

It’s impossible to forecast who Donald Trump will pick as his running mate for the upcoming election of 2024, but it’s safe to say who he won’t select.

8 months ago

trump campaign...

Michael Medved

Medved: Can a new Trump victimhood campaign win back the White House?

Facing more than a half-dozen hostile legal proceedings before next year’s presidential election, can Donald Trump mount an effective campaign?

8 months ago

Does an opposition Congress doom a presidency?