Not realizing you’ve won

When health care was being debated, I was surprised at how angry Republicans were. They hated Obamacare even though it had its roots in a conservative think-tank, and was modeled on what Mitt Romney did in Massachusetts.

Democrats had abandoned their dream of a single-payer system, in favor of keeping private insurance. Yet Republicans didn’t seem to realize that they had won!
It’s a perennial problem in Washington: Mistrust of the other party can leave you blind to your own victories.

And now, it’s the Democrats turn to not realize they’ve won.

As this sequester edges one more day closer to reality, the thing that seems to have surprised Democrats is that a majority of Republicans are ready to let those defense cuts happen. Even knowing that furlough notices are going out to almost 800,000 defense workers, Speaker John Boehner said once again, “It’s time to cut spending here in Washington.”

Which is weird enough – but what’s weirder is hearing all these worried Democrats!

Democrats who have pointed out for years that the U.S. spends more on defense than – how does that go now?

“We spend more on our military than the next 10 countries combined,” said Obama.

Which I believe actually understates the case, since many of those countries are on our side.

But of course every time Democrats have tried to trim defense, those hawkish Republicans always stood in the way, ready to call them surrender monkeys.

Well take a look – they’re not standing in the way anymore. They’re letting it happen. They’re giving you an intentional walk. Why not accept the gift. It’s not often Republicans give up a base.