Lexington: The senator-in-chief

Barack Obama is too deferential to his former colleagues on Capitol Hill THE easiest way for a president to make his life miserable is to antagonise his fellow politicians on Capitol Hill. Bill Clinton tried to steamroll Congress into passing a baked-in-the-White House version of health-care reform. Congress took one look at his 1,342-page draft bill and decided it had better things to do. Jimmy Carter treated Congress as an embodiment of everything that was wrong with American politics. Congress responded in kind. Barack Obama has clearly learnt a lesson from his two Democratic predecessors. One of the earliest signs of the impending troubles between Mr Carter and Congress came at a breakfast that the newly elected president threw for congressional leaders. Tip O’Neill, the speaker, was appalled to find that the only victuals available were coffee, juice and a roll. “Hell, Nixon treated us better than this!” he roared—and demanded bacon, sausage, eggs and toast. Mr Obama ... (link)