End-of-the-Year Presser

Well, I enjoyed watching President Obama's press conference this week. Fairly obvious from the get-go that this show was going to be better than his last presser. A few tactical successes, if you ask me.

He obviously wanted to get a message to his base on the DREAM Act. His long, long response to Juan Carlos López from CNN Español was testimony to that. And he could not stop reminding us of exactly where he disagreed with the Republicans on the tax-cut extension compromise. But, I suspect his handlers weren't too happy with the gay marriage segue….

He clearly wanted to make the point that bi-partisanship equaled "progress for the American people" these last few weeks, while at the same time taking credit for various wins in the Democratic column -- the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the new START treaty, and the food safety bill. And I think it worked. Center-left commentary was all about how this bi-partisan stuff is working for the President. He's the new "comeback kid." Probably staying up late at night shooting the breeze with President Clinton.  Maybe even happy that the country will now see him fighting with Speaker of the House-to-be John Boehner, instead of butting heads with one of this own, Nancy Pelosi.  And these were the same prognosticating folks who were going on and on in November about how his moving to the center was what caused Democrats to lose control of the House of Representatives. 

Go figure.