What happens when Republicans lose

By Michael J.W. Stickings

From the Times:

Though it has been 45 days since voters emphatically reaffirmed their faith in Mr. Obama, the time since then has shown the president's power to be severely constrained by a Republican opposition that is bitter about its losses, unmoved by Mr. Obama's victory and unwilling to compromise on social policy, economics or foreign affairs.

For more on how House Republicans forget/ignore/disregard the past, including 2004, see Angry Bear. Otherwise, here's what's going on:

-- When Republicans lose an election, they pout like bratty little children when you tell them no, the country be damned; when Democrats lose an election, they cave in to Republican demands and think that the only way to win ever again is to embrace Republican policies.

-- When Republicans win an election, they seek to impose their far-right ideological will on the entire country even on issues they didn't campaign on; when Democrats win an election, they sell out their progressive base and reach out to Republicans in hopes of securing bipartisan (i.e., Republican-friendly) consensus.

Nietzsche, an ardent student of U.S. politics, referred to this dynamic as the eternal recurrence of the same.

Or not. Whatever. I would just note that Obama crushed Romney 51 to 47 (remember when there was all that agonizing about how Romney might just win the popular vote?), while the Democrats picked up seats in both the House and Senate, even winning the nation-wide House vote (the House is Republican because of redistricting that benefits Republicans).

But, then, reality isn't exactly a Republican strength.