How far is too far?

It would not be a stretch to say that Congress has done everything in its power to interfere or block the majority of President Obama’s legislative initiatives and programs.  When first taking office in 2009, President Obama boasted about bipartisan compromises and uniting a divided Congress.  With such a claim came understandable apprehension from the Obama administration to “ruffle the feathers” of Congress and especially the republican core.  However, as his first term unfolded, President Obama managed to be road blocked by Congress for almost the entire first two years. 

Unable to pass legislation or start nearly any of the programs on his agenda, President Obama has had to face an unfortunate and debatably dangerous realization.  This realization, best characterized by the old cliché “If you want to get something done, you have to do it yourself,” has led President Obama to adopt his new political slogan “We Can’t Wait.”

As Charlie Savage of the New York Times comments in his article Shift on executive power lets Obama bypass rivals,

“… Increasingly in recent months, the administration has been seeking ways to act without Congress. Branding its unilateral efforts “We Can’t Wait,” a slogan that aides said Mr. Obama coined at that strategy meeting, the White House has rolled out dozens of new policies — on creating jobs for veterans, preventing drug shortages, raising fuel economy standards, curbing domestic violence and more.

Each time, Mr. Obama has emphasized the fact that he is bypassing lawmakers. When he announced a cut in refinancing fees for federally insured mortgages last month, for example, he said: “If Congress refuses to act, I’ve said that I’ll continue to do everything in my power to act without them.”

Although progressive and proactive, this new way of thinking has effectively further alienated President Obama from his counterparts in the legislative branch.  Such exercise of executive power has left many on both the left and right side of aisle worried about how far this “flex of muscle” will reach. 

Many are worried that President Obama is extending his powers too far by effectively passing legislation by “bypassing lawmakers.”  However, my argument to this is what else is he supposed to do?  With a republican contingent in Congress hell bent on not cooperating or compromising with anything the administration has put forth, it seems the only logical next step for the President is to start doing it his own way.  Instead of viewing this as an overly aggressive executive branch’s play for extended power, I view this as a realization that if Congress refuses to help or even play an active role in the legislative process, than it is the Presidents duty to do what he feels is best for the country within his powers.  President Obama is pragmatically analyzing the political landscape in Washington and has identified a pattern of stall tactics from Congress.  If he is going to accomplish anything of value by the end of this term, sidestepping Congress to enact his own legislation seems the only way.