I have sympathy...

...for those on the left who are frustrated with President Obama. I, too, wish the president had fought harder for the public option, closed Guantanamo, wound down the war in Afghanistan, etc. (The list is pretty long.)

But at the end of the day, Obama is a pragmatist. He believes in getting the best deal possible and moving the ball forward. The Affordable Care Act, for example, was the best health care bill he could get passed. (In fact, after several decades of trying, it was the only bill that anyone could have passed.) As far as foreign policy and national security issues (Guantanamo; the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; Don't Ask, Don't Tell; etc.), just imagine how the right wing would squeal if he acted any faster. (They already think he's a Commie-Socialist from Kenya; what would they say next, that he's from another planet?)

The compromise that the president struck on the Bush tax cuts was the best deal he (or anyone) could have made with the Republicans. No one's taxes will be raised in the middle of a weak recovery, the president gets to appear more centrist (and win back independents), and the economy gets another $800 billion or so in stimulus which can only help the economy and his prospects for reelection.

I actually think it's only a so-so deal for Mitch McConnell and John Boehner. I thought they wanted to deny Obama  a second term. What happened to that whole Party of No thing? It's worked well for them so far. Now they've strengthened the president's position. Did they take their eye off the ball, or what?