David Brooks writes about...

...the Chicago teachers' strike in his column in the New York Times today. Specifically, he asks:

Can Democrats confront their own special interests and deliver results?

That's a good question. Brooks also says (my emphasis):

Rahm Emanuel’s willingness to hang tough and accept a strike was itself a hopeful sign that some Democrats are hardy enough to take on interests aligned with their own party. 

And it made me think, when was the last time a Republican confronted one of his party's special interests? Can you imagine a Republican office-holder saying to his rich donors, "Hey, we really need more revenue to balance the budget; we're going to have to return to the tax rates of the Clinton years?" Or, "Hey, oil companies, you're doing pretty well; we'd like to eliminate some of your tax breaks now." Or even, "Gee, Wall Street, you guys messed up pretty good in the aughts; we're going to have to pass some sensible regulations now."

Can you even imagine anything like that? I can't.