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The Republicans need to play ball

Barack Obama's presidency appears to be in trouble. He cannot secure agreement on healthcare reform; he is attacked by his party for not taking on Wall Street and by his opponents for being a big spender. His desire to turn around the US security and military apparatus has proved ineffective. And the one critical advantage that he did enjoy – enough Senate seats (60) to overcome a Republican filibuster – has now been destroyed by the election of Scott Brown, a Republican, to the Massachusetts Senate seat previously held by the veteran Democrat, Edward Kennedy.

Are the Republicans making a mockery of American government by playing the wrecker and wantonly refusing to do any deals, just as Newt Gingrich did when he was the Republican House of Representatives leader during the Clinton era? Or is their rejection of Obama's policies based on principle and genuine revulsion at what he is trying to do?

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Ahmed Rifaat Ibrahim
Systematic opposition is not democracy but a mockery of it.
Ahmed Rifaat Ibrahim
"Principled" has long been replaced in Republican parlance by "blatantly opportunistic".
Ahmed Rifaat Ibrahim
Long practiced public dis-education and misinformation through watered down average education and opportunistic media creates this easily gullible society, then steered by irresponsible politicians, themselves often gullible to their lobby influenced advisers.
Ahmed Rifaat Ibrahim
Tea party on deck while the ship of state sinks. The grand old Gop has become cantankerous.
Ahmed Rifaat Ibrahim
Lets redefine sense please.