...I don’t think the results of the 2012 election will significantly affect the next term: the modern Republican party controls the country’s policy and all mainstream political discourse extremely effectively, even when they don’t hold the presidency or a congressional majority.

Marco Arment commenting on The President Surrenders by Paul Krugman

At this point I'm starting to agree with Marco. I happily voted for President Obama, looking forward to sweeping and radical changes in DC, but looking at what he has done so far is really disheartening. He has taken a few stands on some issues (Repealing DADT for instance) but he continues to compromise (or cave) in the face of Republican threats and standoffs. Between retaining the Bush era tax cuts and this compromise to avoid any new revenue (raising taxes) in favor of reducing spending exclusively the President seems to be communicating a willingness to bow to the Republican party (and more specifically the most extreme elements of the Republican party) on nearly anything.

Strangely, I find myself thinking, "This isn't the change I voted for". I've heard tons of conservative friends and family complaining about the extremism of the Democratic party, but I just don't see it. All I see is the Republican party controlling the political situation at a national level no matter who the President is or who is the majority in congress.

As I get older and more concerned with the world out side of my small family I'm starting to gain a desire to get more involved in politics, at least to become better informed about what's going on in my cities political landscape. This whole situation with President Obama basically playing out the Republican party line while being harassed and diminished publicly by those same republican's has really been eye opening.