…as Harry used to say
“It’s amazing what you can get accomplished if you don’t care who gets the credit.” That was Harry Truman, who accomplished a great deal of legislation within a hostile congress, with no mandate at all. Holding up the famous Chicago Tribune “Dewey Defeats Truman” headline, Harry grinned that wide grin. But he knew damned well that a razor-thin victory required a certain amount of humility.
What we have today in similar un-mandated circumstances is hubris. Both words begin with “hu” and other than that are worlds, decades and presidencies apart.
Dennis Hastert, current Speaker of the House, carrying on in the reckless tradition of Newt Gingrich, disavowed credit sharing in favor of throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Bathwater, in the current lexicon of the House, is all Democratic members. The baby in this case was the much-needed intelligence reform legislation on the floor of the House. Hastert threw baby and bathwater directly into the face of his president. The bill could easi…