O Executive Action, How we need you

O executive action, that time honored pseudo legal power that modern Presidents possess, is coming under scrutiny as President Obama vows to act unilaterally on immigration reform.

Americans universally acknowledge that the United States’ immigration system is broken. While we may be divided on what to do about immigration we all know something must be done. Our political leaders, elected to lead us, have not been able to compromise on this important issue.

President Obama feels, as do I, that if Congress does not act he has the responsibility to enact immigration reform to benefit the nation. This has naturally lead to outrage from Republicans as an abuse of executive authority. I would rather Congress act on immigration but politicians from either party have shown a reluctance if not an inability to compromise

The political back drop, is of course, the shellacking Democrats took in the midterms elections earlier this month. With the lame duck congress gridlocked and the following Congress to likely follow suit; President Obama will most likely act on immigration if Congress cannot pass meaningful legislation.

The problem of President Obama acting unilaterally is dubious legal reasoning (which other presidents have exploited in the past), the weakening of Congress’ power (though they have weakened themselves), and overreach of the Executive Branch. While the claims may be valid President Obama cannot preside as a figurehead over a nationally debate that will effect the lives of millions and potentially the future of the United States.

Obama: A Mislead Legacy

Barack Obama, the political scion, whom infused a nation with hope is no more. Instead Obama the man, Obama the Presidents of the United States, lives in his place. He was faced with high expectations, a nation left destitute, and was elected in a hyper partisan political system.

Barack Obama may have lost the faith of his party and the people, yet the good he has done has been hijacked by the obstructionism and narrative of the Republicans Party, a narrative that the Republicans crafted in order to “win” the contest that are the midterm elections.

During the recession President Obama, was able to stabilize the economy and prevent the US from sliding into a second Great Depression. He was able to the Affordable Care Act (popularly known as ObamaCare), while suffering problems decreased healthcare cost for millions of Americans. When President Obama took office GDP (Growth Domestic Product) growth was one percent, its current growth rate is now three point five percent.

President Obama’s foreign policy has been lampooned by Republicans and the public alike. Yet he successful pulled us out of the quagmire that is the Middle East and Middle Eastern Politics, furthermore his economic warfare against Russia is working, as I type the Russian ruble (Russia’s currency) is collapsing. President Obama was elected, in no small part, due to his promise to wind down wars in the Middle East, the American public does not wish to send ground troops into combat. Furthermore under President Obama AL-Qaeda’s core leadership, including but not limited to Osama Bin Laden, has been eradicated. Mission Accomplished I believe.

And yes Republicans have attacked Obama with attacks such as “ He’s not doing enough to combat ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). Yet when pressed for what Obama should do the Republican Party has no answers. Republicans accuse Obama of being weak against ISIS yet are also “adamantly” against deploying troops to the Middle East.

Obama no doubt is a major factor in the Democratic Party getting overrun in the congressional midterms; Republicans, through extensive planning have been able to take control of the national mood of the nation and forge it into anti-Obama sentiment.

Were the positions reversed Democrats would use similar tactics, such as they did in the 2006 mid terms elections, by framing the midterms as a referendum on then-President George W. Bush the Democrats were able to control the Senate and House of Representatives. The Republicans now have a chance to compromise and forge a political resume that would allow a Republican to win the White House in 2016.

To the credit of Republicans Obama has also had demonstrated some measure of incompetency. From pledging US action if Bashar Al Assad crossed a redline by gassing Syrians to the failed ObamaCare rollout, Obama has shown that he is perhaps not the most effective governor of the state.

If no compromises can be found then Republicans will damage their national reputation and Obama’s legacy will truly be tarnished. If there’s one thing all Americans can agree on is that our political system is broken. Something must change.

The question is what?