For the last several weeks we’ve had round the clock Stimulus talk. It is amazing that a President with a clear majority in the House and a near super-majority in the Senate has such a hard time passing his agenda. The only reason for this can be that even those who are strongly in his camp see that this bill is not meant to stimulate anything but Democratic turn out at the ballot box. Why else would so much of the stimulus be delayed until 2010? That year is very important because traditionally the party of the president loses Congressional seats in mid-cycle elections. With no ‘historical vote hysteria’ to push up the turn-out on the left and a resurgent right, President Obama could find himself on a short leash with the next Congress. He is doing all he can to buy votes. Many believed this package would be an easy win for Obama, but not so.

Jackie Kucinech of Roll Call Magazine (Feb 8, 2008) says, “The debate over the economic stimulus bill moved from the Capitol to the talk shows once again on Sunday as Democrats and Republicans held their rhetorical lines and illustrated the continued partisan deadlock that the White House may have to break this week.”

Deadlock is political newspeak for: “My pet legislation is being thwarted.” Deadlock was exactly what the founders intended. Why else would be have one body to represent the people and another to represent the interests of the states and an executive empowered to veto anything the others did? They understood that the creation of laws should be a slow and tedious project. If any party, group, person or chamber is allowed too much power to legislate then the freedoms of this nation are in danger. Our current leaders have little understanding of restraint and fiscal responsibility, but fortunately, those who created our government understood these very well.

Every American who loves freedom should get on his knees and pray for more deadlock. Americans are never so free as when Congress is deadlocked, except when they are out of session. When you read about partisan deadlock, smell the air of freedom, salute the flag and be proud you are an American.