Brooks

As he does often, David Brooks puts his finger on the disparate feelings I've had for a while concerning Obama turning over so much power to Congrress in drafting his major policy bills.

The great paradox of the age is that Barack Obama, the most riveting of recent presidents, is leading us into an era of Congressional dominance. And Congressional governance is a haven for special interest pleading and venal logrolling.

When the executive branch is dominant you often get coherent proposals that may not pass. When Congress is dominant, as now, you get politically viable mishmashes that don’t necessarily make sense.