Dear Mr. President -

How'd that bipartisanship thing work out for you?  I think you know how it worked out for the American people, at least for the 98% of us who aren't among the HaveMores.

The Republicans pulled it off.  They weakened and obstructed every effort to repair and strengthen the tottering economy and bring relief to the struggling middle class, and they managed to pin the failure on the donkeys.  In January they'll have control of the House, which means for the remainder of your term there'll no funds available for any program which could be interpreted as a success of your administration.

You and your allies in the Congress have less than two months left to act on behalf of the people who elected you.  No matter what you do the Republicans will vilify you.  They won't compromise, they won't take your hand if you're foolish enough to extend it to them again.  So please sir, use the majorities you have in what's left of the current Congress to enact as much of your stillborn programs as you can.

You could start by exercising your leadership to extend the tax cuts for the working middle class that are about to expire.  There's no need to make any compromise or concession to the Republicans on this.  They can't stop you, and they won't give you any credit for reaching out to them.  Use reconciliation to get this measure through the Senate by a simple majority without a filibuster.  That's how the Republicans got these tax cuts enacted in the first place.  Let the Republicans offer a new tax bill next year if they want to borrow another $700 billion from China to give away to the richest Americans.  Let them explain to the people why it's such a good idea to hand out more cash to the Wall Street fat cats who're already sucking up millions in bonuses at the expense of middle class taxpayers.

Next get another unemployment benefits extension passed, keeping in mind that it'll be the last one to get out of Congress until at least January 2013.

And then get Harry Reid to look at the 420 bills that have already come from the House, figure out which can be passed under reconciliation, prioritize them according to the effect they'll have on economic recovery and pass as many as can be managed in the time remaining for this Congress.

Sure the Republicans'll scream about process and lame ducks.  Let them scream, that's what they do, that's what you can expect from them whether you knuckle under or fight back.  You owe it to the American people to fight back with whatever you have while you still have it.

It's time for you and Harry to grow a pair.  If you have any questions about how it's done, ask Nancy.

Your friend and supporter,

Roy J

cc:  H Reid, N Pelosi