How the Party of No Became the Party of Yes

CBS/AP

The Republican gambit seems to have paid off.

For 18 months they were lockstep in opposition to President Obama's policies. That energized their base -- the some 46 percent of the country who voted for Sen. John McCain -- and convinced the independent swing voters who went for Mr. Obama that it's worth questioning what the president was pushing.

Complete Election Coverage

By opposing everything, they made the Democrats fight among themselves for cap-and-trade energy legislation and health care reform, drawn out battles that soured the mood of the country.

With all House Republicans standing firm against the stimulus and other Obama economic policies, they raised the bar for success, forcing the administration to be able to show the policies worked. They were accused of betting against the economy, but they were really betting against the Democrats' ability to fix the economy.

Their opposition also struck the heart of the Obama administration's plans for hope, change and optimism. By opposing everything, the Republicans created a divisiveness that permeated the American psyche and caused more negative feelings about the state of the economy and the future of the country.

Obama needed help for the vision of a post-partisan America where pragmatism beats partisanship, but no such help was given. The Republican Party sat on the side as the Democrats fought themselves to pass the major legislation they promised, a process that left many Americans disillusioned with the very process.

As they take control of the House back, their strategy has paid off. But it could quickly become a case of "be careful what you wish for." Just as the Democrats have struggled with the onus of governing in a deep economic recession, the Republican takeover does not come at a time of hope and glory. Most Americans distrust government and disapprove of Congress in greater numbers than they disapprove of Mr. Obama.

Exit polls show that 88 percent of Americans who voted think the economy is in bad shape and 86 percent are worried about the direction the economy takes next year.

The newly elected Republicans will have to take ownership of turning around the economy. If they don't deliver what the American people really want -- results -- they could very much find themselves on the losing side in 2012.

---

Robert Hendin is a CBS News senior political producer. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter here.

[CarloCaraluzzo]

"By opposing everything, they made the Democrats fight among themselves for cap-and-trade energy legislation and health care reform, drawn out battles that soured the mood of the country." And THIS is what America wants for its leaders? Im confused. Two years ago the American people elected the democrats BECAUSE of their positive plans for the country. When they try to implement those plans however the Republicans intentionally block every effort. Im sorry, isnt this blocking the will of the people? And BECAUSE the Republicans block every attempt by the Democrats to improve conditions these are our best leaders?
But then this is the same voters who elected a man who was obviously unqualified for the job, Bush, to a second term.
American Voters: When are you going to stop listening to what people say and start paying attention to what they DO?

[ET4321]

My new slogan is "Bring our jobs home"!

[Cattzen]

Jobs
Lowered Taxes
Absolve the Deficit

The American Voters now need a Plan from the GOP and a time table for delivery.

[Cattzen]

and, SMALLER government too....the clock is ticking.

[tsigili]

Whether they can get enough bipartisan support to take any real action on the economy, remains to be seen. With the houses split, bipartisanship has to happen, or nothing will happen.

Obama himself is absolutely ruthlessly partisan.

If they can't get the economy moving, Obama will have zero chance in 2012.

[realist51]

where you been for the last two years. you forget so fast the party of no over 400 bills sitting in the senate, all because of republican partisanship. ccantor allready wants to go after HCR instead of the economy. not even 24 hours and they've already forgotten why they were put back into office JOBS,JOBS,JOBS,

[endurorob_5]

First of all Obama was not looking for bipartisanship. He was looking to have his agenda passed with no questions. Bipartisanship means working together and compromising. Obama wanted no compromise from the repubs he wanted them to do what he wanted. Secondly how can the repubs take ownership of the economy. They have the house and that is all. The dems have the senate and the executive.

[Fatesrider]

The only time they say "YES!" is when they win. They won't compromise. They won't work toward cooperation. It's their way or no way.

A leopard can't change its spots. The Republican Party will be the reason there will be no economic recovery for at least three years (it will take at least an extra year to get us out of the hole, and with no economic plans passed, there won't be a recovery until the Party of No is no longer in control of.)

[GunsInTheSky]

It is amazing how getting power will de-radicalize a party.

They are now on the hook too, so they understand they can't stand around and do nothing any more.

[endurorob_5]

The ones who would not compromise are the dems. Any idea brought to the table by the repubs in the last two years was summerily dismissed. Now the dems and jacka$$ Obama will have to compromise. But will Obama's supreme arrogance allow compromise?

[imnho]

This is going to be a long unproductive two years. The necons are going to work very hard to uutsource as many jobs as they can. A lot of angry people are going to be even angrier when the funds to create jobs get exported to save the rich a bundle. I think that in the next two lears the necons will be laughing all the way to the bank.

[FredMav]

What a fantastic night to be an American. This is a slap in the face to the left wing extremism of Obama and Pelosi that spit in the face of the majority of Americans that opposed their extremist policies. This is a repudiation of the nutjob community organizer thats never held a real job we mistakenly elected president two years ago. Obama is nothing more than a left wing kook that thinks he's better than everyone else. Shoving his healthcare bill down our throats that over 70% of America opposed, rushing to defend a racist havard professor without having the facts, calling fellow Americans that disagree with him "enemies."

Enjoy the next two years Mr. President, you're next.

[ET4321]

woo hooo!!! yay!

[waygone]

Much ado about nothing. Nothing will change. Turn on, tune in, drop out.

[ET4321]

One thing will change for sure. Obama's agenda is in trouble!

[us_1776]

They didn't. They're still the party of NO.

The party of NO ideas.
The party of NO leaders.
The party of NO clear platform.

The party that will now do nothing meaningful other that try to put the country into Republican, I mean Reverse.

They'll make a big deal about trying to undo the healthcare reform. And the GOP has ZERO chance of doing that. They don't have enough votes in the Senate and the President would most certainly veto any attempt that did pass. But by gosh you can take it to the bank that the GOP is going to waste a huge amount of the country's precious time and resources trying to undo the healthcare reform. And then what? If it were to succeed we go back to the system that was on a trajectory to fail? Of course that doesn't matter to the GOP. What matters is that THEY would succeed doing this. And the country would lose big time. And next on the agenda would be some type of war. Yes, with the GOP you always have to have some type of war going on. Makes it easy to steal lots of money. Got to feed all those special-interest war companies. Middle-class families, suck it up, you'll get a fifty dollar tax break and a 30,000 dollar war bill. Just got to love those Republicans.


.

[nearl451]

Just saw Boehner's speech tonight. What a cry baby. The fellow actually believes he is doing something historic with no details as tohow to get there. He is against Washington, but of course has been part of Washington Politics for 20 years.

And threatening the President that he is going to roll him.....LOL. Veto pen anyone?

[nearl451]

Just imagine how many more Republican seats would have been picked up and the Senate won outright, if the idiotic Tea Party movement had not been staged. With the economy stagnant, there is no excuse for such a lackluster performance by the Republicans. They could have had veto proof majorities.

[nearl451]

AND they SHOULD have had.