Yes, put your beverages down before you start this video of Katie Couric asking, “Where did Obama go wrong to really have this happen to him during the midterm elections?” I am wondering if I start taking whatever Katie happens to be on, will I be able to sleep better at night?

More entertainment from the crew over at MSNBC making fun of Michele Bachmann as a person with a sign asking “How’s the tingle Chris?” goes by in the background.

And now for the topper; a Washington Post op-ed.  All emphasis from this point on is to highlight comments.

And now for the next battle

President Obama allowed Republicans to define the terms of the nation’s political argument for the past two years and permitted them to draw battle lines the way they wanted. Neither he nor his party can let that happen again.

Yes, the millions of tea party patriots had absolutely nothing to do with the political argument.

Democrats would be foolish to turn in on themselves in a fruitless battle over whether their troubles owe to a failure to mobilize and excite their base or to win support from the political center. In fact, Democrats held onto moderate voters while losing independents. What hurt them most was this brute fact: Voters younger than 30 made up 18 percent of the electorate in 2008 but only about half that on Tuesday, according to network exit polls. This verdict was rendered by a much older and much more conservative electorate. Yes, there was an enthusiasm gap.

Given this argument, the dems progressives will continue down their progressive yellow brick road while we womp them again in 2 years.

This only underscored that Tuesday’s results mark the beginning of the next round, not the end of the contest. Before the next election – which will be decided by a broader electorate – progressives, including Obama, have to be wiser about the fights they pick, more focused on the country’s economic pain, and as shrewd as their adversaries have been in promoting debates that rally their troops and advance their goals.

I agree that this is by no means the end of the contest; sane, thinking human beings now have to make sure the republicans do the job they were sent to the District of Criminals to do.

Obama was not wrong to fight for health care, to stimulate the economy when it was in deep peril, or to push for financial reform. But by failing to defend these achievements, the president and his allies opened the way for partisan critics, who shifted the conversation to airy language about “big government” and “bailouts.” One result: Only a third of Tuesday’s electorate, exit polls indicated, thought the stimulus had made the economy better.

Only a third think the stimulus made the economy better because they happen to be in the bottom third of the class.  The rest of us unemployed and homeless moos know better.  THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE!

Now Obama needs to offer proposals that advance the common interest and progressive ideals in ways that force Republicans to pay a price for opposing them. The economy still needs far more support, and Obama should take up the old Republican idea of revenue-sharing by offering states large-scale assistance to prevent layoffs and tax increases. This would be welcomed by the many new Republican governors. Will congressional Republicans really want to pick a fight with them?

Ah, there is the strategy; make the Republicans pay the price by using their own party against them and laying traps. More divisive tactics.

Obama should also push forward with an infrastructure bank, which has bipartisan support. There is no better time to rebuild our nation’s crumbling public facilities than when borrowing is cheap. And he should address the decline of American manufacturing, a prime cause of the discontent that roils the Midwest.

For more information on the infrastructure bank and what a lousy, progressive, globalist idea that is, go here.