Why President Romney would let down the right

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 16:00:00 +0000

If Mitt Romney wins election, what will he actually do? The right hopes -- and the left fears -- that he'll join with congressional Republicans to roll back the federal government, undo the social contract, and unshackle the "genius" of the American free-enterprise system, launching nothing less than a Romney Revolution.

It's not going to happen.

Victory will bring Romney no end of troubles. The expectations of his fired-up supporters will be sky-high, and Republicans in Washington will be even less willing to compromise on their "bold" (i.e., radical) ideas. But President Romney would face real obstacles from Day One -- just like every Republican president since Ronald Reagan. The sizable budget deficit will compel action even as it limits the president's running room. The same congressional gridlock that has bogged down President Obama will confront Romney, only this time with the Democrats as the obstructionists.

Those are structural and political barriers. Romney will face a fundamental policy challenge, too: The government programs that he and running mate Paul Ryan most want to overhaul, Medicare and Social Security, are immensely popular with the American people.

Salon.com > Meg Jacobs

Why President Romney would let down the right