Obama and America’s Political Future (The Alexis de Tocqueville Lectures on American Politics)

Barack Obama’s galvanizing victory in 2008, coming amid the greatest economic crisis since the 1930s, opened the door to major reforms. But the president quickly faced skepticism from supporters and fierce opposition from Republicans, who scored sweeping wins in the 2010 midterm election. Here, noted political scientist Theda Skocpol surveys the political landscape and explores its most consequential questions: What happened to Obama’s “new New Deal”? Why have his achievements enraged opponents more than they have satisfied supporters? How has the Tea Party’s ascendance reshaped American politics? Skocpol’s compelling account rises above conventional wisdom and overwrought rhetoric. The Obama administration’s response to the recession produced bold initiatives—health care reform, changes in college loans, financial regulation—that promise security and opportunity. But these reforms are complex and will take years to implement. Potential beneficiaries do not readily understand them, yet the reforms alarm powerful interests and political enemies, creating the volatile mix of confusion and fear from which Tea Party forces erupted. Skocpol dissects the popular and elite components of the Tea Party reaction that has boosted the Republican Party while pushing it far to the right at a critical juncture for U.S. politics and governance. Skocpol’s analysis is accompanied by contributions from two fellow scholars and a former congressman. At this moment of economic uncertainty and extreme polarization, as voters prepare to render another verdict on Obama’s historic presidency, Skocpol and her respondents help us to understand its triumphs and setbacks and see where we might be headed next. The Obama administration's response to the recession produced bold initiatives that promise security and opportunity. But these reforms are complex and will take years to implement. Skocpol dissects the popular and elite components of the Tea Party reaction that has boosted the Republican Party while pushing it far to the right at a critical juncture for U.S. politics and governance. Her analysis is accompanied by commentaries from two fellow scholars and a former congressman

Obama's 2008 victory, coming amid the greatest economic crisis since the 1930s, opened the door to major reforms. But he quickly faced skepticism from supporters and fierce opposition from Republicans. What happened? Skocpol surveys the political landscape to help us to understand Obama's triumphs and setbacks and see where we might be headed next.

Obama's New Deal, Tea Party reaction, and America's political future / Theda Skocpol A New Deal fantasy meets old political realities / Larry M. Bartels Obama's problem: misreading the mandate / Mickey Edwards Obama and the challenge of submerged policies / Suzanne Mettler Making sense of America's political maelstrom / Theda Skocpol. Contents Foreword 1. OBAMA’S NEW DEAL, TEA PARTY REACTION, AND AMERICA’S POLITICAL FUTURE 2. A NEW DEAL FANTASY MEETS OLD POLITICAL REALITIES 3. OBAMA’S PROBLEM: MISREADING THE MANDATE 4. OBAMA AND THE CHALLENGE OF SUBMERGED POLICIES 5. MAKING SENSE OF AMERICA’S PO LITICAL MAELSTROM Notes About the authors Index