Obama's big stick
He may not use it but Obama has got a big stick in his back pocket, to fight his way past the Senate.
that carbon dioxide is a threat to the welfare of the American people.
This means that Mr Obama could, if he chooses, impose stringent new environmental standards by what amounts to presidential fiat, rather than wait for the agonisingly slow process of legislation on cap and trade making its way through a doubtful Senate.
, "the agency finding also will allow Mr Obama to tell delegates at the United Nations climate change conference that began today in Copenhagen that the United States is moving aggressively to address the problem".
At the weekend, while I was making snowmen with the children and examining the National Christmas tree (in other words doing Cunardesque wintry things), we saw the flashing of police car lights as President Obama went up to the Hill.
He was there and to try to move the conservative and liberal wings of the party towards a compromise.
And that is without dealing with the objections of the Republicans who could still talk out a bill - forcing such a protracted debate that the bill withers and dies.
Although the separation of powers in the USA is a key part of any course on comparative politics it is still, to my British eyes, a curious sight to see how a party in a majority, which has just won a presidential election has to kowtow to the losers.
In Britain, any prime minister, while cautious of the middle ground of public opinion, is happy to follow Disraeli's declaration "as for our majority... one is enough".
So I was interested , E! Sharp, arguing that the Senate almost exists to thwart decent legislation, from anti-slavery laws onwards, and that it is high time it is reformed. What do you think?
I’m Mark Mardell, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's North America editor. These are my reflections on American politics, some thoughts on being a Brit living in the USA, and who knows what else? My 
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