Kathleen Parker: As Obama reminds us, he now expects things to go his way

By contrast, Republicans — and especially Romney — seemed merely to be part of the ongoing problem. Viewed as withholders, they were pathetically inarticulate about how conservative fiscal policies could make all boats rise.

Now into holiday season, Obama is lighting trees and wishing everyone Merry Christmas, while the GOP grinches keep saying no. The problems Obama inherited can't be denied. Nor can it be denied that once he felt Republicans were going to block his agenda, he doubled down. All signs now indicate that Obama's transformational presidency will not have Americans holding hands and singing over s'mores.

If we go over the cliff, Republicans will be blamed. And Obama, appearing virtuous while figuring he has four more years to patch things up, will get the middle-class revenues he needs while effectively neutralizing the enemy. Ho-ho-ho.

CORRECTION: In a previous column, I suggested that the assistant of secretary of state for African affairs oversees U.S. relations with Libya. In fact, though Libya is part of Africa, the country falls under the diplomatic umbrella of the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.

Kathleen Parker is a Washington Post columnist. Email her at kathleenparker@washpost.com.