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WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) One potentially delicious irony if as widely expected Republicans take control of the Senate is that President Barack Obama, whose low approval ratings may cost the Democrats their Senate majority, will connive with the new congressional majority to pass legislation opposed by most in his party.

These could include approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, fast-track authority on free trade agreements in Asia and Europe, cuts to benefits in Social Security and Medicare, and tax reform that lowers rates for corporations and high earners with only nominal compensation in closing of loopholes.

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While Obama will certainly use his veto to prevent any substantial damage to his health-care reform, there is a growing uneasiness among Democrats that he will be amenable to Republican legislation that Senate majority leader Harry Reid of Nevada has so far successfully blocked in deference to his view of what the partys base wants.

There has never been much love lost between Obama and congressional Democrats. Early in his first term, Obama said more than once he would be willing to anger his own party in the interests of getting bipartisan legislation passed.

The subsequent obstructionism by Republicans in Congress especially the toxic and often irrational debate over Obamacare obscured the fact that it was often Democrats who thwarted the presidents agenda.

For all the right-wing rhetoric about Obamas socialism and Marxism, progressive Democrats have consistently bemoaned his centrist read conservative instincts, especially on economic issues.

If Obama has resigned himself under a divided Congress to playing golf and putting his agenda on hold, he may see a chance with Republican majorities in both houses to check off some boxes for a more ample legacy.

Nor will he necessarily worry that making the Republicans look good will hurt the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, because, at the end of the day, there is little love lost between Obama and Hillary Clinton.

In short, a president focused on his legacy and his post-presidential speaking fees may feel little loyalty to Democratic principles he has never shown much conviction about.

Read more here:
Darrell Delamaide's Political Capital: Why Obama might welcome a Republican majority