Don’t you feel like you’re dealing with a stubborn teenager every time you hear President Obama speak? Even his own party has started to look on him with disdain.

He did nothing (thank God) to help his party win or keep seats, except raise money.

We learned several things in this last election: You really can’t buy votes, and negative ads are no longer effective.

There were several high-profile elections across the country where one candidate was outspent 3, 4 or even 5-to-one and yet, the underdog still won. Why? As much as I like to say people aren’t paying attention, the average voter seems to be paying attention enough to be irritated with all of those negative ads and mailers that bombard them at election time – and it takes lots of money to mail them.

Based on many of the president’s comments this past week, he has a real problem grasping reality. I’m wondering if the clowns at MSNBC, CNN and those other so-called news outlets were drinking the same Kool-Aid he’s been drinking.

They were all dumbfounded by the election outcome. What happened? How could this be? Chris Matthew’s tingle down his leg became a jolt to his cerebral cortex. One or two of the commentators had their medication wear off early, as was the case with Ed Shultz, who admitted it was a vote against Obama’s policies but wouldn’t admit the people were right about the policies being bad.

The president is like your teenage child who never does anything wrong and never has a bad idea. Last week, the votes were against policy. His policy. His agenda. He can’t see it. Has your teenager ever come home with a “D” or “F” on his test, only to tell you it was the teacher’s fault?

They didn’t explain the subject properly. They didn’t give you enough warning about the test. They didn’t word the questions properly. They didn’t give you enough time. Blah, blah, blah. Not my fault.

That’s what we heard all week. Obama made many statements like, “Well, only a third of the American populous voted,” insinuating that “the people” hadn’t spoken.

Yet, when he wins an election or a Democrat wins an election, no matter how slim the margin or how many come out to vote, it’s a “mandate” and an affirmation of the work he is doing. But the reverse doesn’t hold up.

This teenager has had to stop using phrases like “the war on women,” “gender inequality,” “they want you back in chains” and “they want you sick and dead,” to mention just a few.

The temper tantrum will no longer be tolerated. The American people have spoken. They want the teenager grounded. They want us to take away his keys and put a curfew on him. I hope the new guardians will do exactly that.

When Obama saw the writing on the wall Tuesday evening, he asked for a bipartisan meeting that took place last Friday. Most figured it would be a “Hey, you guys won, I don’t want to yell and fight each other over the next two years, let’s see what we can agree on and move forward” moment.

But no. That ever-stubborn teenager in him would not let go. He let everyone in attendance know he would fight the fight because the American people were on his side – obviously a very confused man – and he would basically stay the course.

He made the comment several times that Republicans need to pass legislation he would be happy with. Huh? What about passing legislation that will benefit the American people, for the greater good, not for his good? Does he not realize this isn’t a party thing? He is used to going to Pelosi and Reid and saying, “Bring me this bill with these terms in it,” and they go like good little Borg drones and do as told.

The Senate and House, Mr. President, are not yours for the directing.

He still doesn’t understand the separation of powers thing. Maybe he needs to go back and look at those notes from when he was a constitutional professor or teacher or shredder – whatever that position was that he once held.

People, the bottom line is this: He is acting like a stubborn teenager, and I think we need to treat him like one. We need to grab the 380-plus bills that were on Harry Reid’s desk and send them over to him for signature. Send five a day. Tell him he can’t go out with his buddies to play golf or wine and dine until his work is done. The work he gets paid to do. The people’s work. Oh, and he has to play by the rules.

If he keeps this up, he could be the cause for his whole party being grounded. I’m OK with that.

Joe Messina is host of The Real Side (TheRealSide.com), a nationally syndicated talk show that runs on AM-1220 KHTS radio and SCVTV [here]. He is also an elected member of the Hart School Board. His commentary publishes Mondays.