tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412583847145043520.post1715252547931912089..comments2024-03-27T19:01:21.504-06:00Comments on Enik Rising: Obama and the Inside GameSeth Maskethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17178036016555722068noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412583847145043520.post-81242591149047023642010-12-14T09:29:22.560-07:002010-12-14T09:29:22.560-07:00What Robert said, plus: Look at repubs stance on ...What Robert said, plus: Look at repubs stance on 9/11 first responders. They certainly have it in them to act on lack of any compassion whatsoever. There has NEVER been any question in my mind about that, even as I interact with everyday, above-average intelligent ones. I've found it remarkable and more than a little creepy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412583847145043520.post-31345074831583146302010-12-13T14:16:43.961-07:002010-12-13T14:16:43.961-07:00It's difficult to say who was in the tougher s...It's difficult to say who was in the tougher situation. I <i>think</i> Republicans would've caved eventually on unemployment benefits as Christmas approached, and if that's true, Obama should've called their bluff rather than dealt early. But Republicans have surprised me before with their insensitivity to public opinion, and I can hardly say that I have better knowledge of the situation than the president did.Seth Maskethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17178036016555722068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412583847145043520.post-13838784858501770662010-12-13T11:38:00.642-07:002010-12-13T11:38:00.642-07:00I'm with Seth on this with one additional poin...I'm with Seth on this with one additional point. That is, there are only so many days left in the year. The Senate Republicans have been unified throughout the term, and there was little reason to believe that they wouldn't remain so right up until New Year's Eve. So, on the one hand, it didn't look like holding the Republicans feet to the fire was very likely to make a difference for the reasons Seth talked about. But in the absence of an agreement there would also not be time for dealing with anything else. So, if Obama had any hope of getting anything done other than a tax plan, i.e., Dream Act, START treaty, etc., then he needed to get a deal done sooner rather than later.Robertnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412583847145043520.post-70636898897657182352010-12-13T10:04:25.807-07:002010-12-13T10:04:25.807-07:00Obama's unwillingness to credibly threaten to ...Obama's unwillingness to credibly threaten to let all the tax cuts expire, his most powerful bargaining chip that he has a power to play without cooperation, despite that the Republicans care much more about that possibility than the Democrats, is what has weakened him.<br /><br />The status quo is in his favor, and yet he still hasn't been able to make use of that fact.Andrew Oh-Willekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02537151821869153861noreply@blogger.com