Peter Baker, at the NY Times:
Amid demands from Republicans that President Obama propose detailed new spending cuts to avert the year-end fiscal crisis, his answer boils down to this: you first.
Mr. Obama, scarred by failed negotiations in his first term and emboldened by a clear if close election to a second, has emerged as a different kind of negotiator in the past week or two, sticking to the liberal line and frustrating Republicans on the other side of the bargaining table.
Baker describes Obama as “disciplined and unyielding” on his argument for “raising taxes on the wealthy” with “nothing new to rein in spending and overhaul entitlement programs beyond what was on the table last year.”
Dan Pfeiffer, the White House communications director, is quoted as saying: “The president ot going to negotiate with himself.”
This, apparently, is the “liberal line,” including the fact that we’re all suppose to accept the “fiscal crisis” as presented by DC. The “conservative line” appears to be “more of the same.” The Belt Way Dance of willing partners continues.
The President holds all the cards here, and I think he knows it. If there are going to be entitlement cuts proposed, republicans need to bring up what they want to cut and then take the blame for said cuts.
The only other thing is I’m tired of hearing that this was a close election. This election by modern times was a blow out, and it really wasn’t a close.
I agree angels~ It was not close at all my modern standards.In addition exit polls showed that even people who did not vote for him ,agree with raising taxes on the top 2%. he mentions that all the time.
I hope the President keeps on playing golf with WJC. Nobody could be a better advisor in a fight like this.