At Politico, Carrie Budoff and Jake Sherman ask: Is President Obama overplaying sequestration hand?
What do you think? I’ve seen this same general point made by different people, in two basic versions. First, as Budoff and Sherman argue, that Obama is “overplaying” his “tough guy” card. Two, that he’s once again convinced that his (behind the scenes, so this argument goes) negotiating abilities will get at least enough Republicans to join him so that he’ll be successful. I don’t know that either is accurate. To me, it mostly all looks like the usual DC political drama, with each side playing its role.
Here’s a part of the argument Budoff and Sherman make:
President Barack Obama’s greatest adversary in the latest budget battle isn’t the Republican leadership in Congress — it’s his confidence in his own ability to force a win.
He has been so certain of his campaign skills that he didn’t open a line of communication with House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell until Thursday, a week before the spending ax hits. And when they did finally hear from Obama, the calls were perfunctory, with no request to step up negotiations or invitations to the White House.
That’s because Obama’s all-in on an outside strategy, doing just about everything other
than holding serious talks with Republicans.
Of course, “holding serious talks” would require not only Mr. Obama, but Mr. Boehner and Mr. McConnell, be willing to join the president.
And that just gets me back to DC Daily Drama government productions.
I just got through reading this Politico article and it is filled with the false equivalence I have come to expect from the MSM! The GOP made it clear from day one of their intention to oppose all things Obama, from blocking his judicial appointments to filibustering his cabinet nominees. Something that has never happened before in our country’s history. But somehow President Obama is equally responsible for dysfunction in DC!
Doesn’t sound all that different from everything else I’ve heard over the last few years. The usual folks making anonymous leaks to the press, each blaming the other side for not wanting to negotiate, etc. Oh, and what are we going to do to save Social Security? Think of all the poor defense workers! (Disclaimer: I used to be one of those poor defense workers.)
So, yes, the usual kabuki.
“Oh, and what are we going to do to save Social Security?”
The obvious thing of course! Cut it!
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2013/02/22/white-house-wants-everyone-to-know-obama-supports-cutting-social-security-benefits/
60% of the electorate place the blame squarely where it belongs on the obstructionist domestic terrorists in the repugnantklan/teabagger mob. So the answer is NO, President Obama is not and CAN not overplay his hand…in fact it will be fun to watch him use this like a stick to beat the repugnantklan/teabaggers like a drum.