Ezra Klein on Balls

[babylonsister]

http://seniorsforademocraticsociety.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/ezra-klein-on-balls/

Who Cares What We Think? Not Politicians…

Ezra Klein on Balls
Posted on February 16, 2012



Most in the White House will admit it: Over the past few months, their strategy has swung from seeking compromise to welcoming confrontation. After the debt-ceiling debacle, they stopped believing that they could reach a deal with House Republicans. And so they stopped emphasizing policies they thought Republicans would like and began emphasizing policies — like the Buffett rule — that they thought the public would like. But then a funny thing began to happen. The president’s numbers began to rise. And with it, the possibility that seeking confrontation might force the Republicans to welcome compromise.

Since August, President Obama’s job approval has risen from 43 percent to 49 percent. Disapproval of his job performance has fallen from 53 percent to 46 percent. Much of that likely reflects renewed signs of economic recovery. Some, perhaps, is due to the the White House’s new communications strategy, which has been to hang back from the congressional fray and campaign on what is popular rather than what is possible. And the Republican primary probably hasn’t hurt, both in terms of attracting Democrats back into the president’s corner and leaving independents wondering whether there weren’t better off sticking with Obama.

snip//

The payroll tax cut deal is, to be sure, not a 1996 moment all on its own. It’s very likely a one-off. It may even still fall apart. But it is, at the least, a template for how further deals might go. If Obama’s numbers continue to rise, if the economy continues to recover, and if the GOP’s presidential nominee falls behind in the polls, it’s easy to see how Boehner and McConnell and Cantor and Kyl begin worrying more about their own majorities than about what happens at the top of the ticket. And if that happens, they may decide their members need a few accomplishments of their own. A big infrastructure bill, perhaps. Or, if gas prices rise, a serious compromise on energy.

But if that happens, it won’t be because the White House offered Republicans a deal they couldn’t refuse. It will be because they offered them a confrontation they couldn’t win.

[MarianJack]

1. Well said.

PEACE!

[southernyankeebelle]

2. Sad that the republican party really didn't want to put the country before their party. The

hate for the black man in the white house is just to much for them to handle.

[GOTV]

3. The president's critics here have been advocating this for some time ...

... - that he take a more oppositional stance against the Republicans. I'd say they have been well vindicated.

[babylonsister]

4. Here's Ezra's full article-For White House, compromise through confrontation

Wonkbook: For White House, compromise through confrontation
Posted by Ezra Klein at 06:52 AM ET, 02/16/2012



Most in the White House will admit it: Over the past few months, their strategy has swung from seeking compromise to welcoming confrontation. After the debt-ceiling debacle, they stopped believing that they could reach a deal with House Republicans. And so they stopped emphasizing policies they thought Republicans would like and began emphasizing policies -- like the Buffett rule -- that they thought the public would like. But then a funny thing began to happen. The president's numbers began to rise. And with it, the possibility that seeking confrontation might force the Republicans to welcome compromise.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/wonkbook-for-white-house-compromise-through-confrontation/2012/02/16/gIQAYrySHR_blog.html