Obama is a very bright man.

[Jackpine Radical]

One cannot presume that his actions arise from a crippled view of reality or a failure to understand their consequences.

For example, he is often criticized for giving away his chips before the game starts, or starting the negotiations from the position where he wants to end up.

In fact, I believe that he starts the negotiations from where the observer maybe wants to end up, but he starts at the right point to get to where he wants to end up.

This suggests to me that his goals are not the same as those of many of his rank-and-file supporters. Obama got the health care plan he wanted. He got the stimulus package he wanted. He provided just as much relief to distressed common people as he wanted to. He will get the tax bill that he wants. He will get the cuts to SS that he wants.