My wife and I are debating. She says Obama's reaching across to Republicans

[redirish28]

is a bad idea and it is going to end with him not getting anything done. She thinks he has done everything he can but right now it is time to get the stick out and tell the Dems in Congress to get a backbone and start demanding the changes we need.



I think he still has a chance reaching out.

[LostinVA]

1. I agree with your wife

Excluding Snowe and Collins, and a VERY SMALL handful of others, it's a lost cause.

[Owl]

12. I also agree with your wife.

[wryter2000]

2. I see it a third way

I think he's making a good show of trying to be reasonable with them. They end up looking like the irrational obstructionists they are. They're looking pretty bad when their guru says "I hope he fails" and then they go ahead and make things as difficult for him as they possibly can. He has a 66% approval rating. People are scared and desperate. This is not going well for them.

[Still Sensible]

11. I think you are correct

either they find some common ground and appear to be supportive to some degree or they lose the PR battle and come off as obstructionist. There is some similarity to the situation in 95-96 when Newt and friends got blamed for "shutting down the government"--a PR disaster for the GOP that led to Clinton's reelection (easily). They are between a rock and a hard place unless the administration makes some big missteps.

[WHAT]

22. I see it as "sliding a cheek"...

(a colloquialism for making room on the bench for team mates)
picture that

versus turning a cheek...which is the image being promoted to make Obama appear too accommodating. I think they can either sit down or else leave the game because they don't own the bench.

[dbonds]

3. Its a win either way.

If some republicans break out of the partisan politics goosestep then sanity rules. If they don't then they are shown for the obstructionist partisan hacks they are. In the end we still get the policies and bills through since we are the majority.

[havocmom]

4. He is (wisely) inviting them to be a part of the solution

If they choose intransigence and partisan tantrums over helping America and Americans, they sow the seeds of their own political extinction.

By reaching across to Republicans, he is also giving them the rope by which they can hang themselves.

Smart guy, this Obama chap! ;)

[MNDemNY]

9. But it appears as though they

are using said rope to restrain any change at all. Not so smart.

[Solomon]

13. Well if he acted like an ass towards them would he get any votes?

No, right? Then what's the problem?

[MNDemNY]

14. You mean like all those votes he got in the House????

:rofl:

[Runcible Spoon]

29. !!!!!!!!

:spray:

[Wickerman]

5. His reaching out has been well-documented

As the Rethugs continue to bite his hand people will take note and Obama is smart enough to make certain that attention is drawn to the continued obstructionists. Seems like a win win to me when Obama pulls up and says, Look, I tried to include you, now, it's time to get stuff done, get out of the way.

[MNDemNY]

6. Listen to your better half.

Reaching out for bad ideas is a bad idea.

[mac56]

7. I agree with the other posters.

I think Obama is playing the rope-a-dope on the Repugs.

[Why Syzygy]

8. This is how they do it in Uzbekistan

On Tuesday, Russian news sources quoted Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev as saying that he had decided to cancel U.S. access to the Manas Air Base, one of two regional air hubs for resupplying U.S. troops in Afghanistan used since the war began in 2001.
http://washingtonindependent.com/28845/manas-air-base

** In another story it was reported there was some dissent from the oppostion party. But, it didn't matter because they are the MINORITY.

He needs to get on with the agenda and use the republican'ts for paper weights.

[napi21]

10. Actually, I think he can have it both ways right now. His consistent

reaching out to the Pubs is making them look like stubborn AH's, while behind closed doors he can put the pressure on the Dems to make sure they get his bills passed. I think that's the reason he asked all the staffers to leave the meeting the other day when he met with the Dem leadership.

[On the Road]

15. I Don't Think He's Doing It Just to Get Votes in Congress

I believe it's part of a larger strategy to influence the public directly and create a super-majority.

I believe that Obama is counting on Republican allies and members of his administration to create a more positive view among independents and Republican voters. I belive the Rick Warren invite was the same thing -- to have the Purpose-Driven Life guy with millions of fans on the same stage with Obama and either praising him or at least dropping the criticism.

I don't know how far it will go, but I think to a limited extent it's already worked.

[tilsammans]

28. Agree completely!!!

Jeez, everybody, let's give the guy's approach a chance. It's been -- what? -- two-plus weeks?

Only by changing MINDSETS will real change occur. And that takes time.

:kick:

[Thrill]

16. She doesn't understand the Senate. We can't get these Blue Dog Democrats

who are basically Republicans to vote on these things. There are about 10 of them where as the Republicans only have to worry about 2 of theirs who are closer to being Democrats. So when he is saying working with Republicans, he's really talking about 10 of our own Democrats.

[Dawgs]

17. It will get some things done (with Republican ideas), and it will hurt us in future elections.

Giving in to the Republicans, which will allow them to take credit for things, will only hurt us in future elections. It will prevent us from passing things like universal healthcare, civil unions, and energy independance.

I love Obama, but what he did with the Gregg appointment really bothers me.

[Better Believe It]

18. Obama ought to reach out to Democrats and grab them by the neck if necessary!

[pipi_k]

19. I think he's going to do all he can

to encourage and foster bipartisanship so that everyone can be happy with the results.

A win/win situation, if you will.

Then, if there's no cooperation, I think he's going to do whatever it takes to get things done, including ignoring what Republicans have to say.

[Aloha Spirit]

20. The degree to which Republicans' lack of cooperation is criticized and cooperation is rewarded will

make all the difference.
If stubbornness is rewarded more than conciliation, then the worst possible outcome is possible.

[geek tragedy]

21. Your wife is right. Obama's handling of the stimulus

has been utterly dreadful. The Republicans are drinking his milkshake.

[Cha]

23. He's reaching and giving

them a chance. If they don't take it..that's not his problem.

[avaistheone1]

24. Your wife is right. The republicans will only dig the hole deeper.

Didn't we vote for change?

[CakeGrrl]

25. He's reaching out to make sure that his efforts are well-documented

as are the responses and actions of the Congressional Republicans.

The problem is, as it has been since Obama started running for the presidency, is that we're not privy to the strategy, so a lot of people take the short view and figure that if results aren't here right now, then he's failing.

He didn't get where he is by being naive or careless; too many people wanted to see him stumble for him to be able to be. I'd wager that he knows these Congressional Republicans better than anyone on these discussion boards and understands the games being played.

We don't know his endgame, but why would we expect to be privy to his strategy? Wait and see is a tough thing for a lot of people to handle, but here we are.

[Runcible Spoon]

26. you married well.

Try not to let the debate get personal and remember that you've got a smart woman right there!

[rucky]

27. Your wife is right

always.

[ShortnFiery]

30. I think Obama, once again, is playing "chess" while the rest of us are thinking "checkers"

This BILL will pass but with "very weak" GOP support. Obama is USING the corporate whores in the pundit class to megaphone the GOP's talking point.

Within the year, this is going to BLOW UP in their faces as more and more people see their lives improving.

He hasn't let us down before so I don't see any need to get frustrated now. I have faith in Obama's judgment.