Maybe Obama has set them all up

[adigal]

Word is out that many republicans, including DeMint, do not want this deal. DeMint may filibuster it.

Maybe Obama knew the Republicans would not go for this. He knows DeMint is a wacko. So he sets up the deal, angering some Republicans and us. He looks like the good guy, the champion of the downtrodden. The republicans block this, thus blocking Unemploymen Insurance and tax cuts for lower classes for now. So he says, "I wanted to do this for the little guy, but those republican hostage takers don't care about them." I mean, why did he call the other side "hostage takers" right after making a deal with them? I thought that was so weird. It was sure to anger the Republicans.

So then he figures out another way to get UI and lower taxes for middle class. Can he do UI through an Executive order? Anyone know?

[Lucky 13]

1. That is wishful thinking to the point of delusion.

Sorry. Obama was quite clear in what he said yesterday.

[adigal]

4. I don't know, he is quite brilliant

And also clear-headed. He is capable of outflanking the hotheads on the right.

[Lucky 13]

8. You forgot spineless. There is no covert, super-secret, master plan.

You seem like a nice person, but you need to wake up.

[dennis4868]

11. yes spineless...

the first president to fight for HCR in 60 years is spineless...there is a reason past presidents gave up after 10 minutes of trying....

[Myrina]

23. "Health Care Reform" ? We got Romney Care ...

... which will break thousands of peoples' budgets and leave thousands more un- or under-insured. No single payer. No cap on premiums, no cap on insurance profits.

Not quite something to call home about, thanks.

[Lucky 13]

28. It's either Spineless or Complicit.

It's one or the other. Which would you prefer I call him?

[dflprincess]

34. He didn't fight for "health care" reform

he championed an insurance profit protection act - going back on campaign statements that he opposed mandates.

He baragained away any real reform, including the public option, by cutting deals behind closed doors. Just like he did with the tax bill - which also opens the door for destroying Social Security.

[blondeatlast]

9. I used to believe that, really. Not anymore. He doesn't realize that the ReBPs

simply want him to fail--and he falls for it every damn time.

It was a bitter realization, but I'm better for realizing it.

[cleanhippie]

39. Agreed.

But maybe we have him all wrong? Hard to give up, but I think we've been played.

[cbdo2007]

2. Everyone here at DU likes to act immediately on their emotions....

but they never go back and give credit to good ideas by Obama and his role in the chess game of politics.

I'm sure you are right at least partially...there is definitely "more to the story" here that we don't know, and Obama's team is setting this all up to be a big win for him somehow. I'm not sure how yet because I don't have any insider knowledge but everyone here who just thinks Obama caves because he's weak has the wool over their own eyes.

[fasttense]

16. How's this for playing chess...

That little Social Security payroll tax cut? It will lead to the destruction of Social Security as we know it.

Since when do we bargain with Social Security taxes??? Why are they doing this now???

The Simpson Social Security commission, commonly called the cat food commission, didn't pan out (Now, who put together that deadly commission?). But if this steaming pile passes, Social Security payroll taxes are in play and will be played on all future tax cut proposals. It will get labeled as a Democratic tax cut. It will eventually bankrupt Social Security as more and more payroll taxes are eliminated leaving a bill that will be so huge, there will be no way to pay it. Or, how about taking those Social Security payroll tax cuts and putting them into Private Accounts? That is the next step.

Just one small negotiation compromise for Obama, one deadly result for Grandmothers.

Has Obama really been out maneuvered or is it what he really wants?

[adigal]

20. That's a good point - I hadn't thought about that one. n/t

[monmouth]

37. I'm still stunned the $250 COLA didn't pass...Cat food on the menu?..n/t

[Dreamer Tatum]

36. If he's playing chess, he's a patzer and just hung a rook. nt

[cbdo2007]

40. You're still contemplating his last move, yet he's playing 10 moves ahead.

That's what it comes down to here. Face it, he's smarter than you. The entire Obama Admin knows more than you do and their one main goal isn't to play along to your ideology, it's to get a certain amount of things done and then get reelected to get a certain amount of other things done.

You're still setting up your chess pieces and Obama is checkmating you daily.

[Dreamer Tatum]

42. Obama is MATING me daily...not so sure about CHECKmating, however. nt

[cleanhippie]

41. Are you f-ing kidding me?

Nearly all of BHO's "victories" have been watered down versions of what really needs to be done. In many cases, it may have been better to not pass it unless it was what was needed in the first place.

Emotions? Yes, but generally justified.

[leveymg]

3. We should add another dimension to Obama's 10-dimensional chess game, eh?

I don't think so - The Deal is a bigger political disaster for the President and the Party than even HCR was.

[adigal]

5. Not if the Republicans block it. Obama looks

like the good guy, the liberals look more concerned with the deficit than the REpublicans are. Win/win for us.

[wurzel]

17. Why on earth would they block it. Obama did two very stupid things!

The Repukes got Obama to commit two absolutely stupid and unforgivable things:

1. He allowed unemployment INSURANCE to be part of a tax deal.

2. He allowed Social Security INSURANCE to be part of a tax deal.

Two things the Repukes have always needed to destroy both systems. Now they have them. And they will now destroy them!

[DearAbby]

6. Ahhhhhh the multi layered chess game Grasshopper...

:rofl:

[leeroysphitz]

7. You speculate wildly. n/t

[suston96]

10. This here was a set-up back then......

Surely the cynical quote of the week — courtesy of The Daily Beast — goes to Dan Bartlett, the former George W. Bush administration spokesman who was speaking about the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans that Bush “temporarily” put in place a decade ago: “We knew that, politically, once you get it into law, it becomes almost impossible to remove it. That’s not a bad legacy. The fact that we were able to lay the trap does feel pretty good, to tell you the truth.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/opinion/08friedman.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=a212

I would say it is time to turn the tables on them - and lay a trap.

[piratefish08]

12. just.

wow.

[readmoreoften]

13. Maybe the election of George Bush was also a part of Obama's elegant masterplan.

With George Bush elected, the people would be ready for him in 2008. This would set off the chess game that would end the Republican party by 2020, and create peace on earth once and for all.

(do I need the emoticon, or can you just figure it out...)

[adigal]

21. You are being snarky, and unhelpful

Please don't address me as if I am stupid. Thanks. :)

[deaniac21]

14. Maybe pigs will fly out of my butt.

[Poboy]

15. Are you mainlining that Hopium? Get help!

[CJCRANE]

18. IMO the Repubs want to get all of the tax cuts

but vote against the bill so that it's up to the Democrats to pass it and take responsbility (for increasing the defiticit).

[adigal]

19. I am not naive nor am I stupid

but after seeing Republican reaction to this bill, I had this thought that he knew what their reaction would be, and set them up.

What, you guys don't think he is smart enough to do this?? No matter what else I now think of Obama, he is brilliant.

[Segami]

25. Don't confuse ' having intelligence with having smarts '.

[WinkyDink]

32. He's not NEARLY in Bill Clinton's league, brilliance-wise. I see only "smart."

[Individualist]

22. What a sad post.

Refusal to accept reality is pitiful.

[adigal]

31. I'm just throwing out alternative ideas

Nothing sad at all about that.

I am always stunned at how condescending some on this site are. Why don't you argue your point, instead of making a snarky comment??

[BlueJac]

Get a grip!

[somone]

24. Someone gives you a nice big fancy cake in exchange for a few crumbs, and you turn it down?

The cake also comes with several nice gift cards

[GoCubsGo]

26. I wish DeMented WOULD filibuster it.

It would be the first time in his putrid career that he actually represented us, his constituents, and not Big Biz.

[Lucky 13]

29. It's a backwards, upside-down world when I find myself cheering for DeMint and Landrieu & not Obama.

Just as backwards when I found myself cheering for the Log Cabin Republicans and not Obama.

If you had told me in 2008 where we'd be today, I would have called you a liar. But here we are.

Backwards, upside-down, fucked up world.

[alfredo]

27. His press conference was not about us, it was about Independents.

If he wants to say unkind things about me to pull in the independents, I'm fine with that. I'm a big boy.

The conference also gave us some talking points. Yes, the GOP has been holding us hostage, and yes we had to protect the most vulnerable among us. We need to run with it.

The ball is now in the Republican court. Now lets hope they will be all that they can be. It will come in handy for us in 2012.

[adigal]

33. I was thinking the same things

Watch what happens if the Repubs block UI for Americans.

[alfredo]

35. If one has a weak stomach, they shouldn't be watching

sausage being made.

I don't think the Republicans do anything other than coddle the rich. The rich have invested a lot of money into the Republicans, and they will want to see results. The rich don't care if we starve, they've got theirs and they want ours.

[WinkyDink]

30. I'll make this brief: NO.

[Edweird]

38. I think there's a better chance monkeys will fly out of my ass.