Reply #34: Let's hope Obama is approaching this as a fencer or a boxer

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I've been increasingly nervous the past few days about what he thinks he's up to -- but the most hopeful analogy I can find is to fencing (which I've done a little) or boxing (which I gather is similar).

You start by feeling out the opponent. A tap here, a feint there. See how he reacts. Press a little harder and see what sort of ground he gives. Retreat a little yourself and see if moves in cautiously or comes all in a rush. Watch his timing to find out how you can wrong-foot him by attacking into his advance. Try to spot the weak points in his defense -- high or low? outside or inside?

Do all that just right, and when you do let loose your attack, he'll never even see it coming.

I was never a very good fencer myself -- but I understand the theory. And I do know that Obama is a watcher and a sizer up. For all our sakes, let's hope that's what he's been doing these last two weeks.