Ever noticed how the things Obama "negotiates" for are basic, temporary government functions?

[Marr]

Not only are they always basic functions of government, but they're things he can negotiate on all over again in a year. He gets a few months of continued unemployment benefits in exchange for a long extension of the Bush Tax Cuts, he gets the standard increase of the debt ceiling in exchange for whatever happens to Social Security and Medicare, etc. The consequences of not making that deal are always oh-so-dire, and the big compromise is always revealed at the last possible moment, with urges that we all support the deal to avoid the tragedy of the moment.

This is how I'd negotiate if I didn't actually want to get anything for my side, but did want to give things away to the other side. The "concessions" always help the other side move the ball down the court, and the "wins" are usually temporary extensions of basic government functions.

[kestrel91316]

1. Good observation.

[The Straight Story]

2. Basically it is similar to this:

short term problem, you need help so you go to get a loan. Bank knows you need it so they up the interest rate.

You then approach your family/employees and tell them that the good news is you will be able to fix some of the problem by getting a smaller loan in agreement to having longer to pay it off (and they didn't raise your interest by 3% only by 1.9%).

Next year, the same problem comes up....and you are still paying off for the last help you got.

Some people would try different banks (or tactics perhaps) and other people just keep negotiating the same way with the same results that maybe next year or year after changes will take place.

[Wilms]

3. In his spare time he goes after whistleblowers and taps our phones.

Arguably the worst Democratic President in quite some time.

[lumberjack_jeff]

4. ... and sends swat teams against pot dispensaries. n/t

[woo me with science]

16. And argues at the Supreme Court for expanded warrantless GPS surveillance. nt

[Sarah Ibarruri]

5. Please. Someone explain to me why he is even NEGOTIATING. Why? nt

[uponit7771]

7. Because he doesn't have an 83% dem congress like FDR had?

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[Marr]

8. It's more like suckers don't recognize a bullshit threat when they see one.

Do you seriously believe that Republicans would refuse to raise the debt ceiling if it meant crashing the economy, when big business has more to lose from such a move than anyone else? How are the markets doing today? I'd expect a serious panic to be in effect if economic armageddon were actually looming a few days away.

[KittyWampus]

11. Yes, the Republicans will default the debt. BTW, I did a poll and a majority of DU'ers agreed w/ me.

[Marr]

13. Ever heard the phrase "argumentum ad populum"?

You might want to look it up.

[flamingdem]

9. +1 This is like the Republican meme that Obama is lazy or incompetent, take it elsewhere

[eilen]

15. I think that meme is only valid depending on where you are standing. nt.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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[Marr]

12. No, Health Insurance reform was a bailout of the insurance industry.

Not the best counter-example.

[Tennessee Gal]

14. Really? How about these?

Ended the Bush-era practice of awarding “no-bid” defense contracts (2009)

Eliminated co-payments for veterans who are catastrophically disabled (2010)

Instituted enforcements for equal pay for women (Lilly Ledbetter Bill) (2009)

Reversed the Bush-era practice of politicizing Justice Department investigations and prosecutions against political opponents (2009)

Increased funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (2010)

Authorized construction funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access in K-12 public schools (2009)

Increased funding for school construction (2009)

Increased funding available for student loans (2009)

Expanded the national youth service program (2009)

Streamlined the federal student loan process to save $87 billion over the next 10 years (2009)

Launched “Educate to Innovate,” a public/private partnership making $236 million available for science, mathematics, and technology education programs (2009)

FEMA once again reports directly to the president (2009) * Note: Bush removed FEMA (prior to the Hurricane Katrina disaster) from this status

Extended national flood insurance program for those in need during current economic crisis (2010)

Restored the EPA to “Cabinet level” status (2009) * Note: Bush removed the EPA from this status

Ordered the White House and all federal agencies to respect the Freedom of Information Act and overturned Bush-era limits on accessibility of federal documents (2009)

Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants…) (2009) * Note: Bush was the first president since Herbert Hoover to not make infrastructure a priority

Authorized the US auto industry rescue plan and two GMAC rescue packages (2009)

Authorized the housing rescue plan and new FHA residential housing guarantees (2009)

Authorized a $789 billion economic stimulus plan (2009) * Note: 1/3 in tax cuts for working-class families; 1/3 to states for infrastructure projects; 1/3 to states to prevent the layoff of police officers, teachers, etc. at risk of losing their jobs because of state budget shortfalls

Authorized the “Cash for Clunkers” program that stimulated auto sales and removed old, inefficient, polluting cars from the road (2009)

Signed a bill to extend unemployment benefits set to expire (2010)

Signed historic Wall Street reform bill (2010) * Note: Designed to reregulate and end abusive practices and promote consumer protections

Ended the Bush-era practice of circumventing established FDA rules for political reasons (2009)

Ended the Bush-era practice of having White House staff rewrite the findings of scientific and environmental regulations and reports when they disagreed with the results (2009)

Negotiated a deal with Swiss banks to permit the US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals (2009)

Ended the Bush-era policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs (2009) * Note: The new policy promotes in-sourcing investments to brings jobs back to the US

Signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which provides small tax cuts for 95% of “working families” (2009)

Ordered the closing of offshore tax safe havens (for individual and business tax evaders) (2009)

Overturned the Bush-era practice of not listing certain federal programs in the federal budget (2009) (2010) * Note: Bush did this (so did Reagan) in an effort to hide programs and make the budget look smaller; such “off budget” items are now included in the annual budget

Full appropriations for war are now included in the budget (2009) (2010) * Note: Bush did not list many of the appropriations for Iraq, Afghanistan, and War on Terror

Funds for emergency appropriations are now included in the budget (2009) (2010)

Cut the expensive Reagan era missile defense program, saving $1.4 billion in 2010 (2009)

Cancelled plans to station anti-ballistic missile systems in Poland and the Czech Republic (2009)

Closed the Bush-era “secret detention” facilities in Eastern Europe (2009)

Restarted international nuclear non-proliferation talks and reestablished international nuclear inspection protocols (2009) * Note: Bush withdrew from non-proliferation talks and dismantled the inspection infrastructure

Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic (2009) * Note: These were suspended under Bush

Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions (2009) * Note: These were suspended under Bush

Banned the export of cluster bombs (2009)

Overturned Bush-era plans to increase the US nuclear arsenal (2009)

Restored the US commitment to the UN population fund for family planning; overturned the ban on providing funds internationally for family planning (2009) * Note: The family planning efforts were suspended under Bush

Signed a nuclear limitation treaty with Russia (2010)

Removed Bush era restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research (2009)

Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children (2009)

Historic healthcare reform bill signed – $940 billion over 10 years (2010)

Overturned Bush-era rule that weakened the Endangered Species Act (2009)

Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government (2009)

Ended the Bush-era policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions (2009)

Signed a measure requiring energy producing plants to begin producing 15% of their energy from renewable sources (2009)

[flamingdem]

17. +1 easy to overlook accomplishments at this juncture, there are many nt

[Big Blue Marble]

18. How many of these accomplishments will disappear

when a Republican President assumes office. Maybe as soon as 2013?

Even the health care law is quite reversible. Obama will have changed the politics
of this country, but there will little left to his legacy that will admirable.