A Possibility: Obama put SS on the table because he knows a deal isn't going to happen....

[Barack_America]

....and wants Dems viewed as having offered "their share".

Would also explain why so many Dems quickly, and unexpectedly, signed on.

Sorry if this idea has already been floated, DU is not particularly readable today.

[Rocky888]

1. This offer could cost democrats votes in 2014!

Especially, if it goes through.

[Barack_America]

2. Maybe the only reason they're offering it is they know it won't be accepted.

Was kind of my point.

Or, maybe they're really willing to sell out SS.

[sabrina 1]

7. Is there anything wrong with just doing what is right and stopping all these games?

Assuming they ARE games.

Why is SS even part of these discussions and why can Democrats, who would have the support of the majority of Americans on SS, not just speak the truth? Iow, SS is not in trouble, it is not part of the Deficit, it had nothing to do with so they will entertain no pretense that it did.

Frankly I am sick of these attempts to excuse the fact that Pelosi, Hoyer and Obama ARE playing games with something that is no game to those who are most affected and who are seriously worried about their future.

It is cruel to play these games with Seniors, especially when there is no need to do so.

[madfloridian]

9. Amen to that.

That's playing games with lives of seniors, putting them under stress that should not happen.

[woo me with science]

10. THANK YOU. The most damaging aspect

of this entire debt ceiling debacle, ever since it started, has been the unconscionable decision by our Democratic President and corporate Democrats in Congress to validate the right-wing narrative and framing of what is wrong with our economy and what needs to happen to fix it.

Our Democrats had from Day One of this Presidency to correct the lies about austerity and change the narrative. They chose instead to play along.

What used to be understood as REPUBLICAN lies and talking points about the economy and the deficit were transformed into a devastating NATIONAL, BIPARTISAN narrative that we now have to fight against every single day.

Every single time Democrats reinforce this narrative, it is damaging to the country.

[pnwmom]

19. Yes. Unilateral disarmament very rarely works. n/t

[ProudProgressiveNow]

21. +1000 nt

[Fumesucker]

3. You're saying that Obama has a palantir?

I knew Obama was special but I didn't realize just how special he actually is.

[Bonobo]

4. That's not fair. He doesn't need to have a Palantir.

He could also have used the Mirror of Galadriel.

[BarackTheVote]

12. You don't need a palantir to tell that Repukes will turn down any offer Obama makes

He could tell them not to jump off a cliff, and that's what they would do just to spite him... wait... that's exactly what they did...

GERONIMO!!!

[Control-Z]

5. He and Boner talk,

and have been talking, one on one. This is exactly what I think has transpired from the talks.

[Barack_America]

6. Ahem.

Am I right? Or am I right?

[madfloridian]

8. But what if the deal had gone through.

He would have put our Dems up for re-election in a jam.

[SidDithers]

14. Senate would have killed it...

Harry Reid was bad cop.

Sid

[Barack_America]

15. I think he got wind of "Plan B".

Or other evidence that Boehner was just going through the motions in the negotiations.

I'm not saying that I agree with this ploy, I'm just trying to interpret it. I tend to think the WH realized the cliff was inevitable and wanted to show the public that they offered "their best". Or, maybe, they really offered it as a last ditch effort to keep talks going.

[democrattotheend]

11. I've been saying that for days

I think he does want a deal and is willing to compromise on SS if they can use the formula proposed by the Center for Budget & Policy Priorities (designed to protect the poor by guaranteeing a baseline of 150% of the poverty line), but I think he leaked his proposal because he knew Boehner couldn't pass it and he wants the American people to see that he is doing everything he can to protect us from the not inconsiderable harm that will occur if a deal is not reached.

[WilliamPitt]

13. In poker, it's called "All in."

You saw tonight what "Fold" looks like.

Sometimes you go all in because you know you're going to win.

And sometimes you go all in because you know your opponent can't win, and by going all in you force the issue.

Win.

[MFrohike]

17. So, he's an idiot?

If you really want to theorycraft this scenario, the smart politician offers up something important but not something that is the core of his party. The idea he offered up Social Security because he knew the other side wouldn't take it is simply far too risky for a politician as cautious as Obama. The same could have been achieved by offering up Medicaid or food stamps, both of which are far less popular than Social Security. That kind of deal would have been more in line with the man who is determined not to put a foot wrong (which really just means that he's never led a dance). If Medicaid took a giant hit, it would cost him far less than the same for Social Security. It would cost his party far less as well. If he put Social Security on the table in that kind of gamble, he's as stupid as the people who blew up the economy with MBS based on liar's loans.

[Barack_America]

18. If you haven't put something that hurts on the table, you haven't given it your all.

That could have been the thinking.

Hate to say it, but if he wants it to look like Democrats are really making concessions, getting liberals riled up isn't a bad way to go about it. And nothing gets us riled up like the threat of touching the third rail.

[MFrohike]

20. You missed my point

Medicaid and food stamps would hurt quite badly. They would also cost far less politically. The jump to Social Security from those programs is like the jump from conventional bomb to a nuclear warhead. Sure, they do the same thing, but the nuclear warhead is the one that will rain fallout on your side. The Democratic party has a core of Social Security and Medicare. If you take those away, all that's left is social liberalism and some noises about human rights.