Kevin Drum: I Doubt That Obama Really Expects a Grand Bargain With Republicans

[UrbScotty]

The truth is that, for the most part, the deficit isn't a real issue for Republicans. They don't want to raise taxes; they don't want to cut defense spending; they don't want to cut entitlement spending on seniors (the core of their base); and cutting future entitlements doesn't affect the deficit any time soon. The only thing left is cutting spending on the poor, and although Republicans think that's a fine idea, even they can't cut social welfare spending enough to have a serious impact on the deficit.

So it's mostly a charade. And it's a good one! One of the very best, in fact. Cutting the deficit polls well, it lends itself nicely to demagoguery, and it's an all-purpose excuse to oppose any spending proposals they don't like. So why on earth would you cut a deal to take it off the table? That would be crazy. And if they're forced to swallow a tax increase as well, that makes it even crazier. There's literally no benefit at all in this for Republicans.

So they won't do it. Obama's real hope—since I assume he's not an idiot and knows all this perfectly well—is that Republicans will indeed refuse to make a deal, and, as Sargent suggests, this could turn the public against them in the 2014 midterms. I suppose that's possible, depending on how well he plays his hand. It's certainly more possible than assuming that Republicans will voluntarily commit electoral suicide by agreeing to a deal.

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/04/i-doubt-obama-really-expects-grand-bargain-republicans

[rocktivity]

1. Same here -- I think he's rope-a-doping again

Last edited Sat Apr 6, 2013, 01:31 AM - Edit history (1)

Favoring something he knows that the Rethugs also favor simply because he also knows that the Rethugs will feel obligated to complain about his favoring it even though they favor it too. Try saying that three times fast with a mouth full of grits.


rocktivity

[Comrade_McKenzie]

2. K&R! nt

[Phlem]

3. as he plays

with peoples lives.

Classy.

-p

[Rowdyboy]

4. Don't see how it hurts....he offers concessions that normal people find acceptable and Republicans

refuse because taxes are included. Nothing changes, no cuts are made but our side looks reasonable and their side intractable? I don't really see a downside at this point.

[Phlem]

5. I think the downside is

he's a Democratic President that's playing with real people's lives. Mostly those who live solely on SS.
For them it is not a fucking game to be played with whether he's bluffing or not.

And if he does go through with it then the Republicans can on record saying a Democratic President was the one to cut the social safety net first.



-p