We were clubbing those bastards over the head

[boston bean]

And then got the rug pulled out from underneath us.

Re: Ryan Medicare Fiasco, now Obama taking the political battering ram away from DEMS.

I really don't see the upside to this.

[leveymg]

1. We've rarely gotten a glimpse of the upside since 01/20/09. Sad to say.

On policy, has been a true champion following through any issue? I think he was oversold, if not an outright fraud.

[damntexdem]

2. I see the upside -- and it's all for the GOP.

Obama seems really adept at the old Dem tactic of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

[Hawkowl]

3. Obama will face a party revolt

Similar to Jimmy Carter. That is what really began the unraveling of his presidency. You can't lead where no one wants to follow. That's the difference between a leader and a loner.

[boston bean]

6. he deserves it. that's for sure.

[scheming daemons]

4. When the deal falls through, Obama will have an even BIGGER battering ram

"I came to the table with $4 trillion in deficit reduction. The GOP walked away from the table. They are not serious about our country's financial well-being. All their talk about deficit reduction was a lie."


And... he'll still have the Paul Ryan plan as a battering ram too.... since every Republican voted to end Medicate as we know it, not simply bend its cost curve downward.

[boston bean]

5. Obama truly wants the bigger deal and is willing to do anything. If he doesn't get this deal now

and the smaller one goes through, we do this again next year in the heat of his re-election.

[scheming daemons]

7. There won't be a deal.... and on Aug 2, Obama will invoke the 14th Amendment nuclear option

[boston bean]

8. ok

[Warren DeMontague]

10. Doubtful. That would involve taking a bold action that might piss someone off.

Someone besides the Democratic base, that is.

[TheKentuckian]

9. Never give up a clear line and really never do it thinking you nuance is an advantage.

There is no "bigger ram", the fool muddied the waters and can be run on tap talking about trimming benefits.

The TeaPubliKlans just have to have enough to go on to create a muddle. You are not the voter they are going for and if your opposite number is a TeaPubliKlan still this won't flip him either or he would have flipped already because of demonstrated (and bragged about) intransigence.

Your opposite number would understand that The Wealth Care and Profit Protection Act is anything but socialist, that a 3% increase in the current top tax rate is well shy of socialism, that the financial reform is at most extreme, moderate.

"We aren't trying to kill these programs, just cut them" is not an effective offset. Arguing the edge has not been blunted is not reflective of understanding messaging in this media environment. If you don't see Obama has given TeaPubliKlans as good a cover as they could ask for then you might want to stop by the eye doctor soon.

"Clearly, even the left wing President understands these entitlements have to be brought under control" that is all they need to deflect from the weak ass questioning that the media has to offer or the timid attacks our folks make with a smile on their face while talking up how fine a person the opponent is.

[Warren DeMontague]

11. The big ram would be to just demand an up or down vote on raising the debt ceiling.

Keep it simple. They voted no, they're responsible for the flaming wreck that ensued.

[boston bean]

12. nice. it doesn't take a genius to figure this out. thanks for the reply!