Krugman's Perspective on the Deal

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. The provisions are good, so the negotiating style was good

The "Obama's bad negotiating style" argument is increasingly circular.

"Well, yes, the provisions are good, but I don't like the route by which we got there."

I'm a pragmatist, and gauge things by effect. So I don't get this argument at all. If the provisions are good, then the negotiation was good. There is no separating the two. I think progressives have built up a false narrative whereby Obama always "caves", and they now apply that narrative as if it is fact, justifying their critique in a circular fashion. Did Obama give on some provisions? Sure. Did he hold fast on others. Yes. Did the GOP give more than Obama. On this deal? Oh, hells yeah. So only a pre-existing narrative that doesn't really fit the events can get us to some bad negotiating style. he broke them utterly on tax rate increases. Kicked their asses in the dust. He made them accept loads of tax credits for middle class families and businesses, unemployment extensions, and other perks. This is a good deal for most people. That's the result. If the result is good, then complaints about style fall flat. But they're really just symptomatic of a group that filters everything through some odd narrative they've concocted.