General Discussion

Skraxx

(3,180 posts)

76. That's The Gamble, That He Can Withstand Those Attacks, And WHY Can't He?

Fri Apr 5, 2013, 08:37 PM

Apr 2013

He's NOT running for anything anymore.

In fact, this could be considered smart, strategic political positioning.

He's continuing to keep the GOP pinned in their extreme, ideological corner, by offering them something that by any measure they should jump at. And yet, as usually, they reflexively refuse it. They are pinned down.

On the other side, he's giving the Congressional Democrats a populist rallying cry. They can circle the wagons to protect SS from cuts. Looking like the fighters for the middle class willing to take the fight even against their own President.

Obama is in the middle, taking the heat from all sides. That's how you spend political capital. And why not? Again, he's not running for anything. He's not on the ticket. There's no reasonable reason why Obama's position should have any negative effect on '14 if Dems come out strong to protect SS. Obama can afford to play the middle like this, take the fire and keep the GOP pinned down, and it allows to the Dems to seize the populist banner going into '14.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

146 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

I Think Obama Is Bluffing [View all] ProSense Apr 2013 OP

the republicans will never sign on to anything he offers-they will never give up oil & gas loopholes spanone Apr 2013 #1

No one bluffs in the second term still_one Apr 2013 #2

They might if they want a different House in the 2nd half (n/t) thesquanderer Apr 2013 #61

Was sequestration a bluff also? How is that working out? still_one Apr 2013 #71

Sequestration was not conceived/offered in the 2nd term thesquanderer Apr 2013 #80

Because alienating the base is the way to get them out to vote in 2014 dflprincess Apr 2013 #106

You think that voters will love the party for threatening seniors with cuts? Dragonfli Apr 2013 #112

and the way to get a different House paulk Apr 2013 #122

No, it's to get people totally fed up with Republicans. thesquanderer Apr 2013 #125

And the Sequester slowly but surely ends the economic come back in the meantime? busterbrown Apr 2013 #94

that's what I said earlier, but people like the outrage OKNancy Apr 2013 #3

Isn't that the truth? greatauntoftriplets Apr 2013 #31

It would then come down to Obama making meaningless offers muriel_volestrangler Apr 2013 #126

Why offer up something that has nothing to do with the deficit? neverforget Apr 2013 #4

Why talk logic to ideological idiots? randome Apr 2013 #7

Yea that ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ L0oniX Apr 2013 #53

True... deutsey Apr 2013 #55

+1000. nt awoke_in_2003 Apr 2013 #88

That is why I think Obama had another idea up his sleeve. Surely, he knows that SS CTyankee Apr 2013 #43

It's a bargaining chip. Doesnt have to affect the deficit. nm rhett o rick Apr 2013 #65

Thank-you. robinlynne Apr 2013 #70

This is the same poster that furiously denied that CPI was EVER offered in the first place. n/t NOVA_Dem Apr 2013 #108

Not fair! the poster has never been wrong about anything and neither has Obama! Dragonfli Apr 2013 #114

OH Come on!! How many times has Obama put SS and/or Chained CPI on the table??? DearHeart Apr 2013 #5

A half a dozen times ... JoePhilly Apr 2013 #26

We had better HOPE that they don't call his "BLUFF" DearHeart Apr 2013 #36

+1 Phlem Apr 2013 #59

If they called his bluff then Obama would lose a fair bit of political capital most likely Bodhi BloodWave Apr 2013 #90

+1 Liberalynn Apr 2013 #110

How exactly do they call his bluff ... let's walk through it. JoePhilly Apr 2013 #140

But seriously...thinking it through with some logic.... Sheepshank Apr 2013 #141

Yea, its been a repeating pattern here. JoePhilly Apr 2013 #142

This has accomplished what? Ohh...just once more and the dam will break??? Really? TheKentuckian Apr 2013 #136

You are almost right. JoePhilly Apr 2013 #145

+100 840high Apr 2013 #100

He was also bluffing when he took single payer off the table. aandegoons Apr 2013 #6

Why bluff? dawg Apr 2013 #8

Why? This is about "health" "care" costs right now as the ACA insurance exchanges are brought online patrice Apr 2013 #39

So next year Democrats can say repukes Zoeisright Apr 2013 #81

Wouldn't it be simpler to point out their mile-long-and-counting track record on that? JHB Apr 2013 #85

Anyone who didn't already know that... dawg Apr 2013 #115

Yes. elleng Apr 2013 #9

To what end? He isn't running for president again, and Marr Apr 2013 #24

If he does nothing but sticks to principle, nothing gets done for 2 years. randome Apr 2013 #32

The point is THEY won't agree to ANYTHING, elleng Apr 2013 #34

the problem here is that the repubs are coming back saying "it's not enough" and we're CTyankee Apr 2013 #45

That's what he's saying, essentially: elleng Apr 2013 #47

but it doesn't get him out of the situation and that is what I think he wants...he wants CTyankee Apr 2013 #49

Right, they don't want that at all. elleng Apr 2013 #54

Right. Obama obviously knows this, so he thinks the repugs will suffer at the polls for this, CTyankee Apr 2013 #56

That's The Gamble, That He Can Withstand Those Attacks, And WHY Can't He? Skraxx Apr 2013 #76

I could see that. Plus, it argues for replacing R's with D's in Congress BadgerKid Apr 2013 #99

Thank you- well stated. KaryninMiami Apr 2013 #128

Nicely summed up. GoCubsGo Apr 2013 #137

Well, they'll SAY anything (and even some Ds will say 'he proposed cuts to SS' as if he meant to.) elleng Apr 2013 #77

I think he is, too. I still don't like it but I'm waiting to see how it all works out. randome Apr 2013 #10

"Nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to"...nt SidDithers Apr 2013 #11

God, I hope so. We're on S/S and Medicare. trof Apr 2013 #12

I reject this argument that Obama is a reckless moron cthulu2016 Apr 2013 #13

How can ProSense Apr 2013 #18

The idea that the Leader of THIS House would accuse THIS president of "hostage taking" Volaris Apr 2013 #68

Maybe if Obama and the repukes worked on what is actually needed, that being JOBS... DearHeart Apr 2013 #40

Dear heart, Obama HAS been working on jobs! Didn't you notice the jobs bill he sent to the House? Hekate Apr 2013 #104

That was a year ago that he signed the bill. DearHeart Apr 2013 #116

I'm just not sure that Obama believes that. I think he knows that there are other ways of CTyankee Apr 2013 #48

Liberals aren't the only ones upset... WorseBeforeBetter Apr 2013 #14

Because obviously, if you wanted to make political hay out of a DOA budget proposal... Marr Apr 2013 #15

+1 forestpath Apr 2013 #20

So the SS and Medicare that many seniors rely on has been reduced to a *poker chip*? winter is coming Apr 2013 #16

Can't play any chips if nobody antes up. nt. OldDem2012 Apr 2013 #25

Let's bet somebody else's money for a change. winter is coming Apr 2013 #28

Do you see any bona fide legislation shafting the 99% on earned benefits? nt. OldDem2012 Apr 2013 #30

I see a willingness to repeatedly offer it up. You don't offer something that many times winter is coming Apr 2013 #33

The President is playing a wedge issue.... OldDem2012 Apr 2013 #57

Yes, it's so funny to read posts from DUers who are worried about how they'll make ends meet. winter is coming Apr 2013 #67

Are you one of those DUers worried about making ends meet?..... OldDem2012 Apr 2013 #96

It's sort of like the Republicans use of abortion as a wedge issue. tblue37 Apr 2013 #78

Yep. cliffordu Apr 2013 #109

I don't. MotherPetrie Apr 2013 #17

If Obama is bluffing - and I don't think he is - he is playing with peoples' lives. forestpath Apr 2013 #19

If we somehow avoid disaster this time kenny blankenship Apr 2013 #117

To what end? n2doc Apr 2013 #21

Emperor's New Clothes Quantess Apr 2013 #22

Obama: "I agree with you. Now make me do it." pacalo Apr 2013 #23

Why does he have to be MADE to do it? MotherPetrie Apr 2013 #86

I'm glad you asked because I regretted not adding that I'm not thrilled about pacalo Apr 2013 #95

Then let me rephrase: Then HOW can WE make him NOT sacrifice SS to the Repugs if that's MotherPetrie Apr 2013 #119

I'm not convinced -- yet -- that he would actually make any cuts to SS. pacalo Apr 2013 #120

That already happened with Simpson Bowles. Did he not get the message then about how MotherPetrie Apr 2013 #121

I'm cautiously optimistic. pacalo Apr 2013 #123

Well, we now know it's not his "ideal plan" but he's going with it. So screw us. MotherPetrie Apr 2013 #129

Clearly, Reading minds isn't part of the schtick here. Sheepshank Apr 2013 #146

I don't like people jerking my chain. bahrbearian Apr 2013 #27

I h o p e you are right. ananda Apr 2013 #29

Daddy is gambling with the Rent Money again. bvar22 Apr 2013 #35

I just talked to Sen. Pat Roberts's staff person who says the senator will in NO way support patrice Apr 2013 #37

There's this, patrice. sheshe2 Apr 2013 #46

I agree with that. Also, HOW would a Public Option have dealt with rising health care costs??? patrice Apr 2013 #69

I posted this on my link, patrice. sheshe2 Apr 2013 #74

I Concur- ruffburr Apr 2013 #38

That worked so well with the sequester. Cleita Apr 2013 #41

Bingo! jsr Apr 2013 #91

My only complaint is that this clever move has emboldened the Obama haters on this forum... Comrade_McKenzie Apr 2013 #42

LOL clever move...Obama haters...bigotry...omg laundry_queen Apr 2013 #134

LOL, OK, More 3 or 4 or 5 dimensional chess shit I guess. Classic. n-t Logical Apr 2013 #44

nope, try traditional politics n/t Bodhi BloodWave Apr 2013 #97

Come on people, don't be deluded. The Reps aren't ever going to agree to a tax increase. Benton D Struckcheon Apr 2013 #50

But he's not being reasonable at all. freedom fighter jh Apr 2013 #72

He has to throw something out there to show he's "serious" Benton D Struckcheon Apr 2013 #92

I don't get it. freedom fighter jh Apr 2013 #98

No, Obama gets to look reasonable to the majority, Benton D Struckcheon Apr 2013 #102

Yeah, the Reps look bad. But so what -- Obama's lost the game already freedom fighter jh Apr 2013 #105

You're not getting it Benton D Struckcheon Apr 2013 #111

Maybe if I'm not getting it that's because it doesn't make sense. freedom fighter jh Apr 2013 #124

Link Benton D Struckcheon Apr 2013 #132

What's your point? freedom fighter jh Apr 2013 #138

Nah, this is as far as it goes. Benton D Struckcheon Apr 2013 #139

Nonsense. GeorgeGist Apr 2013 #130

Yeah. That thirteen dimension chess thing. Jakes Progress Apr 2013 #51

"Liberals are upset" yea start out with the reframe. Real Democrats are upset. L0oniX Apr 2013 #52

I agree. I'll get jumped on and called naive, but I agree. drm604 Apr 2013 #58

Not really. The republicans will surely use this in their propaganda that "Obama wanted to CTyankee Apr 2013 #64

It's OBAMA'S Budget, Not The Dems Skraxx Apr 2013 #84

Exactly. drm604 Apr 2013 #103

Is that really a winning slogan? "Our party leader wants to cut SS - allow us to save you from him!" muriel_volestrangler Apr 2013 #127

I agree loyalsister Apr 2013 #60

Just have your excuse for him prepared caseymoz Apr 2013 #62

If George Bush did this... Dems would be screaming... lib2DaBone Apr 2013 #63

And warrantless/evidenceless/juryless execution of American citizens on American soil blkmusclmachine Apr 2013 #66

What's more prefabricated than, "We don't know who did it, so it MUST be the government" ? patrice Apr 2013 #73

Hmmmm. Kick and Rec, ProSense. Hekate Apr 2013 #75

Bluffing? libdude Apr 2013 #79

Yep--he needs to make better use of the bully pulpit. nt tblue37 Apr 2013 #82

I don't think the President is bluffing if republicans come up with suitable revenues. bluestate10 Apr 2013 #83

yes 3 dimensional chess again ROFLMAO!!! bowens43 Apr 2013 #87

kick & recommended. William769 Apr 2013 #89

Well, that IS a strategy. I hope this is true, & the elderly, disabled & vets don't have to suffer. Honeycombe8 Apr 2013 #93

BS. He's not bluffing broadcaster75201 Apr 2013 #101

Wishful thinking MFrohike Apr 2013 #107

Thank goodness we can rely on Repubs to save our social security? Bonobo Apr 2013 #113

Of course you do. dflprincess Apr 2013 #118

I do too. But why and at what cost? WhaTHellsgoingonhere Apr 2013 #131

If anyone believed this nonsense then they would be happy to hear the pitched outcry TheKentuckian Apr 2013 #133

if he is it is SICK Skittles Apr 2013 #135

You HOPE Obama is bluffing Armstead Apr 2013 #143

Of course he is bluffing Larrylarry Apr 2013 #144