On this occasion we should be grateful that Obama failed.

[Sheepshank]

74. Ahh I see you position

and again your extreme interpretation has led you to think that most O supporters assume that this was all planned and executed to perfection. I think you are wrong.

Seriously, reading comments here and in my own case, I believe that negotiations are fluid. Taking advantage of a situation that arises along the way is ALWAYS part of being flexible and realizing a new advantage as it arrives. Attempting the set up the situation that is advantageous requires the acknowledgment that there are two paths to the outcome and further negotiations takes that into consideration.

I can tell you that Assad had to be convinced that military action was going to be inevitable before he would consider any other offers. I honestly don't know if it was planned or not for Kerry to throw out his statement. Being flexible enough to recognize the advantage and changing course to take advantage of it, is very good...don't you think? If this were Romney, would he have waited to see where things were panning out? Would he have recognized this new angle of negotiation, would he have even wanted to recognize there was a way out of war?

For all the times the same regulars on DU have tried to belabor the "Obama is bad because he is now doing xxxxx meme" and as rarely as they have panned out, I wonder at what point they will finally acknowledge Obama's leadership and negotiation skills, and ability to actually get shit done.