Obama Mastering Politics’ Game of Three-Dimensional Chess (and yes, via bipartisanship)

[babylonsister]

It's not bad, especially if it works. And it's ruining the morale of the gop. :cry:

Obama Mastering Politics’ Game of Three-Dimensional Chess
By Bob Benenson, CQ Staff


President Obama certainly has policy grounds that justify his cross-aisle nomination of New York Republican Rep. John M. McHugh to be secretary of the Army.

McHugh, whose 23rd Congressional District way upstate includes the Army’s vast Fort Drum, is now ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee, the culmination of more than 16 years in the House focused heavily on military-related issues.

But it’s hard not to notice that this is the latest in a series of personnel moves by the White House that have strengthened the Democrats’ prospects in future elections.

Although McHugh maintained his strong popularity at home over nine House elections, his district — like most of the Northeast — has trended Democratic for president and gave 52 percent of its 2008 votes to Obama. Democratic strategists say they plan to stage a serious takeover bid in the special election that will occur later this year if McHugh, as expected, is confirmed as Army secretary.

CQ Politics senior reporter Greg Giroux notes that this would almost certainly be the fourth House special election resulting directly from an Obama administration appointment.

The other three involved seats in districts that are safely Democratic: California 32, formerly represented by Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis; Illinois 5, the former political base of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel; and California 10, still represented by Ellen O. Tauscher , whose appointment to a high-ranking State Department post is pending and expected to be approved.

Then there’s Jon Huntsman Jr., the two-term, 49-year-old governor of Utah. Huntsman was getting some buzz as a potentially attractive candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, presumably to challenge Obama. Until May 16, that is, when Obama announced that he has nominated Huntsman to be U.S. ambassador to China. Presumably, unless the two men have a huge falling-out, this takes Huntsman out of the mix of White House politics until at least 2016.

more...

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003136738&cpage=1

[Clio the Leo]

1. lol dont say the "B" word....

... it SCARES folks!!! Boo!!! :)

[babylonsister]

2. No shit! I'm telling you, we ignore it at our peril.

:D

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8455496

A Bi-Partisan Healthcare Bill Is A Death Sentence to the Public Option

[Cant trust em]

11. Seems like if DU is divided, it's more along the lines of governing culture

It's like on one side there are the people who want look more towards achieving all of their demands instantly by ramming home legislation with our majority, and then there are those who think more incrementally and work through bi-partisan coalitions.

That seems like the significant trend here.

[NYC_SKP]

14. Except that "our majority" is limited to the letter "D" next to the names.

If the Democrats in congress can't get together on things, and there is little evidence that they can on these big issues, then we really don't have a useful majority.

[Cant trust em]

15. I don't disagree. nt

[NYC_SKP]

13. Oh dear, that post reminds me of, Let me see, I got it somewhere... Oh here it is!

[mucifer]

3. if the economy and the job situation continues to worsen President Obama is

going to lose a lot of support. I hope things get better.

[Clio the Leo]

4. "continue to worsen"?

"Continue"?

[Cant trust em]

8. Everything Obama has done to this point has slowed the bleeding

The economy isn't going to be fixed in five months.

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

[mucifer]

10. I hope you are right. I do want things to improve. I really worry about our country

and people suffering.

[babylonsister]

12. We're all worried, but we are now in more capable hands. And,

as far as hands go, we shouldn't all just throw them up in defeat.

[BlooInBloo]

5. Killing them softly with bipartisanship. Heh.

[Cha]

6. It's all

good..they have a huge impossible job and they're learning as they go..Brilliant!

[madeline_con]

7. Shrewd moves in both appointments.

Huntsman has experience in Asia, and will probably do a pretty good job in China. however, I worry about the long tentacle of the repuke party getting his ear.

[babylonsister]

9. But that's the beauty of this...

In picking Republicans like Mr. McHugh for top jobs, the Obama administration says it is assembling a coalition government that welcomes qualified members of the opposition. It gives the White House a claim to bipartisanship despite continuing clashes with Republican Congressional leaders.

But the political benefits are an equally strong incentive. Remaining Republican colleagues become discouraged and feel further isolated in the minority. Political vacancies are created. And Republicans can be painted as being hostile to more moderate Republicans or those willing to engage the Democratic administration.

snip and more...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8455030