All the wailing & gnashing of teeth about Obama's meeting with the Republicans & his (relatively minor) concessions reminds me of the freaking out that took place over the summer. Why isn't Obama being more aggressive? Why isn't he responding to McCain's attacks? Why didn't he name Hillary VP? OMG we're doomed!!!!!!!!
Well, we all know how that turned out.
By now, I think the man has earned a measure of our trust. It's true, his gambit might backfire or give the Republicans an opening to exploit despite their meager numbers in Congress. Surely the press seems to hope so. But we've been down this road before with our new president, urging him to be more aggressive, openly partisan, and high-handed. The election, at least, proved that he knew what he was doing and his high approval numbers suggest that he may be on to something.
I think Obama is being tactically brilliant here. He makes a public show of going to the Capitol, meeting with the GOP, & listening to their insane ideas (more tax cuts! They've worked SOOOOO well). In one week he has shown himself to be the anti-Bush & to be sincere in his desire to change how Washington works & put partisan differences aside.
If the GOP votes en masse, as they likely will, against the stimulus, they will just reinforce the public's view that they are a.) bitterly partisan, b.) totally out of touch, and c.) unwilling to put politics aside for the public good.
Their base will be happy. Rush & Hannity & Coulter will be happy. Fox & Friends will be over the moon. Krauthammer & Kristol will weep with joy.
And they will be even more discredited and marginal in the eyes of the rest of country and anyone who isn't a hard-core member of the VRWC. Obama will look like a leader and a president who puts country before ego. Republicans will look like the brats they are.
As for contraception, money for the mall, etc. -- Dems control the congress and can bring these back up as separate measures, or attach them to other bills at any time. My guess is they will be passed at some point in the not-too-distant future once a little more groundwork is laid for them.
Obama understands that now is not the time to hit the panic button. Dems call the shots. The public supports our agenda. GOP policies and talking points are utterly discredited outside their universe, which seems to be as much of a bubble as the one inhabited by CEOs who think it's okto take TARP money & then buy new corporate jets.
The only thing Republicans can do that has any consequences is to filibuster in the Senate. By reaching across the aisle & listening to GOP concerns, Obama makes it that much harder for McConnell to keep the 100% unity in his caucus that he'll need to stop Obama's agenda, now or in the months to come.
The real source of the GOP's strength has been party unity. Obama need not shatter that, just chip away at it. By letting the Boehners, McConnells & Cantors rant and rave, he not only wears out their ability to be effective opponents, he gives the few moderates he needs in the Senate that much more cover to break ranks.
In the end, what we are hearing from the Right, and will continue to hear, is a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing.