by insentivizing GOP brinkmanship and never standing firm in the face of those he has called hostage takers Barack Obama, the president of the United States has created a moral hazard you could make a phancy argument about a rope-a-dope and 11-D ches. but one thing is clear the president can't escape from responciplity his numerous cavings have create a condition where the GOP is lead to beleive that to gain a greator reward, greater risk must be taken.
There is a reason why nations don't and should not negotiate with terrorist and hostage takers, because by doing so, you incentivize their risk taking.
There is a reason why Obama ordered the death of the Somali pirates, risking the live of their hostage Capt. Phillips.
These pirates were holding ONE American hostage, the GOP has been holding 300+ million Americans hostage ever since they took over the house.
You could make a Lawrence O'Donnell argument ( that Obama is outmaneuvering the GOP) but at the end of the day, you can't escape from the truth that the president has been negotiating and caving to hostage takers, what in his behavior have convinced them that he would not cave now?
I am a supporter of the president a want him to do well, I want him to be re-elected. To be honest with you I can't say, I am proud of him.
Some of you make the same argument that O'Donnell makes which is that the president wanted to appear the most rational actor, the problem with that is in a stand-off people will be expecting of him to yield, both his most ardent supporters as well as his rapid haters.
If Obama is the grown-up.....and the GOP are the children, who do you think people will blame if the country defaults.
In a negotiation each party is expected to want more than they have right to, more than what they should expect; given their leverage. If Obama's way of negotiating is to preempt all negotiating and move on to appeasement..don't you think Boehner and Cantor are right to expect him to cave once more. The reason why they don't believe that he will veto a short term extension or even their shit-crab-balance bill, is because I think unlike most of you that this battle was lost many months ago, Obama has to cave, because his words has become his actions and his actions his habits, he has to cave because it's in his character.
if you don't fight the bully about your lunch money....would he/she not be surprised if you stood your ground about your skateboard.