Republicans these days only seem to respond to negotiation that consists of giving them exactly what they want (and even that doesn't work sometimes). But this author has some pretty good ideas about how President Obama could negotiate out of the shutdown:
I’ve managed to make a rather nice living swimming with the big sharks in the grown-up pool, taking on “billions-with-a-b” cases. I pulled A’s in a lot of law school classes, but the class in which I did my absolute best was Negotiations 101.
. . .
If I were sitting today where you sit, Mr. Obama, almost at the confluence of the Anacostia River, the Washington Chanel, and the Potomac River, here’s what I’d do:
I’d announce that, now that the government’s been closed for two days, I’m unwilling to sign anything but a clean bill to fund the government, except that now I also want the Rapeublicans to approve all of my judicial nominees who have been languishing in Congress lo these many years.
Tomorrow morning, I’d eat breakfast, put on my nice suit, walk out into the Rose Garden (it’s gorgeous in DC this week) and announce that now that I’ve slept on it, I won’t sign anything except a clean bill with approval of all of my judicial nominees and statehood for DC. I’d wave to the reporters, go play golf (include a woman this time, Mr. President), review their homework with my daughters, and get a massage.
On Friday, after I had lunch at the Palm with my wife (have the crabmeat cocktail and the steak salad, rare), I’d walk up to Dupont Circle and say that I’d been discussing it with Ms. Obama and, now, I’m unwilling to sign anything except a clean bill with approval of all of my judicial appointees, statehood for DC, and a new bill of Elizabeth Warren’s choosing.
. . .
You get the picture.
The whole thing is worth a good read. Mr. Obama has a lot of things going for him: Public opinion is against the shutdown, people are starting to realize they can save a ton of money using the new Exchanges, and Mr. Obama's approval ratings are up. Meanwhile, the Republicans are running their ship of fools against the rocks. Paticularly in this, the baseball playoff season, it's time to play a little hardball. And following the author's specific suggestions, Mr. Obama could have a fun time doing it, too.