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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRemember the pundits who urged Obama to cave?
By Steve Benen
Even as the American mainstream turned against congressional Republicans during the recent crises, there were quite a few Beltway pundits who urged President Obama to give in to GOP demands. We talked earlier about what lessons Republicans may have learned from this fiasco, but I cant help but feel curious about what, if anything, commentators learned, too.
Lets take National Journals Ron Fournier, for example, who argued just last week that Obama must negotiate with GOP leaders. He said it was necessary as a matter of optics, adding that Republican obstinacy is no excuse. (Remember, in context, negotiating with Republicans meant exploring what concessions the president was prepared to offer in exchange for nothing because GOP lawmakers said it was a precondition to their willingness to complete their basic responsibilities.)
Obama ignored the advice, showed some real leadership, and prevailed. A week later, with the benefit of hindsight, Fourniers advice appears rather misguided.
Which is what made the National Journal writers new column that much more interesting.
Just as he did to John McCain in 2008 and to Mitt Romney in 2012, President Obama defeated a lame Republican political team. The GOPs right wing foolishly shuttered the government and threatened default in exchange for an unreasonable and unattainable concession: Scrap Obamacare. He refused. The GOP caved.
It was all so predictable.
Hmm. If it was all so predictable that the president would stick to his guns and Republicans would cave, why did Fouriner argue literally just last week that Obama should stop sticking to his guns and start making concessions to Republicans?
More at: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/remember-the-pundits-who-urged-obama-cave
Discovered on the ObamaDiary
MADem
(135,425 posts)Not hearing much from them lately, either....!!!
DonViejo
(60,536 posts)Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)Its been a tough stretch for the perpetually disgruntled.
Ikonoklast
(23,973 posts)I got nuthin'.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Whisp
(24,096 posts)I predict it will come up in about a day and half, another Cat Food thread - this happens like clockwork when their prediction clocks were just cleaned by the President.
tridim
(45,358 posts)The predictions are just wrong as the first 5000 threads on the subject, but that's not going to stop them!
FSogol
(45,526 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)They are apologists for whoever writes them the biggest check.
Blue Owl
(50,498 posts)n/t
BluegrassStateBlues
(881 posts)I hope he and Larry Summers enjoy their new jobs.
Oh, wait.