Maybe this is what chess is all about -

[hedgehog]

David Ignatius on Morning Edition Friday 9/13 suggests that Obama has been working for two years to get Putin to step up and put some controls on his client Assad. Ignatius said something to the effect of "it's OK to let Putin take credit for doing something in the interest of the United States"

I won't go so far as to say that Obama planned all of this two years ago; only that he uses certain techniques which push events to where he wants them.

"The Arc of the Moral Universe Is Long But It Bends Toward Justice"

[upaloopa]

1. I think there will be a saint Obama like there is a saint Reagan

[polichick]

4. Both of them mythological.

[GeorgeGist]

2. To bad his 'certain techniques' don't work ...

on Republicans.

[hedgehog]

3. I think the technique is based on all parties involved being able to see how their

own best interests coincide. Given that the GOP seems determined to continue a death spiral, I doubt anyone could bring them to the table.

Thinking about it, it explains Harry Reid's caution - all his experience is based on people eventually coming to a compromise.

[Leontius]

5. bullshit