Did President Obama/Sebelius purposely intimate the PO was dead

[Proud Liberal Dem]

just to see how the Republicans would react and whether or not HCR would be more palatable to them without it? Given that Republicans are now coming out and admitting that they were never really trying to negotiate in good faith and won't vote for HCR in any event, it would seem that our hand in terms of moving forward without them. I know some people here don't believe in it but I'm sensing some real "chess playing" here by President Obama. :thumbsup:

[TheWraith]

1. I think yes... and to muddy the water as far as the propaganda goes. nt

[Bonobo]

3. Me too.

How ya been, Wraith?

[TheWraith]

9. Tired, but good. Spent last week at Netroots Nation.

Got to see Howard Dean do his number on healthcare reform live and in person. :D

[Phx_Dem]

2. That's my guess. It was too coincidental and Obama, Sebelius and Gibbs

made similar comments in the same time frame. Suddenly, and after Grasshole publicly dissed Obama.

[Oregone]

4. Who knows

But before handing out any Chess Master medals, the real Chess Master would of packaged and sold single-payer (or other real universal healthcare) to the American people and Congress.

[kath]

7. Yes - we need REAL, ***UNIVERSAL** healthcare.

Pathetic to waste all this energy on a half-assed non-reform "reform" measure...

[Oregone]

10. Im just saying, seems like a *real* chestmaster could of sold it

But what do I know?

This is like one of those crazy salesmen in Rosarita hawking $5 dollar fake rolex watches. Yeah, a child could do that (and do).

[freddie mertz]

8. INDEED.

nt

[elocs]

5. All of those who claim that Obama is this master political chess player

with these machiavellian move, if this doesn't pan out that way we aren't going to be hearing from any of you how you were wrong, are we?

Either Sebelius is an idiot or they are playing some kind of game. Otherwise they are simply inept about their message. Can't say I'm impressed by any of it.

[Oregone]

11. The master plan is a whole 13.2 years off

This first wave is designed to fail, but my, oh my, they have a doosey up their sleeve.

Hence, no one can ever be sure the plan doesn't immediately pan out.

Chess!

[elocs]

14. Ahhh, failing on purpose with a double reverse topped by a triple twist.

They are so much more clever and all knowing than we mere mortals.

[freddie mertz]

13. I think they look like fools, frankly.

They change the argument, piss their core supporters off, then "retreat" be claiming that everyone "misunderstood" them (though it's unclear if we are supposed tom have misunderstood the original, "must have" or the present "not essential", etc etc).

Attempts to explain this as some sort of infernally clever chess game strike me as a variation on "the emperor's new clothes"...

"Oh, this is all so clever, so beautiful..."

Maybe the real truth is that they have no idea what they are doing.... and what we are seeing is what it looks like at first glance.

Just sayin'

[freddie mertz]

6. I don't think so

I suspect they were back-pedaling to try and get a deal from the Baucus/Conrad/Grassley gang of six.

And also trying to talk back the "government take over" argument.

If that was their intent, it seems that they failed miserably, and that the "liberal rebellion" took them somewhat by surprise.

Hopefully sounder heads will prevail and pull the plug on the hopeless and fault efforts for "bipartisanship."

[KatieBloom]

12. Absolutely....

They know what they are doing and they are good at it...

I do not agree with everything that Obama is doing but I will hold
out hope & confidence that major progress will be made on many of the
major issues over the next few months and years.

[rocktivity]

15. I think that's EXACTLY what Obama's ulterior motive was

so much so that I couldn't understand why there was so much freaking out on DU this weekend. At worst, Obama misspoke; at best, he knew that his "the public option, whether we have it or not..." would put the media in defeatist mode and have the Rethugs declaring that they wouldn't have voted for even a bipartisan bill. And Obama's grand prize is that not only can the Dems "go it alone" on healthcare reform, but with everything else on his agenda. Game, set, and match, Mister President.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[CTyankee]

17. He is also probably getting feedback from his internal polls.

Most people want HCR. If Obama knows this his hand is strengthened and he probably knows he can do the "go it alone" route. I doubt very seriously that he is not paying hard attention to his internal polls and crafting his strategy accordingly. Maybe not chess, just good strategizing by his excellent team.

[Becky72]

16. Or perhaps Obama and Sebellius tried to back out of the public option

But the backlash in the progressive blogosphere made them opt for supporting it.

Since none of us could read minds, the uncertainty will linger forever.

[donheld]

18. I think that's exactly what happened.