There's Only ONE WAY He's Playing Chess

[WeDidIt]

If this is just one big time major punking of Joe Lieberman, Evan Bayh, Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, Max Baucus, Bill Nelson, and company, he's playing chess.

If they're getting the regulation and mandates into a single bill that gets 60 votes for cloture, then passes, and then in January they bring up a Medicare buy-in via reconciliation, he's playing chess.

Otherwise, he's just been playing Calvinball, and he just got beat by the baysitter.

[OHdem10]

1. This chess bit is growing old.

[WeDidIt]

3. To be honest, I think he's been playing Calvinball. n/t

[elocs]

4. "Growing"? I think it was old and unbelievable long ago. n/t

[valerief]

14. Oy, it's always been old! Either these clowns in WH and Congress do the right

thing or they don't. Period. Frig the gamesmanship bullshit.

[tridim]

2. Why are you so worried about Obama's possible chess play?

You've already stated that you've given up, and thus given in.

The game is already over for you, so you're free to go home and pout.

[MannyGoldstein]

6. Why Should WeDidIt Go Home?

The game isn't over - only the hope that Obama will be a good President for most Americans.

We need to take back the Party, not quit!

[robinlynne]

9. All 300 million of us?

[jgraz]

5. No, there's one really obvious way he's "playing chess"

You just have to realize who he's playing against.

[WeDidIt]

7. Point well taken. n/t

[chimpymustgo]

8. Sad, but true.

[ArcticFox]

10. Or maybe one other way

The President may understand that this "democracy" experiment has failed.

The Democrats are therefore going to pass every piece of legislation possible to accellerate the transfer of wealth from the poor to the wealthy. If the transfer takes place at a fast enough clip, the poor may eventually get so sick of this shit that they will rise up and wipe out the rich (along with much of our consumer society).

There is no other way because the rich already own us.

Unfortunately, this game of chess takes many more years to play out, during which time things will get much worse for all of us peasants.

[WeDidIt]

11. That sounds more like Calvinball. n/t

[Dr Fate]

12. He's playing chess alright- and anti war, Pro-Reform & Liberal DEMS are his opponents. n/t

n/t

[yurbud]

13. two advantages to the scenario:

1. Rake in the health insurance bucks before the Democrats screw them.

2. Push the good news closer to the 2010 election.

[ArcticFox]

15. Ever the optimist!

[yurbud]

18. and if the ship sinks, we'll get some exercise swimming

[Beetwasher]

16. I DO Think There Are Times That There Is A Strategy, This Is Not One Of Them

This is merely the reality of trying to get a complex piece of historic legislation passed and having to fight against the most powerful and entrenched special interests in history and hostile media in order to do so.

[wiggs]

17. Another: The CBO report comes back and DEMONSTRATES that without a public

option there isn't downward pressure on premium costs and there isn't deficit reduction. Two of the goals of the administration are health care cost savings and deficit neutrality. An favorable CBO report would remove some of the politics and make it clear what choices are to be made.