White House adjusts strategy on Republicans

[TomCADem]

Source: LA Times

Reporting from Washington - As voters lose patience with political gridlock, the Obama administration is embarking on a strategy aimed at putting Republicans on the spot: Either participate in bipartisan exchanges initiated by the president, or be portrayed as the party of obstruction.

The new approach is part of a series of adjustments the White House is making as it deals with the aftermath of Republican Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts, which cost Democrats their filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

Right now, it's not clear voters blame one party more than the other for paralysis in Washington. A recent poll by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal showed that voters are as apt to blame congressional Republicans as Democrats for the standoff. Virtually everyone surveyed agreed there is too much infighting in the capital.

In a flurry of recent public appearances, President Obama has sent a message that he is prepared to embrace GOP ideas. But he is also signaling that if Republicans balk at compromise, he'll exact a political price.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-obama-strategy21-2010feb21,0,112793.story

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The question is whether the media continues to run interference for Republicans as they whine about "starting over from scratch," and complain that the President is not being bi-partisan because he does not simply extend the Bush tax cuts to the rich.

[rockymountaindem]

1. How is it that "attacking the Republicans for clinging to disproven ideas

for the sake of their cohorts' enrichment" never makes it on the list of responses?

They should think of that one.

[clixtox]

2. No kidding! I am wondering about that also... N/T

[cstanleytech]

4. Ok, its nearly 3:30 am and im tired

but its probably because its been proven not to work because the die hards will support them regardless.
What the the real goal by doing this is to sway the independant voters and the moderate republicans, those are the ones that they need to work on and attacking the repubicans hardcore wont achieve that goal atleast not in my opinion.

[FreakinDJ]

10. Wrong - it does work. We need to hear more of it

RATpubliCON Failed Policies that got us here in the first place - Everyone in America "Brutally Understands" that now.

What we don't have is enough Democrats with the courage to say it

[cstanleytech]

12. You disagreeing with me does not = me being wrong

All I am doing is expressing my opinion, you of course are entitled to yours just as well of course.

[PSPS]

3. Adjusts? It's the same losing "strategy"

In a flurry of recent public appearances, President Obama has sent a message that he is prepared to embrace GOP ideas. But he is also signaling that if Republicans balk at compromise, he'll exact a political price.

Obama stating "that he is prepared to embrace GOP ideas" is exactly the wrong approach. Even he should realize this by now since it is what he's been doing from the beginning. And his threat that "he'll exact a political price" is silly. He's already neutered himself politically because everyone knows by now that he won't really do anything.

[Kablooie]

7. Just like my mom. She would warn me that she was going to punish me severely. Never did even once.

My dad, now, that's a different story.
If she said she would tell my dad, that would do the trick.

[Democat]

5. Didn't Brown get elected for proudly claiming he will "obstruct" Obama?

Obstruction seems to be a badge of honor these days, not something that Republicans or voters are against.

It seems like the White House is recycling a long-dead Republican strategy (calling the other party "obstructionists"), rather than thinking up their own innovative strategy.

[tomm2thumbs]

6. I think people weren't thinking straight and thought the democratic candidate was lazy and assuming

People just went with their gut - 'she's not working to get my vote, he is... ' and probably many decided if she doesn't want to 'get out there and pound the pavement to get elected, why should they they get out there and vote for her.' I think they didn't think of the big picture, it was a reaction to her month of 'vacation' from campaigning. Her sports flubs were just a little icing on the cake for folks already against her, but I think her unwillingness to actually WORK to get votes would have turned a lot of Dems & Independents off from showing up to vote.

[old mark]

8. I agree. They didn't vote so much for a good republican as against

a Democratic jerk.


mark

[NecklyTyler]

9. The Republicans need to go under the steam roller

We hold the majority in both the House and the Senate as well as the Executive Branch. President Obama has extend the welcome to the repukes to participate in governing the country. Now it is time to just pass our legislation and ram it down the Republican's throats. They had their chance; the public sees the party of No for what it really is

[emanymton]

11. "What Me Worry?" - So Govern Already

.

The Democratic Party has exhausted every possible excuse trying to avoid doing the right thing. The people voted for Democratic members of Congress and a Democratic President to GOVERN.

Doing nothing is not an option, never was. All members of the Democratic Party have run out of excuses, it is time to stop. No more half-stepping, no more posturing. No more 'sun was in my eyes and it was too dark to see, the world is flat no body likes me' excuses. It is time to begin to govern.

Bring the major legislative action on Health Care to an "Up Or Down" vote. No excuses. Additionally, should any piece of Democratic legislation be threatened with a filibuster by any one, the Democratic Party response MUST be "Bring it to the floor. Give the piece of legislation an up or down vote."

It is 'put up or shut up' time. Bring on the vote. Vote it up. GOVERN!

Simply put, _govern_and_the_people_will_support_ the leadership. Do nothing and the Democratic Party deserve nothing but scorn.

Ema Nymton
~@:o?
.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

13. true