Axelrod interview in HuffPo: A new kind of triangulation, reaching out to the Tea Party

[highplainsdem]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/10/white-house-gives-in-on-bush-tax-cuts_n_781992.html


The news about the White House caving on the Bush tax cuts for the rich is bad enough, but the rest of the article about the interview with David Axelrod has more bad news:

A student of history and a one-time political reporter, Axelrod expressed curiosity and even some optimism about the tea party, suggesting that Obama could work with them on matters such as a ban on spending earmarks and on winding down the war in Afghanistan.

If so, Obama would turn the Clinton-era triangulation strategy on its head, reaching out not to the moderates in the other party but to the new breed of conservatives who could bring the ideological arch of Congress full circle.

Can the White House work with them? "It is a fascinating time in our history," he said. "and I don't think anybody really knows. I mean I have watched carefully some of these folks on television. I don't think this is nearly as predictable as people think."

President Obama, in fact, has called every new Republican senator-elect and many of the incoming GOP House members -- "well over 100 calls" in all, said Axelrod.

[Jakes Progress]

1. How tricky. Quadrangulation.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

2. Since when is ending the war in afganistan a bad thing?

It is one of the only tea party positions I agree with, even if it is for different reasons. If he can get Rand Paul and his minions to go against the Republicans on afghanistan...great. don't think it will happen...but...

[EFerrari]

6. I have zero problem working with libertarians to end wars for profit.

They might as well be good for something.

[global1]

8. Fat Chance - Aren't They Now Reniging On The Pullout Date From Afghan?......nt

[TwilightGardener]

3. Meh, that's politics. You never turn off potential voters

by automatically ignoring or marginalizing the people they put into office. You say "I hope we can work with them." And it will probably all go to shit, because Teapublicans are nation-wrecking assholes. But you can't say that, because it's not good politics.

[TheWraith]

4. Bingo. They're going to smile and nod and say they'll compromise and work with everyone.

Even if they're actually planning to have Boner sent to Gitmo. Because publicly saying "fuck you, we're going to do what we please" is something not even the Repubs can get away with for long, and the standards are stricter for Dems.

[QC]

5. !

[Ramulux]

7. Axelrod is retarded

If he honestly thinks anyone in the republican party is going to work with the democrats in any sort of substantive manner he is brain-dead and has been sleep-walking through the past 2 years. These tea party clowns are just regular republicans and they aren't going to rock the boat in any meaningful way. The dems will get nothing from this strategy.

[Erose999]

10. We shouldn't be reaching out to these 'baggers, we should be cutting them off.

No good will ever come from even the mere acknowledgment of these hateful bigots. Obama and the Senate should be stonewalling them at every opportunity. I seriously doubt they will be useful at ending the war, or slashing the defense budget as the teabaggers who vote for these assholes LOVE wars and hyper militarization. Hell, most teabaggers are calling for war with Iran...

[ProgressiveEconomist]

9. This sounds like a classic "trial balloon" and "we heard you, voters" message

After New Year's Eve, when the President no longer can hope placating Blue Dogs and Republicans in Congress can give him any more legislative victories for two years, I predict a dramatic change in tone from the WH.

No more Mr Nice Guy. Emergency Jobs Growth Executive Orders using returned/unspent TARP funding. Photo ops elevating progressives and rebuking Republicans. Tough weekly messages on Saturdays. And a State of the Union speech that will cause Fox "News" heads to explode.

[ljm2002]

12. "No more Mr Nice Guy"...

...that's rich.

Since the day he first took office, President Obama's way of doing things has never varied. He "reaches out" to the Republicans who stomp on his hand, and then he reaches out again. And all the while, he is kicking progressives in the shins.

And this somehow makes him Mr Nice Guy? Not to me, it doesn't.

Your belief that starting in January he will make use of Executive Orders to help with jobs and, and will elevate progressives and rebuke Republicans is simply astonishing given his track record. Maybe you forgot the sarcasm smiley?

[ProgressiveEconomist]

15. Obama, Pelosi, and Reid have had a remarkably productive 111th Congress:

No sarcasm intended--NONE

The biggest healthcare reform since Medicare, the largest middle-class tax cut in history, the quickest turnaround of private-sector jobs growth in decades, the most consumer-oriented financial reform ever, etc.

The President exhausted his political capital and used up Blue Dogs and "moderate" Republicans to accomplich these incredible achievments.

Next year he'll have obvious incentives to behave differently. I believe he is smart enough to recognize the opportunities opened up for him from no longer being held hostage by Congress. Wait and see. Don't believe the hype.

[Better Believe It]

16. So Obama was "held hostage" by a Democratic controlled Congress. Talk about political spin!

You expect him to do much better with greater "opportunities" with a Republican run House and more Republican Senators.

I suppose that's true if you expect Obama to behave more like a Republican president!

[ProgressiveEconomist]

17. "Held hostage by Democrats" Yes! How much time and energy was spent on getting fvotes from

Blanche Lincoln, Evan Bayh, Ben Nelson, and Mary Landrieu? But it paid off in very close votes for historic legislation.

Now IMO the President will feel as liberated as a released Guantanamo detainee.

[Better Believe It]

19. President Obama seemed to be a very willing and cooperative "hostage" of Democrats and ....

the health insurance industry, big Pharma, Wall Street and corporate America.

Did President Obama provide the rope they used to tie him up with?

[ljm2002]

18. It was not health care reform...

...it was health insurance reform, and it was precious little compared to what was needed. And, he threw single-payer advocates under the bus from the get-go, and then dealt away any chance at a public option. All so he could get something passed and say it's the biggest blah blah blah... Yes there are some good provisions. But already we see that people are being forced to buy higher-deductible insurance plans, that private employers are offering plans that are less than what people had before, giving the lie to the little sing-song "If you like your insurance, you can keep it!" canard.

While it was a large middle-class tax cut in terms of revenue for the government, it wasn't even noticeable to most people because individually it was pretty damned small. Sorry, but $250 over the course of a year is what, $20.83 per month. Even on a very small budget that doesn't make a huge difference. That money could have been better used to provide jobs and it would have benefited most people more. But he had to go along with tax cuts because that's what the Republicans wanted.

The quickest turnaround of private-sector jobs still has not moved unemployment below 10%, and we all know that the official number is low. Now don't get me wrong, I don't blame him for the abysmal unemployment numbers, and I do recognize it as an accomplishment. But he could have done so much more, or at least fought for so much more.

The financial reform was like the HIR bill, it could and should have gone so much further.

Well we see it differently. I think he is already signaling that he will "compromise" more with Republicans, not less. You think he was being held hostage by Congress. All I can say is time will tell.

[ljm2002]

11. This is the part that disturbs me:

-- President Obama, in fact, has called every new Republican senator-elect and many of the incoming GOP House members -- "well over 100 calls" in all, said Axelrod. --

So let me get this straight. Axelrod is broadcasting the fact that the President has called all or most of the incoming GOP Senators and House members. But not a word about whether the President has called any of the incoming Democratic Senators and House members.

Huh?

[ProgressiveEconomist]

14. What "incoming Democratic Senators and House members" Were there any Democratic pickups? Where

[nc4bo]

13. Sounds like political Twister

Twister's cool when you're young but can cause pain & injury when you get older.