A Different Perspective On the Fiscal Cliff Compromise

[timesamillion]

Over on The New Republic I found this very cogent argument in the comment section, responding to disappointed critics calling Obama a wimp.

"...it is possible that he is a "wimp", though I suspect that Romney and Ryan and Adelson and the Koch brothers thought so as well, and thus underestimated him, to their utter bafflement and shock. I carry no water for him or his administration, but having been on the receiving end of "wimp" and "incompetent" accusations myself over a deal I was negotiating, I have some sympathy for the guy.

At the time, the other side would initial an agreement, go back and then come and ask for more. We had the option of going to court, and a good case too. And the clients were apoplectic that we advised negotiations rather than fighting them all the way. The wimp accusation came when I said it's better to get an agreement rather than precipitate a crisis by going to court; the incompetence charge was made when we had to renegotiate what we thought was an agreed deal, because the other side reneged on the deal. You know what - fifteen years and close to a billion dollars in sales and 45000 jobs saved, my own conscience is clear. (Had we gone to court, we would have won a moral victory but got zilch in material terms after three years of expensive litigation.)

There are two million people on unemployment. For them, the fiscal cliff is a real cliff. There are tens of millions of people who will see their take-home pay reduced - for how long, God only knows. Then there is a debt ceiling coming up - and the threat of a nihilistic Republican Party forcing the US to default. You want calamity ... there you have it.

Is Obama a wimp for doing what he can to save the US from all that? There are times when politicking has to give way to governing. Obama is doing the governing; the politicking can wait when people's livelihoods are not at stake."

For the article where I found this comment: http://www.tnr.com/blog/plank/111521/the-cliff-compromise-bad-the-strategic-consequences-are-disastrous

Putting the country and ALL its people ahead of party affiliations and platforms is the way we ought to be thinking now.

[liberal N proud]

1. They have to blame someone for the failures of the republican-teabag members of congress.

[JaneyVee]

2. I'm so confused, is he a "wimp" or is he a "Chicago thug"? "Brutal dictator" or "compassionate Lib"?

A "Kenyan" or an "American"? A "Socialist" or a "Conservative"? Arrrgh!

[JEB]

4. I'll go with centerist tecnocrat.

[bowens43]

6. you can rule out liberal and socialist....

[timesamillion]

8. He's whatever the subject speaking despises the most

So, usually "fascist" or "commie" because people are really simplistic these days, and have little to no understanding of either of those philosophies.

[Buzz Clik]

3. Excellent final comment:

"Putting the country and ALL its people ahead of party affiliations and platforms is the way we ought to be thinking now."

Thanks for that.

[OldDem2012]

7. +10000. nt.

[bowens43]

5. surrender , not compromise.....