Reply #11: He had to give in. The Republicans threatened to make frowny faces at him. [View All]

[tclambert]

He handled this all wrong from the beginning. The moment he said he was willing to compromise, he had lost. If you want the other side to compromise, you claim you WILL NOT consider compromising on your most extreme demands. That is OFF THE TABLE! Then you walk toward the door. You make sure you walk slowly enough that the other side can say, "Wait, what if we throw in . . . " Then you pause, consider, and suggest a compromise of your own: "Well, I might consider raising the limit from $250,000 per year in income to $500,000, IF, and only if, I get a bigger jobs program in addition to extension of unemployment benefits. And those have to pass both houses before any action on the tax cuts. I will not risk you delaying or changing your minds on jobs and unemployment after the fact. And I'll remind you that the tax cuts expire in less than 30 days. So you have to get it done fast, or NO DEAL!"

Then you walk out briskly, leaving no time for any reply. Later on, they beg to raise the limit to $1M per year in exchange for everything on your wish list. You graciously and ever so reluctantly give in on that.

Okay, that's an optimistic outcome. But you don't go in to a negotiation admitting you are willing to give in on everything.