Obama is not playing to win. he is playing not to lose. That's not leadership.

[librechik]

Leaders take the risks necessary to win when it is crunch time.

They might lose it all, but the win is big and true.

(and btw, we would be no worse off if Obama loses this one. And I'm betting he wouldn't--all his bad numbers are from folks who sense he is not playing to win--and it's for US!!)

Playing so as not to lose is a sure way to always lose. Champions come from risktakers, not hedge fund accountants.

[Teaser]

1. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

.

[Zynx]

2. Wellington at Waterloo was exceedingly cautious and won just fine.

I'm not making an analogy here, more that there are exceptions to this sort of boilerplate language.

[PATRICK]

18. The American Revolution as well

but the strategy seems to imply that the cautious one is unmatched, cannot risk a decisive defeat and that attrition will eat away the larger foe. All of these can interpreted in an unflattering way if one wishes to speculate this is actually the WH strategy. I think it mainly someone striving to high road a middle course that denies the conflict that is crippling him is even happening and that extremely hostile elements are just part of the necessary American scene.

We know the Bush WH was insane. It was matched by the Dem leadership world view and powerless response, It seems things have basically continued with more competent insanity, prolonging spectacular human suffering and collapse..

[derby378]

3. Let's wait for his speech on Wednesday

If he ditches the public option, then yes, you have a very valid point. And the protests will have only just begun.

[MarjorieG]

4. We have to get it out of through the Senate and into Conference.

Obama still needs to explain the stakes to the public who are more confused than ever what we want and need to do, by not shoving down throats, my way or the hughway. Even if he is very clearand informed. Guess you've never been a teacher of quasi-adults. How he plays it behind the scenes is something else.

[lamp_shade]

5. Oh. It's YOU.

[phleshdef]

6. More armchair "Presidenting" from people who couldn't handle this mess a fraction as well as he is

[dionysus]

31. i like it how some DUers think they know better than he does...

[bigjohn16]

7. What should be his next step in your opinion?

You say he's playing not to lose so what would you have him do so he'd be playing to win?

[librechik]

17. "Everybody loves Medicare. We Democrats would like to give everybody a chance to love it."

Then lay out the FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE Facts of Medicare for all (new trademark)

Then lay out the truth about the lying stealing insurance companies.

Talk about the success of similar programs in other countries.

Point out that Republicans just want Democrats to lse and will do anything to make that happen.

The once a gain Medicare for all. Grandma loves it.

The end.

[Laelth]

23. +1 n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[quantass]

8. I'm grumpy with Obama too but Seriously we should wait for the Speech BEFORE letting the Venom Fly

I am going to hold my tongue UNTIL i hear/read the speech. Then all hell will break loose

[joeycola]

9. I think he is playing to sign a bill--Any bill will do and claim victory.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

13. He wants to sign a bill

I have my doubts as to whether he will just sign "any bill", as well as the premise that whatever bill emerges from Congress and lands on Obama's desk will necessarily be a bad bill. Some people seem to be assuming that he is actually shallow enough that he would gladly and willingly sign a "dung bill" just to claim a *victory* but I didn't see somebody last year and I don't see anybody this year who would be willing to just throw up his hands and cave in to the Republicans and corporations. True, IMHO the bill will probably not be everything everybody had hoped for but I don't think it will be toothless and will have some very good things in it that will really help people. Plus, it will lay the groundwork for further enhancement.

[phleshdef]

22. I'd be happy if he could just get a bill through that creates an opening...

...thats how social security happened. It wasn't THAT great when it was first passed, it had to be massaged through the years (and still needs some massaging even today). If he can get a bill through that regulates the healthcare industry better AND creates at least an opening for government provided healthcare to actually become a reality, I wouldn't blame him for signing it. He would be crazy not to.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

27. Anything that makes life a little easier for everybody would be a "good bill" IMHO

Plus, it will have broken the 60+ years of, as Obama put it, the inertia of "doing nothing" about health care reform.
I for one would be ecstatic if we get a public plan option and, assuming I would qualify, I would be dropping my crappy private Anthem "high deductible" insurance coverage and enrolling into the public plan at the first available opportunity.
If we don't, it would at least be nice to see my premiums and deductibles to drop to reasonable levels (I'd like the deductible to be gotten rid of entirely actually) and/or get some more affordable non-employer related insurance coverage options. It will also be good to see people no longer being denied coverage due to "pre-existing conditions".

[ShortnFiery]

10. He's supporting a newer, better ... Corporate USA. eom

[HamdenRice]

11. The dessert of epic fail

[hileeopnyn8d]

12. What did narcissists do before the internet? nt

[T Wolf]

14. He is not even playing "not to lose." He is playing to cover the point spread - accepting a

loss if it is "close enough" to real reform.

[Bluerthanblue]

15. oh bullshit!!...

Obama has more to lose than any of us. He put more on the line in his decision to be President, than most of us ever will for our political beliefs.

He isn't doing this for himself- If you don't think he HAS and IS taking risks- bigger risks than you seem able to wrap your head around, you are a fool.

Champions don't only come from "risk-takers", True Champions are those who study the game, play it well, regardless of what the impatient, angry mobs may demand or cry out for. And those who support Champions, don't quit, or work to discourage everyone before ALL is said and done.

Your nay-saying, obituary writing serves no purpose other than to stoke discontent and divide our party even more- Does that somehow make you feel better????


:shrug:


WTF is wrong with the Democratic party????

[azmouse]

29. +1

[paparush]

16. Obama, from his campaign - I don't throw the first punch, but I always throw the last. nt

[RaleighNCDUer]

19. Not according to Sun Tzu -

the wise general picks his ground and moves cautiously - and waits for the other general to make a mistake.

No battle is ever won - they are only lost, by one side or the other. The trick is to be the side that doesn't lose.

[Kahuna]

20. Whatever!

:boring:

[kjackson227]

21. Stand together to rise together...

YES WE CAN!

Obama/Biden, 2012

[branders seine]

24. Is it him?

Or is it bad advice?

Or is it control of his office by powers behind the scenes?

[ecstatic]

25. Help me out: Can Pres. Obama get the public option or single payer

on his own, without the Congress or Senate? :shrug:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

26. Is this all about him not losing? I think the Dems in Congress don't care if Obama goes down.

They want to save their own asses. That's why they are not helping him. I don't see any forceful Dems out there making the case other than Maxine Waters and Bob Weiner. The only other Dems are cowardly, mealy-mouthed Dems who are too nice to the Republicans and the pundits.

[Cha]

28. Fuck your little

loser deadend whining noise.

[rockymountaindem]

32. That seems unnecessarily harsh

There's lots of whining but this perspective seems reasonable and decently stated. There's no need for that reaction.

[dionysus]

30. hookay... everyone and their brother thinks they know better than this President.

:eyes:

[Political Tiger]

33. I assume since you are an expert on "winning"

you'll be running for president in 2012?

[grantcart]

34. You misread the OP

He isn't an expert at 'winning'


He is an expert at 'playing'


He even included a set of his favorite wheels to show what his play level is.

[FrenchieCat]

35. Pres. Obama is playing to gain us some health care reform,

not to show us how great and smart he is.
So you can tear him down all you want,
cause in the end, Like he said, it ain't about him....and that IS leadership....
but it takes a smart person to recognize that.