How did things go so well for us in the Senate this week?

[rucky]

especially compared to last week.

Did we really leverage the tax giveaway so well that the Senate was able to break the blocakade *after* we gave them what they wanted? Did the GOP really hold up their end of a deal, when they didn't have to - and when they knew it would incur the wrath of the Tea People? Totally out of character for them.

I'm dying to know what happened behind closed doors that led to this.

Any theories?

[Still a Democrat]

1. The Professional Downtrodden don't want to believe good things can happen

I don't think there's much more to it than that.

[rucky]

2. Glad we could have this discussion.

[Still a Democrat]

4. I think the negativity around here led to your question

We had a flurry of good news and some spun it into part of a grand Obama-Republican secret deal linked to the tax deal. The funny part is many of those same people complained there wasn't enough included for us when the tax deal originally came out. Now there's too much, I guess.

[rucky]

9. It's just as important to reflect on what went right

as it is to reflect on what went wrong.

[dkf]

3. Amazing huh?

Yeah I am impressed and feeling almost giddy.

[Pathwalker]

5. Lookss like a back room poker game happened, and

The Republicans came away minus several items of clothing. Either that, or they lost that umpty gazilliion dimensional level chess game.

[CJCRANE]

6. The Repubs ran out of excuses

and the spotlight was on them because the clock was ticking.

[rucky]

7. In thinking about the dynamic for next session

It was a pretty sweet deal for the GOP under Bush. All the power and none of the accountability.

It was a pretty sweet deal for them under Obama/Pelosi & Reid. Enough power for them to leverage, but still none of the accountability.

With Boehner, a divided Senate & Obama, they have no choice now but to share some of the accountability. It's at least a little bit comforting to know that they're going to hate this as much as we will.

Maybe they've realized they'll have to start building a record of accomplishment, if they want to be credible with voters in 2012. They don't have the luxury anymore to just sit back, obstruct & lay blame.

[kentuck]

8. It was divine providence.

In the form of the lunar eclipse. :-)

[rucky]

10. don't think I didn't catch the reference.

well played

:rofl: