Why would Obama..

[PulseStart]

need Republicans? His party controls both houses!

[ylexot (Premo)]

If Republicans get on board with his plans, he can blame them when it fails.

[Beta84]

Originally Posted by PulseStart

need Republicans? His party controls both houses!

because if he doesn't kiss ass now, when his stuff fails he'll need their support in 2010 and onward

[aps45819 (Premo)]

He doesn't, but he has been quoted as wanting to reach across the isle, be bipartisian, work together etc.

He's also been quoted as saying "I won"

[chernmax (Premo)]

Originally Posted by aps45819

He doesn't, but he has been quoted as wanting to reach across the isle, be bipartisian, work together etc.

He's also been quoted as saying "I won"

I thought he said sooner or later you will all be kissing my ring!!!

[Tilted]

Originally Posted by PulseStart

need Republicans? His party controls both houses!

There are lots of reasons. Among them (although probably not chief) is the reality that Republicans could, if they really wanted to, block just about any legislative measure which he wishes to see passed. That is, of course, if they remained united.

[latiger12]

Originally Posted by ylexot

If Republicans get on board with his plans, he can blame them when it fails.

Exaclty, he doenst want to give the election material for 2010

[This_person]

Originally Posted by ylexot

If Republicans get on board with his plans, he can blame them when it fails.

And, knowing that they won't agree with his plans (wanting his PLANS to fail, not him nor the country), he can look like the nice guy who tried to work together, and (as Olby said last night) the Republicans look like "the party of no".

If he wanted to work with the Republicans, he would compromise with them. He wants a blank check from them, to convert them to his brand of lunacy.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Tilted

There are lots of reasons. Among them (although probably not chief) is the reality that Republicans could, if they really wanted to, block just about any legislative measure which he wishes to see passed. That is, of course, if they remained united.

In my view, that is the LAST reason he wants them on board. If Republican Senators filibuster, the political advantage of giving them enough rope (no GOP support on a given bill) is lost. The whole idea of giving them enough rope is so that they will go right ahead and hang themselves.

Obama would probably be tickled pink if the GOP was dumb enough to filibuster; that bails him out and drags the GOP back into support by giving them a bone or two to end the filibuster thus giving the appearance of support.

If Obama was proposing legislation that helped little old ladies across the street and to pull drowning kids from the water, he wouldn't even hesitate and would plough straight ahead and get all of this stuff passed.

Fact is, he, and Dems, are proposing some things they are unsure will help or may instead actually make things worse and they know they are proposing many things that are 100% spoils of winning pork.

Same thing happened with Bush's idiotic bail outs; Democrats INSTANTLY recognized it for the socializing boondoogle that it is but, they wanted cover.

This is CYA and that's all it is about.

[cwo_ghwebb]

In my view, it's all show and no go. Meet with the opposition and politely tell them that he's the boss (which he is) and for all intents and purposes, they can all pound sand. To the victor goes the spoils.

It also allows Obama to say truthfully that he's met with the opposition and is trying to be bipartisan, even if he never implements a single suggestion from the opposition.