So Did Obama Cave To Boner or Play Him

This is one of those political events where we can say that spin is all there is. President Obama did confer with Boehner and Reid prior to announcing his request for a joint speech to Congress. The White House staff confirmed to several reporters that the 7th had been agreed upon by Boehner. Boehner's staff confirmed the prior notification but claimed that the Speaker had not confirmed the date. But then again no one has yet said that he opposed the date.

The Senate historian said that Boehner's move to deny the President's date was the first time this had ever been done in American history. But remember putting conditions on the debt ceiling never occurred in American history either. However, I must point out that the Speaker of the House actually sets the schedule, according to the Constitution. However, in the case of the President wanting to address Congress tradition gives the right-of-way to the President.

Whatever the spin--You can say Obama caved but Boehner is isolated as an asshole. When the issue is jobs and getting the economy going, it's hard to see Boehner's move as being sympathetic to either the American people or President Obama.

But what is clear is that the GOP leadership has not been moved by the Townhall meetings where their own constituents lambasted them for not doing anything on jobs, for screwing up America's credit rating and for threatening Social Security.

Basically the strategy is to wear the President down and so demoralize the country that the electorate will passively accept a Republican president. The Game remains to make President Obama a one-term President no matter the cost to the country.

I hope President Obama amps this speech up and goes BIG even though he must know the Republicans will do everything to thwart him in making any headway in the economy. At least Obama can then used that for his campaign.