For as bad as things look for Obama at times, he is not stupid, but he is dealing with stupid people. He has a gift for getting them to step on their own genitals. What a perfect opening move. It fulfills an agenda item, it divides the enemy, and they can do absolutely nothing about it without consequences to themselves. Non-white non-male voters are their Achilles heel. It's like Billy Jack telling the punks in the ice cream shop that he's going to kick them upside the head and they can do nothing about it.

Some of those old Republicans probably realize what Obama's doing, but right--nothing they can do about it but whine. Their tea party upstarts are going to be running the show. I loved the "waving a red flag" reference.

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Obama can't offer them a "face saving" out like JFK did for Kruschev. Anything that seems to appease them makes them demand more.

There is no negotiating with Teapublicans. They're just like hostage takers. And they actually have everything they ever wanted. Regulations aren't working, so demanding fewer is for show. Tax reform would raise taxes on the middle class and the one percent is so bloated with cash that more seems insane.

Truth is, they are the tyrants.