I agree with the last, but on the first, it's quite possible Obama really wanted the upper bracket cuts to go and keep those for the rest - for both reasons of politics and economic stimulus. But the only way he could get that was by giving the GOP what it wanted on the upper brackets. I don't know which it is, but my explanation is hardly impossible.
======
O.K. This explanation does avoid the bizarre twists and turns so many of the "friendly" critics give.
Carrol