> On 11/3/2010 10:37 AM, Doug Henwood wrote:
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>> President Barack Obama told a news conference that Tuesday's elections confirmed what he heard during the fall's campaign – that "people are frustrated" - and he called for "an honest and civil debate" with Republicans to solve the nation’s economic problems.
>
> Just in terms of political strategy, I don't get Obama's position here. The Repubs have publicly stated that their primary political goal is making Obama a one-term president. When O responds like this, it just makes him look naive and weak. Why does he do this?
Among canines, it's called whimpering. It's a strategy deployed to stave off being driven out of the pack, or worse.
It only makes him look naive and weak (as opposed to cunning, within the correctly understood applicable limits) if you believe (naively and weakly) that he's operating within a system of rational discourse. Think about the alternative: if he were to say, "These guys have made clear that they have it in for me, and I'm going to fight them all the way," then the Republicans - riding high on what can *very* easily (and will) be construed as a "massive wave of endorsement" - can say, "There you have it, folks: He just doesn't get it. He's made clear that he holds the will of the American people in contempt. So we will redouble our resolve to oppose him and all that he stands for."