My amateur analysis is that the administration has overplayed it’s hand.
At this point, it’s in the Republican’s best interest to force the sequester to happen. How many people really noticed when the government “shut down” several years back?
If the sequester happens, it isn’t going to alter most people’s lives in the slightest, and that will take all the air out of Obama’s balloon, at least on this issue.
I agree, he’s painted himself into a corner with this and people will find that his hyperbole was hype and they’ll question him even more.
For that matter, why is he screaming in horror at his own plan while traveling the country promising money to cities.