Well, you have the best ideas so far. I didn’t realize the complexity that lies ahead very well until reading your post. I know that people have said that Obama wants a repub congress so he can blame his failures on them. Based on the limitations you mentioned - I suspect that is a workable strategy. I was dreamin’ big - like repeal Obamacare. The Repubs wanted to re-purpose ‘unused stimulus funds’ to pay for unemployment extensions and the Dems turned ‘em down. I would say let’s see if we can make unused stimulus funds actually count for something - probably not the roadwork Obama suggested for a new stimulus. I dunno but good question and you certainly got me thinking in that direction. :)
That's why they have to seize the moral high ground quickly. The 10% reductions I described are long overdue, won't have any effect on the actual deficit, but will make a talking point good through 2012. Same with putting everyone under Obamacare. "If it was so great, how come you exempted yourself?" Because Obama himself will never do it, that will work in the forthcoming Presidential campaign too.
Everything that can be blamed on Republicans, will be. The sooner someone starts planning on how to deflect that, the better.
There will be only one chance to repeal Obamacare, but it will require some ground work first. Otherwise, they can "try", fail and blame someone else. Putting Congress and the Senate under it, will at least give the matter some urgency.