Tin Foil hat alert:
Suppose that a few days ago, Boehner and McConnell were kicking back, enjoying a few brewskis, and they started talking about what they could possibly do to screw with Obama and the Congressional Dems? You know, mess with their minds, fracture the caucuses.etc..well..seems to me, they've pretty much succeeded.
Here's a reason why I think this could be the case. Obama's held two pressers about this deal, and in each case has really laid into the GOP, calling them every name under the sun. Usually, on the Hill, whenever that happens, the other side immediately rushes to the press galleries, and responds with equal vitriol. Yet McConnell and Boehner, and practically all GOP leadership haven't said a thing....hmmm?
You make a very valid strategic point. I have been thinking the same. This agreement clearly is not everything that conservatives want. It is really bipartisan and reasonable. The insolent, immature Dem house majority did not act on this before the election because they lack the responsibility to lead on anything. Now that they were massacred and Obama is left naked, they scream out and blame him instead of their sorry selves.
I totally agree that after Obama’s continuous non-presidential behavior, calling the GOP “hostage-takers” is just a first step in seeing this thing collapse and Obama reneging on the deal. The democrats are children, and I think our leadership is playing this one right. Let them melt down and kill any chance of a “bi-partisan” solution. Look for more defections from the dem’s as the only remaining sane ones will be fighting for their own survival.