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OBAMA NEGOTIATES

Nate Silver, in his usual intelligent manner, speculates (quite accurately I will bet) that Obama is doing some very canny negotiating with the Congress over this stimulus package.

Obama's Price is Right Negotiating Strategy?

Silver argues that Obama is playing the PIR game correctly by starting low.

Now, he can let the Congress do his heavy lifting for him—the elder statesmen, the GOoPers, the Blue Dog Democrats.

I like the idea here.

Another development that didn't create a lot of headlines but which I think is pretty neat. He made a deal with Bush that Bush will veto any attempt to block the availability of the second half of TARP.

This way, Bush does the lifting and Obama doesn't use any of his political capital.

I think that this is vintage Obama and also that he has some really smart negotiation veterans around him.

And don't forget, he comes right out of the Senate himself. None of this pushing and pulling can be lost on him.

I think thought before Silver's analysis that he was playing them and now I think so even more.

And don't forget our CIC is a poker player. With other Senators!

Labels: Administration Obama