Reports are pouring out of Washington about the Fiscal Cliff negotiations. A lot of people observing the negotiations are outraged by what is going on. Instead of being outraged, and there is plenty of time for outrage; we should take a look at what is going on.
If you analyze the negotiations, it tells you a lot about what is going on in Washington and what may happen.
What is going on inside these negotiations?
First the Obama Team offered to raise taxes $1.6 trillion. Then he wants no spending increases. And the top layer of the cake? He wants the authority to borrow money without congressional authority. He wants to basically abolish the debt ceiling.
Obama’s initial offer to the Republicans was absolutely stunning. He put an offer that not only is unacceptable to the Republicans; it shows contempt for the Republicans.
Roger Fisher and William Ury wrote a book called, “Getting to yes.” It is the definitive book on negotiating. Fisher and Ury talk about something called the “best alternative to a negotiated agreement.” (BATANA). Obama believes that he has an incredible BATANA.
The Republicans have already painted themselves into a corner. When they agreed to the sequestration deal back in 2011, the Republicans gave away their strongest negotiating points. The cuts the GOP agreed to back in 2011 would be the most painful for the GOP. This was John Boehner’s brilliant idea that would “force” negotiations to reach an equitable settlement.
That’s a great theory, in practice. However, it also assumes that both parties are entering into the negotiations in good faith. The idea behind negotiations is that both sides want to reach a fair agreement.
Unfortunately for the Republicans and for America, the Obama Regime has no interest in fair agreement. They do not look at negotiations as a forum for compromise so that the best ideas can prevail. They look at negotiations as another battleground just like elections. They do not want a fair agreement. They want to win.
Obama approaches these negotiations knowing a couple of things. First, his team has done such a good job of messaging on the fiscal cliff; most polls show the public will blame the Republicans for the fiscal cliff.
Obama knows the drive by media will cover him. They will dutifully report that anything other than a complete capitulation will be portrayed as Republicans trying to protect millionaires and trying to screw the middle class.
The other thing he knows is he has an opponent who has no stomach for the fight. John Boehner will not stand and fight. When you have an opponent who will not fight, why even try to be reasonable.
Back in an earlier part of my life, I worked as an Assistant District Attorney. Every prosecutor in any jurisdiction can tell you which defense lawyer will try cases and which one will not.
98% of all cases in state criminal courts are resolved by a negotiated settlement. I hardly ever negotiated with defense lawyers who I knew would not take their cases to trial. I would just tell them what the offer was and wait for them to fold.
Obama believes he is in the driver’s seat. He believes Boehner will fold and give him everything he wants. If Boehner folds and gives Obama everything he wants, not only does Obama continue to destroy America, he destroys the Republican Party at the same time.
Boehner has a BATANA. It is to simply walk away from the negotiations. Boehner should realize that even if the fiscal cliff turns into a disaster now, by the time the 2014 elections come along, the fiscal cliff will be long forgotten. What will not be forgotten is if Boehner surrenders to Obama.
If he does, it will mean the end of the Republican Party as a national party.
Tags: barack, boehner, ceiling, cliff, debt, fiscal, increases, john, negotiations, obama, More…
Permalink Reply by Teresa Chamberlain on Permalink Reply by Debrajoe Smith-Beatty on I do not view the end of the Republican Party as a bad thing. Mitch McConnell is no leader. He is less than worthless.
Permalink Reply by Linny Redd on ONE problem is, you drop the "Republican" Party, there is NOTHING cohesive to REPLACE it! The other problem
is--there doesn't seem to be enough Conservative Leaders with real backbone to whip a Conservative Party into
shape no matter WHAT you call it!
The Country has reached a new level of desperation and deception-- my doctor says I have an ulcer!
Permalink Reply by Harry Maltby on Here is how I see Obama's thinking.
Obama approaches these negotiations knowing a couple of things. First, his team has done such a good job of messaging on the fiscal cliff; most polls show the public will blame the Republicans for the fiscal cliff.
Obama knows the drive by media will cover him. They will dutifully report that anything other than a complete capitulation will be portrayed as Republicans trying to protect millionaires and trying to screw the middle class.
The other thing he knows is he has an opponent who has no stomach for the fight. John Boehner will not stand and fight. When you have an opponent who will not fight, why even try to be reasonable.
Obama believes he is in the driver’s seat. Obama will continue to destroy America.
Humans will control the environment and the economy and remove US from the equation.
Occupy America
Death to America, death, death, death.
May Socialism rule forever.
Only the select elite will know freedom.
Permalink Reply by Kevin Beck on Apparently, Boehner believes it is better for him to be liked by his enemies than to keep any old friends.
I wish he would stop being so conciliatory to people that don't like him. Like Obama's goons. for starters. If they do like him, it will only be because they are playing him for the fool. They won't support him anyway; why elevate your false sense of security.
I am hopeful that next year the Republican House majority chooses a different Speaker. It should be noted that there is no Constitutional requirement that the Speaker be a member of the House. With that in mind, I nominate Mark Levin as the next Speaker of the House. At a minimum, it will improve the level of intelligence coming from the daily Speaker's briefings.
A few additional words to Boehner and McConnell: With friends like you, who needs enemies?
Permalink Reply by Doug Sheets on I nominate Alan West. Wouldn't that tick off the party elites?
Permalink Reply by roy rhea on wouldn't that be great. Mark can really back up what he says and do it with patriotic passion. I like it!
Permalink Reply by 2a5jnma1m9pz7 on Judson, I APOLOGIZE to you ! In an earlier blog, you had stated that the Speaker of the House does NOT have to be a MEMBER of the House. WOW ! Well, Judson, I had always believed that the Speaker DOES have to be a House - member, so, I added to the blog, saying that I think you are MISTAKEN ; that the speaker DOES have to be a member, . . . . . .
Well, Judson, I APOLOGIZE to you ; I learned, just YESTERDAY, that the members of the House of Representatives CAN, INDEED, elect a NON - member ! ( Yet, it's NEVER HAPPENED, . . . .
GASP, . . . . ). SO, . . . . folks, THIS means that the House of Representatives CAN elect NEWT GINGRICH, ( y'all know Newt, don't you? . . . . YOU know, the man who could have WHIPPED Obama ? . . . . ).
HEY, fellow - conservatives, Newt Gingrich will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER " cave in " to those " D " - word people, as Boehner continually does, . . . . . . Newt has a FINE set of b _ _ _ s ! And, Newt HAS been Speaker, BEFORE, . . . . . . wink !
Permalink Reply by Kenneth Paul Russell on That's a very interesting development! I would vote for Newt in a heart beat!
Permalink Reply by Bruce Donnelly on Did you catch Newt on Fox News on Hannity on Friday night? If not, look for the video. He made some great points, as usual. Wish he would move to Boehner's district in Ohio and primary him in 2014.
Permalink Reply by Darrell Russell on The fichial cliff is a frabication to catch the ears of the American pople. This was all started a year and a half ago when their was thebgang of six that could not agree on any thing, then came the Simmpson Boals comissionand the recomendations were ignored.
Obama and the democrats have no intention on making any consseioins on spending cuts, all they wany is to tax and spend some more. You can not have finachial equality if you have the rich people.
With out rich people you will not have jobs, except those created by the collective, you get the idea where this is going.
Permalink Reply by Nancy on To your point Darrell. . .
Senator Blasts 'Secret' Fiscal Cliff Negotiations
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/senator-blasts-secret-fiscal-cl...
Senator: ‘Gang of Six’ Won’t Release Deficit-Reduction Plan
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20121127/DEFREG02/311270002/Sena...|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE
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