Sunday, March 14, 2010

Curious Tactics

I was wondering about this. 

The House’s chief Democratic headcounter said Sunday he hadn’t rounded up enough votes to pass President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul heading into a make-or-break week, even as the White House’s top political adviser said he was “absolutely confident” in its prospects.

The administration gave signs of retreating on its demands that senators jettison special home-state deals sought by individual lawmakers that have angered the public.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs predicted House passage this week, before Obama travels to Asia, a trip he postponed to push for the bill.

I watched Axelrod and other administration officials this morning basically saying that the health care bill WILL pass.  But they say that even though almost all of the vote counters out there - especially the ones who would know - say that they don’t have the votes yet.  So why would the administration declare that they have the votes?  If I’m a Democrat in the House who is planning to vote “no” or on the fence, I’d be a bit ticked that the administration assumes that I’m going to cave.  Or, alternatively, I’d assume that they have the votes and don’t need mine, thus relieving me from having to toe the party line. 

I can think of only two scenarios for the administration’s tactics here.  First, they could be using a classic Chicago bullying tactic of declaring victory and then going to those folks on the fence and saying “YOU don’t want to be the one who killed health care reform, DO YOU?”  Second, the White House could be completely delusional and overconfident.  It wouldn’t be the first time.  My money is on the former scenario.

(4) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1550 hrs
Politics + Politics - General

  1. Scenario 3: This administration is so inept that they don’t have a clue. (Reference the Oslo trip that secured the Olympics for Chicago)

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 14, 2010 at 1617 hrs


  2. I also think the tactics being displayed play right into the Emanuel book of political strategy… I wonder how many naked democrats will be getting fingers lodged in their sternum down in the Congressional gym this week?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 14, 2010 at 1628 hrs


  3. Do their declarations of certainty actually use the word “vote” any more?

    Because I think the parliamentarians are working on a new rule where any whim or notion is now a passed bill.

    Posted by Brian J. Noggle on March 14, 2010 at 1903 hrs


  4. Scenario #1 is blessedly the most likely.

    But there is scenario #4—check the freezers of those who say ‘Aye’ last of all.  You may find some rectangular packages.  It’s happened before.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 14, 2010 at 2032 hrs


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