Major Garrett: Hey, The Way Reid and Boehner Are Talking Makes Me Think There's A Deal

Smart observation seconded by Allah Pundit: Both men are striving to stress a different thing.

That way, they can both "win" in the eyes of their respective caucuses.

Harry Reid, who, like, is supposedly pro-life (uh-huh), is now super-dedicated to preserving Planned Parenthood's funding, along with cherry blossoms and cowboy poetry.

Boehner is talking up cuts.

The idea is that there is probably a deal here and each man is pre-spinning his victory. Boehner talking up the cuts (because he gave away the Planned Parenthood issue), Reid about Planned Parenthood (because he gave a little more on the cuts).

Like I said in an earlier thread, the Planned Parenthood deal is something we really need the Senate and the Presidency to do, so it was probably a negotiating point all along -- something of greater importance to your opponent, that you can use to pressure him and eventually trade in for something else.

I have a feeling we're not going to like the deal, even if you don't mind the Planned Parenthood thing. The party is going to spin the number as impressive, but I'm thinking it's going to be like $38 billion. A pittance, and not really even the Bigger Pittance sought, or the Good Compromise for the Pittance we would have at least preferred. Like $45 billion.

Oh: I just heard Boehner saying that we've pretty much reached a resolution on all issues, except spending.

Ergo, to me, it sounds like he traded in his negotiating point, and, um... did not in fact yet get the cuts sought.

A negotiating point isn't really useful if you offer it up early and don't secure a reciprocal concession in turn.

I'm lowering my guess to $36 billion.

posted by Ace at 04:55 PM

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