Reporter's Note: The struggle to deal with the debt crisis continues, like a standoff at a bank robbery. Let’s hope it ends better.
Dear Mr. President,
I’m sure that many in your circle are asking themselves this weekend, “What do you do with people who just won’t play the game; who, if they can’t win, will go into the middle of the court, sit down and refuse to let anyone else play?” After all, isn’t that effectively what some of the tea partiers did over in the House of Representatives? It seems as if they managed to hog-tie pretty much the entire DC crew.
It’s not my place to blame them. They were elected, as you were, by people who wanted Washington to change, and, by golly, they are trying to make it happen. The fact that the changes they have in mind run sharply counter to what others want, or to what some people feel are the best interests of the nation, does not seem to be their concern.
Still, as a matter of pure tactics, I’ve been trying to figure out what strategy might be used to keep them from hijacking the process.
Sometimes in games of chess (which you know I love!) your opponent maneuvers a powerful piece into a strong position, some bishop or rook starts dominating the middle of the board. The threat can indeed be so great that it becomes difficult to move pieces anywhere without risking calamity. And if your opponent is intent on simply holding that advantage until you agree to a devastating sacrifice, it can lead to a draw at best…or a humiliating defeat at worst.
But here is the thing: You don’t always have to capture the offending piece. Sometimes you can simply neutralize it. You can cage it in with pawns, or slowly strangle its avenues of influence. Then, even though it is still on the board, you can maneuver around it and proceed with your attack.
So again, without taking sides, I’m just wondering if there is a similar move to be considered by a combined front of Democrats and Republicans here, a maneuver that essentially isolates anyone who is perceived as being too obstructionist. Remember: While there is great public anger over government in general, there is also widespread support for dealing with this urgent problem of the debt ceiling now. And the latter sentiment is more intense at this moment. I realize that it is hard to bring anyone together on anything right now, but if you could just get agreement on the idea that everyone must at least be trying…that seems as if it might be a step in the proper direction.
Regards,
Tom