From Inside the Beltway: Don't listen to what I say - watch what I do

[Samantha]

20. Yes he is a brilliant politician and there is a certain nuance about his demeanor that is classy

And you are correct in saying he would not be where he is were that not true.

I am not so sure he is playing 11 dimensional chess. I think he has instinctive reactions as to what he wants to do, definite ideas about what he is not going to do, and many other things simply fall into the middle. In any one of these 3 postures -- yes, I can -- not going to happen -- well, maybe -- he makes incredibly delicate, smooth moves to always make his demeanor and actions spotlighted in the best possible framing. And setting a political trap from time to time is not beneath his dignity.

Although I don't agree with everything he has done, one unexpected thing he accomplished elicited a reaction from me I never would have expected (pure joy at listening to him announce bin Laden no longer walked on this earth), another position he took that surprised me was his dramatic move to the left in supporting gay marriage after so long taking such an obtuse stance on the matter, and another issue he embraced, offering the Chained CPI to Republicans in his original Grand Bargain literally infuriated me to the point I dropped some of the things I was doing to actively work against this proposal -- these 3 issues I use just as an example of Obama showing a capability and/or willingness to exit from Door #1, Door #2 or Door #3, whichever he perceives is the correct door for the issue of the day.

Thank you so much for your posts on this thread. You have really contributed some interesting points.

Sam