Me, I'm a Trampoline

Ambinder:

By meeting with Republicans regularly, by telephoning House members, by making such a public spectacle of opening his ears, Obama has boxed in the Republicans to an extent.

Even though the extent of their influence on the bill is almost nil, Obama has successfully fostered the impression that they are negotiating partners. Republicans can't really complain. It's easier to get the President and his staff on the phone than ever before. And with a large majority of the country open to anything so long as it's called a stimulus, Republicans have to play along to an extent; they can't really make the argument that they're not being given the chance to provide their input. That's one reason why Republicans are so respectful in their words about Obama, calling their meetings productive and encouraging.

Obama's decision to personally lobby Rep. Henry Waxman to take the [family planning] language out was internally-motivated, as Obama really didn't think it belonged in the bill, and externally-directed -- it gave conservative Republicans an easy talking point, a shiny leaf, to focus on.

(Typos corrected for clarity.)

I believe Obama is boxing the GOP in by giving up on such things as "cash for condoms" while not budging on the biggest chunk - over $300 billion in spending on expansion of Medicaid and unemployment benefits, which Republicans fear is a "back door to universal health coverage." Since it would be suicidal for the Republicans to oppose aid to the poor and jobless, Obama's forcing them into the Gingrich Corner. They can't object to what they really oppose, and Obama is taking away their superficial, emotional hooks on non-core issues.

Among "progressives", some people seem to get it and some people really, really don't.