Obama has played the Republicans like a damned fiddle, yet we are worried about his technique

The Republicans talked all their mess about reducing the deficit, President Obama called their bluff and went big, they didn't want to go as big as he did.

It should be pointed out Obama only said he was open to looking at entitlements. He never said he wanted to, he said it had to be considered and even then conventional wisdom points to his being focused on saving money through efficiencies and not necessarily cuts to benefits.

He did however say he wanted to new revenues mainly by closing tax loop holes and let the Bush tax cuts expire. Which is what we wanted, right?

Obama UNDERMINED, House Speaker John Boehner by meeting him more than halfway, but asking to close loopholes and to let the Bush tax for the wealthy expire. He has also portrayed himself as an adult and rationale, unfortunately many folks on our side don't appreciate that.

So today, Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are looking for a way out of this fight. They are willing to give him his debt ceiling.

While our base is still freaking out over a deal that hasn't happened,many of our members of Congress are looking to protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Meanwhile the Republicans, whose tea party base had drawn a line of no increase in the debt limit, find themselves looking for a way increase the debt limit.

This is far from over, but Obama is playing the game very well and I hope his critics on the left take notice.