Those brilliant democrats.

Lessons from Bill Clinton outfoxed a Republican Congress, but is Obama as nimble?

“ Just a week after Election Day, Henry Cisneros, then secretary of housing and urban development, was among those attending a small meeting at the White House. “The president was livid,” recalled Cisneros. “Frustrated. Angry beyond words . . . But in that same conversation came the beginnings of a concept, which was, if it’s going to be ugly, you may as well make it a showdown between yourself and Gingrich . . . Let it be a test of ideas.” The White House adopted a new terminology. “Over and over again,” recalls Mike McCurry, then White House press secretary, “we used the words ‘radical’ and ‘extreme’ interchangeably to discuss the priorities of the new Republican leadership in Congress.” [full] Clinton outfoxed Republicans? - There was no FOX

In a nutshell, here's how Democrats "won" the last two major budget show-downs with Republicans, and what promises to be another in 2011. 1990 1995         2011 The Trigger Bush-41 invokes his "Read My Lips-No New Taxes" campaign promise.  Refuses to sign Democrat budget w/ tax increase.  Led by Speaker Gingrich, congress presents budget that cuts taxes and spending.                New Teaparty  congress moves to undo Obama's radical legislation. Democrat Response AFSCME assures Democrats that union will scream bloody murder if Bush shuts down government. The culprit. George Bush who was forced by his own advisers to cave. AFSCME assures Clinton that union will keep silent if he calls Newt's bluff and shuts-down government.  The culprit: Newt Gingrich. Only informed citizens hate Clinton's guts. Obamunists discuss building concentration camps behind closed doors; publicly call new congress Nazi-like (really) President's popularity What Gulf War? Who cares? Newt Gingrich is the anti-Christ Where's that Muslum sob's birth certificate? Media Response MEDIA interviews with disappointed school groups who weren't able to see the dinosaur, and vendors whose lives are shattered because hot dog sales have tanked clog the airwaves. MEDIA interviews with disappointed school groups who weren't able to see the dinosaur, and vendors whose lives are shattered because hot dog sales have tanked clog the airwaves. 'Very Afraid' Patriot  Media WSJ Editorial Page WSJ Editorial Page, Rush Limbaugh, FreeRepublic.com  The Internets; talk radio, Blogs, FOX NEWS Result Republican cave-in Republican cave-in ? What?  No, I don't advocate that congress cut all Secret Service funding.   Sheesh.