[Norm Lenhart]

So you want to keep doing the same thing we have been and think it’s a winning strategy. Got it.

Tell President McCain and President Romney they have my thanks.

[palmer]

There's a vast difference between losing an election (getting outspent) and losing to Obama in the legislative process. Boehner has to balance the media depiction of his negotiating stance (public phrasing) against a private resolve to get a good deal and keep his House "no" vote intact.

Think of it this way, if TARP were a referendum in 2008 it would have lost 90 to 10. Instead we got TARP and Obama thanks to McCain running back to pass it while Obama cold shouldered it. If we allow Obama the same dynamics as TARP (i.e. if we don't pass some Obamacrap legislation the economy will die) then we will lose another house vote just like TARP.