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Noticing The Madman Theory Of Political Bargaining

By Big Tent Democrat

Regular readers are familiar with my writings on the Madman Theory of Political Bargaining. Today, E.J. Dionne discusses the GOP's use of it in the budget negotiations:

Richard Nixon espoused what he called "the madman theory." It's a negotiating approach that induces the other side to believe you are capable of dangerously irrational actions and leads it to back down to avoid the wreckage your rage might let loose. House Republicans are pursuing their own madman theory in budget negotiations, with a clever twist: Speaker John Boehner is casting himself as the reasonable man fully prepared to reach a deal to avoid a government shutdown. [. . .] Thus are negotiators for President Obama and Senate Democrats forced to deal not only with Republican leaders in the room but also with a menacing specter outside its confines. As "responsible" public officials, Democrats are asked to make additional concessions just to keep the bomb-throwers at bay.

There is less "madman" to this approach for the GOP than in the past. The reason is simple - the GOP has rolled the Dems for most of the past two years (some would say past 2 decades.) In any event, the only way to defeat the madman bargainer is to stand up to him. In this case, that means being willing to suffer a government shutdown. Are the Dems ready for that? We'll see.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on March 07, 2011 (boomark / email).