Bush & Company

The president understands the current Republican mindset. He's well aware of the envy, spite and resentment held against him by his adversaries and of their puerile determination never to cooperate with him even when he agrees with them.

He knows House speaker Boehner is cornered by the relentless, bullying Tea Party leaders.

He knows about timing. He can foresee reactions and act or not act accordingly. He knows how to patiently build suspense, be maligned and then vindicated, gaining more abundant and zealous support, already evident in the polls. The polls also tell us that 80% of Americans want the "Big Three"---Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid---off the negotiating table. Mr. Obama, please take our Big Three off the table. Please.

Should all his indulgences and maneuvers fail, he can invoke section four of the Fourteenth Amendment and solve everything. He can't be more despised in some quarters than he already is. It may be the only way for a just solution.

I hope the president has made
A firm decision not to trade
One weighty crisis for another,
To yield too fairly to the other.

There is one way to have it all
So Humpty Dumpty doesn't fall.
I have to hope it's in his plan
To trump that fatuous, heartless clan.