President Obama reminded critics that he's still relevant with Republicans in control.
WASHINGTON - Democratic purists can complain all the way to 2012, but President Obama did what he must to save the economy - and himself - from falling into the abyss.
The $858 billion tax compromise he cut with resurgent congressional Republicans is the political equivalent of a divorce settlement: a deal that leaves both sides squealing.
Obama had the most to lose, so this two-year back-room package is a bigger victory for him than the Republicans who vow to make him miserable when the 112th Congress convenes Jan. 5.
Furious liberals convinced that Obama could have gotten a better deal might be right. He doesn't have Lyndon Johnson's horse trading skills or sense for the jugular, but this accord says he shares Ronald Reagan's pragmatism.
The orthodox conservatives who worship Reagan forget that he liked to say he'd rather get half of what he wanted than jump off the cliff with the flag flying.
Obama emulated that sage philosophy in the tax negotiations, trading away temporary heftier breaks for the hyper-rich in exchange for billions more in job-creating economic stimulus.
"Being attacked by the left is not such a bad place for him to be," a prominent Democratic operative often critical of Obama's performance told the Daily News.
Had he played chicken, taxes would rise Jan. 1 and the GOP would reap the credit for rolling them back on their watch. That would have been a debacle, leaving Obama infinitely weaker than his still-anemic poll numbers.
Now, Obama has reminded critics that, in Bill Clinton's celebrated phrase after losing Congress to the Republicans, "the President is relevant here."
His presidency remains in serious trouble.
Afghanistan policy is almost as unpopular as his landmark health care plan. He seems to have mislaid his Great Communicator portfolio, and Democratic allies say his underachieving White House staff needs a thorough makeover.
Still, many pols from both sides of the barricades still believe he has a decent chance for reelection - assuming the economy rises from its knees.
If he wins a second term, the historians and punditocracy will conclude his political recovery began with the Holiday Compromise of 2010.
Read more:nydailynews
WASHINGTON - Democratic purists can complain all the way to 2012, but President Obama did what he must to save the economy - and himself - from falling into the abyss.
The $858 billion tax compromise he cut with resurgent congressional Republicans is the political equivalent of a divorce settlement: a deal that leaves both sides squealing.
Obama had the most to lose, so this two-year back-room package is a bigger victory for him than the Republicans who vow to make him miserable when the 112th Congress convenes Jan. 5.
Furious liberals convinced that Obama could have gotten a better deal might be right. He doesn't have Lyndon Johnson's horse trading skills or sense for the jugular, but this accord says he shares Ronald Reagan's pragmatism.
The orthodox conservatives who worship Reagan forget that he liked to say he'd rather get half of what he wanted than jump off the cliff with the flag flying.
Obama emulated that sage philosophy in the tax negotiations, trading away temporary heftier breaks for the hyper-rich in exchange for billions more in job-creating economic stimulus.
"Being attacked by the left is not such a bad place for him to be," a prominent Democratic operative often critical of Obama's performance told the Daily News.
Had he played chicken, taxes would rise Jan. 1 and the GOP would reap the credit for rolling them back on their watch. That would have been a debacle, leaving Obama infinitely weaker than his still-anemic poll numbers.
Now, Obama has reminded critics that, in Bill Clinton's celebrated phrase after losing Congress to the Republicans, "the President is relevant here."
His presidency remains in serious trouble.
Afghanistan policy is almost as unpopular as his landmark health care plan. He seems to have mislaid his Great Communicator portfolio, and Democratic allies say his underachieving White House staff needs a thorough makeover.
Still, many pols from both sides of the barricades still believe he has a decent chance for reelection - assuming the economy rises from its knees.
If he wins a second term, the historians and punditocracy will conclude his political recovery began with the Holiday Compromise of 2010.
Read more:nydailynews
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