Headlines

Bob Woodward

The problem with fiscal negotiations: Too much “leadership”

The five staffers struggled for a week. In my files is a one-page, typed document dated Oct. 23, 2011, showing that they essentially reached agreement. The Republicans had a total deficit reduction of $1.2 trillion and the Democrats had $1.24 trillion — a difference of $40 billion, not much.

Some staffers were ready to break out the champagne. They had a pipeline straight to the leadership in both parties. But the members of the supercommittee did not trust each other. Instead of adopting the staff agreement or a version of it, they decided to go big and craft a deficit-reduction package of up to $3 trillion. They were shooting for a “grand bargain.”

The record shows they overreached: The mandatory cuts of $110 billion were not forestalled; the Biden-McConnell agreement has postponed them, but only for two months.

Over those two months, the leaders cannot be detached or indifferent, but they may need to get out of the way and let their able staff, working with bipartisan empowerment, come up with a plan

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Oh boy, leading from behind seems to be the in-thing at DC. But the question is, leading from whose behind?

tommy71 on January 4, 2013 at 2:58 PM

“Staff” only make recommendations, “Leaders” make DECISIONS…

This blurb is cr@p:

but they may need to get out of the way and let their able staff, working with bipartisan empowerment, come up with a plan

Without a reference or a Commander’s Intent ,staff have no way to and NO BUSINESS crafting policy decisions.

JFKY on January 4, 2013 at 2:58 PM

Reagan White House aides told me at the time how the president responded when asked how a renowned tax-cutter such as himself could approve a tax increase.

Darn, Reagan said, did we do that? He then pivoted and rather elegantly picked up one of his feet and kicked himself in the rear. Everyone laughed.

Both Democrats and Republicans need to circumvent the vulture politics of the day that demonizes the opposition. Obama and Boehner need to create a climate in which all involved can adopt the stylish accommodation of Ronald Reagan, pivot elegantly, kick themselves in the rear end and declare, Darn, did we do that?

He really thinks it would be better if everyone could just blame their staff? That is an unusually candid display of lacking leadership.

PS I am certain that if this story really happened that the press thought it was a good thing at the time.

ChrisL on January 4, 2013 at 3:28 PM

PS I am certain that if this story really happened that the press thought it was a good thing at the time.

ChrisL on January 4, 2013 at 3:28 PM

Typo correction – I am sure the press didn’t think it was a good thing at the time.

ChrisL on January 4, 2013 at 3:42 PM

We didn’t elect “staffers”; we elected Representatives and Senators.

No wonder Pelosi said that we have to read the Obamacare bill to find out what is in it.

onlineanalyst on January 4, 2013 at 3:50 PM