In negotiating, it is bad practice to ever give concessions without getting something in return. I have said this roughly before, but in my view John Boehner, if he does go along with Obama, needs to get Obama on record as predicting the outcome of his policies, specifically that the Stimulus will help create jobs, that the tax increases on the wealthy will increase the amount of revenue collected from them, and that if we do what he says we will avoid another Recession.
It’s a reasonable request, and if made with skill and courage, one that will be hard to turn down. We are playing a game. We need to play to win.