Because I just don't believe there's any way to take the
"deficit" off the table. I put "deficit" in quotes because nobody actually cares about them and we only talk about them when Democrats are president. The point is you don't win political fights for all eternity. I'll be quite happy if something that doesn't involve destroying the link between Dems and defense of Social Security/Medicare makes Obama feel like he can start selling a more liberal agenda, but really don't know why he or anyone else thinks you can get Republicans to stop screeching about spending etc.