Taylor Marsh, HuffPo: Barack Obama, Cynic in Chief

Well, if you want to know the story behind the latest news on Obama's spending freeze, it's a hail Mary to the independents.

-snip-

Now Obama is taking on his base, which will likely get raves from the "Morning Joe" crowd, who'll fall for this, no doubt, without knowing they're being played.

There is not one voter out there who doesn't remember how Barack Obama came into office and the good will he enjoyed from all quarters. He was going to be different. That's been turned on its head.

As for independents, it's going to take more than cheerleading politics to get them back, because fool me once shame on you... People were once willing to believe and join in a leap of faith. This isn't 2008 anymore.

Now comes a spending freeze, not to include national security items, of course, the ultimate cynical ploy to appease independents, while throwing a life line to the Blue Dogs.

What it does long-term to the economy is not Obama's problem. He won't be around when it hits the fan.