Prior to his reelection, I don’t think the president would have profited from schmoozing with Republican senators much, if at all, but we’ve reached an impasse in the post-election period and something needs to give. Speaker Boehner has given up trying to negotiate and Mitch McConnell is paralyzed by his fear of a primary challenge, so the president is wise to go around them and try to craft deals with rank-and-file senators. It’s interesting to see the guest list at his dinner last night. I don’t think I would have bothered inviting Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson or Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey, but I guess there is no harm in including them. It sends a message that he was willing to sit down with some of his most implacable foes.
Here’s the guest list: Sens. Mike Johanns (Neb.), Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), Richard Burr (N.C.), Saxby Chambliss (Ga.), Dan Coats (Ind.), Tom Coburn (Okla.), Bob Corker (Tenn.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), John Hoeven (N.D.), Ron Johnson (Wis.), John McCain (Ariz.) and Pat Toomey (Pa.) .
Obama is following up by having lunch with House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan and Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen.
