It’s a good idea to talk to an actual hostage negotiator to get some advice on how to end the government shutdown and avoid a default on our debt. But, when you know almost beyond any shadow of a doubt that the kidnappers will not shoot the hostage, that ought to inform the questions you ask the hostage negotiator.
Also, it’s one thing to win the release of a hostage, but a bigger concern is the discouragement of future kidnapping adventures. But that subject didn’t come up, either. As a result, John Avlon’s interview with Christopher Voss is a major disappointment. Mr. Voss suggests that Obama show more respect for his opponents’ motives and that he be more open to face-saving gestures. I suppose that he should consider the possibility that Boehner might actually shoot the hostage if he is disrespected too much. But there is really no reason to give an inch when total victory is all but assured. Really, the whole point here is to completely delegitimize these tactics so that they won’t be used again and again and again for the remainder of the president’s second term in office.
