Savvy

Most Presidencies extend an early hand and then give up. If the Obama folks can win the definitional war so that "bipartisanship" simply means a good civil effort, they're pretty smart.

Advisers concluded that they allowed the measure of bipartisanship to be defined as winning Republican votes rather than bringing civility to the debate, distracting attention from what have otherwise been major legislative victories. Although Mr. Obama vowed to keep reaching out to Republicans, advisers now believe the environment will probably not change in coming months.

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