president who said i don t want this in there and then taking it, does that diminish his credibility and power? i think it does in some ways. we re constantly in a case where i m not going to sign x, and then does. in this case, he s not conceded the whole issue. it s not clear that the pipeline will start in march. it will start be a creation in march. another point in which he s basically losinging the argument to the republicans again. last year at this time, it was i won t allow a tax cut for the rich and then well, i will, i guess. didn t he kind of win that? didn t we all at the end of the year, don t ask don t tell was repe repealed. new start was passed and the ug ug ugly thorn or the bush tax cuts. i think in washington, there s two ways to win. one is you win. the other is, you make your opponent lose and the republicans have shown themselves to be very adept at that second piece.