I just read an article recently that suggested that it's a page out of the CIA playbook, whereby the Reps are literally attempting to, and largely succeeding at, destabilizing the country so a sto take it over.
Hard to find flaws in that premise. The Dems have been filibustered on every initiative, (I suspect that Reps might filibuster a resolution on whether the sun rose this morning) and yet the talking point is that Obama has failed to govern effectively.
It isn't that he's playing checkers while they're playing chess. He's playing checkers and they're playing smash-mouth football. He needs to get a clue, come out of the corner and kick someone in the balls...
He did a good job snubbing McConnell yesterday. It's a start.