Here's why Obama wanted to compromise

LBJ once said that the public doesn't want a wrecking crew...they want people who build, who construct.

Obama went into negotiations knowing he was strong enough politically to win any battle, even if it had no compromises to the rightwingers. But instead he went through many high profile negotiations, essentially a media blitz of bipartisanship.

And then the Stimulus Bill passed with no Republicans, despite Obama's behaviour

So what does the public at large see of Obama? Obama being MORE than benevolent. Obama being constructive. Obama tryingto reach out. What does the public see of the Republicans? Obstinance...no compromise...impracticality ...dogmatism.

Obama knows how to play politics. In one of the worst economic crisis for decades, the Republicans were given an olive branch, and still they acted like dicks. So now there is that perception, and Obama will still get what he wants. Before if he had tried to force through legislation without any media blitz or negotiations he would've gotten the same votes from Republicans, but the public mage would've been different

This is a strategy for sustained legislative strength, not for a burst of legislative activity followed by a drying up of political capital