Just One Term, I don't think so

This is s quick follow up on the discussion Art and I had on our 2politcal podcast.

One of the sillier articles that I’ve read in the Post lately is by Douglas E. Schoen and Patrick H. Caddell. They call on President Obama to say he will only run for one term. They say:

In the 2008 presidential campaign, Obama spoke repeatedly of his desire to end the red-state-blue-state divisions in America and to change the way Washington works. This was a central reason he was elected; such aspirations struck a deep chord with the polarized electorate.

Obama can restore the promise of the election by forging a government of national unity, welcoming business leaders, Republicans and independents into the fold. But if he is to bring Democrats and Republicans together, the president cannot be seen as an advocate of a particular party, but as somebody who stands above politics, seeking to forge consensus. And yes, the United States will need nothing short of consensus if we are to reduce the deficit and get spending under control, to name but one issue.

They had a discussion on the Post site on Monday. Many questions were like this:

Just wanted to say that the idea that Republicans will suddenly be open to bipartisan compromise if Obama does this is completely laughable.

Their answer:

If the President were to do this he would capture the country in a way that we haven't seen since his election. The Republicans would be forced to compromise because the country would demand it.

If the President were to bring business leaders and Republicans into government the Republicans in Congress would be forced to compromise.

And my response to that is why would this force the Republicans to compromise with Obama. What would force them to do so? How and why would the nation as a whole unit behind Obama? Can you see the Tea Party doing this? Mitch McConnell? Jim DeMint? Their response essentially is because they would have too. The the response to that is on what basis do your draw this conclusion.

The bottom line to me is that rather than being an incentive to unit behind Obama this would be a greater incentive for the Republicans to completely ignore him. For that matter the Democrats would in all likelihood do the same.

My last question is why did the Post publish such a silly article in the first place.