Getting things done requires a mix of compromise and confrontation

"...getting things done requires a mix of compromise and confrontation,” said Dan Pfeiffer, the White House communications director.

Obama Is Set to Shuffle His Staff
By JEFF ZELENY
New York Times
December 23, 2010

President Obama is planning the first major reorganization of his administration, preparing to shuffle several positions in the West Wing as he tries to fortify his political team for the realities of divided government and his own re-election...

“In a world of divided government, getting things done requires a mix of compromise and confrontation,” said Dan Pfeiffer, the White House communications director. “What are the things you can do without Congress? In some cases, that involves executive orders, but it also involves using the bully pulpit of the presidency to make a political argument about the direction of the country.”