this charm offensive as we like to call it, the president inviting a bunch of republican senators for a dinner this wee . among other things you write, this is not a strategy hatched by a bunch of pollyannas at the white house. it is born of necessity and bred with an understanding of a public that has just about had it with washington. >> well, the gun control legislation, the president is playing an outside game as jess points out. he's going directly to the public with these newtown families and saying, don't forget. outside game. inside game on the budget. inside game on immigration reform. i talked to a senior official who said to 0 me, when you're dealing with dysfunction, the best you can do is demonstrate that you're reasonable. and i think that is exactly what the president is trying to do, is be the grown-up here. it might work for him. >> from the perspective of capitol hill, there's another practical, tactical reason. the president has mentioned this on occasion, which is if he does