So which is it?

[pscot]

O'Donnell calls it a heroic win for 11-dimensional chess. The Republicants are fighting among themselves. McConnell's proposal seems like a desperate Hail Mary. On the other hand, the President really, really seems to want some kind of deal that would limit or restructure entitlement spending, to the point where he suggests he's at risk of becoming a one-term president, and loses his temper with Eric the Hairball. It seems to me that both sides think they're in danger of losing, and clearly, there is still an ongoing effort to get some kind of debt reduction deal, though I can't for the life of me figure out why. Will someone please explain all this to me. In particular, why does the President think he needs a deal, when as far as I know, no previous president has ever even suggested such an idea..

[sharp_stick]

1. Personally

I think Obama would love to do a big deal if he could get it but I don't think he'll be able to pull it off, Bohner and McConnell just don't have the balls to actually do anything that might be scary to the base.. Just by making the offer though it makes him look like the only adult in the entire place though and that plays well.

I don't think that's where he's bringing the whole "risk the Presidency" thing into it. I think that comes from his refusal to fall back on the shitstain's "offer" of yet another short term deal for a few months.

Obama want's something that will take the debt ceiling out past the next election, I think that's clear. Right now he has the pukes in both the House and Senate back on their heels and he's not above piling on when they look like they're on the defensive. The public seems to be on Obama's side and it's good politics to beat the shit out of a disorganized opposition as much as you can.

[CakeGrrl]

2. I think you misread what the President "really" wants

He's not trying to kamikaze himself by cutting vital entitlements - that's the meme being pushed in some corners.

What he went off on Cantor about was Cantor's repeatedly jerkish insistence that he consider SHORT-TERM proposals which the POTUS was very clear in his last presser that he was NOT going to do.

And refusing to accept THAT is what the President said could take his presidency down if need be, but he's not backing down from that commitment.

[JoePhilly]

3. Obama lost his temper ...

Here's an idea ... let's let the GOP play the angry black man card.

Obama, as President said ... "ok, we're done here" and ended a meeting that was not going to progress.

You would struggle to find a single business leader who has not said, "ok, this meeting is over".

But Obama does it, and he "lost his temper" ... yea, Obama has an anger management problem!!!

[pscot]

5. I have a really hard time with the idea of the Preident

as an "Angry Black Man". In fact I doubt that most of the country thinks of him in racial terms. (I understand there are some.) We lost our last Angry Black Man in politics when Reverend Al got religion.

[JoePhilly]

13. It is more than "some".

The GOP members can scream YOU LIE at him during the State of the Union. They call him un-American, say he "pals around with terrorists", says his wife is a racist ....

But if he says ANYTHING that shows him taking a stand ... he, as you claim, "lost his temper".

His taking a stand should be seen as a sign of strength.

Instead, on DU, its "losing his temper".

[Proud Liberal Dem]

10. To put this in better perspective:

Obama didn't reach across the table and grab Cantor and lift him up by his shirt collar (though he probably did deserve it).

*Just in case you're wondering, McCain reportedly did this to a government official during a diplomatic mission to Nicaragua in the 1980's.

[Myrina]

4. ... because it would make a great campaign ad/talking point

"Historic Deficit Reduction Legislation/Agreement" (regardless of how many average workers the details of the plan will screw) ...

[jimmyflint]

6. I decided to wait and see what the President does.

I kinda freaked out over some SS/medicare cuts that haven't even happened yet. So I am just going to wait and see what kind of a deal the President can get the pukes to do , if any.

[Vattel]

7. Good questiuons.

Sorry that I don't have the answers.

[Fire1]

8. No other president HAD to make a fuckin deal! You don't

get that, YET???!!!!

[pscot]

9. He had to deal? Why?

You're right. That's the part I don't get.

[Enrique]

11. McConnells offer disproves that theory

the theory that Obama was doing deficit reduction because the GOP held the debt ceiling hostage.

Now the hostage is free, and yet the talks go on. Need a new theory. Ill propose one: Obama wants deficit reduction, he wasnt being forced into it.

[bornskeptic]

12. McConnell's proposal is nothing until Boehner can get enough support for it in the House.

It's far from certain that he can. Of course Obama wants to reduce the deficit. Who says that he doesn't, other than Republicans? That should have nothing to do with raising the debt ceiling, but the Republicans have the power to hold the economy hostage by refusing to raise the debt ceiling, and they decided to do so.