President Obama was trying to change his public image in midstream, from America's top Democrat to a chief executive immune from partisan squabbling.And bragging about it in a photo-op.
The Post meant to say, 'trying to change his public image from a duffer...'
Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) had watched his party lose its momentum - his job had shrunk to defending Democrats' past gains.
For Boehner, his problem had been made clear a month ago. The House was set to vote on a stopgap budget to keep the country running, but 54 members of his caucus pressed the red button for "no," [sending]a message: He didn't have the unqualified support of all 241 House Republicans.
With almost 24 hours to go until the government shut down, Obama gave Boehner an ultimatum on the speaker's push to include abortion-related restrictions in the bill.
Not really a budget issue, one suspects.
"John, I will give you D.C. abortion. I am not happy about it," Obama said, according to a Democrat and Republican in the Oval Office. Obama told Boehner. "John, this is it."
Does the jellyfish really have a spine?
So we take what we get today and come back for more tomorrow (next year's budget). Obama certainly doesn't have a spine.
| Before next year's budget, the debt ceiling will need to be raised in May, a good time to negotiate all sorts of things. |
Acting the adult in private, the strutting meglamanic in public.
Reid also began trying to play hardball with Boehner, telling him that they wouldn't compromise on the abortion issue and there were no more cuts to be made, according to a senior Democratic leadership aide.
I'm sure Harry will deny this, should some rude newsboy dare to bring it up.
On Friday, Senate Minority Leader McConnell called Reid and asked for a final favor for Boehner. Reid said no. But he later
Time was, $500 million was real money. But Harry folding is priceless.
They had finally reached a deal: Boehner dropped his demand to take Planned Parenthood's funds. In return, he got $78 billion in spending cuts -- the $38 billion in cuts from last week's deal, plus $40 billion in increases to agency budgets proposed by Obama that were never agreed to. And he got the D.C. abortion provision Obama had offered the night before.
Can anyone remember when $78 billion seemed like a huge budget? What year was that, I wonder?
Later,
Seems Federal funds always come with strings attached, Vinny. Try using your own money, instead of mine.
DC has never had the right to govern itself. It's a creation of Congress.
On Saturday, President Obama turned up at the Lincoln Memorial to shake hands with tourists and
"I just wanted to say, real quick, that because Congress was able to settle its differences, that's why this place is open today and everybody's able to enjoy their visit," Obama said, according to reports. "And that's the kind of future cooperation I hope we have going forward."
'Cuz we lost last time, and if I can't get my way, at least I'll look like the Great Facilitator.
As the saying goes, turning chicken shit into chicken salad...