Posted on 09/05/2012 7:11:40 PM PDT by Hojczyk
An explosive mix of dysfunction, miscommunication, and misunderstandings inside and outside the White House led to the collapse of a historic spending and debt deal that President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner were on the verge of reaching last summer, according to revelations in author Bob Woodward's latest book.
The book, "The Price of Politics," on sale Sept. 11, 2012, shows how close the president and the House speaker were to defying Washington odds and establishing a spending framework that included both new revenues and major changes to long-sacred entitlement programs.
But at a critical juncture, with an agreement tantalizingly close, Obama pressed Boehner for additional taxes as part of a final deal – a miscalculation, in retrospect, given how far the House speaker felt he'd already gone.
The president called three times to speak with Boehner about his latest offer, according to Woodward. But the speaker didn't return the president's phone call for most of an agonizing day, in what Woodward calls a "monumental communications lapse" between two of the most powerful men in the country.
When Boehner finally did call back, he jettisoned the entire deal. Obama lost his famous cool, according to Woodward, with a "flash of pure fury" coming from the president; one staffer in the room said Obama gripped the phone so tightly he thought he would break it.
"He was spewing coals," Boehner told Woodward, in what is described as a borderline "presidential tirade."
"He was pissed…. He wasn't going to get a damn dime more out of me. He knew how far out on a limb I was. But he was hot. It was clear to me that coming to an agreement with him was not going to happen, and that I had to go to Plan B."
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
In a funny day of dem implosions, the quote about Nancy P. pressing the mute button is about the best thing I have heard. Would have loved to have a video of it!
Would do you mind expanding on your reference? What is significant about the picture?
bfl
No matter what you think of Boehner - after reading this, from a partisan inclined to support Democratic administrations, you can’t say much about Obama’s leadership skills.
Not a 'mad man' at all. Arafat survived on grievance. Without grievance, there was no reason for Arafat.
It is perfectly logical for him to pooch any deal that would remove the grievance (even if such a thing would be possible in the f***-up Palestinian mind.
It would be like someone offering Jessie Jackson everything he demanded if he would just shut up and go away. He would then start demanding more just to keep the fight going because he makes his money off the fight, not in any form of settlement or agreement.
There is no interest in solutions... just in continuing the battle.
He thought he could get the votes because conservatives are always talking about wanting to simplify the tax code and closing loopholes accomplishes this goal.
Obama seemed to be going along but at the last minute pushed for tax hikes which he needed to please his party.
Boehner split at that point. Good for him.
Woodward churns out these books every few years. They all have supposed insider scoops that are impossible to verify. He’s always the first and last to allegedly dig out these tidbits. Doesn’t pass the smell test, IMO.
He got the GOP to sell out but his radical greed could not be contained and he tipped the band wagon. Boehner’s plan B of automatic military cuts, was bad, too. Looks like America’s in for a crap sandwich from the GOP no matter what.
That's a good thing.
good idea...ping self to read in morning.
My my, this isn’t the wonderful story Clinton told tonight in Charlotte.
Yeah, right, the Democrats were going to fix entitlement spending? Pull my other leg, Bob.
It was a photo doctored You Tube joke that got circulated by email with people doing the usual add on commentary and making in into something it wasn’t.
I remember Boner in one of the dueling press conference blaming Obama for last minute tax hikes. So he told the truth but most likely is still a weenie.
What was the deal Obama blew, anyway? Dollars to doughnuts it was more taxes now and cuts later (if we feel like it).
It is his record in general that I take issue with.
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