[asinclair]

I think a lot of you are missing the sub-text of the whole negotiation: Obama said "no" to an offer that, to this independent, represents an olive branch from the Republican side. Pelosi said that Obama has made concrete offers of spending cuts (which I define as a number going down, not going up less than originally anticipated) yet I've yet to see anything in writing of such an offer. Then there is the matter of all the spending cuts that were part of the "tax now, cut later" agreements over the decades.

"Fairness" is keeping your promises.

So the obvious conclusion is that Obama is not willing to negotiate in good faith. He is instead treating this as a contest of wills, instead of considering what is best for the country.

Note that Boehner hasn't done anything more than make a counter-offer. And had it smacked down hard by the other side.

What does it matter to Obama whether the line is at a quarter million or one million? Is this a backhand slap at his union support? Or does he think that the GSA schedule is too generous to upper-echelon executive-branch employees?

[frnewsjunkie]

Yes, it’s a contest of wills and obama is enjoying every minute of it. He thinks he has a mandate and can do as he pleases. He likes to see the Repuplicans squirm.. he thinks it makes them look weak, and him with power.