Marc Ambinder nailed it back in December

[trumad]

"Q Mr. President, thank you. How do these negotiations affect negotiations or talks with Republicans about raising the debt limit? Because it would seem that they have a significant amount of leverage over the White House now, going in. Was there ever any attempt by the White House to include raising the debt limit as a part of this package?

THE PRESIDENT: When you say it would seem they’ll have a significant amount of leverage over the White House, what do you mean?

Q Just in the sense that they’ll say essentially we’re not going to raise the -- we’re not going to agree to it unless the White House is able to or willing to agree to significant spending cuts across the board that probably go deeper and further than what you’re willing to do. I mean, what leverage would you have --


THE PRESIDENT: Look, here’s my expectation -- and I’ll take John Boehner at his word -- that nobody, Democrat or Republican, is willing to see the full faith and credit of the United States government collapse, that that would not be a good thing to happen. And so I think that there will be significant discussions about the debt limit vote. That’s something that nobody ever likes to vote on. But once John Boehner is sworn in as Speaker, then he’s going to have responsibilities to govern. You can’t just stand on the sidelines and be a bomb thrower.

And so my expectation is, is that we will have tough negotiations around the budget, but that ultimately we can arrive at a position that is keeping the government open, keeping Social Security checks going out, keeping veterans services being provided, but at the same time is prudent when it comes to taxpayer dollars..."


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1638846&mesg_id=1639238

[Enrique]

1. has he been booted from the WH press corps yet?

he doesn't seem to fit in there.

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. Jon Stewart featured that video clip last night.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1642339

[trumad]

3. thats what inspired me to find this...

Amazing

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. Brilliant that he saw this coming.

Major coup for Marc. Tho I wish he had been wrong.

[Zenlitened]

5. TDS read it on Krugman's blog:

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/tax-cut-memories/

[Ruby the Liberal]

7. I missed that. Good on Dr Krugman.

[peace frog]

6. "and I'll take John Boehner at his word" ????

"You can't just stand on the sidelines and be a bomb thrower" ?????

**sigh** Never mind, Ambinder was right and here we are. May the gods have mercy on us all.

[Supersedeas]

8. Boehner became a bomb thrower when he said negotiating with the President was like

negotiating with 'jello'

The President really underestimate how despicable Boehner and Cantor could be.

[CanonRay]

9. The White House should hire this dude, bow tie and all.

He's got more brains than the whole crowd in the West Wing.

[boston bean]

10. Kick

[Enrique]

11. Marc Ambinder for president n/t

[Forkboy]

12. At best it shows an incredible naivete on Obama's part re: the GOP.