The headline says it all, "Obama told lawmakers not passing tax deal could end presidency..." The White House was quick to deny the truth of the statement attributed to a Democratic lawmaker going the extra mile to say the President had never spoken to Representative DeFazio in effect calling him a liar. However, the general consensus among Washington watchers is that the Congressman told the truth and the White House told the lie. Up is down, down is up and so goes life in the capitol of the Empire.