Obama phones Boehner, says he won’t ‘negotiate’ until he’s given everything he wants

A short time ago, CBSNEWS' Mark Knoller reported via Twitter that President Obama has placed a phone call to John Boehner. The content of that call contained all the honor, humility, and grace that you would expect from our current Commander In Chief. According to Knoller, Obama told the Speaker that he still refuses to negotiate - unless certain conditions are met.

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Those conditions are: End the shutdown and raise the debt limit.

Boenher spokesman says Pres Obama phoned @SpeakerBoehner to reiterate no negotiations on funding or Debt Limit bills. — Mark Knoller (@markknoller) October 8, 2013

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WH says Pres Obama again pressed @SpeakerBoehner to let the House vote on the Senate-passed clean funding bill to end the shutdown. — Mark Knoller (@markknoller) October 8, 2013

WH confirms Obama phone call to Boehner. Says Pres "willing to negotiate with Republicans after" shutdown ended and Debt Limit raised. — Mark Knoller (@markknoller) October 8, 2013

In other words, just as soon as congressional Republicans acquiesce to the President's demands and throw away all of their leverage, he'll sit down and negotiate. Once the GOP has given Obama all of his heart's desire, we have his word - as a gentleman - that he'll voluntarily pare back his signature law and massive, ballooning, debt. Isn't that big of him? What did we do to deserve such grand largesse? Does Obama really think people are this stupid? ...Don't answer that. In poker, announcing that you're refusing to fold is what's known as a "tell." It's unclear if they realize it, but Congress currently has Obama over a very large barrel. That he's calling Boehner to tell him he "still won't negotiate," means you can be sure he's started feeling the heat. The longer this drags on, the worse it's going to get for the President - especially if he continues enacting his petulant series of unnecessary "punishments" against the American people.

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