The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : There Was Never a Deal

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In his hastily-scheduled press conference, President Obama denied that he had ever agreed to a debt limit deal with John Boehner. In a letter to House Republicans, Boehner made the same claim and announced that he was exiting the discussions.

Obama suggested that the only area of agreement with Boehner was on $1 trillion of discretionary spending cuts -- including defense cuts. In other words, not very much at all, for a two-year raise in the debt ceiling. When the talks turned to revenues and entitlements, the two sides were too far apart.

The president also announced that if the McConnell-Reid "Plan B" legislation reached his desk, he would sign it, thereby taking the political responsibility for raising the ceiling on himself. Although he said that negotiators were now out of time, he asked the Senate and House leaders to meet him tomorrow morning for further discussions.

Based on his demeanor, which suggested that he was sincerely angered and upset at Boehner's recusal, it seems that he is reaching the point of frustration. As long as there are no ramifications in the markets, that could be a sign of encouragement for Republicans.

View all comments (9) | Leave a comment

beebop| 7.22.11 @ 6:52PM

Write down this date ... it is just as important as July 4th. He is done. Toast. Irrelevant. I hope he's putting his time to good use -- trying to find a speaker's bureau willing to overlook the fact that NO ONE will want o hear him!

Itsa Boutime| 7.22.11 @ 7:25PM

Done. Toast. Irrelevant. Exactly right.

But as for "no ramifications in the markets"??? Obama is taking us to the brink of an unprecedented default on US treasury debt! There will be huge ramifications in the markets. The more talk about default there is, and the more Moody's talks about lowering the rating on US debt, the more the markets will tank and tank HARD.

Bring the pain! When people feel it in their 401k and IRA and unemployment rises and housing foreclosures increase THEN maybe finally people will look to the party of real solutions rather than that hopey changey stuff that isn't working.

All Republicans need to do now is hold firm to the balanced budget amendment, tax cuts rather than increases, and deep deep spending cuts including medicare and medicaid and social security and most importantly, the utter and complete repeal of Obamacare. Don't give an inch!

USSAlabama| 7.22.11 @ 6:59PM

Just means that WE get to vote on the deal on Election Day.

CopyKatnj| 7.22.11 @ 9:22PM

I hope so.

David W| 7.22.11 @ 7:08PM

KEEP CALLING HIS "BLUFF" GUYS AND GALS..

TruthSpeaker| 7.22.11 @ 7:50PM

are any of you concerned that obama, soros and his vile peope will try to over throw this country? Could a debt ceiling crises initiate this? don't trust them at all and know they are more than willing. it does concern me.

Mimi| 7.23.11 @ 8:12AM

What do you think they did in 2008 when all that Money poured into Obama's campaign.? I only wish I could read the HISTORY books 100 yrs. from now when the story of this time in our history is told.

CopyKatnj| 7.22.11 @ 9:21PM

This is the SAME gamesmanship that this president pulled with TARP and QEI, QEII and now QEIII. It is always the crisis created by him. That is how this guy operates, as a community organizer, bullying you into a corner. Enough of this already, call his bluff.