Obama turns to congressional outreach

[TomCADem]

Source: The Hill

President Obama will meet Wednesday afternoon with House Democrats to discuss the government shutdown and looming debt ceiling deadline, a White House official said.

The president will also invite House Republicans, as well as the Senate caucuses from both parties, to visit in the coming days.

The congressional outreach effort comes nine days into the government shutdown, and with just over a week until Oct. 17 — the day the Treasury Department says the nation will hit the debt ceiling.

* * *
At a White House press conference earlier in the day, the president said he was "happy to talk with him and other Republicans about anything" but again insisted he would not offer concessions in exchange for reopening the government.


Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/327405-obama-turns-to-congressional-outreach

[DURHAM D]

1. Reading between the lines.

No concessions in exchange for reopening the government... BUT perhaps a grand bargain over the debt limit?

[TheMastersNemesis]

2. I Hope His Outreach Does Not Include Giving The GOP Its Grand Bargain.

That would mean cuts to Social Security and Medicare and the CPI. And the GOP will agree to give him the Trans Pacific Partnership. If he ever did that then all trust in anyone in government would disappear.

[TomCADem]

5. Democrats Should List Out Their Demands...

...the media just focuses on GOP demands, but ignores how Democrats have negotiated and compromised. Dems should set out there demands, but make clear that they are not threatening to shoot the hostage. Lets start dis ussing our demands like a more progressive tax structure and more revenue. Also, what about immigration reform? We should say end the shutdown and debt crisis, then see who is refusing to negotiate.

[BlueStreak]

7. Exactly. Things like

Obama needs to be a little more clear here.

"I will not negotiate on the budget resolution or the debt extension. Those are responsibilities of the Congress and there is no negotiating needed there. Just do your duty. But if Republicans want to negotiate, my door is wide open AFTER they complete their responsibilities. Republicans have talked about some things they think need to be addressed, and that's fine. Democrats have some things that we think need to be addressed as well, and these include:


A major infrastructure investment
Elimination of the loopholes that allow the biggest corporations to evade taxes
<etc. the major items from the SoU address.> "

This is basically what Obama has been hinting, but it is time to step it up a notch.

[Myrina]

6. "It's" Grand Bargain? It was POTUS' Grand Bargain, and it is what he wants.

So yes, I suspect it's coming soon, to a town near you.

[kansasobama]

4. Hope this is not another cave-in

I am afraid