The president summed up the contradiction that is at the heart of the Republican position. How can Republicans expect Obama to give them unilateral concessions when they are also arguing that the debt ceiling is no big deal? If the debt ceiling really wasn’t a big deal, why would Republicans expect the president to give them anything? Much like everything else surrounding the Republican argument, this makes no sense.

Republicans know that the debt ceiling is a big deal. That’s why Boehner and company are sweating the fact that Obama keeps saying no. Obama was right. Republicans completely misread the situation. They thought they could huff and puff, and the president would rush in to give them what they wanted.

http://www.politicususa.com/2013/10/08/takes-10-sentences-obama-obliterate-republicans-debt-ceiling.html

From your link~

the full transcript here.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/transcript-president-obamas-oct-8-news-conference-on-the-shutdown-and-debt-limit/2013/10/08/866088c0-3038-11e3-8906-3daa2bcde110_story_4.html

Thank you freshwest!!!!

strategy, I also have to wonder if they haven't had some hope of causing a default so they could blame it on him as an excuse for impeachment. They just didn't expect the road to that dream to be so rocky. Now they realize it's a no-win situation. Except for Cruz' teabaggers, who apparently WANT a ruined America as their easiest path to dictatorship. Then Cruz could proclaim himself 'president for life' like the fascist he is. All for the 'good' of the country they 'love' so much, of course.

I'm willing to bet your house and even mine that's what they'd do, given the chance. And then indeed we'd have riots worse than anything seen before.

Thank God I also don't believe Democrats will let it come to that. I believe President Obama especially will take anything they throw at him and turn it into the last victory they could've imagined. HE reads the country far, far better than they.

Frustrating to see CBS News yesterday give more air time to Boehner's inane and very brief response, with almost no coverage of the President's hour-long tour de force of rational, clear, informed commentary on the situation. The shallow coverage by craven media is why people don't understand what's going on. Shame on you, CBS.

take on any subject, and he's been consistent in his agenda, which is a complex one in a dangerous era.

And yes, shame on the corporate controlled media who have blockaded his administration since almost Day One.

The rest of the time, they have been editing his words or outright lying. It's outrageous.

yes indeed. And I'd add a few more words: " a complex and important message in a dangerous and simplistic, fear-driven era".
O is the right man for the time - we need his intelligence and centeredness -- but, boy, what a job he has right now.