The Tan Man Responds

++After President Obama gave a tour de force of a press conference ,which I thought was calm and deliberative, while in Washington it was thought to be combative and upped the stakes rhetorically, the Tan Man responded. So what gives? He disputed that he and Obama had a deal. He claimed Obama walked away and he didn't. Remember this is two years ago,in a galaxy far,far away. Then he said there would be negotiations. He only answered two questions and left. The House has since cobbled together and new proposal to create a bipartisan, bicameral commission to not only discuss the the CR, the debt ceiling, and other budget matters. And all of this could be done within a week before the debt ceiling, when the Senate hasn't agreed and none of the members have been selected. Thankfully, the White House threatened to veto this idea. The Democrats already have said the regular budget conference is enough to handle this.

++But, the Tan Man was overshadowed by Senator John McCain, who said the GOP oversold the prospects of defunding Obamacare (with a dig at Cruz) and said we should be embarrassed because congress' approval rating is now down to one's family and the paid staffers.

++When you have lost Jennifer Rubin, you know the Republicans are in trouble. In her late afternoon post column, she eviscerates the changing GOP strategies and arguments for the shutdown.

++The problem in this town is that no Republican ever,ever listens to a word the President says. In his remarks, he gave Boehner the face saving method of passing a CR. Give it Clean and then append what subjects you want to talk about. But not demands. Instead, we have Boehner rehashing 2011 and yakking about an unworkable commission,which would surpass all deadlines and not reach any agreements.

++Notice how Joe Biden is nowhere to be found. That's because Obama is in no mood to negotiate and Harry Reid was ripped last time about Obama going over his back. This afternoon as President Obama was finishing his press conference he convened the Senate with all members present, which is unusual, and read the riot act to the House Republicans. He is proceeding with a clean debt ceiling vote--hell or high water.