These talks didn’t just fall apart, they exploded, according to President Obama’s account that he’s offering right now in the White House briefing room.
An obviously irritated and frustrated Obama has finally had his fill of Republican intransigence. “Can they say yes to anything?” Obama asked rhetorically.
“We have now run out of time,” Obama declared, as he announced that he had summoned congressional leaders from both parties to the White House for urgent meetings Saturday.
The President also complained that he thought things were still on track for some kind of deal until Speaker Boehner didn’t return his phone call this afternoon. “I’ve been left at the altar now a couple of times,” Obama complained to reporters.
David Kurtz
David Kurtz is Managing Editor and Washington Bureau Chief of Talking Points Memo where he oversees the news operations of TPM and its sister sites.