Sorry for the short diary...
He didn't. He couldn't have. Oh, yes. Yes he did.
Nothing says "I'm the leader of the free world" better than admitting that you'll negotiate with terrorists if it means avoiding collateral damage. There's no position he won't compromise on if you threaten him enough.
"I've said before that I felt that the middle class tax cuts were being held hostage to the high end tax cuts. I think it's tempting not to negotiate with hostage takers unless the hostage gets harmed. Then, people will question the wisdom of that strategy. In this case the hostage was the American people and I was not willing to see them get harmed."
I'm not just disappointed with him. I'm not just saying I don't think he has a snowballs chance in hell of getting re-elected. I'm questioning whether he's fit to serve out his term.
You can't go on TV and tell the world that if you make the right threats the President of the United States will give you whatever you want. That can only lead to VERY BAD THINGS.
This was the analogy that sank the Obama. It says exactly what all the neo-cons were saying back in the Aughts: The Democrats are weak and unfit to lead.
God, I hate it when they're right (correct).