Tonight Keith Olbermann leads his show with this report:
...The White House says the Congressman couldn't know firsthand, because the President hasn't spoken to him about this, nor said this to him about any of this, but Congressman Peter di Fazio of Oregon is tonight saying that Mr. Obama is "making phone calls saying this is the end of his presidency if he doesn't get this bad deal."
That's the context for the fifth story tonight. After blasting Senate Democrats for caving to President Obama's deal with the GOP on the two-year extension of the Bush tax cuts for the richest Americans, and a lower estate tax even than President Bush had, House Democrats are now standing their ground... at least until tomorrow until they're expected to cave too. [my transcript] video link
The end of a Democratic presidency if we don't get Republican tax cut extensions. What's wrong with this picture?
If the last two years have taught us anything, it's this: never put your faith in a politician. The only way for citizens to find their power in our present corrupt governing system is to band together outside the corrupt party apparatus and demand change from without. When even Al Franken goes along to get along, there seems no other choice.
Other than that, I got nothin'. The president's statement, as reported from the reliable Mr. Olbermann from the reliable Rep. Di Fazio, is breathtaking however you might otherwise label it.
UPDATE:
Rep. di Fazio made this comment on Olbermann's competition, CNN's Parker/Spitzer, in which he is asked by Eliot Spitzer about whether House Democrats have enough votes to block the deal. di Fazio replies
The White House is putting on pressure, making phone calls, the president's making phone calls saying this is the end of his presidency if he doesn't get this bad deal.
You know, I don't feel that way. I think this is the end of his possibility of being re-elected if he gets this deal, and it's a trap: it's a trap on Social Security and on progressivity in our tax system, and attacks on huge programs we care about....
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