UPDATE FROM JOHN @ 3:08 PM: Wow. I’m actually a bit shocked. What I learned from this train wreck of a press conference is that it’s not Rahm, folks. It’s him. He actually believes this shit. He actually thinks that a head of state caving into the demands of terrorists, pardon me, “hostage takers,” is a virtue. And he freely admits it. Wow. He actually believes this shit. He actually believes that his penchant for caving, his fear and loathing of fighting for anything he claims to believe in, is a virtue. It’s absolutely shocking. And finally, he’s itching for a fight? No he’s not. And the Republicans know it. He just freaking admitted that if they take hostages, he’s going to cave. I’m speechless. Did nobody in the White House think of telling him that the President of the United States doesn’t admit that official American policy is to cave to hostage takers, lest they take even more hostages in the future? Dear Lord. He won’t fight. He never fights. I’m sorry, but it’s open season on this guy now. He is congenitally unable to fight for anything, and considers it a badge of honor. Good luck with that in 2012.

UPDATE @ 3:00 PM: Wow. So, Obama got a little testy. He really doesn’t like when his base challenges or questions him. But, we don’t think he tries. Or as Glenn Greenwald tweeted:

The most intense passion Obama exhibits is when he gets to explain why the Left is so misguided: he really lights up; it’s inspiring

UPDATE:@ 2:55PM FROM JOHN: Dear God. He’s serious. He actually thinks that fighting is useless, it’s only symbolic, it gets you nothing. Dear God. He then went on to say that this reminds him of the fight over the public option. No shit, Sherlock. It sure does. Oh this is good, now he’s saying that the NYT editorial page doesn’t “permeate” across America. Excuse me, but you just admitted that the entire country was on your side. Now you’re claiming that old “I’m powerless” cop out again. Good God.

UPDATE @ 2:53 PM: Obama explains what his lines in the sand are. one is not extending permanently the tax cuts for the wealthy (they just get them for the entire first term of his presidency.) This notion that somehow that we are willing to compromise too much…this is the health care debate all over again…this is the public option debate all over again.

UPDATE @ 2:50 PM: Obama doesn’t know how the Republicans can win the debate over lowering taxes for the wealthy. Well, they’ve just won a big battle on that front. Apparently, Obama wants to fight this one out in the 2012 campaign. It’s okay to fight in campaigns when real policy isn’t at stake.

UPDATE @ 2:47 PM: Obama, “I am happy to be tested over the next two years..” He’s challenging the GOPers to test him. Um, they’ve tested him for the past two year — and won time and time again. I think the GOPers will be happy to keep testing him. They must be laughing about that line.

UPDATE FROM JOHN 2:43PM: The President of the United States just said that you negotiate with hostage takers. Seriously? That kind of changes a major tenet of US policy going back decades I believe.

UPDATE @ 2:41 PM: Chuck Todd wants to know why the Democrats shouldn’t think he’s rewarding bad behavior of Republicans. Well, according to Obama, the American people are being held hostage…or something like that. And, he goes back to the idea that the polls are on his side. Adds, we weren’t operating from a position of political weakness. Um, then how the hell did you lose???

____________________________

Not too long ago, we got word that the President would hold a press conference at 2:20 PM to discuss his tax deal with the GOP. It’s on and I’ll be liveblogging it.

In the opening remarks, the President said “some would prefer a protracted political fight.” That’s the President taking a swipe at his base — again. He’s going to fight really hard in 2012 to end the tax cuts for the wealthy (um, we heard that in 2008.)

The deal must be in trouble or Obama wouldn’t be doing a presser today, especially after giving the speech last night. Huffington Post is reporting that Mary Landrieu (D-LA), yes Landrieu called the deal the “Obama-McConnell plan” and blasted its “morally corruptness.”

First question is basically why should the American people believe what you say when you’ve abandoned a campaign promise. Obama gave a long answer about how the American people are on his side — but that he can’t budget GOP Senators. Hence, he caved. “I haven’t persuaded Mitch McConnell. I haven’t persuaded John Boehner.” I have to say, watching that first answer did not inspire confidence. I don’t think the President and his team of geniuses grasp how this looks. He caved on a key campaign promise. He succumbed to the bullying politics of the GOP. He didn’t persuade McConnell and Boehner because they don’t fear Obama. They expect him to cave — and he proved their point.

The White House team wants Obama to be viewed as the reasonable man. They don’t understand that the American people want and need a leader. Also, this is as passionate as I’ve seen Obama about any issue of late. Figures he gets riled up when he’s caving.