Now, Obama WILL Negotiate with Republicans?

Well, not really, but he wants you to think he will!

Obama must be feeling the heat. After weeks of saying he won't negotiate with House Republicans On Monday Obama seemed to change his tune:

OBAMA: I heard a lot of talk over the weekend that the real problem is, is that the President will not negotiate. Well, let me tell you something -- I have said from the start of the year that I’m happy to talk to Republicans about anything related to the budget. There’s not a subject that I am not willing to engage in, work on, negotiate, and come up with common-sense compromises on.

That flies in the face of his repeated refusal to negotiate captured so well in this video from House Speaker John Boehner:

But did Obama really blink? Following the statement above Obama had conditions:

OBAMA: We’re not going to negotiate under the threat of further harm to our economy and middle-class families. We’re not going to negotiate under the threat of a prolonged shutdown until Republicans get 100 percent of what they want.

In other words, it's not the Republicans, but Obama who won't negotiate until he gets 100% of what he wants. And the idea of not negotiating over a Continuing Resolution is unprecedented. The history of debt ceiling increases is replete with examples of compromise on other issues.

Meanwhile, the phony shutdown drama drags on. Only 17% of the government is actually shut. But Obama won't worry. The golf course on Andrews Air Force Base is still open, even if the PX grocery stores on military bases nationwide are closed!