Obama 'exasperated' over government shutdown, warns we're 'in trouble'

[Swede Atlanta]

23. And that is why having a spine is so critical......

If once, just once, the President said NO and actually refused to negotiate or back down, the other side would learn he was not one they could push around with such tactics.

If he was dealing with adults on the other side of the aisle then reaching out to them would of course be the logical and right thing to do. But he is dealing with children. These are two year olds in adult bodies that haven't even learned to use the toilet yet. And he has been letting them get their way. He needs to do what you do to children, establish who is the parent/adult in the room.

Only when they begin to behave like adults do you let them come to the adult table at holidays and sit and engage in conversation. Until then they are sent to the children's room to play games and be seen and not heard.