"Join with me. Let's do this together, Republicans and Democrats." These are just some of President Obama’s words in this weeks extremely unusual face to face meeting with the Reupblican leaders. Reuters says the session lasted 82 minutes and essentially served to highlight the political divide between the Dems and Republicans. And he did some of this live on Cable.

For his part, Obama wavered between two approaches- accusing the Republicans of blocking his policies and at the same time asked them to join with him in creating jobs and other moves to help the economy get back on its feet.

Republicans have done a pretty good job at painting him as a “big-spending liberal who only wants to expand government” and his healthcare reform bill as a “Bolshevik plot" intended to destroy America. Obama chose, in my opinion, a strange defense:

"I am not an ideologue," he insisted. "I'm not."

Not a winning defense, Mr. President. Always talk about what you are, not waste time denying what you are not. It’s not like the Republicans are going to say, mmmm, you’re right- We shouldn’t have said that. Sorry. In fact, let’s team up on the next bill so you can look strong for the midterm elections, what do you say?

He did put a good amount of focus on calling for the two parties to work together: "These are serious times and what's required of all of us is to do what's right for our country, even if it's not best for our politics," said Obama.

Sample question from Jeb Hensarling, House Republican: "Will that new budget, like your old budget, triple the national debt and continue to take us down the path of increasing the cost of government to almost 25 percent of our economy? That's the question, Mr. President."

Obama responded that the “whole question was structured as a talking point for running a campaign."

Um, of course. You want to have a real sit down with Republicans? Don’t do it on Cable during their annual retreat!

Obama, vaunted for his calm demeanor, basically got angry at this last meeting. And that’s fine. It’s strange that he isn’t playing the hardball of the rest of Washington. I mean, it is refreshing to hear the President over and over ask for the two parties to work together and see nothing happen beyond the two parties agree on absolutely nothing. Congress is entrenched in partisanship right now. Holding an hour and a half discussion with the other side on tv is not going to solve the problem- right? We know this. Obama knows this. The Republicans know this.

It seems like Obama is trying to trip the Republicans up. I say let them trip themselves up. Did you watch the Virginia governor’s response? Oh god- it was cringingly horrible. If people like that and want that, well, you’ll not convince them to believe otherwise by telling them they are being mean.

The Presidency is not about campaigning for things that we all believe in. It is about fighting really, really hard for the things you believe in. Keep fighting.

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