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Top Talkers: Talks to Nowhere

 Today with be the fifth consecutive White House meeting to try to reach a deal on raising the debt ceiling.  Without a resolution in site, House Speaker
Top Talkers: Talks to Nowhere
Top Talkers: Talks to Nowhere

 

Today with be the fifth consecutive White House meeting to try to reach a deal on raising the debt ceiling.  Without a resolution in site, House Speaker John Boehner is comparing the talks to Jell-O, saying, "some days it is firmer than others, sometimes it's like they've left it out over night."    But sources from both parties say yesterday was the most tense meeting yet with the big sparks coming from President Obama and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. The main issue was reportedly Cantor's repeated push for a short-term deal on the debt limit.   The President refused to agree and Republican aides say he said, "I have reached the point where I say enough. . .would Ronald Reagan be sitting here? I've reached my limit. This may bring my presidency down, but I will not yield on this."  

Aids say Cantor interrupted the President three different times during the meeting, and the President finally said "Don't call my bluff. I'm going to the American people on this." Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Cantor said the President "lost his temper" and "abruptly" walked off.   But Democratic officials dispute Cantor's account. The group will reconvene this afternoon at the White House to discuss taxes. The Obama administration is expected to present its plan for more revenue in order to meet the $2.4 trillion figure that House Republicans say they need to reduce the deficit and raise the debt ceiling through the end of 2012.