WHITE HOUSE GIVES THE BUDGET GAME AWAY. “Right from the horse’s mouth – Pres. Obama was never interested in a bipartisan debt-reduction deal.” Of course not. He talks compromise now and then, but his operating style is all about demonization and division. It’s not working out for him very well, but it’s all he knows. On the other hand, he often winds up backing down, and as Kaus notes, he’s left room for that in his bluster.