Me thinks the 8 hole golf game is a way to appear like these guys are TRYING to reach a deal! WHERE ARE THE JOBS, JOHN BOEHNER?!
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Friendly Obama-Boehner golf game has high stakes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Saturday’s round of golf between President Barack Obama and Republican leader John Boehner has unusually high stakes for a friendly game, since any positive sentiment it yields may help lead to a debt deal.
Obama and Boehner, speaker of the House of Representatives, have a respectful working relationship but lack personal rapport, reflecting the entrenched differences between their parties on budgets and borrowing that have raised market fears about a possible U.S. default.
Their first golf outing is described by aides as a chance to get to know each other better and possibly set up a scenario where Democrats and Republicans find ways to agree to work together and raise the $14.3 trillion limit on the nation’s debt.
“This is an opportunity that I think has value beyond the game,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said, suggesting it was helpful for the leaders to mull ideas in an informal setting. Source
Obama, Boehner win on the golf course
By Sam Youngman – 06/18/11 04:46 PM ET
It came down to the 18th hole.
Like the deal to avert the government shutdown earlier this year, the golf match featuring President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner went down to the wire. Except this time, they were on the same team.
Obama and Boehner won their round against Vice President Biden and Ohio Gov. John Kasich in a highly anticipated golf outing Saturday.
Through the first hole, it appeared that the best golfer of the four was lagging behind.
But Biden sunk a 15-foot putt to make bogey. Still, the extra stroke came back to haunt him.
Saturday’s game at Joint Base Andrews was as much about golf as it was the leaders looking to thaw the partisan ice that has gripped discussions over raising the debt limit and cutting spending. But none of the players revealed what business might have been conducted on the course.
The White House said afterward, with wording approved by Boehner’s office, that “the foursome had great time and really enjoyed playing golf at Joint Base Andrews today.”
“The president and Speaker Boehner teamed up to beat the vice president and Gov. Kasich, the White House said. “The match was won on the 18th hole – the President and the Speaker won $2 each.
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/167193-obama-boehner-invitational-golf-tournament-tees-off
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