McClatchy DC has the article White House open to short-term increase in debt ceiling.  I knew this was trouble as soon as I saw the headline.

The White House indicated Monday for the first time that it would be open to a short-term increase to the nation’s borrowing limit, allowing the federal government to avoid a possible default on its obligations that could plunge the nation into another recession.

Senate Democrats expect to bring a longer-term fix to the floor for a vote later this week. It would raise the debt ceiling for months, perhaps until after the November 2014 elections. House Republicans said they could consider a stopgap measure if it were part of a larger deal.

“If the White House is open to a short-term debt limit increase with accompanying spending cuts and reforms, that is a positive sign,” said Michael Steel, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner.

It is pointless to even talk to the Republicans.  As soon as you open your mouth they think you are now negotiating non-negotiable positions.

The point of having stop gaps and continuing resolutions is to keep the government running while the two sides work out the issues on which they cannot agree.  Every time Obama makes the slightest concession, the Republicans demand everything else.  The President would just stop talking completely.

The President should just say,

“Congress, just do your job.  Keep the government running.  Call me after you have done your job, and we can talk about other issues.  There will be no further communications to you from the White House.”