Obama: No 'Guarantee' of Social Security Checks

...even though 'this may bring my presidency down'

(NEWSER) - We already knew last night's debt talks did not go well —but not only did President Obama leave "abruptly," he really put his foot down, Talking Points Memo reports: "I have reached the point where I say enough," he said, according to those present. "Would Ronald Reagan be sitting here? I've reached my limit. This may bring my presidency down, but I will not yield on this." More of the latest developments:

• Obama reportedly gave both sides a deadline to determine whether they will seek long-term spending cuts or a short-term solution: tomorrow. His reason for leaving last night, at least according to one Democrat? Eric Cantor interrupted his closing remarks to push, for the third time, a short-term extension of the Aug. 2 deadline. Obama's response? "See you guys tomorrow."

But he'd better watch out for Eric Cantor

(NEWSER) - President Obama has “called Republicans’ bluff on the debt,” writes EJ Dionne in the Washington Post . With a little help from Eric Cantor, Obama has shown that Republicans’ top goal has nothing to do with the deficit—instead, they want to maintain low taxes on corporations and the rich. “Even the most resolutely centrist and cautious have been forced to concede this essential truth of American politics,” writes Dionne. Now, Obama “occupies the high ground in the debt-ceiling debate.” But there's peril ahead. More»

President says budget talks will continue 'every day'

(NEWSER) - Compromise was the theme of President Obama's press conference today, during which he acknowledged that yesterday's budget talks did not result in a deal—but promised that "we're gonna meet every single day until we get this thing resolved." He insisted that he and "all the leaders" agree that we absolutely cannot fail to raise the debt ceiling and thus "allow the US government to default." He also confirmed he is still looking for "the largest possible deal," and that he appreciates John Boehner's "good-faith efforts on that front." Obama also noted that nobody is talking about increasing taxes right now. More»

Top Republican blames White House insistence on tax hikes

(NEWSER) - Mitch McConnell is jumping right on John Boehner's pronouncement last night that a broad deal on the deficit is impossible, reports Politico. Appearing on Fox News Sunday this morning, the Senate's top Republican said the White House's insistence that a $4 trillion deal be accompanied by tax hikes doomed such a measure. More»

Progressives in Congress could scotch debt deal: Nate Silver

(NEWSER) - We won't know for a while what, if any, deal will emerge on the debt ceiling. Or what, if anything, that might mean for Social Security and other entitlement programs. But this much is clear: Liberals are livid that President Obama even raised the possibility of touching them, reports the Los Angeles Times . Two examples from today: Sen. Bernie Sanders reminded all that then-candidate Obama rebuffed John McCain's proposal to hit Social Security. "The American people expect the president to keep his word," said Sanders. Moveon.org, meanwhile, warned that Obama would have trouble drumming up volunteers for his 2012 run if he didn't keep that promise. More»