Obama invites Ryan, Van Hollen to Thursday lunch at White House

President Obama will host House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and ranking member Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) for lunch on Thursday, the White House confirmed to The Hill.

Obama’s lunch meeting at the White House comes after a Wednesday night dinner the president held with a dozen GOP senators, as he seeks to lay the groundwork for deficit-reduction talks.


Read more: Obama invites Ryan, Van Hollen to Thursday lunch at White House - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room
Follow us: @thehill on Twitter | TheHill on Facebook

Click to expand...

Could it be that Obama is finally realizing the damage he is doing by constantly campaigning, threatening and harrasing everyone? Such that this week, Senate democrats agreed to go along with a CR without making it an issue, Obama met with congress last week, is going to a dinner this week, and is now inviting congressional budget leaders to discuss things like adults instead of throwing tantrums?

Or is this a trap?

Too early to tell, of course. This may like like all other "good faith" efforts that Obama claims to have made. The republicants are likely being setup again, IMHO. If Obama was serious he would actually produce a budget containing the details (what programs get cut, what new revenue is "needed"), like past presidents have done. The Obama method appears to be keep it all very vague and verbal, always in "closed" cozy meetings (the most transparent?) and always announce that "others" refused to negotiate; to Obama, "negotiate" means do what he wants and "balance" means more assured tax increases then maybe talk about spending cuts "in the future" (when things get better).

It is most definitely a trap. The republicans are running on empty without a brain in their heads.

It is nothing but a gimmick so obama can say he really really tried.

When it was first reported BHO was meeting with Ryan I thought something meaningful would come out of it. Now it is being reported that Van Hollen will attend which I predict will end up in a 2 on 1 bash session with ideological posturing and non-stop paltitudes being flung.

Trap? no...waste of time? YES!

jonny5 said:

Could it be that Obama is finally realizing the damage he is doing by constantly campaigning, threatening and harrasing everyone? Such that this week, Senate democrats agreed to go along with a CR without making it an issue, Obama met with congress last week, is going to a dinner this week, and is now inviting congressional budget leaders to discuss things like adults instead of throwing tantrums?

Or is this a trap?

Click to expand...

I think excluding McConnell, Boehner, and Reid from any future discussions is a step in the right direction. Sounds like the dinner last night proved to be fruitful. I hope it will continue.

jonny5 said:

Could it be that Obama is finally realizing the damage he is doing by constantly campaigning, threatening and harrasing everyone? Such that this week, Senate democrats agreed to go along with a CR without making it an issue, Obama met with congress last week, is going to a dinner this week, and is now inviting congressional budget leaders to discuss things like adults instead of throwing tantrums?

Or is this a trap?

Click to expand...

When they shake his hand with their right hand they need to keep their left hand on their wallets.

Considering what he's done before, particularly with Ryan, I don't know how anyone can conclude it's anything but a trap.

Dickieboy said:

When it was first reported BHO was meeting with Ryan I thought something meaningful would come out of it. Now it is being reported that Van Hollen will attend which I predict will end up in a 2 on 1 bash session with ideological posturing and non-stop paltitudes being flung.

Trap? no...waste of time? YES!

Click to expand...

Ryan is more than a match for both of them, and I think he relishes the chance to debate with Obama. But the media is going to spin this in Obama's favor no doubt and Van Hollen will come out with his talking points.