The Price Of Politics

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Synopsis

See how and why Washington is not functioning.

Bob Woodward’s freshly reported, thirty-five-page Afterword to his national bestseller, The Price of Politics, provides a detailed, often verbatim account of what happened in the dramatic “fiscal cliff” face-off at the end of 2012 between President Obama and the Republicans.

Now it’s happening again. In fall 2013, Washington faces a new round of budget and fiscal wars that could derail the American and global economies.

“We are primarily a blocking majority,” said Michael Sommers, Speaker John Boehner’s chief of staff, summarizing the House Republican position.

It was the land of no-compromise:

On health care cuts over ten years, Boehner suggested to Obama, you are $400 billion, I’m at $600 billion. “Can we split the difference here? Can we land at $500 billion?”

“Four hundred billion is it,” Obama replied. “I just can’t see how we go any further on that.”

After making $120 billion in other concessions, Obama pleaded with Boehner, “What is it about the politics?”
“My guys just aren’t there,” Boehner replied.
“We are $150 billion off, man. I don’t get it. There’s something I don’t get.”

The Price of Politics chronicles the inside story of how President Obama and the U.S. Congress tried, and failed, to restore the American economy and set it on a course to fiscal stability. Woodward pierces the secretive world of Washington policymaking once again, with a close-up story crafted from meeting notes, documents, working papers, and interviews with key players, including President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner. Woodward lays bare the broken relationship between President Obama and the Congress.

Chapters

  • ThePriceOfPolitics 001 Introduction

    Duration: 25s
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 002 Note To Listeners

    Duration: 03min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 003 Prologue

    Duration: 08min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 004 Ch 01

    Duration: 24min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 005 Ch 02

    Duration: 17min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 006 Ch 03

    Duration: 12min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 007 Ch 04

    Duration: 14min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 008 Ch 05

    Duration: 22min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 009 Ch 06

    Duration: 24min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 010 Ch 07

    Duration: 27min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 011 Ch 08

    Duration: 29min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 012 Ch 09

    Duration: 21min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 013 Ch 10

    Duration: 16min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 014 Ch 11

    Duration: 22min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 015 Ch 12

    Duration: 21min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 016 Ch 13

    Duration: 14min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 017 Ch 14

    Duration: 12min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 018 Ch 15

    Duration: 10min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 019 Ch 16

    Duration: 22min
  • ThePriceOfPolitics 020 Ch 17

    Duration: 24min
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