The Price of Politics

See how and why Washington is not functioning. Bob WoodwardâÈçs 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 âÈêfiscal cliffâÈë face-off at the end of 2012 between President Obama and the Republicans. Now itâÈçs happening again. In fall 2013, Washington faces a new round of budget and fiscal wars that could derail the American and global economies. âÈêWe are primarily a blocking majority,âÈë said Michael Sommers, Speaker John BoehnerâÈçs 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, IâÈçm at $600 billion. âÈêCan we split the difference here? Can we land at $500 billion?âÈë âÈêFour hundred billion is it,âÈë Obama replied. âÈêI just canâÈçt see how we go any further on that.âÈë After making $120 billion in other concessions, Obama pleaded with Boehner, âÈêWhat is it about the politics?âÈë âÈêMy guys just arenâÈçt there,âÈë Boehner replied. âÈêWe are $150 billion off, man. I donâÈçt get it. ThereâÈçs something I donâÈçt get.âÈë 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.

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